and the Great Lakes. The English were thus confined to a narrow strip of land along the Atlantic Ocean.

2. French in the Ohio Valley.-The French wished to settle in the Ohio Valley, as it was a very fine country. After writing their claim to the land on pieces of lead and burying them in the ground, they occupied the country and built several forts. When the English Government knew the French were trying to take the Ohio country, they told the King of France that he must stop it. The King of England sent cannon and powder to Virginia, that she might defend her territory against the French. The people of Virginia also thought it time for something to be done, because Virginia included at that time all of the Ohio Valley. Governor Dinwiddie decided that it was best to ask the French to leave before trying to drive them away.

3. Difficulties of Travel.-At this time, it was a very 1753 difficult task to get from Virginia to the Ohio Valley; mountains had to be climbed, rivers forded; there was no road through the dense forests; and, besides, the Indians were ready to kill any traveller that tried to go through their country. For carrying the message to the French, the governor selected George Washington.

QUESTIONS.-1. How long had the French been in the Mississippi Valley? 2. Where had they built a line of trading-posts? 3. How did the French try to make good their claim to the Ohio Valley? 4. What message did the English government send the French? 5. What did Virginia think? 6. Why was travel so difficult? 7. Who was to take the Virginia message to the French?

1732

GEOGRAPHY QUESTIONS

FOR CHAPTER XVII.

Map of United States-1. Between what mountain ranges is the Valley of Virginia? 2. What two rivers unite to form the Ohio? 3. What city is at that point? 4. How many mountain ranges and large rivers would you cross in going from Williamsburg, Va., to Pittsburg, Pa.?

CHAPTER XVII.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

1. Washington as a Boy.-George Washington was born in Virginia, in 1732. George's father died and left the little boy for his mother and brother to bring up. He got his education at home and at a neighborhood school. At home, he learned how to ride, to

Washington's Birthplace.

shoot and to fence. He was a good, dutiful son, and, though he had set his heart on being a sailor, he gave it up because it grieved his mother so much.

He must have studied his lessons well, for, when he was only seventeen years old, Lord Fairfax, a friend of his brother, employed him to survey vast tracts of land, which the king had given him, in the Valley of Virginia. It was a wild country covered with forests. There were few settlers, and bands of Indians roved through it in the hunting season. Young Washington led a rude, hard life examining the country and laying it off. He slept in the settlers' cabins, or under the trees,

and had only coarse, scanty food. But this was the very training he needed. He learned to observe the country

closely, and to know the habits and ways of the backwoodsmen and of the Indians.

2. Washington's Journey. He was just twenty-one years old when he set out with only one or two companions on his long and dangerous journey to find the French commander in the Ohio Valley. It took Washington a month to reach the nearest French fort, and six weeks to make his way back to Williamsburg over the snow-covered mountains and the frozen streams. The French commander wrote to the Governor of Vir- 1753 ginia that he would not leave the Ohio Valley unless ordered to do so by his superiors. Washington advised Governor Dinwiddie to build a fort at the junction of the two rivers which form the Ohio, at the point where Pittsburg now stands.

3. The French Seize the Ohio Fort.-The English settlers began to build this fort, and a small army of

Virginians under Washington was sent to defend it. Before this force arrived, however, the French came and drove the workmen off, and then finished the fort. They called it Fort Duquesne (dōō kān').

4. Washington and Fort Necessity. To protect themselves against the much larger number of French soldiers, Washington's little army built a small fort, which he called Fort Necessity. He defended this fort for a whole day against the attacks of the French and Indians. His men were so tired and worn out after so much fighting, that he surrendered, under the promise that he and his men would be allowed to go home safely.

2.

QUESTIONS.-1. When and where was Washington born? Where was he educated? 3. What was he taught at home? 4. By whom was he appointed to survey the Valley of Virginia? 5. What kind of a country was it? 6. How did Washington live in the Valley? 7. What journey was he sent on? 8. How old was he? 9. Tell of the journey. 10. What did the French say? 11. Where did the Virginians try to build a fort? 12. Who seized it? 13. What was the fort called? 14. Who was sent with an army against the French? 15. What fort was built? 16. Why was it surrendered?

GEOGRAPHY QUESTIONS

FOR CHAPTER XVIII.

Maps of United States and of Canada-1. In what direction is Pittsburg, Pa., from Williamsburg, Va.? 2. Where is Niagara? 3. What lake lies between New York and Vermont? 4. Where is Louisiana? 5. How would you go by inland water (as much as possible) from Nova Scotia to Louisiana? 6. Which is the most eastern of the Great Lakes?

CHAPTER XVIII.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

1. Aid Sent to America. France and England now sent out men and arms to help on the war in the colonies. The English general, Braddock, came to take command in Virginia, bringing a fine body of British regulars. Three other armies were to move against the French.

2. Braddock's March against Fort Duquesne.— Braddock set out from Virginia with his own troops and a number of colonial soldiers. Colonel Washington was his aide. Braddock could not understand that he had to march through a wild, rough country, and began his journey in a fine coach, although there were no roads. He despised the colonial troops, and could not believe that there was any great danger from the Indians. The English lost more than two months along the road to Fort Duquesne, and the French had ample time to get a large force together to meet them. When they heard that Braddock was near the fort, the French and Indians hid behind rocks and trees along the way he had

to come.

3. Surprised by Indians.-As Braddock's force was marching gayly along with their flags flying and their bayonets glistening in the sun, on a bright July morning, it was suddenly attacked, although no enemy could be 1755 seen. This was what Colonel Washington had warned General Braddock to guard against. The British officers and men did not know how to resist what they could not see. The colonial troops, who knew how to fight the Indians, at once hid themselves in the same way be