from despair to hope. In Europe there was a like change in opinion. George Washington had proved himself a soldier of the highest ability, his strategy was admired and praised, and military critics now began to think that he would win. From France came the young Marquis de Lafayette to join the American army, and everywhere life and patriotism seemed astir.

In 1777 the British tried a new plan. They now sent a fleet to Chesapeake Bay, landed an army of eighteen thousand soldiers and marched north upon Philadelphia. Washington was on the ground to meet them and a battle took place on the banks of the Brandywine, in which the Americans were defeated, Lafayette being among the wounded.

The British took possession of Philadelphia. Here Washington attempted to surprise and defeat them and another hot contest took place at Germantown. But there were mistakes and errors, things went wrong, and the gallant Continentals were again forced to retreat. That winter, a bitterly cold one, was spent at Valley Forge, about twenty miles above Philadelphia, where the poor patriots suffered terribly from cold and hunger, while the British were comfortably housed and fed in Philadelphia.

Yet the Continentals had much cause for hope despite the gloom of their situation. A whole British army under General Burgoyne had been captured near Albany. The French had entered into alliance with the Americans and promised to send a fleet and army to their support. When the next summer came the British, fearing that a French fleet would come up the Delaware, left Philadelphia and marched away for New York.

Washington was watching them like a hawk and was

quickly on their track, overtaking them at Monmouth, and attacking them with force and fury. The British would probably have been utterly defeated but for the cowardly act of General Lee, who began to retreat, instead of attacking as he was ordered. For once Washington broke into a rage and fairly swore at the culprit. But it was too late to regain the lost advantage. The battle that followed was hot and bloody, but the British succeeded in escaping during the night.

This battle regained for Washington all his old prestige. While he was at Valley Forge there had been a plot in Congress to dismiss him from his command, but now Congress gave him a vote of thanks, and the admiral of the French fleet wrote him, "Accept, sir, the homage which every man, especially every military man, owes you."

After that there was little fighting in the North, most of the remaining war being in the South. The British kept in New York City, Washington mounting guard over them, but he was too weak to attack them. The principal events were the gallant capture of Stony Point, on the Hudson, by General Wayne, and the treason of General Arnold, who tried to deliver the fort at West Point to the British. As for the British generals in New York, they had had quite enough of General Washington, and for several years they were kept cooped up like foxes in a den.

During these years the South was the centre of the war. In 1781 it moved from the Carolinas into Virginia, and Lord Cornwallis led his army to Yorktown, near Chesapeake Bay. Now was Washington's opportunity. He made a great show of attacking New York, thus deceiving General Clinton, and then marched secretly away with his own and the French army that

had joined him, and was soon before Yorktown, while a French fleet moved up Chesapeake Bay to its rear. Cornwallis was in a trap. Clinton could not come to his aid. He was forced to surrender, with all his army, and American liberty was won. That victory ended the war.

Washington was now the great hero of the land. By courage, military genius, wisdom, and endurance he had led his half fed and half clad army to final victory, and the whole civilized world looked upon him as the greatest soldier of the age, while his own people both admired and loved him. He was hailed by all as the savior of his country.

The war ended, Washington retired to his home at Mount Vernon, where he expected to spend the remainder of his life in peace and comfort as a private citizen. But this was not to be. The people wanted him still. In 1787, when a convention was held at Philadelphia to form a new constitution for the republic, Washington was chosen to preside. In 1788, when the time for the election of the first American President came, he was unanimously selected; there was no other man to be named beside him.

For eight years he governed with ripe wisdom the country which owed to him its liberty, proving himself a statesman as he had proved himself a soldier. In 1796, he retired again to Mount Vernon, this time, he hoped, for the last. But in July, 1798, when there was danger of a war with France and an army was called out, he was again chosen as commander-in-chief. Fortunately no fighting came and the old hero was not disturbed in his home. In December, 1799, he took a severe cold from riding in wet weather round his farm. It rapidly grew worse, the inflammation extended,

breathing grew more and more difficult, and on the 14th day of December the greatest of Americans passed away.

He had won for himself a fame which has never since dimmed. Now, as then, George Washington is regarded by all true Americans, as "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

ISRAEL PUTNAM, THE BOLD RANGER

AND WARRIOR

At Salem, Massachusetts, on the 7th of January, 1718, was born Israel Putnam, one of the boldest and most daring men who ever stood on American soil. His whole life story is a record of brave deeds and daring escapes, too numerous for us to do more than mention here. The first and one of the most famous of these took place when he was living on a farm near Pomfret, Connecticut.

A wolf, the terror of the farmers, had killed many of his sheep, and he pursued it to the rock-den in which it had taken refuge. How to get at the savage animal was the question. Putnam settled it by crawling through the narrow opening into the cavern, torch in hand; a rope being fastened to his legs by which his comrades could draw him out.

On seeing the wolf crouched at the back of the cavern, he gave the signal agreed upon to his companions and they drew him out so hastily that his clothes were torn to rags and his body lacerated. He ventured in again, this time with a gun, on the report of which he was again drawn out. On his third entrance he emerged dragging the dead wolf by the ears.

Such was an early exploit of the man who was to win a high reputation for courage in future years. It gave him such a standing among his fellows that in 1755, when Connecticut sent a force of one thousand men to take part in the French and Indian War, Putnam was chosen as one of its captains. There was fear