[Illustration:  HOISTING THE STARS AND STRIPES AT NEW YORK.]

When it was clear that there would be no more fighting, Washington went back to Mount Vernon.  He hoped to spend the rest of his life there.  But the country needed him, and a few years later it chose him the first President of the United States.

[Illustration:  PRESIDENT WASHINGTON’S COACH.]

Washington was made President in New York City, which was the capital of the United States at that time.  A French gentleman who was there tells us how Washington, standing in the presence of thousands of people, placed his hand on the Bible, and solemnly swore that with the help of God he would protect and defend the United States of America.

[Illustration:  PRESIDENT WASHINGTON TAKING THE OATH.]

Washington was elected President twice.  When he died many of the people in England and France joined America in mourning for him; for all men honored his memory.

Lafayette came over to visit us many years afterward.  He went to Mount Vernon, where Washington was buried.  There he went down into the vault, and, kneeling by the side of the coffin, covered his face with his hands, and shed tears of gratitude to think that he had known such a man as Washington, and that Washington had been his friend.

[Illustration:  LAFAYETTE AT WASHINGTON’S COFFIN.]

145.  Summary.—­George Washington, the son of a Virginia planter, became the leader of the armies of the United States in the war of the Revolution.  At the close of the war, after he had made America free, he was elected our first President.  His name stands to-day among those of the greatest men in the history of the world.

When and where was George Washington born?  What did he learn at school?  What did he write in one of his writing-books?  Tell about his sports and games at school.  What is said of “Captain George”?  Tell the story about the colt.  What did George’s mother say?  Tell about George’s visit to his brother and to the Fairfaxes.  What is said of Lord Fairfax?  What did he hire Washington to do?  Tell about his surveying and his life in the woods.  Tell about the Indian war-dance.  What did the governor of Virginia do when Washington returned?  What is said of Washington at the age of twenty-one?  Tell about his journey to the French forts and his return.  What is said about the Indian guide?  What about the raft?  What did the governor of Virginia do when Washington returned?  What did the governor order him to do?  What about Fort Necessity?  Tell about General Braddock, and about what happened to Washington.  What is said about the end of the war?  What did King George the Third determine to do?  What did the king want the Americans to do?  How did they feel?  What did the king say?  What did the Americans say to that?  What did some of the greatest men in England say?  What did the king then try to do?  Tell about the tea-ships.  What happened in Boston?  What was done to Boston?  What help did the people of Boston get?  What did the colonies now do?  What did the people now begin to call themselves?  What did they call the English troops?