GOING TO SEA



"I should like to be a sailor," said George Washington. "Then I could
go to many strange lands and see many wonderful things. And, by and
by, I might become the captain of a ship."

He was only fourteen years old.

His older brothers were quite willing that he should go to sea. They
said that a bright boy like George would not long be a common sailor.
He would soon become a captain and then perhaps a great admiral.

And so the matter was at last settled. George's brothers knew the
master of a trading ship who was getting ready to sail to England. He
agreed to take the boy with him and teach him how to be a good sailor.

George's mother was very sad. His uncle had written her a letter
saying:

"Do not let him go to sea. If he begins as a common sailor, he will
never be anything else."

But George had made up his mind to go. He was headstrong and
determined. He would not listen to any one who tried to persuade him to
stay at home. At last the day came for the ship to sail. It was waiting