Excerpt from Young People's History of Our Country T will be admitted that the history of no other country possesses so absorbing interest as our own. Although a New World, with no antiquity of government, science, or art, it presents the fruitage of the centuries of the Old World. Builded on the lessons and experiences of the ages, its fabric is one of marvellous strength, endurance, and wisdom. In its infancy it was hardened and made rugged by storm, by trial, by privation, and by suffering. The rigors of an unfriendly climate, the enmity of savages, the obstacle of vast primeval for ests, and the choice between perishing from the earth or hewing the road to success, developed the highest form of mental and bodily vigor. Slavery in the Old World taught the blessings of liberty in the New, and our forefathers laid the foundations broad and deep and strong and sure. The Revolution brought the nation into existence and gave it a sisterhood among the peoples of the earth. The War of 1812 was necessary to gain and hold the respect of all countries, and the Civil War cemented and uni hed the house once divided against itself. Beneath the furnace blast we underwent the pangs of transformation, and came forth purified by fire. In this broad, appreciative spirit all children should study the history of our country. Its most impressive lessn will be lost on those who read it as a mere story, without an understanding of the meaning of historical movements and events. Why did the Pilgrims leave their native land to plant their homes in the dismal solitudes of New England? Why did the Cavaliers settle in Virginia? What caused our forefathers to sever their allegiance to Great Britain, and undergo poverty, hunger. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.