George Washington's boyhood

The house in which George Washington was born burned down when he was still very young. His father moved the family to another one of his estates, on the Rappahannock River.

George went to a school near his home. He learned reading, writing, and arithmetic. We know that young George Washington's handwriting was very good and clear because his copybooks can still be seen. He copied pages of rules for good conduct and tried to follow them. Some of these rules are:

"Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust."

"Feed not with greediness; lean not on the table."

"Think before you speak."

Washington was very athletic. We are told that he could throw a stone across the Rappahannock River. He was a fine horseback rider — one of the best of his time. His young playmates even then knew him to be a leader who was always fair. They often called him to settle their quarrels.

Washington's father died when George was eleven. The boy's schooldays ended when he was only fourteen. He wanted to go to sea, as he was too young to be a soldier like his elder brother, Lawrence. His baggage was already on a ship in the harbour, but his mother would not consent to her son's going. She ordered to bring his baggage back home. The ship sailed away without young George Washington.

Since he could not be a sailor, George Washington had to find some way of earning a living. He would not be given his share of his father's money until he was twenty-one. Most of his father's estates had been left to Lawrence. George decided that he would go back to his studying.

He picked up as much learning as he could by himself. A book which he studied hard was called "The Young Man's Companion". It told a young man how to make ink and cider, how to build houses, how to doctor the sick, how to manage a boat, and how to survey land. Washington was most interested in the chapter on surveying. He later took lessons in surveying from a surveyor.

Notes:

rules for good conduct — правила хорошего поведения

Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. — He говори плохого про отсутствующих, ибо это несправедливо

Feed not with greediness; lean not on the table. — He ешь с жадностью; не облокачивайся на стол

athletic — спортивный, сильный

to throw across — перебросить

His baggage was already on a ship in the harbour — Его вещи уже были на корабле, стоявшем в гавани

some way of earning a living — какой-нибудь способ за­рабатывать на жизнь

share — доля

how to make ink and cider, how to build houses, how to doctor the sick, how to manage a boat, and how to survey land — как изготовить чернила и сидр, как построить дом, как лечить больного, как управлять лодкой, как производить топогра­фическую съемку

surveyor — землемер

EXERCISES

1. Переведите на русский язык:

The house in which George Washington was born, on the Rappahannock River, a school near his home, very athletic, his baggage, the ship sailed away.

2. Выпишите из текста предложения, содержащие следующие словосочетания и переведите их на русский язык:

He learned, George Washington's handwriting, a fine horseback rider, young playmates, Washington's father died, his elder brother.

3. Составьте предложения со следующими словами и словосочетаниями:

In the harbour, way of earning a living, his father's money, a young man, to manage a boat, to survey land, he studied hard.

4. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. How do we know that George Washington's writing was very good?

2. What rules did he follow?

3. Do you follow any of these rules?

4. When did George Washington's father die?

5. What did Washington attempt at the age of fourteen?

6. Which book did he like best when a boy?