or you as my successor, as the best qualified of any
man I know in this district for the position. I may fail, but I shall
try."

Lawrence accomplished his purpose in due time, and George was appointed
to the command of the militia in the district, although he was but
nineteen years of age. No difficulty was experienced in securing the
position for him, for his exploits in the role of surveyor were well
known. His character and ability had also given him considerable public
notoriety for one of his years.

Lawrence was in feeble health at this time. Pulmonary troubles had been
gradually undermining his constitution for two or three years, although
he continued to serve the colony in public relations. Winter was
approaching, and his physician advised a change of climate. The severity
of another Virginia winter might prove too much for him.

"If I go to Barbadoes you must go with me," said Lawrence to George. "It
will not be necessary for you to enter upon your new duties as commander
of the district until spring."

"Then your wife will not go," answered George, inferring that his
services would be required because hers could not be had.

"No; she will not be able to go, and I cannot think of going alone."

"Well, I shall be very willing to go," continued George, "and think I
shall enjoy the change. That you need to escape from the Virginia winter
is very evident. You are not as well as you were six months ago."

"No one can be so conscious of that as myself," remarked Lawrence, with
a degree of sadness that pierced George's heart. "I have failed very
fast within the last three months, and I sometimes doubt whether a
change of climate will do me any good."

"Perhaps your view of the case is too gloomy," suggested George, whom we
ought to call _Major_ Washington now, but will not at present. "I
believe that the foreign air will put new life into you."

"That is what I need," responded Lawrence, "for the old life within me
is rapidly dying out. I must get new strength from some source, or my
days are numbered."

Lawrence was very much depressed at this time, and he was also peevish
and difficult to please. George could manage him better than any one
else, except his wife, for the reason that his confidence in his young
brother was unbounded. The latter knew how to encourage the sick man
without concealing from him his true condition. Lawrence was certainly
in a very critical state of health, and his physician had