ver, was not
the boy to be content with such a simple education, and he had made up
his mind that if he could not go to William and Mary College he would at
least learn all he could from Lord Fairfax's well-stocked library.

Young Washington's work as a surveyor was shortly cut in upon by the
outbreak of trouble with France. In looking over the youths of the
neighborhood who were likely to make good soldiers, attention was almost
at once attracted to him. Everybody knew he had a great sense of
responsibility, and his feats as an athlete were equally well known.

As a small boy he had been unusually big and strong for his age, and had
always delighted in any kind of contest of strength. He could outrun,
outride and outbox any boy of either side the Potomac, and had proved it
in many contests of skill. When he was at Hobby's school he had liked to
form his mates into companies at recess time, with cane stalks for
rifles and dried gourds for drums, and drill them in the manual of arms.
They had fought mimic battles, and Washington always commanded one side.
He had really learned a good deal of the art of war in this way, and so
when men were casting about for likely young officers they naturally
thought of the boy surveyor.

His brother Lawrence had sufficient influence to procure him an
appointment as District Adjutant General, and had him make his
headquarters at Mount Vernon, where he immediately began to drill the
raw recruits of the countryside. But in the midst of these military
operations Lawrence fell ill and had to make a sea voyage to the West
Indies, taking his young brother George with him as company.

In the West Indies George caught smallpox, but he made a quick recovery
and after a short convalescence began to enjoy the tropical life which
was so entirely new to him.

Unfortunately Lawrence Washington did not grow stronger, and finally
came back to Mount Vernon to die under his own roof. He was very young,
very high-spirited and accomplished, and immensely popular with all
Virginians. George had looked up to him as to a second father, and his
loss was a tremendous blow to him. Lawrence for his part must have
realized the very unusual qualities of character in his young
half-brother. He left his great estate of Mount Vernon together with
other property to his wife and daughter, and in case they should die
then to his mother and his brother George. George was asked to take
charge of the estates, and altho