PREFACE.

This volume is intended as an historical reader, as an elementary text-book in the history of our country from the framing of the Constitution to the present day, or as an introduction or supplement to any of the excellent text-books on United States history now in use.

Although complete in itself, and hence quite independent, it is nevertheless a sequel to "The Story of the Thirteen Colonies," for it takes up the thread of narrative at the point where it was dropped in that book, and carries it on unbroken to the present date.

No pains have been spared to interest children in the history of their country, to explain its gradual development, to teach them to love, honor, and emulate our heroes, and to make them so familiar with the lives and sayings of famous Americans that they will have no difficulty in understanding the full meaning of the numerous historical allusions so frequently found in the newspapers and elsewhere.

While a special effort has been made to cultivate a spirit of fairness and charity in dealing with every phase of our history, the writer' main object has been to make good men and women of the rising generation, as well as loyal Americans.

From the book