THE
FARMER BOY,
AND
HOW HE BECAME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
BY UNCLE JUVINELL.
EDITED BY
WILLIAM M. THAYER,
AUTHOR OF "THE PIONEER BOY," ETC.
SEVENTH THOUSAND.
BOSTON:
WALKER, WISE, AND COMPANY,
245, Washington Street.
1864.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by
WALKER, WISE, AND COMPANY,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Districtof Massachusetts
BOSTON:
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON.
No. 5, Water Street.
INTRODUCTION.
BY REV. WILLIAM M. THAYER.
The reader will remember, that, in the preface of "The Printer Boy," Ipromised the next volume should be "The Farmer Boy; or, How GeorgeWashington became President." That pledge has never been redeemed,though some labor has been performed with reference to it. And nowProvidence seems to direct the fulfilment of the promise by the pen ofanother, soon to be well known, I doubt not, to thousands of youngreaders;—"Uncle Juvinell."
The advance sheets of a volume from his pen, upon the early life ofWashington, have been placed in my hands for examination. I havecarefully perused the work, and find it to be of so high a character,and so well adapted to the exigencies of the times, that I voluntarilyabandon the idea of preparing the proposed volume myself, and mostcordially recommend this work to the youth of our beloved land. I takethis step with all the more readiness, when I learn that the authorhas persevered in his labors, though[Pg 4] totally blind and almost deaf;and I gladly transfer the title which I proposed to give my own bookto his excellent work, well satisfied that the act will prove a publicbenefit.
The reader will find that Mr. Heady (Uncle Juvinell) has produced avery entertaining and instructive volume. It is written in a racy,sprightly style, that cannot fail to captivate the mind. Partakinghimself of the buoyancy and good humor of boyhood, the author is ableto write for the boys in a manner that is at once attractive andprofitable. He has written a live book of one, who, "though dead, yetspeaketh." It is replete with facts, and lessons of wisdom. Thevirtues are taught both by precept and example, and the vices are heldup in all their deformity to warn and save. Religion, too, receivesits just tribute, and wears the crown of glory.
The appearance of this volume is timely. Adapted as it is to magnify