[1. Birth and boyhood of Columbus.]—Christopher Columbus,[2] the discoverer of America, was born at Genoa,[3] a seaport of Italy, more than four hundred and fifty years ago. His father was a wool-comber.[4] Christopher did not care to learn that trade, but wanted to become a sailor. Seeing the boy's strong liking for the sea, his father sent him to a school where he could learn geography, map-drawing, and whatever else might help him to become some day commander of a vessel.
1 These enclosed dates under a name show, except when otherwise stated, the year of birth and death.
2 Christopher Columbus (Kris'tof-er Ko-lum'bus).
3 Genoa (Jen'o-ah); see map in paragraph [21].
4 Wool-comber: before wool can be spun into thread and woven into cloth the tangled locks must be combed out straight and smooth; once this was all done by hand.
[2. Columbus becomes a sailor.]—When he was fourteen Columbus went to sea. In those days the Mediterranean[5] Sea swarmed with war-ships and pirates. Every sailor, no matter if he was but a boy, had to stand ready to fight his way from port to port.
In this exciting life, full of adventure and of danger, Columbus grew to manhood. The rough experiences he then had did much toward making him the brave, determined captain and explorer[6] that he afterwards became.
5 Mediterranean (Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an).
6 Explorer: one who explores or discovers new countries.
[3. Columbus has a sea-fight; he goes to Lisbon.]—According to some accounts, Columbus once had a desperate battle with a vessel off the coast of Portugal. The fight lasted, it is said, all day. At length both vessels were found to be on fire. Columbus jumped from his blazing ship into the sea, and catching hold of a floating oar, managed, with its help, to swim to the shore, about six miles away.