"He thought: 'I would like to tell these people of the One God and of Jesus, the Friend of all men.'
"I believe he cared more about that than for the silks and spices.
"As soon as Columbus was old enough, he went to sea with some of his relations. He learned how to steer a ship and how to manage it in storms. He proved himself brave and daring in sea-fights. He studied the winds and tides.
"The time came at last when he spoke to the people of his own town in Italy. He told them he believed he could find India by sailing to the west. They did not listen to him. He himself could not fit up ships to make a long voyage, for he had no money. So he could not try his experiment.
"Years passed by and Columbus went to Portugal. He still had one great desire in his heart. You know what that was.
"He lost no time in speaking to the King of Portugal. The king listened to the plan. He thought it was a wise one. But he did not offer to send Columbus on a voyage of discovery. O, no! He preferred to send some of his own sailors. If the plan succeeded, he thought he would gain more by so doing.
"He sent the Italian away. Then he took the maps and charts Columbus had made and showed them to the wisest men of the country. He thought: 'I will make use of what Columbus knows, but he shall get no reward.'
"He was not honest. That is what I think. Don't you agree with me?"
"Of course we do," both children exclaimed.