"Lo! a stick carved by some person's hand came floating along by the ship's side. This was not all, for a branch with berries on it was picked up out of the water. Land must be near!
"'I will give a large reward to the man who first sees it,' cried Columbus. As he watched that very night he saw a light in the distance. It moved. He called two of his men to look at it.
"Their hearts leaped for joy at the sight.
"Before morning came, a sailor saw the shore in the distance by the light of the moon.
"Children," said Uncle Sam solemnly, "never forget that it was the 12th of October of the year 1492 that Columbus first stepped upon the shores of the New World. He was dressed in a full suit of steel armor and he held the royal banner of Spain as he landed on the island which he named San Salvador.
"He planted the cross of the Christians and, with his officers and men around him, knelt down to thank God for His great goodness in bringing them so far in safety.
"'How beautiful, how beautiful!' Columbus exclaimed as he looked about him. Tall palm trees were moving gently in the warm breeze; strange and lovely flowers were growing all around; birds of bright colors flew overhead.
"But these were not the only things to fill the brave sailor with wonder. He and his men were soon surrounded by strange-looking people. They had straight black hair and dark red skins. They wore little or no clothing.
"'This is India, without a doubt,' said Columbus, 'and these people are Indians.'