"Children," he said, "I must tell the truth and say that Columbus was not as good a governor as he was a sailor. It would have been hard work for anyone to rule his people, for they had to work hard and they were not satisfied because gold was not plentiful.
"'It is not what we expected,' they cried angrily. 'We thought you would bring us to a land filled with gold and diamonds.'
"Some of them even whispered among themselves, 'Columbus is not what he pretends to be. He has cheated us badly.'
"At last they declared they would not let him stay there any longer. They put chains upon him and sent him back to Spain."
Uncle Sam took a picture from the table drawer.
"Look at Columbus now," said the old man. "There he sits on the deck of the ship with heavy chains bound on his arms like one who has done a great wrong. Yet he gave a whole continent to the people who put them on him.
"'I will take off your chains,' said the kind-hearted captain of the ship. It is a shame for you to wear them.'
"'No, no. Let them remain,' answered Columbus. I will wear them as a token of the kindness of princes.'
"How different was his third landing in Spain! This time there were no crowds waiting to show him honor. He was carried before the queen, who wept in pity at the sight of her old friend in chains. The brave man now broke down. As he tried to tell his story his words were choked with sobs.
"Isabella did not desert him, however. She helped him to fit out another fleet and he started on his last voyage. He sailed among other islands of the West Indies and returned to Spain after a great deal of suffering. He was sick and poor. There were many who once could not do too much for him but who now mocked him.