"He died with the belief that he had found a short way to India. He had no thought of what he had really discovered. It is a shame he did not get the honor he deserved."
Uncle Sam rose suddenly from his arm chair and began to walk up and down the room. "Yes, it is a shame. A burning shame. Children, let us sing 'Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.'"
The old man turned to the little organ at one side of the room. In a moment the house was filled with the voices of Uncle Sam and his two young friends. When the song was over, the children kissed him good-night and started for home.
CHAPTER III
JOHN CABOT AND THE CODFISH
That same night after the children had gone to bed Lucy was just falling asleep when Joe called out:
"I say, Lucy, I wonder why our country isn't always called Columbia instead of America."
"Do keep still, Joe. I was so nice and sleepy and now you have waked me up," answered his sister. "You can ask Uncle Sam the next time you see him."