Hamilton came to this country from the West Indies during the
Revolution. He was then only a boy, but he soon showed himself a good
soldier, and Washington made him an officer on his staff and one of his
friends. He often asked young Hamilton for advice, and took it, too.

Hamilton was one of the men who made the Constitution, and when
Washington became President he chose him as his Secretary of the
Treasury. That is, he gave him the money affairs of the government to
look after. Hamilton was not afraid of the load of debt, and he soon
took off its weight. He asked Congress to pay not only its own debt, but
that of the states as well, and also to make good all the paper money.
Congress did not like to do this, but Hamilton talked to the members
till he persuaded them to do so.

Then he set himself to pay it. He laid a tax on whiskey and brandy and
on all goods that came into the country. He had a mint, which is a
building where money is coined from metal, and a national bank built in
Philadelphia. He made the debt a government fund or loan, on which he
agreed to pay interest, and to pay off the principal as fast as
possible. It was not long before all the fund was taken up by those who
had money, and the country got back its lost credit, for the taxes began
to bring in much money.

Washington was President for eight years. That made two terms of four
years each. Many wished to make him President for a third term, but he
refused to run again. Since then no one has been made President for more
than two terms.

George Washington had done enough for his country. He loved his home,
but he had little time to live there. When he was only a boy he was
called away to take part in the French and Indian War. Then, after
spending some happy years at home, he was called away again to lead the
army in the Revolutionary War. Finally, he served his country eight
years as President.

He was now growing old and wanted rest, and he went back with joy to his
beloved home at Mount Vernon, hoping to spend there the remainder of his
days. But trouble arose with France, and it looked as if there would be
a new war, and Washington was asked to take command of the army again.
He consented, though he had had enough of fighting; but fortunately the
war did not come, so he was not obliged to abandon his home.

He died in December, 1799, near the end of the century of which he was
one of the greatest men. The news of his death filled all Am