ho was governor of Porto Rico. If he had
lived until now he would have been on our soil while on that island, for
it now belongs to the United States. But no one had dreamed of our great
republic four hundred years ago.

At that time there was a fable which many believed, which said that
somewhere in Asia was a wonderful Fountain of Youth. It was thought that
everybody who bathed in its waters would grow young again. An old man in
a moment would become as fresh and strong as a boy. De Leon wanted youth
more than he did gold, and like all men at that time he thought the land
he was in was part of Asia, and might contain the Fountain of Youth. He
asked the Indians if they knew of such a magic spring. The red men, who
wanted to get rid of the Spaniards, by whom they had been cruelly
treated, pointed to the northwest.

So, in the year 1513, old Ponce de Leon took ship and sailed away in
search of the magic spring. And not many days passed before, on Easter
Sunday, he saw before him a land so bright with flowers that he named it
"Flowery Easter." It is still called Florida, the Spanish word for
"flowery."

I am sure none of my young readers believe in such a Fountain of Youth,
and that none of you would have hunted for it as old De Leon did. Up and
down that flowery land he wandered, seeking its wonderful waters. He
found many sparkling springs, and eagerly drank of and bathed in their
cool, liquid waves, but out of them all he came with white hair and
wrinkled face. In the end he gave up the search, and sailed away, a sad
old man. Some years afterwards he came back again. But this time the
Indians fought with the white men, and De Leon was struck with an arrow,
and hurt so badly that he soon died. So he found death instead of youth.
Many people go to Florida in our own days in search of health, but Ponce
de Leon is the only man who ever went there to find the magical Fountain
of Youth.

About twenty-five years afterwards another Spaniard came to Florida. It
was gold and glory he was after, not youth. This man, Fernando de Soto,
had been in Peru with Pizarro, and helped him to conquer that land of
gold. He now hoped to find a rich empire for himself in the north.

So with nine ships and six hundred brave young men he sailed away from
his native land. They were a gay and hopeful band, while their bright
banners floated proudly from the mastheads, and waved in the western
winds. Little did they dream of what a terrible fa