George Washington's Boy.
This book, written for ages 7 to 17, is an offshoot of the author's more-adult version of the French and Indian War as told in General George Washington's Great Secret. It satisfies the seemingly innate desire of pre-adult young men to fantasize about going to war and finding buried treasure, etc. However, this book is designed to subtly imbue in those young minds, through their making the heroes of American history their mentors by proxy, the facts that the purpose of war is to kill, excesses of any kind are bad, the desire for monetary fortunes can be fatal to true happiness, and the greatest virtues are patriotism and love of one's God and family.
George Washington never had any children of his
own.
Though it is said he was a good
stepfather to the widow Custis' children, one wonders "what if"
he had a son of
his own.
Our protagonist in this
adventure - with a slight Horatio Alger slant - is an orphan lad, Abba, whom
George had taken to live at his estate while he, George, was yet unmarried.
Children matured fast in the Colonies. At age 10, in
the year 1775, Abba, by special dispensation, because he was so adept at
reading and writing, is allowed to accompany the British General Edward
Braddock and Captain George Washington on the fateful trek to Fort Duquesne in
the French and Indian War.
He would
serve as the General's Orderly.
A footnote to this saga reveals that General Braddock secretly buried his
still-unfound payroll gold, stuffed into the muzzles of two brass cannons,
alongside the forest trail, on the way to his death in battle. (True!)
Abba, as the General's Orderly, was the one
who dug the hole.
Aside from being a very exciting read, this book
teaches history not taught in schools, namely the strange events that brought
about the American Revolution.
- Excerpted from the publisher's description of the
book.
Download $6.95, 3.25-inch PC disk $6.95 +
$2.55 SH.
Paperback $8.95 + $2.55 SH.
