_The following stories about Washington, and the War for Independence, may be found in “Good Stories for Great Holidays”: Three Old Tales (the Cherry-Tree Tale); Young George and the Colt; Washington the Athlete; Washington’s Modesty; Washington at Yorktown; Washington and the Cowards; Betsy Ross and the Flag; A Brave Girl (General Schuyler’s Daughter); A Gunpowder Story (Elizabeth Zane); The Declaration of Independence; Signing of the Declaration of Independence._ FEBRUARY 25 JOSE DE SAN MARTIN OF ARGENTINA THE PROTECTOR _Jose de San Martin, a strong and silent man, whose character and achievements have been little known or appreciated outside his own country ... comes nearer than any one else to being the George Washington of Spanish America._ LORD BRYCE San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. Besides, he was just and compassionate ... courteous to gentle and simple alike ... generous and brave San Martin. JOSEPH CONRAD _The white-souled San Martin who was without fear and almost without reproach._ WILLIAM SPENCE ROBERTSON _The moral grandeur of San Martin consists in this: that nothing is known of the secret ambitions of his life; that he was in everything disinterested; that he confined himself strictly to his mission; and that he died in silence, showing neither weakness, pride, nor bitterness at seeing his work triumphant and his part in it forgotten._ BARTOLOME MITRE SAN MARTIN was born in Spanish America, February 25, 1778 Became the Liberator of Argentina, 1812 Was the Hannibal of the Andes, 1817 He and O’Higgins liberated Chile, 1817-20 San Martin resigned after the meeting with Bolivar, 1822 In voluntary exile, he died at the age of 72, August 17, 1850 His body was brought in state to Argentina, 1880 He is called Protector of Peru His name is pronounced--Hosay de San Marteen THE BOY SOLDIER This boy soldier, who became a great general and American Patriot, was born in the Indian village of Yapeyu, in the district of Misiones, which is now a part of Argentina. Misiones is a land of thousands of bright butterflies and brilliant flowers, of plantations and wide forests. In it are abandoned groves of wild oranges and lemons, once belonging to the Jesuit Missions, that gave the name of Misiones to the region. Though he was born among Indians, the boy soldier was not an Indian. He was of pure Spanish blood. His father was an officer of the Spanish Crown, and was Governor of Misiones. Spain ruled all Spanish America in those days. The boy soldier’s name was Jose de San Martin. Jose, is Spanish for Joseph. It was an exciting life for Jose, with Indian boys to show him how to shoot wild game, and how to fish in the Uruguay River. Then, there were his father’s soldiers to tell him about military life.