_Bernardo O’Higgins alone was able to accomplish and establish the semblance of decent dignified government in his Country after the great upheaval, a fact mostly due to his own transparent honesty, utter unselfishness, and pure Patriotism, as much as to his political acumen, diplomacy, and powers of organization._ JOHN J. MEHEGAN BERNARDO O’HIGGINS was born August 20, 1778 Became the Hero of Rancagua, 1814 He and San Martin won the Battle of Chacabuco, February 12, 1817 First Independence Day in Chile, February 12, 1818 O’Higgins went into exile, 1823 He died in Peru, October 24, 1842 THE SON OF THE BAREFOOT BOY Ambrose O’Higgins was like the bright lad in the fairy tale, who started out to seek his fortune with a knapsack on his back. Ambrose was only a servant-boy in Ireland, barefoot some say, running errands for the Lady of Castle Dangan in County Meath. Then one day he set out to seek his fortune in Spain where he had an uncle. He did not find it there. So he bought a stock of merchandise, and took ship for South America, the wonderful country, where, so people said, one could get treasure and emeralds a-plenty. He landed at Buenos Aires, and sold some of his goods. Then he crossed the _pampas_, or prairie, and packed his goods by mule-train over the high Andes into Chile. Still his treasure did not appear, and, being a venturesome lad, he made his way north to Lima in Peru. There he kept a small stall and peddled his wares under the shadow of Pizarro’s ancient Cathedral. As he looked up at its weather-beaten walls and down at his old clothes, little he dreamed that one day he should enter the door of that very Cathedral clad in a Vice-King’s garments and surrounded by a brilliant retinue of officers and retainers. Not knowing that all this wonderful thing was to happen, he grew restless and set off on his travels through Venezuela and New Granada, and finally went back to Chile. There his fortune was awaiting him. As the years passed, he studied and worked industriously, until he became a famous civil engineer and built roads and did great things for Chile. He devoted himself to Chile’s interest until the King of Spain, learning of his genius and of all the improvements he had brought about in the country, appointed him its Governor. He served with such wisdom that, in time, he was made Viceroy, or Vice-King, of Peru, the highest and most coveted office in all Spanish America. So with pomp and procession, in a Vice-King’s garments, he entered the Cathedral doors of the very city where once as a poor homeless boy he had peddled his wares. He died at a great age, full of honours, and left his estate to Bernardo his son.