[Footnote 2: Ranches (ran'chez): farms at the West for raising horses and cattle, or sheep.] [Footnote 3: The last spikes (one of gold from California, one of silver from Nevada, and one made of gold, silver, and iron from Arizona) were driven just as the clock struck twelve (noon) on May 10th, 1869, at Promontory Point, near Salt Lake, Utah. Every blow of the hammer was telegraphed throughout the United States.] 264. Celebration of the discovery of America by Columbus; the unfinished pyramid; making history.--Four hundred years have gone by since the first civilized man crossed the ocean and found this new world which we call America. We are now about to celebrate that discovery made by Columbus, not only in the schools throughout the country, but by a great fair--called the "World's Columbian Exposition"--to be held at Chicago; and we shall invite all who will to come from all parts of the globe and join us in the celebration. [Illustration: FIRST GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES.] [Illustration: SECOND GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES.] On one of the two great seals[4] of the United States a pyramid is represented partly finished. That pyramid stands for our country. It shows how much has been done and how much still remains to be done. The men whose lives we have read in this little book were all builders. Little by little they added stone to stone, and so the good work grew. Now they have gone, and it is for us to do our part and make sure that the pyramid, as it rises, shall continue to stand square, and strong, and true. [Footnote 4: Seals: the first great seal, having the eagle and the Latin motto "_E Pluribus Unum_," meaning "_Many in One_,"--or one nation made up of many states,--was adopted June 20, 1782. The spread eagle signifies strength; the thirteen stars above his head, and the thirteen stripes on the shield on his breast, represent the thirteen original states; the olive branch, held in the eagle's right talon, shows that America seeks peace, while the bundle of arrows in his left talon shows that we are prepared for war. This seal is used in stamping agreements or treaties made by the United States with other nations, and also for other important papers. The second great seal, adopted at the same time, was never used. It was intended for stamping the wax on a ribbon attached to a treaty or other important paper, thus making a hanging seal. The Latin motto "_Annuit Coeptis_," above the all-seeing eye looking down with favor on the unfinished pyramid, means "_God has favored the Work_." The date MDCCLXXVI, or 1776, marks the Declaration of Independence. The Latin motto at the bottom, "_Novus Ordo Seclorum_," means "_A New Order of Ages_"--or a new order of things, such as we have in this New World of America.] What is said about the North and the South since the war? Tell about the growth of the South. What is said about the West? What about railroads? What about people going west?