"The Indians, bright with paint and feathers, went first of all in the procession. Crowds of people lined the streets to see the Red Men, the curious fruits and flowers, the parrots, and the stuffed bodies of animals they had never heard of before. "They wished, most of all, to look upon the great man who had dared to sail so far into the west and who had brought India with all its riches to Spain. For everyone believed this was what Columbus had done. "Many entertainments were prepared for the great sailor. Nearly everyone wished to give him honor. A few, however, were jealous. "One day while Columbus was at a dinner party given in his honor one of the king's courtiers said: "'It was not a hard thing to do what this Italian has done. Anyone else might have done the same thing.' "Of course the man said this because he was jealous and did not like to see so much attention given to a poor sailor from Italy. "Columbus did not seem troubled at this man's words. He took an egg from the table and handed it to the speaker. Then he said: "'Can you make that egg stand on end?' "The man tried, but could not do it. It was passed from one person to another. Everyone failed. At last it came back to Columbus. He took it in his hand and struck it gently on the table so that the shell was slightly cracked. Then, taking away his hand, he left it standing on end. "'It is easy enough for anyone to do that,' cried the courtier. "'It is also easy for anyone to find the Indies after I have shown the way,' was the reply of Columbus. "Not long after this the great man made ready for another voyage across the ocean. "How different everything was now! There was no trouble now to find sailors willing to go with him. Indeed, it was almost too easy. Everyone was anxious to visit the Indies. They believed it was the quickest way to gain riches and comfort. "When the second fleet was ready to sail there were seventeen ships and fifteen hundred men. Only think of it! It was almost like a traveling city. "They had no trouble in crossing the ocean, but when they came to the island where Columbus had before left a part of his men, there was no sign of them nor of the homes they had made. "'This time I will choose a different place to settle,' said Columbus. "He sailed into a fine harbor about forty miles away. The men landed and began to build the first city of the New World for white people to live in. They called it Isabella after the good queen of Spain. "Columbus spent some time as governor of the settlement. Then he went back to Spain with news of the white men's city in the west. He did not stay long, however. He was soon restless for a third voyage across the great ocean. "He sailed farther to the southward than he had before. For the first time he saw the shores of South America. Then he went back to the settlement in the West Indies, but the people were not glad to see him." Uncle Sam stopped for a moment and looked quite sad.