Produced by David Garcia, Karen Dalrymple, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library.) [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration: The Farmer Boy BOSTON WALKER WISE & Co.] THE FARMER BOY, AND HOW HE BECAME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. BY UNCLE JUVINELL. EDITED BY WILLIAM M. THAYER, AUTHOR OF "THE PIONEER BOY," ETC. SEVENTH THOUSAND. BOSTON: WALKER, WISE, AND COMPANY, 245, WASHINGTON STREET. 1864. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by WALKER, WISE, AND COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts BOSTON: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON. No. 5, Water Street. INTRODUCTION. BY REV. WILLIAM M. THAYER. The reader will remember, that, in the preface of "THE PRINTER BOY," I promised the next volume should be "THE FARMER BOY; OR, HOW GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAME PRESIDENT." That pledge has never been redeemed, though some labor has been performed with reference to it. And now Providence seems to direct the fulfilment of the promise by the pen of another, soon to be well known, I doubt not, to thousands of young readers;--"Uncle Juvinell." The advance sheets of a volume from his pen, upon the early life of Washington, have been placed in my hands for examination. I have carefully perused the work, and find it to be of so high a character, and so well adapted to the exigencies of the times, that I voluntarily abandon the idea of preparing the proposed volume myself, and most cordially recommend this work to the youth of our beloved land. I take this step with all the more readiness, when I learn that the author has persevered in his labors, though totally blind and almost deaf; and I gladly transfer the title which I proposed to give my own book to his excellent work, well satisfied that the act will prove a public benefit. The reader will find that Mr. Heady (Uncle Juvinell) has produced a very entertaining and instructive volume. It is written in a racy, sprightly style, that cannot fail to captivate the mind. Partaking himself of the buoyancy and good humor of boyhood, the author is able to write for the boys in a manner that is at once attractive and profitable. He has written a live book of one, who, "though dead, yet speaketh." It is replete with facts, and lessons of wisdom. The virtues are taught both by precept and example, and the vices are held up in all their deformity to warn and save. Religion, too, receives its just tribute, and wears the crown of glory.