And so thro’all these years the New World lay unknown,
watching 1 for ships from the eastward, waiting to be dis
covered, a grand opportunity for any man, a grand reward
for even a king.
He saw an opportunity. How did he see it? Born of
humble parents, encompassed by scanty means, educated
only in the rudiments of letters and of science, and living in
an age so near the close of the Dark Ages that Europe itself
was only just awaking from her sleep, what could you ex
pect of him? But tho’ born of low degree, he was a genius.
Tho’ surrounded by difficulties, he possessed heroic courage.
And his education, scant and imperfect tho’ it was, worked
upon his imaginative mind like a charm and filled him with
zeal for more learning. And besides he loved the sea, and
having once set sail upon its waters he was posessed of a
passion for geographic knowledge. And tho’ he must study
in the hard school of life to acquire it, yet no task was too
hard to attempt. And thus for years he labored on towards
d self-appointed end, which, people said, was but a fancy.
He saw an opportunity. What did he do with it? lie
had dreamed of a great possibility. He had studied the
facts of nature till he knew it must be a reality. And now
that it needed but the proving to the world he resolved that
he would do it.
But he was not in a position to accomplish it alone. So
after years of labor he thought to secure the patronage of
royalty. But the people laughed, the sages scoffed at his
theory, and the royal courts turned him away. He asked
for aid, he received rebuke. But still undaunted by adversi
ty he labored on to convince men of the truth. Passing from
ope court to another, persisting at each one so long as there
was hope, for ten years he toiled without reward, he hoped
but in vain, and yet he met the severest tests which try the
mettle of a man without flinching.
But at last a queen, herself a dreamer, heard and be
lieved and secured for him what he desired—pledging her
Genius, Courage, and Fancy.