Our country in story . ng about with the army from camp to camp,and Columbus could not expect them to give much atten-tion to his , he oneday succeeded in see-ing the Queen at Cor-dova. He explainedhis charts and plansto her. If Spain will helpme in this undertak-ing, said he to QueenIsabella, I will notonly open a rich tradefor her with the East,but will add a new em-pire to her kingdom. The pious and beau-tiful Queen Isabella was a learned, zealous woman. Sheunderstood Columbus, was pleased with his ideas andplans, and felt confident that he would successfully carryout
Our country in story . ng about with the army from camp to camp,and Columbus could not expect them to give much atten-tion to his , he oneday succeeded in see-ing the Queen at Cor-dova. He explainedhis charts and plansto her. If Spain will helpme in this undertak-ing, said he to QueenIsabella, I will notonly open a rich tradefor her with the East,but will add a new em-pire to her kingdom. The pious and beau-tiful Queen Isabella was a learned, zealous woman. Sheunderstood Columbus, was pleased with his ideas andplans, and felt confident that he would successfully carryout what he had promised if he were given the necessaryhelp. She knew, however, that Spain had become poorby her long war with the Moors, and that the govern-ment would not be willing to risk money on what it mightconsider a foolhardy enterprise. Notwithstanding, sheasked a council of learned men to say what they thoughtof the ideas of Columbus. These men declared that itseemed quite impossible to reach India by a westward. QUEEN ISABELLA 30 OUR COUNTRY IN STORY route. As a result, the Spanish court would neither con-sent nor refuse to assist Columbus. The Queen, however,promised him that she would again take up the matterin earnest after the war was over. Though greatly disappointed, Columbus resolved to waitpatiently. But day after day, month after month, andyear after year passed in weary waiting. The good manbecame poorer and poorer, and his hair was fast turninggray. Many began to look upon him as a fool. You claim that the earth is shaped round like a ball,said they to him. If it is, tell us, can a ship sail up-hill ?Do the people on the other side walk on their heads?Why dont they drop off? Do the rain and the snow fallupward ? Do the trees grow with their tops downward ? Even the children tapped their foreheads and smiledmeaningly when they met the great man on the you see the noble, tall, and powerful form of Colum-bus, his calm, thoughtful face, as he passed al
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