In the Days of Poor Richard

  2

  It was on a severe day in March that Washington sent for Jack Irons. Thescout found the General sitting alone by the fireside in his office whichwas part of a small farm-house. He was eating a cold luncheon of bakedbeans and bread without butter. Jack had just returned from Philadelphiawhere he had risked his life as a spy, of which adventure no details arerecorded save the one given in the brief talk which follows. The scoutsmiled as he took the chair offered.

  "The British are eating no such frugal fare," he remarked.

  "I suppose not," the General answered.

  "The night before I left Philadelphia Howe and his staff had a banquet atThe Three Mariners. There were roasted hams and geese and turkeys andpatties and pies and jellies and many kinds of wine and high merriment.The British army is well fed and clothed."

  "We are not so provided but we must be patient," said Washington. "Ourpeople mean well, they are as yet unorganized. This matter of beingcitizens of an independent nation at war is new to them. The men who aretrying to establish a government while they are defending it against apowerful enemy have a most complicated problem. Naturally, there aredisagreements and factions. Congress may, for a time, be divided but thearmy must stand as one man. This thing we call human liberty has becomefor me a sublime personality. In times when I could see no light, shehas kept my heart from failing."

  "She is like the goddess of old who fought in the battles of Agamemnon,"said Jack. "Perhaps she is the angel of God who hath been given chargeconcerning us. Perhaps she is traveling up and down the land andoverseas in our behalf."

  Washington sat looking thoughtfully into the fire. In a moment he said:

  "She is like a wise and beautiful mother assuring us that our sorrowswill end, by and by, and that we must keep on."

  The General arose and went to his desk and returned with sealed lettersin his hand and said:

  "Colonel, I have a task for you. I could give it to no man in whom I hadnot the utmost confidence. You have earned a respite from the hardshipsand perils of this army. Here is a purse and two letters. With them Iwish you to make your way to France as soon as possible and turn over theletters to Franklin. The Doctor is much in need of help. Put yourservices at his disposal. A ship will be leaving Boston on thefourteenth. A good horse has been provided; your route is mapped. Youwill need to start after the noon mess. For the first time in ten daysthere will be fresh beef on the tables. Two hundred blankets havearrived and more are coming. After they have eaten, give the men afarewell talk and put them in good heart, if you can. We are going tocelebrate the winter's end which can not be long delayed. When you haveleft the table, Hamilton will talk to the boys in his witty and inspiringfashion."

  Soon after one o'clock on the seventh of March, 1778, Colonel Irons badeSolomon good-by and set out on his long journey. That night he slept ina farmhouse some fifty miles from Valley Forge.

  Next morning this brief note was written to his mother:

  "I am on my way to France, leaving mother and father and sister andbrother and friend, as the Lord has commanded, to follow Him, I verilybelieve. Yesterday the thought came to me that this thing we call thelove of Liberty which is in the heart of every man and woman of us,urging that we stop at no sacrifice of blood and treasure, is as trulythe angel of God as he that stood with Peter in the prison house. Lastnight I saw Liberty in my dreams--a beautiful woman she was, of heroicstature with streaming hair and the glowing eyes of youth and she wasdressed in a long white robe held at the waist by a golden girdle. And Ithought that she touched my brow and said:

  "'My son, I am sent for all the children of men and not for Americaalone. You will find me in France for my task is in many lands.'

  "I left the brave old fighter, Solomon, with tears in his eyes. What aman is Solomon! Yet, God knows, he is the rank and file of Washington'sarmy as it stands to-day--ragged, honest, religious, heroic, half fed,unappreciated, but true as steel and willing, if required, to give up hiscomfort or his life! How may we account for such a man without the helpof God and His angels?"