CHAPTER IV
RODNEY'S VISIT TO MONTICELLO
One day there came to David Allison's house a stalwart young man cladin the typical garb of the hunter, fringed deerskin hunting shirtbelted at the waist, and breeches and moccasins of the same material.
This was no less a person than George Rogers Clark, who was to bearsuch a conspicuous part in the Revolution, as a daring leader of theforces which saved the great territory north of the Ohio River to theUnited States. His little brother, then but two years old, was,thirty-six years later, with Captain Lewis, to conduct the Lewis andClark expedition from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean andthus enable our government to secure the territory of the greatNorthwest.
"Cap'n George," as he was familiarly called, was now planning toestablish a settlement near the Ohio River, and had called to interestDavid Allison in the project.
Rodney listened with open-eyed attention to Clark's glowing accountsof fertile lands apparently only waiting for a little enterprise to bedeveloped into a perfect paradise.
The boy saw that his father was much interested, but hesitated, sayingthat circumstances were such that he must remain where he was for afew years. Rodney thought he knew the reason but said nothing.
"Perhaps you may yet see your way clear, Mr. Allison," said Clark onleaving. "I expect to pass this way again in a few days, and will callto see if you haven't changed your mind."
After the caller was gone Rodney said: "Father, I'll go to Monticello,to-morrow if I may. You know Mr. Jefferson invited me."
"Glad to have you, my boy."
The morning gave promise of a beautiful day. By the time Rodney cameto the hill, up which the road led to Mr. Jefferson's residence, thesun shone hotly and the dust lay thick, but the boy's thoughts were onthe visit, and his heart beat quickly.
The country round about is hilly, but "Little Mountain," as the hillwas called before Jefferson gave it the Italian name, Monticello, wasqueen of them all, though Carter's Mountain, a short distance west, issomewhat larger.
Rodney always remembered that morning in May, when Nat "single-footed"the hill without stopping. No knight ever stormed a castle, no pilgrimever approached a shrine with greater earnestness. So eager was hethat he did not fully appreciate the glorious beauties of thelandscape. The Rivanna River looked like a ribbon of silvery satinlaid on green velvet, all in striking contrast with the red soil ofthe tilled fields. The Blue Ridge mountains, nearly fifty milesdistant, were, in the clear air, a massive and misty blue backgroundfor the picturesque Ragged Mountains near at hand.
There was little about such small portion of the house as was thenbuilt to indicate to the boy what its future charms would be. Later,when Mr. Jefferson talked with him, and explained the plans he hadmade, Rodney understood and admired what, after thirty years inbuilding, thousands have since admired, the beautiful "Monticello."
Mr. Jefferson was found in his garden, working among his earlyvegetables. His face was red from sunburn and he was dressed in a bluecoat, gray waistcoat and green knee breeches. He recognized the lad atonce, and greeted him pleasantly. He had been measuring the growth ofvarious plants, during stated periods, and with different fertilizers,and was recording these facts in his neat handwriting, such as fouryears later was to appear on the famous Declaration of Independence.
"That's a fine colt you have there," he exclaimed with enthusiasm, ashe noted the horse Rodney had ridden, and which was being held by asmall black boy.
"Nat is a fine animal, sir."
"And well groomed."
"I care for him myself. He belongs to me, for father gave him to mewhen he was a little fellow. He has learned several tricks. Nat, doyou want to go home?"
Nat pawed the ground twice and whinnied vigorously.
"That's his way of saying yes, isn't it, Nat, boy?"
The colt's answer was to thrust his velvety muzzle caressingly againstthe lad's cheek, blinking his large purplish eyes the while.
He was truly a fine animal with breeding in every line, dark bay incolour, with a black stripe running from mane to tail.
Seeing an opportunity, Rodney said: "Mr. Jefferson, may I ask youradvice?"
"Certainly you may."
"I--I'm afraid father made a mistake when he bought our place ofold--er Mr. Denham. I've been told two other men bought it and made afailure, having a mortgage on it. I don't know whether father gaveDenham a mortgage, but I do know that, while he wants to go out on theOhio and take up his soldier's claim to land, he doesn't think it wiseto leave home, I suppose on account of debts. I feel sure he ought togo. I want to go with him, but if I can do more by staying at home Iought to. Don't you think he should go?"
"Was the boy seeking a loan?" thought Jefferson, but he said: "I wouldnot like to advise. Your father doubtless knows better than we what isbest. There is great eagerness on the part of many people to seek newhomes in the great West, but many who go over the mountains willreturn poorer than they went, and many others will never return atall. That part of the country has a glorious future, and there's muchexcitement over the prospects. The pioneer spirit is resistless, but,were I your father, I should not wish to take my family. The Indiansare troublesome and growing more restless."
"I would be willing to stay at home if I could earn some money to helpalong."
"You ought to be at your studies."
"I suppose so. I've had a pretty good training in the three Rs and amhalf way through Caesar. I can study a little in the evenings."
The boy noticed that the look the man gave him was one of warm goodwill.
"Indeed, you certainly haven't been idle. Don't give up. Labour andlearn, that must every boy or man do to succeed, and if he learnsthoroughly he'll see that good character is also essential to thesuccess which endures. I rise at daylight, winter and summer. Yes, myboy, there is something I can get for you to do, though the recompensewill not be large. I'm having some land surveyed and you could serveas an assistant and acquire some practical knowledge besides; that is,if your father will permit it."
"Thank you, sir. I'm sure he'll be proud to have me in your service."
"We'll now go to the library and see what we can find, for I'm of theopinion that what the Reverend Mr. Stith said about King James won'tapply to you."
"What was that, sir?"
"In his History of Virginia he writes that King James' instructor hadgiven him 'Greek and Latin in great waste and profusion, but it wasnot in his power to give him good sense.' By that don't think thatGreek and Latin are not both excellent. I would advise every boy tostudy them if possible."
They were walking toward the house when they met Mrs. Jefferson.Rodney was introduced, and was received most graciously. He flushedwith pleasure, and thought how gratified his father would be at thekind manner with which he was received.
"What book would you especially like, Rodney?"
"May I have 'Josephus?' I began that down at the old home but fatherloaned it, and the borrower never brought it back."
"Which assures me I'm perfectly safe in loaning to you. Yes, here's'Josephus.' It's well to know history, especially these days when veryimportant history is in the making."
When Rodney mounted his horse, Mr. Jefferson stood stroking theanimal's nose, for he ever admired a fine horse, and he said: "Ifworse comes to worst this colt would help pay off the mortgage, and,should you decide to sell him, I would like to have a chance to buyhim;" then, seeing that the lad's face had become very serious, hequickly added: "but there won't be any need of that yet awhile. By theway, why did you give him the name, 'Nat?'"
"I named him after Nathaniel Bacon. Father says he'd rather have hadBacon's fate and reputation than Lord Berkeley's."
"Berkeley didn't believe in encouraging boys in Virginia to readbooks, so he and I wouldn't have agreed," and as the boy rode away hesaid to himself, "and the Berkeleys in this generation think the goodEnglish blood of these colonies can be ruled like serfs!"
As for Rodney, the brightness s
omehow seemed to have departed from thebright day which had held such promise. His mind had been full of theimportance and pleasure of his visit. Now, he could only think, "MustI sell Nat?" It had never occurred to him until suggested by Mr.Jefferson. Was it his duty to part with the colt? Well, if necessaryhe would do it, "But first I'll work my fingers off, Nat," and hepatted the glossy, arching neck while Nat champed impatiently at thebit.
By the time they reached the cabin, the boy had recovered much of hischeerfulness, and entertained his father with a glowing account of hisvisit.
David Allison was busily engaged in cleaning the old rifle he hadcarried through the French and Indian war. It was apparent that he hadnot put away altogether his desire to join Clark's company.
When Rodney told of Mr. Jefferson's offer to give him work, hisfather, turning to his wife, said, "Harriet, I think I should go."
For some minutes nothing was said. Rodney noted the shadow on hismother's face. Finally she replied, "It does seem that the hand ofProvidence is shaping matters," and both father and son knew that thestruggle was past; she would spare no effort to assist in herhusband's departure.
The thought of what the wives and mothers endured, in the work ofwinning this mighty land, ought to bring the blush of shame to theface of every son of woman who does aught to sully its fair fame!
One week later David Allison left for the land "over the mountains,"and disappeared into the great forest, which swallowed him as a hugecave the one who explores it. Both wife and son noticed that he didnot seem bent and old as he had of late. He was the brave soldiergoing forth to battle again.
Before he left he arranged, if all went well and another party thefollowing year should leave for the West to join them, that Rodneymight go with them.
The next day the boy began his work at Monticello, but saw little ofhis employer, who was a very busy man. Though but twenty-nine yearsold, Jefferson was a leader in the colonial legislature, the House ofBurgesses. He had been first among those who pledged themselves not tobuy imports from England, he favoured better schools, and was known toadmire the methods of government in New England, especially the townmeetings.
These were not held in Virginia. There, the control of parish affairswas kept in the hands of a few leading families, and the large estateswere handed down to the eldest son, and so kept entire; whereas, inNew England property was divided among the children. This, Jeffersonwas trying to have changed, and consequently incurred the ill will ofthose who preferred the existing methods and laws.
The summer passed quickly with Rodney. The crops were scanty and hisearnings meagre but enough to warrant his hope that it would bepossible for him to join his father the following spring.
Angus was a frequent visitor at the Allison home. He was generous,impulsive and rough, and had not many home advantages, but hisfriendship for Rodney never wavered. Like all the boys, he dislikedDenham, who was a fat little man with a greasy smile and eyes like apig's. He was said to be a miser, and a cheat, and a coward, which, inthe eyes of the boys, was an unforgivable weakness.
One night Rodney and Angus had been over to a quilting party at theDawsons', or rather to the frolic which followed the quilting. Therehad been dancing to such music as the squeaky fiddle of Ander Byramcould afford, also refreshments, in which a big ham and a roast ofvenison were two prominent features. The boys left early, Rodneybecause he had to rise by five o'clock the next morning, and Angusbecause he had quarrelled with Betty Saunders. They came out into thecrisp December air singing, "Polly put the kettle on, we'll all taketea."
Rodney, being in a confidential mood, told his companion of his plansfor joining his father in the spring, and then said: "Angus, I shouldfeel a lot better about leaving mother if I knew there was some onelike you to help her out of any trouble that might come up. She mightbe sick, you know, and old Denham might try to cheat her in someway."
"I'll shake hands on that, Rod. Don't you worry. Jimminy Jewsharp! butI wish I was goin' too."