Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 9.djvu/107

 The Doctor's GranddaiigJiter. 91

clare America free and independent, at the four comers, and stamped out

John Adams seconded the motion. For the king's arms. Joseph Brownlow cut

three days this motion was discussed, down his sign of the ' Crown and Scep-

— amotion fraught with intense inter- tre,' and calls his tavern the ' Inde-

est ; on the last day it was postponed pendence ' now." for further consideration to the first day " O grandfather ! I fear we shall have

of July, and it was voted a committee much bloodshed before we can enjoy

be appointed to propose a declaration our freedom : it must be bought with

to the effect of the resolution. The the lives of our best men," said Su-

committee was elected by ballot the sanna.

following day : this committee numbered "I can't deny that, child," said the

five, and their names were well known old doctor ; " but, as John Adams said,

in the Colonies. Thomas Jefferson re- ' The die is cast.' It is now gain all, or

received the largest number of votes lose all."

by one, and Mr. Adams came next by During the weary months that fol-

choice. lowed, Susanna knew of the long march-

The other three requested Mr. Jeffer- es, the poor quality of the supplies for

son and Mr. Adams to draw up the the army, and of the dire sickness that

paper ; and Mr. Jefferson did so, with fell upon them. The letters that she

hints and help from the others. On received from John encouraged her and

the ist of July the subject was resumed ; his mother : these letters were few and

and upon the report of Thomas Jeffer- far between. In one he wrote them

son, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, that he had been inoculated with the

Roger Sherman, and Philip Livingston, small-pox, and did nicely. Every word

the thirteen Colonies declared them- was read over and over again by the

selves free and independent States, two sad women. John Pendexter

and dissolved their allegiance to the proved himself a good soldier, and a

British Crown on the 4th of July, strong one too : he kept with his regi-

1776. Three of these five men were ment, and encountered the British, and

born in Massachusetts, and had recently fought manfully for his country, felt the British heel. The surrender of Burgoyne's army

This news was received with great was a proud moment for him ; and the

joy by the Colonies : bells were rung, forced march of forty miles in fourteen

cannon fired, and public processions hours, to waylay the British Gen. Clin-

formed. ton, was cheerfully performed by the

The far-away towns speedily heard battle-worn troops. Clinton, hearing

the news, and quickly began to show of Burgoyne's defeat, went back to

their hatred for the British yoke. New York, and left Albany in peace.

Dr. Carwin said one day when he The British army now took up its came in, " Susanna, the thing is done, winter quarters at Philadelphia, and the We have cut loose from England now, American troops established themselves and we stand or fall for ourselves. I at Valley Forge. Here the suffering of want that old portrait of King George the army was intense : famine threat- taken down and put in the attic : he is ened them, and the bitter cold was my king no longer. To-day the young keenly felt through their scanty cloth- lads pulled the old sign-board down ing ; many sickened and died.

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