CHAPTER V--A DAY OF NOTE
"Great were the hearts, and strong the minds, Of those, who framed, in high debate, The immortal league of love, that binds Our fair, broad Empire, State with State.
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"That noble race is gone; the suns Of years have risen, and set; But the bright links those chosen ones So strongly forged, are brighter yet."
It was late that night when Drayton returned.
"No," he said in answer to Harriet's eager questioning. "I found himnot. I went to both the old and the new jails, but he was in neither. Infact, no prisoners have been received for some days. I then made therounds of the taverns, but no such party was stopping at any of them.There was but one trace to be found: some of the loungers about the innssaid that a party of horse was seen in the late afternoon riding towardthe lower ferry. I will inquire in that direction to-morrow. 'Tis notcustomary to travel at night with prisoners, unless the need is urgent.I wonder that a stop for the night was not made in the city."
The dragoons had passed through the city, as the lieutenant found thenext day; and, crossing the Schuylkill at Gray's Ferry had gone on tothe Blue Bell Tavern, putting up there for the night. They were up andaway early the next morning.
"Then how shall I find him?" queried Harriet as Drayton imparted thisinformation to her. "Lieutenant, you are an officer in the army; tell mehow to find my brother. I ought not to ask this of you, I know. Ihaven't always been kind or pleasant, but if you will only help me inthis, I'll--I'll----Peggy, help me to plead with him."
"There is no need to plead, mistress," responded he quickly. "If I canbe of service to you, it will be a pleasure. I will do what I can tofind him. If he is an officer the task will be much easier. If I hearaught concerning him I will send you word at once. 'Twas said at theBlue Bell that the party was for the South, and if so, it may be that Ishall overtake it. I leave to-morrow if the despatches of Congress areready."
"So soon?" exclaimed Peggy in dismay. "Why, thee came but yesterday,John."
"A soldier's time is never his own, Peggy. It hath been delightful tohave even these few days. After the hard marching of the past weeks 'tislike an oasis in the desert to tarry in a real home. From all I hear weare likely to be on the move for some time to come. 'Twas openly talkedin camp, before I left, that 'twas our general's plan to draw my LordCornwallis as far from his base of supplies as possible. If that be truewe shall do naught but march for some time to come. This is a good restfor me."
"If thy stay is so short then we must see that 'tis made as pleasant aspossible," declared Mrs. Owen. And from that moment the three, forHarriet threw off her depression and was once more the charming girlthat she had been at Middlebrook, devoted themselves so successfully tohis entertainment that Drayton declared that it was well that he had ahorse to carry him away; for he would never leave of his own volition.
"It hath been delightful," he reiterated as he was about to depart. "Idoubt that 'tis good for me to have so much pampering. 'Twill give me adesire to play the messenger at all times, and make me long for comfortsthat are not to be found in camp, or on the march. You shall hear fromme soon, Mistress Harriet. Even though I should not overtake yourbrother and the dragoons still you shall have word of it."
With that he was gone. Life with its duties resumed its accustomedroutine at the Owens' dwelling with the exception that Harriet seemedmuch improved. The interest in her brother was the thing needful toarouse her, and she daily gained in strength. The two horses, Star andFleetwood, were brought from the stables, and the girls with Tom asgroom again rode whenever the weather was pleasant. And so a weekpassed. February was folded away in the book of years, and March wasupon them; but if Drayton had overtaken the horsemen on his way Souththey had received no word.
"How warm the sun is," exclaimed Harriet as she and Peggy were returningfrom a long ride on the first of the month. "Were it not that I mightreceive word from Lieutenant Drayton about Clifford, I would suggestthat we turn about and go on to Chestnut Hill. It would be pleasant tobe out all afternoon."
"Nay," demurred Peggy. "The distance to Chestnut Hill makes it not to bethought of. Besides, dinner is at two, and mother wished us to be homein time for that. Though it is pleasant."
It was pleasant. The storm month had begun his sway with the mildness ofthe proverbial lamb. The air held just enough of keenness to be bracing,and the sky was blue with the blueness of May. There was the promise ofspring in the woods. The almost dead silences of winter had disappeared.The song of the occasional robin was heard; the flutter of wings, andthe almost silent noises of the trees and thickets, evidenced in theswelling buds of the bare branches.
The Germantown road was a favorite ride with them, and this day theystopped often to exclaim over the spaciousness of the landscape whichthe leafless trees admitted to their view.
"Do you think that I will hear to-day, Peggy?" asked her cousinwistfully after one of these stops.
"I know not, Harriet. John will let thee know as soon as he can, for hepromised. I would not think so much anent it, if I were thee. What isthe saying? 'A watched pot never boils.' Is not that it?"
"I can't help it, Peggy. If Clifford were not a prisoner I would notcare so much. Just as soon as I find where he is I must try to securehis release. I know that Sir Henry Clinton would get him exchanged if Ishould ask it. I will write to him."
Instantly Peggy was troubled. She feared Harriet's activities. Thecouncil of the state was alert and watchful, and would tolerate nocommunications of any sort with the enemy. In fact, several women, wivesand relatives of Tories in New York and other points within the Britishlines, had recently been arrested for this very fault. So it was a verygrave face the maiden turned to her cousin.
"Harriet," she said, "does thee remember the trouble that we got into atMiddlebrook by trying to pass letters to Sir Henry? Thee must not try topass any letters here."
"But this is different, Peggy," protested the other girl eagerly. "I'mnot going to do any spy work. I learned a lesson at that time that Ishall never forget. You have my word, Peggy. I shall not break it. Theonly thing I should write would be but a line to ask for Clifford'sexchange. There could be no harm in that."
"If thee sends a letter of any sort, Harriet, thee must first take it toMr. Joseph Reed, the president of the council. If he sees no objectionto it then he will send it through for thee. If thee does not care to goto him, mother would attend to it for thee. 'Twould be best to leave thematter with her in any case. She would do everything that could bedone."
"But the army is not here," expostulated Harriet, who evidently had thematter strongly in mind. "I see no reason why I should submit my letterto Mr. Reed. There could be naught to report of war matters fromPhiladelphia. 'Tis not as it was at Middlebrook."
"Is it not?" queried Peggy. "Why, Harriet, the enemy want all knowledgethat can be had of the movements of Congress. Philadelphia is the centerof the government. Whatever transpires here is of great interest to SirHenry. Therefore, the rules regarding letters are rigid. Thee must notattempt it, Harriet."
"Well, well, have it your own way," returned Harriet lightly. "I thinkyou make too much of such a small thing, Peggy, but the affair can bearranged when Clifford's whereabouts become known. So we will say nomore about it."
There was nothing that could be said, so Peggy held her peace; but shethought deeply. She would tell her mother, she resolved, and they wouldsee that no communication was had with the British that was not throughthe regular channels. But what a responsibility these English cousinswere, she mused, and so musing sighed heavily.
"Wherefore the sigh, cousin mine?" quizzed Harriet, bending low over hersaddle to look into Peggy's eyes. "Is it because you are afraid of whatI shall do? Fie, for shame! 'Tis you who are beset by fancies now. Fearnothing, Peggy. I shall bring no further trouble upon you. Is that whatyou were worry
ing about?"
"Yes," confessed Peggy frankly. "It was, Harriet."
"Then think of it no more. Have I not said that no trouble shall come toyou? And there shall not. But a truce to seriousness. 'Tis much too finefor worry. Is not that a robin redbreast, Peggy?"
"Yes, Harriet. I have noticed several since we began our ride. 'Twillsoon be spring. And it should be; for it is the first of Third month."
And so the topic of the letter was put aside for the time, and themaidens rode on through the trees chatting pleasantly. Suddenly the dullboom of a cannon smote their ears.
"A battle! A battle!" cried Harriet excitedly as they drew rein tolisten. "Oh, what if our people have attacked the city?"
"Nay," spoke Peggy. "'Tis more like that there is something tocelebrate. Listen! Does thee not hear bells?"
"I wonder what it can be?" exclaimed Harriet. "I hope that 'tis notanother victory for the rebels."
"Let us hasten, Harriet. We can find out in no other way." Peggy calledto Tom, and they set forward at speed.
The noise became a din as they entered the city. Cannon boomed from theshipping on the Delaware, and artillery thundered on the land. All thebells in the city were ringing. Hoarse shouts filled the air, and uponevery side there were manifestations of joy.
"Oh, what can it be?" exclaimed Peggy with some excitement. "I wish weknew."
A short, thick-set little man, of dark, swarthy complexion was justcrossing Front Street toward one of the quays as she spoke. He turned ashe heard the exclamation, and came toward them.
"If you do not know, lassie, let me tell you," he said with a deepobeisance. "'Tis a great day. A great day, and will go down in historyas such. Know then that this morning the last state ratified theArticles of Confederation, and by that act the Union becomes perpetual."
"Have they done it at last?" cried she. "Why, it hath been debated anddiscussed so long that we feared 'twould never happen. I did not know'twas to occur to-day."
"Nor did any of us," returned he genially. "I fancy that it took eventhe Congress by surprise. 'Twas announced at noon, by a discharge ofartillery, the signal agreed upon. I am going now to add my quota to therejoicing by firing a _feu de joie_ from my ship yonder."
He indicated a frigate beautifully decorated with a variety of streamersanchored just off the quay.
"The 'Ariel,'" read Harriet, at which Peggy opened her eyes wide.
"If that is thy ship then thee must be that John Paul Jones who foughtthat wonderful battle with the 'Serapis' two years ago," ejaculated she.For the "Ariel" was the vessel which was given that gallant officer inplace of the "Bon Homme Richard" which had been so battered in thatmemorable engagement that it had sunk two days after the fight.
"THEE MUST BE JOHN PAUL JONES"]
"The very same," he answered with a profound courtesy. "The very same,at your service, ladies."
"And thou hast stopped to give us information just as though thee was anordinary man," she said in so awed a tone that he burst out laughing.
"Well, and why not? Could I not give it as correctly as another? I amhonored to be of service."
He swept them another courtesy, and a little confused by the meeting thetwo girls thanked him, and rode on.
On every hand the citizens demonstrated the importance of the happyoccasion. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the President of Congressreceived congratulations. At night the evening was ushered in by anelegant display of fireworks while the gentlemen of Congress, the civiland military officers, and many of the principal citizens partook of acollation spread for them at the City Tavern.
The first great step toward making the union permanent was taken. Therewere many pitfalls awaiting the young nation ere one republic could bemoulded out of thirteen sovereign states. There were concessions to bemade, mistakes corrected, in later years a baptism of blood, before EPluribus Unum could be properly the motto of the new United States. Butthe first step toward becoming a nation among the nations was taken whenthe states entered into a firm league of friendship on this day fortheir common defense, the security of their liberties and their mutualgeneral welfare. A people struggling for liberty always become thefavorites of heaven, and how far-reaching the links forged between thestates was to become was known alone to the Ruler of all.