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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