Chapter XII. The Twenty-Second of February

herofhisCountryhadtopayahighpriceforhisglory.Thedarkenedstagerepresentedwhatseemedtobeacampinasnow-storm,andaveryforlorncamp,tooforon“thecold,coldground”(arecklessdisplayofcottonbatting)layraggedsoldiers,sleepingwithoutblankets,theirworn-outbootsturneduppathetically,andnosignoffoodorfiretobeseen.Averyshabbysentinel,withfeetboundinbloodycloths,andhisfaceaspaleaschalkcouldmakeit,gnawedadrycrustashekepthiswatchinthewintrynight. Atentatthebackofthestageshowedasolitaryfiguresittingonalogofwood,poringoverthemapspreaduponhisknee,bythelightofonecandlestuckinabottle.Therecouldbenodoubtwhothiswas,forthebuff-and-bluecoat,thelegs,thenose,theattitude,allbetrayedthegreatGeorgelaboringtosavehiscountry,inspiteofprivations,discouragements,anddangerswhichwouldhavedauntedanyotherman. “ValleyForge,”saidsomeone,andtheroomwasverystillasoldandyounglookedsilentlyatthislittlepictureofagreatandnoblestruggleinoneofitsdarkhours.Thecrust,thewoundedfeet,therags,thesnow,theloneliness,theindomitablecourageandenduranceofthesementouchedtheheartsofall,forthemimicscenegrewrealforamomentand,whenachild'svoicebrokethesilence,askingpitifully,“Oh,mamma,wasittrulyasdreadfulasthat?”ageneraloutburstanswered,asifeveryonewantedtocheerupthebravefellowsandbidthemfighton,forvictorywassurelycoming. Inthenextsceneitdidcome,and“WashingtonatTrenton”wasprettilydone.Anarchofflowerscrossedthestage,withthemotto,“TheDefenderoftheMotherswillbethePreserveroftheDaughters”and,astheherowithhisgeneralsadvancedononeside,atroopofgirls,inold-fashionedmuslinfrocks,cametoscatterflowersbeforehim,singingthesongoflongago:— “Welcome,mightychief,oncemore Welcometothisgratefulshore Nownomercenaryfoe Aimsagainthefatalblow,— Aimsattheethefatalblow. “Virginsfairandmatronsgrave, Thosethyconqueringarmdidsave, Buildfortheetriumphalbowers Strew,yefair,hiswaywithflowers,— Strewyourhero'swaywithflowers.” Andtheydid,singingwithalltheirheartsastheyflungartificialrosesandliliesatthefeetofthegreatmen,whobowedwithbenigngrace.Jack,whodidLafayettewithalimp,coveredhimselfwithglorybypickinguponeofthebouquetsandpressingittohisheartwithallthegallantryofaFrenchmanandwhenWashingtonliftedthesmallestofthemaidsandkissedher,theaudiencecheered.Couldn'thelpit,youknow,itwassoprettyandinspiring. TheWashingtonFamily,afterthefamouspicture,camenext,withAnnetteasthesereneandsensibleMartha,inaverybecomingcap.TheGeneralwasinuniform,therebeingnotimetochange,buthisattitudewasquitecorrect,andtheCustisboyandgirldisplayedthewidesashandruffledcollarwithhistoricfidelity.Thebandplayed“Home,”andeveryoneagreedthatitwas“Sweet!” “NowIdon'tseewhatmoretheycanhaveexceptthedeath-bed,andthatwouldberatheroutofplaceinthisgaycompany,”saidtheoldgentlemantoMr.Burton,ashemoppedhisheatedfaceafterpoundingsoheartilyhenearlyknockedtheferuleoffhiscane. “Notheygavethatup,formyboywouldn'twearanight-gowninpublic.Ican'ttellsecrets,butIthinktheyhavegotaverycleverlittlefinaleforthefirstpart—aprettycomplimenttoonepersonandapleasantsurprisetoall,”answeredMr.Burton,whowasingreatspirits,beingfondoftheatricalsandveryjustlyproudofhischildren,forthelittlegirlshadbeenamongtheTrentonmaids,andthemimicGeneralhadkissedhisownsmallsister,Nelly,verytenderly. Agreatdealofinterestwasfeltastowhatthissurprisewastobe,andageneral“Oh!”greetedthe“MinuteMan,”standingmotionlessuponhispedestal.ItwasFrank,andRalphhaddonehisbesttohavethefigureasperfectaspossible,forthemakeroftheoriginalhadbeenagoodfriendtohimand,whiletheyoungsculptorwasdancinggaylyattheball,thiscopyofhisworkwasdoinghimhonoramongthechildren.Franklookeditverywell,forhisfirm-setmouthwasfullofresolution,hiseyesshonekeenandcourageousunderthethree-corneredhat,andthemusclesstoodoutuponthebarearmthatclutchedtheoldgun.Eventhebuttonsonthegaitersseemedtoflashdefiance,asthesturdylegstookthefirststepfromthefurrowtowardthebridgewheretheyoungfarmerbecameaherowhenhe“firedtheshotheard'roundtheworld.” “Thatissplendid!”“Asliketotheoriginalasfleshcanbetobronze.”“Howstillhestands!”“He'llfightwhenthetimecomes,anddiehard,won'the?”“Hush!Youmakethestatueblush!”Theseveryaudibleremarkscertainlyd