“Why do you call Mr. Allen a ‘Green Mountain Boy’?” asked the little girl, after she had answered his questions about Esther; “he is a big man.”
Mr. Carew smiled down at Faith’s eager face, and then pointed to the green wooded hills beyond the clearing. “It’s because he, and other men of these parts, are like those green hills,—strong, and sufficient to themselves,” he answered. “Every settler in the Wilderness knows that Ethan Allen will help them protect their homes; and no man knows this part of the country better than Colonel Allen.”
“Why do you call him ‘Colonel’?” asked Faith.
“Because the Bennington people have given him that title, and put him in command of the men of the town that they may be of service to defend it in case King George’s men come over from New York,” replied her father; “but I do not know but the bears are as dangerous as the ‘Yorkers.’ Do you think Esther will be quite well to-morrow?” concluded Mr. Carew.
Faith was quite sure that Esther would soon be as well as ever. She did not want to talk about Esther. She wanted to hear more about her friend Colonel Allen. “I heard him tell mother that he slept in a cave one night on his way here,” she said.
“Oh, yes; he can sleep anywhere. But you must talk of him no more to-day, Faithie,” answered Mr. Carew; “and here is ‘Bounce’ looking for you,” he added, as the little gray kitten jumped into Faith’s lap.