THE CAPITULATION.
In the room of a farm-house in the American lines near Saratoga, a large gathering of officers was assembled. The scarlet of the British, the dark green of the Hessian, and the homely blue and buff of the American officers, mingled in friendly union for the first time.
The British officers looked gloomy and depressed, while the Americans treated them with marked courtesy and consideration. A carriage rolled up to the door of the farm-house, attended by a single dragoon, and a lady with two little children was helped out by one of the American officers, whose plain uniform bore no distinctive marks of rank.
This same officer had a peculiarly kind and benevolent expression on his face. He took up the frightened little ones in his arms as readily as if he had been their proper parent, kissed them affectionately, and turned to welcome the mother, with all the kindly courtesy of a gentleman of the old school.
The lady was the Baroness Reidesel, wife of the Hessian commander, and her heart was at once won to the kind stranger.
“Oh, sir,” she said, impulsively, “you are very, very kind, to us who have injured you so much.”
“Dear madam,” said the stranger, “that was but the fortune of war. You are trembling. Do not be alarmed, I pray you. Probably it may be somewhat embarrassing to you to be the only lady in such a large company of gentlemen. Pray let me take you and the children to my tent, where I will try to entertain you as best I can.”
The tears rushed to the eyes of the lady, as she said:
“Oh, sir, you must be a husband and father to show me so much kindness. Tell me only to whom I am indebted.”
“The debt is mine, madam,” said the officer, politely. “I am General Schuyler.”