A look of surprise crossed Priscilla's face, but she did not venture to raise a question.
"Yes," responded Amy, "I know about the Loyalists."
"Well, my grandfather was a farmer in Westchester County, rich and prosperous, but he would not take arms against the King. A friend and neighbor of his was tarred and feathered, and he was in some danger himself. So he went into the war, and when it was over he couldn't stay in New York. With other Loyalists he came down here. Of course it was very hard for him to have all his property taken away, but his wife was brave and she was willing to suffer."
"Who sent them away?" asked Priscilla, eagerly.
"Why, the Yankees,—the Americans, I mean," said Mrs. Tatem.
"The Patriots," whispered Priscilla.
"Yes, yes," interposed Amy.
"But," continued Priscilla, "I didn't know that there were two sides to the story." And as she said this the old lady smiled.
"We have no bitterness now. I ought not to have said 'Yankees.' I have many friends in the States, but it was hard for my mother and aunts to have to grow up in the wilderness. I used to hear my aunt talk. She was an older daughter."
"But how did they live here in those days?"