“Well, give that to him, and we will go supperless to Him who owns the cattle upon a thousand hills. He is riding in the cause of liberty, and needs the cake more than we. God will give us the white stone and the hidden manna, and to serve the patriots we have gone supperless before.”
Queer as it may seem, this story pictures the time. This man plowed with a cow, but treated the animal as if she was a member of the household; men and animals suffered together then in those hard, sturdy, and glorious old New England days.
“This is a queer country,” said Dennis, “but what men it makes! What will they be when they are free!”
But now came the disastrous battle of Long Island. New York was taken, and the fall winds began to blow.
There was sadness in every true American’s heart. England was rejoicing, and felt secure in the rising success of her arms.
Washington appealed to Trumbull. A former appeal had come in spring-time, when Putnam left his plow in the furrow.
The appeal now came in harvest-time. What were the farmers to do?
“The wives and boys and old men will harvest the crops,” was the public answer. “Save Washington again, Brother Jonathan!”
It was in 1777. Disaster had again befallen the American army, and Lord Howe was on the sea.