The men shouted, and the women and children cheered Dennis, and the grave Governor said:
“Life is self-revealing, time makes clear all things, and if our good man Dennis has indeed discovered a prophet, it will all be revealed to us some day. Elder Williams, pray!”
The old man stood up under the cedars; the women bowed. Then the people went home to talk of the strange tidings that Dennis had brought them.
Was there, indeed, some hidden secret of personal power in the heart of this young companion of Washington, who had made honor his motto and liberty his star?
CHAPTER XII
LAFAYETTE TELLS HIS SECRET
There is one part of the career of young Lafayette that has never been brought into clear light, and that part was decisive in the destinies of America. It was his letters home. From the time of his commission as an officer in the American army he was constantly writing to French ministers, asking them to use their influence to send aid to America.
He had the favor of the court, and the heart of the popular and almost adored Queen. He felt that his letters must bring to America a fleet. He poured his heart into them.
[The surrender of Burgoyne] brought about a treaty between France and the United States. It was one of alliance and amity. France recognized the United States among the powers of the world, and received Dr. Benjamin Franklin as minister plenipotentiary to the court.