The words, “if he stays with me and is loyal to the King,” made him think that the wood-chopper meant himself, or some unknown relative.
But “if he stays with me” suggested himself so strongly, that he often asked himself, if the hard old man really loved him and was carrying out some vision for his welfare in his silent heart.
Peter used to meet Brother Jonathan as the latter crossed the green, which he did almost daily. The Governor was usually so absorbed in thought that he did not seem to see the shining sun, or to hear the birds singing; he lived in the cause.
But when he met Peter he would stretch out his hand in the Quaker manner, and look pleasant. To see the old man’s face light up was a joy to the susceptible boy; it made him so happy as to make him alert the rest of the day.
One day as the two were crossing the green, in near ways, the Governor suddenly said:
“Let us consider the matter:
“My young man, for so you are before your time, I must have a clerk in my store, and he must be no common clerk; he must be one that I can trust, for he must do more than sell goods and barter; he must look out for me, when I am in the back room, the war office; and he must be the only one to enter the war-office room when the council is in session. The council has met more than three hundred times now. And, Peter, Peter of the hills, shepherd-boy, night-watch—my heart turns to you. You must be my clerk—that is, to the people; meet customers, barter, trade, sell; but to me, you must be the sentinel of the door of the war office. Peter, I can see your soul; you will be true to me. I am an old man; don’t say it, but I forget, when I have so many things to weigh me down. You shall stand between the store and the war office, at the counter, and I will give you the secret keys, and if any one must see me, you must see about the matter. Peter, the Council of Safety is a power behind the destiny of this nation. It is revealed to me so. Will you come?”
“Yes, yes, Governor. I live in my thoughts for you. Yes, yes, and I will be as faithful as I can.”
“Of course you will. Come right now. You may sleep in the store at night. The drovers will tell you stories on the barrels. I can trust you for everything. So I dismiss myself now—you are myself. Here is the secret key. Don’t feel hurt if I do not speak to you much when you see me. I live for the future, and must think, think, think.”