"'Why, sir'—replied Marion with a smile of self approbation—'these things depend on feeling.'
"The Englishman said—'he did not believe it would be an easy matter to reconcile his feelings to a soldier's life on Gen. Marion's terms—all fighting, no pay and no provisions but potatoes.'
"'Why sir'—answered the General—'the heart is all and when that is much interested a man can do anything. Many a youth would think it hard to indent himself a slave for fourteen years. But let him be over head and ears in love and with such a beauteous sweetheart as Rachel and he will think no more of fourteen years servitude than young Jacob did. Well now this is exactly my case. I am in love and my sweetheart is liberty. Be that heavenly nymph my champion and these woods shall have charms beyond London and Paris in slavery. To have no proud monarch driving over me with his gilt coaches—nor his host of excisemen and tax gatherers insulting and robbing—gloriously preserving my national dignity and pursuing my true happiness—planting my vineyards and eating their luscious fruit—sowing my fields and reaping the golden grain and seeing millions of brothers all around me equally free and happy as myself. This, sir, is what I long for.'
"The officer replied 'that both as man and a Briton he must certainly subscribe to this as a happy state of things.'
"'Happy'—quoth Marion—'yes, happy indeed. I would rather fight for such blessings for my country and feed on roots, than keep aloof though wallowing in all the luxuries of Solomon. For now, sir, I walk the soil that gave me birth and exult in the thought that I am not unworthy of it. I look upon these venerable trees around me and feel that I do not dishonor them. I think of my own sacred rights and rejoice that I have not basely deserted them. And when I look forward to the long-long ages of posterity, I glory in the thought that I am fighting their battles. The children of distant generations may never hear my name but still it gladdens my heart to think that I am now contending for their freedom with all its countless blessings.'
"I looked at Marion as he uttered these sentiments and fancied I felt as when I heard the last words of the brave De Kalb. The Englishman hung his honest head and looked, I thought, as if he had seen the upbraiding ghosts of his illustrious countrymen—Sidney and Hamden. On his return to Georgetown he was asked by Col. Watson why he looked so serious?
"'I have cause, sir, to look serious.'
"'What! has Gen. Marion refused to treat?'
"'No, sir.'
"'Well then, has old Washington defeated Sir Henry Clinton and broke up our army?'