sitation he gave up his employment and remained to
care for her. For many months she was almost helpless.

The change from the excitement of his previous occupation to the
monotony of home--Angus had joined the army--sorely tried Rodney's
patience.

The previous summer Morgan had marched his riflemen to Boston and soon
it was reported that, under Benedict Arnold, he had gone by way of the
Kennebec River, to attack Quebec. Since then nothing had been learned
of him and his gallant men.

General Washington was trying to make an army out of the mob of
patriots he found awaiting him outside Boston, but as yet it did not
appear that any headway was being made toward dislodging the British
from the town.

Spring came and with it report of the evacuation of Boston; then news
of the defeat of the Americans in Canada. Morgan had been captured and
was a prisoner within the walls of Quebec. Later, tidings came of
Washington's march on New York.

May 6, 1776, one hundred and thirty of the representative men of the
Old Dominion, in convention assembled, declared that the king and
Parliament had disregarded the constitution of the colony, which
accordingly was free to exercise such independence as it might be able
to maintain. Nine days later they instructed the colony's delegates in
the Continental Congress to vote for independence, and the flag of
England fluttered down from the capitol building. By doing these
things every one of them exposed his neck to the British halter; but
they were virile men, who had arrived at the parting of the ways.

A few weeks later the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas
Jefferson, was proclaimed throughout the land amid great rejoicing.
Then the country settled down to its grim task. What a task it was!
Many times it seemed that the poor, thinly populated land might endure
no longer. England was a very powerful foe, feared throughout the
world. Not all Americans were patriots. Some were Tories on principle,
others for gain. Very many were selfish and not a few corrupt; but
enough so loved their country and independence as to endure and
struggle unto the glorious end.

CHAPTER XXII

RODNEY'S SACRIFICE AND HIS MOTHER'S

One midsummer day Rodney Allison walked along the dusty road. He did
not carry his head erect as usual but seemed to be pondering over some
problem.

He was a "strapping," fine looking lad, almost a man grown, and in
experience already a man. He stopped