while Nat champed impatiently at the
bit.

By the time they reached the cabin, the boy had recovered much of his
cheerfulness, and entertained his father with a glowing account of his
visit.

David Allison was busily engaged in cleaning the old rifle he had
carried through the French and Indian war. It was apparent that he had
not put away altogether his desire to join Clark's company.

When Rodney told of Mr. Jefferson's offer to give him work, his
father, turning to his wife, said, "Harriet, I think I should go."

For some minutes nothing was said. Rodney noted the shadow on his
mother's face. Finally she replied, "It does seem that the hand of
Providence is shaping matters," and both father and son knew that the
struggle was past; she would spare no effort to assist in her
husband's departure.

The thought of what the wives and mothers endured, in the work of
winning this mighty land, ought to bring the blush of shame to the
face of every son of woman who does aught to sully its fair fame!

One week later David Allison left for the land "over the mountains,"
and disappeared into the great forest, which swallowed him as a huge
cave the one who explores it. Both wife and son noticed that he did
not seem bent and old as he had of late. He was the brave soldier
going forth to battle again.

Before he left he arranged, if all went well and another party the
following year should leave for the West to join them, that Rodney
might go with them.

The next day the boy began his work at Monticello, but saw little of
his employer, who was a very busy man. Though but twenty-nine years
old, Jefferson was a leader in the colonial legislature, the House of
Burgesses. He had been first among those who pledged themselves not to
buy imports from England, he favoured better schools, and was known to
admire the methods of government in New England, especially the town
meetings.

These were not held in Virginia. There, the control of parish affairs
was kept in the hands of a few leading families, and the large estates
were handed down to the eldest son, and so kept entire; whereas, in
New England property was divided among the children. This, Jefferson
was trying to have changed, and consequently incurred the ill will of
those who preferred the existing methods and laws.

The summer passed quickly with Rodney. The crops were scanty and his
earnings meagre but enough to warrant his hope that it would be
possible for him to j