would only have to
keep out of our quarrels, attend to our luggage and make some notes in
the conference."

So it happened that Jack went to Philadelphia with Mr. Adams, and,
after two days at the house of Doctor Franklin, set out with the two
great men for the conference on Staten Island. He went in high hope
that he was to witness the last scene of the war.

In Amboy he sent a letter to his father, which said:

"Mr. Adams is a blunt, outspoken man. If things do not go to his
liking, he is quick to tell you. Doctor Franklin is humorous and
polite, but firm as a God-placed mountain. You may put your shoulder
against the mountain and push and think it is moving, but it isn't. He
is established. He has found his proper bearings and is done with
moving. These two great men differ in little matters. They had a
curious quarrel the other evening. We had reached New Brunswick on our
way north. The taverns were crowded. I ran from one to another trying
to find entertainment for my distinguished friends. At last I found a
small chamber with one bed in it and a single window. The bed nearly
filled the room. No better accommodation was to be had. I had left
them sitting on a bench in a little grove near the large hotel, with
the luggage near them. When I returned they were having a hot argument
over the origin of northeast storms, the Doctor asserting that he had
learned by experiment that they began in the southwest and proceeded in
a north-easterly direction. I had to wait ten minutes for a chance to
speak to them. Mr. Adams was hot faced, the Doctor calm and smiling.
I imparted the news.

"'God of Israel!' Mr. Adams exclaimed. 'Is it not enough that I have
to agree with you? Must I also sleep with you?'

"'Sir, I hope that you must not, but if you must, I beg that you will
sleep more gently than you talk,' said Franklin.

"I went with them to their quarters carrying the luggage. On the way
Mr. Adams complained that he had picked up a flea somewhere.

"'The flea, sir, is a small animal, but a big fact,' said Franklin.
'You alarm me. Two large men and a flea will be apt to crowd our
quarters.'

"In the room they argued with a depth of feeling which astonished me,
as to whether the one window should be open or closed. Mr. Adams had
closed it.

"'Please do not close the window,' said Franklin. 'We shall suffocate.'

"'Sir, I am an invalid and afraid of the night air,' said Adams rather
testily.