He told the members of that body that he would serve his country willingly and as well as he could—­but not for money.  They might provide for his necessary expenses, but he would never take any pay for his services.

And so, leaving all his own interests out of sight, he undertook at once the great work that had been entrusted to him.  He undertook it, not for profit nor for honor, but because of a feeling of duty to his fellow-men.  For eight weary, years he forgot himself in the service of his country.

Two weeks after his appointment General Washington rode into Cambridge, near Boston, and took formal command of his army.

It was but a small force, poorly clothed, poorly armed; but every man had the love of country in his heart.  It was the first American army.

But so well did Washington manage matters that soon his raw troops were in good shape for service.  And so hard did he press the king’s soldiers in Boston that, before another summer, they were glad to take ship and sail away from the town which they had so long infested and annoyed.

* * * * *

XIII.—­Independence.

On the fourth day of the following July there was a great stir in the town of Philadelphia.  Congress was sitting in the Hall of the State House.  The streets were full of people; everybody seemed anxious; everybody was in suspense.

Men were crowding around the State House and listening.

“Who is speaking now?” asked one.

“John Adams,” was the answer.

“And who is speaking now?”

“Doctor Franklin.”

“Good!  Let them follow his advice, for he knows what is best.”

Then there was a lull outside, for everybody wanted to hear what the great Dr. Franklin had to say.

After a while the same question was asked again:  “Who is speaking now?”

And the answer was:  “Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.  It was he and Franklin who wrote it.”

“Wrote what?”

“Why, the Declaration of Independence, of course.”

A little later some one said:  “They will be ready to sign it soon.”

“But will they dare to sign it?”

“Dare?  They dare not do otherwise.”

Inside the hall grave men were discussing the acts of the King of England.

“He has cut off our trade with all parts of the world,” said one.

“He has forced us to pay taxes without our consent,” said another.

“He has sent his soldiers among us to burn our towns and kill our people,” said a third.

“He has tried to make the Indians our enemies,” said a fourth.

“He is a tyrant and unfit to be the ruler of a free people,” agreed they all.

And then everybody was silent while one read:  “We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, solemnly publish and declare that the united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states”