“When they began to sign the parchment he smiled and said: 

“’Gentlemen, Benjamin Franklin should have written this document.  The committee, however, knew well that he would be sure to put a joke in it.’

“’Let me remind you that behind it all is the greatest joke in history,’ said the philosopher.

“‘What is that?’ Mr. Jefferson asked,

“‘The British House of Lords,’ said Franklin.

“A smile broke through the cloud of solemnity on those many faces, and was followed by a little ripple of laughter.

“’The committee wishes you all to know that it is indebted to Doctor Franklin for wise revision of the instrument,’ said Mr. Jefferson.

“When the last man had signed, Mr. Jefferson rose and said: 

“’Gentlemen, we have taken a long and important step.  On this new ground we must hang together to the end.’

“‘We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately,’ said Franklin with that gentle, fatherly smile of his.

“Again the signers laughed.

“Last night I heard Patrick Henry speak.  He thrilled us with his eloquence.  He is a spare but rugged man, whose hands have been used to toil like my own.  They tell me that he was a small merchant, farmer and bar-keeper down in Virginia before he became a lawyer and that he educated himself largely by the reading of history.  He has a rapid, magnificent diction, slightly flavored with the accent of the Scot.”

2

In August, Howe had moved a part of his army from Halifax to Staten Island and offensive operations were daily expected in Washington’s army.  Jack hurried to his regiment, then in camp with others on the heights back of Brooklyn.  The troops there were not ready for a strong attack.  General Greene, who was in command of the division, had suddenly fallen ill.  Jack crossed the river the night of his arrival with a message to General Washington.  The latter returned with the young Colonel to survey the situation.  They found Solomon at headquarters.  He had discovered British scouts in the wooded country near Gravesend.  He and Jack were detailed to keep watch of that part of the island and its shores with horses posted at convenient points so that, if necessary, they could make quick reports.

Next day, far beyond the outposts in the bush, they tied their horses in the little stable near Remsen’s cabin on the south road and went on afoot through the bush.  Jack used to tell his friends that the singular alertness and skill of Solomon had never been so apparent as in the adventures of that day.

“Go careful,” Solomon warned as they parted.  “Keep a-goin’ south an’ don’t worry ’bout me.”

“I thought that I knew how to be careful, but Solomon took the conceit out of me,” Jack was wont to say.  “I was walking along in the bush late that day when I thought I saw a move far ahead.  I stopped and suddenly discovered that Solomon was standing beside me.