CHAPTER XVII
A GLIMPSE OF HOME
"And as the shell upon the mountain height Sings of the sea, So do I ever, leagues and leagues away, So do I ever, wandering where I may, Sing, O my home! sing, O my home, of thee."
--_Eugene Field._
"Peggy, does thee know that Fifth Month is upon us, and that we havebeen here nearly two months?" Sally turned from the open window bywhich she was standing, and looked at Peggy with eyes full of longing."Shall we ever go home, I wonder!"
"I hope so, Sally." Peggy was making the bed in their little room, andshe smoothed the wrinkles out of the coverlid as she continued:"Friend Ashley hath no horses, and he hath been busy, as thee knows. Imake no doubt but that a way will soon be opened for us. I think bothhe and Friend Nurse would be glad to find one for us."
"So long as we could be of use I did not mind it so much," went onSally. "But matters are beginning to move in their accustomed groove,and I cannot but wherrit anent what thy mother and mine are thinking."
"Yes, I know. I hardly dare think of it, but I am hoping as I said,Sally, that a way will soon be opened. Thee must not dwell too muchupon it, but be as brave as thee can be."
"Friend Nurse hath another visitor," announced Sally, turning again tothe window. "This seems to be some one of great importance, for hehath a fine coach. I wonder who it is?"
Peggy came to Sally's side, and leaned out of the window.
"That is Governor Livingston," she cried. "Does thee not rememberI told thee how the enemy tried to capture him when I was atMiddlebrook? I knew him quite well there. He and father are friends."
"Friend Nurse would wish thee to see him if she knew that, Peggy. Doesthee not think thee should go down?"
"I'll wait a little," said Peggy. "No doubt he wishes to see herabout something concerning Fairfax, and therefore he would ratherspeak alone with her. Thee knows that Sir Henry Clinton refused togive up the leader, Lippencott, but ordered a court-martial. 'Tisreported that His Excellency just waits the finding of theinvestigation before he acts."
It was two weeks after the burial of Fairfax, and the farmhouse hadbecome a veritable Mecca to travelers. From all over the state theycame to learn the full particulars of the affair, and to offersympathy to the bereaved mother. The storm of protest which the lad'sdeath raised had so startled the British general that the HonorableBoard of Associated Loyalists had been dissolved, and there were nomore incursions into New Jersey from that source. Even the pinerobbers, as though appalled by the deed, ceased their depredations forthe time being, and the highways were comparatively safe. As visitorsreported this improved condition of things, Peggy and Sally grewanxious to take advantage of it to return home, but no goodopportunity had as yet presented itself.
"Peggy," called Nurse Johnson a half hour later, "come down-stairs amoment. There is some one here who knows you. Bring Sally too."
Peggy sprang up quickly.
"Come, Sally," she cried. "I have a feeling that----"
"So have I," exclaimed Sally breathlessly. "Let's run, Peggy."
"Bless my soul, Miss Peggy," ejaculated the doughty governor, as thegirls entered the kitchen. "Who would have thought to find you here?And this is your friend, Miss Sally, eh?"
"I am glad to see thee, sir," said Peggy warmly. "And how are thy wifeand daughters?"
"Well, I thank you. They are with me at Trenton. By the way, MistressJohnson here hath been telling me what a time you've had trying to gethome. Knowing what a care girls can be, I have three of my own, youremember, I have consented to take you off her hands."
"Nay," protested Nurse Johnson, "they have been no care, sir. I reallydo not know what we should have done without them during the past fewweeks. 'Tis only that we do not know when strife will break out again,and I shall be uneasy while they are here. I do not wish their mothersto mourn as I am doing."
"Well, have it your own way, madam," he answered. "If the young ladiesdo not mind an old man for a cavalier I shall be pleased to take themwith me to Trenton. The journey to Philadelphia can be easily arrangedfrom that place."
"We are glad to accept, Friend Livingston," spoke Peggy gratefullywhile Sally was so delighted that she could only look her thanks. "Andwhen does thee wish to start?"
"I must get to Trenton to-day, Miss Peggy. It will mean a long, hardride, and I hope you can be ready, say in an hour, though the timemight be stretched a little, if it were absolutely necessary."
"An hour will be more than sufficient, sir," she replied. "We willsurprise thee by being ready before that."
"I know that you are able to do many things, Miss Peggy," he saidsmiling, "but if you and your friend are able to get ready for ajourney in that length of time you will give me a new estimate ofgirlhood."
"We will show thee," she cried eagerly as they left the room.
But their very anxiety threatened to defeat their purpose. Had notboth Nurse Johnson and Mrs. Ashley helped them the governor must havehad the best of it. As it was they were ready a quarter of an hourbefore the time set. Then came the farewells. In spite of their desireto go the maidens found it very hard to say good-bye. There is a bondbetween those who have endured much together, and the girls had becomealmost a part of the family. Both Nurse Johnson and Mrs. Ashley couldnot control their tears, and Farmer Ashley wrung their hands again andagain. The maidens' own eyes were soft with weeping, and they silentlytook their places in the coach.
Nurse Johnson had told Governor Livingston the trials which the girlshad undergone, so now as the coach rolled away, he spoke cheerily:
"When my girls start on a journey I give them three mile-stones to getover weeping. Susannah usually sniffs for two more before she beginsto laugh. I am wondering how many will do for you girls?"
"We are going to cheer up right now, aren't we, Peggy?" spoke Sallywiping her eyes.
"We are indeed," answered Peggy resolutely.
"Now that's sensible," he commended warmly. "See that orchard overthere. How beautiful it is! So full of bloom. There is nothing to mymind prettier than blossoming trees. Indeed, I am fond of trees of allkinds."
And so he talked, kindly directing their attention to anything ofinterest by the wayside, until soon both girls were chatting with moreanimation than they had known for weeks. They reached Trenton thatevening, and stayed with the governor's family that night. Astage-coach and wagon ran between Princeton and Philadelphia by way ofTrenton and Bristol three times a week. It happened that the nextmorning was one for the tri-weekly trip, and the girls insisted upontaking the coach. It would mean another day of hard riding, but theywere anxious to get home.
"And we will have all the rest of our lives to rest up in," declaredSally. "For I don't believe that anything will ever tempt me to leavePhiladelphia again. Peggy, did thee feel like this when coming backfrom thy other flittings?"
"Yes, Sally. It hath always proved hard to get back because of theenemy. I think it always will until we have peace. I don't want toleave home again either."
"If ever we get there," said Sally looking fearfully out of the coachwindow. "Peggy, when the governor's family insisted that it would maketoo hard a journey to take the stage to-day, I just felt that if wedidn't come something would happen to the coach so that we couldn't."
"I am glad we didn't wait, though it does seem as though the stagegoes very slowly. It fairly crawls."
Sally laughed.
"I dare say any vehicle would seem to crawl to us, Peggy. But we aregoing home, home. Oh, I could just shout, I am so glad."
It was late that evening when the stage drew up before the IndianQueen in Fourth Street. Leaving their portmanteaus to be called for,the girls fairly ran down the street, turning presently into ChestnutStreet.
"Is thee afraid, Sally?" asked Peggy pausing before her home. "If theeis, mother and I will see thee home."
"Afraid in Philadelphia?" cried Sally. "Why, there are neither raidersnor pine robbers here. No; go right in, Peggy. I'm going on
to mother.I will see thee to-morrow."
She was off as she spoke, and Peggy mounted the steps, and sounded theknocker. Her mother gave a faint cry as she opened the door.
"My daughter!" she cried. "Oh, Peggy, Peggy! I have feared for thee."
And Peggy crept into her arms, feeling that no harm could come to herin such loving shelter. It was long before she was calm enough to tellall that had happened, but at length sitting by her mother's side withher head on her lap, she related what had occurred.
"The poor boy!" sighed Mrs. Owen. "It is too dreadful to think aboutit. And his mother! I read of it, Peggy, in the paper. Thee canimagine my feelings knowing that thou wert in the midst of suchoccurrences. And Sally's mother hath been well-nigh crazed. Ah, mydaughter! I am thankful to hold thee in my arms again, but my heartbleeds for that other mother who will nevermore clasp her son."
"And he was such a dear fellow," said Peggy brokenly. "And so brave!Thee should have seen how he fought the pine robbers. In just theshort time that he was in Monmouth County he had made a reputation.And he was as modest as he was brave, mother."
Mrs. Owen stooped suddenly so that she could look into her daughter'seyes.
"Was thee very fond of him, Peggy?" she asked softly.
"So fond, mother." Peggy met her mother's look frankly. "Sally and Iboth were. Thee would have been too had thee been with him long."
The anxious gleam which had shone for a second in Mrs. Owen's eyesfaded at Peggy's answer, and she said quietly:
"I liked him very much as it was, my daughter. The matter hathcreated quite a stir in the city. Nothing but retaliation is talkedof. Report hath it that General Washington expects a speedy adjustmentof the matter when the new British commander comes. They expect him ina few days. It is a sad affair. But oh, Peggy! I am glad thee ishome!"
"And I never want to leave Philadelphia again," cried Peggy. "It seemsso hard to get back when I do go away. No; I never want to leave itagain."
"That is unfortunate, Peggy." Her mother stroked her hair gently."David hath writ that he is to be stationed at Lancaster all summer,and that, as 'twas possible to get a comfortable house there, he wouldlike for us to come to him. We might then all be together once more.But thy experiences have been most trying, my daughter. Father wouldunderstand if thee feels that thee would rather stay here."
"Why, mother, if I am with thee and father I won't mind," spoke Peggyquickly. "Of course I love Philadelphia, for it is my own city. Noother place seems quite like it to me; but, after all, home is whereour loved ones are. If I can be with thee and father, I will not mindwhere I am."
Mrs. Owen kissed her fondly.
"I am glad that thou hast so decided, Peggy. It would have been agreat disappointment to David had it been thought best not to come.His visits home have been infrequent, and we have not been togethermuch since the winter at Middlebrook."
"And when do we go, mother?"
"In about a week. Robert Dale hath some business with GeneralWashington, and is at Newburgh now. He will act as our escort on hisway back to Lancaster."
"Is Robert to be there all summer?"
"I believe so. He thinks we shall like Lancaster. The Congress metthere while the British held this city, thee remembers?"
"Yes, mother. Oh, 'tis so good to be with thee!" Peggy laid her headdown in her mother's lap with a sigh of content. "I don't believe thatany other girl ever had so dear a mother as thou art."
Mrs. Owen laughed softly.
"I wonder what Sally is thinking," she said.
Peggy Owen and Liberty Page 19
