The Coolidge examiner., 1933-06-02
The Master: Of Chaos
by Irving Bachelor
uH

member the night you left u.s."
"As If il were yesterday. | re-
member the kindness of your moth
er and father and often | have
thought of your beauty and your
merry words"
Il saw you get out of a barrel.
1t was interesting and you-you
looked harmless. Now that I've
read so much about you in Pats
letters. Of your bravery and gal
lantry, of the duel, and of all your
many virtues, | am afraid of you.
| feel as | did when / met General
Washington-a little Overawed."
He laughed, saying, i've been
well advertised to all the friends
of Pat If lover shared the opin-
ions of his sweetheart. he would
feel sorry for Julius Caesar"
when | find a lover, my praise
will be for his ears only. | shall
not dare to advertise him"
81 wonder that you are not be-
spoke"
80 do |. There have been can
didates but not the one man.
am only an ambassador of Love. |
had read so much about you that
| had to see you again. SO
brought the letter"
You make me feel like the great
Boston meeting house that people
come so far to see. It's poor re-
ward for hard work. 10 look at a
homely soldier. Thanks and bet
ter luck to you"
Nancy had not the manner or
the intellectual graces which EN-
bodied the beauty of Pat Fayer-
weather Her greatest attraction
was physique tall, 1.-the, beauti-
ful In its color and perfect sym
metry. Martha Washington had
rightly OWNED that a rather dan
gerous individual had come into
camp.
Dinner was announced. The
slaff officers and their wives were
forming in line behind General and
Mrs Washington. Colin offered
his arm TO Nancy. They took their
places behind Mr.. and Mrs. Adams,
who followed the brigadiers. The
procession started. General Put
nam led ii. bearing the first Union
flag. Its device of thirteen stripes
with the crosses Of St George and
St Andrew in the upper left-hand
corner. acknowledging that the
Colonies were still a part of the
British empire, streamed out be-
hind him. He was followed by a
fife and drum. The stately process
sion marched once around the long
table and came to rest. Doctor
Langdon offered the invocation and
they sat down. Ii was a feast like
those at Mount Vernon. in better
days, with roasted ham and shoul-
ders of mutton carved on the side
boards and served with jams and
jellies and potatoes and wine. AT
its conclusion General Washington
asked Mr.. Adams TO make a few
remarks.
Colin describes the distinguished
ex-schoolmaster of New England
as "a stout, resolute man with a
heavy voice, the vibration of which
suggested iron" After hearty con-
gratulations to the Chief and his
army he spoke of the kings speech
and the "diabolical ministry"
Then for the first time the note of
independence was sounded in New
England from the lips of a leading
citizen and won the applause of
important people. He said thar the
war should no longer be a contest
between subjects and their ac-
knowledged sovereign.
The Commander In Chief said to
his neighbor, IF they continue to
Use force, the step is inevitable"
The men were a long time at the
table discussing this matter after
the ladies had left. Wine flowed
freely. After his strenuous exer-
tions Colin found most agreeable
reaction in the cup.
Having a deep respect for his
host and hostess, he restrained
himself but was considerably re-
vived when he and Nancy took
their place on the floor. Wine
has its effect on the blood of
youth, which at best is subject to
increasing temperatures. Only for
that reason. his gallantries took
all the license accorded to a young
gentleman of that time They
turned a head not too firmly SET on
its fair shoulders. What he may
have said to Nancy that evening
the historian can only imagine, al
though there is some hint of il in
a story told at many a freside.
When, some days later, Colin.
obeying an order of the Chief, set
out to engage quarters for General
Washington and his staff on their
way to New York with the army.
he had Travelled less than a mile