"A Russian sea-captain once told me it looked to him like a mosaic," Mrs. Morton said.
"But every piece of the mosaic is full of meaning," said Ethel Blue, "and mosaics make beautiful pictures any way."
"There was a sad time ahead for Philadelphia in spite of Washington's successes at Trenton and Princeton," said Helen, taking up her story once more. "The Americans were successful in Vermont and northern New York, but in September, 1777, they were defeated at Brandywine Creek, and the British marched into Philadelphia a fortnight later and took possession of the town."
"Wasn't it about that time that the American army spent the winter at Valley Forge?" asked Margaret. "I seem to remember something about their living in a great deal of distress, such as the soldiers in Europe are enduring now."
"This was the time," confirmed Helen. "Grandfather has a few lines of Reed's here telling about it."
"Such was the winter's awful sight, For many a dreary day and night, What time our country's hope forlorn, Of every needed comfort shorn, Lay housed within a buried tent, Where every keen blast found a rent, And oft the snow was seen to sift Along the floor its piling drift, Or, mocking the scant blanket's fold, Across the night-couch frequent rolled; Where every path by a soldier beat, Or every track where a sentinel stood, Still held the print of naked feet, And oft the crimson stains of blood; Where Famine held her spectral court, And joined by all her fierce allies; She ever loved a camp or fort Beleaguered by the wintry skies,-- But chiefly when Disease is by, To sink frame and dim the eye, Until, with seeking forehead bent, In martial garments cold and damp, Pale Death patrols from tent to tent, To count the charnels of the camp.
Such was the winter that prevailed Within the crowded, frozen gorge; Such were the horrors that assailed The patriot band at Valley Forge."
"How long did the British hold the city?" asked Tom, after he had shaken his head over the Americans' troubles.
"Six or eight months," said Helen, "and you can imagine what a thrilling time it was for American girls like Sweet P. I can fancy them walking daintily along the street turning their heads aside when a British officer passed them, as if he were too far beneath their notice for them even to glance at."