Elsie's Vacation and After Events by Martha Finley
page 38 of 257 (14%)
page 38 of 257 (14%)
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where he died three days afterward.
"Donop was but thirty-seven. He said to Manduit, who attended him till he died, 'It is finishing a noble career early; but I die the victim of my ambition and the avarice of my sovereign.'" "His sovereign? That was George the Third, papa?" Grace said inquiringly. "No, Donop was a Hessian, hired out to the British king by his sovereign," replied her father. "And avarice means love of money?" "Yes, daughter; and it was avarice on the part of both sovereigns that led to the hiring of the Hessians; the war was waged by the king of England because the Americans refused to be taxed by him at his pleasure and without their consent. He wanted their money. "Whitall's house, a two-story brick, built in 1748, stood close by the river," continued the captain, "and I suppose is still there; it was, in 1851, when Lossing visited the locality. "The Whitalls were Quakers and took no part in the war. When the fort was attacked Mrs. Whitall was urged to flee to some place of safety, but declined to do so, saying, 'God's arm is strong, and will protect me; I may do good by staying.' "She was left alone in the house, and, while the battle was raging, sat in a room in the second story busily at work at her spinning-wheel, |
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