BEVERLY ROBINSON'S OFFER.
As though the colonies had not enough work on hand in fighting the
great power of Britain, they must needs quarrel among themselves, or at
least New York picked a quarrel with New Hampshire over the title to
Vermont.
Vermont was more than ever determined to remain independent of either
New Hampshire or New York, and Ethan Allen admired the sturdy spirit of
his mountaineers.
He was urged to take command of the Green Mountain forces, and he
consented, writing Gen. Washington and telling him how he regretted the
necessity of staying at home instead of entering the army of
emancipation.
Washington replied in a friendly letter, reminding him that he deserved
a rest after his trials, and also telling him that a man's first duty
was to his own people and country.
Acting on this letter, Allen applied to the Congress for the admission
of Vermont into the Confederation of States; but the rivals of New York
and New Hampshire were too powerful in the councils of the new nation
for Allen, and Vermont remained outside, a debatable territory.
Ethan Allen was sitting by the great, open fireplace in his house one
evening in the early fall, when a visitor was announced.
"You have forgotten me, Col. Allen?"
"I do not remember having had the pleasure of your acquaintance."
"I am Beverly Robinson."
"Indeed! Ah, now I remember. May I ask what brought you here?"
The tory did not like the brusque question, but he was a diplomat and
fenced ably.
"I have heard of your prowess on the field and of your sufferings in
captivity, and I have felt that, though we differ in politics, we are
children of the same mountains and ought to be friends."
"If you are loyal to Vermont, differences of opinion will not affect
me."
"Spoken like the brave man I knew you to be."
"Did you come here to tell me this?"
"Partly, and more especially to discuss the future of Vermont."
"Ah!"
"Yes; we are in a strange predicament. We have cut loose from the
mother country, and the new country will not have us."
"That is one way of looking at the matter."
"Is it not the true one?"
"It may be."
"Well, why not pledge ourselves to remain neutral?"
"To remain neutral?"
"Yes. If we were to call a convention and pass a resolution to the
effect that in the war between England and the colonies--I beg pardon,
States--Vermont would remain absolutely neutral, we should be in a good
position."
"In what way?"
"England would protect us against New York, and we could protect
ourselves against New Hampshire."
"And you would ask me to make terms with England?"
"Why not? You do not believe that Washington will succeed. He cannot.
England will triumph. The best men feel that it will be so. Benedict
Arnold told me it was only a question of time and terms."
"Indeed!"
"Yes; he knows that all Washington is fighting for now is to get the
best terms he can from Great Britain."
"Arnold told you this?"
"Well, no, not exactly in those words. But let me carry to
headquarters your pledge of neutrality."
"Mr. Robinson, you may be honest in this, but I am afraid you are being
made a tool of some designing person. Carry this back with you"--Allen
stood up and folded his arms defiantly, as he said: "Tell England that
Ethan Allen will never be neutral, never make terms with England, but
will fight her power as long as he lives! Good-day, and never enter my
house again as the agent of England."
Beverly Robinson retired second in the contest. Allen had won.
Though the tory had failed, he felt a respect for Allen, who had been
so bold and courageous, and, though Allen never knew it, he was the
means of saving Vermont from any attacks of the British.
Allen served his State and defended it against enemies without and
within. He lived to see it recognized as a State, free and independent.
He also witnessed, with shame, the treachery of Benedict Arnold, and
was glad that he had never recognized the traitor as a man of honor.
In the annals of the Revolution the name of Ethan Allen will ever shine
conspicuously, and, though he fought but few battles, and remained in
the army but a few months, England hated the mention of his name, and
looked upon him as one of the men who fired the hearts of the Americans
and encouraged them in the demand for freedom.
In the hearts of his countrymen he will ever be held in the highest
estimation, and all ages will greet the Green Mountain Boy as the "Hero
of Ticonderoga."
THE END.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Hero of Ticonderoga, by John de Morgan