about the Revolution, you have realized what a train of sickening horrors follows in the track of war, you will be able to rejoice with the United States when it was all over, and peace reigned over the land. Now followed two great events: the evacuation of New York by the British, and the disbanding of Washington's army. Sir Guy Carleton, who had been the British commander since Cornwallis surrendered, left New York city in November, 1783. With him went ship-loads of Tories, who emigrated to Canada or Nova Scotia, in order, as they declared, "to escape from the tyranny and oppression of their countrymen." It took the British army several weeks to load and embark upon their ships, and leave New York once more a free city. When they were gone, the Americans, under General Knox, came in with many of the patriots, who had been forced to live away from their houses while the British occupied them. There was great rejoicing. They had a splendid show of fireworks that evening on the Bowling Green, where the leaden statue of George III. used to stand. The statue had been taken down and melted into bullets during the war, and now in its place was a great pyrotechnic arch of victory, where perched a dove in purple flame, holding an olive branch of green fire, and all around, grand rockets, like fiery serpents, lit up the waters of the Bay and the Hudson, now for the first time in seven years free from the presence of English ships of war. A week later, one morning early in December, Washington met his officers in the parlor of an inn, called "Francis's Tavern." They came together for the last time to bid farewell to each other and their beloved commander. The men who had been comrades in many a bloody battle-field, facing death together for seven years, assembled in silence and deep sadness. There were many tender friendships to sever; many would say "Good-by," who could never meet again, and the sadness of parting shed a gloom even over the remembrance that their efforts had aided to give a new free land to the world's company of nations. When they were all present, Washington filled his glass with wine, and standing, drank the health of the company. Then he said, his voice tremulous with emotion, "I cannot come to each of you to take my leave, but I shall be gratified if each man will come and take me by the hand." As he said this General Knox, a man whom Washington dearly General Knox. loved, came forward and fell upon the neck of his commander-in-chief. Washington, moved to tears, embraced and kissed him, and the ice thus broken, each one came forward to take his leave. The bravest men, those most unmoved by cannon smoke and ball, were not ashamed to weep that day. And in the midst of the parting of those heroes, who have worked so nobly for their country, we will draw the curtain upon the close of the War for Independence. PART II. THE STORY OF THE NATION: ITS BIRTH, CONFLICTS, AND TRIUMPHS. CHAPTER I. CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Forming a Government. - The Constitution and its Makers.-Grand Celebration in New York City. The Two Political Parties. Washington made President. Inauguration Ball. Change in Dress and Manners after the Revolution. FOR six years after the Revolution, these thirteen United States. had no government ex cept that exercised by the gress Continental Con which had worked so hard all through the war. This Congress was doing its best to pay off the debts due its armies; arrange for new loans of money from foreign countries; keep the quarrelsome Indians in check; and administer justice to the utmost of its power. But it was the general opinion that there must be a new government, although, whenever it was talked over, there was a great difference among the people as to the kind which would suit the country best. A large |