nors. He called upon Congress, and
told them he would enter the army as a volunteer; if his services were
not satisfactory, or if the Colonies failed to establish their
independence, he was to receive nothing; but if they were successful,
and he remained in the army, he expected to be refunded the income he
had given up, and remunerated for his services."

"That was a good offer," remarked Eric. "I suppose they accepted it?"

"They did," replied his uncle; "and Steuben went to Valley Forge,
where Washington and his army were encamped at that time. When he saw
our half-starved, poorly clad soldiers come creeping out of their huts
he was astounded, and said 'No European army could be kept together a
week in such a state.' But he began his work at once. He did a great
work; probably we could never have won our independence without the
help he gave us in training our soldiers for the hard struggle
necessary to win it. The fine effect of that discipline was seen in
the Battle of Monmouth, when Baron Steuben rallied the retreating and
disordered troops of Charles Lee like veterans."

"Did he stay in this country till the war was over, papa?" asked
Elsie.

"Yes; and as long as he lived. He made New York City his home for
several years. I am ashamed to say that Congress refused to fulfil its
contract with him to pay him for his services, but he was given
grants of land in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The first he
declined to take when he learned that it was the estate of an old Tory
who would be left destitute, and in the kindness of his heart he
interceded for him. Steuben was very kind-hearted and generous.
Lossing gives us some anecdotes illustrative of that. He says that in
Newburgh, at the time of the disbanding of the army, Colonel Cochran
was standing in the street penniless, when Steuben tried to comfort
him by saying that better times would come.

"'For myself,' replied the brave officer, 'I can stand it; but my wife
and daughters are in the garret of that wretched tavern; and I have
nowhere to carry them, nor even money to remove them.' As Lossing
says, 'The baron's generous heart was touched, and, though poor
himself, he hastened to the family of Cochran, poured the whole
contents of his purse upon the table, and left as suddenly as he had
entered.'

"As he was walking toward the wharf a wounded negro soldier came up to
him bitterly lamenting that he had no means with which to get to New
York. The