ttles near
Saratoga and the defeat of the British. In the end Burgoyne had to
surrender his entire army of six thousand regular troops (October 17,
1777).

Such was the way in which the British plan worked out. Of course the
result was a great blow to England.

On the other hand, the victory was a great cause of joy to the Americans.
It made hope stronger at home; it won confidence abroad. France had been
watching closely to see whether the Americans were likely to win in their
struggle, before aiding them openly. Now she was ready to do so, and was
quite willing to make a treaty with them, even though such a course should
lead to war with England.

To bring about this treaty with France, Benjamin Franklin did more than
any other man. After signing the Declaration of Independence--and you will
remember that he was a member of the committee appointed to draft that
great state paper--he went to France to secure aid for the American cause.
He must have been a quaint figure at the French court, his plain hair and
plain cloth coat contrasting strangely with the fashion and elegance about
him. Yet this simple-hearted man was welcomed by the French people, who
gave feasts and parades in his honor and displayed his picture in public
places. By his personal influence he did very much to secure the aid which
France gave us.

LAFAYETTE JOINS THE AMERICAN ARMY

Even before an open treaty was signed France had secretly helped the cause
of the Americans. She had sent them money and army supplies and, besides
this, able Frenchmen had come across the Atlantic to join the American
army. The most noted of these was the Marquis de Lafayette.

The circumstances under which he came were quite romantic. Lafayette was
but nineteen when he heard for the first time at a dinner-party the story
of the American people fighting for their liberty. It interested and
deeply moved him. For in his own land a desire for freedom had been
growing, and he had been in sympathy with it. Now he made it his business
to find out more about this war, and then he quickly decided to help all
he could.

[Illustration: Marquis de Lafayette.]

He belonged to one of the noblest families of France, and was very
wealthy. He had a young wife and a baby, whom he regretted to leave. But
he believed that his duty called him to join the cause of freedom. His
wife was proud of the lofty purpose of her noble husband, and encouraged
him to carry out his plan.

But