question, and quickly adding: "What made you think so?"

"Why, strenger," he concluded, continuing to look steadily at us, "you've got such a honest face!"

Completely overcome, we turned away, and passed hurriedly down Court House Hill. Ever since that eventful moment we have had a most exalted opinion of the lawyers of Norristown. How widely-known and well-established must be the integrity of these champions of jurisprudence, when a common stranger in the streets is supposed to be one of their number by the honesty of his looks!

The public bridge across the river Schuylkill, at this place, is one of the longest and most substantial in Pennsylvania. It leads to the neat village of Bridgeport, where the canal flows along the banks, and where, just above, a dam spans the stream, down the sides of which the waters pour their crystal flood, like a thin sheet of transparent glass hung over a parapet. In the centre of the river is a lovely island, the green summer verdure of which is reflected in the passing waters; and whose romantic reaches beyond remind the beholder of the days when the Schuylkill was the sporting current of the Indian, when its groves echoed to his wild halloos, and the hill-sides and valleys smoked with his wigwams.

Now the dash of the water-wheel and the ripple of the canal-boat have taken the place of the paddling canoe. The savage shout has died away, and in its stead we hear the roar of engines on the railroad, and the clatter of machinery in the factories along the river. The smoke of the lodge has long since passed into thin air, and its space is supplied by the black vapor that rises from the tall chimneys of the busy iron forge, or the white steam of the lime-kiln. The Minie rifle has supplanted the bow; the axe of the pioneer has driven out the savage hatchet; the winding wild-wood path of the red man has become a country road, a turnpike, a railway; and a large town stands on the rude plots where the aborigines reared their solitary huts. The naked foot of barbarism has been lifted from the soil, and the shod step of civilization is in its place where beautiful Norristown flourishes to-day.

A few miles west from the Schuylkill is one of the most memorable spots in American revolutionary history. It is the Valley Forge. Here it was that the scattered remnants of the patriotic Continental army, under Washington, went into their scanty winter quarters. The British General, Sir William Howe, had vainly endeavored, with a much superior force, to draw the commander-in-chief into an unequal

engagement. His object was the complete conquest of Philadelphia and the adjacent territory. But Washington was too cautious to be allured from his stronghold in these Pennsylvania hills; although to remain there, through that unusually inclement season, was sure to cause him and his brave troops a great amount of suffering.

The battle of Germantown had been fought by Washington, with La Fayette and Pulaski, at that time just introduced to our republican army. Germantown is but a few miles east of Norristown, on the fine ridge of country lying toward Philadelphia. The battle took place on the 4th of October, 1777; and although the American soldiers were enduring much from sickness and privations, they attacked the invaders with such valor that they would have completely won the day but for an unforeseen withdrawal of aid, for which it was impossible for Washington to be prepared..

At the struggle of the Brandywine, which took place not many miles from Norristown, on the 11th of September, in the same year, the Americans fought equally well; but the smallness of their force, and the wounding of La Fayette, had compelled a retirement from the field. The determined will and skillful strategy of Washington, fighting a strong,

fresh force of the enemy, with disabled columns, kept Sir William Howe at bay from Philadelphia. It was not until the last extremity had come, that the revolutionary troops steadily and slowly retired to the Valley Forge. Here was passed that winter of terrible trial. Without suitable food or clothing, worn down by repeated marches and battles, deprived of the comforts of home, driven into poor little shanties for protection against the piercing cold, the patriots of that day have gilded those hillsides and glens of Pennsylvania with the glory of their deeds. It was here that the selfish spirit of mean and cowardly men added to the sufferings of the brave soldiers. At the time when starvation seemed to be staring them in the face, when their feet were yet sore and swollen with their shoeless conflicts in the drifted snows, there were wretches base enough to rush through the sad and gloomy camp, crying "Beef! Beef! Give us beef!" It required all the courage and force of character of Washington to check this unpatriotic outbreak, and convince the soldiers that to endure as brave men should was finally to succeed in the great struggle. In the 'dead waste and middle' of that fearful winter, the Father of our Country retired to the grove near his headquarters; and, spreading his well-worn army cloak on the frozen ground, poured

out the agony of his tried soul in prayer to the Deity. At that very moment treason was doing its worst against him. Attempts were being made to supplant him in command. Our oppressors abroad, uniting with traitors at home, were doing all in their power to scatter the Continental forces, and give up the country to the foe. It was not so to be! The Valley Forge, while it was the dark, icy grave to many of our early heroes, became, also, in the springtime, the open door of hope, from which sprang forth new legions to do battle for Republican freedom. Well may it forever be a sacred spot. Pennsylvania has many glorious Revolutionary memorials; but the Valley Forge stands first among them all.

Surrounded by such associations as these, Winfield Scott Hancock was born. The name given him at his birth was indicative of the estimate put on love of country by his parents. That of Hancock is associated with everything that is noble and self-sacrificing in the early annals of the Republic. JOHN HANCOCK, the Massachusetts merchant, will be remembered with gratitude by patriotic Americans, as long as a page of the history of our land remains. He was one of the most determined champions of the Revolution that the American colonies contained. Of the foremost men of his time, it was for him to say: