Chains (Seeds of America) by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chains (Seeds of America) by Laurie Halse Anderson

Author:Laurie Halse Anderson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction, New York (N.Y.) - History - Revolution, historical, Juvenile Fiction, 1775-1783, New York (N.Y.), Slavery, United States - History - Revolution, Military & Wars, United States, Colonial & Revolutionary Periods, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Slaves, African American Girls, African American, General, African Americans, People & Places, Spy Stories, Spies
ISBN: 9781416905868
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2008-01-02T07:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER XXVI

Wednesday, August 21–

Sunday, August 25, 1776

WE HAVE OUR COACH STANDING BEFORE OUR DOOR

EVERY NIGHT, AND THE HORSES ARE HARNASSED

READY TO MAKE OUR ESCAPE, IF WE HAVE TIME… .

POOR NEW YORK! I LONG TO HAVE THE BATTLE OVER,

AND YET I DREAD THE CONSEQUENCES.

—LETTER WRITTEN BY MARY, DAUGHTER OF

PATRIOT BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN MORIN SCOTT,

AS HER FAMILY PREPARED TO FLEE NEW YORK

THE STORM THAT HIT THE CITY THE next night was the worst I had ever seen.

A thundercloud big as a mountain swept up the river just before sunset. Lightning danced at its edges like horses at a mad gallop, then the sky turned ink black and the storm crashed over us. The wind blew signs off buildings, overturned soldiers’ tents, and stripped the clean clothes that had been pegged out to dry. Thunder boomed like a thousand cannons. A house three blocks over was struck by a lightning bolt and burned to the ground. Thirteen soldiers were killed by lightning, too, the coins in their pockets melted and their flesh roasted. One lightning-struck soldier survived but was turned deaf, blind, and unable to speak.

We were forced to concern ourselves with more domestic matters. The window frames in the front parlor leaked terrible during the storm. Rain soaked the drapes and rugs and left the wall plaster soft and spongy.

“Tell the girl to clean up this mess.”



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