“But do you not think that they can see the great benefits to mankind in free institutions and in the doctrine that all men are created free and equal?” continued Mr. Jefferson. “Never, sir, so long as they think that there is any reason to stand on the argument of non-interference with settled usage and present commercial relations. They believe that a Declaration would bring war and an upheaval in trade. You know they represent great commercial houses in London, and they think that they would be ruined to cut off their condition of agent and hireling. They are thoroughly whipped into line by a policy of commercial cowardice and dependence. They cannot see that to be independent of England’s merchants would be for their own benefit,” argued Franklin to his listeners’ delight. “I believe that they will see the error of their way,” continued Dr. Greydon. “Yes, when they find that they are overwhelmingly outvoted by the rest of us,” remarked Jefferson. “But those commercial people think that the world revolves around them and that we farmers are mere satellites, reflecting their wisdom,” continued Jefferson lightly. “But what about the printers?” inquired Franklin with a smile. “Oh, they have no right to exist, when they print the truth about these lords of creation,” insisted Jefferson. “When they speak of themselves as men of substance, I find that they are mighty small potatoes, when they require a man of physic to keep body and soul together,” happily joined in Dr. Greydon. “Really, these commercial people are to be pitied,” said Franklin. “Their glory is of short duration. To-day they are princes of commerce, and to-morrow they are paupers. So we must be charitable with them and let them show how little they know, as they usually do in a bombastic way. Like a ‘tinkling cymbal’ and ‘a sounding brass’ their glory passeth as the night.” By this time a servant announced supper, and the three retraced their steps in jolly good humor to the mansion, for their appetites were unusually keen. At supper Dr. Franklin exclaimed when he tasted the wild fruit that Mollie had provided: “William, where did you get such delicious wild fruit?” “Why, sir, our daughter, Mollie, and Segwuna, the Indian maiden, gathered the best on the estate,” as he indicated Miss Mollie with a gesture of his hand, whereupon Mollie blushed inordinately as the two distinguished guests smiled graciously upon her. “Did I understand you to say ‘Segwuna’?” asked the philosopher. “Segwuna, Segwuna,” he continued. “Why, Mr. Jefferson, we have heard that name before. It is so peculiar.”