But they reckoned without their host. The gallant young Frenchman was loyal. He was incapable of a dastardly act. Though scarcely twenty years old, he had a mind of his own. He refused to take command without Washington’s consent; and insisted on having Baron de Kalb, not Conway, for his lieutenant. Then he set out for York, to get his papers. He had left Washington with the soldiers, starving and shivering at Valley Forge; he found General Gates and his officers in York, comfortably seated at dinner, the table laden with food and drink. They were flushed and noisy with wine, and greeted Lafayette with shouts of welcome. They fawned upon him; they complimented and toasted him. He listened to them quietly; and, as soon as he received his papers, rose as if to make a speech. There was a breathless silence. All eyes were fixed upon him. In politest tones, he reminded them there was one toast that they had forgotten, and which he now proposed:-- _The health of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States._ There was silence. There was consternation and embarrassment. No one dared refuse to drink. Some merely touched the glasses to their lips, others set them down scarcely tasted. Then, bowing with mock politeness and shrugging his shoulders, Lafayette left the dining-hall, and mounting his horse rode away. _John Fiske and Other Sources_ (_Retold_) WE ARE GRATEFUL, LAFAYETTE! During the War for Independence, Lafayette served without pay. He also cheerfully expended one hundred and forty thousand dollars out of his own fortune, purchasing a ship to bring him to America, and raising, equipping, arming, and clothing a regiment. And when he landed in America, he brought with him munitions of war, which he presented to our Army. He gave shoes, clothes, and food to our naked suffering American soldiers. After the War was over, some small recognition was offered him by our Government. But while on his visit here in 1825, to show appreciation of his unselfish aid to us in time of need, and in compensation for his expenditures, Congress passed a bill presenting him with two hundred thousand dollars and a grant of land. There were, however, a few members of Congress who violently opposed the bill, much to the shame of all grateful citizens. And one member of Congress, humiliated at this opposition, tried to apologize delicately to Lafayette. “I, Sir, _am one of the opposition_!” exclaimed Lafayette. “The gift is so munificent, so far exceeding the services of the individual, that, had I been a member of Congress, I must have voted against it!” And to Congress itself, Lafayette, deeply touched said:-- “The immense and unexpected gift which in addition to former and considerable bounties, it has pleased Congress to confer upon me, calls for the warmest acknowledgments of an old American soldier, an adopted son of the United States--two titles dearer to my heart than all the treasures in the world.”