“Wrong, wrong! All wrong!” groaned Jackson as he entered a little glade and threw himself on the ground. “Jack Sevier would never have been turned aside from his good work. Married or single, successfully wooing or rejected, nothing could come between him and what he believed to be his duty. He has vision. He sees things far ahead. He looks down the years. He’s willing to sacrifice everything for results that can’t be recognized until long after he’s dead. “——! Why quibble with myself? He’s a bigger man than I can ever be. Even now it isn’t my Americanism that stirs me so much as it is love for Elsie. Lord, if only loving Elsie constituted Americanism, I’d be the first patriot in all the land. Yet one can imitate Sevier. Maybe the unselfishness will come later.” Possibly Jackson underrated his nationalism. Certainly he had done all that a man could during the years of incessant warfare. Undoubtedly he averaged high above the status of many citizens. A proof of this was his humble realization that Washington and others who carried the torch of freedom were far above him in spiritual ideals. They were exalted to the stars, while he groped along the ground. But, so long as he knew this, there was every hope for his climbing high among the peaks of democracy. Of course the country was in rather a chaotic state, notwithstanding the mighty labours of the giants. Congress was powerless to function in important matters unless nine States gave consent. Sovereignty was claimed by every State. While this condition existed, it is not to be wondered that a simple ranger should find it difficult to comprehend the exact essence of Americanism. The Articles of Confederation could not be changed without the consent of every State. In short, Congress could recommend but not enforce. It could borrow money but had no authority to pay it back. It could coin money but had no authority to purchase bullion. It could make war and could not raise a soldier. With the States thus jealously retaining the power of initiative, it was logical that a man should identify himself by proclaiming his State citizenship. To merely say “I am an American” was to speak anonymously. But as Jackson mulled it over with chastened mind the obscure places in his soul caught vagrant rays of light, and he marvelled at the birth of new comprehensions. At first they were nebulous and vague in details. As he concentrated, they took on substance until his soul-gaze swept over a mighty panorama, as if a stupendous flash of divine fire were lighting the future and revealing what might be if the dreams of the dreamers came true. “Just one State!” he whispered, closing his eyes to retain the picture. “By heavens, that’s it! Washington has seen it! Sevier sees it! No, no! It can’t be all that!”