The folk of Homse's Hole comforted one another with assurances that Caleb Allen had not died in vain. The Americans had won the battle that cost him his life, the Battle of Dorchester Heights, and they had sent the British fleeing from Boston. The war was far from over, but this was a major victory.

The people of Homse's Hole decided to erect a Liberty Pole in memory of Caleb Allen and in honor of all the men of Homse's Hole who were still fighting. Polly's father volunteered to make the pole and Polly, Maria and Nell asked to make the flag.

They chose the flag recently adopted by the Massachusetts navy -- a green tree on a plain white background. It depicted the Liberty Tree, a large pine under which the Sons of Liberty had often rallied in Boston.

Stitching the flag with care and love as they laughed and cried over their memories of Caleb brought some small measure of comfort to the three girls. The shipwright offered a huge white pine he had been saving for a mast, and Polly's father planed it and sanded it and varnished it until it shone like glass. When it was finished, the Liberty Pole was raised on Manter's Hill in plain view of the harbor.

The British troops that were still quartered at Homse's Hole took a dim view of these goings on, but in the wake of the recent defeat at Boston they seemed to think better of stirring the locals into a hornet's nest, especially over an issue as benign as a flagpole.

The flag raising was set for Saturday, April 14, on what would have been Caleb Allen's 18th birthday. Saturday morning dawned gray and threatening, with a strong onshore wind.

"Nor'easter brewing," said Polly's father with an eye to the sky.

"Do you think we should postpone the service?" Polly's mother asked.

"No," cried Polly. "It has to be today. It's Caleb's birthday."

"Storm's a ways off yet," her father replied. "We'll have time."

Polly, Maria and Nell stood hand in hand, biting back tears as their flag rose to the top of the pole.

"Caleb Allen died a hero," said Preacher Damon, who had come in from West Tisbury for the occasion. "He and other young men like him are planting the seeds of freedom, seeds that will one day flower in the farthest corners of the globe."

The wind whipped at Polly's skirt and tore at her bonnet. It gave her some comfort to think that perhaps this struggle was part of something bigger, that the world might one day be a better place because of Caleb's sacrifice. She had to believe that.

Below the hill, the building sea crashed against the rocks that dotted the shore, sending plumes of spray into the air to be caught by the wind and sprinkled over the huddled group of mourners. Still the people of Homse's Hole sang and prayed and wept together, until at last the pelting rains arrived. Throughout the rest of the day and long into the night the storm roared. Rain hammered on the rooftop, and the angry wind hurled fistfuls of sand at the windowpanes.

Rusty followed Polly everywhere, curling around her ankles for reassurance and huddling in her lap whenever she sat still for a moment. In truth, Polly was glad of the company. The bleak weather deepened her sorrow over Caleb and heightened her fears for her brother Sam.

Morning brought a different world. The sky was bright blue, the air bracing and clean. The whole town seemed freshly scoured. Polly was pleased upon coming down to breakfast to see that Caleb's flag had already been raised again. She stood a long while at the kitchen window just watching it furl and unfurl peacefully, bright white against the azure sky.

"Time to get to work now, Polly," said her mother. "It's not good to dwell too long on your sorrows."

Mama had her mind set on spring cleaning, so she and Polly donned their aprons and head kerchiefs and set to work scrubbing and washing, shaking rugs and beating featherbeds. Mama was right. Work felt good.

At day's end Polly mixed up a batch of corn bread and set it to baking while her mother prepared a codfish stew. Polly was just setting out the trenchers and mugs for the evening meal when her father burst through the door like a wild man.

"Not while I breathe!" he shouted. "Polly, fetch me my musket!"

The Roanoke Times is publishing "The Liberty Pole," a Hot Topics serial, as part of its Newspaper in Education program. Subsequent chapters will appear each Monday in the Extra section through Dec. 19. To order classroom sets of The Roanoke Times for 15 cents per edition, please contact the NIE team at 981-3165 or nie@roanoke.com.