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You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: True Stories from History and Biography + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + +Release Date: April 2005 [Ebook #15697] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE STORIES FROM HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY*** +</pre></div> +</div> + +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-titlePage"> +<span class="tei tei-docTitle"><span class="tei tei-titlePart"><span style="font-size: 144%">True Stories from History and Biography</span></span></span> +<br /><div class="tei tei-byline">by <span class="tei tei-docAuthor">Nathaniel Hawthorne</span></div> + +<span class="tei tei-docImprint">BOSTON:<br /> +TICKNOR, REED, AND FIELDS.<br /> +MDCCCLI.<br /><br /></span> + +<span class="tei tei-docDate">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by +NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court +of the District of Massachusetts.<br /><br /></span> + +<span class="tei tei-docImprint">CAMBRIDGE:<br /> +PRINTED BY BOLLES AND HOUGHTON.</span> +</div> + + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image01.png" width="480" height="553" alt="Frontispiece" /></div> +</div> + +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<ul class="tei tei-index tei-index-toc"><li><a href="#toc1">Preface</a></li><li><a href="#toc3">THE WHOLE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR</a></li><li><a href="#toc5">Part I</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc7">Chapter I</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc9">Chapter II</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc11">THE LADY ARBELLA</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc13">Chapter III</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc15">Chapter IV</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc17">Chapter V</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc19">Chapter VI</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc21">THE PINE-TREE SHILLINGS</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc23">Chapter VII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc25">Chapter VIII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc27">THE INDIAN BIBLE</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc29">Chapter IX</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc31">Chapter X</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc33">THE SUNKEN TREASURE</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc35">Chapter XI</a></li><li><a href="#toc37">Part II</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc39">Chapter I</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc41">Chapter II</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc43">Chapter III</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc45">THE OLD-FASHIONED SCHOOL</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc47">Chapter IV</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc49">Chapter VI</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc51">THE REJECTED BLESSING</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc53">Chapter VII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc55">Chapter VIII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc57">THE PROVINCIAL MUSTER</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc59">Chapter IX</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc61">THE ACADIAN EXILES</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc63">Chapter X</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc65">Chapter XI</a></li><li><a href="#toc67">Part III</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc69">Chapter I</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc71">Chapter II</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc73">Chapter III</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc75">THE HUTCHINSON MOB</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc77">Chapter IV</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc79">Chapter V</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc81">THE BOSTON MASSACRE</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc83">Chapter VI</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc85">Chapter VII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc87">Chapter VIII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc89">Chapter IX</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc91">THE TORY'S FAREWELL</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc93">Chapter X</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc95">Chapter XI</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc97">GRANDFATHER'S DREAM</a></li><li><a href="#toc99">Biographical Stories</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc101">Chapter I</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc103">Chapter II</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc105">BENJAMIN WEST</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc107">Chapter III</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc109">SIR ISAAC NEWTON</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc111">Chapter IV</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc113">SAMUEL JOHNSON</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc115">Chapter V</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc117">SAMUEL JOHNSON—<span style="font-variant: small-caps">continued.</span></a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc119">Chapter VI</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc121">OLIVER CROMWELL</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc123">Chapter VII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc125">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN</a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc127">Chapter VIII</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc129">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN—<span style="font-variant: small-caps">continued</span></a></li><li style="margin-left: 2em"><a href="#toc131">Chapter IX</a></li><li style="margin-left: 4em"><a href="#toc133">QUEEN CHRISTINA</a></li></ul> +</div> + +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc1" id="toc1"></a><a name="pdf2" id="pdf2"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Preface</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In writing this ponderous tome, the author's desire +has been to describe the eminent characters and +remarkable events of our annals, in such a form and +style, that the YOUNG might make acquaintance with +them of their own accord. For this purpose, while +ostensibly relating the adventures of a Chair, he has +endeavored to keep a distinct and unbroken thread of +authentic history. The Chair is made to pass from +one to another of those personages, of whom he +thought it most desirable for the young reader to have +vivid and familiar ideas, and whose lives and actions +would best enable him to give picturesque sketches +of the times. On its sturdy oaken legs, it trudges diligently +from one scene to another, and seems always +to thrust itself in the way, with most benign complacency, +whenever a historical personage happens to be +looking round for a seat.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There is certainly no method, by which the shadowy +outlines of departed men and women can he made to +assume the hues of life more effectually, than by connecting +their images with the substantial and homely +reality of a fireside chair. It causes us to feel at +once, that these characters of history had a private +and familiar existence, and were not wholly contained +within that cold array of outward action, which we +are compelled to receive as the adequate representation +of their lives. If this impression can be given, +much is accomplished.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Setting aside Grandfather and his auditors, and +excepting the adventures of the Chair, which form the +machinery of the work, nothing in the ensuing pages +can be termed fictitious. The author, it is true, has +sometimes assumed the license of filling up the outline +of history with details, for which he has none but +imaginative authority, but which, he hopes, do not +violate nor give a false coloring to the truth. He +believes that, in this respect, his narrative will not be +found to convey ideas and impressions, of which the +reader may hereafter find it necessary to purge his +mind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The author's great doubt is, whether he has succeeded +in writing a book which will be readable by the +class for whom he intends it. To make a lively and +entertaining narrative for children, with such unmalleable +material as is presented by the sombre, stern, and +rigid characteristics of the Puritans and their descendants, +is quite as difficult an attempt, as to manufacture +delicate playthings out of the granite rocks on which +New England is founded.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc3" id="toc3"></a><a name="pdf4" id="pdf4"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">THE WHOLE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">COMPLETE IN THREE PARTS.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page001">[pg 001]</span> +<a name="Pg001" id="Pg001" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc5" id="toc5"></a><a name="pdf6" id="pdf6"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Part I</span></h1> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc7" id="toc7"></a><a name="pdf8" id="pdf8"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter I</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather had been sitting in his old arm-chair, +all that pleasant afternoon, while the children +were pursuing their various sports, far off or near at +hand. Sometimes you would have said, "Grandfather +is asleep;" but still, even when his eyes were +closed, his thoughts were with the young people, +playing among the flowers and shrubbery of the garden.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He heard the voice of Laurence, who had taken possession +of a heap of decayed branches which the gardener +had lopped from the fruit trees, and was building +a little hut for his cousin Clara and himself. He +heard Clara's gladsome voice, too, as she weeded +and watered the flower-bed which had been given +her for her own. He could have counted every +footstep that Charley took, as he trundled his wheelbarrow +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page002">[pg 002]</span> +<a name="Pg002" id="Pg002" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +along the gravel walk. And though Grandfather +was old and gray-haired, yet his heart leaped +with joy whenever little Alice came fluttering, like a +butterfly, into the room. She had made each of the +children her playmate in turn, and now made Grandfather +her playmate too, and thought him the merriest +of them all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last the children grew weary of their sports; +because a summer afternoon is like a long lifetime +to the young. So they came into the room together, +and clustered round Grandfather's great chair. Little +Alice, who was hardly five years old, took the +privilege of the youngest, and climbed his knee. It +was a pleasant thing to behold that fair and golden-haired +child in the lap of the old man, and to think +that, different as they were, the hearts of both could +be gladdened with the same joys.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said little Alice, laying her head +back upon his arm, "I am very tired now. You +must tell me a story to make me go to sleep."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That is not what story-tellers like," answered +Grandfather, smiling. "They are better satisfied +when they can keep their auditors awake."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But here are Laurence, and Charley, and I," +cried cousin Clara, who was twice as old as little +Alice. "We will all three keep wide awake. And +pray, Grandfather, tell us a story about this strange-looking +old chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now, the chair in which Grandfather sat was made +of oak, which had grown dark with age, but had been +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page003">[pg 003]</span> +<a name="Pg003" id="Pg003" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +rubbed and polished till it shone as bright as mahogany. +It was very large and heavy, and had a back +that rose high above Grandfather's white head. This +back was curiously carved in open work, so as to +represent flowers and foliage and other devices; +which the children had often gazed at, but could +never understand what they meant. On the very +tiptop of the chair, over the head of Grandfather +himself, was a likeness of a lion's head, which had +such a savage grin that you would almost expect to +hear it growl and snarl.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The children had seen Grandfather sitting in this +chair ever since they could remember any thing. +Perhaps the younger of them supposed that he and +the chair had come into the world together, and that +both had always been as old as they were now. At +this time, however, it happened to be the fashion for +ladies to adorn their drawing-rooms with the oldest +and oddest chairs that could be found. It seemed +to cousin Clara that if these ladies could have seen +Grandfather's old chair, they would have thought it +worth all the rest together. She wondered if it were +not even older than Grandfather himself, and longed +to know all about its history.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Do, Grandfather, talk to us about this chair," +she repeated.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, child," said Grandfather, patting Clara's +cheek, "I can tell you a great many stories of my +chair. Perhaps your cousin Laurence would like to +hear them too. They would teach him something +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page004">[pg 004]</span> +<a name="Pg004" id="Pg004" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +about the history and distinguished people of his +country, which he has never read in any of his +school-books."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Cousin Laurence was a boy of twelve, a bright +scholar, in whom an early thoughtfulness and sensibility +began to show themselves. His young fancy +kindled at the idea of knowing all the adventures of +this venerable chair. He looked eagerly in Grandfather's +face; and even Charley, a bold, brisk, restless +little fellow of nine, sat himself down on the +carpet, and resolved to be quiet for at least ten minutes, +should the story last so long.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime, little Alice was already asleep; so +Grandfather, being much pleased with such an +attentive audience, began to talk about matters that +had happened long ago.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page005">[pg 005]</span> +<a name="Pg005" id="Pg005" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc9" id="toc9"></a><a name="pdf10" id="pdf10"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter II</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, before relating the adventures of the chair, +Grandfather found it necessary to speak of the circumstances +that caused the first settlement of New +England. For it will soon be perceived that the +story of this remarkable chair cannot be told without +telling a great deal of the history of the country.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So, Grandfather talked about the Puritans, as +those persons were called who thought it sinful to +practise the religious forms and ceremonies which +the Church of England had borrowed from the +Roman Catholics. These Puritans suffered so much +persecution in England that, in 1607, many of them +went over to Holland, and lived ten or twelve years +at Amsterdam and Leyden. But they feared that, +if they continued there much longer, they should +cease to be English, and should adopt all the manners +and ideas and feelings of the Dutch. For this +and other reasons, in the year 1620, they embarked +on board of the ship Mayflower, and crossed the ocean +to the shores of Cape Cod. There they made a +settlement, and called it Plymouth; which, though +now a part of Massachusetts, was for a long time a +colony by itself. And thus was formed the earliest +settlement of the Puritans in America.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime, those of the Puritans who remained in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page006">[pg 006]</span> +<a name="Pg006" id="Pg006" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +England continued to suffer grievous persecution on +account of their religious opinions. They began to +look around them for some spot where they might +worship God, not as the king and bishops thought fit, +but according to the dictates of their own consciences. +When their brethren had gone from Holland +to America, they bethought themselves that +they likewise might find refuge from persecution +there. Several gentlemen among them purchased a +tract of country on the coast of Massachusetts Bay, +and obtained a charter from King Charles, which authorized +them to make laws for the settlers. In the +year 1628, they sent over a few people, with John +Endicott at their head, to commence a plantation at +Salem. Peter Palfrey, Roger Conant, and one or +two more, had built houses there in 1626, and may +be considered as the first settlers of that ancient +town. Many other Puritans prepared to follow Endicott.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And now we come to the chair, my dear children," +said Grandfather. "This chair is supposed to +have been made of an oak tree which grew in the +park of the English earl of Lincoln, between two and +three centuries ago. In its younger days it used, +probably, to stand in the hall of the earl's castle. +Do not you see the coat of arms of the family of +Lincoln, carved in the open work of the back? But +when his daughter, the Lady Arbella, was married +to a certain Mr. Johnson, the earl gave her this +valuable chair." +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page007">[pg 007]</span> +<a name="Pg007" id="Pg007" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Who was Mr. Johnson?" inquired Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He was a gentleman of great wealth, who agreed +with the Puritans in their religious opinions," answered +Grandfather. "And as his belief was the +same as theirs, he resolved that he would live and +die with them. Accordingly, in the month of April, +1630, he left his pleasant abode and all his comforts +in England, and embarked with the Lady Arbella, +on board of a ship bound for America."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Grandfather was frequently impeded by the +questions and observations of his young auditors, +we deem it advisable to omit all such prattle as is +not essential to the story. We have taken some +pains to find out exactly what Grandfather said, and +here offer to our readers, as nearly as possible in his +own words, the story of</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc11" id="toc11"></a><a name="pdf12" id="pdf12"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE LADY ARBELLA</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The ship in which Mr. Johnson and his lady embarked, +taking Grandfather's chair along with them, +was called the Arbella, in honor of the lady herself. +A fleet of ten or twelve vessels, with many hundred +passengers, left England about the same time; for +a multitude of people, who were discontented with +the king's government and oppressed by the bishops, +were flocking over to the new world. One of the +vessels in the fleet was that same Mayflower which +had carried the Puritan pilgrims to Plymouth. And +now, my children, I would have you fancy yourselves +in the cabin of the good ship Arbella; because if +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page008">[pg 008]</span> +<a name="Pg008" id="Pg008" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +you could behold the passengers aboard that vessel, +you would feel what a blessing and honor it was for +New England to have such settlers. They were the +best men and women of their day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Among the passengers was John Winthrop, who +had sold the estate of his forefathers, and was going +to prepare a new home for his wife and children in +the wilderness. He had the king's charter in his +keeping, and was appointed the first Governor of +Massachusetts. Imagine him a person of grave and +benevolent aspect, dressed in a black velvet suit, +with a broad ruff around his neck and a peaked +beard upon his chin. There was likewise a minister +of the Gospel, whom the English bishops had +forbidden to preach, but who knew that he should +have liberty both to preach and pray in the forests +of America. He wore a black cloak, called a Geneva +cloak, and had a black velvet cap, fitting close +to his head, as was the fashion of almost all the +Puritan clergymen. In their company came Sir +Richard Saltonstall, who had been one of the five +first projectors of the new colony. He soon returned +to his native country. But his descendants +still remain in New England; and the good old +family name is as much respected in our days as it +was in those of Sir Richard.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not only these, but several other men of wealth +and pious ministers, were in the cabin of the Arbella. +One had banished himself for ever from the old hall +where his ancestors had lived for hundreds of years. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page009">[pg 009]</span> +<a name="Pg009" id="Pg009" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Another had left his quiet parsonage, in a country +town of England. Others had come from the universities +of Oxford or Cambridge, where they had +gained great fame for their learning. And here +they all were, tossing upon the uncertain and dangerous +sea, and bound for a home that was more +dangerous than even the sea itself. In the cabin, +likewise, sat the Lady Arbella in her chair, with a +gentle and sweet expression on her face, but looking +too pale and feeble to endure the hardships of the +wilderness.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Every morning and evening the Lady Arbella +gave up her great chair to one of the ministers, who +took his place in it and read passages from the Bible +to his companions. And thus, with prayers and pious +conversation, and frequent singing of hymns, which +the breezes caught from their lips and scattered far +over the desolate waves, they prosecuted their voyage, +and sailed into the harbor of Salem in the +month of June.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At that period there were but six or eight dwellings +in the town; and these were miserable hovels, +with roofs of straw and wooden chimneys. The passengers +in the fleet either built huts with bark and +branches of trees, or erected tents of cloth till they +could provide themselves with better shelter. Many +of them went to form a settlement at Charlestown. +It was thought fit that the Lady Arbella should +tarry in Salem for a time; she was probably received +as a guest into the family of John Endicott. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page010">[pg 010]</span> +<a name="Pg010" id="Pg010" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +He was the chief person in the plantation, and had +the only comfortable house which the new comers +had beheld since they left England. So now, children, +you must imagine Grandfather's chair in the +midst of a new scene.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Suppose it a hot summer's day, and the lattice-windows +of a chamber in Mr. Endicott's house thrown +wide open. The Lady Arbella, looking paler than +she did on shipboard, is sitting in her chair, and +thinking mournfully of far-off England. She rises +and goes to the window. There, amid patches of +garden ground and cornfield, she sees the few +wretched hovels of the settlers, with the still ruder +wigwams and cloth tents of the passengers who had +arrived in the same fleet with herself. Far and near +stretches the dismal forest of pine trees, which throw +their black shadows over the whole land, and likewise +over the heart of this poor lady.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All the inhabitants of the little village are busy. +One is clearing a spot on the verge of the forest for +his homestead; another is hewing the trunk of a +fallen pine tree, in order to build himself a dwelling; +a third is hoeing in his field of Indian corn. Here +comes a huntsman out of the woods, dragging a bear +which he has shot, and shouting to the neighbors to +lend him a hand. There goes a man to the sea-shore, +with a spade and a bucket, to dig a mess of +clams, which were a principal article of food with +the first settlers. Scattered here and there are two +or three dusky figures, clad in mantles of fur, with +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page011">[pg 011]</span> +<a name="Pg011" id="Pg011" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ornaments of bone hanging from their ears, and the +feathers of wild birds in their coal black hair. They +have belts of shell-work slung across their shoulders, +and are armed with bows and arrows and flint-headed +spears. These are an Indian Sagamore and his +attendants, who have come to gaze at the labors of +the white men. And now rises a cry, that a pack +of wolves have seized a young calf in the pasture; +and every man snatches up his gun or pike, and runs +in chase of the marauding beasts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Poor Lady Arbella watches all these sights, and +feels that this new world is fit only for rough and +hardy people. None should be here but those who +can struggle with wild beasts and wild men, and can +toil in the heat or cold, and can keep their hearts +firm against all difficulties and dangers. But she is +not one of these. Her gentle and timid spirit sinks +within her; and turning away from the window she +sits down in the great chair, and wonders thereabouts +in the wilderness her friends will dig her +grave.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. Johnson had gone, with Governor Winthrop +and most of the other passengers, to Boston, where +he intended to build a house for Lady Arbella and +himself. Boston was then covered with wild woods, +and had fewer inhabitants even than Salem. During +her husband's absence, poor Lady Arbella felt herself +growing ill, and was hardly able to stir from the +great chair. Whenever John Endicott noticed her +despondency, he doubtless addressed her with words +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page012">[pg 012]</span> +<a name="Pg012" id="Pg012" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of comfort. "Cheer up, my good lady!" he would +say. "In a little time, you will love this rude life +of the wilderness as I do." But Endicott's heart +was as bold and resolute as iron, and he could not +understand why a woman's heart should not be of +iron too.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Still, however, he spoke kindly to the lady, and +then hastened forth to till his corn-field and set out +fruit trees, or to bargain with the Indians for furs, or +perchance to oversee the building of a fort. Also +being a magistrate, he had often to punish some idler +or evil-doer, by ordering him to be set in the stocks +or scourged at the whipping-post. Often, too, as +was the custom of the times, he and Mr. Higginson, +the minister of Salem, held long religious talks +together. Thus John Endicott was a man of multifarious +business, and had no time to look back regretfully +to his native land. He felt himself fit for the +new world, and for the work that he had to do, and +set himself resolutely to accomplish it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">What a contrast, my dear children, between this +bold, rough, active man, and the gentle Lady Arbella, +who was fading away, like a pale English flower, in +the shadow of the forest! And now the great chair +was often empty, because Lady Arbella grew too +weak to arise from bed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime, her husband had pitched upon a spot +for their new home. He returned from Boston to +Salem, travelling through the woods on foot, and +leaning on his pilgrim's staff. His heart yearned +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page013">[pg 013]</span> +<a name="Pg013" id="Pg013" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +within him; for he was eager to tell his wife of the +new home which he had chosen. But when he +beheld her pale and hollow cheek, and found how +her strength was wasted, he must have known that +her appointed home was in a better land. Happy +for him then,—happy both for him and her,—if +they remembered that there was a path to heaven, +as well from this heathen wilderness as from the +Christian land whence they had come. And so, in +one short month from her arrival, the gentle Lady +Arbella faded away and died. They dug a grave +for her in the new soil, where the roots of the pine +trees impeded their spades; and when her bones +had rested there nearly two hundred years, and a +city had sprung up around them, a church of stone +was built upon the spot.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Charley, almost at the commencement of the foregoing +narrative, had galloped away with a prodigious +clatter, upon Grandfather's stick, and was not yet +returned. So large a boy should have been ashamed +to ride upon a stick. But Laurence and Clara had +listened attentively, and were affected by this true +story of the gentle lady, who had come so far to die +so soon. Grandfather had supposed that little Alice +was asleep, but, towards the close of the story, happening +to look down upon her, he saw that her blue +eyes were wide open, and fixed earnestly upon his +face. The tears had gathered in them, like dew +upon a delicate flower; but when Grandfather +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page014">[pg 014]</span> +<a name="Pg014" id="Pg014" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +ceased to speak, the sunshine of her smile broke +forth again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O, the lady must have been so glad to get to +heaven!" exclaimed little Alice.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather, what became of Mr. Johnson?" +asked Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"His heart appears to have been quite broken," +answered Grandfather; "for he died at Boston +within a month after the death of his wife. He was +buried in the very same tract of ground, where he +had intended to build a dwelling for Lady Arbella +and himself. Where their house would have stood +there was his grave.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I never heard any thing so melancholy!" said +Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The people loved and respected Mr. Johnson so +much," continued Grandfather, "that it was the +last request of many of them, when they died, that +they might be buried as near as possible to this good +man's grave. And so the field became the first +burial-ground in Boston. When you pass through +Tremont street, along by King's Chapel, you see a +burial-ground, containing many old grave-stones and +monuments. That was Mr. Johnson's field."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How sad is the thought," observed Clara, "that +one of the first things which the settlers had to do, +when they came to the new world, was to set apart +a burial-ground!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Perhaps," said Laurence, "if they had found +no need of burial-grounds here, they would have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page015">[pg 015]</span> +<a name="Pg015" id="Pg015" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been glad, after a few years, to go back to England."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather looked at Laurence, to discover +whether he knew how profound and true a thing he +had said.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc13" id="toc13"></a><a name="pdf14" id="pdf14"></a> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page016">[pg 016]</span> +<a name="Pg016" id="Pg016" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter III</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not long after Grandfather had told the story of +his great chair, there chanced to be a rainy day. +Our friend Charley, after disturbing the household +with beat of drum and riotous shouts, races up and +down the staircase, overturning of chairs, and much +other uproar, began to feel the quiet and confinement +within doors intolerable. But as the rain came down +in a flood, the little fellow was hopelessly a prisoner, +and now stood with sullen aspect at a window, wondering +whether the sun itself were not extinguished +by so much moisture in the sky.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Charley had already exhausted the less eager +activity of the other children; and they had betaken +themselves to occupations that did not admit +of his companionship. Laurence sat in a recess near +the book-case, reading, not for the first time, the +Midsummer Night's Dream. Clara was making a +rosary of beads for a little figure of a Sister of +Charity, who was to attend the Bunker Hill Fair, and +lend her aid in erecting the Monument. Little Alice +sat on Grandfather's foot-stool, with a picture-book +in her hand; and, for every picture, the child was +telling Grandfather a story. She did not read from +the book, (for little Alice had not much skill in +reading,) but told the story out of her own heart +and mind. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page017">[pg 017]</span> +<a name="Pg017" id="Pg017" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Charley was too big a boy, of course, to care any +thing about little Alice's stories, although Grandfather +appeared to listen with a good deal of interest. +Often, in a young child's ideas and fancies, there is +something which it requires the thought of a lifetime +to comprehend. But Charley was of opinion, that +if a story must be told, it had better be told by +Grandfather, than little Alice.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather, I want to hear more about your +chair," said he.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now Grandfather remembered that Charley had +galloped away upon a stick, in the midst of the narrative +of poor Lady Arbella, and I know not whether +he would have thought it worth while to tell another +story, merely to gratify such an inattentive auditor +as Charley. But Laurence laid down his book and +seconded the request. Clara drew her chair nearer +to Grandfather, and little Alice immediately closed +her picture-book, and looked up into his face. +Grandfather had not the heart to disappoint them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He mentioned several persons who had a share in +the settlement of our country, and who would be +well worthy of remembrance, if we could find room +to tell about them all. Among the rest, Grandfather +spoke of the famous Hugh Peters, a minister +of the gospel, who did much good to the inhabitants +of Salem. Mr. Peters afterwards went back to England, +and was chaplain to Oliver Cromwell; but +Grandfather did not tell the children what became +of this upright and zealous man, at last. In fact, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page018">[pg 018]</span> +<a name="Pg018" id="Pg018" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +his auditors were growing impatient to hear more +about the history of the chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"After the death of Mr. Johnson," said he, +"Grandfather's chair came into the possession of +Roger Williams. He was a clergyman, who arrived +at Salem, and settled there in 1631. Doubtless the +good man has spent many a studious hour in this +old chair, either penning a sermon, or reading some +abstruse book of theology, till midnight came upon +him unawares. At that period, as there were few +lamps or candles to be had, people used to read or +work by the light of pitchpine torches. These supplied +the place of the "midnight oil," to the learned +men of New England."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather went on to talk about Roger Williams, +and told the children several particulars, +which we have not room to repeat. One incident, +however, which was connected with his life, must be +related, because it will give the reader an idea of +the opinions and feelings of the first settlers of New +England. It was as follows:</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE RED CROSS</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While Roger Williams sat in Grandfather's chair, +at his humble residence in Salem, John Endicott +would often come to visit him. As the clergy had +great influence in temporal concerns, the minister +and magistrate would talk over the occurrences of +the day, and consult how the people might be governed +according to scriptural laws. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page019">[pg 019]</span> +<a name="Pg019" id="Pg019" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One thing especially troubled them both. In the +old national banner of England, under which her +soldiers have fought for hundreds of years, there is +a Red Cross, which has been there ever since the +days when England was in subjection to the Pope. +The Cross, though a holy symbol, was abhorred by +the Puritans, because they considered it a relic of +Popish idolatry. Now, whenever the train-band of +Salem was mustered, the soldiers, with Endicott at +their head, had no other flag to march under than +this same old papistical banner of England, with the +Red Cross in the midst of it. The banner of the +Red Cross, likewise, was flying on the walls of the +fort of Salem; and a similar one was displayed in +Boston harbor, from the fortress on Castle Island.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I profess, brother Williams," Captain Endicott +would say, after they had been talking of this matter, +"it distresses a Christian man's heart, to see +this idolatrous Cross flying over our heads. A +stranger beholding it, would think that we had +undergone all our hardships and dangers, by sea +and in the wilderness, only to get new dominions for +the Pope of Rome."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Truly, good Mr. Endicott," Roger Williams +would answer, "you speak as an honest man and +Protestant Christian should. For mine own part, +were it my business to draw a sword, I should reckon +it sinful to fight under such a banner. Neither +can I, in my pulpit, ask the blessing of Heaven +upon it." +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page020">[pg 020]</span> +<a name="Pg020" id="Pg020" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Such, probably, was the way in which Roger Williams +and John Endicott used to talk about the banner +of the Red Cross. Endicott, who was a prompt +and resolute man, soon determined that Massachusetts, +if she could not have a banner of her own, +should at least be delivered from that of the Pope of +Rome.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not long afterwards there was a military muster +at Salem. Every able-bodied man, in the town and +neighborhood, was there. All were well armed, +with steel caps upon their heads, plates of iron upon +their breasts and at their backs, and gorgets of steel +around their necks. When the sun shone upon +these ranks of iron-clad men, they flashed and blazed +with a splendor that bedazzled the wild Indians, who +had come out of the woods to gaze at them. The +soldiers had long pikes, swords, and muskets, which +were fired with matches, and were almost as heavy +as a small cannon.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">These men had mostly a stern and rigid aspect. +To judge by their looks, you might have supposed +that there was as much iron in their hearts, as there +was upon their heads and breasts. They were all +devoted Puritans, and of the same temper as those +with whom Oliver Cromwell afterwards overthrew +the throne of England. They hated all the relics of +Popish superstition as much as Endicott himself; +and yet, over their heads, was displayed the banner +of the Red Cross.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Endicott was the captain of the company. While +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page021">[pg 021]</span> +<a name="Pg021" id="Pg021" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the soldiers were expecting his orders to begin their +exercise, they saw him take the banner in one hand, +holding his drawn sword in the other. Probably he +addressed them in a speech, and explained how horrible +a thing it was, that men, who had fled from +Popish idolatry into the wilderness, should be compelled +to fight under its symbols here. Perhaps he +concluded his address somewhat in the following +style.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And now, fellow soldiers, you see this old banner +of England. Some of you, I doubt not, may +think it treason for a man to lay violent hands upon +it. But whether or no it be treason to man, I have +good assurance in my conscience that it is no treason +to God. Wherefore I have resolved that we will +rather be God's soldiers, than soldiers of the Pope +of Rome; and in that mind I now cut the Papal +Cross out of this banner."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so he did. And thus, in a province belonging +to the crown of England, a captain was found +bold enough to deface the King's banner with his +sword.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Winthrop, and the other wise men of Massachusetts, +heard of it, they were disquieted, being +afraid that Endicott's act would bring great trouble +upon himself and them. An account of the matter +was carried to King Charles; but he was then so +much engrossed by dissensions with his people, that +he had no leisure to punish the offender. In other +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page022">[pg 022]</span> +<a name="Pg022" id="Pg022" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +times, it might have cost Endicott his life, and Massachusetts +her charter.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I should like to know, Grandfather," said Laurence, +when the story was ended, "whether, when +Endicott cut the Red Cross out of the banner, he +meant to imply that Massachusetts was independent +of England?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"A sense of the independence of his adopted +country, must have been in that bold man's heart," +answered Grandfather; "but I doubt whether he +had given the matter much consideration, except in +its religious bearing. However, it was a very remarkable +affair, and a very strong expression of +Puritan character."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather proceeded to speak further of Roger +Williams, and of other persons who sat in the great +chair, as will be seen in the following chapter.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page023">[pg 023]</span> +<a name="Pg023" id="Pg023" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc15" id="toc15"></a><a name="pdf16" id="pdf16"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IV</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Roger Williams," said Grandfather, "did not +keep possession of the chair a great while. His +opinions of civil and religious matters differed, in +many respects, from those of the rulers and clergymen +of Massachusetts. Now the wise men of those +days believed, that the country could not be safe, +unless all the inhabitants thought and felt alike."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Does any body believe so in our days Grandfather?" +asked Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Possibly there are some who believe it," said +Grandfather; "but they have not so much power to +act upon their belief, as the magistrates and ministers +had, in the days of Roger Williams. They had +the power to deprive this good man of his home, and +to send him out from the midst of them, in search of +a new place of rest. He was banished in 1634, and +went first to Plymouth colony; but as the people +there held the same opinions as those of Massachusetts, +he was not suffered to remain among them. +However, the wilderness was wide enough; so Roger +Williams took his staff and travelled into the +forest, and made treaties with the Indians, and began +a plantation which he called Providence."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I have been to Providence on the railroad," +said Charley. "It is but a two hours' ride." +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page024">[pg 024]</span> +<a name="Pg024" id="Pg024" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, Charley," replied Grandfather; "but when +Roger Williams travelled thither, over hills and valleys, +and through the tangled woods, and across +swamps and streams, it was a journey of several +days. Well; his little plantation is now grown to +be a populous city; and the inhabitants have a +great veneration for Roger Williams. His name is +familiar in the mouths of all because they see it on +their bank bills. How it would have perplexed this +good clergyman, if he had been told that he should +give his name to the ROGER WILLIAMS BANK!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"When he was driven from Massachusetts," said +Laurence, "and began his journey into the woods, +he must have felt as if he were burying himself forever +from the sight and knowledge of men. Yet +the whole country has now heard of him, and will +remember him forever."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes," answered Grandfather, "it often happens, +that the outcasts of one generation are those, who +are reverenced as the wisest and best of men by the +next. The securest fame is that which comes after +a man's death. But let us return to our story. +When Roger Williams was banished, he appears to +have given the chair to Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. At +all events it was in her possession in 1637. She +was a very sharp-witted and well-instructed lady, +and was so conscious of her own wisdom and abilities, +that she thought it a pity that the world should +not have the benefit of them. She therefore used +to hold lectures in Boston, once or twice a week, at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page025">[pg 025]</span> +<a name="Pg025" id="Pg025" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +which most of the women attended. Mrs. Hutchinson +presided at these meetings, sitting, with great +state and dignity, in Grandfather's chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather, was it positively this very chair?" +demanded Clara, laying her hand upon its carved +elbow.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why not, my dear Clara?" said Grandfather. +"Well; Mrs. Hutchinson's lectures soon caused a +great disturbance; for the ministers of Boston did +not think it safe and proper, that a woman should +publicly instruct the people in religious doctrines. +Moreover, she made the matter worse, by declaring +that the Rev. Mr. Cotton was the only sincerely pious +and holy clergyman in New England. Now the +clergy of those days had quite as much share in the +government of the country, though indirectly, as the +magistrates themselves; so you may imagine what a +host of powerful enemies were raised up against Mrs. +Hutchinson. A synod was convened; that is to say, +an assemblage of all the ministers in Massachusetts. +They declared that there were eighty-two erroneous +opinions on religious subjects, diffused among the +people, and that Mrs. Hutchinson's opinions were of +the number."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"If they had eighty-two wrong opinions," observed +Charley, "I don't see how they could have any +right ones."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Mrs. Hutchinson had many zealous friends and +converts," continued Grandfather. "She was favored +by young Henry Vane, who had come over +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page026">[pg 026]</span> +<a name="Pg026" id="Pg026" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from England a year or two before, and had since +been chosen governor of the colony, at the age of +twenty-four. But Winthrop, and most of the other +leading men, as well as the ministers, felt an abhorrence +of her doctrines. Thus two opposite parties +were formed; and so fierce were the dissensions, +that it was feared the consequence would be civil +war and bloodshed. But Winthrop and the ministers +being the most powerful, they disarmed and imprisoned +Mrs. Hutchinson's adherents. She, like +Roger Williams, was banished."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Dear Grandfather, did they drive the poor woman +into the woods?" exclaimed little Alice, who +contrived to feel a human interest even in these discords +of polemic divinity.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They did, my darling," replied Grandfather; +"and the end of her life was so sad, you must not +hear it. At her departure, it appears from the best +authorities, that she gave the great chair to her +friend, Henry Vane. He was a young man of wonderful +talents and great learning, who had imbibed +the religious opinions of the Puritans, and left England +with the intention of spending his life in Massachusetts. +The people chose him governor; but the +controversy about Mrs. Hutchinson, and other troubles, +caused him to leave the country in 1637. You +may read the subsequent events of his life in the +History of England."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, Grandfather," cried Laurence; "and we +may read them better in Mr. Upham's biography of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page027">[pg 027]</span> +<a name="Pg027" id="Pg027" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Vane. And what a beautiful death he died, long +afterwards! beautiful, though it was on a scaffold."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Many of the most beautiful deaths have been +there," said Grandfather. "The enemies of a great +and good man can in no other way make him so +glorious, as by giving him the crown of martyrdom."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In order that the children might fully understand +the all-important history of the chair, Grandfather +now thought fit to speak of the progress that was +made in settling several colonies. The settlement +of Plymouth, in 1620, has already been mentioned. +In 1635, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone, two ministers, +went on foot from Massachusetts to Connecticut, +through the pathless woods, taking their whole congregation +along with them. They founded the town +of Hartford. In 1638, Mr. Davenport, a very celebrated +minister, went, with other people, and began +a plantation at New Haven. In the same year, +some persons who had been persecuted in Massachusetts, +went to the Isle of Rhodes, since called Rhode +Island, and settled there. About this time, also, +many settlers had gone to Maine, and were living +without any regular government. There were likewise +settlers near Piscataqua River, in the region +which is now called New Hampshire.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Thus, at various points along the coast of New +England, there were communities of Englishmen. +Though these communities were independent of one +another, yet they had a common dependence upon +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page028">[pg 028]</span> +<a name="Pg028" id="Pg028" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +England; and, at so vast a distance from their native +home, the inhabitants must all have felt like +brethren. They were fitted to become one united +people, at a future period. Perhaps their feelings +of brotherhood were the stronger, because different +nations had formed settlements to the north and to +the south. In Canada and Nova Scotia were colonies +of French. On the banks of the Hudson River +was a colony of Dutch, who had taken possession of +that region many years before, and called it New +Netherlands.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather, for aught I know, might have gone +on to speak of Maryland and Virginia; for the good +old gentleman really seemed to suppose, that the +whole surface of the United States was not too broad +a foundation to place the four legs of his chair upon. +But, happening to glance at Charley, he perceived +that this naughty boy was growing impatient, and +meditating another ride upon a stick. So here, for +the present, Grandfather suspended the history of +his chair.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page029">[pg 029]</span> +<a name="Pg029" id="Pg029" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc17" id="toc17"></a><a name="pdf18" id="pdf18"></a><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter V</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Children had now learned to look upon the +chair with an interest, which was almost the same as +if it were a conscious being, and could remember the +many famous people whom it had held within its +arms.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Even Charley, lawless as he was, seemed to feel +that this venerable chair must not be clambered upon +nor overturned, although he had no scruple in taking +such liberties with every other chair in the house. +Clara treated it with still greater reverence, often +taking occasion to smooth its cushion, and to brush +the dust from the carved flowers and grotesque +figures of its oaken back and arms. Laurence +would sometimes sit a whole hour, especially at twilight, +gazing at the chair, and, by the spell of his +imaginations, summoning up its ancient occupants to +appear in it again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Little Alice evidently employed herself in a similar +way; for once, when Grandfather had gone +abroad, the child was heard talking with the gentle +Lady Arbella, as if she were still sitting in the +chair. So sweet a child as little Alice may fitly +talk with angels, such as the Lady Arbella had long +since become.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather was soon importuned for more stories +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page030">[pg 030]</span> +<a name="Pg030" id="Pg030" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +about the chair. He had no difficulty in relating +them; for it really seemed as if every person, noted +in our early history, had, on some occasion or other, +found repose within its comfortable arms. If Grandfather +took pride in any thing, it was in being the +possessor of such an honorable and historic elbow +chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I know not precisely who next got possession of +the chair, after Governor Vane went back to England," +said Grandfather. "But there is reason to +believe that President Dunster sat in it, when he +held the first commencement at Harvard College. +You have often heard, children, how careful our +forefathers were, to give their young people a good +education. They had scarcely cut down trees +enough to make room for their own dwellings, before +they began to think of establishing a college. Their +principal object was, to rear up pious and learned +ministers; and hence old writers call Harvard College +a school of the prophets."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Is the college a school of the prophets now?" +asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It is a long while since I took my degree, Charley. +You must ask some of the recent graduates," +answered Grandfather. "As I was telling you, +President Dunster sat in Grandfather's chair in +1642, when he conferred the degree of bachelor of +arts on nine young men. They were the first in +America, who had received that honor. And now, +my dear auditors, I must confess that there are contradictory +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page031">[pg 031]</span> +<a name="Pg031" id="Pg031" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +statements and some uncertainty about +the adventures of the chair, for a period of almost +ten years. Some say that it was occupied by your +own ancestor, William Hawthorne, first Speaker of +the House of Representatives. I have nearly satisfied +myself, however, that, during most of this questionable +period, it was literally the Chair of State. +It gives me much pleasure to imagine, that several +successive governors of Massachusetts sat in it at +the council board."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, Grandfather," interposed Charley, who +was a matter-of-fact little person, "what reason +have you to imagine so?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Pray do imagine it, Grandfather," said Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"With Charley's permission, I will," replied +Grandfather, smiling. "Let us consider it settled, +therefore, that Winthrop, Bellingham, Dudley, and +Endicott, each of them, when chosen governor, took +his seat in our great chair on election day. In this +chair, likewise, did those excellent governors preside, +while holding consultations with the chief counsellors +of the province, who were styled Assistants. +The governor sat in this chair, too, whenever messages +were brought to him from the chamber of Representatives."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And here Grandfather took occasion to talk, +rather tediously, about the nature and forms of +government that established themselves, almost spontaneously, +in Massachusetts and the other New England +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page032">[pg 032]</span> +<a name="Pg032" id="Pg032" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +colonies. Democracies were the natural growth +of the new world. As to Massachusetts, it was at +first intended that the colony should be governed by +a council in London. But, in a little while, the +people had the whole power in their own hands, and +chose annually the governor, the counsellors, and +the representatives. The people of old England +had never enjoyed any thing like the liberties and +privileges, which the settlers of New England now +possessed. And they did not adopt these modes of +government after long study, but in simplicity, as if +there were no other way for people to be ruled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, Laurence," continued Grandfather, "when +you want instruction on these points, you must seek +it in Mr. Bancroft's History. I am merely telling +the history of a chair. To proceed. The period +during which the governors sat in our chair, was not +very full of striking incidents. The province was +now established on a secure foundation; but it did +not increase so rapidly as at first, because the Puritans +were no longer driven from England by persecution. +However, there was still a quiet and natural +growth. The legislature incorporated towns, and +made new purchases of lands from the Indians. A +very memorable event took place in 1643. The +colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, +and New Haven, formed a union, for the purpose of +assisting each other in difficulties, and for mutual +defence against their enemies. They called themselves +the United Colonies of New England."</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page033">[pg 033]</span> +<a name="Pg033" id="Pg033" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Were they under a government like that of +the United States?" inquired Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No," replied Grandfather, "the different colonies +did not compose one nation together; it was +merely a confederacy among the governments. It +somewhat resembled the league of the Amphictyons, +which you remember in Grecian history. But to +return to our chair. In 1644 it was highly honored; +for Governor Endicott sat in it, when he gave audience +to an ambassador from the French governor of +Acadie, or Nova Scotia. A treaty of peace, between +Massachusetts and the French colony, was +then signed."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did England allow Massachusetts to make war +and peace with foreign countries?" asked Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Massachusetts, and the whole of New England, +was then almost independent of the mother country," +said Grandfather. "There was now a civil +war in England; and the king, as you may well +suppose, had his hands full at home, and could pay +but little attention to these remote colonies. When +the Parliament got the power into their hands, they +likewise had enough to do in keeping down the +Cavaliers. Thus New England, like a young and +hardy lad, whose father and mother neglect it, was +left to take care of itself. In 1649, King Charles +was beheaded. Oliver Cromwell then became Protector +of England; and as he was a Puritan himself, +and had risen by the valor of the English Puritans, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page034">[pg 034]</span> +<a name="Pg034" id="Pg034" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he showed himself a loving and indulgent father to +the Puritan colonies in America."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather might have continued to talk in this +dull manner, nobody knows how long; but, suspecting +that Charley would find the subject rather dry, +he looked sideways at that vivacious little fellow, +and saw him give an involuntary yawn. Whereupon, +Grandfather proceeded with the history of +the chair, and related a very entertaining incident, +which will be found in the next chapter.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page035">[pg 035]</span> +<a name="Pg035" id="Pg035" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc19" id="toc19"></a><a name="pdf20" id="pdf20"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"According to the most authentic records, my +dear children," said Grandfather, "the chair, about +this time, had the misfortune to break its leg. It +was probably on account of this accident, that it +ceased to be the seat of the governors of Massachusetts; +for, assuredly, it would have been ominous of +evil to the commonwealth, if the Chair of State had +tottered upon three legs. Being therefore sold at +auction,—alas! what a vicissitude for a chair that +had figured in such high company, our venerable +friend was knocked down to a certain Captain John +Hull. This old gentleman, on carefully examining +the maimed chair, discovered that its broken leg +might be clamped with iron and made as serviceable +as ever."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Here is the very leg that was broken!" exclaimed +Charley, throwing himself down on the floor +to look at it. "And here are the iron clamps. +How well it was mended!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When they had all sufficiently examined the broken +leg, Grandfather told them a story about Captain +John Hull and</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc21" id="toc21"></a><a name="pdf22" id="pdf22"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE PINE-TREE SHILLINGS</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Captain John Hull, aforesaid, was the mint-master +of Massachusetts, and coined all the money +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page036">[pg 036]</span> +<a name="Pg036" id="Pg036" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that was made there. This was a new line of business: +for, in the earlier days of the colony, the current +coinage consisted of gold and silver money of +England, Portugal, and Spain. These coins being +scarce, the people were often forced to barter their +commodities, instead of selling them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For instance, if a man wanted to buy a coat, he +perhaps exchanged a bear-skin for it. If he wished +for a barrel of molasses, he might purchase it with a +pile of pine boards. Musket-bullets were used instead +of farthings. The Indians had a sort of +money, called wampum, which was made of clam-shells; +and this strange sort of specie was likewise +taken in payment of debts, by the English settlers. +Bank-bills had never been heard of. There was +not money enough of any kind, in many parts of +the country, to pay the salaries of the ministers; so +that they sometimes had to take quintals of fish, +bushels of corn, or cords of wood, instead of silver +or gold.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As the people grew more numerous, and their +trade one with another increased, the want of current +money was still more sensibly felt. To supply +the demand, the general court passed a law for +establishing a coinage of shillings, sixpences, and +threepences. Captain John Hull was appointed to +manufacture this money, and was to have about one +shilling out of every twenty to pay him for the +trouble of making them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hereupon, all the old silver in the colony was +handed over to Captain John Hull. The battered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page037">[pg 037]</span> +<a name="Pg037" id="Pg037" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +silver cans and tankards, I suppose, and silver +buckles, and broken spoons, and silver buttons of +worn-out coats, and silver hilts of swords that had +figured at court, all such curious old articles were +doubtless thrown into the melting-pot together. But +by far the greater part of the silver consisted of +bullion from the mines of South America, which the +English buccaniers—(who were little better than +pirates)—had taken from the Spaniards, and +brought to Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All this old and new silver being melted down +and coined, the result was an immense amount of +splendid shillings, sixpences, and threepences. +Each had the date, 1652, on the one side, and the +figure of a pine-tree on the other. Hence they +were called pine-tree shillings. And for every +twenty shillings that he coined, you will remember, +Captain John Hull was entitled to put one shilling +into his own pocket.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The magistrates soon began to suspect that the +mint-master would have the best of the bargain. +They offered him a large sum of money, if he would +but give up that twentieth shilling, which he was +continually dropping into his own pocket. But +Captain Hull declared himself perfectly satisfied +with the shilling. And well he might be; for so +diligently did he labor, that, in a few years, his +pockets, his money bags, and his strong box, were +overflowing with pine-tree shillings. This was probably +the case when he came into possession of +Grandfather's chair; and, as he had worked so hard +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page038">[pg 038]</span> +<a name="Pg038" id="Pg038" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +at the mint, it was certainly proper that he should +have a comfortable chair to rest himself in.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the mint-master had grown very rich, a +young man, Samuel Sewell by name, came a courting +to his only daughter. His daughter,—whose +name I do not know, but we will call her Betsey,—was +a fine hearty damsel, by no means so slender as +some young ladies of our own days. On the contrary, +having always fed heartily on pumpkin pies, +doughnuts, Indian puddings, and other Puritan +dainties, she was as round and plump as a pudding +herself. With this round, rosy Miss Betsey, did +Samuel Sewell fall in love. As he was a young +man of good character, industrious in his business, +and a member of the church, the mint-master very +readily gave his consent.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes—you may take her," said he, in his rough +way; "and you'll find her a heavy burden enough!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the wedding day, we may suppose that honest +John Hull dressed himself in a plum-colored coat, +all the buttons of which were made of pine-tree +shillings. The buttons of his waistcoat were sixpences; +and the knees of his smallclothes were +buttoned with silver threepences. Thus attired, he +sat with great dignity in Grandfather's chair; and, +being a portly old gentleman, he completely filled it +from elbow to elbow. On the opposite side of the +room, between her bride-maids, sat Miss Betsey. +She was blushing with all her might, and looked like +a full blown pæony, or a great red apple.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There, too, was the bridegroom, dressed in a fine +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page039">[pg 039]</span> +<a name="Pg039" id="Pg039" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +purple coat, and gold lace waistcoat, with as much +other finery as the Puritan laws and customs would +allow him to put on. His hair was cropped close to +his head, because Governor Endicott had forbidden +any man to wear it below the ears. But he was a +very personable young man; and so thought the +bride-maids and Miss Betsey herself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The mint-master also was pleased with his new +son-in-law; especially as he had courted Miss Betsey +out of pure love, and had said nothing at all about +her portion. So when the marriage ceremony was +over, Captain Hull whispered a word to two of his +men-servants, who immediately went out, and soon +returned, lugging in a large pair of scales. They +were such a pair as wholesale merchants use, for +weighing bulky commodities; and quite a bulky +commodity was now to be weighed in them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Daughter Betsey," said the mint-master, "get +into one side of these scales."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miss Betsey,—or Mrs. Sewell, as we must now +call her,—did as she was bid, like a dutiful child, +without any question of the why and wherefore. +But what her father could mean, unless to make her +husband pay for her by the pound, (in which case +she would have been a dear bargain,) she had not +the least idea.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And now," said honest John Hull to the servants, +"bring that box hither."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The box, to which the mint-master pointed, was a +huge, square, iron bound, oaken chest; it was big +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page040">[pg 040]</span> +<a name="Pg040" id="Pg040" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +enough, my children, for all four of you to play at +hide-and-seek in. The servants tugged with might +and main, but could not lift this enormous receptacle, +and were finally obliged to drag it across the +floor. Captain Hull then took a key from his girdle, +unlocked the chest, and lifted its ponderous lid. +Behold! it was full to the brim of bright pine-tree +shillings, fresh from the mint; and Samuel Sewell +began to think that his father-in-law had got possession +of all the money in the Massachusetts treasury. +But it was only the mint-master's honest share of +the coinage.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then the servants, at Captain Hull's command, +heaped double handfulls of shillings into one side of +the scales, while Betsey remained in the other. +Jingle, jingle, went the shillings, as handful after +handful was thrown in, till, plump and ponderous as +she was, they fairly weighed the young lady from +the floor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There, son Sewell!" cried the honest mint-master, +resuming his seat in Grandfather's chair. +"Take these shillings for my daughter's portion. +Use her kindly, and thank Heaven for her. It is +not every wife that's worth her weight in silver!"</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The children laughed heartily at this legend, and +would hardly be convinced but that Grandfather had +made it out of his own head. He assured them +faithfully, however, that he had found it in the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page041">[pg 041]</span> +<a name="Pg041" id="Pg041" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +pages of a grave historian, and had merely tried +to tell it in a somewhat funnier style. As for +Samuel Sewell, he afterwards became Chief Justice +of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, Grandfather," remarked Clara, "if wedding +portions now-a-days were paid as Miss Betsey's +was, young ladies would not pride themselves upon +an airy figure as many of them do."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page042">[pg 042]</span> +<a name="Pg042" id="Pg042" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc23" id="toc23"></a><a name="pdf24" id="pdf24"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When his little audience next assembled round +the chair, Grandfather gave them a doleful history +of the Quaker persecution, which began in 1656, +and raged for about three years in Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He told them how, in the first place, twelve of +the converts of George Fox, the first Quaker in the +world, had come over from England. They seemed +to be impelled by an earnest love for the souls of +men, and a pure desire to make known what they +considered a revelation from Heaven. But the +rulers looked upon them as plotting the downfall of +all government and religion. They were banished +from the colony. In a little while, however, not +only the first twelve had returned, but a multitude +of other Quakers had come to rebuke the rulers, +and to preach against the priests and steeple-houses.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather described the hatred and scorn with +which these enthusiasts were received. They were +thrown into dungeons; they were beaten with many +stripes, women as well as men; they were driven +forth into the wilderness, and left to the tender mercies +of wild beasts and Indians. The children were +amazed to hear, that, the more the Quakers were +scourged, and imprisoned, and banished, the more +did the sect increase, both by the influx of strangers, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page043">[pg 043]</span> +<a name="Pg043" id="Pg043" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and by converts from among the Puritans. But +Grandfather told them, that God had put something +into the soul of man, which always turned the cruelties +of the persecutor to nought.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went on to relate, that, in 1659, two Quakers, +named William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephenson, +were hanged at Boston. A woman had been +sentenced to die with them, but was reprieved, on +condition of her leaving the colony. Her name was +Mary Dyer. In the year 1660 she returned to +Boston, although she knew death awaited her there; +and, if Grandfather had been correctly informed, an +incident had then taken place, which connects her +with our story. This Mary Dyer had entered the +mint-master's dwelling, clothed in sackcloth and +ashes, and seated herself in our great chair, with a +sort of dignity and state. Then she proceeded to +deliver what she called a message from Heaven; +but in the midst of it, they dragged her to prison.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And was she executed?" asked Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"She was," said Grandfather.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," cried Charley, clenching his fist, +"I would have fought for that poor Quaker woman!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah! but if a sword had been drawn for her," +said Laurence, "it would have taken away all the +beauty of her death."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It seemed as if hardly any of the preceding stories +had thrown such an interest around Grandfather's +chair, as did the fact, that the poor, persecuted, +wandering Quaker woman had rested in it for +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page044">[pg 044]</span> +<a name="Pg044" id="Pg044" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a moment. The children were so much excited, +that Grandfather found it necessary to bring his +account of the persecution to a close.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"In 1660, the same year in which Mary Dyer +was executed," said he, "Charles the Second was +restored to the throne of his fathers. This king had +many vices; but he would not permit blood to be +shed, under pretence of religion, in any part of his +dominions. The Quakers in England told him what +had been done to their brethren in Massachusetts; +and he sent orders to Governor Endicott to forbear +all such proceedings in future. And so ended the +Quaker persecution,—one of the most mournful +passages in the history of our forefathers."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather then told his auditors, that, shortly +after the above incident, the great chair had been +given by the mint-master to the Rev. Mr. John Eliot. +He was the first minister of Roxbury. But besides +attending to his pastoral duties there, he learned the +language of the red men, and often went into the +woods to preach to them. So earnestly did he labor +for their conversion, that he has always been called +the apostle to the Indians. The mention of this +holy man suggested to Grandfather the propriety of +giving a brief sketch of the history of the Indians, +so far as they were connected with the English colonists.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A short period before the arrival of the first Pilgrims +at Plymouth, there had been a very grievous +plague among the red men; and the sages and ministers +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page045">[pg 045]</span> +<a name="Pg045" id="Pg045" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of that day were inclined to the opinion, that +Providence had sent this mortality, in order to make +room for the settlement of the English. But I know +not why we should suppose that an Indian's life is +less precious, in the eye of Heaven, than that of a +white man. Be that as it may, death had certainly +been very busy with the savage tribes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In many places the English found the wigwams +deserted, and the corn-fields growing to waste, with +none to harvest the grain. There were heaps of +earth also, which, being dug open, proved to be +Indian graves, containing bows and flint-headed +spears and arrows; for the Indians buried the dead +warrior's weapons along with him. In some spots, +there were skulls and other human bones, lying unburied. +In 1633, and the year afterwards, the +smallpox broke out among the Massachusetts Indians, +multitudes of whom died by this terrible disease of +the old world. These misfortunes made them far +less powerful than they had formerly been.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For nearly half a century after the arrival of the +English, the red men showed themselves generally +inclined to peace and amity. They often made +submission, when they might have made successful +war. The Plymouth settlers, led by the famous +Captain Miles Standish, slew some of them in 1623, +without any very evident necessity for so doing. In +1636, and the following year, there was the most +dreadful war that had yet occurred between the Indians +and the English. The Connecticut settlers, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page046">[pg 046]</span> +<a name="Pg046" id="Pg046" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +assisted by a celebrated Indian chief, named Uncas, +bore the brunt of this war, with but little aid from +Massachusetts. Many hundreds of the hostile Indians +were slain, or burnt in their wigwams. Sassacus, +their sachem, fled to another tribe, after his +own people were defeated; but he was murdered +by them, and his head was sent to his English enemies.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">From that period, down to the time of King +Philip's war, which will be mentioned hereafter, +there was not much trouble with the Indians. But +the colonists were always on their guard, and kept +their weapons ready for the conflict.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I have sometimes doubted," said Grandfather, +when he had told these things to the children, "I +have sometimes doubted whether there was more +than a single man, among our forefathers, who realized +that an Indian possesses a mind and a heart, +and an immortal soul. That single man was John +Eliot. All the rest of the early settlers seemed to +think that the Indians were an inferior race of beings, +whom the Creator had merely allowed to keep +possession of this beautiful country, till the white +men should be in want of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did the pious men of those days never try to +make Christians of them?" asked Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Sometimes, it is true," answered Grandfather, +"the magistrates and ministers would talk about +civilizing and converting the red people. But, at +the bottom of their hearts, they would have had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page047">[pg 047]</span> +<a name="Pg047" id="Pg047" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +almost as much expectation of civilizing a wild bear +of the woods, and making him fit for paradise. +They felt no faith in the success of any such attempts, +because they had no love for the poor Indians. Now +Eliot was full of love for them, and therefore so full +of faith and hope, that he spent the labor of a lifetime +in their behalf."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I would have conquered them first, and then +converted them," said Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah, Charley, there spoke the very spirit of our +forefathers!" replied Grandfather. "But Mr. +Eliot had a better spirit. He looked upon them as +his brethren. He persuaded as many of them as +he could, to leave off their idle and wandering habits, +and to build houses, and cultivate the earth, as the +English did. He established schools among them, +and taught many of the Indians how to read. He +taught them, likewise, how to pray. Hence they +were called 'praying Indians.' Finally, having +spent the best years of his life for their good, Mr. +Eliot resolved to spend the remainder in doing them +a yet greater benefit."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I know what that was!" cried Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He sat down in his study," continued Grandfather, +"and began a translation of the Bible into +the Indian tongue. It was while he was engaged +in this pious work, that the mint-master gave him +our great chair. His toil needed it, and deserved +it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O, Grandfather, tell us all about that Indian +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page048">[pg 048]</span> +<a name="Pg048" id="Pg048" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Bible!" exclaimed Laurence. "I have seen it in +the library of the Athenæum; and the tears came +into my eyes, to think that there were no Indians +left to read it."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page049">[pg 049]</span> +<a name="Pg049" id="Pg049" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc25" id="toc25"></a><a name="pdf26" id="pdf26"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VIII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Grandfather was a great admirer of the Apostle +Eliot, he was glad to comply with the earnest request +which Laurence had made, at the close of the +last chapter. So he proceeded to describe how good +Mr. Eliot labored, while he was at work upon</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc27" id="toc27"></a><a name="pdf28" id="pdf28"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE INDIAN BIBLE</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">My dear children, what a task would you think it, +even with a long lifetime before you, were you bidden +to copy every chapter and verse, and word, in +yonder great family Bible! Would not this be a +heavy toil? But if the task were, not to write off +the English Bible, but to learn a language, utterly +unlike all other tongues,—a language which hitherto +had never been learned, except by the Indians +themselves, from their mothers' lips,—a language +never written, and the strange words of which +seemed inexpressible by letters;—if the task were, +first, to learn this new variety of speech, and then +to translate the Bible into it, and to do it so carefully, +that not one idea throughout the holy book +should be changed,—what would induce you to +undertake this toil? Yet this was what the Apostle +Eliot did.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a mighty work for a man, now growing old, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page050">[pg 050]</span> +<a name="Pg050" id="Pg050" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to take upon himself. And what earthly reward +could he expect from it? None; no reward on +earth. But he believed that the red men were the +descendants of those lost tribes of Israel of whom +history has been able to tell us nothing, for thousands +of years. He hoped that God had sent the +English across the ocean, Gentiles as they were, to +enlighten this benighted portion of his once chosen +race. And when he should be summoned hence, he +trusted to meet blessed spirits in another world, +whose bliss would have been earned by his patient +toil, in translating the Word of God. This hope +and trust were far dearer to him, than any thing +that earth could offer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sometimes, while thus at work, he was visited by +learned men, who desired to know what literary undertaking +Mr. Elliot had in hand. They, like himself, +had been bred in the studious cloisters of a university, +and were supposed to possess all the erudition +which mankind has hoarded up from age to age. +Greek and Latin were as familiar to them as the +babble of their childhood. Hebrew was like their +mother tongue. They had grown gray in study; +their eyes were bleared with poring over print and +manuscript by the light of the midnight lamp.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And yet, how much had they left unlearned! +Mr. Eliot would put into their hands some of the +pages, which he had been writing; and behold! the +gray-headed men stammered over the long, strange +words, like a little child in his first attempts to read. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page051">[pg 051]</span> +<a name="Pg051" id="Pg051" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Then would the apostle call to him an Indian boy, +one of his scholars, and show him the manuscript, +which had so puzzled the learned Englishmen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Read this, my child," said he, "these are some +brethren of mine, who would fain hear the sound of +thy native tongue."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then would the Indian boy cast his eyes over the +mysterious page, and read it so skilfully, that it +sounded like wild music. It seemed as if the forest +leaves were singing in the ears of his auditors, and +as if the roar of distant streams were poured through +the young Indian's voice. Such were the sounds +amid which the language of the red man had been +formed; and they were still heard to echo in it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The lesson being over, Mr. Eliot would give the +Indian boy an apple or a cake, and bid him leap forth +into the open air, which his free nature loved. The +apostle was kind to children, and even shared in +their sports, sometimes. And when his visitors had +bidden him farewell, the good man turned patiently +to his toil again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">No other Englishman had ever understood the +Indian character so well, nor possessed so great an +influence over the New England tribes, as the apostle +did. His advice and assistance must often have +been valuable to his countrymen, in their transactions +with the Indians. Occasionally, perhaps, the governor +and some of the counsellors came to visit Mr. +Eliot. Perchance they were seeking some method +to circumvent the forest people. They inquired, it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page052">[pg 052]</span> +<a name="Pg052" id="Pg052" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +may be, how they could obtain possession of such and +such a tract of their rich land. Or they talked of +making the Indians their servants, as if God had +destined them for perpetual bondage to the more +powerful white man.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Perhaps, too, some warlike captain, dressed in his +buff-coat, with a corslet beneath it, accompanied the +governor and counsellors. Laying his hand upon +his sword hilt, he would declare, that the only +method of dealing with the red men was to meet +them with the sword drawn, and the musket presented.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the apostle resisted both the craft of the politician, +and the fierceness of the warrior.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Treat these sons of the forest as men and brethren," +he would say, "and let us endeavor to make +them Christians. Their forefathers were of that +chosen race, whom God delivered from Egyptian +bondage. Perchance he has destined us to deliver +the children from the more cruel bondage of ignorance +and idolatry. Chiefly for this end, it may be, +we were directed across the ocean."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When these other visitors were gone, Mr. Eliot +bent himself again over the half written page. He +dared hardly relax a moment from his toil. He felt +that, in the book which he was translating, there +was a deep human, as well as heavenly wisdom, +which would of itself suffice to civilize and refine the +savage tribes. Let the Bible be diffused among +them, and all earthly good would follow. But how +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page053">[pg 053]</span> +<a name="Pg053" id="Pg053" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +slight a consideration was this, when he reflected +that the eternal welfare of a whole race of men depended +upon his accomplishment of the task which +he had set himself! What if his hands should be +palsied? What if his mind should lose its vigor? +What if death should come upon him, ere the work +were done? Then must the red man wander in the +dark wilderness of heathenism for ever.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Impelled by such thoughts as these, he sat writing +in the great chair, when the pleasant summer breeze +came in through his open casement; and also when +the fire of forest logs sent up its blaze and smoke, +through the broad stone chimney, into the wintry +air. Before the earliest bird sang, in the morning, +the apostle's lamp was kindled; and, at midnight, +his weary head was not yet upon its pillow. And at +length, leaning back in the great chair, he could say +to himself, with a holy triumph,—"The work is +finished!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was finished. Here was a Bible for the Indians. +Those long lost descendants of the ten tribes of +Israel would now learn the history of their forefathers. +That grace, which the ancient Israelites had +forfeited, was offered anew to their children.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There is no impiety in believing that, when his +long life was over, the apostle of the Indians was +welcomed to the celestial abodes by the prophets of +ancient days, and by those earliest apostles and evangelists, +who had drawn their inspiration from the +immediate presence of the Saviour. They first had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page054">[pg 054]</span> +<a name="Pg054" id="Pg054" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +preached truth and salvation to the world. And +Eliot, separated from them by many centuries, yet +full of the same spirit, had borne the like message +to the new world of the West. Since the first days +of Christianity, there has been no man more worthy +to be numbered in the brotherhood of the apostles, +than Eliot.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My heart is not satisfied to think," observed +Laurence, "that Mr. Eliot's labors have done no +good, except to a few Indians of his own time. +Doubtless, he would not have regretted his toil, if it +were the means of saving but a single soul. But it +is a grievous thing to me, that he should have toiled +so hard to translate the Bible, and now the language +and the people are gone! The Indian Bible itself is +almost the only relic of both."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Laurence," said his Grandfather, "if ever you +should doubt that man is capable of disinterested +zeal for his brother's good, then remember how the +apostle Eliot toiled. And if you should feel your +own self-interest pressing upon your heart too closely, +then think of Eliot's Indian Bible. It is good for +the world that such a man has lived, and left this +emblem of his life."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The tears gushed into the eyes of Laurence, and +he acknowledged that Eliot had not toiled in vain. +Little Alice put up her arms to Grandfather, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page055">[pg 055]</span> +<a name="Pg055" id="Pg055" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +drew down his white head beside her own golden +locks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," whispered she, "I want to kiss +good Mr. Eliot!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And, doubtless, good Mr. Eliot would gladly +receive the kiss of so sweet a child as little Alice, +and would think it a portion of his reward in heaven.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather now observed, that Dr. Francis had +written a very beautiful Life of Eliot, which he +advised Laurence to peruse. He then spoke of +King Philip's war, which began in 1675, and terminated +with the death of King Philip, in the following +year. Philip was a proud, fierce Indian, whom +Mr. Eliot had vainly endeavored to convert to the +Christian faith.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It must have been a great anguish to the apostle," +continued Grandfather, "to hear of mutual +slaughter and outrage between his own countrymen, +and those for whom he felt the affection of a father. +A few of the praying Indians joined the followers of +King Philip. A greater number fought on the side +of the English. In the course of the war, the little +community of red people whom Mr. Eliot had begun +to civilize, was scattered, and probably never was +restored to a flourishing condition. But his zeal did +not grow cold; and only about five years before his +death he took great pains in preparing a new edition +of the Indian Bible."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I do wish Grandfather," cried Charley, "you +would tell us all about the battles in King Philip's +war."</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page056">[pg 056]</span> +<a name="Pg056" id="Pg056" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O, no!" exclaimed Clara. "Who wants to +hear about tomahawks and scalping knives!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, Charley," replied Grandfather, "I have no +time to spare in talking about battles. You must +be content with knowing that it was the bloodiest war +that the Indians had ever waged against the white +men; and that, at its close, the English set King +Philip's head upon a pole."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Who was the captain of the English?" asked +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Their most noted captain was Benjamin Church,—a +very famous warrior," said Grandfather. "But +I assure you, Charley, that neither Captain Church, +nor any of the officers and soldiers who fought in +King Philip's war, did any thing a thousandth part +so glorious, as Mr. Eliot did, when he translated the +Bible for the Indians."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Let Laurence be the apostle," said Charley to +himself, "and I will be the captain."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page057">[pg 057]</span> +<a name="Pg057" id="Pg057" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc29" id="toc29"></a><a name="pdf30" id="pdf30"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IX</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The children were now accustomed to assemble +round Grandfather's chair, at all their unoccupied moments; +and often it was a striking picture to behold +the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath +of young people around him. When he talked to +them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or +rather to the future, for the children were of a generation +which had not become actual. Their part in +life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw +knowledge from a thousand sources. As yet, it was +not their time to do.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, +unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed +his spectacles. He almost regretted that it was +necessary for them to know any thing of the past, +or to provide aught for the future. He could have +wished that they might be always the happy, youthful +creatures, who had hitherto sported around his +chair, without inquiring whether it had a history. +It grieved him to think that his little Alice, who +was a flower-bud fresh from paradise, must open her +leaves to the rough breezes of the world, or ever +open them in any clime. So sweet a child she was, +that it seemed fit her infancy should be immortal!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But such repinings were merely flitting shadows +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page058">[pg 058]</span> +<a name="Pg058" id="Pg058" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +across the old man's heart. He had faith enough to +believe, and wisdom enough to know, that the bloom +of the flower would be even holier and happier than +its bud. Even within himself,—though Grandfather +was now at that period of life, when the veil +of mortality is apt to hang heavily over the soul,—still, +in his inmost being, he was conscious of something +that he would not have exchanged for the best +happiness of childhood. It was a bliss to which +every sort of earthly experience,—all that he had +enjoyed or suffered, or seen, or heard, or acted, with +the broodings of his soul upon the whole,—had +contributed somewhat. In the same manner must a +bliss, of which now they could have no conception, +grow up within these children, and form a part of +their sustenance for immortality.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Grandfather, with renewed cheerfulness, continued +his history of the chair, trusting that a profounder +wisdom than his own would extract, from +these flowers and weeds of Time, a fragrance that +might last beyond all time.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At this period of the story, Grandfather threw a +glance backward, as far as the year 1660. He +spoke of the ill-concealed reluctance with which the +Puritans in America had acknowledged the sway of +Charles the Second, on his restoration to his father's +throne. When death had stricken Oliver Cromwell, +that mighty protector had no sincerer mourners than +in New England. The new king had been more +than a year upon the throne before his accession +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page059">[pg 059]</span> +<a name="Pg059" id="Pg059" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was proclaimed in Boston; although the neglect to +perform the ceremony might have subjected the +rulers to the charge of treason.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">During the reign of Charles the Second, however, +the American colonies had but little reason to complain +of harsh or tyrannical treatment. But when +Charles died, in 1685, and was succeeded by his +brother James, the patriarchs of New England +began to tremble. King James was a bigoted +Roman Catholic, and was known to be of an arbitrary +temper. It was feared by all Protestants, +and chiefly by the Puritians, that he would assume +despotic power, and attempt to establish Popery +throughout his dominions. Our forefathers felt that +they had no security either for their religion or their +liberties.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The result proved that they had reason for their +apprehensions. King James caused the charters of +all the American colonies to be taken away. The +old charter of Massachusetts, which the people +regarded as a holy thing, and as the foundation of +all their liberties, was declared void. The colonists +were now no longer freemen; they were entirely +dependent on the king's pleasure. At first, in +1685, King James appointed Joseph Dudley, a +native of Massachusetts, to be president of New +England. But soon afterwards, Sir Edmund Andros, +an officer of the English army, arrived, with a +commission to be governor-general of New England +and New York.</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page060">[pg 060]</span> +<a name="Pg060" id="Pg060" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The king had given such powers to Sir Edmund +Andros, that there was now no liberty, nor scarcely +any law, in the colonies over which he ruled. The +inhabitants were not allowed to choose representatives, +and consequently had no voice whatever in +the government, nor control over the measures that +were adopted. The counsellors, with whom the governor +consulted on matters of state, were appointed +by himself. This sort of government was no better +than an absolute despotism.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The people suffered much wrong, while Sir Edmund +Andros ruled over them," continued Grandfather, +"and they were apprehensive of much more. +He had brought some soldiers with him from England, +who took possession of the old fortress on Castle +Island, and of the fortification on Fort Hill. +Sometimes it was rumored that a general massacre +of the inhabitants was to be perpetrated by these +soldiers. There were reports, too, that all the ministers +were to be slain or imprisoned."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"For what?" inquired Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Because they were the leaders of the people, +Charley," said Grandfather. "A minister was a +more formidable man than a general, in those days. +Well; while these things were going on in America, +King James had so misgoverned the people of England, +that they sent over to Holland for the Prince +of Orange. He had married the king's daughter, +and was therefore considered to have a claim to the +crown. On his arrival in England, the Prince of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page061">[pg 061]</span> +<a name="Pg061" id="Pg061" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Orange was proclaimed king, by the name of William +the Third. Poor old King James made his +escape to France."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather told how, at the first intelligence of +the landing of the Prince of Orange in England, +the people of Massachusetts rose in their strength, +and overthrew the government of Sir Edmund +Andros. He, with Joseph Dudley, Edmund Randolph, +and his other principal adherents, were thrown +into prison. Old Simon Bradstreet, who had been +governor, when King James took away the charter, +was called by the people to govern them again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Governor Bradstreet was a venerable old man, +nearly ninety years of age," said Grandfather. +"He came over with the first settlers, and had been +the intimate companion of all those excellent and +famous men who laid the foundation of our country. +They were all gone before him to the grave; and +Bradstreet was the last of the Puritans."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather paused a moment, and smiled, as if +he had something very interesting to tell his auditors. +He then proceeded:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And now, Laurence,—now, Clara,—now, +Charley,—now, my dear little Alice,—what chair +do you think had been placed in the council chamber, +for old Governor Bradstreet to take his seat +in? Would you believe that it was this very chair +in which grandfather now sits, and of which he is +telling you the history?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am glad to hear it, with all my heart!" cried +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page062">[pg 062]</span> +<a name="Pg062" id="Pg062" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Charley, after a shout of delight. "I thought +Grandfather had quite forgotten the chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was a solemn and affecting sight," said +Grandfather, "when this venerable patriarch, with +his white beard flowing down upon his breast, took +his seat in his Chair of State. Within his remembrance, +and even since his mature age, the site +where now stood the populous town, had been a wild +and forest-covered peninsula. The province, now +so fertile, and spotted with thriving villages, had +been a desert wilderness. He was surrounded by +a shouting multitude, most of whom had been born +in the country which he had helped to found. They +were of one generation, and he of another. As the +old man looked upon them, and beheld new faces +everywhere, he must have felt that it was now time +for him to go, whither his brethren had gone before +him."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Were the former governors all dead and gone?" +asked Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"All of them," replied Grandfather. "Winthrop +had been dead forty years. Endicott died, a +very old man, in 1665. Sir Henry Vane was beheaded +in London, at the beginning of the reign of +Charles the Second. And Haynes, Dudley, Bellingham +and Leverett, who had all been governors of +Massachusetts, were now likewise in their graves. +Old Simon Bradstreet was the sole representative of +that departed brotherhood. There was no other +public man remaining to connect the ancient system +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page063">[pg 063]</span> +<a name="Pg063" id="Pg063" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of government and manners with the new system, +which was about to take its place. The era of the +Puritans was now completed."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am sorry for it," observed Laurence; "for, +though they were so stern, yet it seems to me that +there was something warm and real about them. I +think, Grandfather, that each of these old governors +should have his statue set up in our State House, +sculptured out of the hardest of New England +granite."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It would not be amiss, Laurence," said Grandfather; +"but perhaps clay, or some other perishable +material, might suffice for some of their successors. +But let us go back to our chair. It was occupied by +Governor Bradstreet from April, 1689, until May, +1692. Sir William Phips then arrived in Boston, +with a new charter from King William, and a commission +to be governor."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page064">[pg 064]</span> +<a name="Pg064" id="Pg064" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc31" id="toc31"></a><a name="pdf32" id="pdf32"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter X</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And what became of the chair," inquired +Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The outward aspect of our chair," replied Grandfather, +"was now somewhat the worse for its long +and arduous services. It was considered hardly +magnificent enough to be allowed to keep its place +in the council chamber of Massachusetts. In fact, +it was banished as an article of useless lumber. +But Sir William Phips happened to see it and being +much pleased with its construction, resolved to take +the good old chair into his private mansion. Accordingly, +with his own gubernatorial hands, he +repaired one of its arms, which had been slightly +damaged".</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, Grandfather, here is the very arm!" +interrupted Charley, in great wonderment. "And +did Sir William Phips put in these screws with his +own hands? I am sure, he did it beautifully! But +how came a governor to know how to mend a chair?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I will tell you a story about the early life of Sir +William Phips," said Grandfather. "You will then +perceive, that he well knew how to use his hands."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Grandfather related the wonderful and true +tale of</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page065">[pg 065]</span> +<a name="Pg065" id="Pg065" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc33" id="toc33"></a><a name="pdf34" id="pdf34"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE SUNKEN TREASURE</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Picture to yourselves, my dear children, a handsome, +old-fashioned room, with a large, open cupboard +at one end, in which is displayed a magnificent +gold cup, with some other splendid articles of gold +and silver plate. In another part of the room, opposite +to a tall looking-glass, stands our beloved +chair, newly polished, and adorned with a gorgeous +cushion of crimson velvet tufted with gold.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the chair sits a man of strong and sturdy +frame, whose face has been roughened by northern +tempests, and blackened by the burning sun of the +West Indies. He wears an immense periwig, flowing +down over his shoulders. His coat has a wide +embroidery of golden foliage; and his waistcoat, +likewise, is all flowered over and bedizened with +gold. His red, rough hands, which have done many +a good day's work with the hammer and adze, are +half covered by the delicate lace ruffles at his wrists. +On a table lies his silver-hilted sword, and in a +corner of the room stands his gold-headed cane, +made of a beautifully polished West Indian wood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Somewhat such an aspect as this, did Sir William +Phips present, when he sat in Grandfather's chair, +after the king had appointed him governor of Massachusetts. +Truly, there was need that the old +chair should be varnished, and decorated with a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page066">[pg 066]</span> +<a name="Pg066" id="Pg066" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +crimson cushion, in order to make it suitable for such +a magnificent looking personage.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Sir William Phips had not always worn a +gold embroidered coat, nor always sat so much at +his ease as he did in Grandfather's chair. He was +a poor man's son, and was born in the province of +Maine, where he used to tend sheep upon the hills, +in his boyhood and youth. Until he had grown to +be a man, he did not even know how to read and +write. Tired of tending sheep, he next apprenticed +himself to a ship-carpenter, and spent about four +years in hewing the crooked limbs of oak trees into +knees for vessels.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In 1673, when he was twenty-two years old, he +came to Boston, and soon afterwards was married to +a widow lady, who had property enough to set him +up in business. It was not long, however, before he +lost all the money that he had acquired by his marriage, +and became a poor man again. Still, he was +not discouraged. He often told his wife that, some +time or other, he should be very rich, and would +build a "fair brick house" in the Green Lane of +Boston.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not suppose, children, that he had been to a +fortune-teller to inquire his destiny. It was his own +energy and spirit of enterprise, and his resolution to +lead an industrious life, that made him look forward +with so much confidence to better days.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Several years passed away; and William Phips +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page067">[pg 067]</span> +<a name="Pg067" id="Pg067" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had not yet gained the riches which he promised to +himself. During this time he had begun to follow +the sea for a living. In the year 1684, he happened +to hear of a Spanish ship, which had been cast away +near the Bahama Islands, and which was supposed +to contain a great deal of gold and silver. Phips +went to the place in a small vessel, hoping that he +should be able to recover some of the treasure from +the wreck. He did not succeed, however, in fishing +up gold and silver enough to pay the expenses of his +voyage.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, before he returned, he was told of another +Spanish ship or galleon, which had been cast away +near Porto de la Plata. She had now lain as much +as fifty years beneath the waves. This old ship had +been laden with immense wealth; and, hitherto, +nobody had thought of the possibility of recovering +any part of it from the deep sea, which was rolling +and tossing it about. But though it was now an old +story, and the most aged people had almost forgotten +that such a vessel had been wrecked. William +Phips resolved that the sunken treasure should again +be brought to light.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went to London, and obtained admittance to +King James, who had not yet been driven from his +throne. He told the king of the vast wealth that +was lying at the bottom of the sea. King James +listened with attention, and thought this a fine opportunity +to fill his treasury with Spanish gold. He +appointed William Phips to be captain of a vessel, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page068">[pg 068]</span> +<a name="Pg068" id="Pg068" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +called the Rose Algier, carrying eighteen guns and +ninety-five men. So now he was Captain Phips of +the English navy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Captain Phips sailed from England in the Rose +Algier, and cruised for nearly two years in the +West Indies, endeavoring to find the wreck of the +Spanish ship. But the sea is so wide and deep, that +it is no easy matter to discover the exact spot where +a sunken vessel lies. The prospect of success +seemed very small; and most people would have +thought that Captain Phips was as far from having +money enough to build a "fair brick house," as he +was while he tended sheep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The seamen of the Rose Algier became discouraged, +and gave up all hope of making their fortunes +by discovering the Spanish wreck. They wanted to +compel Captain Phips to turn pirate. There was a +much better prospect, they thought, of growing rich +by plundering vessels, which still sailed the sea, than +by seeking for a ship that had lain beneath the waves +full half a century. They broke out in open mutiny, +but were finally mastered by Phips, and compelled +to obey his orders. It would have been dangerous, +however, to continue much longer at sea +with such a crew of mutinous sailors; and, besides, +the Rose Algier was leaky and unseaworthy. So +Captain Phips judged it best to return to England.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Before leaving the West Indies, he met with a +Spaniard, an old man, who remembered the wreck +of the Spanish ship, and gave him directions how to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page069">[pg 069]</span> +<a name="Pg069" id="Pg069" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +find the very spot. It was on a reef of rocks a few +leagues from Porto de la Plata.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On his arrival in England, therefore, Captain Phips +solicited the king to let him have another vessel, and +send him back again to the West Indies. But King +James, who had probably expected that the Rose +Algier would return laden with gold, refused to have +any thing more to do with the affair. Phips might +never have been able to renew the search, if the +Duke of Albemarle, and some other noblemen had +not lent their assistance. They fitted out a ship +and gave the command to Captain Phips. He +sailed from England, and arrived safely at Porto de +la Plata, where he took an adze and assisted his +men to build a large boat.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boat was intended for the purpose of going +closer to the reef of rocks than a large vessel could +safely venture. When it was finished, the Captain +sent several men in it, to examine the spot where +the Spanish ship was said to have been wrecked. +They were accompanied by some Indians, who were +skilful divers, and could go down a great way into +the depths of the sea.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boat's crew proceeded to the reef of rocks, +and rowed round and round it, a great many times. +They gazed down into the water, which was so transparent +that it seemed as if they could have seen the +gold and silver at the bottom, had there been any of +those precious metals there. Nothing, however, +could they see; nothing more valuable than a curious +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page070">[pg 070]</span> +<a name="Pg070" id="Pg070" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sea shrub, which was growing beneath the water, +in a crevice of the reef of rocks. It flaunted to +and fro with the swell and reflux of the waves, and +looked as bright and beautiful as if its leaves were +gold.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"We won't go back empty-handed," cried an +English sailor; and then he spoke to one of the +Indian divers. "Dive down and bring me that +pretty sea shrub there. That's the only treasure +we shall find!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Down plunged the diver, and soon rose dripping +from the water, holding the sea shrub in his hand. +But he had learnt some news at the bottom of the +sea.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There are some ship's guns," said he, the moment +he had drawn breath, "some great cannon +among the rocks, near where the shrub was growing."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">No sooner had he spoken, than the English sailors +knew that they had found the very spot where +the Spanish galleon had been wrecked so many +years before. The other Indian divers immediately +plunged over the boat's side, and swam headlong +down, groping among the rocks and sunken cannon. +In a few moments one of them rose above the water, +with a heavy lump of silver in his arms. That single +lump was worth more than a thousand dollars. +The sailors took it into the boat, and then rowed +back as speedily as they could, being in haste to +inform Captain Phips of their good luck. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page071">[pg 071]</span> +<a name="Pg071" id="Pg071" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, confidently as the Captain had hoped to find +the Spanish wreck, yet now that it was really found, +the news seemed too good to be true. He could +not believe it till the sailors showed him the lump of +silver.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Thanks be to God!" then cries Captain Phips. +"We shall every man of us make our fortunes!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hereupon the Captain and all the crew set to +work, with iron rakes and great hooks and lines, fishing +for gold and silver at the bottom of the sea. +Up came the treasure in abundance. Now they +beheld a table of solid silver, once the property of +an old Spanish Grandee. Now they found a sacramental +vessel, which had been destined as a gift to +some Catholic church. Now they drew up a golden +cup, fit for the king of Spain to drink his wine out of. +Perhaps the bony hand of its former owner had been +grasping the precious cup, and was drawn up along +with it. Now their rakes or fishing lines were loaded +with masses of silver bullion. There were also precious +stones among the treasure, glittering and sparkling, +so that it is a wonder how their radiance could +have been concealed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There is something sad and terrible in the idea of +snatching all this wealth from the devouring ocean, +which had possessed it for such a length of years. +It seems as if men had no right to make themselves +rich with it. It ought to have been left with the +skeletons of the ancient Spaniards, who had been +drowned when the ship was wrecked, and whose +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page072">[pg 072]</span> +<a name="Pg072" id="Pg072" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bones were now scattered among the gold and +silver.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Captain Phips and his crew were troubled +with no such thoughts as these. After a day or +two they lighted on another part of the wreck, where +they found a great many bags of silver dollars. +But nobody could have guessed that these were +money-bags. By remaining so long in the salt-water, +they had become covered over with a crust which +had the appearance of stone, so that it was necessary +to break them in pieces with hammers and axes. +When this was done, a stream of silver dollars +gushed out upon the deck of the vessel.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The whole value of the recovered treasure, plate, +bullion, precious stones, and all, was estimated at +more than two millions of dollars. It was dangerous +even to look at such a vast amount of wealth. +A sea captain, who had assisted Phips in the enterprise, +utterly lost his reason at the sight of it. He +died two years afterwards, still raving about the +treasures that lie at the bottom of the sea. It would +have been better for this man, if he had left the +skeletons of the shipwrecked Spaniards in quiet +possession of their wealth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Captain Phips and his men continued to fish up +plate, bullion, and dollars, as plentifully as ever, till +their provisions grew short. Then, as they could +not feed upon gold and silver any more than old +King Midas could, they found it necessary to go +in search of better sustenance. Phips resolved +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page073">[pg 073]</span> +<a name="Pg073" id="Pg073" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to return to England. He arrived there in 1687, +and was received with great joy by the Duke +of Albemarle and the other English lords, who had +fitted out the vessel. Well they might rejoice; for +they took by far the greater part of the treasure to +themselves.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Captain's share, however, was enough to +make him comfortable for the rest of his days. It +also enabled him to fulfil his promise to his wife, by +building a "fair brick house," in the Green Lane of +Boston. The Duke of Albemarle sent Mrs. Phips a +magnificent gold cup, worth at least five thousand +dollars. Before Captain Phips left London, King +James made him a knight; so that, instead of the +obscure ship-carpenter who had formerly dwelt +among them, the inhabitants of Boston welcomed +him on his return, as the rich and famous Sir William +Phips.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page074">[pg 074]</span> +<a name="Pg074" id="Pg074" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc35" id="toc35"></a><a name="pdf36" id="pdf36"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter XI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Sir William Phips," continued Grandfather, +"was too active and adventurous a man to sit still +in the quiet enjoyment of his good fortune. In the +year 1690, he went on a military expedition against +the French colonies in America, conquered the +whole province of Acadie, and returned to Boston +with a great deal of plunder."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, grandfather, he was the greatest man +that ever sat in the chair!" cried Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ask Laurence what he thinks," replied Grandfather +with a smile. "Well; in the same year, Sir +William took command of an expedition against +Quebec, but did not succeed in capturing the city. +In 1692, being then in London, King William the +Third appointed him governor of Massachusetts. +And now, my dear children, having followed Sir +William Phips through all his adventures and hardships, +till we find him comfortably seated in Grandfather's +chair, we will here bid him farewell. May +he be as happy in ruling a people, as he was while +he tended sheep!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Charley, whose fancy had been greatly taken by +the adventurous disposition of Sir William Phips, +was eager to know how he had acted, and what happened +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page075">[pg 075]</span> +<a name="Pg075" id="Pg075" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to him while he held the office of governor. +But Grandfather had made up his mind to tell no +more stories for the present.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Possibly, one of these days, I may go on with +the adventures of the chair," said he. "But its +history becomes very obscure just at this point; and +I must search into some old books and manuscripts, +before proceeding further. Besides, it is now a +good time to pause in our narrative; because the +new charter, which Sir William Phips brought over +from England, formed a very important epoch in the +history of the province."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Really, Grandfather," observed Laurence, "this +seems to be the most remarkable chair in the world. +Its history cannot be told without intertwining it +with the lives of distinguished men, and the great +events that have befallen the country."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"True, Laurence," replied Grandfather, smiling, +"We must write a book, with some such title as +this,—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Memoirs of my own Times, by Grandfather's +Chair</span></span>."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That would be beautiful!" exclaimed Laurence, +clapping his hands.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, after all," continued Grandfather, "any +other old chair, if it possessed memory, and a hand +to write its recollections, could record stranger stories +than any that I have told you. From generation +to generation, a chair sits familiarly in the midst +of human interests, and is witness to the most secret +and confidential intercourse, that mortal man can +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page076">[pg 076]</span> +<a name="Pg076" id="Pg076" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +hold with his fellow. The human heart may best +be read in the fireside chair. And as to external +events, Grief and Joy keep a continual vicissitude +around it and within it. Now we see the glad face +and glowing form of Joy, sitting merrily in the old +chair, and throwing a warm fire-light radiance over +all the household. Now, while we thought not of it, +the dark clad mourner, Grief, has stolen into the +place of Joy, but not to retain it long. The imagination +can hardly grasp so wide a subject, as is embraced +in the experience of a family chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It makes my breath flutter,—my heart thrill,—to +think of it," said Laurence. "Yes; a family +chair must have a deeper history than a Chair of +State."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O, yes!" cried Clara, expressing a woman's +feeling on the point in question, "The history of a +country is not nearly so interesting as that of a single +family would be."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But the history of a country is more easily told," +said Grandfather. "So, if we proceed with our +narrative of the chair, I shall still confine myself to +its connection with public events."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Good old Grandfather now rose and quitted the +room, while the children remained gazing at the +chair. Laurence, so vivid was his conception of +past times, would hardly have deemed it strange, if +its former occupants, one after another, had resumed +the seat which they had each left vacant, such a +dim length of years ago. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page077">[pg 077]</span> +<a name="Pg077" id="Pg077" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">First, the gentle and lovely lady Arbella would +have been seen in the old chair, almost sinking out +of its arms, for very weakness; then Roger Williams, +in his cloak and band, earnest, energetic, and benevolent; +then the figure of Anne Hutchinson, with the +like gesture as when she presided at the assemblages +of women; then the dark, intellectual face of Vane, +"young in years, but in sage counsel old." Next +would have appeared the successive governors, Winthrop, +Dudley, Bellingham, and Endicott, who sat in +the chair, while it was a Chair of State. Then its +ample seat would have been pressed by the comfortable, +rotund corporation of the honest mint-master. +Then the half-frenzied shape of Mary Dyer, the persecuted +Quaker woman, clad in sackcloth and ashes, +would have rested in it for a moment. Then the +holy apostolic form of Eliot would have sanctified it. +Then would have arisen, like the shade of departed +Puritanism, the venerable dignity of the white-bearded +Governor Bradstreet. Lastly, on the gorgeous +crimson cushion of Grandfather's chair, would +have shone the purple and golden magnificence of +Sir William Phips.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, all these, with the other historic personages, +in the midst of whom the chair had so often stood, +had passed, both in substance and shadow, from the +scene of ages. Yet here stood the chair, with the +old Lincoln coat of arms, and the oaken flowers and +foliage, and the fierce lion's head at the summit, the +whole, apparently, in as perfect preservation as when +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page078">[pg 078]</span> +<a name="Pg078" id="Pg078" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it had first been placed in the Earl of Lincoln's Hall. +And what vast changes of society and of nations had +been wrought by sudden convulsions or by slow +degrees, since that era!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"This chair has stood firm when the thrones of +kings were overturned!" thought Laurence. "Its +oaken frame has proved stronger than many frames +of government!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">More the thoughtful and imaginative boy might +have mused; but now a large yellow cat, a great +favorite with all the children, leaped in at the open +window. Perceiving that Grandfather's chair was +empty, and having often before experienced its comforts, +puss laid herself quietly down upon the cushion. +Laurence, Clara, Charley, and little Alice, all +laughed at the idea of such a successor to the worthies +of old times.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Pussy," said little Alice, putting out her hand, +into which the cat laid a velvet paw, "you look very +wise. Do tell us a story about <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Grandfather's +Chair</span></span>!"</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page079">[pg 079]</span> +<a name="Pg079" id="Pg079" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc37" id="toc37"></a><a name="pdf38" id="pdf38"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Part II</span></h1> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc39" id="toc39"></a><a name="pdf40" id="pdf40"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter I</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O Grandfather," dear Grandfather, cried little +Alice, "pray tell us some more stories about your +chair!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">How long a time had fled, since the children had +felt any curiosity to hear the sequel of this venerable +chair's adventures! Summer was now past and +gone, and the better part of Autumn likewise. +Dreary, chill November was howling, out of doors, +and vexing the atmosphere with sudden showers of +wintry rain, or sometimes with gusts of snow, that +rattled like small pebbles against the windows.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the weather began to grow cool, Grandfather's +chair had been removed from the summer +parlor into a smaller and snugger room. It now +stood by the side of a bright blazing wood-fire. +Grandfather loved a wood-fire, far better than a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page080">[pg 080]</span> +<a name="Pg080" id="Pg080" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +grate of glowing anthracite, or than the dull heat of +an invisible furnace, which seems to think that it +has done its duty in merely warming the house. +But the wood-fire is a kindly, cheerful, sociable +spirit, sympathizing with mankind, and knowing +that to create warmth is but one of the good offices +which are expected from it. Therefore it dances +on the hearth, and laughs broadly through the room, +and plays a thousand antics, and throws a joyous +glow over all the faces that encircle it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the twilight of the evening, the fire grew +brighter and more cheerful. And thus, perhaps, +there was something in Grandfather's heart, that +cheered him most with its warmth and comfort in +the gathering twilight of old age. He had been +gazing at the red embers, as intently as if his past +life were all pictured there, or as if it were a prospect +of the future world, when little Alice's voice +aroused him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Dear Grandfather," repeated the little girl, +more earnestly, "do talk to us again about your +chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Laurence, and Clara, and Charley, and little +Alice, had been attracted to other objects, for two +or three months past. They had sported in the +gladsome sunshine of the present, and so had forgotten +the shadowy region of the past, in the midst +of which stood Grandfather's chair. But now, in +the autumnal twilight, illuminated by the flickering +blaze of the wood-fire, they looked at the old chair +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page081">[pg 081]</span> +<a name="Pg081" id="Pg081" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and thought that it had never before worn such an +interesting aspect. There it stood, in the venerable +majesty of more than two hundred years. The light +from the hearth quivered upon the flowers and foliage, +that were wrought into its oaken back; and +the lion's head at the summit seemed almost to +move its jaws and shake its mane.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Does little Alice speak for all of you?" asked +Grandfather. "Do you wish me to go on with the +adventures of the chair?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, yes, yes, Grandfather!" cried Clara. +"The dear old chair! How strange that we should +have forgotten it so long!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, pray begin, Grandfather," said Laurence; +"for I think, when we talk about old times, it should +be in the early evening before the candles are lighted. +The shapes of the famous persons, who once sat in +the chair, will be more apt to come back, and be +seen among us, in this glimmer and pleasant gloom, +than they would in the vulgar daylight. And, +besides, we can make pictures of all that you tell us, +among the glowing embers and white ashes."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Our friend Charley, too, thought the evening the +best time to hear Grandfather's stories, because he +could not then be playing out of doors. So, finding +his young auditors unanimous in their petition, the +good old gentleman took up the narrative of the historic +chair, at the point where he had dropt it.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page082">[pg 082]</span> +<a name="Pg082" id="Pg082" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc41" id="toc41"></a><a name="pdf42" id="pdf42"></a><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter II</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You recollect, my dear children," said Grandfather, +"that we took leave of the chair in 1692, +while it was occupied by Sir William Phips. This +fortunate treasure-seeker, you will remember, had +come over from England, with King William's commission +to be Governor of Massachusetts. Within +the limits of this province were now included the +old colony of Plymouth, and the territories of Maine +and Nova Scotia. Sir William Phips had likewise +brought a new charter from the king, which served +instead of a constitution, and set forth the method in +which the province was to be governed."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did the new charter allow the people all their +former liberties?" inquired Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No," replied Grandfather. "Under the first +charter, the people had been the source of all power. +Winthrop, Endicott, Bradstreet, and the rest of +them, had been governors by the choice of the people, +without any interference of the king. But henceforth +the governor was to hold his station solely by +the king's appointment, and during his pleasure; and +the same was the case with the lieutenant-governor, +and some other high officers. The people, however, +were still allowed to choose representatives; and the +governor's council was chosen by the general court."</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page083">[pg 083]</span> +<a name="Pg083" id="Pg083" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Would the inhabitants have elected Sir William +Phips," asked Laurence, "if the choice of governor +had been left to them?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He might probably have been a successful candidate," +answered Grandfather; "for his adventures +and military enterprises had gained him a sort of +renown, which always goes a great way with the +people. And he had many popular characteristics, +being a kind, warm-hearted man, not ashamed of +his low origin, nor haughty in his present elevation. +Soon after his arrival, he proved that he did not +blush to recognize his former associates."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How was that?" inquired Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He made a grand festival at his new brick +house," said Grandfather, "and invited all the +ship-carpenters of Boston to be his guests. At the +head of the table, in our great chair, sat Sir William +Phips himself, treating these hard handed men +as his brethren, cracking jokes with them, and talking +familiarly about old times. I know not whether +he wore his embroidered dress, but I rather choose +to imagine that he had on a suit of rough clothes, +such as he used to labor in, while he was Phips the +ship-carpenter."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"An aristocrat need not be ashamed of the +trade," observed Laurence; "for the czar Peter +the Great once served an apprenticeship to it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did Sir William Phips make as good a governor +as he was a ship-carpenter?" asked Charley.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page084">[pg 084]</span> +<a name="Pg084" id="Pg084" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"History says but little about his merits as a +ship-carpenter," answered Grandfather; "but, as +a governor, a great deal of fault was found with +him. Almost as soon as he assumed the government, +he became engaged in a very frightful business, +which might have perplexed a wiser and better +cultivated head than his. This was the witchcraft +delusion."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And here Grandfather gave his auditors such +details of this melancholy affair, as he thought it fit +for them to know. They shuddered to hear that a +frenzy, which led to the death of many innocent persons, +had originated in the wicked arts of a few +children. They belonged to the Rev. Mr. Parris, +minister of Salem. These children complained of +being pinched, and pricked with pins, and otherwise +tormented by the shapes of men and women, +who were supposed to have power to haunt them +invisibly, both in darkness and daylight. Often, +in the midst of their family and friends, the children +would pretend to be seized with strange convulsions, +and would cry out that the witches were +afflicting them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">These stories spread abroad, and caused great +tumult and alarm. From the foundation of New +England, it had been the custom of the inhabitants, +in all matters of doubt and difficulty, to look to their +ministers for council. So they did now; but, unfortunately, +the ministers and wise men were more +deluded than the illiterate people. Cotton Mather, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page085">[pg 085]</span> +<a name="Pg085" id="Pg085" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a very learned and eminent clergyman, believed +that the whole country was full of witches and wizards, +who had given up their hopes of heaven, and +signed a covenant with the Evil One.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Nobody could be certain that his nearest neighbor, +or most intimate friend, was not guilty of this +imaginary crime. The number of those who pretended +to be afflicted by witchcraft, grew daily +more numerous; and they bore testimony against +many of the best and worthiest people. A minister, +named George Burroughs, was among the +accused. In the months of August and September, +1692, he, and nineteen other innocent men +and women, were put to death. The place of execution +was a high hill, on the outskirts of Salem; +so that many of the sufferers, as they stood beneath +the gallows, could discern their own habitations in +the town.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The martyrdom of these guiltless persons seemed +only to increase the madness. The afflicted now +grew bolder in their accusations. Many people of +rank and wealth were either thrown into prison, or +compelled to flee for their lives. Among these +were two sons of old Simon Bradstreet, the last of +the Puritan governors. Mr. Willard, a pious minister +of Boston, was cried out upon as a wizard, in +open court. Mrs. Hale, the wife of the minister of +Beverly, was likewise accused. Philip English, a +rich merchant of Salem, found it necessary to take +flight, leaving his property and business in confusion. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page086">[pg 086]</span> +<a name="Pg086" id="Pg086" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +But a short time afterwards, the Salem people were +glad to invite him back.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The boldest thing that the accusers did," continued +Grandfather, "was to cry out against the +governor's own beloved wife. Yes; the lady of +Sir William Phips was accused of being a witch, +and of flying through the air to attend witch meetings. +When the governor heard this, he probably +trembled, so that our great chair shook beneath +him."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Dear Grandfather," cried little Alice, clinging +closer to his knee, "is it true that witches ever +come in the night-time to frighten little children?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, no, dear little Alice," replied Grandfather. +"Even if there were any witches, they would flee +away from the presence of a pure-hearted child. +But there are none; and our forefathers soon +became convinced, that they had been led into a +terrible delusion. All the prisoners on account of +witchcraft were set free. But the innocent dead +could not be restored to life; and the hill where +they were executed, will always remind people of +the saddest and most humiliating passage in our +history."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather then said, that the next remarkable +event, while Sir William Phips remained in the +chair, was the arrival at Boston of an English fleet, +in 1693. It brought an army, which was intended +for the conquest of Canada. But a malignant disease, +more fatal than the small-pox, broke out +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page087">[pg 087]</span> +<a name="Pg087" id="Pg087" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +among the soldiers and sailors, and destroyed the +greater part of them. The infection spread into +the town of Boston, and made much havoc there. +This dreadful sickness caused the governor, and +Sir Francis Wheeler, who was commander of the +British forces, to give up all thoughts of attacking +Canada.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Soon after this," said Grandfather, "Sir William +Phips quarrelled with the captain of an English +frigate, and also with the Collector of Boston. +Being a man of violent temper, he gave each of +them a sound beating with his cane."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He was a bold fellow," observed Charley, who +was himself somewhat addicted to a similar mode of +settling disputes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"More bold than wise," replied Grandfather; +"for complaints were carried to the king, and Sir +William Phips was summoned to England, to make +the best answer he could. Accordingly he went +to London, where, in 1695, he was seized with a +malignant fever, of which he died. Had he lived +longer, he would probably have gone again in +search of sunken treasure. He had heard of a +Spanish ship, which was cast away in 1502, during +the lifetime of Columbus. Bovadilla, Roldan, and +many other Spaniards, were lost in her, together +with the immense wealth of which they had robbed +the South American kings."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, Grandfather," exclaimed Laurence, +"what magnificent ideas the governor had! Only +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page088">[pg 088]</span> +<a name="Pg088" id="Pg088" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +think of recovering all that old treasure, which had +lain almost two centuries under the sea! Me thinks +Sir William Phips ought to have been buried in the +ocean, when he died; so that he might have gone +down among the sunken ships, and cargoes of treasure, +which he was always dreaming about in his +lifetime."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He was buried in one of the crowded cemeteries +of London," said Grandfather. "As he left +no children, his estate was inherited by his nephew, +from whom is descended the present Marquis of +Normandy. The noble Marquis is not aware, perhaps, +that the prosperity of his family originated in +the successful enterprise of a New England ship +carpenter."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page089">[pg 089]</span> +<a name="Pg089" id="Pg089" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc43" id="toc43"></a><a name="pdf44" id="pdf44"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter III</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded +Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. +Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston. +This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and +had been teaching school ever since; so that there +were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to +whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet. +He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a +long white beard.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Was the chair placed in his school?" asked +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; +"and we may safely say that it had never before +been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not +even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in +it. Even you, Charley, my boy, would have felt +some respect for the chair, if you had seen it occupied +by this famous school-master."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And here Grandfather endeavored to give his +auditors an idea how matters were managed in +schools above a hundred years ago. As this will +probably be an interesting subject to our readers, +we shall make a separate sketch of it, and call it</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc45" id="toc45"></a><a name="pdf46" id="pdf46"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE OLD-FASHIONED SCHOOL</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now imagine yourselves, my children, in Master +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page090">[pg 090]</span> +<a name="Pg090" id="Pg090" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Ezekiel Cheever's school-room. It is a large, dingy +room, with a sanded floor, and is lighted by windows +that turn on hinges, and have little diamond shaped +panes of glass. The scholars sit on long benches, +with desks before them. At one end of the room is +a great fire-place, so very spacious, that there is +room enough for three or four boys to stand in each +of the chimney corners. This was the good old +fashion of fire-places, when there was wood enough +in the forests to keep people warm, without their +digging into the bowels of the earth for coal.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It is a winter's day when we take our peep into +the school-room. See what great logs of wood have +been rolled into the fire-place, and what a broad, +bright blaze goes leaping up the chimney! And +every few moments, a vast cloud of smoke is puffed +into the room, which sails slowly over the heads of +the scholars, until it gradually settles upon the walls +and ceiling. They are blackened with the smoke of +many years already.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image02.png" width="480" height="566" alt="Image #2" /></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Next, look at our old historic chair! It is placed, +you perceive, in the most comfortable part of the +room, where the generous glow of the fire is sufficiently +felt, without being too intensely hot. How +stately the old chair looks, as if it remembered its +many famous occupants, but yet were conscious that +a greater man is sitting in it now! Do you see the +venerable school-master, severe in aspect, with a +black scull-cap on his head, like an ancient Puritan, +and the snow of his white beard drifting down to his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page091">[pg 091]</span> +<a name="Pg091" id="Pg091" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +very girdle? What boy would dare to play, or +whisper, or even glance aside from his book, while +Master Cheever is on the look-out, behind his spectacles! +For such offenders, if any such there be, a +rod of birch is hanging over the fire-place, and a +heavy ferule lies on the master's desk.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now school is begun. What a murmur of +multitudinous tongues, like the whispering leaves of +a wind-stirred oak, as the scholars con over their various +tasks! Buz, buz, buz! Amid just such a murmur +has Master Cheever spent above sixty years: +and long habit has made it as pleasant to him as the +hum of a bee-hive, when the insects are busy in the +sunshine.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now a class in Latin is called to recite. Forth +steps a row of queer-looking little fellows, wearing +square-skirted coats, and small clothes, with buttons +at the knee. They look like so many grandfathers +in their second childhood. These lads are to be sent +to Cambridge, and educated for the learned professions. +Old Master Cheever has lived so long, and +seen so many generations of school-boys grow up to +be men, that now he can almost prophesy what sort +of a man each boy will be. One urchin shall hereafter +be a doctor, and administer pills and potions, +and stalk gravely through life, perfumed with assaf[oe]tida. +Another shall wrangle at the bar, and fight +his way to wealth and honors, and in his declining +age, shall be a worshipful member of his Majesty's +council. A third—and he is the Master's favorite—shall +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page092">[pg 092]</span> +<a name="Pg092" id="Pg092" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +be a worthy successor to the old Puritan +ministers, now in their graves; he shall preach with +great unction and effect, and leave volumes of sermons, +in print and manuscript, for the benefit of +future generations.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, as they are merely school-boys now, their +business is to construe Virgil. Poor Virgil, whose +verses, which he took so much pains to polish, have +been mis-scanned, and mis-parsed, and mis-interpreted, +by so many generations of idle school-boys! +There, sit down, ye Latinists. Two or three of you, +I fear, are doomed to feel the master's ferule.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Next comes a class in Arithmetic. These boys +are to be the merchants, shop-keepers, and mechanics, +of a future period. Hitherto, they have traded only +in marbles and apples. Hereafter, some will send +vessels to England for broadcloths and all sorts of +manufactured wares, and to the West Indies for +sugar, and rum, and coffee. Others will stand behind +counters, and measure tape, and ribbon, and +cambric, by the yard. Others will upheave the +blacksmith's hammer, or drive the plane over the +carpenter's bench, or take the lapstone and the awl, +and learn the trade of shoe-making. Many will follow +the sea, and become bold, rough sea-captains.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This class of boys, in short, must supply the world +with those active, skilful hands, and clear, sagacious +heads, without which the affairs of life would be +thrown into confusion, by the theories of studious +and visionary men. Wherefore, teach them their +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page093">[pg 093]</span> +<a name="Pg093" id="Pg093" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +multiplication table, good Master Cheever, and whip +them well, when they deserve it; for much of the +country's welfare depends on these boys!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, alas! while we have been thinking of other +matters, Master Cheever's watchful eye has caught +two boys at play. Now we shall see awful times! +The two malefactors are summoned before the master's +chair, wherein he sits, with the terror of a +judge upon his brow. Our old chair is now a judgment-seat. +Ah, Master Cheever has taken down +that terrible birch-rod! Short is the trial—the +sentence quickly passed—and now the judge prepares +to execute it in person. Thwack! thwack! +thwack! In those good old times, a school-master's +blows were well laid on.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">See! the birch-rod has lost several of its twigs, +and will hardly serve for another execution. Mercy +on us, what a bellowing the urchins make! My +ears are almost deafened, though the clamor comes +through the far length of a hundred and fifty years. +There, go to your seats, poor boys; and do not cry, +sweet little Alice; for they have ceased to feel the +pain, a long time since.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And thus the forenoon passes away. Now it is +twelve o'clock. The master looks at his great silver +watch, and then with tiresome deliberation, puts the +ferule into his desk. The little multitude await the +word of dismissal, with almost irrepressible impatience.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You are dismissed," says Master Cheever. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page094">[pg 094]</span> +<a name="Pg094" id="Pg094" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boys retire, treading softly until they have +passed the threshold; but, fairly out of the school-room, +lo, what a joyous shout!—what a scampering +and trampling of feet!—what a sense of recovered +freedom, expressed in the merry uproar of all their +voices! What care they for the ferule and birch-rod +now? Were boys created merely to study Latin +and Arithmetic? No; the better purposes of their +being are to sport, to leap, to run, to shout, to slide +upon the ice, to snow-ball!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Happy boys! Enjoy your play-time now, and +come again to study, and to feel the birch-rod and +the ferule, to-morrow; not till to-morrow, for to-day +is Thursday-lecture; and ever since the settlement +of Massachusetts, there has been no school on Thursday +afternoons. Therefore, sport, boys, while you +may; for the morrow cometh, with the birch-rod and +the ferule; and after that, another Morrow, with +troubles of its own.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now the master has set every thing to rights, and +is ready to go home to dinner. Yet he goes reluctantly. +The old man has spent so much of his life +in the smoky, noisy, buzzing school-room, that, when +he has a holiday, he feels as if his place were lost, +and himself a stranger in the world. But, forth he +goes; and there stands our old chair, vacant and +solitary, till good Master Cheever resumes his seat +in it to-morrow morning.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page095">[pg 095]</span> +<a name="Pg095" id="Pg095" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said Charley, "I wonder whether +the boys did not use to upset the old chair, when the +school-master was out?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There is a tradition," replied Grandfather, "that +one of its arms was dislocated, in some such manner. +But I cannot believe that any school-boy would behave +so naughtily."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As it was now later than little Alice's usual bedtime, +Grandfather broke off his narrative, promising +to talk more about Master Cheever and his scholars, +some other evening.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page096">[pg 096]</span> +<a name="Pg096" id="Pg096" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc47" id="toc47"></a><a name="pdf48" id="pdf48"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IV</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Accordingly the next evening, Grandfather resumed +the history of his beloved chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Master Ezekiel Cheever," said he, "died in +1707, after having taught school about seventy +years. It would require a pretty good scholar in +arithmetic to tell how many stripes he had inflicted, +and how many birch-rods he had worn out, during +all that time, in his fatherly tenderness for his pupils. +Almost all the great men of that period, and for +many years back, had been whipt into eminence by +Master Cheever. Moreover, he had written a Latin +Accidence, which was used in schools more than half +a century after his death; so that the good old man, +even in his grave, was still the cause of trouble and +stripes to idle school-boys."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather proceeded to say, that, when Master +Cheever died, he bequeathed the chair to the most +learned man that was educated at his school, or that +had ever been born in America. This was the renowned +Cotton Mather, minister of the Old North +Church in Boston.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And author of the Magnalia, Grandfather, which +we sometimes see you reading," said Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, Laurence," replied Grandfather. "The +Magnalia is a strange, pedantic history, in which +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page097">[pg 097]</span> +<a name="Pg097" id="Pg097" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +true events and real personages move before the +reader, with the dreamy aspect which they wore in +Cotton Mather's singular mind. This huge volume, +however, was written and published before our chair +came into his possession. But, as he was the author of +more books than there are days in the year, we may +conclude that he wrote a great deal, while sitting in +this chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am tired of these school-masters and learned +men," said Charley. "I wish some stirring man, +that knew how to do something in the world, like Sir +William Phips, would set in the chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Such men seldom have leisure to sit quietly in +a chair," said Grandfather. "We must make the +best of such people as we have."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Cotton Mather was a very distinguished man, +Grandfather took some pains to give the children a +lively conception of his character. Over the door +of his library were painted these words—BE SHORT—as +a warning to visitors that they must not do the +world so much harm, as needlessly to interrupt this +great man's wonderful labors. On entering the +room you would probably behold it crowded, and +piled, and heaped with books. There were huge, +ponderous folios and quartos, and little duodecimos, +in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldaic, and all +other languages, that either originated at the confusion +of Babel, or have since come into use.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All these books, no doubt, were tossed about in confusion, +thus forming a visible emblem of the manner +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page098">[pg 098]</span> +<a name="Pg098" id="Pg098" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in which their contents were crowded into Cotton +Mather's brain. And in the middle of the room stood a +table, on which, besides printed volumes, were strewn +manuscript sermons, historical tracts, and political +pamphlets, all written in such a queer, blind, crabbed, +fantastical hand, that a writing-master would have +gone raving mad at the sight of them. By this table +stood Grandfather's chair, which seemed already to +have contracted an air of deep erudition, as if its +cushion were stuffed with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, +and other hard matters.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In this chair, from one year's end to another, sat +that prodigious book-worm, Cotton Mather, sometimes +devouring a great book, and sometimes scribbling +one as big. In Grandfather's younger days, +there used to be a wax figure of him in one of the +Boston museums, representing a solemn, dark-visaged +person, in a minister's black gown, and with a +black-letter volume before him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It is difficult, my children," observed Grandfather, +"to make you understand such a character +as Cotton Mather's, in whom there was so much good, +and yet so many failings and frailties. Undoubtedly, +he was a pious man. Often he kept fasts; +and once, for three whole days, he allowed himself +not a morsel of food, but spent the time in prayer +and religious meditation. Many a live-long night +did he watch and pray. These fasts and vigils made +him meagre and haggard, and probably caused him +to appear as if he hardly belonged to the world."</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page099">[pg 099]</span> +<a name="Pg099" id="Pg099" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Was not the witchcraft delusion partly caused +by Cotton Mather?" inquired Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He was the chief agent of the mischief," answered +Grandfather; "but we will not suppose that +he acted otherwise than conscientiously. He believed +that there were evil spirits all about the +world. Doubtless he imagined that they were hidden +in the corners and crevices of his library, and +that they peeped out from among the leaves of many +of his books, as he turned them over, at midnight. +He supposed that these unlovely demons were everywhere, +in the sunshine as well as in the darkness, and +that they were hidden in men's hearts, and stole into +their most secret thoughts."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here Grandfather was interrupted by little Alice, +who hid her face in his lap, and murmured a wish +that he would not talk any more about Cotton Mather +and the evil spirits. Grandfather kissed her, +and told her that angels were the only spirits whom +she had any thing to do with. He then spoke of the +public affairs of the period.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A new war between France and England had +broken out in 1702, and had been raging ever since. +In the course of it, New England suffered much injury +from the French and Indians, who often came +through the woods from Canada, and assaulted the +frontier towns. Villages were sometimes burnt, and +the inhabitants slaughtered, within a day's ride of +Boston. The people of New England had a bitter +hatred against the French, not only for the mischief +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page100">[pg 100]</span> +<a name="Pg100" id="Pg100" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +which they did with their own hands, but because +they incited the Indians to hostility.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The New Englanders knew that they could never +dwell in security, until the provinces of France +should be subdued, and brought under the English +government. They frequently, in time of war, undertook +military expeditions against Acadia and +Canada, and sometimes besieged the fortresses, by +which those territories were defended. But the +most earnest wish of their hearts was, to take Quebec, +and so get possession of the whole province of +Canada. Sir William Phips had once attempted it, +but without success.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Fleets and soldiers were often sent from England, +to assist the colonists in their warlike undertakings. +In 1710, Port Royal, a fortress of Acadia, was +taken by the English. The next year, in the month +of June, a fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir Hovenden +Walker, arrived in Boston Harbor. On board +of this fleet was the English General Hill, with seven +regiments of soldiers, who had been fighting under +the Duke of Marlborough, in Flanders. The government +of Massachusetts was called upon to find +provisions for the army and fleet, and to raise more +men to assist in taking Canada.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">What with recruiting and drilling of soldiers, there +was now nothing but warlike bustle in the streets of +Boston. The drum and fife, the rattle of arms, and +the shouts of boys, were heard from morning till +night. In about a month, the fleet set sail, carrying +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page101">[pg 101]</span> +<a name="Pg101" id="Pg101" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +four regiments from New England and New York, +besides the English soldiers. The whole army +amounted to at least seven thousand men. They +steered for the mouth of the river St. Lawrence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Cotton Mather prayed most fervently for their +success," continued Grandfather, "both in his pulpit, +and when he kneeled down in the solitude of his +library, resting his face on our old chair. But +Providence ordered the result otherwise. In a few +weeks, tidings were received, that eight or nine of +the vessels had been wrecked in the St. Lawrence, +and that above a thousand drowned soldiers had been +washed ashore, on the banks of that mighty river. +After this misfortune, Sir Hovenden Walker set sail +for England; and many pious people began to think +it a sin, even to wish for the conquest of Canada."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I would never give it up so," cried Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Nor did they, as we shall see," replied Grandfather. +"However, no more attempts were made +during this war, which came to a close in 1713. +The people of New England were probably glad of +some repose; for their young men had been made +soldiers, till many of them were fit for nothing else. +And those, who remained at home, had been heavily +taxed to pay for the arms, ammunition, fortifications, +and all the other endless expenses of a war. There +was great need of the prayers of Cotton Mather, and +of all pious men, not only on account of the sufferings +of the people, but because the old moral and religious +character of New England was in danger of +being utterly lost." +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page102">[pg 102]</span> +<a name="Pg102" id="Pg102" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How glorious it would have been," remarked +Laurence, "if our forefathers could have kept the +country unspotted with blood."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes," said Grandfather; "but there was a stern +warlike spirit in them, from the beginning. They +seem never to have thought of questioning either +the morality or piety of war."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next event, which Grandfather spoke of, was +one that Cotton Mather, as well as most of the other +inhabitants of New England, heartily rejoiced at. +This was the accession of the Elector of Hanover to +the throne of England, in 1714, on the death of +Queen Anne. Hitherto, the people had been in +continual dread that the male line of the Stuarts, +who were descended from the beheaded King +Charles and the banished King James, would be +restored to the throne. In that case, as the Stuart +family were Roman Catholics, it was supposed that +they would attempt to establish their own religion +throughout the British dominions. But the Elector +of Hanover, and all his race, were Protestants; so +that now the descendants of the old Puritans were +relieved from many fears and disquietudes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The importance of this event," observed Grandfather, +"was a thousand times greater than that of +a Presidential Election, in our own days. If the +people dislike their president, they may get rid of +him in four years; whereas, a dynasty of kings may +wear the crown for an unlimited period."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The German elector was proclaimed king from +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page103">[pg 103]</span> +<a name="Pg103" id="Pg103" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the balcony of the town-house, in Boston, by the title +of George the First, while the trumpets sounded, +and the people cried Amen. That night, the town +was illuminated; and Cotton Mather threw aside +book and pen, and left Grandfather's chair vacant, +while he walked hither and thither to witness the +rejoicings.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page104">[pg 104]</span> +<a name="Pg104" id="Pg104" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc49" id="toc49"></a><a name="pdf50" id="pdf50"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Cotton Mather," continued Grandfather, +"was a bitter enemy to Governor Dudley; and +nobody exulted more than he, when that crafty politician +was removed from the government, and succeeded +by Colonel Shute. This took place in 1716. +The new governor had been an officer in the renowned +Duke of Marlborough's army, and had +fought in some of the great battles in Flanders."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now, I hope," said Charley, "we shall hear of +his doing great things."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am afraid you will be disappointed, Charley," +answered Grandfather. "It is true, that Colonel +Shute had probably never led so unquiet a life while +fighting the French, as he did now, while governing +this province of Massachusetts Bay. But his troubles +consisted almost entirely of dissensions with the +legislature. The king had ordered him to lay claim +to a fixed salary; but the representatives of the +people insisted upon paying him only such sums, +from year to year, as they saw fit."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather here explained some of the circumstances, +that made the situation of a colonial governor +so difficult and irksome. There was not the +same feeling towards the chief magistrate, now, +that had existed, while he was chosen by the free +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page105">[pg 105]</span> +<a name="Pg105" id="Pg105" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +suffrages of the people. It was felt, that, as the +king appointed the governor, and as he held his +office during the king's pleasure, it would be his +great object to please the king. But the people +thought, that a governor ought to have nothing in +view, but the best interests of those whom he +governed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The governor," remarked Grandfather, "had +two masters to serve—the king, who appointed +him, and the people, on whom he depended for his +pay. Few men, in this position, would have ingenuity +enough to satisfy either party. Colonel +Shute, though a good-natured, well-meaning man, +succeeded so ill with the people, that in 1722, he +suddenly went away to England, and made complaint +to King George. In the mean time, Lieutenant-Governor +Dummer directed the affairs of the province, +and carried on a long and bloody war with the +Indians."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But where was our chair, all this time?" asked +Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It still remained in Cotton Mather's library," +replied Grandfather; "and I must not omit to tell +you an incident, which is very much to the honor of +this celebrated man. It is the more proper, too, +that you should hear it, because it will show you +what a terrible calamity the small pox was to our +forefathers. The history of the province, (and, of +course, the history of our chair,) would be incomplete, +without particular mention of it." +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page106">[pg 106]</span> +<a name="Pg106" id="Pg106" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Accordingly, Grandfather told the children a +story, to which, for want of a better title, we shall +give that of</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc51" id="toc51"></a><a name="pdf52" id="pdf52"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE REJECTED BLESSING</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One day, in 1721, Doctor Cotton Mather sat +in his library, reading a book that had been published +by the Royal Society of London. But, every +few moments, he laid the book upon the table, and +leaned back in Grandfather's chair, with an aspect +of deep care and disquietude. There were certain +things which troubled him exceedingly, so that he +could hardly fix his thoughts upon what he read.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was now a gloomy time in Boston. That terrible +disease, the small pox, had recently made its +appearance in the town. Ever since the first settlement +of the country, this awful pestilence had +come, at intervals, and swept away multitudes of the +inhabitants. Whenever it commenced its ravages, +nothing seemed to stay its progress, until there were +no more victims for it to seize upon. Oftentimes, +hundreds of people, at once, lay groaning with its +agony; and when it departed, its deep footsteps +were always to be traced in many graves.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The people never felt secure from this calamity. +Sometimes, perhaps, it was brought into the country +by a poor sailor, who had caught the infection in foreign +parts, and came hither to die, and to be the +cause of many deaths. Sometimes, no doubt, it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page107">[pg 107]</span> +<a name="Pg107" id="Pg107" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +followed in the train of the pompous governors, when +they came over from England. Sometimes, the disease +lay hidden in the cargoes of ships, among silks +and brocades, and other costly merchandise, which +was imported for the rich people to wear. And, +sometimes, it started up, seemingly of its own accord; +and nobody could tell whence it came. The +physician, being called to attend the sick person, +would look at him, and say,—"It is the small pox! +let the patient be carried to the hospital."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now, this dreadful sickness had shown itself +again in Boston. Cotton Mather was greatly +afflicted, for the sake of the whole province. He +had children, too, who were exposed to the danger. +At that very moment, he heard the voice of his +youngest son, for whom his heart was moved with +apprehension.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Alas! I fear for that poor child," said Cotton +Mather to himself. "What shall I do for my son +Samuel?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Again, he attempted to drive away these thoughts, +by taking up the book which he had been reading. +And now, all of a sudden, his attention became fixed. +The book contained a printed letter that an Italian +physician had written upon the very subject, about +which Cotton Mather was so anxiously meditating. +He ran his eye eagerly over the pages; and, behold! +a method was disclosed to him, by which the small +pox might be robbed of its worst terrors. Such a +method was known in Greece. The physicians of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page108">[pg 108]</span> +<a name="Pg108" id="Pg108" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Turkey, too, those long-bearded Eastern sages, had +been acquainted with it for many years. The negroes +of Africa, ignorant as they were, had likewise +practised it, and thus had shown themselves wiser +than the white men.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Of a truth," ejaculated Cotton Mather, clasping +his hands and looking up to Heaven, "it was a +merciful Providence that brought this book under +mine eye! I will procure a consultation of physicians, +and see whether this wondrous Inoculation +may not stay the progress of the Destroyer."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So he arose from Grandfather's chair, and went +out of the library. Near the door he met his son +Samuel, who seemed downcast and out of spirits. +The boy had heard, probably, that some of his playmates +were taken ill with the small pox. But, as his +father looked cheerfully at him, Samuel took courage, +trusting that either the wisdom of so learned a +minister would find some remedy for the danger, +or else that his prayers would secure protection from +on high.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meanwhile, Cotton Mather took his staff and three-cornered +hat, and walked about the streets, calling +at the houses of all the physicians in Boston. They +were a very wise fraternity; and their huge wigs, +and black dresses, and solemn visages, made their +wisdom appear even profounder than it was. One +after another, he acquainted them with the discovery +which he had hit upon.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But these grave and sagacious personages would +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page109">[pg 109]</span> +<a name="Pg109" id="Pg109" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +scarcely listen to him. The oldest doctor in town +contented himself with remarking, that no such thing +as inoculation was mentioned by Galen or Hippocrates, +and it was impossible that modern physicians +should be wiser than those old sages. A second +held up his hands in dumb astonishment and horror, +at the madness of what Cotton Mather proposed to +do. A third told him, in pretty plain terms, that he +knew not what he was talking about. A fourth requested, +in the name of the whole medical fraternity, +that Cotton Mather would confine his attention to +people's souls, and leave the physicians to take care +of their bodies.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In short, there was but a single doctor among +them all, who would grant the poor minister so +much as a patient hearing. This was Doctor Zabdiel +Boylston. He looked into the matter like a +man of sense, and finding, beyond a doubt, that inoculation +had rescued many from death, he resolved +to try the experiment in his own family.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so he did. But, when the other physicians +heard of it, they arose in great fury, and began a +war of words, written, printed, and spoken, against +Cotton Mather and Doctor Boylston. To hear +them talk, you would have supposed that these two +harmless and benevolent men had plotted the ruin +of the country.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The people, also, took the alarm. Many, who +thought themselves more pious than their neighbors, +contended, that, if Providence had ordained +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page110">[pg 110]</span> +<a name="Pg110" id="Pg110" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +them to die of the small pox, it was sinful to aim +at preventing it. The strangest reports were in +circulation. Some said, that Doctor Boylston had +contrived a method for conveying the gout, rheumatism, +sick headache, asthma, and all other diseases, +from one person to another, and diffusing them +through the whole community. Others flatly affirmed +that the Evil One had got possession of Cotton +Mather, and was at the bottom of the whole business.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You must observe, children, that Cotton Mather's +fellow citizens were generally inclined to doubt the +wisdom of any measure, which he might propose +to them. They recollected how he had led them +astray in the old witchcraft delusion; and now, if +he thought and acted ever so wisely, it was difficult +for him to get the credit of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The people's wrath grew so hot at his attempt to +guard them from the small pox, that he could not +walk the streets in peace. Whenever the venerable +form of the old minister, meagre and haggard with +fasts and vigils, was seen approaching, hisses were +heard, and shouts of derision, and scornful and bitter +laughter. The women snatched away their children +from his path, lest he should do them a mischief. +Still, however, bending his head meekly, +and perhaps stretching out his hands to bless those +who reviled him, he pursued his way. But the +tears came into his eyes, to think how blindly the +people rejected the means of safety, that were offered +them.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page111">[pg 111]</span> +<a name="Pg111" id="Pg111" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Indeed, there were melancholy sights enough in the +streets of Boston, to draw forth the tears of a compassionate +man. Over the door of almost every +dwelling, a red flag was fluttering in the air. This +was the signal that the small pox had entered the +house, and attacked some member of the family; +or perhaps the whole family, old and young, were +struggling at once with the pestilence. Friends +and relatives, when they met one another in the +streets, would hurry onward without a grasp of the +hand, or scarcely a word of greeting, lest they should +catch or communicate the contagion. And, often a +coffin was borne hastily along.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Alas, alas!" said Cotton Mather to himself. +"What shall be done for this poor, misguided people? +Oh, that Providence would open their eyes, +and enable them to discern good from evil!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So furious, however, were the people, that they +threatened vengeance against any person who should +dare to practise inoculation, though it were only in +his own family. This was a hard case for Cotton +Mather, who saw no other way to rescue his poor +child Samuel from the disease. But he resolved to +save him, even if his house should be burnt over his +head.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I will not be turned aside," said he. "My +townsmen shall see that I have faith in this thing, +when I make the experiment on my beloved son, +whose life is dearer to me than my own. And when +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page112">[pg 112]</span> +<a name="Pg112" id="Pg112" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +I have saved Samuel, peradventure they will be persuaded +to save themselves."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Accordingly, Samuel was inoculated; and so was +Mr. Walter, a son-in-law of Cotton Mather. Doctor +Boylston, likewise, inoculated many persons; +and while hundreds died, who had caught the +contagion from the garments of the sick, almost all +were preserved, who followed the wise physician's +advice.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the people were not yet convinced of their +mistake. One night, a destructive little instrument, +called a hand-grenade, was thrown into Cotton Mather's +window, and rolled under Grandfather's chair. +It was supposed to be filled with gunpowder, the +explosion of which would have blown the poor minister +to atoms. But the best-informed historians are of +opinion, that the grenade contained only brimstone +and assaf[oe]tida, and was meant to plague Cotton +Mather with a very evil perfume.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This is no strange thing in human experience. +Men, who attempt to do the world more good, than +the world is able entirely to comprehend, are almost +invariably held in bad odor. But yet, if the wise +and good man can wait awhile, either the present +generation or posterity, will do him justice. So it +proved, in the case which we have been speaking of. +In after years, when inoculation was universally +practised, and thousands were saved from death by it, +the people remembered old Cotton Mather, then +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page113">[pg 113]</span> +<a name="Pg113" id="Pg113" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sleeping in his grave. They acknowledged that +the very thing, for which they had so reviled and +persecuted him, was the best and wisest thing he +ever did.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather, this is not an agreeable story," +observed Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, Clara," replied Grandfather. "But it is +right that you should know what a dark shadow this +disease threw over the times of our forefathers. And +now, if you wish to learn more about Cotton Mather, +you must read his biography, written by Mr. Peabody, +of Springfield. You will find it very entertaining +and instructive; but perhaps the writer is +somewhat too harsh in his judgment of this singular +man. He estimates him fairly, indeed, and understands +him well; but he unriddles his character +rather by acuteness than by sympathy. Now, his +life should have been written by one, who, knowing +all his faults, would nevertheless love him."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Grandfather made an end of Cotton Mather, +telling his auditors that he died in 1728, at the age +of sixty-five, and bequeathed the chair to Elisha +Cooke. This gentleman was a famous advocate of +the people's rights.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The same year, William Burnet, a son of the celebrated +Bishop Burnet, arrived in Boston, with the +commission of governor. He was the first that had +been appointed since the departure of Colonel Shute. +Governor Burnet took up his residence with Mr. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page114">[pg 114]</span> +<a name="Pg114" id="Pg114" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Cooke, while the Province House was undergoing +repairs. During this period, he was always complimented +with a seat in Grandfather's chair; and so +comfortable did he find it, that on removing to the +Province House, he could not bear to leave it behind +him. Mr. Cooke, therefore, requested his acceptance +of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I should think," said Laurence, "that the +people would have petitioned the king always to +appoint a native-born New Englander to govern +them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Undoubtedly it was a grievance," answered +Grandfather, "to see men placed in this station, +who perhaps had neither talents nor virtues to fit +them for it, and who certainly could have no natural +affection for the country. The king generally bestowed +the governorships of the American colonies +upon needy noblemen, or hangers-on at court, or disbanded +officers. The people knew that such persons +would be very likely to make the good of the country +subservient to the wishes of the king. The legislature, +therefore, endeavored to keep as much power +as possible in their own hands, by refusing to settle +a fixed salary upon the governors. It was thought +better to pay them according to their deserts."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did Governor Burnet work well for his money?" +asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather could not help smiling at the simplicity +of Charley's question. Nevertheless, it put +the matter in a very plain point of view.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page115">[pg 115]</span> +<a name="Pg115" id="Pg115" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He then described the character of Governor +Burnet, representing him as a good scholar, possessed +of much ability, and likewise of unspotted integrity. +His story affords a striking example, how +unfortunate it is for a man, who is placed as ruler +over a country, to be compelled to aim at any thing +but the good of the people. Governor Burnet was +so chained down by his instructions from the king, +that he could not act as he might otherwise have +wished. Consequently, his whole term of office was +wasted in quarrels with the legislature.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am afraid, children," said Grandfather, "that +Governor Burnet found but little rest or comfort in +our old chair. Here he used to sit, dressed in a +coat which was made of rough, shaggy cloth outside, +but of smooth velvet within. It was said that his +own character resembled that coat, for his outward +manner was rough, but his inward disposition soft +and kind. It is a pity that such a man could not +have been kept free from trouble. But so harassing +were his disputes with the representatives of the +people, that he fell into a fever, of which he died, +in 1720. The legislature had refused him a salary, +while alive; but they appropriated money enough +to give him a splendid and pompous funeral."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now Grandfather perceived that little Alice +had fallen fast asleep, with her head upon his footstool. +Indeed, as Clara observed, she had been +sleeping from the time of Sir Hovenden Walker's +expedition against Quebec, until the death of Governor +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page116">[pg 116]</span> +<a name="Pg116" id="Pg116" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Burnet—a period of about eighteen years. +And yet, after so long a nap, sweet little Alice was +a golden-haired child, of scarcely five years old.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It puts me in mind," said Laurence, "of the +story of the enchanted princess, who slept many a +hundred years, and awoke as young and beautiful +as ever."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page117">[pg 117]</span> +<a name="Pg117" id="Pg117" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc53" id="toc53"></a><a name="pdf54" id="pdf54"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A few evenings afterwards, cousin Clara happened +to inquire of Grandfather, whether the old +chair had never been present at a ball. At the +same time, little Alice brought forward a doll, with +whom she had been holding a long conversation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"See, Grandfather," cried she. "Did such a +pretty lady as this ever sit in your great chair?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">These questions led Grandfather to talk about the +fashions and manners, which now began to be introduced +from England into the provinces. The simplicity +of the good old Puritan times was fast disappearing. +This was partly owing to the increasing +number and wealth of the inhabitants, and to the +additions which they continually received, by the +arrival and settlement of people from beyond the +sea.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Another cause of a pompous and artificial mode +of life, among those who could afford it, was, that the +example was set by the royal governors. Under +the old charter, the governors were the representatives +of the people, and therefore their way of living +had probably been marked by a popular simplicity. +But now, as they represented the person of the king, +they thought it necessary to preserve the dignity of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page118">[pg 118]</span> +<a name="Pg118" id="Pg118" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +their station, by the practice of high and gorgeous +ceremonials. And, besides, the profitable offices +under the government were filled by men who had +lived in London, and had there contracted fashionable +and luxurious habits of living, which they would +not now lay aside. The wealthy people of the province +imitated them; and thus began a general +change in social life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"So, my dear Clara," said Grandfather, "after +our chair had entered the Province House, it must +often have been present at balls and festivals, though +I cannot give you a description of any particular +one. But I doubt not that they were very magnificent; +and slaves in gorgeous liveries waited on the +guests, and offered them wine in goblets of massive +silver."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Were there slaves in those days?" exclaimed +Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes; black slaves and white," replied Grandfather. +"Our ancestors not only bought negroes +from Africa, but Indians from South America, and +white people from Ireland. These last were sold, +not for life, but for a certain number of years, in +order to pay the expenses of their voyage across the +Atlantic. Nothing was more common than to see a +lot of likely Irish girls, advertised for sale in the +newspapers. As for the little negro babies, they +were offered to be given away, like young kittens."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Perhaps Alice would have liked one to play +with, instead of her doll," said Charley, laughing. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page119">[pg 119]</span> +<a name="Pg119" id="Pg119" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But little Alice clasped the waxen doll closer to +her bosom.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now, as for this pretty doll, my little Alice," +said Grandfather, "I wish you could have seen +what splendid dresses the ladies wore in those times. +They had silks, and satins, and damasks, and brocades, +and high head-dresses, and all sorts of fine +things. And they used to wear hooped-petticoats, +of such enormous size that it was quite a journey to +walk round them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And how did the gentlemen dress?" asked +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"With full as much magnificence as the ladies," +answered Grandfather. "For their holiday suits, +they had coats of figured velvet, crimson, green, +blue, and all other gay colors, embroidered with +gold or silver lace. Their waistcoats, which were +five times as large as modern ones, were very +splendid. Sometimes, the whole waistcoat, which +came down almost to the knees, was made of gold +brocade."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, the wearer must have shone like a golden +image!" said Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And, then," continued Grandfather, "they +wore various sorts of periwigs, such as the Tie, the +Spencer, the Brigadier, the Major, the Albemarle, +the Ramilies, the Feather-top, and the Full-bottom! +Their three-cornered hats were laced with gold or +silver. They had shining buckles at the knees of +their small clothes, and buckles likewise in their +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page120">[pg 120]</span> +<a name="Pg120" id="Pg120" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shoes. They wore swords, with beautiful hilts, +either of silver, or sometimes of polished steel, +inlaid with gold."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, I should like to wear a sword!" cried +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And an embroidered crimson velvet coat," said +Clara, laughing, "and a gold brocade waistcoat +down to your knees!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And knee-buckles and shoe-buckles," said Laurence, +laughing also.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And a periwig," added little Alice, soberly, +not knowing what was the article of dress, which +she recommended to our friend Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather smiled at the idea of Charley's +sturdy little figure in such a grotesque caparison. +He then went on with the history of the chair, and +told the children, that, in 1730, King George the +Second appointed Jonathan Belcher to be governor +of Massachusetts, in place of the deceased Governor +Burnet. Mr. Belcher was a native of the province, +but had spent much of his life in Europe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The new governor found Grandfather's chair in +the Province House, he was struck with its noble +and stately aspect, but was of opinion, that age and +hard services had made it scarcely so fit for courtly +company, as when it stood in the Earl of Lincoln's +hall. Wherefore, as Governor Belcher was fond of +splendor, he employed a skilful artist to beautify +the chair. This was done by polishing and varnishing +it, and by gilding the carved work of the elbows, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page121">[pg 121]</span> +<a name="Pg121" id="Pg121" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and likewise the oaken flowers of the back. The +lion's head now shone like a veritable lump of gold. +Finally, Governor Belcher gave the chair a cushion +of blue damask, with a rich golden fringe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Our good old chair being thus glorified," proceeded +Grandfather, "it glittered with a great deal +more splendor than it had exhibited just a century +before, when the Lady Arbella brought it over from +England. Most people mistook it for a chair of the +latest London fashion. And this may serve for an +example, that there is almost always an old and +time-worn substance under all the glittering show +of new invention."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather, I cannot see any of the gilding," +remarked Charley, who had been examining the +chair very minutely.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You will not wonder that it has been rubbed +off," replied Grandfather, "when you hear all the +adventures that have since befallen the chair. +Gilded it was; and the handsomest room in the +Province House was adorned by it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was not much to interest the children, in +what happened during the years that Governor Belcher +remained in the chair. At first, like Colonel +Shute and Governor Burnet, he was engaged in +disputing with the legislature about his salary. +But, as he found it impossible to get a fixed sum, +he finally obtained the king's leave to accept whatever +the legislature chose to give him. And thus +the people triumphed, after this long contest for the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page122">[pg 122]</span> +<a name="Pg122" id="Pg122" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +privilege of expending their own money as they +saw fit.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The remainder of Governor Belcher's term of +office was principally taken up in endeavoring to +settle the currency. Honest John Hull's pine-tree +shillings had long ago been worn out, or lost, or +melted down again, and their place was supplied by +bills of paper or parchment, which were nominally +valued at three pence and upwards. The value of +these bills kept continually sinking, because the +real hard money could not be obtained for them. +They were a great deal worse than the old Indian +currency of clam-shells. These disorders of the +circulating medium were a source of endless plague +and perplexity to the rulers and legislators, not only +in Governor Belcher's days, but for many years +before and afterwards.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Finally, the people suspected that Governor Belcher +was secretly endeavoring to establish the Episcopal +mode of worship in the provinces. There was +enough of the old Puritan spirit remaining, to cause +most of the true sons of New England to look with +horror upon such an attempt. Great exertions +were made, to induce the king to remove the governor. +Accordingly, in 1740, he was compelled to +resign his office, and Grandfather's chair into the +bargain, to Mr. Shirley.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page123">[pg 123]</span> +<a name="Pg123" id="Pg123" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc55" id="toc55"></a><a name="pdf56" id="pdf56"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VIII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had +come from England a few years before, and begun +to practise law in Boston. You will think, perhaps, +that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor +used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books +from morning till night. On the contrary, +he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts +ever had. Even Sir William Phips hardly +equalled him. The first year or two of his administration +was spent in trying to regulate the currency. +But, in 1744, after a peace of more than thirty +years, war broke out between France and England."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And I suppose," said Charley, "the governor +went to take Canada."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Not exactly, Charley," said Grandfather, +"though you have made a pretty shrewd conjecture. +He planned, in 1745, an expedition against +Louisbourg. This was a fortified city, on the +Island of Cape Breton, near Nova Scotia. Its +walls were of immense height and strength, and +were defended by hundreds of heavy cannon. It +was the strongest fortress which the French possessed +in America; and if the king of France had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page124">[pg 124]</span> +<a name="Pg124" id="Pg124" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +guessed Governor Shirley's intentions, he would +have sent all the ships he could muster, to protect +it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As the siege of Louisbourg was one of the most +remarkable events that ever the inhabitants of New +England were engaged in, Grandfather endeavored +to give his auditors a lively idea of the spirit with +which they set about it. We shall call his description</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc57" id="toc57"></a><a name="pdf58" id="pdf58"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE PROVINCIAL MUSTER</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The expedition against Louisbourg first began to +be thought of in the month of January. From that +time, the governor's chair was continually surrounded +by counsellors, representatives, clergymen, +captains, pilots, and all manner of people, with +whom he consulted about this wonderful project.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">First of all, it was necessary to provide men and +arms. The legislature immediately sent out a huge +quantity of paper money, with which, as if by magic +spell, the governor hoped to get possession of all +the old cannon, powder and balls, rusty swords and +muskets, and every thing else that would be serviceable +in killing Frenchmen. Drums were beaten in +all the villages of Massachusetts, to enlist soldiers for +the service. Messages were sent to the other governors +of New England, and to New York and Pennsylvania, +entreating them to unite in this crusade +against the French. All these provinces agreed to +give what assistance they could. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page125">[pg 125]</span> +<a name="Pg125" id="Pg125" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But there was one very important thing to be +decided. Who shall be the General of this great +army? Peace had continued such an unusual +length of time, that there was now less military +experience among the colonists, than at any former +period. The old Puritans had always kept their +weapons bright, and were never destitute of warlike +captains, who were skilful in assault or defence. +But the swords of their descendants had grown +rusty by disuse. There was nobody in New England +that knew any thing about sieges, or any +other regular fighting. The only persons, at all acquainted +with warlike business, were a few elderly +men, who had hunted Indians through the underbrush +of the forest, in old Governor Dummer's war.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In this dilemma, Governor Shirley fixed upon a +wealthy merchant, named William Pepperell, who +was pretty well known and liked among the people. +As to military skill, he had no more of it than his +neighbors. But, as the governor urged him very +pressingly, Mr. Pepperell consented to shut up his +leger, gird on a sword, and assume the title of +General.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime, what a hubbub was raised by this +scheme! Rub-a-dub-dub! Rub-a-dub-dub! The rattle +of drums, beaten out of all manner of time, was +heard above every other sound.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Nothing now was so valuable as arms, of whatever +style and fashion they might be. The bellows blew, +and the hammer clanged continually upon the anvil, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page126">[pg 126]</span> +<a name="Pg126" id="Pg126" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +while the blacksmiths were repairing the broken +weapons of other wars. Doubtless, some of the soldiers +lugged out those enormous, heavy muskets, +which used to be fired with rests, in the time of the +early Puritans. Great horse-pistols, too, were found, +which would go off with a bang like a cannon. Old +cannon, with touch-holes almost as big as their muzzles, +were looked upon as inestimable treasures. +Pikes, which perhaps, had been handled by Miles +Standish's soldiers, now made their appearance +again. Many a young man ransacked the garret, +and brought forth his great-grandfather's sword, corroded +with rust, and stained with the blood of King +Philip's war.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Never had there been seen such an arming as this, +when a people, so long peaceful, rose to the war, +with the best weapons that they could lay their +hands upon. And still the drums were heard—Rub-a-dub-dub! +Rub-a-dub-dub!—in all the towns +and villages; and louder and more numerous grew +the trampling footsteps of the recruits that marched +behind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now the army began to gather into Boston. +Tall, lanky, awkward, fellows, came in squads, and +companies, and regiments, swaggering along, dressed +in their brown homespun clothes and blue yarn stockings. +They stooped, as if they still had hold of the +plough-handles, and marched without any time or +tune. Hither they came, from the corn-fields, from +the clearing in the forest, from the blacksmith's +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page127">[pg 127]</span> +<a name="Pg127" id="Pg127" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +forge, from the carpenter's workshop, and from the +shoemaker's seat. They were an army of rough +faces and sturdy frames. A trained officer of Europe +would have laughed at them, till his sides had +ached. But there was a spirit in their bosoms, +which is more essential to soldiership than to wear +red coats, and march in stately ranks to the sound +of regular music.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Still was heard the beat of the drum—rub-a-dub-dub!—and +now a host of three or four thousand +men had found their way to Boston. Little quiet +was there then! Forth scampered the school-boys, +shouting behind the drums. The whole town—the +whole land—was on fire with war.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After the arrival of the troops, they were probably +reviewed upon the Common. We may imagine +Governor Shirley and General Pepperell riding +slowly along the line, while the drummers beat +strange old tunes, like psalm-tunes, and all the officers +and soldiers put on their most warlike looks. It +would have been a terrible sight for the Frenchmen, +could they but have witnessed it!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At length, on the twenty-fourth of March, 1745, +the army gave a parting shout, and set sail from +Boston in ten or twelve vessels, which had been +hired by the governor. A few days afterwards, an +English fleet, commanded by Commodore Peter +Warren, sailed also for Louisbourg, to assist the +provincial army. So, now, after all this bustle of +preparation, the town and province were left in stillness +and repose. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page128">[pg 128]</span> +<a name="Pg128" id="Pg128" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, stillness and repose, at such a time of anxious +expectation, are hard to bear. The hearts of +the old people and women sunk within them, when +they reflected what perils they had sent their sons, +and husbands, and brothers, to encounter. The +boys loitered heavily to school, missing the rub-a-dub-dub, +and the trampling march, in the rear of +which they had so lately run and shouted. All the +ministers prayed earnestly, in their pulpits, for a +blessing on the army of New England. In every +family, when the good man lifted up his heart in +domestic worship, the burthen of his petition was +for the safety of those dear ones, who were fighting +under the walls of Louisbourg.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Governor Shirley, all this time, was probably in +an ecstasy of impatience. He could not sit still a +moment. He found no quiet, not even in Grandfather's +chair, but hurried to-and-fro, and up and +down the staircase of the Province House. Now, +he mounted to the cupola, and looked sea-ward, +straining his eyes to discover if there were a sail +upon the horizon. Now, he hastened down the +stairs, and stood beneath the portal, on the red freestone +steps, to receive some mud-bespattered courtier, +from whom he hoped to hear tidings of the +army.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A few weeks after the departure of the troops, +Commodore Warren sent a small vessel to Boston, +with two French prisoners. One of them was Monsieur +Bouladrie, who had been commander of a battery, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page129">[pg 129]</span> +<a name="Pg129" id="Pg129" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +outside of the walls of Louisbourg. The other +was the Marquis de la Maison Forte, captain of a +French frigate, which had been taken by Commodore +Warren's fleet. These prisoners assured Governor +Shirley, that the fortifications of Louisbourg +were far too strong ever to be stormed by the provincial +army.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Day after day, and week after week, went on. +The people grew almost heart-sick with anxiety; +for the flower of the country was at peril in this +adventurous expedition. It was now day-break, on +the morning of the third of July.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, hark! what sound is this? The hurried +clang of a bell! There is the Old North, pealing +suddenly out!—there, the Old South strikes in!—now, +the peal comes from the church in Brattle +street!—the bells of nine or ten steeples are all +flinging their iron voices, at once, upon the morning +breeze! Is it joy or alarm? There goes the roar +of a cannon, too! A royal salute is thundered +forth. And, now, we hear the loud exulting shout +of a multitude, assembled in the street. Huzza, +Huzza! Louisbourg has surrendered! Huzza!</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O Grandfather, how glad I should have been +to live in those times!" cried Charley. "And +what reward did the king give to General Pepperell +and Governor Shirley?" +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page130">[pg 130]</span> +<a name="Pg130" id="Pg130" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He made Pepperell a baronet; so that he was +now to be called Sir William Pepperell," replied +Grandfather. "He likewise appointed both Pepperell +and Shirley to be colonels in the royal army. +These rewards, and higher ones, were well deserved; +for this was the greatest triumph that the English +met with, in the whole course of that war. General +Pepperell became a man of great fame. I have +seen a full length portrait of him, representing him +in a splendid scarlet uniform, standing before the +walls of Louisbourg, while several bombs are falling +through the air."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, did the country gain any real good by the +conquest of Louisbourg?" asked Laurence. "Or +was all the benefit reaped by Pepperell and Shirley?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The English Parliament," said Grandfather, +"agreed to pay the colonists for all the expenses of +the siege. Accordingly, in 1749, two hundred and +fifteen chests of Spanish dollars, and one hundred +casks of copper coin, were brought from England to +Boston. The whole amount was about a million of +dollars. Twenty-seven carts and trucks carried this +money from the wharf to the provincial treasury. +Was not this a pretty liberal reward?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The mothers of the young men, who were killed +at the siege of Louisbourg, would not have thought +it so," said Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, Laurence," rejoined Grandfather; "and +every warlike achievement involves an amount of +physical and moral evil, for which all the gold in the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page131">[pg 131]</span> +<a name="Pg131" id="Pg131" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Spanish mines would not be the slightest recompense. +But, we are to consider that this siege was one of +the occasions, on which the colonists tested their +ability for war, and thus were prepared for the great +contest of the Revolution. In that point of view, the +valor of our forefathers was its own reward."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather went on to say, that the success of +the expedition against Louisbourg, induced Shirley +and Pepperell to form a scheme for conquering Canada. +This plan, however, was not carried into execution.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the year 1746, great terror was excited by the +arrival of a formidable French fleet upon the coast. +It was commanded by the Duke d'Anville, and consisted +of forty ships of war, besides vessels with soldiers +on board. With this force, the French intended +to retake Louisbourg, and afterwards to ravage the +whole of New England. Many people were ready +to give up the country for lost.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the hostile fleet met with so many disasters +and losses, by storm and shipwreck, that the Duke +d'Anville is said to have poisoned himself in despair. +The officer next in command threw himself upon his +sword and perished. Thus deprived of their commanders, +the remainder of the ships returned to +France. This was as great a deliverance for New +England, as that which old England had experienced +in the days of Queen Elizabeth, when the Spanish +Armada was wrecked upon her coast.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"In 1747," proceeded Grandfather, "Governor +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page132">[pg 132]</span> +<a name="Pg132" id="Pg132" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Shirley was driven from the Province House, not by +a hostile fleet and army, but by a mob of the Boston +people. They were so incensed at the conduct of +the British Commodore Knowles, who had impressed +some of their fellow-citizens, that several thousands +of them surrounded the council-chamber, and threw +stones and brick-bats into the windows. The governor +attempted to pacify them; but, not succeeding, +he thought it necessary to leave the town, and take +refuge within the walls of Castle William. Quiet +was not restored, until Commodore Knowles had +sent back the impressed men. This affair was a +flash of spirit, that might have warned the English +not to venture upon any oppressive measures against +their colonial brethren."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Peace being declared between France and England +in 1748, the governor had now an opportunity +to sit at his ease in Grandfather's chair. Such repose, +however, appears not to have suited his disposition; +for, in the following year, he went to England, +and thence was dispatched to France, on public business. +Meanwhile, as Shirley had not resigned his +office, Lieutenant-Governor Phips acted as chief +magistrate in his stead.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page133">[pg 133]</span> +<a name="Pg133" id="Pg133" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc59" id="toc59"></a><a name="pdf60" id="pdf60"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IX</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the early twilight of Thanksgiving eve, came +Laurence, and Clara, and Charley, and little Alice, +hand in hand, and stood in a semi-circle round Grandfather's +chair. They had been joyous, throughout +that day of festivity, mingling together in all kinds +of play, so that the house had echoed with their airy +mirth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather, too, had been happy, though not +mirthful. He felt that this was to be set down as +one of the good Thanksgivings of his life. In truth, +all his former Thanksgivings had borne their part in +the present one; for, his years of infancy, and youth, +and manhood with their blessings and their griefs, +had flitted before him, while he sat silently in the +great chair. Vanished scenes had been pictured in +the air. The forms of departed friends had visited +him. Voices, to be heard no more on earth, had +sent an echo from the infinite and the eternal. +These shadows, if such they were, seemed almost as +real to him, as what was actually present—as the +merry shouts and laughter of the children—as their +figures, dancing like sunshine before his eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He felt that the past was not taken from him. +The happiness of former days was a possession forever. +And there was something in the mingled +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page134">[pg 134]</span> +<a name="Pg134" id="Pg134" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sorrow of his lifetime, that became akin to happiness, +after being long treasured in the depths of his heart. +There it underwent a change, and grew more precious +than pure gold.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now came the children, somewhat aweary with +their wild play, and sought the quiet enjoyment of +Grandfather's talk. The good old gentleman rubbed +his eyes, and smiled round upon them all. He was +glad, as most aged people are, to find that he was +yet of consequence, and could give pleasure to the +world. After being so merry, all day long, did +these children desire to hear his sober talk? Oh, +then, old Grandfather had yet a place to fill among +living men,—or at least among boys and girls!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Begin quick, Grandfather," cried little Alice; +"for Pussy wants to hear you."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And, truly, our yellow friend, the cat, lay upon +the hearth rug, basking in the warmth of the fire, +pricking up her ears, and turning her head from the +children to Grandfather, and from Grandfather to +the children, as if she felt herself very sympathetic +with them all. A loud purr, like the singing of a +tea-kettle, or the hum of a spinning-wheel, testified +that she was as comfortable and happy as a cat could +be. For Puss had feasted, and therefore, like Grandfather +and the children, had kept a good Thanksgiving.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Does Pussy want to hear me?" said Grandfather, +smiling. "Well; we must please Pussy, if +we can!" +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page135">[pg 135]</span> +<a name="Pg135" id="Pg135" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so he took up the history of the chair, from +the epoch of the peace of 1748. By one of the +provisions of the treaty, Louisbourg, which the New +Englanders had been at so much pains to take, was +restored to the king of France.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The French were afraid, that, unless their colonies +should be better defended than heretofore, +another war might deprive them of the whole. Almost +as soon as peace was declared, therefore, they +began to build strong fortifications in the interior of +North America. It was strange to behold these +warlike castles, on the banks of solitary lakes, and +far in the midst of woods. The Indian, paddling +his birch-canoe on Lake Champlain, looked up at the +high ramparts of Ticonderoga, stone piled on stone, +bristling with cannon, and the white flag of France +floating above. There were similar fortifications on +Lake Ontario, and near the great Falls of Niagara, +and at the sources of the Ohio River. And all +around these forts and castles lay the eternal +forest; and the roll of the drum died away in those +deep solitudes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The truth was, that the French intended to build +forts, all the way from Canada to Louisiana. They +would then have had a wall of military strength, +at the back of the English settlements, so as completely +to hem them in. The king of England +considered the building of these forts as a sufficient +cause of war, which was accordingly commenced in +1754. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page136">[pg 136]</span> +<a name="Pg136" id="Pg136" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Governor Shirley," said Grandfather, "had returned +to Boston in 1753. While in Paris, he had +married a second wife, a young French girl, and +now brought her to the Province House. But, when +war was breaking out, it was impossible for such a +bustling man to stay quietly at home, sitting in our +old chair, with his wife and children round about him. +He therefore obtained a command in the English +forces."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And what did Sir William Pepperell do?" +asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He staid at home," said Grandfather, "and was +general of the militia. The veteran regiments of the +English army, which were now sent across the Atlantic, +would have scorned to fight under the orders +of an old American merchant. And now began what +aged people call the Old French War. It would be +going too far astray from the history of our chair, to +tell you one half of the battles that were fought. I +cannot even allow myself to describe the bloody defeat +of General Braddock, near the sources of the +Ohio River, in 1755. But, I must not omit to mention, +that when the English general was mortally +wounded, and his army routed, the remains of it +were preserved by the skill and valor of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">George +Washington</span></span>."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the mention of this illustrious name, the children +started, as if a sudden sunlight had gleamed +upon the history of their country, now that the +great Deliverer had arisen above the horizon. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page137">[pg 137]</span> +<a name="Pg137" id="Pg137" class="tei tei-anchor"></a></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Among all the events of the Old French War, +Grandfather thought that there was none more interesting +than the removal of the inhabitants of Acadia. +From the first settlement of this ancient province of +the French, in 1604, until the present time, its people +could scarcely ever know what kingdom held +dominion over them. They were a peaceful race, +taking no delight in warfare, and caring nothing for +military renown. And yet, in every war, their +region was infested with iron-hearted soldiers, both +French and English, who fought one another for the +privilege of ill treating these poor harmless Acadians. +Sometimes the treaty of peace made them +subjects of one king, sometimes of another.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the peace of 1748, Acadia had been ceded to +England. But the French still claimed a large +portion of it, and built forts for its defence. In +1755, these forts were taken, and the whole of +Acadia was conquered, by three thousand men from +Massachusetts, under the command of General Winslow. +The inhabitants were accused of supplying +the French with provisions, and of doing other +things that violated their neutrality.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"These accusations were probably true," observed +Grandfather; "for the Acadians were descended +from the French, and had the same friendly +feelings towards them, that the people of Massachusetts +had for the English. But their punishment +was severe. The English determined to tear these +poor people from their native homes and scatter +them abroad."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Acadians were about seven thousand in number. +A considerable part of them were made prisoners, +and transported to the English colonies. All +their dwellings and churches were burnt, their cattle +were killed, and the whole country was laid +waste, so that none of them might find shelter or +food in their old homes, after the departure of the +English. One thousand of the prisoners were sent +to Massachusetts; and Grandfather allowed his +fancy to follow them thither, and tried to give his +auditors an idea of their situation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">We shall call this passage the story of</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc61" id="toc61"></a><a name="pdf62" id="pdf62"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE ACADIAN EXILES</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A sad day it was for the poor Acadians, when +the armed soldiers drove them, at the point of the +bayonet, down to the sea-shore. Very sad were +they, likewise, while tossing upon the ocean, in the +crowded transport vessels. But, methinks, it must +have been sadder still, when they were landed on +the Long Wharf, in Boston, and left to themselves, +on a foreign strand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then, probably, they huddled together, and +looked into one another's faces for the comfort +which was not there. Hitherto, they had been confined +on board of separate vessels, so that they +could not tell whether their relatives and friends +were prisoners along with them. But, now, at +least, they could tell that many had been left behind, +or transported to other regions.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now, a desolate wife might be heard calling for +her husband. He, alas! had gone, she knew not +whither, or perhaps had fled into the woods of Acadia, +and had now returned to weep over the ashes +of their dwelling. An aged widow was crying out, +in a querulous, lamentable tone, for her son, whose +affectionate toil had supported her for many a year. +He was not in the crowd of exiles; and what could +this aged widow do but sink down and die? Young +men and maidens, whose hearts had been torn asunder +by separation, had hoped, during the voyage, +to meet their beloved ones at its close. Now, they +began to feel that they were separated forever. +And, perhaps, a lonesome little girl, a golden-haired +child of five years old, the very picture of our little +Alice, was weeping and wailing for her mother, and +found not a soul to give her a kind word.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Oh, how many broken bonds of affection were +here! Country lost!—friends lost!—their rural +wealth of cottage, field, and herds, all lost together! +Every tie between these poor exiles and the world +seemed to be cut off at once. They must have +regretted that they had not died before their exile; +for even the English would not have been so pitiless +as to deny them graves in their native soil. The +dead were happy; for they were not exiles!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While they thus stood upon the wharf, the curiosity +and inquisitiveness of the New England people +would naturally lead them into the midst of the +poor Acadians. Prying busy-bodies thrust their +heads into the circle, wherever two or three of the +exiles were conversing together. How puzzled did +they look, at the outlandish sound of the French +tongue! There were seen the New England +women, too. They had just come out of their warm, +safe homes, where every thing was regular and comfortable, +and where their husbands and children +would be with them at night-fall. Surely, they +could pity the wretched wives and mothers of Acadia! +Or, did the sign of the cross, which the Acadians +continually made upon their breasts, and +which was abhorred by the descendants of the Puritans—did +that sign exclude all pity?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Among the spectators, too, was the noisy brood +of Boston school-boys, who came running, with +laughter and shouts, to gaze at this crowd of oddly +dressed foreigners. At first they danced and capered +around them, full of merriment and mischief. +But the despair of the Acadians soon had its effect +upon these thoughtless lads, and melted them into +tearful sympathy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At a little distance from the throng, might be +seen the wealthy and pompous merchants, whose +warehouses stood on Long Wharf. It was difficult +to touch these rich men's hearts; for they had all +the comforts of the world at their command; and +when they walked abroad, their feelings were seldom +moved, except by the roughness of the pavement, +irritating their gouty toes. Leaning upon +their gold-headed canes, they watched the scene +with an aspect of composure. But, let us hope, +they distributed some of their superfluous coin +among these hapless exiles, to purchase food and a +night's lodging.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After standing a long time at the end of the +wharf, gazing seaward, as if to catch a glimpse of +their lost Acadia, the strangers began to stray into +the town.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They went, we will suppose, in parties and groups, +here a hundred, there a score, there ten, there +three or four, who possessed some bond of unity +among themselves. Here and there was one, who, +utterly desolate, stole away by himself, seeking no +companionship.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Whither did they go? I imagine them wandering +about the streets, telling the town's-people, in +outlandish, unintelligible words, that no earthly +affliction ever equalled what had befallen them. +Man's brotherhood with man was sufficient to make +the New Englanders understand this language. +The strangers wanted food. Some of them sought +hospitality at the doors of the stately mansions, +which then stood in the vicinity of Hanover Street +and the North Square. Others were applicants at +the humble wooden tenements, where dwelt the +petty shop-keepers and mechanics. Pray Heaven, +that no family in Boston turned one of these poor +exiles from their door! It would be a reproach +upon New England—a crime worthy of heavy +retribution—if the aged women and children, or +even the strong men, were allowed to feel the pinch +of hunger.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Perhaps some of the Acadians, in their aimless +wanderings through the town, found themselves near +a large brick edifice, which was fenced in from the +street by an iron railing, wrought with fantastic +figures. They saw a flight of red freestone steps, +ascending to a portal, above which was a balcony +and balustrade. Misery and desolation give men +the right of free passage everywhere. Let us suppose, +then, that they mounted the flight of steps, +and passed into the Province House. Making their +way into one of the apartments, they beheld a richly +clad gentleman, seated in a stately chair, with gilding +upon the carved work of its back, and a gilded +lion's head at the summit. This was Governor +Shirley, meditating upon matters of war and state, +in Grandfather's chair!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If such an incident did happen, Shirley, reflecting +what a ruin of peaceful and humble hopes had +been wrought by the cold policy of the statesman, +and the iron hand of the warrior, might have drawn +a deep moral from it. It should have taught him +that the poor man's hearth is sacred, and that +armies and nations have no right to violate it. It +should have made him feel, that England's triumph, +and increased dominion, could not compensate to +mankind, nor atone to Heaven, for the ashes of a +single Acadian cottage. But it is not thus that +statesmen and warriors moralize.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," cried Laurence, with emotion +trembling in his voice, "did iron-hearted War itself +ever do so hard and cruel a thing as this before?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You have rend in history, Laurence, of whole +regions wantonly laid waste," said Grandfather. +"In the removal of the Acadians, the troops were +guilty of no cruelty or outrage, except what was +inseparable from the measure."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Little Alice, whose eyes had, all along, been brimming +full of tears, now burst forth a-sobbing; for +Grandfather had touched her sympathies more than +he intended.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"To think of a whole people, homeless in the +world!" said Clara, with moistened eyes. "There +never was any thing so sad!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was their own fault," cried Charley, energetically. +"Why did not they fight for the country +where they were born? Then, if the worst had +happened to them they could only have been killed +and buried there. They would not have been exiles +then!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Certainly, their lot was as hard as death," said +Grandfather. "All that could be done for them, in +the English provinces, was to send them to the alms-houses, +or bind them out to task-masters. And this +was the fate of persons, who had possessed a comfortable +property in their native country. Some of +them found means to embark for France; but though +it was the land of their forefathers, it must have been +a foreign land to them. Those, who remained behind, +always cherished a belief, that the king of +France would never make peace with England, till +his poor Acadians were restored their country and +their homes."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And did he?" inquired Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Alas, my dear Clara," said Grandfather, "it +is improbable that the slightest whisper of the woes +of Acadia ever reached the ears of Louis the Fifteenth. +The exiles grew old in the British provinces, +and never saw Acadia again. Their descendants +remain among us, to this day. They have forgotten +the language of their ancestors, and probably retain +no tradition of their misfortunes. But, methinks, if +I were an American poet, I would choose Acadia +for the subject of my song."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Since Grandfather first spoke these words, the +most famous of American poets has drawn sweet +tears from all of us, by his beautiful poem of Evangeline.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now, having thrown a gentle gloom around +the Thanksgiving fire-side, by a story that made the +children feel the blessing of a secure and peaceful +hearth, Grandfather put off the other events of the +Old French War till the next evening.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc63" id="toc63"></a><a name="pdf64" id="pdf64"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter X</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the twilight of the succeeding eve, when the +red beams of the fire were dancing upon the wall, +the children besought Grandfather to tell them what +had next happened to the old chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Our chair," said Grandfather, "stood all this +time in the Province House. But, Governor Shirley +had seldom an opportunity to repose within its +arms. He was loading his troops through the forest, +or sailing in a flat-boat on Lake Ontario, or sleeping +in his tent, while the awful cataract of Niagara sent +its roar through his dreams. At one period, in the +early part of the war, Shirley had the chief command +of all the king's forces in America."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did his young wife go with him to the war?" +asked Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I rather imagine," replied Grandfather, "that +she remained in Boston. This lady, I suppose, had +our chair all to herself, and used to sit in it, during +those brief intervals when a young French woman +can be quiet enough to sit in a chair. The people +of Massachusetts were never fond of Governor Shirley's +young French wife. They had a suspicion that +she betrayed the military plans of the English to the +generals of the French armies."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And was it true?" inquired Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Probably not," said Grandfather. "But the +mere suspicion did Shirley a great deal of harm. +Partly, perhaps, for this reason, but much more on +account of his inefficiency as a general, he was deprived +of his command, in 1756, and recalled to +England. He never afterwards made any figure in +public life."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Grandfather's chair had no locomotive properties, +and did not even run on castors, it cannot be +supposed to have marched in person to the Old +French War. But Grandfather delayed its momentous +history, while he touched briefly upon some of +the bloody battles, sieges, and onslaughts, the tidings +of which kept continually coming to the ears of the +old inhabitants of Boston. The woods of the north +were populous with fighting men. All the Indian +tribes uplifted their tomahawks, and took part either +with the French or English. The rattle of musketry +and roar of cannon disturbed the ancient quiet of the +forest, and actually drove the bears and other wild +beasts to the more cultivated portion of the country +in the vicinity of the sea-ports. The children felt as +if they were transported back to those forgotten +times, and that the couriers from the army, with the +news of a battle lost or won, might even now be +heard galloping through the streets. Grandfather +told them about the battle of Lake George, in 1755, +when the gallant Colonel Williams, a Massachusetts +officer, was slain, with many of his countrymen. +But General Johnson and General Lyman, with their +army, drove back the enemy, and mortally wounded +the French leader, who was called the Baron Dieskau. +A gold watch, pilfered from the poor Baron, is still +in existence, and still marks each moment of time, +without complaining of weariness, although its hands +have been in motion ever since the hour of battle.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the first years of the war, there were many +disasters on the English side. Among these was +the loss of Fort Oswego, in 1756, and of Fort William +Henry, in the following year. But the greatest +misfortune that befell the English, during the whole +war, was the repulse of General Abercrombie, with +his army, from the ramparts of Ticonderoga, in +1758. He attempted to storm the walls; but a +terrible conflict ensued, in which more than two +thousand Englishmen and New Englanders were +killed or wounded. The slain soldiers now lie buried +around that ancient fortress. When the plough +passes over the soil, it turns up here and there a +mouldering bone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Up to this period, none of the English generals +had shown any military talent. Shirley, the Earl +of Loudon, and General Abercrombie, had each held +the chief command, at different times; but not one +of them had won a single important triumph for the +British arms. This ill success was not owing to the +want of means; for, in 1758, General Abercrombie +had fifty thousand soldiers under his command. But +the French general, the famous Marquis de Montcalm, +possessed a great genius for war, and had +something within him, that taught him how battles +were to be won.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At length, in 1759, Sir Jeffrey Amherst was appointed +commander-in-chief of all the British forces +in America. He was a man of ability, and a skilful +soldier. A plan was now formed for accomplishing +that object, which had so long been the darling wish +of the New Englanders, and which their fathers had +so many times attempted. This was the conquest +of Canada.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Three separate armies were to enter Canada, from +different quarters. One of the three, commanded +by General Prideaux, was to embark on Lake Ontario, +and proceed to Montreal. The second, at the +head of which was Sir Jeffrey Amherst himself, was +destined to reach the River St. Lawrence, by the +way of Lake Champlain, and then go down the river +to meet the third army. This last, led by General +Wolfe, was to enter the St. Lawrence from the sea, +and ascend the river to Quebec. It is to Wolfe and +his army that England owes one of the most splendid +triumphs, ever written in her history.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather described the siege of Quebec, and +told how Wolfe led his soldiers up a rugged and +lofty precipice, that rose from the shore of the river +to the plain on which the city stood. This bold adventure +was achieved in the darkness of night. At +day-break, tidings were carried to the Marquis de +Montcalm, that the English army was waiting to give +him battle on the plains of Abraham. This brave +French general ordered his drums to strike up, and +immediately marched to encounter Wolfe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He marched to his own death. The battle was +the most fierce and terrible, that had ever been +fought in America. General Wolfe was at the head +of his soldiers, and while encouraging them onward, +received a mortal wound. He reclined against a +stone, in the agonies of death; but it seemed as if +his spirit could not pass away, while the fight yet +raged so doubtfully. Suddenly, a shout came pealing +across the battle-field—"They flee! they flee!" +and, for a moment, Wolfe lifted his languid head. +"Who flee?" he inquired. "The French," replied +an officer. "Then I die satisfied!" said Wolfe, and +expired in the arms of victory.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"If ever a warrior's death were glorious, Wolfe's +was so!" said Grandfather; and his eye kindled, +though he was a man of peaceful thoughts, and gentle +spirit. "His life-blood streamed to baptize the soil +which he had added to the dominion of Britain! +His dying breath was mingled with his army's shout +of victory!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, it was a good death to die!" cried Charley, +with glistening eyes. "Was it not a good death, +Laurence?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Laurence made no reply; for his heart burned +within him, as the picture of Wolfe, dying on the +blood-stained field of victory, arose to his imagination; +and yet, he had a deep inward consciousness, +that, after all, there was a truer glory than could +thus be won.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There were other battles in Canada, after Wolfe's +victory," resumed Grandfather; "but we may consider +the Old French War as having terminated with +this great event. The treaty of peace, however, was +not signed until 1763. The terms of the treaty +were very disadvantageous to the French; for all +Canada, and all Acadia, and the island of Cape +Breton, in short, all the territories that France +and England had been fighting about, for nearly +a hundred years—were surrendered to the English."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"So, now, at last," said Laurence, "New England +had gained her wish. Canada was taken!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And now there was nobody to fight with, but +the Indians," said Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather mentioned two other important +events. The first was the great fire of Boston, +in 1700, when the glare from nearly three hundred +buildings, all in flames at once, shone through the +windows of the Province House, and threw a fierce +lustre upon the gilded foliage and lion's head of our +old chair. The second event was the proclamation, +in the same year, of George the Third as king of +Great Britain. The blast of the trumpet sounded +from the balcony of the Town House, and awoke the +echoes far and wide, as if to challenge all mankind +to dispute King George's title.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Seven times, as the successive monarchs of Britain +ascended the throne, the trumpet-peal of proclamation +had been heard by those who sat in our venerable +chair. But, when the next king put on his +father's crown, no trumpet-peal proclaimed it to +New England! Long before that day, America had +shaken off the royal government.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc65" id="toc65"></a><a name="pdf66" id="pdf66"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter XI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now that Grandfather had fought through the +Old French War, in which our chair made no very +distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell +the children some of the more private history of that +praiseworthy old piece of furniture.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"In 1757," said Grandfather, "after Shirley +had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall +was appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was +a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had +spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable +acquaintance with America. The new governor +appears to have taken no active part in the +war that was going on; although, at one period, he +talked of marching against the enemy, at the head +of his company of cadets. But, on the whole, he +probably concluded that it was more befitting a +governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the +newspapers and official documents."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did the people like Pownall?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They found no fault with him," replied Grandfather. +"It was no time to quarrel with the governor, +when the utmost harmony was required, in +order to defend the country against the French. +But Pownall did not remain long in Massachusetts. +In 1759, he was sent to be governor of South Carolina. +In thus exchanging one government for +another, I suppose he felt no regret, except at the +necessity of leaving Grandfather's chair behind +him."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He might have taken it to South Carolina," +observed Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It appears to me," said Laurence, giving the +rein to his fancy, "that the fate of this ancient +chair was, somehow or other, mysteriously connected +with the fortunes of old Massachusetts. If Governor +Pownall had put it aboard the vessel in which he +sailed for South Carolina, she would probably have +lain wind-bound in Boston harbor. It was ordained +that the chair should not be taken away. Don't you +think so, Grandfather?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was kept here for Grandfather and me to sit +in together," said little Alice, "and for Grandfather +to tell stories about."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And Grandfather is very glad of such a companion, +and such a theme," said the old gentleman, +with a smile. "Well, Laurence, if our oaken chair, +like the wooden Palladium of Troy, was connected +with the country's fate, yet there appears to have +been no supernatural obstacle to its removal from +the Province House. In 1760, Sir Francis Bernard, +who had been governor of New Jersey, was +appointed to the same office in Massachusetts. +He looked at the old chair, and thought it quite too +shabby to keep company with a new set of mahogany +chairs, and an aristocratic sofa, which had just arrived +from London. He therefore ordered it to be +put away in the garret."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The children were loud in their exclamations +against this irreverent conduct of Sir Francis Bernard. +But Grandfather defended him, as well as +he could. He observed, that it was then thirty years +since the chair had been beautified by Governor +Belcher. Most of the gilding was worn off by the +frequent scourings which it had undergone, beneath +the hands of a black slave. The damask cushion, +once so splendid, was now squeezed out of all shape, +and absolutely in tatters, so many were the ponderous +gentlemen who had deposited their weight upon +it, during these thirty years.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Moreover, at a council held by the Earl of Loudon +with the governors of New England, in 1757, +his lordship, in a moment of passion, had kicked over +the chair with his military boot. By this unprovoked +and unjustifiable act, our venerable friend +had suffered a fracture of one of its rungs.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But," said Grandfather, "our chair, after all, +was not destined to spend the remainder of its days +in the inglorious obscurity of a garret. Thomas +Hutchinson, lieutenant-governor of the province, was +told of Sir Francis Bernard's design. This gentleman +was more familiar with the history of New +England than any other man alive. He knew all +the adventures and vicissitudes through which the +old chair had passed, and could have told, as accurately +as your own Grandfather, who were the personages +that had occupied it. Often, while visiting +at the Province House, he had eyed the chair with +admiration, and felt a longing desire to become the +possessor of it. He now waited upon Sir Francis +Bernard, and easily obtained leave to carry it +home."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And I hope," said Clara, "he had it varnished +and gilded anew."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No," answered Grandfather. "What Mr. +Hutchinson desired was to restore the chair, as +much as possible, to its original aspect, such as it +had appeared, when it was first made out of the Earl +of Lincoln's oak-tree. For this purpose he ordered +it to be well scoured with soap and sand and polished +with wax, and then provided it with a substantial +leather cushion. When all was completed to his +mind, he sat down in the old chair, and began to +write his History of Massachusetts."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, that was a bright thought in Mr. Hutchinson!" +exclaimed Laurence. "And, no doubt, the +dim figures of the former possessors of the chair +flitted around him, as he wrote, and inspired him +with a knowledge of all that they had done and +suffered while on earth."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, my dear Laurence," replied Grandfather, +smiling, "if Mr. Hutchinson was favored with any +such extraordinary inspiration, he made but a poor +use of it in his History; for a duller piece of composition +never came from any man's pen. However, +he was accurate, at least, though far from possessing +the brilliancy or philosophy of Mr. Bancroft."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, if Hutchinson knew the history of the +chair," rejoined Laurence, "his heart must have +been stirred by it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It must, indeed," said Grandfather. "It would +be entertaining and instructive, at the present day, +to imagine what were Mr. Hutchinson's thoughts, as +he looked back upon the long vista of events with +which this chair was so remarkably connected."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And Grandfather allowed his fancy to shape out +an image of Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, sitting +in an evening reverie by his fireside, and meditating +on the changes that had slowly passed around the +chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A devoted monarchist, Hutchinson would heave +no sigh for the subversion of the original republican +government, the purest that the world had seen, +with which the colony began its existence. While +reverencing the grim and stern old Puritans as the +founders of his native land, he would not wish to +recall them from their graves, nor to awaken again +that king-resisting spirit, which he imagined to be +laid asleep with them forever. Winthrop, Dudley, +Bellingham, Endicott, Leverett, and Bradstreet! +All these had had their day. Ages might come and +go, but never again would the people's suffrages +place a republican governor in their ancient Chair +of State!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Coming down to the epoch of the second charter, +Hutchinson thought of the ship-carpenter Phips, +springing from the lowest of the people, and attaining +to the loftiest station in the land. But, he +smiled to perceive that this governor's example +would awaken no turbulent ambition in the lower +orders, for it was a king's gracious boon alone that +made the ship-carpenter a ruler. Hutchinson rejoiced +to mark the gradual growth of an aristocratic +class, to whom the common people, as in duty bound, +were learning humbly to resign the honors, emoluments, +and authority of state. He saw,—or else +deceived himself—that, throughout this epoch, the +people's disposition to self-government had been +growing weaker, through long disuse, and now existed +only as a faint traditionary feeling.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Lieutenant-Governor's reverie had now come +down to the period at which he himself was sitting in +the historic chair. He endeavored to throw his +glance forward, over the coming years. There, +probably, he saw visions of hereditary rank, for himself +and other aristocratic colonists. He saw the +fertile fields of New England, portioned out among +a few great landholders, and descending by entail +from generation to generation. He saw the people +a race of tenantry, dependent on their lords. He +saw stars, garters, coronets, and castles.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But," added Grandfather, turning to Laurence, +"the Lieutenant-Governor's castles were built nowhere +but among the red embers of the fire, before +which he was sitting. And, just as he had constructed +a baronial residence for himself and his posterity, +the fire rolled down upon the hearth, and +crumbled it to ashes!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather now looked at his watch, which hung +within a beautiful little ebony Temple, supported by +four Ionic columns. He then laid his hand on the +golden locks of little Alice, whose head had sunk +down upon the arm of our illustrious chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"To bed, to bed, dear child!" said he. "Grandfather +has put you to sleep, already, by his stories +about these <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Famous Old People</span></span>!"</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc67" id="toc67"></a><a name="pdf68" id="pdf68"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Part III</span></h1> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc69" id="toc69"></a><a name="pdf70" id="pdf70"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter I</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the evening of New Year's day, Grandfather +was walking to and fro, across the carpet, listening +to the rain which beat hard against the curtained +windows. The riotous blast shook the casement, as +if a strong man were striving to force his entrance +into the comfortable room. With every puff of the +wind, the fire leaped upward from the hearth, +laughing and rejoicing at the shrieks of the wintry +storm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meanwhile, Grandfather's chair stood in its customary +place by the fireside. The bright blaze +gleamed upon the fantastic figures of its oaken back, +and shone through the open-work, so that a complete +pattern was thrown upon the opposite side of +the room. Sometimes, for a moment or two, the +shadow remained immovable, as if it were painted +on the wall. Then, all at once, it began to quiver, +and leap, and dance, with a frisky motion. Anon, +seeming to remember that these antics were unworthy +of such a dignified and venerable chair, it suddenly +stood still. But soon it began to dance anew.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Only see how grandfather's chair is dancing!" +cried little Alice.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And she ran to the wall, and tried to catch hold +of the flickering shadow; for to children of five +years old, a shadow seems almost as real as a substance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I wish," said Clara, "Grandfather would sit +down in the chair, and finish its history."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If the children had been looking at Grandfather, +they would have noticed that he paused in his walk +across the room, when Clara made this remark. +The kind old gentleman was ready and willing to +resume his stories of departed times. But he had +resolved to wait till his auditors should request him +to proceed, in order that they might find the instructive +history of the chair a pleasure, and not a +task.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said Charley, "I am tired to +death of this dismal rain, and of hearing the wind +roar in the chimney. I have had no good time all +day. It would be better to hear stories about the +chair, than to sit doing nothing, and thinking of +nothing."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To say the truth, our friend Charley was very +much out of humor with the storm, because it had +kept him all day within doors, and hindered him from +making trial of a splendid sled, which Grandfather +had given him for a New Year's gift. As all sleds, +now-a-days, must have a name, the one in question +had been honored with the title of Grandfather's +Chair, which was painted in golden letters, on each +of the sides. Charley greatly admired the construction +of the new vehicle, and felt certain that it +would outstrip any other sled that ever dashed +adown the long slopes of the Common.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As for Laurence, he happened to be thinking, +just at this moment, about the history of the chair. +Kind old Grandfather had made him a present of a +volume of engraved portraits, representing the features +of eminent and famous people of all countries. +Among them Laurence found several who had formerly +occupied our chair, or been connected with +its adventures. While Grandfather walked to and +fro across the room, the imaginative boy was gazing +at the historic chair. He endeavored to summon +up the portraits which he had seen in his volume, +and to place them, like living figures, in the empty +seat.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The old chair has begun another year of its +existence, to-day," said Laurence. "We must +make haste, or it will have a new history to be told +before we finish the old one."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, my children," replied Grandfather, with a +smile and a sigh, "another year has been added to +those of the two centuries, and upward, which have +passed since the Lady Arbella brought this chair +over from England. It is three times as old as +your Grandfather; but a year makes no impression +on its oaken frame, while it bends the old man +nearer and nearer to the earth; so let me go on +with my stories while I may."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Accordingly, Grandfather came to the fireside, +and seated himself in the venerable chair. The +lion's head looked down with a grimly good-natured +aspect, as the children clustered around the old +gentleman's knees. It almost seemed as if a real +lion were peeping over the back of the chair, and +smiling at the group of auditors, with a sort of lion-like +complaisance. Little Alice, whose fancy often +inspired her with singular ideas, exclaimed that the +lion's head was nodding at her, and that it looked +as if it were going to open its wide jaws and tell a +story.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, as the lion's head appeared to be in no +haste to speak, and as there was no record or tradition +of its having spoken, during the whole existence +of the chair, Grandfather did not consider it +worth while to wait.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc71" id="toc71"></a><a name="pdf72" id="pdf72"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter II</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Charley, my boy," said Grandfather, "do +you remember who was the last occupant of the +chair?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson," answered +Charley. "Sir Francis Bernard, the new +governor, had given him the chair, instead of putting +it away in the garret of the Province House. +And when we took leave of Hutchinson, he was sitting +by his fireside, and thinking of the past adventures +of the chair, and of what was to come."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Very well," said Grandfather; "and you +recollect that this was in 1763, or thereabouts, at +the close of the Old French War. Now, that you +may fully comprehend the remaining adventures of +the chair, I must make some brief remarks on the +situation and character of the New England colonies +at this period."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Grandfather spoke of the earnest loyalty of +our fathers during the Old French War, and after +the conquest of Canada had brought that war to a +triumphant close.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The people loved and reverenced the king of +England, even more than if the ocean had not rolled +its waves between him and them; for, at the distance +of three thousand miles, they could not discover +his bad qualities and imperfections. Their +love was increased by the dangers which they had +encountered in order to heighten his glory and +extend his dominion. Throughout the war, the +American colonists had fought side by side with the +soldiers of Old England; and nearly thirty thousand +young men had laid down their lives for the +honor of King George. And the survivors loved +him the better, because they had done and suffered +so much for his sake.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, there were some circumstances, that caused +America to feel more independent of England than +at an earlier period. Canada and Acadia had now +become British provinces; and our fathers were no +longer afraid of the bands of French and Indians, +who used to assault them in old times. For a century +and a half this had been the great terror of +New England. Now, the old French soldier was +driven from the north forever. And, even had it +been otherwise the English colonies were growing +so populous and powerful, that they might have felt +fully able to protect themselves without any help +from England.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were thoughtful and sagacious men, who +began to doubt, whether a great country like America, +would always be content to remain under the +government of an island three thousand miles away. +This was the more doubtful, because the English +Parliament had long ago made laws which were +intended to be very beneficial to England, at the +expense of America. By these laws, the colonists +were forbidden to manufacture articles for their +own use, or to carry on trade with any nation but +the English.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now," continued Grandfather, "if King George +the Third and his counsellors had considered these +things wisely, they would have taken another course +than they did. But, when they saw how rich and +populous the colonies had grown, their first thought +was, how they might make more profit out of them +than heretofore. England was enormously in debt, +at the close of the Old French War, and it was pretended, +that this debt had been contracted for the +defence of the American colonies, and that therefore +a part of it ought to be paid by them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, this was nonsense," exclaimed Charley; +"did not our fathers spend their lives and their +money too, to get Canada for King George?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"True, they did," said Grandfather; "and they +told the English rulers so. But the king and his +ministers would not listen to good advice. In 1765, +the British Parliament passed a Stamp Act."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What was that?" inquired Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The Stamp Act," replied Grandfather, "was a +law by which all deeds, bonds, and other papers of +the same kind, were ordered to be marked with the +king's stamp; and without this mark, they were +declared illegal and void. Now, in order to get a +blank sheet of paper, with the king's stamp upon it, +people were obliged to pay three pence more than +the actual value of the paper. And this extra sum +of three pence was a tax, and was to be paid into +the king's treasury."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am sure three pence was not worth quarrelling +about!" remarked Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was not for three pence, nor for any amount +of money, that America quarrelled with England," +replied Grandfather; "it was for a great principle. +The colonists were determined not to be taxed, +except by their own representatives. They said +that neither the king and Parliament nor any other +power on earth, had a right to take their money out +of their pockets, unless they freely gave it. And, +rather than pay three pence when it was unjustly +demanded, they resolved to sacrifice all the wealth +of the country, and their lives along with it. They +therefore made a most stubborn resistance to the +Stamp Act."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That was noble!" exclaimed Laurence. "I +understand how it was. If they had quietly paid +this tax of three pence, they would have ceased to +be freemen, and would have become tributaries of +England. And so they contended about a great +question of right and wrong, and put every thing at +stake for it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You are right, Laurence," said Grandfather; +"and it was really amazing and terrible to see what +a change came over the aspect of the people, the +moment the English Parliament had passed this +oppressive act. The former history of our chair, +my children, has given you some idea of what a +harsh, unyielding, stern set of men the old Puritans +were. For a good many years back, however, it +had seemed as if these characteristics were disappearing. +But no sooner did England offer wrong +to the colonies, than the descendants of the early +settlers proved that they had the same kind of temper +as their forefathers. The moment before, New +England appeared like an humble and loyal subject +of the crown; the next instant, she showed the +grim, dark features of an old king-resisting Puritan."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather spoke briefly of the public measures +that were taken in opposition to the Stamp Act. +As this law affected all the American colonies alike, +it naturally led them to think of consulting together +in order to procure its repeal. For this purpose, +the legislature of Massachusetts proposed that delegates +from every colony should meet in Congress. +Accordingly nine colonies, both northern and southern, +sent delegates to the city of New York.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And did they consult about going to war with +England?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, Charley," answered Grandfather; "a +great deal of talking was yet to be done, before +England and America could come to blows. The +Congress stated the rights and the grievances of the +colonists. They sent an humble petition to the +king, and a memorial to the Parliament, beseeching +that the Stamp Act might be repealed. This +was all that the delegates had it in their power to +do."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They might as well have staid at home, then," +said Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"By no means," replied Grandfather. "It was +a most important and memorable event—this first +coming together of the American people, by their +representatives from the north and south. If England +had been wise, she would have trembled at the +first word that was spoken in such an assembly!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">These remonstrances and petitions, as Grandfather +observed, were the work of grave, thoughtful, and +prudent men. Meantime, the young and hot-headed +people went to work in their own way. It is probable +that the petitions of Congress would have had +little or no effect on the British statesmen, if the violent +deeds of the American people had not shown +how much excited the people were. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Liberty Tree</span></span> +was soon heard of in England.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What was Liberty Tree?" inquired Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was an old elm tree," answered Grandfather, +"which stood near the corner of Essex street, opposite +the Boylston market. Under the spreading +branches of this great tree, the people used to assemble, +whenever they wished to express their feelings +and opinions. Thus, after a while, it seemed as if +the liberty of the country was connected with Liberty +Tree."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was glorious fruit for a tree to bear," +remarked Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image03.png" width="480" height="552" alt="Image #3" /></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It bore strange fruit, sometimes," said Grandfather. +"One morning in August, 1765, two figures +were found hanging on the sturdy branches of Liberty +Tree. They were dressed in square-skirted +coats and small-clothes; and, as their wigs hung +down over their faces, they looked like real men. +One was intended to represent the Earl of Bute, +who was supposed to have advised the king to tax +America. The other was meant for the effigy of +Andrew Oliver, a gentleman belonging to one of the +most respectable families in Massachusetts."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What harm had he done?" inquired Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The king had appointed him to be distributor of +the stamps," answered Grandfather. "Mr. Oliver +would have made a great deal of money by this +business. But the people frightened him so much +by hanging him in effigy, and afterwards by breaking +into his house, that he promised to have nothing +to do with the stamps. And all the king's friends +throughout America were compelled to make the +same promise."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc73" id="toc73"></a><a name="pdf74" id="pdf74"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter III</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson," continued +Grandfather, "now began to be unquiet in our old +chair. He had formerly been much respected and +beloved by the people, and had often proved himself +a friend to their interests. But the time was come, +when he could not be a friend to the people, without +ceasing to be a friend to the king. It was pretty +generally understood, that Hutchinson would act +according to the king's wishes, right or wrong, +like most of the other gentlemen who held offices +under the crown. Besides, as he was brother-in-law +of Andrew Oliver, the people now felt a particular +dislike to him."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I should think," said Laurence, "as Mr. +Hutchinson had written the history of our Puritan +forefathers, he would have known what the temper +of the people was, and so have taken care not to +wrong them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He trusted in the might of the king of England," +replied Grandfather, "and thought himself +safe under the shelter of the throne. If no dispute +had arisen between the king and the people, Hutchinson +would have had the character of a wise, +good, and patriotic magistrate. But, from the time +that he took part against the rights of his country, +the people's love and respect were turned to scorn +and hatred; and he never had another hour of +peace."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In order to show what a fierce and dangerous +spirit was now aroused among the inhabitants, +Grandfather related a passage from history, which +we shall call</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc75" id="toc75"></a><a name="pdf76" id="pdf76"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE HUTCHINSON MOB</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the evening of the twenty-sixth of August, +1765, a bonfire was kindled in King Street. It +flamed high upward, and threw a ruddy light over +the front of the town house, on which was displayed +a carved representation of the royal arms. The +gilded vane of the cupola glittered in the blaze. +The kindling of this bonfire was the well known +signal for the populace of Boston to assemble in the +street.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Before the tar-barrels, of which the bonfire was +made, were half burnt out, a great crowd had come +together. They were chiefly laborers and seafaring +men, together with many young apprentices, and all +those idle people about town who are ready for any +kind of mischief. Doubtless some school-boys were +among them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While these rough figures stood round the blazing +bonfire, you might hear them speaking bitter words +against the high officers of the province. Governor +Bernard, Hutchinson, Oliver, Storey, Hallowell, and +other men whom King George delighted to honor, +were reviled as traitors to the country. Now and +then, perhaps, an officer of the crown passed along +the street, wearing the gold-laced hat, white wig, +and embroidered waistcoat, which were the fashion +of the day. But, when the people beheld him, they +set up a wild and angry howl, and their faces had +an evil aspect, which was made more terrible by the +flickering blaze of the bonfire.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I should like to throw the traitor right into that +blaze!" perhaps one fierce rioter would say.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes; and all his brethren too!" another might +reply; "and the governor and old Tommy Hutchinson +into the hottest of it!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And the Earl of Bute along with them," muttered +a third; "and burn the whole pack of them +under King George's nose! No matter if it singed +him!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Some such expressions as these, either shouted +aloud, or muttered under the breath, were doubtless +heard in King Street. The mob, meanwhile, were +growing fiercer, and fiercer, and seemed ready even +to set the town on fire, for the sake of burning the +king's friends out of house and home. And yet, +angry as they were, they sometimes broke into a loud +roar of laughter, as if mischief and destruction were +their sport.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But we must now leave the rioters for a time, and +take a peep into the lieutenant-governor's splendid +mansion. It was a large brick house, decorated +with Ionic pilasters, and stood in Garden Court +Street, near the North Square.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While the angry mob in King Street were shouting +his name, Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson sat +quietly in Grandfather's chair, unsuspicious of the +evil that was about to fall upon his head. His beloved +family were in the room with him. He had +thrown off his embroidered coat and powdered wig, +and had on a loose flowing gown and purple velvet +cap. He had likewise laid aside the cares of state, +and all the thoughts that had wearied and perplexed +him throughout the day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Perhaps, in the enjoyment of his home, he had +forgotten all about the Stamp Act, and scarcely remembered +that there was a king, across the ocean, +who had resolved to make tributaries of the New +Englanders. Possibly, too, he had forgotten his +own ambition, and would not have exchanged his +situation, at that moment, to be governor, or even a +lord.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The wax candles were now lighted, and showed a +handsome room, well provided with rich furniture. +On the walls hung the pictures of Hutchinson's ancestors, +who had been eminent men in their day, and +were honorably remembered in the history of the +country. Every object served to mark the residence +of a rich, aristocratic gentleman, who held himself +high above the common people, and could have nothing +to fear from them. In a corner of the room, +thrown carelessly upon a chair, were the scarlet +robes of the chief justice. This high office, as well +as those of lieutenant-governor, counsellor, and judge +of probate, was filled by Hutchinson.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Who or what could disturb the domestic quiet of +such a great and powerful personage as now sat in +Grandfather's chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The lieutenant-governor's favorite daughter sat +by his side. She leaned on the arm of our great +chair, and looked up affectionately into her father's +face, rejoicing to perceive that a quiet smile was on +his lips. But suddenly a shade came across her +countenance. She seemed to listen attentively, as +if to catch a distant sound.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What is the matter, my child?" inquired +Hutchinson.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Father, do not you hear a tumult in the +streets?" said she.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The lieutenant-governor listened. But his ears +were duller than those of his daughter; he could +hear nothing more terrible than the sound of a summer +breeze, sighing among the tops of the elm trees.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, foolish child!" he replied, playfully patting +her cheek. "There is no tumult. Our Boston +mobs are satisfied with what mischief they +have already done. The king's friends need not +tremble."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Hutchinson resumed his pleasant and peaceful +meditations, and again forgot that there were any +troubles in the world. But his family were alarmed, +and could not help straining their ears to catch the +slightest sound. More and more distinctly they +heard shouts, and then the trampling of many feet. +While they were listening, one of the neighbors +rushed breathless into the room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"A mob!—a terrible mob!" cried he: "they +have broken into Mr. Storey's house, and into Mr. +Hallowell's, and have made themselves drunk with +the liquors in his cellar, and now they are coming +hither, as wild as so many tigers. Flee, lieutenant-governor, +for your life! for your life!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Father, dear father, make haste!" shrieked his +children.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Hutchinson would not hearken to them. He +was an old lawyer; and he could not realize that +the people would do any thing so utterly lawless as +to assault him in his peaceful home. He was one of +King George's chief officers; and it would be an insult +and outrage upon the king himself, if the lieutenant-governor +should suffer any wrong.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Have no fears on my account," said he; "I +am perfectly safe. The king's name shall be my +protection."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yet he bade his family retire into one of the +neighboring houses. His daughter would have remained, +but he forced her away.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The huzzas and riotous uproar of the mob were +now heard, close at hand. The sound was terrible, +and struck Hutchinson with the same sort of dread +as if an enraged wild beast had broken loose, and +were roaring for its prey. He crept softly to the +window. There he beheld an immense concourse +of people, filling all the street, and rolling onward to +his house. It was like a tempestuous flood, that +had swelled beyond its bounds, and would sweep +every thing before it. Hutchinson trembled; he +felt, at that moment, that the wrath of the people +was a thousand-fold more terrible than the wrath of +a king.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">That was a moment when a loyalist and an aristocrat, +like Hutchinson, might have learned how powerless +are kings, nobles, and great men, when the +low and humble range themselves against them. +King George could do nothing for his servant now. +Had King George been there, he could have done +nothing for himself. If Hutchinson had understood +this lesson, and remembered it, he need not, in after +years, have been an exile from his native country, +nor finally have laid his bones in a distant land.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was now a rush against the doors of the +house. The people sent up a hoarse cry. At this +instant, the lieutenant-governor's daughter, whom +he had supposed to be in a place of safety, ran into +the room, and threw her arms around him. She +had returned by a private entrance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Father, are you mad!" cried she. "Will the +king's name protect you now? Come with me, or +they will have your life."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"True," muttered Hutchinson to himself; "what +care these roarers for the name of king? I must +flee, or they will trample me down, on the door of +my own dwelling!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hurrying away, he and his daughter made their +escape by the private passage, at the moment when +the rioters broke into the house. The foremost of +them rushed up the stair-case, and entered the room +which Hutchinson had just quitted. There they beheld +our good old chair, facing them with quiet dignity, +while the lion's head seemed to move its jaws +in the unsteady light of their torches. Perhaps the +stately aspect of our venerable friend, which had +stood firm through a century and a half of trouble, +arrested them for an instant. But they were thrust +forward by those behind, and the chair lay overthrown.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then began the work of destruction. The carved +and polished mahogany tables were shattered with +heavy clubs, and hewn to splinters with axes. The +marble hearths and mantel pieces were broken. The +volumes of Hutchinson's library, so precious to a +studious man, were torn out of their covers, and the +leaves sent flying out of the windows. Manuscripts, +containing secrets of our country's history, which are +now lost forever, were scattered to the winds.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The old ancestral portraits, whose fixed countenances +looked down on the wild scene, were rent +from the walls. The mob triumphed in their downfall +and destruction, as if these pictures of Hutchinson's +forefathers had committed the same offences as +their descendant. A tall looking-glass, which had +hitherto presented a reflection of the enraged and +drunken multitude, was now smashed into a thousand +fragments. We gladly dismiss the scene from the +mirror of our fancy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Before morning dawned, the walls of the house +were all that remained. The interior was a dismal +scene of ruin. A shower pattered in at the broken +windows, and when Hutchinson and his family +returned, they stood shivering in the same room, +where the last evening had seen them so peaceful +and happy.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said Laurence indignantly, "if +the people acted in this manner, they were not worthy +of even so much liberty as the king of England +was willing to allow them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was a most unjustifiable act, like many other +popular movements at that time," replied Grandfather. +"But we must not decide against the justice +of the people's cause, merely because an excited +mob was guilty of outrageous violence. Besides, all +these things were done in the first fury of resentment. +Afterwards, the people grew more calm, and +were more influenced by the counsel of those wise +and good men who conducted them safely and gloriously +through the Revolution."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Little Alice, with tears in her blue eyes, said that +she hoped the neighbors had not let Lieutenant-Governor +Hutchinson and his family be homeless in the +street, but had taken them into their houses, and +been kind to them. Cousin Clara, recollecting the +perilous situation of our beloved chair, inquired what +had become of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Nothing was heard of our chair for sometime +afterwards," answered Grandfather. "One day in +September, the same Andrew Oliver, of whom I before +told you, was summoned to appear at high noon, +under Liberty Tree. This was the strangest summons +that had ever been heard of; for it was issued +in the name of the whole people, who thus took upon +themselves the authority of a sovereign power. Mr. +Oliver dared not disobey. Accordingly, at the appointed +hour, he went, much against his will, to +Liberty Tree."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here Charley interposed a remark that poor Mr. +Oliver found but little liberty under Liberty Tree. +Grandfather assented.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was a stormy day," continued he. "The +equinoctial gale blew violently, and scattered the yellow +leaves of Liberty Tree all along the street. Mr. +Oliver's wig was dripping with water-drops, and he +probably looked haggard, disconsolate, and humbled +to the earth. Beneath the tree, in Grandfather's +chair,—our own venerable chair,—sat Mr. Richard +Dana, a justice of the peace. He administered an +oath to Mr. Oliver, that he would never have any +thing to do with distributing the stamps. A vast +concourse of people heard the oath, and shouted +when it was taken."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There is something grand in this," said Laurence. +"I like it, because the people seem to have +acted with thoughtfulness and dignity; and this +proud gentleman, one of his Majesty's high officers, +was made to feel that King George could not protect +him in doing wrong."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But it was a sad day for poor Mr. Oliver," observed +Grandfather. "From his youth upward, it +had probably been the great principle of his life, to +be faithful and obedient to the king. And now, in +his old age, it must have puzzled and distracted him, +to find the sovereign people setting up a claim to his +faith and obedience."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather closed the evening's conversation by +saying that the discontent of America was so great, +that, in 1766, the British Parliament was compelled +to repeal the Stamp Act. The people made great +rejoicings, but took care to keep Liberty Tree well +pruned, and free from caterpillars and canker worms. +They foresaw, that there might yet be occasion for +them to assemble under its far projecting shadow.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc77" id="toc77"></a><a name="pdf78" id="pdf78"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IV</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next evening, Clara, who remembered that +our chair had been left standing in the rain, under +Liberty Tree, earnestly besought Grandfather to tell +when and where it had next found shelter. Perhaps +she was afraid that the venerable chair, by being +exposed to the inclemency of a September gale, +might get the rheumatism in its aged joints.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The chair," said Grandfather, "after the ceremony +of Mr. Oliver's oath, appears to have been +quite forgotten by the multitude. Indeed, being +much bruised and rather rickety, owing to the violent +treatment it had suffered from the Hutchinson +mob, most people would have thought that its days +of usefulness were over. Nevertheless, it was conveyed +away, under cover of the night, and committed +to the care of a skilful joiner. He doctored our old +friend so successfully, that, in the course of a few +days, it made its appearance in the public room of +the British Coffee House in King Street."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But why did not Mr. Hutchinson get possession +of it again?" inquired Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I know not," answered Grandfather, "unless +he considered it a dishonor and disgrace to the chair +to have stood under Liberty Tree. At all events, +he suffered it to remain at the British Coffee House, +which was the principal hotel in Boston. It could +not possibly have found a situation, where it would +be more in the midst of business and bustle, or would +witness more important events, or be occupied by a +greater variety of persons."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather went on to tell the proceedings of the +despotic king and ministry of England, after the repeal +of the Stamp Act. They could not bear to +think, that their right to tax America should be +disputed by the people. In the year 1767, therefore, +they caused Parliament to pass an act for laying +a duty on tea, and some other articles that were in +general use. Nobody could now buy a pound of tea, +without paying a tax to King George. This scheme +was pretty craftily contrived; for the women of +America were very fond of tea, and did not like to +give up the use of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the people were as much opposed to this new +act of Parliament, as they had been to the Stamp +Act. England, however, was determined that they +should submit. In order to compel their obedience, +two regiments, consisting of more than seven hundred +British soldiers, were sent to Boston. They +arrived in September, 1768, and were landed on Long +Wharf. Thence they marched to the Common, with +loaded muskets, fixed bayonets, and great pomp and +parade. So now, at last, the free town of Boston was +guarded and over-awed by red-coats, as it had been +in the days of old Sir Edmund Andros.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the month of November, more regiments +arrived. There were now four thousand troops in +Boston. The Common was whitened with their +tents. Some of the soldiers were lodged in Faneuil +Hall, which the inhabitants looked upon as a consecrated +place, because it had been the scene of a +great many meetings in favor of liberty. One regiment +was placed in the town house, which we now +call the Old State House. The lower floor of this +edifice had hitherto been used by the merchants as +an exchange. In the upper stories were the chambers +of the judges, the representatives, and the governor's +council. The venerable counsellors could +not assemble to consult about the welfare of the +province, without being challenged by sentinels, and +passing among the bayonets of the British soldiers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sentinels, likewise, were posted at the lodgings +of the officers, in many parts of the town. When +the inhabitants approached, they were greeted by +the sharp question—"Who goes there?" while +the rattle of the soldier's musket was heard, as he +presented it against their breasts. There was no +quiet, even on the Sabbath day. The pious descendants +of the Puritans were shocked by the uproar of +military music, the drum, fife, and bugle, drowning +the holy organ peal and the voices of the singers. +It would appear as if the British took every method +to insult the feelings of the people.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," cried Charley, impatiently, "the +people did not go to fighting half soon enough! +These British red-coats ought to have been driven +back to their vessels, the very moment they landed +on Long Wharf."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Many a hot-headed young man said the same as +you do, Charley," answered Grandfather. "But +the elder and wiser people saw that the time was not +yet come. Meanwhile, let us take another peep at +our old chair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah, it drooped its head, I know," said Charley, +"when it saw how the province was disgraced. Its +old Puritan friends never would have borne such +doings."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The chair," proceeded Grandfather, "was now +continually occupied by some of the high tories, as +the king's friends were called, who frequented the +British Coffee House. Officers of the custom-house, +too, which stood on the opposite side of King Street, +often sat in the chair, wagging their tongues against +John Hancock."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why against him?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Because he was a great merchant, and contended +against paying duties to the king," said Grandfather.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, frequently, no doubt, the officers of the +British regiments, when not on duty, used to fling +themselves into the arms of our venerable chair. +Fancy one of them, a red nosed captain, in his +scarlet uniform, playing with the hilt of his sword, +and making a circle of his brother officers merry +with ridiculous jokes at the expense of the poor Yankees. +And perhaps he would call for a bottle of +wine, or a steaming bowl of punch, and drink confusion +to all rebels."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Our grave old chair must have been scandalized +at such scenes," observed Laurence. "The chair +that had been the Lady Arbella's, and which the +holy Apostle Eliot had consecrated."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It certainly was little less than sacrilege," replied +Grandfather; "but the time was coming, when +even the churches, where hallowed pastors had long +preached the word of God, were to be torn down or +desecrated by the British troops. Some years +passed, however, before such things were done."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather now told his auditors, that, in 1769, +Sir Francis Bernard went to England, after having +been governor of Massachusetts ten years. He was +a gentleman of many good qualities, an excellent +scholar, and a friend to learning. But he was naturally +of an arbitrary disposition; and he had been +bred at the University of Oxford, where young men +were taught that the divine right of kings was the +only thing to be regarded in matters of government. +Such ideas were ill adapted to please the people of +Massachusetts. They rejoiced to get rid of Sir +Francis Bernard, but liked his successor, Lieutenant-Governor +Hutchinson, no better than himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">About this period, the people were much incensed +at an act, committed by a person who held an office +in the custom-house. Some lads, or young men, +were snow-balling his windows. He fired a musket +at them and killed a poor German boy, only eleven +years old. This event made a great noise in town +and country, and much increased the resentment +that was already felt against the servants of the +crown.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now, children," said Grandfather, "I wish to +make you comprehend the position of the British +troops in King Street. This is the same which we +now call State Street. On the south side of the +town-house, or Old State House, was what military +men call a court of guard, defended by two brass +cannons, which pointed directly at one of the doors +of the above edifice. A large party of soldiers were +always stationed in the court of guard. The custom-house +stood at a little distance down King Street, +nearly where the Suffolk bank now stands; and a +sentinel was continually pacing before its front."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I shall remember this, to-morrow," said Charley; +"and I will go to State Street, so as to see exactly +where the British troops were stationed."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And, before long," observed Grandfather, "I +shall have to relate an event, which made King +Street sadly famous on both sides of the Atlantic. +The history of our chair will soon bring us to this +melancholy business."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here Grandfather described the state of things, +which arose from the ill-will that existed between the +inhabitants and the red-coats. The old and sober +part of the town's-people were very angry at the +government, for sending soldiers to overawe them. +But those gray-headed men were cautious, and kept +their thoughts and feelings in their own breasts, +without putting themselves in the way of the British +bayonets.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The younger people, however, could hardly be +kept within such prudent limits. They reddened +with wrath at the very sight of a soldier, and would +have been willing to come to blows with them, at any +moment. For it was their opinion, that every tap of +a British drum within the peninsula of Boston, was an +insult to the brave old town.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was sometimes the case," continued Grandfather, +"that affrays happened between such wild +young men as these, and small parties of the soldiers. +No weapons had hitherto been used, except fists or +cudgels. But, when men have loaded muskets in +their hands, it is easy to foretell, that they will soon +be turned against the bosoms of those who provoke +their anger."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said little Alice, looking fearfully +into his face, "your voice sounds as though you +were going to tell us something awful!"</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc79" id="toc79"></a><a name="pdf80" id="pdf80"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter V</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Little Alice, by her last remark, proved herself +a good judge of what was expressed by the tones of +Grandfather's voice. He had given the above description +of the enmity between the town's-people +and the soldiers, in order to prepare the minds of +his auditors for a very terrible event. It was one +that did more to heighten the quarrel between England +and America, than any thing that had yet +occurred.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Without further preface, Grandfather began the +story of</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc81" id="toc81"></a><a name="pdf82" id="pdf82"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE BOSTON MASSACRE</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was now the 3d of March, 1770. The sunset +music of the British regiments was heard, as usual, +throughout the town. The shrill fife and rattling +drum awoke the echoes in King Street, while the +last ray of sunshine was lingering on the cupola of +the town-house. And now, all the sentinels were +posted. One of them marched up and down before +the custom-house, treading a short path through the +snow, and longing for the time when he would be +dismissed to the warm fire-side of the guard-room. +Meanwhile, Captain Preston was perhaps sitting in +our great chair, before the hearth of the British Coffee +House. In the course of the evening, there +were two or three slight commotions, which seemed +to indicate that trouble was at hand. Small parties +of young men stood at the corners of the streets, or +walked along the narrow pavements. Squads of +soldiers, who were dismissed from duty, passed by +them, shoulder to shoulder, with the regular step +which they had learned at the drill. Whenever +these encounters took place, it appeared to be the +object of the young men to treat the soldiers with as +much incivility as possible.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Turn out, you lobster-backs!" one would say. +"Crowd them off the side-walks!" another would +cry. "A red-coat has no right in Boston streets."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, you rebel rascals!" perhaps the soldiers +would reply, glaring fiercely at the young men. +"Some day or other, we'll make our way through +Boston streets, at the point of the bayonet!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Once or twice, such disputes as these brought on +a scuffle; which passed off, however, without attracting +much notice. About eight o'clock, for some +unknown cause, an alarm bell rang loudly and hurriedly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the sound, many people ran out of their houses, +supposing it to be an alarm of fire. But there were +no flames to be seen; nor was there any smell of +smoke in the clear, frosty air; so that most of the +townsmen went back to their own fire-sides, and sat +talking with their wives and children about the +calamities of the times. Others, who were younger +and less prudent, remained in the streets; for there +seems to have been a presentiment that some strange +event was on the eve of taking place.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Later in the evening, not far from nine o'clock, +several young men passed by the town-house, and +walked down King Street. The sentinel was still on +his post, in front of the custom-house, pacing to and +fro, while, as he turned, a gleam of light, from +some neighboring window, glittered on the barrel of +his musket. At no great distance were the barracks +and the guard-house, where his comrades +were probably telling stories of battle and bloodshed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Down towards the custom-house, as I told you, +came a party of wild young men. When they drew +near the sentinel, he halted on his post, and took +his musket from his shoulder, ready to present the +bayonet at their breasts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Who goes there?" he cried, in the gruff, peremptory +tones of a soldier's challenge.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The young men, being Boston boys, felt as if they +had a right to walk their own streets, without being +accountable to a British red-coat, even though he +challenged them in King George's name. They +made some rude answer to the sentinel. There was +a dispute, or, perhaps a scuffle. Other soldiers +heard the noise, and ran hastily from the barracks, +to assist their comrade. At the same time, many of +the town's-people rushed into King Street, by various +avenues, and gathered in a crowd round about +the custom-house. It seemed wonderful how such +a multitude had started up, all of a sudden.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The wrongs and insults, which the people had +been suffering for many months, now kindled them +into a rage. They threw snow-balls and lumps of +ice at the soldiers. As the tumult grew louder, it +reached the ears of Captain Preston, the officer of +the day. He immediately ordered eight soldiers of +the main guard to take their muskets and follow +him. They marched across the street, forcing their +way roughly through the crowd, and pricking the +town's-people with their bayonets.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A gentleman, (it was Henry Knox, afterwards +general of the American artillery,) caught Captain +Preston's arm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"For Heaven's sake, sir," exclaimed he, take +heed what you do, or here will be bloodshed."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Stand aside!" answered Captain Preston, +haughtily. "Do not interfere, sir. Leave me to +manage the affair."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Arriving at the sentinel's post, Captain Preston +drew up his men in a semi-circle, with their faces +to the crowd and their rear to the custom-house. +"When the people saw the officer, and beheld the +threatening attitude with which the soldiers fronted +them, their rage became almost uncontrollable.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Fire, you lobster-backs!" bellowed some.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You dare not fire, you cowardly red-coats," +cried others.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Rush upon them!" shouted many voices. +"Drive the rascals to their barracks! Down +with them! Down with them! Let them fire, if +they dare!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Amid the uproar, the soldiers stood glaring at the +people, with the fierceness of men whose trade was +to shed blood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Oh, what a crisis had now arrived! Up to this +very moment, the angry feelings between England +and America might have been pacified. England +had but to stretch out the hand of reconciliation, +and acknowledge that she had hitherto mistaken +her rights but would do so no more. Then, the +ancient bonds of brotherhood would again have +been knit together, as firmly as in old times. The +habit of loyalty, which had grown as strong as +instinct, was not utterly overcome. The perils +shared, the victories won, in the Old French War, +when the soldiers of the colonies fought side by side +with their comrades from beyond the sea, were +unforgotten yet. England was still that beloved +country which the colonists called their home. +King George, though he had frowned upon America, +was still reverenced as a father.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, should the king's soldiers shed one drop of +American blood, then it was a quarrel to the death. +Never—never would America rest satisfied, until +she had torn down the royal authority, and trampled +it in the dust.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Fire, if you dare, villains!" hoarsely shouted +the people, while the muzzles of the muskets were +turned upon them; "you dare not fire!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They appeared ready to rush upon the levelled +bayonets. Captain Preston waved his sword, and +uttered a command which could not be distinctly +heard, amid the uproar of shouts that issued from +a hundred throats. But his soldiers deemed that +he had spoken the fatal mandate—"fire!" The +flash of their muskets lighted up the street, and the +report rang loudly between the edifices. It was +said, too, that the figure of a man with a cloth hanging +down over his face, was seen to step into the +balcony of the custom-house, and discharge a musket +at the crowd.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A gush of smoke had overspread the scene. It +rose heavily, as if it were loath to reveal the dreadful +spectacle beneath it. Eleven of the sons of +New England lay stretched upon the street. Some, +sorely wounded, were struggling to rise again. +Others stirred not, nor groaned, for they were past +all pain. Blood was streaming upon the snow; and +that purple stain, in the midst of King Street, though +it melted away in the next day's sun, was never +forgotten nor forgiven by the people.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather was interrupted by the violent sobs +of little Alice. In his earnestness, he had neglected +to soften down the narrative, so that it might +not terrify the heart of this unworldly infant. Since +Grandfather began the history of our chair, little +Alice had listened to many tales of war. But, probably, +the idea had never really impressed itself +upon her mind, that men have shed the blood of +their fellow-creatures. And now that this idea was +forcibly presented to her, it affected the sweet child +with bewilderment and horror.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I ought to have remembered our dear little +Alice," said Grandfather reproachfully to himself. +"Oh, what a pity! Her heavenly nature has now +received its first impression of earthly sin and violence. +Well, Clara, take her to bed, and comfort +her. Heaven grant that she may dream away the +recollection of the Boston Massacre!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said Charley, when Clara and +little Alice had retired, "did not the people rush +upon the soldiers, and take revenge?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The town drums beat to arms," replied Grandfather, +"the alarm bells rang, and an immense multitude +rushed into King Street. Many of them had +weapons in their hands. The British prepared to +defend themselves. A whole regiment was drawn +up in the street, expecting an attack; for the townsmen +appeared ready to throw themselves upon the +bayonets."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And how did it end?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Governor Hutchinson hurried to the spot," said +Grandfather, "and besought the people to have +patience, promising that strict justice should be +done. A day or two afterward, the British troops +were withdrawn from town, and stationed at Castle +William. Captain Preston and the eight soldiers +were tried for murder. But none of them were +found guilty. The judges told the jury that the +insults and violence which had been offered to the +soldiers, justified them in firing at the mob."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The Revolution," observed Laurence, who had +said but little during the evening, "was not such a +calm, majestic movement as I supposed. I do not +love to hear of mobs and broils in the street. These +things were unworthy of the people, when they had +such a great object to accomplish."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Nevertheless, the world has seen no grander +movement than that of our Revolution, from first to +last," said Grandfather. "The people, to a man, +were full of a great and noble sentiment. True, +there may be much fault to find with their mode of +expressing this sentiment; but they knew no better—the +necessity was upon them to act out their +feelings, in the best manner they could. We must +forgive what was wrong in their actions, and look +into their hearts and minds for the honorable motives +that impelled them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And I suppose," said Laurence, "there were +men who knew how to act worthily of what they +felt."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There were many such," replied Grandfather, +"and we will speak of some of them, hereafter."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather here made a pause. That night, +Charley had a dream about the Boston Massacre, +and thought that he himself was in the crowd, and +struck down Captain Preston with a great club. +Laurence dreamed that he was sitting in our great +chair, at the window of the British Coffee House, +and beheld the whole scene which Grandfather had +described. It seemed to him, in his dream, that if +the town's-people and the soldiers would but have +heard him speak a single word, all the slaughter +might have been averted. But there was such an +uproar that it drowned his voice.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next morning, the two boys went together to +State Street, and stood on the very spot where the +first blood of the Revolution had been shed. The +Old State House was still there, presenting almost +the same aspect that it had worn on that memorable +evening, one-and-seventy years ago. It is the +sole remaining witness of the Boston Massacre.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc83" id="toc83"></a><a name="pdf84" id="pdf84"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next evening the astral lamp was lighted +earlier than usual, because Laurence was very much +engaged in looking over the collection of portraits +which had been his New Year's gift from Grandfather.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Among them he found the features of more than +one famous personage who had been connected with +the adventures of our old chair. Grandfather bade +him draw the table nearer to the fire-side; and +they looked over the portraits together, while Clara +and Charley likewise lent their attention. As for +little Alice, she sat in Grandfather's lap, and seemed +to see the very men alive, whose faces were there +represented.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Turning over the volume, Laurence came to the +portrait of a stern, grim-looking man, in plain attire, +of much more modern fashion than that of the old +Puritans. But the face might well have befitted +one of those iron-hearted men. Beneath the portrait +was the name of Samuel Adams.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He was a man of great note in all the doings +that brought about the Revolution," said Grandfather. +"His character was such, that it seemed as +if one of the ancient Puritans had been sent back to +earth, to animate the people's hearts with the same +abhorrence of tyranny, that had distinguished the +earliest settlers. He was as religious as they, as +stern and inflexible, and as deeply imbued with democratic +principles. He, better than any one else, +may be taken as a representative of the people of +New England, and of the spirit with which they engaged +in the revolutionary struggle. He was a poor +man, and earned his bread by an humble occupation; +but with his tongue and pen, he made the +king of England tremble on his throne. Remember +him, my children, as one of the strong men of our +country."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Here is one whose looks show a very different +character," observed Laurence, turning to the portrait +of John Hancock. "I should think, by his +splendid dress and courtly aspect, that he was one +of the king's friends."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There never was a greater contrast than between +Samuel Adams and John Hancock," said +Grandfather. "Yet they were of the same side in +politics, and had an equal agency in the Revolution. +Hancock was born to the inheritance of the largest +fortune in New England. His tastes and habits +were aristocratic. He loved gorgeous attire, a +splendid mansion, magnificent furniture, stately festivals, +and all that was glittering and pompous in +external things. His manners were so polished, that +there stood not a nobleman at the footstool of King +George's throne, who was a more skilful courtier +than John Hancock might have been. Nevertheless, +he, in his embroidered clothes, and Samuel +Adams in his threadbare coat, wrought together in +the cause of liberty. Adams acted from pure and +rigid principle. Hancock, though he loved his +country, yet thought quite as much of his own popularity +as he did of the people's rights. It is remarkable, +that these two men, so very different as I +describe them, were the only two exempted from +pardon by the king's proclamation."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the next leaf of the book, was the portrait of +General Joseph Warren. Charley recognized the +name, and said that here was a greater man than +either Hancock or Adams.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Warren was an eloquent and able patriot," replied +Grandfather. "He deserves a lasting memory +for his zealous efforts in behalf of liberty. No +man's voice was more powerful in Faneuil Hall than +Joseph Warren's. If his death had not happened +so early in the contest, he would probably have +gained a high name as a soldier."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next portrait was a venerable man, who held +his thumb under his chin, and, through his spectacles, +appeared to be attentively reading a manuscript.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Here we see the most illustrious Boston boy +that ever lived," said Grandfather. "This is Benjamin +Franklin! But I will not try to compress, +into a few sentences, the character of the sage, who, +as a Frenchman expressed it, snatched the lightning +from the sky, and the sceptre from a tyrant. Mr. +Sparks must help you to the knowledge of Franklin."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The book likewise contained portraits of James +Otis and Josiah Quincy. Both of them, Grandfather +observed, were men of wonderful talents and true +patriotism. Their voices were like the stirring tones +of a trumpet, arousing the country to defend its freedom. +Heaven seemed to have provided a greater +number of eloquent men than had appeared at any +other period, in order that the people might be fully +instructed as to their wrongs, and the method of +resistance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It is marvellous," said Grandfather, "to see +how many powerful writers, orators, and soldiers +started up, just at the time when they were wanted. +There was a man for every kind of work. It is +equally wonderful, that men of such different characters +were all made to unite in the one object of +establishing the freedom and independence of America. +There was an overruling Providence above +them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Here was another great man," remarked Laurence, +pointing to the portrait of John Adams.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes; an earnest, warm-tempered, honest, and +most able man," said Grandfather. "At the period +of which we are now speaking, he was a lawyer in +Boston. He was destined, in after years, to be +ruler over the whole American people, whom he +contributed so much to form into a nation."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather here remarked, that many a New +Englander, who had passed his boyhood and youth +in obscurity, afterward attained to a fortune, which +he never could have foreseen, even in his most ambitious +dreams. John Adams, the second president +of the United States, and the equal of crowned +kings, was once a schoolmaster and country lawyer. +Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, +served his apprenticeship with a merchant. +Samuel Adams, afterward governor of Massachusetts, +was a small tradesman and a tax-gatherer. +General Warren was a physician, General Lincoln +a farmer, and General Knox a bookbinder. General +Nathaniel Greene, the best soldier, except Washington, +in the revolutionary army, was a Quaker and a +blacksmith. All these became illustrious men, and +can never be forgotten in American history.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And any boy, who is born in America, may +look forward to the same things," said our ambitious +friend Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After these observations, Grandfather drew the +book of portraits towards him, and showed the children +several British peers and members of Parliament, +who had exerted themselves either for or against the +rights of America. There were the Earl of Bute, +Mr. Grenville, and Lord North. These were looked +upon as deadly enemies to our country.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Among the friends of America was Mr. Pitt, afterward +Earl of Chatham, who spent so much of his +wondrous eloquence in endeavoring to warn England +of the consequences of her injustice. He fell down +on the floor of the House of Lords, after uttering +almost his dying words in defence of our privileges +as freemen. There was Edmund Burke, one of the +wisest men and greatest orators that ever the world +produced. There was Colonel Barré, who had been +among our fathers, and knew that they had courage +enough to die for their rights. There was Charles +James Fox, who never rested until he had silenced +our enemies in the House of Commons.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It is very remarkable to observe how many of +the ablest orators in the British Parliament were favorable +to America," said Grandfather. "We ought +to remember these great Englishmen with gratitude; +for their speeches encouraged our fathers, almost as +much as those of our own orators, in Faneuil Hall, +and under Liberty Tree. Opinions, which might +have been received with doubt, if expressed only by +a native American, were set down as true, beyond +dispute, when they came from the lips of Chatham, +Burke, Barré, or Fox."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, Grandfather," asked Laurence, "were +there no able and eloquent men in this country who +took the part of King George?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There were many men of talent, who said what +they could in defence of the king's tyrannical proceedings," +replied Grandfather. "But they had +the worst side of the argument, and therefore seldom +said any thing worth remembering. Moreover their +hearts were faint and feeble; for they felt that the +people scorned and detested them. They had no +friends, no defence, except in the bayonets of the +British troops. A blight fell upon all their faculties, +because they were contending against the rights of +their own native land."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What were the names of some of them?" inquired +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Governor Hutchinson, Chief Justice Oliver, +Judge Auchmuty, the Reverend Mather Byles, and +several other clergymen, were among the most noted +loyalists," answered Grandfather.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I wish the people had tarred and feathered every +man of them!" cried Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That wish is very wrong, Charley," said Grandfather. +"You must not think that there was no +integrity and honor, except among those who stood +up for the freedom of America. For aught I know, +there was quite as much of these qualities on one +side as on the other. Do you see nothing admirable +in a faithful adherence to an unpopular cause? Can +you not respect that principle of loyalty, which made +the royalists give up country, friends, fortune, every +thing, rather than be false to their king? It was a +mistaken principle; but many of them cherished it +honorably, and were martyrs to it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, I was wrong!" said Charley, ingenuously. +"And I would risk my life, rather than one of those +good old royalists should be tarred and feathered."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The time is now come, when we may judge fairly +of them," continued Grandfather. "Be the good +and true men among them honored; for they were +as much our countrymen as the patriots were. And, +thank Heaven! our country need not be ashamed +of her sons—of most of them, at least—whatever +side they took in the revolutionary contest."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Among the portraits was one of King George the +Third. Little Alice clapped her hands, and seemed +pleased with the bluff good nature of his physiognomy. +But Laurence thought it strange, that a +man with such a face, indicating hardly a common +share of intellect, should have had influence enough +on human affairs, to convulse the world with war. +Grandfather observed, that this poor king had always +appeared to him one of the most unfortunate persons +that ever lived. He was so honest and conscientious, +that, if he had been only a private man, his life would +probably have been blameless and happy. But his +was that worst of fortunes, to be placed in a station +far beyond his abilities.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And so," said Grandfather, "his life, while he +retained what intellect Heaven had gifted him with, +was one long mortification. At last, he grew crazed +with care and trouble. For nearly twenty years, +the monarch of England was confined as a madman. +In his old age, too, God took away his eyesight; so +that his royal palace was nothing to him but a dark, +lonesome prison-house."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc85" id="toc85"></a><a name="pdf86" id="pdf86"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Our old chair," resumed Grandfather, "did not +now stand in the midst of a gay circle of British +officers. The troops, as I told you, had been removed +to Castle William, immediately after the Boston +Massacre. Still, however, there were many +tories, custom-house officers, and Englishmen, who +used to assemble in the British Coffee House, and +talk over the affairs of the period. Matters grew +worse and worse; and in 1773, the people did a +deed, which incensed the king and ministry more +than any of their former doings."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather here described the affair, which is +known by the name of the Boston Tea Party. The +Americans, for some time past, had left off importing +tea, on account of the oppressive tax. The East +India Company, in London, had a large stock of tea +on hand, which they had expected to sell to the +Americans, but could find no market for it. But, +after a while, the government persuaded this company +of merchants to send the tea to America.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How odd it is," observed Clara, "that the liberties +of America should have had any thing to do +with a cup of tea!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather smiled, and proceeded with his narrative. +When the people of Boston heard that +several cargoes of tea were coming across the Atlantic, +they held a great many meetings at Faneuil +Hall, in the Old South church, and under Liberty +Tree. In the midst of their debates, three ships +arrived in the harbor with the tea on board. The +people spent more than a fortnight in consulting +what should be done. At last, on the 16th of December, +1773, they demanded of Governor Hutchinson, +that he should immediately send the ships +back to England.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The governor replied that the ships must not leave +the harbor, until the custom-house duties upon the +tea should be paid. Now, the payment of these +duties was the very thing, against which the people +had set their faces; because it was a tax, unjustly +imposed upon America by the English government. +Therefore, in the dusk of the evening, as soon as +Governor Hutchinson's reply was received, an immense +crowd hastened to Griffin's Wharf, where the +tea-ships lay. The place is now called Liverpool +Wharf.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"When the crowd reached the wharf," said Grandfather, +"they saw that a set of wild-looking figures +were already on board of the ships. You would +have imagined that the Indian warriors, of old times, +had come back again; for they wore the Indian +dress, and had their faces covered with red and +black paint, like the Indians, when they go to war. +These grim figures hoisted the tea chests on the +decks of the vessels, broke them open, and threw all +the contents into the harbor."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," said little Alice, "I suppose Indians +don't love tea; else they would never waste +it so."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They were not real Indians, my child," answered +Grandfather. "They were white men, in disguise; +because a heavy punishment would have been inflicted +on them, if the king's officers had found who they +were. But it was never known. From that day to +this, though the matter has been talked of by all the +world, nobody can tell the names of those Indian +figures. Some people say that there were very famous +men among them, who afterwards became governors +and generals. Whether this be true, I cannot tell."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When tidings of this bold deed were carried to +England, King George was greatly enraged. Parliament +immediately passed an act, by which all vessels +were forbidden to take in or discharge their cargoes at +the port of Boston. In this way, they expected to ruin +all the merchants, and starve the poor people, by +depriving them of employment. At the same time, +another act was passed, taking away many rights +and privileges which had been granted in the charter +of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Governor Hutchinson, soon afterward, was summoned +to England, in order that he might give his +advice about the management of American affairs. +General Gage, an officer of the Old French War, +and since commander-in-chief of the British forces in +America, was appointed governor in his stead. One +of his first acts, was to make Salem, instead of Boston, +the metropolis of Massachusetts, by summoning +the General Court to meet there.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">According to Grandfather's description, this was +the most gloomy time that Massachusetts had ever +seen. The people groaned under as heavy a tyranny +as in the days of Sir Edmund Andros. Boston +looked as if it were afflicted with some dreadful +pestilence,—so sad were the inhabitants, and so +desolate the streets. There was no cheerful hum of +business. The merchants shut up their warehouses, +and the laboring men stood idle about the wharves. +But all America felt interested in the good town of +Boston; and contributions were raised, in many +places, for the relief of the poor inhabitants.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Our dear old chair!" exclaimed Clara. "How +dismal it must have been now!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh," replied Grandfather, "a gay throng of +officers had now come back to the British Coffee +House; so that the old chair had no lack of mirthful +company. Soon after General Gage became governor, +a great many troops had arrived, and were +encamped upon the Common. Boston was now a +garrisoned and fortified town; for the general had +built a battery across the neck, on the road to Roxbury, +and placed guards for its defence. Every +thing looked as if a civil war were close at hand."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Did the people make ready to fight?" asked +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"A continental Congress assembled at Philadelphia," +said Grandfather, "and proposed such measures +as they thought most conducive to the public +good. A provincial Congress was likewise chosen in +Massachusetts. They exhorted the people to arm +and discipline themselves. A great number of +minute men were enrolled. The Americans called +them minute men, because they engaged to be ready +to fight at a minute's warning. The English officers +laughed, and said that the name was a very proper +one, because the minute men would run away the +the minute they saw the enemy. Whether they +would fight or run, was soon to be proved."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather told the children, that the first open +resistance offered to the British troops, in the province +of Massachusetts was at Salem. Colonel Timothy +Pickering, with thirty or forty militia men, prevented +the English colonel, Leslie, with four times as many +regular soldiers, from taking possession of some military +stores. No blood was shed on this occasion; +but, soon afterward, it began to flow.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">General Gage sent eight hundred soldiers to +Concord, about eighteen miles from Boston, to +destroy some ammunition and provisions which the +colonists had collected there. They set out on their +march in the evening of the 18th of April, 1775. +The next morning, the General sent Lord Percy, +with nine hundred men, to strengthen the troops +which had gone before. All that day, the inhabitants +of Boston heard various rumors. Some said, +that the British were making great slaughter among +our countrymen. Others affirmed that every man +had turned out with his musket, and that not a single +soldier would ever get back to Boston.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was after sunset," continued Grandfather, +"when the troops, who had marched forth so proudly, +were seen entering Charlestown. They were +covered with dust, and so hot and weary that their +tongues hung out of their mouths. Many of them +were faint with wounds. They had not all returned. +Nearly three hundred were strewn, dead or dying, +along the road from Concord. The yeomanry had +risen upon the invaders, and driven them back."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Was this the battle of Lexington?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes," replied Grandfather; "it was so called, +because the British, without provocation, had fired +upon a party of minute men, near Lexington meeting-house, +and killed eight of them. That fatal volley, +which was fired by order of Major Pitcairn, +began the war of the Revolution."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">About this time, if Grandfather had been correctly +informed, our chair disappeared from the +British Coffee House. The manner of its departure +cannot be satisfactorily ascertained. Perhaps the +keeper of the Coffee House turned it out of doors, +on account of its old-fashioned aspect. Perhaps he +sold it as a curiosity. Perhaps it was taken, without +leave, by some person who regarded it as public +property, because it had once figured under Liberty +Tree. Or, perhaps, the old chair, being of a +peaceable disposition, had made use of its four +oaken legs, and run away from the seat of war.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It would have made a terrible clattering over +the pavement," said Charley, laughing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Meanwhile," continued Grandfather, "during +the mysterious non-appearance of our chair, an +army of twenty thousand men had started up, and +come to the siege of Boston. General Gage and +his troops were cooped up within the narrow precincts +of the peninsula. On the 17th of June, +1775, the famous battle of Bunker Hill was fought. +Here General Warren fell. The British got the +victory, indeed, but with the loss of more than a +thousand officers and men."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O, Grandfather," cried Charley, "you must +tell us about that famous battle."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No, Charley," said Grandfather, "I am not +like other historians. Battles shall not hold a prominent +place in the history of our quiet and comfortable +old chair. But, to-morrow evening, Laurence, +Clara, and yourself, and dear little Alice too, shall +visit the Diorama of Bunker Hill. There you shall +see the whole business, the burning of Charlestown +and all, with your own eyes, and hear the cannon +and musketry with your own ears."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc87" id="toc87"></a><a name="pdf88" id="pdf88"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VIII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next evening but one, when the children had +given Grandfather a full account of the Diorama of +Bunker Hill, they entreated him not to keep them +any longer in suspense about the fate of his chair. +The reader will recollect, that at the last accounts, +it had trotted away upon its poor old legs, nobody +knew whither. But, before gratifying their +curiosity, Grandfather found it necessary to say +something about public events.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The continental Congress, which was assembled +at Philadelphia, was composed of delegates from all +the colonies. They had now appointed George +Washington, of Virginia, to be commander-in-chief +of all the American armies. He was, at that time, +a member of Congress, but immediately left Philadelphia, +and began his journey to Massachusetts. +On the 3d of July, 1775, he arrived at Cambridge, +and took command of the troops which were besieging +General Gage.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O, Grandfather," exclaimed Laurence, "it +makes my heart throb to think what is coming now. +We are to see General Washington himself."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The children crowded around Grandfather, and +looked earnestly into his face. Even little Alice +opened her sweet blue eyes, with her lips apart, +and almost held her breath to listen; so instinctive +is the reverence of childhood for the father of his +country. Grandfather paused a moment; for he +felt as if it might be irreverent to introduce the hallowed +shade of Washington into a history, where an +ancient elbow chair occupied the most prominent +place. However, he determined to proceed with +his narrative, and speak of the hero when it was +needful, but with an unambitious simplicity.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Grandfather told his auditors, that, on General +Washington's arrival at Cambridge, his first +care was, to reconnoitre the British troops with his +spy-glass, and to examine the condition of his own +army. He found that the American troops amounted +to about fourteen thousand men. They were +extended all round the peninsula of Boston, a space +of twelve miles, from the high grounds of Roxbury +on the right, to Mystic river on the left. Some +were living in tents of sail-cloth, some in shanties, +rudely constructed of boards, some in huts of stone +or turf, with curious windows and doors of basket-work.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In order to be near the centre, and oversee the +whole of this wide-stretched army, the commander-in-chief +made his head-quarters at Cambridge, about +half a mile from the colleges. A mansion-house, +which perhaps had been the country-seat of some +tory gentleman, was provided for his residence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"When General Washington first entered this +mansion," said Grandfather, "he was ushered up +the stair-case, and shown into a handsome apartment. +He sat down in a large chair, which was +the most conspicuous object in the room. The noble +figure of Washington would have done honor to a +throne. As he sat there, with his hand resting on +the hilt of his sheathed sword, which was placed +between his knees, his whole aspect well befitted +the chosen man on whom his country leaned for the +defence of her dearest rights. America seemed +safe, under his protection. His face was grander +than any sculptor had ever wrought in marble; +none could behold him without awe and reverence. +Never before had the lion's head, at the summit of +the chair, looked down upon such a face and form +as Washington's!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why! Grandfather," cried Clara, clasping her +hands in amazement, "was it really so? Did General +Washington sit in our great chair?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I knew how it would be," said Laurence; +"I foresaw it, the moment Grandfather began to +speak."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather smiled. But, turning from the personal +and domestic life of the illustrious leader, he +spoke of the methods which Washington adopted to +win back the metropolis of New England from the +British.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The army, when he took command of it, was +without any discipline or order. The privates considered +themselves as good as their officers, and seldom +thought it necessary to obey their commands, +unless they understood the why and wherefore. +Moreover, they were enlisted for so short a period, +that, as soon as they began to be respectable soldiers, +it was time to discharge them. Then came +new recruits, who had to be taught their duty, +before they could be of any service. Such was the +army, with which Washington had to contend +against more than twenty veteran British regiments.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Some of the men had no muskets, and almost all +were without bayonets. Heavy cannon, for battering +the British fortifications, were much wanted. +There was but a small quantity of powder and ball, +few tools to build entrenchments with, and a great +deficiency of provisions and clothes for the soldiers. +Yet, in spite of these perplexing difficulties, the +eyes of the whole people were fixed on General +Washington, expecting him to undertake some great +enterprise against the hostile army.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The first thing that he found necessary, was to +bring his own men into better order and discipline. +It is wonderful how soon he transformed this rough +mob of country people into the semblance of a regular +army. One of Washington's most invaluable +characteristics, was the faculty of bringing order +out of confusion. All business, with which he had +any concern, seemed to regulate itself, as if by +magic. The influence of his mind was like light, +gleaming through an unshaped world. It was this +faculty, more than any other, that made him so fit +to ride upon the storm of the Revolution, when +every thing was unfixed, and drifting about in a +troubled sea.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Washington had not been long at the head of +the army," proceeded Grandfather, "before his +soldiers thought as highly of him, as if he had led +them to a hundred victories. They knew that he +was the very man whom the country needed, and +the only one who could bring them safely through +the great contest against the might of England. +They put entire confidence in his courage, wisdom, +and integrity."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And were not they eager to follow him against +the British?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Doubtless they would have gone whithersoever +his sword pointed the way," answered Grandfather; +"and Washington was anxious to make a decisive +assault upon the enemy. But as the enterprise was +very hazardous, he called a council of all the generals +in the army. Accordingly, they came from +their different posts, and were ushered into the +reception room. The commander-in-chief arose from +our great chair to greet them."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What were their names?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There was General Artemas Ward," replied +Grandfather, a "lawyer by profession. He had +commanded the troops before Washington's arrival. +Another was General Charles Lee, who had been a +colonel in the English army, and was thought to possess +vast military science. He came to the council, +followed by two or three dogs, who were always at +his heels. There was General Putnam, too, who +was known all over New England by the name of +Old Put."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Was it he who killed the wolf?" inquired +Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The same," said Grandfather; "and he had +done good service in the Old French War. His +occupation was that of a farmer; but he left his +plough in the furrow, at the news of Lexington +battle. Then there was General Gates, who afterward +gained great renown at Saratoga, and lost it +again at Camden. General Greene, of Rhode +Island, was likewise at the council. Washington +soon discovered him to be one of the best officers in +the army."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the Generals were all assembled, Washington +consulted them about a plan for storming the +English batteries. But it was their unanimous +opinion that so perilous an enterprise ought not to +be attempted. The army, therefore, continued to +besiege Boston, preventing the enemy from obtaining +supplies of provisions, but without taking any +immediate measures to get possession of the town. +In this manner, the summer, autumn, and winter +passed away.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Many a night, doubtless," said Grandfather, +"after Washington had been all day on horseback, +galloping from one post of the army to another, he +used to sit in our great chair, wrapt in earnest +thought. Had you seen him, you might have supposed +that his whole mind was fixed on the blue +china tiles, which adorned the old fashioned fire-place. +But, in reality, he was meditating how to +capture the British army, or drive it out of Boston. +Once, when there was a hard frost, he formed a +scheme to cross the Charles River on the ice. But +the other Generals could not be persuaded that there +was any prospect of success."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What were the British doing, all this time?" +inquired Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They lay idle in the town," replied Grandfather. +"General Gage had been recalled to England, and +was succeeded by Sir William Howe. The British +army, and the inhabitants of Boston, were now in great +distress. Being shut up in the town so long, they +had consumed almost all their provisions, and burnt +up all their fuel. The soldiers tore down the Old +North church, and used its rotten boards and timbers +for fire-wood. To heighten their distress, the small +pox broke out. They probably lost far more men by +cold, hunger, and sickness, than had been slain at +Lexington and Bunker Hill."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What a dismal time for the poor women and +children!" exclaimed Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"At length," continued Grandfather, "in March, +1776, General Washington, who had now a good +supply of powder, began a terrible cannonade and +bombardment from Dorchester heights. One of the +cannon balls which he fired into the town, struck the +tower of the Brattle Street church, where it may +still be seen. Sir William Howe made preparations +to cross over in boats, and drive the Americans from +their batteries, but was prevented by a violent gale +and storm. General Washington next erected a +battery on Nook's hill, so near the enemy, that it +was impossible for them to remain in Boston any +longer."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Hurra! Hurra!" cried Charley, clapping his +hands triumphantly. "I wish I had been there, to +see how sheepish the Englishmen looked."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And, as Grandfather thought that Boston had +never witnessed a more interesting period than this, +when the royal power was in its death agony, he determined +to take a peep into the town, and imagine +the feelings of those who were quitting it forever.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc89" id="toc89"></a><a name="pdf90" id="pdf90"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IX</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Alas! for the poor tories!" said Grandfather. +"Until the very last morning after Washington's +troops had shown themselves on Nook's hill, these +unfortunate persons could not believe that the audacious +rebels, as they called the Americans, would +ever prevail against King George's army. But, +when they saw the British soldiers preparing to embark +on board of the ships of war, then they knew +that they had lost their country. Could the patriots +have known how bitter were their regrets, they would +have forgiven them all their evil deeds, and sent a +blessing after them as they sailed away from their +native shore."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In order to make the children sensible of the +pitiable condition of these men, Grandfather singled +out Peter Oliver, chief justice of Massachusetts under +the crown, and imagined him walking through +the streets of Boston, on the morning before he left +it forever.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This effort of Grandfather's fancy may be called—</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc91" id="toc91"></a><a name="pdf92" id="pdf92"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">THE TORY'S FAREWELL</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Old Chief Justice Oliver threw on his red cloak, +and placed his three-cornered hat on the top of his +white wig. In this garb he intended to go forth and +take a parting look at objects that had been familiar +to him from his youth. Accordingly, he began his +walk in the north part of the town, and soon came to +Faneuil Hall. This edifice, the cradle of liberty, +had been used by the British officers as a play-house.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Would that I could see its walls crumble to +dust!" thought the chief justice; and, in the bitterness +of his heart, he shook his fist at the famous hall. +"There began the mischief which now threatens +to rend asunder the British empire. The seditious +harangues of demagogues in Faneuil Hall, have +made rebels of a loyal people, and deprived me of +my country."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He then passed through a narrow avenue, and +found himself in King Street, almost in the very +spot which, six years before, had been reddened by +the blood of the Boston Massacre. The chief justice +stept cautiously, and shuddered, as if he were afraid, +that, even now, the gore of his slaughtered countrymen +might stain his feet.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Before him rose the town house, on the front of +which were still displayed the royal arms. Within +that edifice he had dispensed justice to the people, +in the days when his name was never mentioned +without honor. There, too, was the balcony whence +the trumpet had been sounded, and the proclamation +read to an assembled multitude, whenever a new +king of England ascended the throne.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I remember—I remember," said Chief Justice +Oliver to himself, "when his present most sacred +majesty was proclaimed. Then how the people +shouted. Each man would have poured out his life-blood +to keep a hair of King George's head from +harm. But now, there is scarcely a tongue in all +New England that does not imprecate curses on his +name. It is ruin and disgrace to love him. Can +it be possible that a few fleeting years have wrought +such a change!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It did not occur to the chief justice, that nothing +but the most grievous tyranny could so soon have +changed the people's hearts. Hurrying from the +spot, he entered Cornhill, as the lower part of Washington +Street was then called. Opposite to the town +house was the waste foundation of the Old North +church. The sacrilegious hands of the British soldiers +had torn it down, and kindled their barrack +fires with the fragments.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Further on, he passed beneath the tower of the +Old South. The threshold of this sacred edifice was +worn by the iron tramp of horse's feet: for the interior +had been used as a riding-school and rendezvous, +for a regiment of dragoons. As the chief +justice lingered an instant at the door, a trumpet +sounded within, and the regiment came clattering +forth, and galloped down the street. They were +proceeding to the place of embarkation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Let them go!" thought the chief justice, with +somewhat of an old puritan feeling in his breast. +"No good can come of men who desecrate the house +of God."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went on a few steps further, and paused before +the Province House. No range of brick stores +had then sprung up to hide the mansion of the royal +governors from public view. It had a spacious court-yard, +bordered with trees, and enclosed with a +wrought-iron fence. On the cupola, that surmounted +the edifice, was the gilded figure of an Indian chief, +ready to let fly an arrow from his bow. Over the +wide front door was a balcony, in which the chief +justice had often stood, when the governor and high +officers of the province showed themselves to the +people.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While Chief Justice Oliver gazed sadly at the +Province House, before which a sentinel was pacing, +the double leaves of the door were thrown open, and +Sir William Howe made his appearance. Behind +him came a throng of officers, whose steel scabbards +clattered against the stones, as they hastened down +the court-yard. Sir William Howe was a dark-complexioned +man, stern and haughty in his deportment. +He stepped as proudly, in that hour of defeat, as if +he were going to receive the submission of the rebel +general.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The chief justice bowed and accosted him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"This is a grievous hour for both of us, Sir William," +said he.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Forward! gentlemen," said Sir William Howe +to the officers who attended him: "we have no time +to hear lamentations now!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And, coldly bowing, he departed. Thus, the +chief justice had a foretaste of the mortifications +which the exiled New Englanders afterwards suffered +from the haughty Britons. They were despised +even by that country which they had served +more faithfully than their own.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A still heavier trial awaited Chief Justice Oliver, +as he passed onward from the Province House. +He was recognized by the people in the street. +They had long known him as the descendant of an +ancient and honorable family. They had seen him +sitting, in his scarlet robes, upon the judgment seat. +All his life long, either for the sake of his ancestors, +or on account of his own dignified station and +unspotted character, he had been held in high +respect. The old gentry of the province were +looked upon almost as noblemen, while Massachusetts +was under royal government.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But now, all hereditary reverence for birth and +rank was gone. The inhabitants shouted in derision, +when they saw the venerable form of the old +chief justice. They laid the wrongs of the country, +and their own sufferings during the siege—their +hunger, cold, and sickness—partly to his charge, +and to that of his brother Andrew, and his kinsman +Hutchinson. It was by their advice that the +king had acted, in all the colonial troubles. But +the day of recompense was come.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"See the old tory!" cried the people, with bitter +laughter. "He is taking his last look at us. +Let him show his white wig among us an hour +hence, and we'll give him a coat of tar and feathers!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The chief justice, however, knew that he need +fear no violence, so long as the British troops were +in possession of the town. But alas! it was a bitter +thought, that he should leave no loving memory +behind him. His forefathers, long after their spirits +left the earth, had been honored in the affectionate +remembrance of the people. But he, who would +henceforth be dead to his native land, would have +no epitaph save scornful and vindictive words. The +old man wept.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They curse me—they invoke all kinds of evil +on my head!" thought he, in the midst of his tears. +"But, if they could read my heart, they would +know that I love New England well. Heaven bless +her, and bring her again under the rule of our gracious +king! A blessing, too, on these poor, misguided +people!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The chief justice flung out his hands with a gesture, +as if he were bestowing a parting benediction +on his countrymen. He had now reached the southern +portion of the town, and was far within the +range of cannon shot from the American batteries. +Close beside him was the broad stump of a tree, +which appeared to have been recently cut down. +Being weary and heavy at heart, he was about to +sit down upon the stump.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Suddenly, it flashed upon his recollection, that +this was the stump of Liberty Tree! The British +soldiers had cut it down, vainly boasting that +they could as easily overthrow the liberties of America. +Under its shadowy branches, ten years before, +the brother of Chief Justice Oliver had been compelled +to acknowledge the supremacy of the people, +by taking the oath which they prescribed. This +tree was connected with all the events that had severed +America from England.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Accursed tree!" cried the chief justice, +gnashing his teeth: for anger overcame his sorrow. +"Would that thou hadst been left standing, +till Hancock, Adams, and every other traitor, were +hanged upon thy branches! Then fitly mightest +thou have been hewn down, and cast into the +flames."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He turned back, hurried to Long Wharf without +looking behind him, embarked with the British +troops for Halifax, and never saw his country more. +Throughout the remainder of his days, Chief Justice +Oliver was agitated with those same conflicting +emotions, that had tortured him, while taking his +farewell walk through the streets of Boston. Deep +love and fierce resentment burned in one flame +within his breast. Anathemas struggled with benedictions. +He felt as if one breath of his native +air would renew his life, yet would have died, rather +than breathe the same air with rebels.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And such, likewise, were the feelings of the other +exiles, a thousand in number, who departed with the +British army. Were they not the most unfortunate +of men?</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The misfortunes of these exiled tories," observed +Laurence, "must have made them think of +the poor exiles of Acadia."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They had a sad time of it, I suppose," said +Charley. "But I choose to rejoice with the patriots, +rather than be sorrowful with the tories. +Grandfather, what did General Washington do +now?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"As the rear of the British army embarked from +the wharf," replied Grandfather, "General Washington's +troops marched over the neck, through the +fortification gates, and entered Boston in triumph. +And now, for the first time since the pilgrims landed, +Massachusetts was free from the dominion of England. +May she never again be subjected to foreign +rule—never again feel the rod of oppression!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Dear Grandfather," asked little Alice, "did +General Washington bring our chair back to Boston?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I know not how long the chair remained at +Cambridge," said Grandfather. "Had it staid +there till this time, it could not have found a better +or more appropriate shelter. The mansion which +General Washington occupied is still standing; +and his apartments have since been tenanted by +several eminent men. Governor Everett, while a +professor in the university, resided there. So at an +after period, did Mr. Sparks, whose invaluable +labors have connected his name with the immortality +of Washington. And, at this very time, a venerable +friend and contemporary of your Grandfather, +after long pilgrimages beyond the sea, has +set up his staff of rest at Washington's head-quarters."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You mean Professor Longfellow, Grandfather," +said Laurence. "Oh, how I should love to see the +author of those beautiful <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Voices Of The Night</span></span>!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"We will visit him next summer," answered +Grandfather, "and take Clara and little Alice with +us—and Charley, too, if he will be quiet."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc93" id="toc93"></a><a name="pdf94" id="pdf94"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter X</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Grandfather resumed his narrative, the +next evening, he told the children that he had some +difficulty in tracing the movements of the chair, +during a short period after General Washington's +departure from Cambridge.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Within a few months, however, it made its appearance +at a shop in Boston, before the door of +which was seen a striped pole. In the interior was +displayed a stuffed alligator, a rattlesnake's skin, a +bundle of Indian arrows, an old-fashioned matchlock +gun, a walking-stick of Governor Winthrop's, a wig +of old Cotton Mather's, and a colored print of the +Boston Massacre. In short, it was a barber's shop, +kept by a Mr. Pierce, who prided himself on having +shaved General Washington, Old Put, and +many other famous persons.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"This was not a very dignified situation for our +venerable chair," continued Grandfather; "but, +you know, there is no better place for news, than a +barber's shop. All the events of the revolutionary +war were heard of there, sooner than anywhere else. +People used to sit in the chair, reading the newspaper +or talking, and waiting to be shaved, while +Mr. Pierce with his scissors and razor, was at work +upon the heads or chins of his other customers."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am sorry the chair could not betake itself to +some more suitable place of refuge," said Laurence. +"It was old now, and must have longed for quiet. +Besides, after it had held Washington in its arms, +it ought not to have been compelled to receive all +the world. It should have been put into the pulpit +of the Old South Church, or some other consecrated +place."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Perhaps so," answered Grandfather. "But the +chair, in the course of its varied existence, had grown +so accustomed to general intercourse with society, +that I doubt whether it would have contented itself +in the pulpit of the Old South. There it would have +stood solitary, or with no livelier companion than the +silent organ, in the opposite gallery, six days out of +seven. I incline to think, that it had seldom been +situated more to its mind, than on the sanded floor +of the snug little barber's shop."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Grandfather amused his children and himself, +with fancying all the different sorts of people +who had occupied our chair, while they awaited the +leisure of the barber.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was the old clergyman, such as Dr. Chauncey, +wearing a white wig, which the barber took from +his head, and placed upon a wig-block. Half an hour, +perhaps, was spent in combing and powdering this +reverend appendage to a clerical skull. There too, +were officers of the continental army, who required +their hair to be pomatumed and plastered, so as to give +them a bold and martial aspect. There, once in a +while, was seen the thin, care-worn, melancholy visage +of an old tory, with a wig that, in times long past, +had perhaps figured at a Province House ball. And +there, not unfrequently, sat the rough captain of a +privateer, just returned from a successful cruise, in +which he had captured half a dozen richly laden +vessels, belonging to King George's subjects. And, +sometimes, a rosy little school-boy climbed into our +chair, and sat staring, with wide-open eyes, at the +alligator, the rattlesnake, and the other curiosities +of the barber's shop. His mother had sent him, with +sixpence in his hand, to get his glossy curls cropped +off. The incidents of the Revolution plentifully supplied +the barber's customers with topics of conversation. +They talked sorrowfully of the death of General +Montgomery, and the failure of our troops to take +Quebec; for the New Englanders were now as +anxious to get Canada from the English, as they had +formerly been to conquer it from the French.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, very soon," said Grandfather, "came news +from Philadelphia, the most important that America +had ever heard of. On the 4th of July, 1776, Congress +had signed the Declaration of Independence. +The thirteen colonies were now free and independent +states. Dark as our prospects were, the inhabitants +welcomed these glorious tidings, and resolved to perish, +rather than again bear the yoke of England!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And I would perish too!" cried Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was a great day—a glorious deed!" said +Laurence, coloring high with enthusiasm. "And, +Grandfather, I love to think that the sages in Congress +showed themselves as bold and true as the +soldiers in the field. For it must have required +more courage to sign the Declaration of Independence, +than to fight the enemy in battle."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather acquiesced in Laurence's view of +the matter. He then touched briefly and hastily +upon the prominent events of the Revolution. The +thunder-storm of war had now rolled southward, and +did not again burst upon Massachusetts, where its +first fury had been felt. But she contributed her +full share to the success of the contest. Wherever +a battle was fought—whether at Long Island, White +Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, or German-town—some +of her brave sons were found slain +upon the field.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In October, 1777, General Burgoyne surrendered +his army, at Saratoga, to the American general, +Gates. The captured troops were sent to Massachusetts. +Not long afterwards, Doctor Franklin +and other American commissioners made a treaty at +Paris, by which France bound herself to assist our +countrymen. The gallant Lafayette was already +fighting for our freedom, by the side of Washington. +In 1778, a French fleet, commanded by Count +d'Estaing, spent a considerable time in Boston Harbor. +It marks the vicissitudes of human affairs, +that the French, our ancient enemies, should come +hither as comrades and brethren, and that kindred +England should be our foe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"While the war was raging in the Middle and +Southern States," proceeded Grandfather, "Massachusetts +had leisure to settle a new constitution of +government, instead of the royal charter. This was +done in 1780. In the same year, John Hancock, +who had been president of Congress, was chosen +governor of the state. He was the first whom the +people had elected, since the days of old Simon +Bradstreet."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, Grandfather, who had been governor since +the British were driven away?" inquired Laurence. +"General Gage and Sir William Howe were the +last whom you have told us of."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There had been no governor for the last four +years," replied Grandfather. "Massachusetts had +been ruled by the legislature, to whom the people +paid obedience of their own accord. It is one of the +most remarkable circumstances in our history, that, +when the charter government was overthrown by the +war, no anarchy, nor the slightest confusion ensued. +This was a great honor to the people. But now, +Hancock was proclaimed governor by sound of trumpet; +and there was again a settled government."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather again adverted to the progress of the +war. In 1781, General Greene drove the British +from the Southern States. In October, of the same +year, General Washington compelled Lord Cornwallis +to surrender his army, at Yorktown, in Virginia. +This was the last great event of the revolutionary +contest. King George and his ministers perceived, +that all the might of England could not compel +America to renew her allegiance to the crown. +After a great deal of discussion, a treaty of peace +was signed, in September, 1783.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now, at last," said Grandfather, "after weary +years of war, the regiments of Massachusetts returned +in peace to their families. Now, the stately +and dignified leaders, such as General Lincoln +and General Knox, with their pondered hair and +their uniforms of blue and buff, were seen moving +about the streets."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And little boys ran after them, I suppose," remarked +Charley; "and the grown people bowed +respectfully."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"They deserved respect, for they were good men, +as well as brave," answered Grandfather. "Now, +too, the inferior officers and privates came home, to +seek some peaceful occupation. Their friends remembered +them as slender and smooth-cheeked +young men; but they returned with the erect and +rigid mien of disciplined soldiers. Some hobbled +on crutches and wooden legs; others had received +wounds, which were still rankling in their breasts. +Many, alas! had fallen in battle, and perhaps were +left unburied on the bloody field."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The country must have been sick of war," observed +Laurence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"One would have thought so," said Grandfather. +"Yet only two or three years elapsed, before the +folly of some misguided men caused another mustering +of soldiers. This affair was called Shays' War, +because a Captain Shays was the chief leader of the +insurgents."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"O Grandfather, don't let there be another +war!" cried little Alice, piteously.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather comforted his dear little girl, by +assuring her that there was no great mischief done. +Shays's War happened in the latter part of 1786, +and the beginning of the following year. Its principal +cause was the badness of the times. The +State of Massachusetts, in its public capacity, was +very much in debt. So, likewise, were many of +the people. An insurrection took place, the object +of which seems to have been, to interrupt the course +of law, and get rid of debts and taxes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">James Bowdoin, a good and able man, was now +governor of Massachusetts. He sent General Lincoln, +at the head of four thousand men, to put down +the insurrection. This general, who had fought +through several hard campaigns in the Revolution, +managed matters like an old soldier, and totally +defeated the rebels, at the expense of very little +blood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There is but one more public event to be +recorded in the history of our chair," proceeded +Grandfather. "In the year 1794, Samuel Adams +was elected governor of Massachusetts. I have +told you what a distinguished patriot he was, and +how much he resembled the stern old Puritans. +Could the ancient freemen of Massachusetts, who +lived in the days of the first charter, have arisen +from their graves, they would probably have voted +for Samuel Adams to be governor."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, Grandfather, I hope he sat in our +chair!" said Clara.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He did," replied Grandfather. "He had +long been in the habit of visiting the barber's shop, +where our venerable chair, philosophically forgetful +of its former dignities, had now spent nearly eighteen +not uncomfortable years. Such a remarkable +piece of furniture, so evidently a relic of long-departed +times, could not escape the notice of Samuel +Adams. He made minute researches into its history, +and ascertained what a succession of excellent +and famous people had occupied it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How did he find it out?" asked Charley. "For +I suppose the chair could not tell its own history."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"There used to be a vast collection of ancient +letters and other documents, in the tower of the old +South Church," answered Grandfather. "Perhaps +the history of our chair was contained among these. +At all events, Samuel Adams appears to have been +well acquainted with it. When he became governor, +he felt that he could have no more honorable seat, +than that which had been the ancient Chair of State. +He therefore purchased it for a trifle, and filled it +worthily for three years, as governor of Massachusetts."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And what next?" asked Charley.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That is all," said Grandfather, heaving a sigh; +for he could not help being a little sad, at the thought +that his stories must close here. "Samuel Adams +died in 1803, at the age of above threescore and +ten. He was a great patriot but a poor man. At +his death, he left scarcely property enough to pay +the expenses of his funeral. This precious chair, +among his other effects, was sold at auction; and +your Grandfather, who was then in the strength of +his years, became the purchaser."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Laurence, with a mind full of thoughts, that +struggled for expression, but could find none, looked +steadfastly at the chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had now learned all its history, yet was not +satisfied.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, how I wish that the chair could speak!" +cried he. "After its long intercourse with mankind—after +looking upon the world for ages—what +lessons of golden wisdom it might utter! It might +teach a private person how to lead a good and happy +life—or a statesman how to make his country prosperous!"</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc95" id="toc95"></a><a name="pdf96" id="pdf96"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter XI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather was struck by Laurence's idea, that +the historic chair should utter a voice, and thus pour +forth the collected wisdom of two centuries. The +old gentleman had once possessed no inconsiderable +share of fancy; and, even now, its fading sunshine +occasionally glimmered among his more sombre reflections.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As the history of the chair had exhausted all his +facts, Grandfather determined to have recourse to +fable. So, after warning the children that they must +not mistake this story for a true one, he related what +we shall call,—</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc97" id="toc97"></a><a name="pdf98" id="pdf98"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">GRANDFATHER'S DREAM</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Laurence and Clara, where were you last night? +Where were you, Charley, and dear little Alice? +You had all gone to rest, and left old Grandfather +to meditate alone, in his great chair. The lamp had +grown so dim, that its light hardly illuminated the +alabaster shade. The wood fire had crumbled into +heavy embers, among which the little flames danced, +and quivered, and sported about, like fairies.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And here sat Grandfather, all by himself. He +knew that it was bedtime; yet he could not help +longing to hear your merry voices, or to hold a comfortable +chat with some old friend; because then his +pillow would be visited by pleasant dreams. But, +as neither children nor friends were at hand, Grandfather +leaned back in the great chair, and closed his +eyes, for the sake of meditating more profoundly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And, when Grandfather's meditations had grown +very profound indeed, he fancied that he heard a +sound over his head, as if somebody were preparing +to speak.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Hem!" it said, in a dry, husky tone. "H-e-m! +Hem!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Grandfather did not know that any person was +in the room, he started up in great surprise, and +peeped hither and thither, behind the chair, and +into the recess by the fireside, and at the dark nook +yonder, near the bookcase. Nobody could he see.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Pooh!" said Grandfather to himself, "I must +have been dreaming."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, just as he was going to resume his seat, +Grandfather happened to look at the great chair. +The rays of fire-light were flickering upon it in such +a manner that it really seemed as if its oaken frame +were all alive. What! Did it not move its elbow? +There, too! It certainly lifted one of its ponderous +fore-legs, as if it had a notion of drawing itself a little +nearer to the fire. Meanwhile, the lion's head nodded +at Grandfather, with as polite and sociable a +look as a lion's visage, carved in oak, could possibly +be expected to assume. Well, this is strange!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Good evening, my old friend," said the dry and +husky voice, now a little clearer than before. "We +have been intimately acquainted so long, that I think +it high time we have a chat together."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather was looking straight at the lion's +head, and could not be mistaken in supposing that +it moved its lips. So here the mystery was all +explained.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I was not aware," said Grandfather, with a civil +salutation to his oaken companion, "that you possessed +the faculty of speech. Otherwise, I should +often have been glad to converse with such a solid, +useful, and substantial, if not brilliant member of +society."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh!" replied the ancient chair, in a quiet and +easy tone, for it had now cleared its throat of the +dust of ages. "I am naturally a silent and incommunicative +sort of character. Once or twice, in the +course of a century, I unclose my lips. When the +gentle Lady Arbella departed this life, I uttered a +groan. When the honest mint-master weighed his +plump daughter against the pine-tree shillings, I +chuckled audibly at the joke. When old Simon +Bradstreet took the place of the tyrant Andros, I +joined in the general huzza, and capered upon my +wooden legs, for joy. To be sure, the bystanders +were so fully occupied with their own feelings, that +my sympathy was quite unnoticed."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And have you often held a private chat with your +friends?" asked Grandfather.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Not often," answered the chair. "I once +talked with Sir William Phips, and communicated +my ideas about the witchcraft delusion. Cotton +Mather had several conversations with me, and derived +great benefit from my historical reminiscences. +In the days of the Stamp Act, I whispered in the +ear of Hutchinson, bidding him to remember what +stock his countrymen were descended of, and to +think whether the spirit of their forefathers had utterly +departed from them. The last man whom I +favored with a colloquy, was that stout old republican, +Samuel Adams."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And how happens it," inquired Grandfather, +"that there is no record nor tradition of your conversational +abilities? It is an uncommon thing to +meet with a chair that can talk."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, to tell you the truth," said the chair, giving +itself a hitch nearer to the hearth, "I am not +apt to choose the most suitable moments for unclosing +my lips. Sometimes I have inconsiderately begun +to speak, when my occupant, lolling back in my +arms, was inclined to take an after-dinner nap. Or, +perhaps, the impulse to talk may be felt at midnight, +when the lamp burns dim, and the fire crumbles into +decay, and the studious or thoughtful man finds that +his brain is in a mist. Oftenest, I have unwisely +uttered my wisdom in the ears of sick persons, when +the inquietude of fever made them toss about, upon +my cushion. And so it happens, that, though my +words make a pretty strong impression at the moment, +yet my auditors invariably remember them only +as a dream. I should not wonder if you, my excellent +friend, were to do the same, to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Nor I either," thought Grandfather to himself. +However, he thanked this respectable old chair for +beginning the conversation, and begged to know +whether it had any thing particular to communicate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I have been listening attentively to your narrative +of my adventures," replied the chair, "and it +must be owned, that your correctness entitles you to +be held up as a pattern to biographers. Nevertheless, +there are a few omissions, which I should be +glad to see supplied. For instance, you make no +mention of the good knight, Sir Richard Saltonstall, +nor of the famous Hugh Peters, nor of those old +regicide judges, Whalley, Goffe, and Dixwell. Yet +I have borne the weight of all these distinguished +characters, at one time or another."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Grandfather promised amendment, if ever he +should have an opportunity to repeat his narrative. +The good old chair, which still seemed to retain a +due regard for outward appearance, then reminded +him how long a time had passed, since it had been +provided with a new cushion. It likewise expressed +the opinion, that the oaken figures on its back would +show to much better advantage, by the aid of a little +varnish.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And I have had a complaint in this joint," continued +the chair, endeavoring to lift one of its legs, +"ever since Charley trundled his wheelbarrow +against me."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It shall be attended to," said Grandfather. +"And now, venerable chair, I have a favor to solicit. +During an existence of more than two centuries, you +have had a familiar intercourse with men who were +esteemed the wisest of their day. Doubtless, with +your capacious understanding, you have treasured +up many an invaluable lesson of wisdom. You certainly +have had time enough to guess the riddle of +life. Tell us poor mortals, then, how we may be +happy!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The lion's head fixed its eyes thoughtfully upon +the fire, and the whole chair assumed an aspect of +deep meditation. Finally, it beckoned to Grandfather +with its elbow, and made a step sideways towards +him, as if it had a very important secret to +communicate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"As long as I have stood in the midst of human +affairs," said the chair, with a very oracular enunciation, +"I have constantly observed that JUSTICE, +TRUTH, and LOVE, are the chief ingredients of every +happy life."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Justice, Truth, and Love!" exclaimed Grandfather. +"We need not exist two centuries to find +out that these qualities are essential to our happiness. +This is no secret. Every human being is born with +the instinctive knowledge of it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah!" cried the chair, drawing back in surprise. +"From what I have observed of the dealings of man +with man, and nation with nation, I never should +have suspected that they knew this all-important secret. +And, with this eternal lesson written in your +soul, do you ask me to sift new wisdom for you, out +of my petty existence of two or three centuries?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, my dear chair—" said Grandfather.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Not a word more," interrupted the chair; "here +I close my lips for the next hundred years. At the +end of that period, if I shall have discovered any +new precepts of happiness, better than what Heaven +has already taught you, they shall assuredly be given +to the world."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the energy of its utterance, the oaken chair +seemed to stamp its foot, and trod, (we hope unintentionally) +upon Grandfather's toe. The old gentleman +started, and found that he had been asleep in +the great chair, and that his heavy walking stick had +fallen down across his foot.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Grandfather," cried little Alice, clapping her +hands, "you must dream a new dream, every night, +about our chair!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Laurence, and Clara, and Charley, said the same. +But the good old gentleman shook his head, and declared +that here ended the history, real or fabulous, +of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Grandfather's Chair</span></span>.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc99" id="toc99"></a><a name="pdf100" id="pdf100"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Biographical Stories</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">BENJAMIN WEST,<br /> +SIR ISAAC NEWTON,<br /> +SAMUEL JOHNSON<br /> +OLIVER CROMWELL,<br /> +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,<br /> +QUEEN CHRISTINA.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">This small volume, and others of a similar character, from the +same hand, have not been composed without a deep sense of +responsibility. The author regards children as sacred, and would +not, for the world, cast any thing into the fountain of a young +heart, that might embitter and pollute its waters. And, even in +point of the reputation to be aimed at, juvenile literature is as +well worth cultivating as any other. The writer, if he succeed in +pleasing his little readers, may hope to be remembered by them +till their own old age—a far longer period of literary existence +than is generally attained, by those who seek immortality from +the judgments of full grown men.</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc101" id="toc101"></a><a name="pdf102" id="pdf102"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter I</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Edward Temple was about eight or nine +years old, he was afflicted with a disorder of the eyes. +It was so severe, and his sight was naturally so delicate, +that the surgeon felt some apprehensions lest +the boy should become totally blind. He therefore +gave strict directions to keep him in a darkened +chamber, with a bandage over his eyes. Not a ray +of the blessed light of Heaven could be suffered to +visit the poor lad.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This was a sad thing for Edward! It was just +the same as if there were to be no more sunshine, +nor moonlight, nor glow of the cheerful fire, nor light +of lamps. A night had begun which was to continue +perhaps for months,—a longer and drearier night +than that which voyagers are compelled to endure, +when their ship is ice-bound, throughout the winter, +in the Arctic Ocean. His dear father and mother, +his brother George, and the sweet face of little Emily +Robinson, must all vanish, and leave him in utter +darkness and solitude. Their voices and footsteps, +it is true, would be heard around him; he would feel +his mother's embrace, and the kind pressure of all +their hands; but still it would seem as if they were +a thousand miles away.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And then his studies! They were to be entirely +given up. This was another grievous trial; for Edward's +memory hardly went back to the period when +he had not known how to read. Many and many a +holiday had he spent at his book, poring over its +pages until the deepening twilight confused the print, +and made all the letters run into long words. Then +would he press his hands across his eyes, and wonder +why they pained him so, and, when the candles +were lighted, what was the reason that they burned +so dimly, like the moon in a foggy night. Poor little +fellow! So far as his eyes were concerned, he +was already an old man, and needed a pair of spectacles +almost as much as his own grandfather did.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now, alas! the time was come, when even +grandfather's spectacles could not have assisted Edward +to read. After a few bitter tears, which only +pained his eyes the more, the poor boy submitted to +the surgeon's orders. His eyes were bandaged, and, +with his mother on one side, and his little friend +Emily on the other, he was led into a darkened +chamber.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Mother, I shall be very miserable," said Edward, +sobbing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, no, my dear child!" replied his mother, +cheerfully. "Your eyesight was a precious gift of +Heaven, it is true; but you would do wrong to be +miserable for its loss, even if there were no hope of +regaining it. There are other enjoyments, besides +what come to us through our eyes."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"None that are worth having," said Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah! but you will not think so long," rejoined +Mrs. Temple, with tenderness. "All of us—your +father, and myself, and George, and our sweet Emily—will +try to find occupation and amusement for +you. We will use all our eyes to make you happy. +Will not they be better than a single pair?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I will sit by you all day long," said Emily, in +her low, sweet voice, putting her hand into that of +Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And so will I, Ned," said George, his elder +brother,—"school time and all, if my father will +permit me."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Edward's brother George was three or four years +older than himself, a fine, hardy lad, of a bold and +ardent temper. He was the leader of his comrades +in all their enterprises and amusements. As to his +proficiency at study, there was not much to be said. +He had sense and ability enough to have made himself +a scholar, but found so many pleasanter things +to do, that he seldom took hold of a book with his +whole heart. So fond was George of boisterous +sports and exercises, that it was really a great token +of affection and sympathy, when he offered to sit all +day long in a dark chamber, with his poor brother +Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As for little Emily Robinson, she was the daughter +of one of Mr. Temple's dearest friends. Ever since +her mother went to Heaven, (which was soon after +Emily's birth,) the little girl had dwelt in the household +where we now find her. Mr. and Mrs. Temple +seemed to love her as well as their own children; for +they had no daughter except Emily; nor would the +boys have known the blessing of a sister, had not this +gentle stranger come to teach them what it was. If +I could show you Emily's face, with her dark hair +smoothed away from her forehead, you would be +pleased with her look of simplicity and loving-kindness, +but might think that she was somewhat too +grave for a child of seven years old. But you would +not love her the less for that.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So brother George, and this loving little girl, +were to be Edward's companions and playmates, +while he should be kept prisoner in the dark chamber. +When the first bitterness of his grief was +over, he began to feel that there might be some +comforts and enjoyments in life, even for a boy +whose eyes were covered with a bandage.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I thank you, dear mother," said he, with only +a few sobs, "and you, Emily; and you too, George. +You will all be very kind to me, I know. And my +father—will not he come and see me, every day?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, my dear boy," said Mr. Temple; for, +though invisible to Edward, he was standing close +beside him. "I will spend some hours of every day +with you. And as I have often amused you by relating +stories and adventures, while you had the use +of your eyes, I can do the same, now that you are +unable to read. Will this please you, Edward?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, very much!" replied Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well then," said his father, "this evening we +will begin the series of Biographical Stories, which +I promised you some time ago."</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc103" id="toc103"></a><a name="pdf104" id="pdf104"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter II</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward +considerably revived in spirits, and disposed to be resigned +to his misfortune. Indeed, the figure of the +boy, as it was dimly seen by the fire-light, reclining +in a well stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable +that many people might have envied him. +When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at +the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible +misfortune to have them bandaged.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side, with +the air of an accomplished nurse. As well as the +duskiness of the chamber would permit, she watched +all his motions, and each varying expression of his +face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes, before +his tongue could utter them. Yet it was noticeable, +that the child manifested an indescribable awe +and disquietude, whenever she fixed her eyes on the +bandage; for to her simple and affectionate heart, it +seemed as if her dear friend Edward was separated +from her, because she could not see his eyes. A +friend's eyes tell us many things, which could never +be spoken by the tongue.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">George, likewise, looked awkward and confused, +as stout and healthy boys are accustomed to do, in +the society of the sick or afflicted. Never having +felt pain or sorrow, they are abashed, from not +knowing how to sympathize with the sufferings of +others.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, my dear Edward," inquired Mrs. Temple, +"is your chair quite comfortable? and has your little +nurse provided for all your wants? If so, your +father is ready to begin his stories."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, I am very well now," answered Edward, +with a faint smile. "And my ears have not forsaken +me, though my eyes are good for nothing. So, +pray, dear father, begin!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was Mr. Temple's design to tell the children a +series of true stories, the incidents of which should +be taken from the childhood and early life of eminent +people. Thus he hoped to bring George, and Edward, +and Emily, into closer acquaintance with the +famous persons who have lived in other times, by +showing that they also had been children once. Although +Mr. Temple was scrupulous to relate nothing +but what was founded on fact, yet he felt himself at +liberty to clothe the incidents of his narrative in a +new coloring, so that his auditors might understand +them the better.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My first story," said he, "shall be about a +painter of pictures."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Dear me!" cried Edward, with a sigh. "I +am afraid I shall never look at pictures any more."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"We will hope for the best," answered his father. +"In the mean time, you must try to see things within +your own mind."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. Temple then began the following story:</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc105" id="toc105"></a><a name="pdf106" id="pdf106"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">BENJAMIN WEST</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Born</span></span> 1738. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Died</span></span> 1820.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the year 1738, there came into the world, in +the town of Springfield, Pennsylvania, a Quaker infant, +from whom his parents and neighbors looked +for wonderful things. A famous preacher of the +Society of Friends had prophesied about little Ben, +and foretold that he would be one of the most remarkable +characters that had appeared on earth since the +days of William Penn. On this account, the eyes +of many people were fixed upon the boy. Some of +his ancestors had won great renown in the old wars +of England and France; but it was probably expected +that Ben would become a preacher, and +would convert multitudes to the peaceful doctrines +of the Quakers. Friend West and his wife were +thought to be very fortunate in having such a son.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Little Ben lived to the ripe age of six years, without +doing any thing that was worthy to be told in +history. But, one summer afternoon, in his seventh +year, his mother put a fan into his hand, and bade +him keep the flies away from the face of a little babe, +who lay fast asleep in the cradle. She then left the +room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boy waved the fan to-and-fro, and drove away +the buzzing flies whenever they had the impertinence +to come near the baby's face. When they had all +flown out of the window, or into distant parts of the +room, he bent over the cradle, and delighted himself +with gazing at the sleeping infant. It was, indeed, +a very pretty sight. The little personage in the +cradle slumbered peacefully, with its waxen hands +under its chin, looking as full of blissful quiet as if +angels were singing lullabies in its ear. Indeed, it +must have been dreaming about Heaven; for, while +Ben stooped over the cradle, the little baby smiled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How beautiful she looks!" said Ben to himself. +"What a pity it is, that such a pretty smile should +not last forever!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now Ben, at this period of his life, had never +heard of that wonderful art, by which a look, that +appears and vanishes in a moment, may be made to +last for hundreds of years. But, though nobody had +told him of such an art, he may be said to have invented +it for himself. On a table, near at hand, +there were pens and paper, and ink of two colors, +black and red. The boy seized a pen and sheet of +paper, and kneeling down beside the cradle, began +to draw a likeness of the infant. While he was +busied in this manner, he heard his mother's step +approaching, and hastily tried to conceal the paper.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Benjamin, my son, what hast thou been doing?" +inquired his mother, observing marks of confusion in +his face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At first, Ben was unwilling to tell; for he felt as +if there might be something wrong in stealing the +baby's face, and putting it upon a sheet of paper. +However, as his mother insisted, he finally put the +sketch into her hand, and then hung his head, expecting +to be well scolded. But when the good lady +saw what was on the paper, in lines of red and black +ink, she uttered a scream of surprise and joy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Bless me!" cried she. "It is a picture of +little Sally!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And then she threw her arms round our friend +Benjamin, and kissed him so tenderly, that he never +afterwards was afraid to show his performances to +his mother.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Ben grew older, he was observed to take vast +delight in looking at the hues and forms of nature. +For instance, he was greatly pleased with the blue +violets of spring, the wild roses of summer, and the +scarlet cardinal-flowers of early autumn. In the decline +of the year, when the woods were variegated +with all the colors of the rainbow, Ben seemed to +desire nothing better than to gaze at them from +morn till night. The purple and golden clouds of +sunset were a joy to him. And he was continually +endeavoring to draw the figures of trees, men, mountains, +houses, cattle, geese, ducks, and turkeys, with +a piece of chalk, on barn-doors, or on the floor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In these old times, the Mohawk Indians were +still numerous in Pennsylvania. Every year a party +of them used to pay a visit to Springfield, because +the wigwams of their ancestors had formerly stood +there. These wild men grew fond of little Ben, +and made him very happy by giving him some of +the red and yellow paint with which they were +accustomed to adorn their faces. His mother, too, +presented him with a piece of indigo. Thus he now +had three colors,—red, blue, and yellow—and could +manufacture green, by mixing the yellow with the +blue. Our friend Ben was overjoyed, and doubtless +showed his gratitude to the Indians by taking their +likenesses, in the strange dresses which they wore, +with feathers, tomahawks, and bows and arrows.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, all this time, the young artist had no paint-brushes, +nor were there any to be bought, unless he +had sent to Philadelphia on purpose. However, he +was a very ingenious boy, and resolved to manufacture +paint-brushes for himself. With this design, he +laid hold upon—what do you think? why, upon a +respectable old black cat, who was sleeping quietly +by the fireside.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Puss," said little Ben to the cat, "pray give me +some of the fur from the tip of thy tail!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Though he addressed the black cat so civilly, yet +Ben was determined to have the fur, whether she were +willing or not. Puss, who had no great zeal for the +fine arts, would have resisted if she could; but the +boy was armed with his mother's scissors, and very +dexterously clipped off fur enough to make a paint-brush. +This was of so much use to him, that he applied +to Madam Puss again and again, until her +warm coat of fur had become so thin and ragged, +that she could hardly keep comfortable through the +winter. Poor thing! she was forced to creep close +into the chimney-corner, and eyed Ben with a very +rueful physiognomy. But Ben considered it more +necessary that he should have paint-brushes, than +that Puss should be warm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">About this period, Friend West received a visit +from Mr. Pennington, a merchant of Philadelphia, +who was likewise a member of the Society of Friends. +The visitor, on entering the parlor, was surprised to +see it ornamented with drawings of Indian chiefs, +and of birds with beautiful plumage, and of the wild +flowers of the forest. Nothing of the kind was ever +seen before in the habitation of a Quaker farmer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, Friend West," exclaimed the Philadelphia +merchant, "what has possessed thee to cover thy +walls with all these pictures? Where on earth didst +thou get them?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Friend West explained, that all these +pictures were painted by little Ben, with no better +materials than red and yellow ochre and a piece of +indigo, and with brushes made of the black cat's fur.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Verily," said Mr. Pennington, "the boy hath +a wonderful faculty. Some of our friends might +look upon these matters as vanity; but little Benjamin +appears to have been born a painter; and Providence +is wiser than we are."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The good merchant patted Benjamin on the head, +and evidently considered him a wonderful boy. +When his parents saw how much their son's performances +were admired, they no doubt remembered +the prophecy of the old Quaker preacher, respecting +Ben's future eminence. Yet they could not understand +how he was ever to become a very great and +useful man, merely by making pictures.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One evening, shortly after Mr. Pennington's return +to Philadelphia, a package arrived at Springfield, +directed to our little friend Ben.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What can it possibly be?" thought Ben, when +it was put into his hands. "Who can have sent me +such a great square package as this!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On taking off the thick brown paper which enveloped +it, behold! there was a paint-box, with a great +many cakes of paint, and brushes of various sizes. +It was the gift of good Mr. Pennington. There +were likewise several squares of canvas, such as +artists use for painting pictures upon, and, in addition +to all these treasures, some beautiful engravings +of landscapes. These were the first pictures that +Ben had ever seen, except those of his own drawing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">What a joyful evening was this for the little artist! +At bedtime, he put the paint-box under his pillow, +and got hardly a wink of sleep; for, all night long, +his fancy was painting pictures in the darkness. In +the morning, he hurried to the garret, and was seen +no more till the dinner-hour; nor did he give himself +time to eat more than a mouthful or two of food, +before he hurried back to the garret again. The +next day, and the next, he was just as busy as ever; +until at last his mother thought it time to ascertain +what he was about. She accordingly followed him +to the garret.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On opening the door, the first object that presented +itself to her eyes was our friend Benjamin, giving the +last touches to a beautiful picture. He had copied +portions of two of the engravings, and made one picture +out of both, with such admirable skill that it +was far more beautiful than the originals. The +grass, the trees, the water, the sky, and the houses, +were all painted in their proper colors. There, too, +was the sunshine and the shadow, looking as natural +as life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My dear child, thou hast done wonders!" cried +his mother.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The good lady was in an ecstasy of delight. And +well might she be proud of her boy; for there were +touches in this picture, which old artists, who had +spent a lifetime in the business, need not have been +ashamed of. Many a year afterwards, this wonderful +production was exhibited at the Royal Academy +in London.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Benjamin was quite a large lad, he was +sent to school at Philadelphia. Not long after his +arrival, he had a slight attack of fever, which confined +him to his bed. The light, which would otherwise +have disturbed him, was excluded from his +chamber by means of closed wooden shutters. At +first, it appeared so totally dark, that Ben could not +distinguish any object in the room. By degrees, +however, his eyes became accustomed to the scanty +light.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He was lying on his back, looking up towards the +ceiling, when suddenly he beheld the dim apparition +of a white cow, moving slowly over his head! Ben +started, and rubbed his eyes, in the greatest amazement.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What can this mean?" thought he.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The white cow disappeared; and next came several +pigs, who trotted along the ceiling, and vanished +into the darkness of the chamber. So lifelike did +these grunters look, that Ben almost seemed to hear +them squeak.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, this is very strange!" said Ben to himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the people of the house came to see him, +Benjamin told them of the marvellous circumstance +which had occurred. But they would not believe +him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!" +cried they. "How is it possible that a white cow +and a litter of pigs should be visible on the ceiling +of a dark chamber?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Ben, however, had great confidence in his own +eyesight, and was determined to search the mystery +to the bottom. For this purpose, when he was again +left alone, he got out of bed, and examined the window-shutters. +He soon perceived a small chink in +one of them, through which a ray of light found its +passage, and rested upon the ceiling. Now the +science of optics will inform us, that the pictures of +the white cow and the pigs, and of other objects out +of doors, came into the dark chamber, through this +narrow chink, and were painted over Benjamin's +head. It is greatly to his credit, that he discovered +the scientific principle of this phenomenon, and, by +means of it, constructed a Camera Obscura, or Magic +Lantern, out of a hollow box. This was of great +advantage to him in drawing landscapes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Well; time went on, and Benjamin continued to +draw and paint pictures, until he had now reached +the age when it was proper that he should choose a +business for life. His father and mother were in +considerable perplexity about him. According to +the ideas of the Quakers it is not right for people to +spend their lives in occupations that are of no real +and sensible advantage to the world. Now, what +advantage could the world expect from Benjamin's +pictures? This was a difficult question; and, in +order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined +to consult the preachers and wise men of their +society. Accordingly, they all assembled in the +meeting-house, and discussed the matter from beginning +to end.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Finally, they came to a very wise decision. It +seemed so evident that Providence had created Benjamin +to be a painter, and had given him abilities +which would be thrown away in any other business, +that the Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination. +They even acknowledged that the sight of a +beautiful picture might convey instruction to the +mind, and might benefit the heart, as much as a +good book or a wise discourse. They therefore committed +the youth to the direction of God, being well +assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere +of usefulness. The old men laid their hands upon +Benjamin's head, and gave him their blessing, and +the women kissed him affectionately. All consented +that he should go forth into the world, and learn to +be a painter, by studying the best pictures of ancient +and modern times.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So our friend Benjamin left the dwelling of his +parents, and his native woods and streams, and the +good Quakers of Springfield, and the Indians who +had given him his first colors,—he left all the +places and persons whom he had hitherto known,—and +returned to them no more. He went first to +Philadelphia, and afterwards to Europe. Here he +was noticed by many great people, but retained all +the sobriety and simplicity which he had learned +among the Quakers. It is related of him, that, +when he was presented at the court of the Prince of +Parma, he kept his hat upon his head, even while +kissing the Prince's hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When he was twenty-five years old, he went to +London, and established himself there as an artist. +In due course of time, he acquired great fame by +his pictures, and was made chief painter to King +George the Third, and President of the Royal Academy +of Arts. When the Quakers of Pennsylvania +heard of his success, they felt that the prophecy +of the old preacher, as to little Ben's future eminence, +was now accomplished. It is true, they +shook their heads at his pictures of battle and bloodshed, +such as the Death of Wolfe,—thinking that +these terrible scenes should not be held up to the +admiration of the world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But they approved of the great paintings in which +he represented the miracles and sufferings of the Redeemer +of Mankind. King George employed him +to adorn a large and beautiful chapel, at Windsor +Castle, with pictures of these sacred subjects. He +likewise painted a magnificent picture of Christ +Healing the Sick, which he gave to the Hospital at +Philadelphia. It was exhibited to the public, and +produced so much profit that the Hospital was enlarged, +so as to accommodate thirty more patients. +If Benjamin West had done no other good deed than +this, yet it would have been enough to entitle him to +an honorable remembrance forever. At this very +day, there are thirty poor people in the Hospital, +who owe all their comforts to that same picture.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">We shall mention only a single incident more. +The picture of Christ Healing the Sick was exhibited +at the Royal Academy in London, where it covered +a vast space, and displayed a multitude of figures as +large as life. On the wall, close beside this admirable +picture, hung a small and faded landscape. It +was the same that little Ben had painted in his +father's garret, after receiving the paint-box and +engravings from good Mr. Pennington.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He lived many years, in peace and honor, and +died in 1820, at the age of eighty-two. The story +of his life is almost as wonderful as a fairy tale; for +there are few stranger transformations than that of a +little unknown Quaker boy, in the wilds of America, +into the most distinguished English painter of his +day. Let us each make the best use of our natural +abilities, as Benjamin West did; and with the blessing +of Providence, we shall arrive at some good end. +As for fame, it is but little matter whether we +acquire it or not.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Thank you for the story, my dear father," said +Edward, when it was finished. "Do you know, that +it seems as if I could see things without the help of +my eyes? While you were speaking, I have seen +little Ben, and the baby in its cradle, and the Indians, +and the white cow and the pigs, and kind Mr. Pennington, +and all the good old Quakers, almost as +plainly as if they were in this very room."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It is because your attention was not disturbed +by outward objects," replied Mr. Temple. "People, +when deprived of sight, often have more vivid ideas +than those who possess the perfect use of their eyes. +I will venture to say that George has not attended +to the story quite so closely."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No indeed," said George, "but it was a very +pretty story for all that. How I should have laughed +to see Ben making a paint-brush out of the black +cat's tail! I intend to try the experiment with +Emily's kitten."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, no, no, George!" cried Emily, earnestly. +"My kitten cannot spare her tail."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Edward being an invalid, it was now time for him +to retire to bed. When the family bade him good +night, he turned his face towards them, looking very +loth to part.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I shall not know when morning comes," said he +sorrowfully. "And besides I want to hear your +voices all the time; for, when nobody is speaking, it +seems as if I were alone in a dark world!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You must have faith, my dear child," replied +his mother. "Faith is the soul's eyesight; and +when we possess it, the world is never dark nor +lonely."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc107" id="toc107"></a><a name="pdf108" id="pdf108"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter III</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next day, Edward began to get accustomed +to his new condition of life. Once, indeed, when +his parents were out of the way, and only Emily +was left to take care of him, he could not resist the +temptation to thrust aside the bandage, and peep at +the anxious face of his little nurse. But, in spite of +the dimness of the chamber, the experiment caused +him so much pain, that he felt no inclination to take +another look. So, with a deep sigh, he resigned +himself to his fate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Emily, pray talk to me!" said he, somewhat +impatiently.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now, Emily was a remarkably silent little girl, +and did not possess that liveliness of disposition +which renders some children such excellent companions. +She seldom laughed, and had not the +faculty of making many words about small matters. +But the love and earnestness of her heart taught her +how to amuse poor Edward, in his darkness. She +put her knitting-work into his hands.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You must learn how to knit," said she.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What! without using my eyes?" cried Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I can knit with my eyes shut," replied Emily.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then, with her own little hands, she guided Edward's +fingers, while he set about this new occupation. +So awkward were his first attempts, that any other +little girl would have laughed heartily. But Emily +preserved her gravity, and showed the utmost patience +in taking up the innumerable stitches which +he let down. In the course of an hour or two, his +progress was quite encouraging.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When evening came, Edward acknowledged that +the day had been far less wearisome than he anticipated. +But he was glad, nevertheless, when his +father and mother, and George and Emily, all +took their seats around his chair. He put out his +hand to grasp each of their hands, and smiled with +a very bright expression upon his lips.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now I can see you all, with my mind's eye," +said he; "and now, father, pray tell us another +story."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Mr. Temple began.</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc109" id="toc109"></a><a name="pdf110" id="pdf110"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">SIR ISAAC NEWTON</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Born</span></span> 1642. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Died</span></span> 1727.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On Christmas-day, in the year 1642, Isaac Newton +was born, at the small village of Woolsthorpe, in +England. Little did his mother think, when she +beheld her new-born babe, that he was destined to +explain many matters which had been a mystery +ever since the creation of the world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Isaac's father being dead, Mrs. Newton was married +again to a clergyman, and went to reside at +North Witham. Her son was left to the care of his +good old grandmother, who was very kind to him, +and sent him to school. In his early years, Isaac +did not appear to be a very bright scholar, but was +chiefly remarkable for his ingenuity in all mechanical +occupations. He had a set of little tools, and +saws of various sizes, manufactured by himself. +With the aid of these, Isaac contrived to make +many curious articles, at which he worked with so +much skill, that he seemed to have been born with a +saw or chisel in his hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The neighbors looked with vast admiration at the +things which Isaac manufactured. And his old +grandmother, I suppose, was never weary of talking +about him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He'll make a capital workman, one of these +days," she would probably say. "No fear but +what Isaac will do well in the world, and be a rich +man before he dies."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It is amusing to conjecture what were the anticipations +of his grandmother and the neighbors, about +Isaac's future life. Some of them, perhaps, fancied +that he would make beautiful furniture of mahogany, +rose-wood, or polished oak, inlaid with ivory and +ebony, and magnificently gilded. And then, doubtless, +all the rich people would purchase these fine +things, to adorn their drawing-rooms. Others probably +thought that little Isaac was destined to be +an architect, and would build splendid mansions for +the nobility and gentry, and churches too, with the +tallest steeples that had ever been seen in England.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Some of his friends, no doubt, advised Isaac's +grandmother to apprentice him to a clockmaker; +for, besides his mechanical skill, the boy seemed to +have a taste for mathematics, which would be very +useful to him in that profession. And then, in due +time, Isaac would set up for himself, and would manufacture +curious clocks, like those that contain sets +of dancing figures, which issue from the dial-plate +when the hour is struck; or like those, where a ship +sails across the face of the clock, and is seen tossing +up and down on the waves, as often as the pendulum +vibrates.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Indeed, there was some ground for supposing that +Isaac would devote himself to the manufacture of +clocks; since he had already made one, of a kind +which nobody had ever heard of before. It was set +a-going, not by wheels and weights, like other clocks, +but by the dropping of water. This was an object +of great wonderment to all the people roundabout; +and it must be confessed that there are few boys, or +men either, who could contrive to tell what o'clock +it is, by means of a bowl of water.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Besides the water-clock, Isaac made a sun-dial. +Thus his grandmother was never at a loss to know +the hour; for the water-clock would tell it in the +shade, and the dial in the sunshine. The sun-dial +is said to be still in existence at Woolsthorpe, on the +corner of the house where Isaac dwelt. If so, it +must have marked the passage of every sunny hour +that has elapsed, since Isaac Newton was a boy. It +marked all the famous moments of his life; it marked +the hour of his death; and still the sunshine creeps +slowly over it, as regularly as when Isaac first set +it up.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yet we must not say that the sun-dial has lasted +longer than its maker; for Isaac Newton will exist, +long after the dial—yea, and long after the sun +itself—shall have crumbled to decay.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Isaac possessed a wonderful faculty of acquiring +knowledge by the simplest means. For instance, +what method do you suppose he took, to find out the +strength of the wind? You will never guess how +the boy could compel that unseen, inconstant, and +ungovernable wanderer, the wind, to tell him the +measure of its strength. Yet nothing can be more +simple. He jumped against the wind; and by the +length of his jump, he could calculate the force of a +gentle breeze, a brisk gale, or a tempest. Thus, +even in his boyish sports, he was continually searching +out the secrets of philosophy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not far from his grandmother's residence there +was a windmill, which operated on a new plan. +Isaac was in the habit of going thither frequently, +and would spend whole hours in examining its various +parts. While the mill was at rest, he pryed +into its internal machinery. When its broad sails +were set in motion by the wind, he watched the process +by which the mill-stones were made to revolve, +and crush the grain that was put into the hopper. +After gaining a thorough knowledge of its construction, +he was observed to be unusually busy with his +tools.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was not long before his grandmother, and all +the neighborhood, knew what Isaac had been about. +He had constructed a model of the windmill. +Though not so large, I suppose as one of the box-traps +which boys set to catch squirrels, yet every part +of the mill and its machinery was complete. Its little +sails were neatly made of linen, and whirled round +very swiftly when the mill was placed in a draught +of air. Even a puff of wind from Isaac's mouth, or +from a pair of bellows, was sufficient to set the sails +in motion. And—what was most curious—if a +handful of grains of wheat were put into the little +hopper, they would soon be converted into snow-white +flour.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Isaac's playmates were enchanted with his new +windmill. They thought that nothing so pretty, and +so wonderful, had ever been seen in the whole world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, Isaac," said one of them, "you have forgotten +one thing that belongs to a mill."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What is that?" asked Isaac; for he supposed, +that, from the roof of the mill to its foundation, he +had forgotten nothing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, where is the miller?" said his friend.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That is true!—I must look out for one," said +Isaac; and he set himself to consider how the deficiency +should be supplied.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He might easily have made the miniature figure +of a man; but then it would not have been able to +move about, and perform the duties of a miller. As +Captain Lemuel Gulliver had not yet discovered the +island of Lilliput, Isaac did not know that there were +little men in the world, whose size was just suited +to his windmill. It so happened, however, that a +mouse had just been caught in the trap; and, as no +other miller could be found, Mr. Mouse was appointed +to that important office. The new miller made a +very respectable appearance in his dark gray coat. +To be sure, he had not a very good character for +honesty, and was suspected of sometimes stealing a +portion of the grain which was given him to grind. +But perhaps some two-legged millers are quite as +dishonest as this small quadruped.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Isaac grew older, it was found that he had far +more important matters in his mind than the manufacture +of toys, like the little windmill. All day +long, if left to himself, he was either absorbed in +thought, or engaged in some book of mathematics, +or natural philosophy. At night, I think it probable, +he looked up with reverential curiosity to the stars, +and wondered whether they were worlds, like our +own,—and how great was their distance from the +earth,—and what was the power that kept them in +their courses. Perhaps, even so early in life, Isaac +Newton felt a presentiment that he should be able, +hereafter, to answer all these questions.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Isaac was fourteen years old, his mother's +second husband being now dead, she wished her son +to leave school, and assist her in managing the farm +at Woolsthorpe. For a year or two, therefore, he +tried to turn his attention to farming. But his mind +was so bent on becoming a scholar, that his mother +sent him back to school, and afterwards to the University +of Cambridge.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">I have now finished my anecdotes of Isaac Newton's +boyhood. My story would be far too long, +were I to mention all the splendid discoveries which +he made, after he came to be a man. He was the +first that found out the nature of Light; for, before +his day, nobody could tell what the sunshine was +composed of. You remember, I suppose, the story +of an apple's falling on his head, and thus leading +him to discover the force of gravitation, which keeps +the heavenly bodies in their courses. When he had +once got hold of this idea, he never permitted his +mind to rest, until he had searched out all the laws, +by which the planets are guided through the sky. +This he did as thoroughly as if he had gone up +among the stars, and tracked them in their orbits. +The boy had found out the mechanism of a windmill; +the man explained to his fellow-men the mechanism +of the universe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While making these researches he was accustomed +to spend night after night in a lofty tower, gazing at +the heavenly bodies through a telescope. His mind +was lifted far above the things of this world. He +may be said, indeed, to have spent the greater part +of his life in worlds that lie thousands and millions +of miles away; for where the thoughts and the +heart are, there is our true existence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Did you never hear the story of Newton and his +little dog Diamond? One day, when he was fifty +years old, and had been hard at work more than +twenty years, studying the theory of Light, he went +out of his chamber, leaving his little dog asleep before +the fire. On the table lay a heap of manuscript +papers, containing all the discoveries which Newton +had made during those twenty years. When his +master was gone, up rose little Diamond, jumped +upon the table, and overthrew the lighted candle. +The papers immediately caught fire.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Just as the destruction was completed, Newton +opened the chamber-door, and perceived that the +labors of twenty years were reduced to a heap of +ashes. There stood little Diamond, the author of all +the mischief. Almost any other man would have +sentenced the dog to immediate death. But Newton +patted him on the head with his usual kindness, +although grief was at his heart.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, Diamond, Diamond," exclaimed he, "thou +little knowest the mischief thou hast done."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This incident affected his health and spirits for +some time afterwards; but, from his conduct towards +the little dog, you may judge what was the sweetness +of his temper.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Newton lived to be a very old man, and acquired +great renown, and was made a Member of Parliament, +and received the honor of knighthood from +the king. But he cared little for earthly fame and +honors, and felt no pride in the vastness of his +knowledge. All that he had learned only made him +feel how little he knew in comparison to what remained +to be known.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I seem to myself like a child," observed he, +"playing on the sea-shore, and picking up here and +there a curious shell or a pretty pebble, while the +boundless ocean of Truth lies undiscovered before +me."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last, in 1727, when he was fourscore and five +years old, Sir Isaac Newton died,—or rather he +ceased to live on earth. We may be permitted to +believe that he is still searching out the infinite wisdom +and goodness of the Creator, as earnestly, and +with even more success, than while his spirit animated +a mortal body. He has left a fame behind him, +which will be as endurable as if his name were +written in letters of light, formed by the stars upon +the midnight sky.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I love to hear about mechanical contrivances—such +as the water-clock and the little windmill," remarked +George. "I suppose if Sir Isaac Newton +had only thought of it, he might have found out the +steam-engine, and railroads, and all the other famous +inventions that have come into use since his day."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Very possibly he might," replied Mr. Temple; +"and, no doubt, a great many people would think it +more useful to manufacture steam-engines, than to +search out the system of the universe. Other great +astronomers, besides Newton, have been endowed +with mechanical genius. There was David Rittenhouse, +an American,—he made a perfect little +water-mill, when he was only seven or eight years +old. But this sort of ingenuity is but a mere trifle +in comparison with the other talents of such men."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It must have been beautiful," said Edward, "to +spend whole nights in a high tower, as Newton did, +gazing at the stars, and the comets, and the meteors. +But what would Newton have done, had he been +blind? or if his eyes had been no better than +mine?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, even then, my dear child," observed Mrs. +Temple, "he would have found out some way of +enlightening his mind, and of elevating his soul. +But, come! little Emily is waiting to bid you good +night. You must go to sleep, and dream of seeing +all our faces."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But how sad it will be, when I awake!" murmured +Edward.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc111" id="toc111"></a><a name="pdf112" id="pdf112"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IV</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the course of the next day, the harmony of our +little family was disturbed by something like a quarrel +between George and Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The former, though he loved his brother dearly, +had found it quite too great a sacrifice of his own +enjoyments, to spend all his playtime in a darkened +chamber. Edward, on the other hand, was inclined +to be despotic. He felt as if his bandaged eyes +entitled him to demand that everybody, who enjoyed +the blessing of sight, should contribute to his +comfort and amusement. He therefore insisted that +George, instead of going out to play at foot-ball, should +join with himself and Emily in a game of questions +and answers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">George resolutely refused, and ran out of the +house. He did not revisit Edward's chamber till +the evening, when he stole in, looking confused, yet +somewhat sullen, and sat down beside his father's +chair. It was evident, by a motion of Edward's +head and a slight trembling of his lips, that he was +aware of George's entrance, though his footsteps had +been almost inaudible. Emily, with her serious and +earnest little face, looked from one to the other, as +if she longed to be a messenger of peace between +them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. Temple, without seeming to notice any of +these circumstances, began a story.</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc113" id="toc113"></a><a name="pdf114" id="pdf114"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">SAMUEL JOHNSON</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Born</span></span> 1709. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Died</span></span> 1784.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Sam," said Mr. Michael Johnson of Lichfield, +one morning, "I am very feeble and ailing to-day. +You must go to Uttoxeter in my stead, and tend the +bookstall in the market-place there."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This was spoken, above a hundred years ago, by +an elderly man, who had once been a thriving bookseller +at Lichfield, in England. Being now in reduced +circumstances, he was forced to go, every +market-day, and sell books at a stall, in the neighboring +village of Uttoxeter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His son, to whom Mr. Johnson spoke, was a great +boy of very singular aspect. He had an intelligent +face; but it was seamed and distorted by a scrofulous +humor, which affected his eyes so badly, that +sometimes he was almost blind. Owing to the same +cause, his head would often shake with a tremulous +motion, as if he were afflicted with the palsy. When +Sam was an infant, the famous Queen Anne had +tried to cure him of this disease, by laying her royal +hands upon his head. But though the touch of a +king or Queen was supposed to be a certain remedy +for scrofula, it produced no good effect upon Sam +Johnson.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the time which we speak of, the poor lad was +not very well dressed, and wore shoes from which his +toes peeped out; for his old father had barely the +means of supporting his wife and children. But, +poor as the family were, young Sam Johnson had as +much pride as any nobleman's son in England. The +fact was, he felt conscious of uncommon sense and +ability, which, in his own opinion, entitled him to +great respect from the world. Perhaps he would +have been glad, if grown people had treated him as +reverentially as his school-fellows did. Three of +them were accustomed to come for him, every morning; +and while he sat upon the back of one, the two +others supported him on each side, and thus he rode +to school in triumph!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Being a personage of so much importance, Sam +could not bear the idea of standing all day in Uttoxeter +market, offering books to the rude and ignorant +country-people. Doubtless he felt the more reluctant +on account of his shabby clothes, and the disorder of +his eyes, and the tremulous motion of his head.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Mr. Michael Johnson spoke, Sam pouted, +and made an indistinct grumbling in his throat; then +he looked his old father in the face, and answered +him loudly and deliberately.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Sir," said he, "I will not go to Uttoxeter +market!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. Johnson had seen a great deal of the lad's +obstinacy ever since his birth; and while Sam was +younger, the old gentleman had probably used the +rod, whenever occasion seemed to require. But he +was now too feeble, and too much out of spirits, to +contend with this stubborn and violent-tempered boy. +He therefore gave up the point at once, and prepared +to go to Uttoxeter himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well Sam," said Mr. Johnson, as he took his +hat and staff, "If, for the sake of your foolish pride, +you can suffer your poor sick father to stand all day +in the noise and confusion of the market, when he +ought to be in his bed, I have no more to say. But +you will think of this, Sam, when I am dead and +gone!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So the poor old man (perhaps with a tear in his +eye, but certainly with sorrow in his heart) set forth +towards Uttoxeter. The gray-haired, feeble, melancholy +Michael Johnson! How sad a thing it was, +that he should be forced to go, in his sickness, and +toil for the support of an ungrateful son, who was +too proud to do any thing for his father, or his mother, +or himself! Sam looked after Mr. Johnson, +with a sullen countenance, till he was out of sight.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But when the old man's figure, as he went stooping +along the street, was no more to be seen, the +boy's heart began to smite him. He had a vivid +imagination, and it tormented him with the image of +his father, standing in the market-place of Uttoxeter +and offering his books to the noisy crowd around him, +Sam seemed to behold him, arranging his literary +merchandise upon the stall in such a way as was best +calculated to attract notice. Here was Addison's +Spectator, a long row of little volumes; here was +Pope's translation of the Iliad and Odyssey; here +were Dryden's poems, or those of Prior. Here, +likewise, were Gulliver's Travels, and a variety of +little gilt-covered children's books, such as Tom +Thumb, Jack the Giant-queller, Mother Goose's +Melodies, and others which our great-grandparents +used to read in their childhood. And here were +sermons for the pious, and pamphlets for the politicians, +and ballads, some merry and some dismal +ones, for the country people to sing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sam, in imagination, saw his father offer these +books, pamphlets, and ballads, now to the rude yeomen, +who perhaps could not read a word,—now to +the country squires, who cared for nothing but to +hunt hares and foxes,—now to the children, who +chose to spend their coppers for sugar-plums or +gingerbread, rather than for picture-books. And if +Mr. Johnson should sell a book to man, woman, or +child, it would cost him an hour's talk to get a profit +of only sixpence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My poor father!" thought Sam to himself. +"How his head will ache, and how heavy his heart +will be! I am almost sorry that I did not do as he +bade me!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then the boy went to his mother, who was busy +about the house. She did not know of what had +passed between Mr. Johnson and Sam.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Mother," said he, "did you think father seemed +very ill to-day?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes, Sam," answered his mother, turning with +a flushed face from the fire, where she was cooking +their scanty dinner. "Your father did look very +ill; and it is a pity he did not send you to Uttoxeter +in his stead. You are a great boy now, and would +rejoice, I am sure, to do something for your poor +father, who has done so much for you."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The lad made no reply. But again his imagination +set to work, and conjured up another picture of +poor Michael Johnson. He was standing in the hot +sunshine of the market-place, and looking so weary, +sick, and disconsolate, that the eyes of all the crowd +were drawn to him. "Had this old man no son," +the people would say among themselves, "who +might have taken his place at the bookstall, while +the father kept his bed?" And perhaps—but +this was a terrible thought for Sam!—perhaps his +father would faint away, and fall down in the +market-place, with his gray hair in the dust, and his +venerable face as deathlike as that of a corpse. +And there would be the bystanders gazing earnestly +at Mr. Johnson, and whispering, "Is he dead? Is +he dead?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And Sam shuddered, as he repeated to himself: +"Is he dead?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, I have been a cruel son!" thought he, +within his own heart. "God forgive me! God +forgive me!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But God could not yet forgive him; for he was +not truly penitent. Had he been so, he would have +hastened away that very moment to Uttoxeter, and +have fallen at his father's feet, even in the midst of +the crowded market-place. There he would have +confessed his fault, and besought Mr. Johnson to go +home, and leave the rest of the day's work to him. +But such was Sam's pride and natural stubbornness, +that he could not bring himself to this humiliation. +Yet he ought to have done so, for his own sake, and +for his father's sake, and for God's sake.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After sunset, old Michael Johnson came slowly +home, and sat down in his customary chair. He +said nothing to Sam; nor do I know that a single +word ever passed between them, on the subject of +the son's disobedience. In a few years, his father +died and left Sam to fight his way through the world +by himself. It would make our story much too long +were I to tell you even a few of the remarkable +events of Sam's life. Moreover, there is the less +need of this, because many books have been written +about that poor boy, and the fame that he acquired, +and all that he did or talked of doing, after he came +to be a man.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But one thing I must not neglect to say. From +his boyhood upward, until the latest day of his life, he +never forgot the story of Uttoxeter market. Often +when he was a scholar of the University of Oxford, +or master of an Academy at Edial, or a writer for +the London booksellers,—in all his poverty and toil, +and in all his success,—while he was walking the +streets without a shilling to buy food, or when the +greatest men of England were proud to feast him at +their table,—still that heavy and remorseful thought +came back to him:—"I was cruel to my poor father +in his illness!" Many and many a time, awake or +in his dreams, he seemed to see old Michael Johnson, +standing in the dust and confusion of the market-place, +and pressing his withered hand to his forehead +as if it ached.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Alas! my dear children, it is a sad thing to have +such a thought as this to bear us company through +life.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Though the story was but half finished, yet, as it +was longer than usual, Mr. Temple here made a +short pause. He perceived that Emily was in tears, +and Edward turned his half-veiled face towards the +speaker, with an air of great earnestness and interest. +As for George he had withdrawn into the dusky +shadow behind his father's chair.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc115" id="toc115"></a><a name="pdf116" id="pdf116"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter V</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In a few moments Mr. Temple resumed the story, +as follows:</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc117" id="toc117"></a><a name="pdf118" id="pdf118"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">SAMUEL JOHNSON—</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-variant: small-caps">continued.</span></span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Well, my children, fifty years had passed away +since young Sam Johnson had shown himself so +hard-hearted towards his father. It was now market-day +in the village of Uttoxeter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the street of the village, you might see cattle-dealers +with cows and oxen for sale, and pig-drovers, +with herds of squeaking swine, and farmers, with +cart-loads of cabbages, turnips, onions, and all other +produce of the soil. Now and then a farmer's red-faced +wife trotted along on horseback, with butter +and cheese in two large panniers. The people of +the village, with country squires and other visitors +from the neighborhood, walked hither and thither, +trading, jesting, quarrelling, and making just such a +bustle as their fathers and grandfathers had made +half a century before.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In one part of the street, there was a puppet-show, +with a ridiculous Merry-Andrew, who kept both +grown people and children in a roar of laughter. +On the opposite side was the old stone church of +Uttoxeter, with ivy climbing up its walls, and partly +obscuring its Gothic windows.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a clock in the gray tower of the ancient +church; and the hands on the dial-plate had now +almost reached the hour of noon. At this busiest +hour of the market, a strange old gentleman was +seen making his way among the crowd. He was +very tall and bulky, and wore a brown coat and +small clothes, with black worsted stockings and +buckled shoes. On his head was a three-cornered +hat, beneath which a bushy gray wig thrust itself +out, all in disorder. The old gentleman elbowed +the people aside, and forced his way through the +midst of them with a singular kind of gait, rolling +his body hither and thither, so that he needed twice +as much room as any other person there.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Make way, sir!" he would cry out, in a loud, +harsh voice, when somebody happened to interrupt +his progress.—"Sir, you intrude your person into +the public thoroughfare!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What a queer old fellow this is!" muttered the +people among themselves, hardly knowing whether +to laugh or to be angry.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, when they looked into the venerable stranger's +face, not the most thoughtless among them dared +to offer him the least impertinence. Though his +features were scarred and distorted with the scrofula, +and though his eyes were dim and bleared, yet there +was something of authority and wisdom in his look, +which impressed them all with awe. So they stood +aside to let him pass; and the old gentleman made +his way across the market-place, and paused near +the corner of the ivy-mantled church. Just as he +reached it, the clock struck twelve.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the very spot of ground, where the stranger +now stood, some aged people remembered that old +Michael Johnson had formerly kept his bookstall. +The little children, who had once bought picture-books +of him, were grandfathers now.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes; here is the very spot!" muttered the old +gentleman to himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There this unknown personage took his stand, and +removed the three-cornered hat from his head. It +was the busiest hour of the day. What with the +hum of human voices, the lowing of cattle, the +squeaking of pigs, and the laughter caused by the +Merry-Andrew, the market-place was in very great +confusion. But the stranger seemed not to notice +it, any more than if the silence of a desert were +around him. He was wrapt in his own thoughts. +Sometimes he raised his furrowed brow to heaven, +as if in prayer; sometimes he bent his head, as if an +insupportable weight of sorrow were upon him. It +increased the awfulness of his aspect that there was +a motion of his head, and an almost continual tremor +throughout his frame, with singular twitchings and +contortions of his features.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The hot sun blazed upon his unprotected head; +but he seemed not to feel its fervor. A dark cloud +swept across the sky, and rain-drops pattered into +the market-place; but the stranger heeded not the +shower. The people began to gaze at the mysterious +old gentleman, with superstitious fear and wonder. +Who could he be? Whence did he come? Wherefore +was he standing bare-headed in the market-place? +Even the school-boys left the Merry-Andrew, +and came to gaze, with wide open eyes, at +this tall, strange-looking old man.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a cattle-drover in the village, who had +recently made a journey to the Smithfield market, +in London. No sooner had this man thrust his way +through the throng, and taken a look at the unknown +personage, than he whispered to one of his acquaintances:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I say, neighbor Hutchins, would ye like to know +who this old gentleman is?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ay, that I would," replied neighbor Hutchins; +"for a queerer chap I never saw in my life! Somehow, +it makes me feel small to look at him. He's +more than a common man."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You may well say so," answered the cattle-drover. +"Why, that's the famous Doctor Samuel +Johnson, who, they say, is the greatest and learnedest +man in England. I saw him in London Streets, +walking with one Mr. Boswell."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yes; the poor boy—the friendless Sam—with, +whom we began our story, had become the famous +Doctor Samuel Johnson! He was universally acknowledged +as the wisest man and greatest writer in +all England. He had given shape and permanence +to his native language, by his Dictionary. Thousands +upon thousands of people had read his Idler, +his Rambler, and his Rasselas. Noble and wealthy +men, and beautiful ladies, deemed it their highest +privilege to be his companions. Even the king of +Great Britain had sought his acquaintance, and told +him what an honor he considered it, that such a man +had been born in his dominions. He was now at +the summit of literary renown.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But all his fame could not extinguish the bitter +remembrance, which had tormented him through +life. Never, never, had he forgotten his father's +sorrowful and upbraiding look. Never—though +the old man's troubles had been over so many +years—had he forgiven himself for inflicting such +a pang upon his heart. And now, in his old +age, he had come hither to do penance, by +standing at noon-day in the market-place of Uttoxeter, +on the very spot where Michael Johnson +had once kept his bookstall. The aged and illustrious +man had done what the poor boy refused +to do. By thus expressing his deep repentance +and humiliation of heart, he hoped to gain peace +of conscience, and the forgiveness of God.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">My dear children, if you have grieved—I will +not say, your parents—but, if you have grieved the +heart of any human being, who has a claim upon +your love, then think of Samuel Johnson's penance! +Will it not be better to redeem the error now, than +to endure the agony of remorse for fifty years? +Would you not rather say to a brother—"I have +erred! Forgive me!"—than perhaps to go hereafter, +and shed bitter tears upon his grave?</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hardly was the story concluded, when George hastily +arose, and Edward likewise, stretching forth his +hands into the darkness that surrounded him, to find +his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness; +each besought the other's forgiveness; and having, +done so, the trouble of their hearts vanished away +like a dream.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I am glad! I am so glad!" said Emily, in +a low, earnest voice. "Now I shall sleep quietly +to-night."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My sweet child," thought Mrs. Temple, as she +kissed her, "mayest thou never know how much +strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many +a night's rest."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc119" id="toc119"></a><a name="pdf120" id="pdf120"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VI</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">About this period, Mr. Temple found it necessary +to take a journey, which interrupted the series of +Biographical Stories for several evenings. In the +interval, Edward practised various methods of employing +and amusing his mind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects +which he had formerly seen, until the intensity of +his recollection seemed to restore him the gift of +sight, and place every thing anew before his eyes. +Sometimes he repeated verses of poetry, which he +did not know to be in his memory, until he found +them there, just at the time of need. Sometimes +he attempted to solve arithmetical questions, which +had perplexed him while at school.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then, with his mother's assistance, he learned the +letters of the string-alphabet, which is used in some +of the Institutions for the Blind, in Europe. When +one of his friends gave him a leaf of Saint Mark's +Gospel, printed in embossed characters, he endeavored +to read it by passing his fingers over the letters, +as blind children do.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His brother George was now very kind, and spent +so much time in the darkened chamber, that Edward +often insisted upon his going out to play. George +told him all about the affairs at school, and related +many amusing incidents that happened among his +comrades, and informed him what sports were now +in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and +whose little ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. +As for Emily, she repeated stories which she had +learned from a new book, called THE FLOWER PEOPLE, +in which the snow-drops, the violets, the columbines, +the roses, and all that lovely tribe, are represented +as telling their secrets to a little girl. The flowers +talked sweetly, as flowers should; and Edward +almost fancied that he could behold their bloom +and smell their fragrant breath.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Thus, in one way or another, the dark days of +Edward's confinement passed not unhappily. In due +time, his father returned; and the next evening, +when the family were assembled, he began a story.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I must first observe, children," said he, "that +some writers deny the truth of the incident which I +am about to relate to you. There certainly is but +little evidence in favor of it. Other respectable +writers, however, tell it for a fact; and, at all +events, it is an interesting story, and has an excellent +moral."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Mr. Temple proceeded to talk about the early +days of</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc121" id="toc121"></a><a name="pdf122" id="pdf122"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">OLIVER CROMWELL</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Born</span></span> 1599. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Died</span></span> 1658.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not long after King James the First took the place +of Queen Elizabeth on the throne of England, there +lived an English knight at a place called Hinchinbrooke. +His name was Sir Oliver Cromwell. He +spent his life, I suppose, pretty much like other +English knights and squires in those days, hunting +hares and foxes, and drinking large quantities of ale +and wine. The old house in which he dwelt, had +been occupied by his ancestors before him, for a +good many years. In it there was a great hall, +hung round with coats of arms, and helmets, cuirasses +and swords which his forefathers had used in +battle, and with horns of deer and tails of foxes, +which they or Sir Oliver himself had killed in the +chase.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This Sir Oliver Cromwell had a nephew, who had +been called Oliver, after himself, but who was generally +known in the family by the name of little Noll. +His father was a younger brother of Sir Oliver. +The child was often sent to visit his uncle, who +probably found him a troublesome little fellow to +take care of. He was forever in mischief, and +always running into some danger or other from +which he seemed to escape only by miracle.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange +accident had befallen him. A huge ape which was +kept in the family, snatched up little Noll in his +forepaws and clambered with him to the roof of the +house. There this ugly beast sat grinning at the +affrighted spectators, as if he had done the most +praiseworthy thing imaginable. Fortunately, however, +he brought the child safe down again; and +the event was afterwards considered an omen that +Noll would reach a very elevated station in the +world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One morning, when Noll was five or six years old, +a royal messenger arrived at Hinchinbrooke, with +tidings that King James was coming to dine with Sir +Oliver Cromwell. This was a high honor to be sure, +but a very great trouble; for all the lords and ladies, +knights, squires, guards, and yeomen, who waited on +the king, were to be feasted as well as himself; and +more provisions would be eaten, and more wine +drunk, in that one day, than generally in a month. +However, Sir Oliver expressed much thankfulness +for the king's intended visit, and ordered his butler +and cook to make the best preparations in their +power. So a great fire was kindled in the kitchen; +and the neighbors knew by the smoke which poured +out of the chimney, that boiling, baking, stewing, +roasting, and frying, were going on merrily.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By and by the sound of trumpets was heard, +approaching nearer and nearer; and a heavy, old-fashioned +coach, surrounded by guards on horseback, +drove up to the house. Sir Oliver, with his hat in +his hand, stood at the gate to receive the king. His +Majesty was dressed in a suit of green, not very +new; he had a feather in his hat, and a triple ruff +round his neck; and over his shoulder was slung a +hunting horn, instead of a sword. Altogether, he +had not the most dignified aspect in the world; but +the spectators gazed at him as if there was something +superhuman and divine in his person. They +even shaded their eyes with their hands, as if they +were dazzled by the glory of his countenance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How are ye, man?" cried King James, speaking +in a Scotch accent; for Scotland was his native +country. "By my crown, Sir Oliver, but I am glad +to see ye!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The good knight thanked the king, at the same +time kneeling down, while his Majesty alighted. +When King James stood on the ground, he directed +Sir Oliver's attention to a little boy, who had come +with him in the coach. He was six or seven years +old, and wore a hat and feather, and was more richly +dressed than the king himself. Though by no means +an ill-looking child; he seemed shy, or even sulky; +and his cheeks were rather pale, as if he had been +kept moping within doors, instead of being sent out +to play in the sun and wind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I have brought my son Charlie to see ye," said +the king. "I hope, Sir Oliver, ye have a son of +your own, to be his playmate?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sir Oliver Cromwell made a reverential bow to +the little prince, whom one of the attendants had +now taken out of the coach. It was wonderful to +see how all the spectators, even the aged men, with +their gray beards, humbled themselves before this +child. They bent their bodies till their beards +almost swept the dust. They looked as if they +were ready to kneel down and worship him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The poor little prince! From his earliest infancy +not a soul had dared to contradict him; everybody +around him had acted as if he were a superior being; +so that, of course, he had imbibed the same opinion +of himself. He naturally supposed that the whole +kingdom of Great Britain and all its inhabitants, had +been created solely for his benefit and amusement. +This was a sad mistake; and it cost him dear +enough after he had ascended his father's throne.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What a noble little prince he is!" exclaimed +Sir Oliver, lifting his hands in admiration. "No, +please your Majesty, I have no son to be the playmate +of his Royal Highness; but there is a nephew +of mine, somewhere about the house. He is near +the prince's age, and will be but too happy to wait +upon his Royal Highness."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Send for him, man! send for him!" said the +king.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, as it happened, there was no need of sending +for Master Noll. While King James was speaking, +a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little urchin thrust +himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants, +and greeted the prince with a broad stare. +His doublet and hose (which had been put on new +and clean in honor of the king's visit) were already +soiled and torn with the rough play in which he had +spent the morning. He looked no more abashed +than if King James were his uncle, and the prince +one of his customary playfellows.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This was little Noll himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew," +said sir Oliver, somewhat ashamed of Noll's appearance +and demeanor. "Oliver, make your obeisance +to the king's Majesty!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the +king; for, in those days, children were taught to +pay reverence to their elders. King James, who +prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll +a few questions in the Latin Grammar, and then +introduced him to his son. The little prince in a +very grave and dignified manner, extended his hand, +not for Noll to shake, but that he might kneel down +and kiss it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Nephew," said Sir Oliver, "pay your duty to +the prince."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I owe him no duty," cried Noll, thrusting aside +the prince's hand, with a rude laugh. "Why should +I kiss that boy's hand?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, +and Sir Oliver the most of all. But the king laughed +heartily, saying that little Noll had a stubborn English +spirit, and that it was well for his son to learn +betimes what sort of a people he was to rule over.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So King James and his train entered the house; +and the prince, with Noll and some other children, +was sent to play in a separate room while his Majesty +was at dinner. The young people soon became +acquainted; for boys, whether the sons of monarchs +or of peasants, all like play, and are pleased with +one another's society. What games they diverted +themselves with, I cannot tell. Perhaps they played +at ball—perhaps at blindman's buff—perhaps +at leap-frog—perhaps at prison-bars. Such games +have been in use for hundreds of years; and princes +as well as poor children have spent some of their +happiest hours in playing at them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meanwhile, King James and his nobles were feasting +with Sir Oliver, in the great hall. The king sat +in a gilded chair, under a canopy, at the head of a +long table. Whenever any of the company addressed +him, it was with the deepest reverence. If the attendants +offered him wine, or the various delicacies of +the festival, it was upon their bended knees. You +would have thought, by these tokens of worship, +that the monarch was a supernatural being; only +he seemed to have quite as much need of those +vulgar matters, food and drink, as any other person +at the table. But fate had ordained that good King +James should not finish his dinner in peace.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All of a sudden, there arose a terrible uproar in +the room where the children were at play. Angry +shouts and shrill cries of alarm were mixed up +together; while the voices of elder persons were +likewise heard, trying to restore order among the +children. The king, and everybody else at table, +looked aghast; for perhaps the tumult made them +think that a general rebellion had broken out.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Mercy on us!" muttered Sir Oliver; "that +graceless nephew of mine is in some mischief or +other. The naughty little whelp!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Getting up from table, he ran to see what was +the matter, followed by many of the guests, and the +king among them. They all crowded to the door of +the play-room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On looking in, they beheld the little Prince +Charles, with his rich dress all torn, and covered +with the dust of the floor. His royal blood was +streaming from his nose in great abundance. He +gazed at Noll with a mixture of rage and affright, +and at the same time a puzzled expression, as if he +could not understand how any mortal boy should +dare to give him a beating. As for Noll, there +stood his sturdy little figure, bold as a lion, looking +as if he were ready to fight not only the prince, but +the king and kingdom too.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You little villain!" cried his uncle. "What +have you been about? Down on your knees, this +instant, and ask the prince's pardon. How dare +you lay your hands on the king's Majesty's royal +son?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"He struck me first," grumbled the valiant little +Noll; "and I've only given him his due."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sir Oliver and the guests lifted up their hands in +astonishment and horror. No punishment seemed +severe enough for this wicked little varlet, who had +dared to resent a blow from the king's own son. +Some of the courtiers were of opinion that Noll +should be sent prisoner to the Tower of London, and +brought to trial for high treason. Others, in their +great zeal for the king's service, were about to lay +hands on the boy, and chastise him in the royal +presence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But King James, who sometimes showed a good +deal of sagacity, ordered them to desist.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Thou art a bold boy," said he, looking fixedly at +little Noll; "and, if thou live to be a man, my son +Charlie would do wisely to be friends with thee."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I never will!" cried the little prince, stamping +his foot.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Peace, Charlie, peace!" said the king; then +addressing Sir Oliver and the attendants, "Harm +not the urchin; for he has taught my son a good +lesson, if Heaven do but give him grace to profit +by it. Hereafter, should he be tempted to tyrannize +over the stubborn race of Englishmen, let him remember +little Noll Cromwell, and his own bloody +nose!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So the king finished his dinner and departed; +and, for many a long year, the childish quarrel +between Prince Charles and Noll Cromwell was forgotten. +The prince, indeed, might have lived a happier +life, and have met a more peaceful death, had he +remembered that quarrel, and the moral which his +father drew from it. But, when old King James +was dead, and Charles sat upon his throne, he seemed +to forget that he was but a man, and that his meanest +subjects were men as well as he. He wished to have +the property and lives of the people of England entirely +at his own disposal. But the Puritans, and +all who loved liberty, rose against him, and beat him +in many battles, and pulled him down from his +throne.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Throughout this war between the king and nobles +on one side, and the people of England on the other, +there was a famous leader, who did more towards +the ruin of royal authority, than all the rest. The +contest seemed like a wrestling-match between King +Charles and this strong man. And the king was +overthrown.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the discrowned monarch was brought to +trial, that warlike leader sat in the judgment-hall. +Many judges were present, besides himself; but he +alone had the power to save King Charles, or to +doom him to the scaffold. After sentence was pronounced, +this victorious general was entreated by +his own children, on their knees, to rescue his Majesty +from death.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No!" said he sternly. "Better that one man +should perish, than that the whole country should be +ruined for his sake. It is resolved that he shall die!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Charles, no longer a king, was led to the +scaffold, his great enemy stood at a window of the +royal palace of Whitehall. He beheld the poor +victim of pride, and an evil education, and misused +power, as he laid his head upon the block. He +looked on, with a steadfast gaze, while a black-veiled +executioner lifted the fatal axe, and smote off that +anointed head at a single blow.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It is a righteous deed," perhaps he said to himself. +"Now Englishmen may enjoy their rights."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At night, when the body of Charles was laid in +the coffin, in a gloomy chamber, the general entered, +lighting himself with a torch. Its gleam showed +that he was now growing old; his visage was scarred +with the many battles in which he had led the van; +his brow was wrinkled with care, and with the continual +exercise of stern authority. Probably there +was not a single trait, either of aspect or manner, +that belonged to the little Noll, who had battled so +stoutly with Prince Charles. Yet this was he!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He lifted the coffin-lid, and caused the light of his +torch to fall upon the dead monarch's face. Then, +probably, his mind went back over all the marvellous +events, that had brought the hereditary king of England +to this dishonored coffin, and had raised himself, +an humble individual, to the possession of kingly +power. He was a king, though without the empty +title, or the glittering crown.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why was it," said Cromwell to himself—or +might have said—as he gazed at the pale features +in the coffin,—"Why was it, that this great king +fell, and that poor Noll Cromwell has gained all the +power of the realm?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And, indeed, why was it?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">King Charles had fallen, because, in his manhood +the same as when a child, he disdained to feel that +every human creature was his brother. He deemed +himself a superior being, and fancied that his subjects +were created only for a king to rule over. And +Cromwell rose, because, in spite of his many faults, +he mainly fought for the rights and freedom of his +fellow-men; and therefore the poor and the oppressed +all lent their strength to him.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Dear father, how I should hate to be a king!" +exclaimed Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"And would you like to be a Cromwell?" inquired +his father.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I should like it well," replied George, "only +I would not have put the poor old king to death. I +would have sent him out of the kingdom, or perhaps +have allowed him to live in a small house, near the +gate of the royal palace. It was too severe, to cut +off his head."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Kings are in such an unfortunate position," said +Mr. Temple, "that they must either be almost deified +by their subjects, or else be dethroned and beheaded. +In either case it is a pitiable lot."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, I had rather be blind than be a king!" +said Edward.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, my dear Edward," observed his mother, +with a smile, "I am glad you are convinced that +your own lot is not the hardest in the world."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc123" id="toc123"></a><a name="pdf124" id="pdf124"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a pleasant sight (for those who had eyes) +to see how patiently the blinded little boy now submitted +to what he had at first deemed an intolerable +calamity. The beneficent Creator has not allowed +our comfort to depend on the enjoyment of any single +sense. Though he has made the world so very beautiful, +yet it is possible to be happy without ever beholding +the blue sky, or the green and flowery earth, or +the kind faces of those whom we love. Thus it appears +that all the external beauty of the universe is +a free gift from God, over and above what is necessary +to our comfort. How grateful, then, should we +be to that Divine Benevolence, which showers even +superfluous bounties upon us!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One truth, therefore, which Edward's blindness +had taught him, was, that his mind and soul could +dispense with the assistance of his eyes. Doubtless, +however, he would have found this lesson far more +difficult to learn, had it not been for the affection of +those around him. His parents, and George and +Emily, aided him to bear his misfortune; if possible, +they would have lent him their own eyes. And +this, too, was a good lesson for him. It taught him +how dependent on one another God has ordained us +to be; insomuch that all the necessities of mankind +should incite them to mutual love.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Edward loved his friends, and perhaps all the +world, better than he ever did before. And he felt +grateful towards his father for spending the evenings +in telling him stories—more grateful, probably, than +any of my little readers will feel towards me for so +carefully writing those same stories down.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Come, dear father," said he, the next evening, +"now tell us all about some other little boy, who was +destined to be a famous man."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How would you like a story of a Boston boy?" +asked his father.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Oh, pray let us have it!" cried George eagerly. +"It will be all the better if he has been to our +schools, and has coasted on the Common, and sailed +boats in the Frog Pond. I shall feel acquainted +with him then."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well, then," said Mr. Temple, "I will introduce +you to a Boston boy, whom all the world became +acquainted with, after he grew to be a man."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The story was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc125" id="toc125"></a><a name="pdf126" id="pdf126"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Born</span></span> 1706. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Died</span></span> 1790.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the year 1716, or about that period, a boy +used to be seen in the streets of Boston, who was +known among his schoolfellows and playmates by the +name of Ben Franklin. Ben was born in 1706; so +that he was now about ten years old. His father, +who had come over from England, was a soap-boiler +and tallow-chandler, and resided in Milk Street, not +far from the old South Church.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Ben was a bright boy at his book, and even a +brighter one when at play with his comrades. He +had some remarkable qualities which always seemed +to give him the lead, whether at sport or in more +serious matters. I might tell you a number of +amusing anecdotes about him. You are acquainted, +I suppose, with his famous story of the WHISTLE, +and how he bought it with a whole pocketful of +coppers, and afterwards repented of his bargain. +But Ben had grown a great boy since those days, +and had gained wisdom by experience; for it was +one of his peculiarities, that no incident ever happened +to him without teaching him some valuable +lesson. Thus he generally profited more by his +misfortunes, than many people do by the most favorable +events that could befall them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Ben's face was already pretty well known to the +inhabitants of Boston. The selectmen, and other +people of note, often used to visit his father, for the +sake of talking about the affairs of the town or +province. Mr. Franklin was considered a person of +great wisdom and integrity, and was respected by +all who knew him, although he supported his family +by the humble trade of boiling soap, and making +tallow-candles.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While his father and the visitors were holding +deep consultations about public affairs, little Ben +would sit on his stool in a corner, listening with the +greatest interest, as if he understood every word. +Indeed, his features were so full of intelligence, that +there could be but little doubt, not only that he +understood what was said, but that he could have +expressed some very sagacious opinions out of his +own mind. But, in those days, boys were expected +to be silent in the presence of their elders. However, +Ben Franklin was looked upon as a very promising +lad, who would talk and act wisely by and by.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Neighbor Franklin," his father's friends would +sometimes say, "you ought to send this boy to +college and make a minister of him."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I have often thought of it," his father would +reply; "and my brother Benjamin promises to give +him a great many volumes of manuscript sermons in +case he should be educated for the church. But I +have a large family to support, and cannot afford the +expense."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In fact, Mr. Franklin found it so difficult to provide +bread for his family, that, when the boy was ten +years old, it became necessary to take him from +school. Ben was then employed in cutting candlewicks +into equal lengths, and filling the moulds with +tallow; and many families in Boston spent their +evenings by the light of the candles which he had +helped to make. Thus, you see, in his early days, +as well as in his manhood his labors contributed to +throw light upon dark matters.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Busy as his life now was, Ben still found time to +keep company with his former schoolfellows. He +and the other boys were very fond of fishing, and +spent any of their leisure hours on the margin of +the mill-pond, catching flounders, perch, eels, and +tom-cod, which came up thither with the tide. The +place where they fished is now, probably, covered +with stone-pavements and brick buildings, and +thronged with people, and with vehicles of all kinds. +But, at that period, it was a marshy spot on the +outskirts of the town, where gulls flitted and screamed +overhead, and salt meadow-grass grew under foot. +On the edge of the water there was a deep bed +of clay, in which the boys were forced to stand, +while they caught their fish. Here they dabbled in +mud and mire like a flock of ducks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"This is very uncomfortable," said Ben Franklin +one day to his comrades, while they were standing +mid-leg deep in the quagmire.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"So it is," said the other boys. "What a pity +we have no better place to stand!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If it had not been for Ben, nothing more would +have been done or said about the matter. But it +was not in his nature to be sensible of an inconvenience, +without using his best efforts to find a remedy. +So, as he and his comrades were returning from the +water-side, Ben suddenly threw down his string of +fish with a very determined air:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Boys," cried he, "I have thought of a scheme, +which will be greatly for our benefit, and for the +public benefit!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was queer enough, to be sure, to hear this little +chap—this rosy-cheeked, ten-year-old boy—talking +about schemes for the public benefit! Nevertheless, +his companions were ready to listen, being assured +that Ben's scheme, whatever it was, would be well +worth their attention. They remembered how sagaciously +he had conducted all their enterprises, ever +since he had been old enough to wear small-clothes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They remembered, too, his wonderful contrivance +of sailing across the mill-pond by lying flat on his +back, in the water, and allowing himself to be drawn +along by a paper-kite. If Ben could do that, he +might certainly do any thing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"What is your scheme, Ben?—what is it?" +cried they all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It so happened that they had now come to a spot +of ground where a new house was to be built. Scattered +round about lay a great many large stones, +which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. +Ben mounted upon the highest of these stones, so +that he might speak with the more authority.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You know, lads," said he, "what a plague it is, +to be forced to stand in the quagmire yonder—over +shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in mud and +water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my +small-clothes, and you are all in the same pickle. +Unless we can find some remedy for this evil, our +fishing-business must be entirely given up. And, +surely, this would be a terrible misfortune!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"That it would!—that it would!" said his +comrades, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now I propose," continued Master Benjamin, +"that we build a wharf, for the purpose of carrying +on our fisheries. You see these stones. The workmen +mean to use them for the underpinning of a +house; but that would be for only one man's advantage. +My plan is to take these same stones, and +carry them to the edge of the water and build a +wharf with them. This will not only enable us to +carry on the fishing business with comfort, and to +better advantage, but it will likewise be a great convenience +to boats passing up and down the stream. +Thus, instead of one man, fifty, or a hundred, or a +thousand, besides ourselves, may be benefited by +these stones. What say you, lads?—shall we build +the wharf?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Ben's proposal was received with one of those +uproarious shouts, wherewith boys usually express +their delight at whatever completely suits their +views. Nobody thought of questioning the right +and justice of building a wharf, with stones that belonged +to another person.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Hurrah, hurrah!" shouted they. "Let's set +about it!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was agreed that they should all be on the spot, +that evening, and commence their grand public enterprise +by moonlight. Accordingly, at the appointed +time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, +and eagerly began to remove the stones. They had +not calculated how much toil would be requisite, in +this important part of their undertaking. The very +first stone which they laid hold of, proved so heavy, +that it almost seemed to be fastened to the ground. +Nothing but Ben Franklin's cheerful and resolute +spirit could have induced them to persevere.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Ben, as might be expected, was the soul of the +enterprise. By his mechanical genius, he contrived +methods to lighten the labor of transporting the +stones; so that one boy, under his directions, would +perform as much as half a dozen, if left to themselves. +Whenever their spirits flagged, he had some joke +ready, which seemed to renew their strength by setting +them all into a roar of laughter. And when, +after an hour or two of hard work, the stones were +transported to the water-side, Ben Franklin was the +engineer, to superintend the construction of the wharf.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boys, like a colony of ants, performed a great +deal of labor by their multitude, though the individual +strength of each could have accomplished but +little. Finally, just as the moon sank below the +horizon, the great work was finished.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Now, boys," cried Ben, "let's give three cheers, +and go home to bed. To-morrow, we may catch fish +at our ease!" "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" +shouted his comrades.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then they all went home, in such an ecstasy of +delight that they could hardly get a wink of sleep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The story was not yet finished; but George's +impatience caused him to interrupt it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How I wish that I could have helped to build +that wharf!" exclaimed he. "It must have been +glorious fun. Ben Franklin for ever, say I!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"It was a very pretty piece of work," said Mr. +Temple. "But wait till you hear the end of the +story."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Father," inquired Edward, "whereabouts in +Boston was the mill-pond, on which Ben built his +wharf?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I do not exactly know," answered Mr. Temple; +"but I suppose it to have been on the northern verge +of the town, in the vicinity of what are now called +Merrimack and Charlestown streets. That thronged +portion of the city was once a marsh. Some of it, +in fact, was covered with water."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc127" id="toc127"></a><a name="pdf128" id="pdf128"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter VIII</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As the children had no more questions to ask, Mr. +Temple proceeded to relate what consequences ensued +from the building of Ben Franklin's wharf.</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc129" id="toc129"></a><a name="pdf130" id="pdf130"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN—</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-variant: small-caps">continued</span></span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the morning, when the early sunbeams were +gleaming on the steeples and roofs of the town, and +gilding the water that surrounded it, the masons +came, rubbing their eyes, to begin their work at the +foundation of the new house. But, on reaching the +spot, they rubbed their eyes so much the harder. +What had become of their heap of stones!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, Sam," said one to another, in great perplexity, +"here's been some witchcraft at work, while +we were asleep. The stones must have flown away +through the air!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"More likely they have been stolen!" answered +Sam.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But who on earth would think of stealing a heap +of stones?" cried a third. "Could a man carry +them away in his pocket?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The master-mason, who was a gruff kind of man, +stood scratching his head, and said nothing, at first. +But, looking carefully on the ground, he discerned +innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes, +and some barefoot. Following these tracks with his +eye, he saw that they formed a beaten path towards +the water-side.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah, I see what the mischief is," said he, nodding +his head. "Those little rascals, the boys! +they have stolen our stones to build a wharf with!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The masons immediately went to examine the new +structure. And to say the truth, it was well worth +looking at, so neatly, and with such admirable skill, +had it been planned and finished. The stones were +put together so securely, that there was no danger +of their being loosened by the tide, however swiftly +it might sweep along. There was a broad and safe +platform to stand upon, whence the little fishermen +might cast their lines into deep water, and draw up +fish in abundance. Indeed, it almost seemed as if +Ben and his comrades might be forgiven for taking +the stones, because they had done their job in such +a workmanlike manner.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"The chaps, that built this wharf, understood their +business pretty well," said one of the masons. "I +should not be ashamed of such a piece of work myself."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the master-mason did not seem to enjoy the +joke. He was one of those unreasonable people, +who care a great deal more for their own rights and +privileges, than for the convenience of all the rest of +the world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Sam," said he, more gruffly than usual, "go +call a constable."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Sam called a constable, and inquiries were +set on foot to discover the perpetrators of the theft. +In the course of the day, warrants were issued, with +the signature of a Justice of the Peace, to take the +bodies of Benjamin Franklin and other evil-disposed +persons, who had stolen a heap of stones. If the +owner of the stolen property had not been more +merciful than the master-mason, it might have gone +hard with our friend Benjamin and his fellow-laborers. +But, luckily for them, the gentleman had a +respect for Ben's father, and moreover, was amused +with the spirit of the whole affair. He therefore let +the culprits off pretty easily.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, when the constables were dismissed, the poor +boys had to go through another trial, and receive +sentence, and suffer execution too, from their own +fathers. Many a rod I grieve to say, was worn to +the stump, on that unlucky night.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As for Ben, he was less afraid of a whipping than +of his father's disapprobation. Mr. Franklin, as I +have mentioned before, was a sagacious man, and +also an inflexibly upright one. He had read much, +for a person in his rank of life, and had pondered +upon the ways of the world, until he had gained +more wisdom than a whole library of books could +have taught him. Ben had a greater reverence for +his father, than for any other person in the world, as +well on account of his spotless integrity, as of his +practical sense and deep views of things.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Consequently, after being released from the clutches +of the law, Ben came into his father's presence, +with no small perturbation of mind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Benjamin, come hither," began Mr. Franklin, +in his customary solemn and weighty tone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boy approached, and stood before his father's +chair, waiting reverently to hear what judgment this +good man would pass upon his late offence. He felt +that now the right and wrong of the whole matter +would be made to appear.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Benjamin," said his father, "what could induce +you to take property which did not belong to you?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why, father," replied Ben, hanging his head, at +first, but then lifting his eyes to Mr. Franklin's face, +"if it had been merely for my own benefit, I never +should have dreamed of it. But I knew that the +wharf would be a public convenience. If the owner +of the stones should build a house with them, nobody +will enjoy any advantage except himself. Now, I +made use of them in a way that was for the advantage +of many persons. I thought it right to aim at +doing good to the greatest number."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My son," said Mr. Franklin, solemnly, "so far +as it was in your power, you have done a greater +harm to the public, than to the owner of the stones."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"How can that be, father?" asked Ben.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Because," answered his father, "in building +your wharf with stolen materials, you have committed +a moral wrong. There is no more terrible mistake, +than to violate what is eternally right, for the +sake of a seeming expediency. Those who act upon +such a principle, do the utmost in their power to +destroy all that is good in the world."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Heaven forbid!" said Benjamin.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"No act," continued Mr. Franklin, "can possibly +be for the benefit of the public generally, which involves +injustice to any individual. It would be easy +to prove this by examples. But, indeed, can we +suppose that our all-wise and just Creator would have +so ordered the affairs of the world, that a wrong act +should be the true method of attaining a right end? +It is impious to think so! And I do verily believe, +Benjamin, that almost all the public and private +misery of mankind arises from a neglect of this great +truth—that evil can produce only evil—that good +ends must be wrought out by good means."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I will never forget it again," said Benjamin, +bowing his head.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Remember," concluded his father, "that, whenever +we vary from the highest rule of right, just so +far we do an injury to the world. It may seem +otherwise for the moment; but, both in Time and +in Eternity, it will be found so."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To the close of his life, Ben Franklin never forgot +this conversation with his father; and we have reason +to suppose, that in most of his public and private +career, he endeavored to act upon the principles +which that good and wise man had then taught +him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After the great event of building the wharf, Ben +continued to cut wick-yarn and fill candle-moulds for +about two years. But, as he had no love for that +occupation, his father often took him to see various +artisans at their work, in order to discover what +trade he would prefer. Thus Ben learned the use +of a great many tools, the knowledge of which afterwards +proved very useful to him. But he seemed +much inclined to go to sea. In order to keep him +at home, and likewise to gratify his taste for letters, +the lad was bound apprentice to his elder brother, +who had lately set up a printing-office in Boston.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here he had many opportunities of reading new +books, and of hearing instructive conversation. He +exercised himself so successfully in writing composition, +that, when no more than thirteen or fourteen +years old, he became a contributor to his brother's +newspaper. Ben was also a versifier, if not a poet. +He made two doleful ballads; one about the shipwreck +of Captain Worthilake, and the other about +the pirate Black Beard, who not long before, infested +the American seas.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Ben's verses were printed, his brother sent +him to sell them to the town's-people, wet from the +press. "Buy my ballads!" shouted Benjamin, as +he trudged through the streets, with a basketful +on his arm. "Who'll buy a ballad about Black +Beard? A penny a piece! a penny a piece! who'll +buy my ballads?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If one of those roughly composed and rudely +printed ballads could be discovered now, it would be +worth more than its weight in gold.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In this way our friend Benjamin spent his boyhood +and youth, until, on account of some disagreement +with his brother, he left his native town and went to +Philadelphia. He landed in the latter city, a homeless +and hungry young man, and bought three-pence +worth of bread to satisfy his appetite. Not knowing +where else to go, he entered a Quaker meeting-house, +sat down, and fell fast asleep. He has not told us +whether his slumbers were visited by any dreams. +But it would have been a strange dream, indeed, +and an incredible one, that should have foretold how +great a man he was destined to become, and how +much he would be honored in that very city, where +he was now friendless, and unknown.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So here we finish our story of the childhood of +Benjamin Franklin. One of these days, if you +would know what he was in his manhood, you must +read his own works, and the history of American +Independence.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Do let us hear a little more of him!" said +Edward; "not that I admire him so much as many +other characters; but he interests me, because he +was a Yankee boy."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"My dear son," replied Mr. Temple, "it would +require a whole volume of talk, to tell you all that is +worth knowing about Benjamin Franklin. There is +a very pretty anecdote of his flying a kite in the +midst of a thunder-storm, and thus drawing down the +lightning from the clouds, and proving that it was +the same thing as electricity. His whole life would +be an interesting story, if we had time to tell it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"But, pray, dear father, tell us what made him +so famous," said George. "I have seen his portrait +a great many times. There is a wooden bust of him +in one of our streets, and marble ones, I suppose, in +some other places. And towns, and ships of war, +and steamboats, and banks, and academies, and +children, are often named after Franklin. Why +should he have grown so very famous?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Your question is a reasonable one, George," +answered his father. "I doubt whether Franklin's +philosophical discoveries, important as they were, or +even his vast political services, would have given +him all the fame which he acquired. It appears to +me that Poor Richard's Almanac did more than any +thing else towards making him familiarly known to +the public. As the writer of those proverbs, which +Poor Richard was supposed to utter, Franklin became +the counsellor and household friend of almost +every family in America. Thus, it was the humblest +of all his labors that has done the most for his fame."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I have read some of those proverbs," remarked +Edward; "but I do not like them. They are all +about getting money, or saving it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Well," said his father, "they were suited to +the condition of the country; and their effect, upon +the whole, has doubtless been good,—although they +teach men but a very small portion of their duties."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> +<a name="toc131" id="toc131"></a><a name="pdf132" id="pdf132"></a> +<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Chapter IX</span></h2> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hitherto, Mr. Temple's narratives had all been +about boys and men. But, the next evening, he +bethought himself that the quiet little Emily would +perhaps be glad to hear the story of a child of her +own sex. He therefore resolved to narrate the +youthful adventures of Christina of Sweden, who +began to be a Queen at the age of no more than six +years. If we have any little girls among our readers, +they must not suppose that Christina is set before +them as a pattern of what they ought to be. On the +contrary, the tale of her life is chiefly profitable as +showing the evil effects of a wrong education, which +caused this daughter of a king to be both useless and +unhappy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here follows the story.</p> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"> +<a name="toc133" id="toc133"></a><a name="pdf134" id="pdf134"></a> +<h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">QUEEN CHRISTINA</span></h3> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Born</span></span> 1626. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Died</span></span> 1689.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the royal palace at Stockholm, the capital city +of Sweden, there was born, in 1626, a little princess. +The king, her father, gave her the name of Christina, +in memory of a Swedish girl with whom he had been +in love. His own name was Gustavus Adolphus; +and he was also called the Lion of the North, because +he had gained greater fame in war than any other +prince or general then alive. With this valiant king +for their commander, the Swedes had made themselves +terrible to the Emperor of Germany and to +the King of France, and were looked upon as the +chief defence of the Protestant religion.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The little Christina was by no means a beautiful +child. To confess the truth, she was remarkably +plain. The queen, her mother, did not love her so +much as she ought; partly, perhaps, on account of +Christina's want of beauty, and also, because both +the king and queen had wished for a son, who might +have gained as great renown in battle as his father +had.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The king, however, soon became exceedingly fond +of the infant princess. When Christina was very +young, she was taken violently sick. Gustavus +Adolphus, who was several hundred miles from +Stockholm, travelled night and day, and never +rested until he held the poor child in his arms. On +her recovery, he made a solemn festival, in order to +show his joy to the people of Sweden and express +his gratitude to Heaven. After this event, he took +his daughter with him in all the journeys which he +made through his kingdom.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Christina soon proved herself a bold and sturdy +little girl. When she was two years old, the king +and herself, in the course of a journey, came to the +strong fortress of Colmar. On the battlements were +soldiers clad in steel armor, which glittered in the +sunshine. There were likewise great cannons, pointing +their black mouths at Gustavus and little Christina, +and ready to belch out their smoke and thunder; +for whenever a king enters a fortress it is customary +to receive him with a royal salute of artillery.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the captain of the fortress met Gustavus and +his daughter, as they were about to enter the gateway.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"May it please your Majesty," said he, taking +off his steel cap and bowing profoundly, "I fear +that if we receive you with a salute of cannon, the +little princess will be frightened almost to death."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Gustavus looked earnestly at his daughter, and +was indeed apprehensive that the thunder of so +many cannon might perhaps throw her into convulsions. +He had almost a mind to tell the captain to +let them enter the fortress quietly, as common people +might have done, without all this head-splitting +racket. But no; this would not do.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Let them fire," said he, waving his hand. +"Christina is a soldier's daughter, and must learn +to bear the noise of cannon."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So the captain uttered the word of command, and +immediately there was a terrible peal of thunder +from the cannon, and such a gush of smoke that it +enveloped the whole fortress in its volumes. But, +amid all the din and confusion, Christina was seen +clapping her little hands, and laughing in an ecstasy +of delight. Probably nothing ever pleased her +father so much as to see that his daughter promised +to be fearless as himself. He determined to educate +her exactly as if she had been a boy, and to +teach her all the knowledge needful to the ruler +of a kingdom and the commander of an army.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Gustavus should have remembered that Providence +had created her to be a woman, and that it +was not for him to make a man of her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">However, the king derived great happiness from +his beloved Christina. It must have been a pleasant +sight to see the powerful monarch of Sweden playing +in some magnificent hall of the palace with this merry +little girl. Then he forgot that the weight of a kingdom +rested upon his shoulders. He forgot that the +wise Chancellor Oxenstiern was waiting to consult +with him how to render Sweden the greatest nation +of Europe. He forgot that the Emperor of Germany +and the King of France were plotting together +how they might pull him down from his throne.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yes; Gustavus forgot all the perils and cares +and pompous irksomeness of a royal life, and was as +happy, while playing with his child, as the humblest +peasant in the realm of Sweden. How gayly did +they dance along the marble floor of the palace, this +valiant king, with his upright, martial figure, his warworn +visage, and commanding aspect, and the small, +round form of Christina, with her rosy face of childish +merriment! Her little fingers were clasped in +her father's hand, which had held the leading-staff +in many famous victories. His crown and sceptre +were her playthings. She could disarm Gustavus +of his sword, which was so terrible to the princes of +Europe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But alas! the king was not long permitted to enjoy +Christina's society. When she was four years +old, Gustavus was summoned to take command of +the allied armies of Germany, which were fighting +against the Emperor. His greatest affliction was +the necessity of parting with his child; but people +in such high stations have but little opportunity for +domestic happiness. He called an assembly of the +Senators of Sweden, and confided Christina to their +care, saying that each one of them must be a father +to her, if he himself should fall in battle.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the moment of his departure Christina ran towards +him, and began to address him with a speech +which somebody had taught her for the occasion. +Gustavus was busied with thoughts about the affairs +of the kingdom, so that he did not immediately attend +to the childish voice of his little girl. Christina, who +did not love to be unnoticed, immediately stopped +short, and pulled him by the coat.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Father," said she, "why do not you listen to my +speech?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In a moment, the king forgot every thing, except +that he was parting with what he loved best in all +the world. He caught the child in his arms, pressed +her to his bosom, and burst into tears. Yes; though +he was a brave man, and though he wore a steel +corselet on his breast, and though armies were waiting +for him to lead them to battle,—still, his heart +melted within him, and he wept. Christina, too, +was so afflicted that her attendants began to fear +that she would actually die of grief. But probably +she was soon comforted; for children seldom remember +their parents quite so faithfully as their parents +remember them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For two years more, Christina remained in the +palace at Stockholm. The queen, her mother, had +accompanied Gustavus to the wars. The child, therefore, +was left to the guardianship of five of the wisest +men in the kingdom. But these wise men knew +better how to manage the affairs of state, than how +to govern and educate a little girl so as to render +her a good and happy woman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When two years had passed away, tidings were +brought to Stockholm which filled everybody with +triumph and sorrow at the same time. The Swedes +had won a glorious victory at Lutzen. But alas! +the warlike king of Sweden, the Lion of the North, +the father of our little Christina,—had been slain +at the foot of a great stone, which still marks the +spot of that hero's death.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Soon after this sad event, a General Assembly, or +Congress, consisting of deputations from the nobles, +the clergy, the burghers, and the peasants of Sweden +was summoned to meet at Stockholm. It was +for the purpose of declaring little Christina to be +Queen of Sweden, and giving her the crown and +sceptre of her deceased father. Silence being proclaimed, +the Chancellor Oxenstiern arose.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"We desire to know," said he, "whether the people +of Sweden will take the daughter of our dead +king, Gustavus Adolphus, to be their Queen."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the Chancellor had spoken, an old man with +white hair, and in coarse apparel, stood up in the +midst of the assembly. He was a peasant, Lars +Larrson by name, and had spent most of his life in +laboring on a farm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Who is this daughter of Gustavus?" asked the +old man. "We do not know her. Let her be shown +to us."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Christina was brought into the hall, and +placed before the old peasant. It was strange, no +doubt, to see a child—a little girl of six years old—offered +to the Swedes as their ruler, instead of +the brave king, her father, who had led them to +victory so many times. Could her baby fingers +wield a sword in war? Could her childish mind +govern the nation wisely in peace?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the Swedes do not appear to have asked themselves +these questions. Old Lars Larrson took Christina +up in his arms, and gazed earnestly into her face. +He had known the great Gustavus well; and his +heart was touched, when he saw the likeness which +the little girl bore to that heroic monarch.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Yes," cried he, with the tears gushing down his +furrowed cheeks, "this is truly the daughter of our +Gustavus! Here is her father's brow!—here is +his piercing eye! She is his very picture. This +child shall be our queen!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +</p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="text-align: center"><img src="images/image04.png" width="480" height="533" alt="Image #4" /></div><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then all the proud nobles of Sweden, and the +reverend clergy, and the burghers, and the peasants, +knelt down at the child's feet, and kissed her hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Long live Christina, queen of Sweden!" shouted +they.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Even after she was a woman grown, Christina +remembered the pleasure which she felt in seeing all +these men at her feet, and hearing them acknowledge +her as their supreme ruler. Poor child! she was +yet to learn that power does not insure happiness. +As yet, however, she had not any real power. All +the public business, it is true, was transacted in her +name; but the kingdom was governed by a number +of the most experienced statesmen, who were called +a Regency.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But it was considered necessary that the little +queen should be present at the public ceremonies, +and should behave just as if she were in reality the +ruler of the nation. When she was seven years of +age, some ambassadors from the Czar of Muscovy +came to the Swedish court. They wore long beards, +and were clad in a strange fashion, with furs, and +other outlandish ornaments; and as they were inhabitants +of a half-civilized country, they did not +behave like other people. The Chancellor Oxenstiern +was afraid that the young queen would burst +out a-laughing, at the first sight of these queer +ambassadors; or else that she would be frightened +by their unusual aspect.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Why should I be frightened?" said the little +queen;—"and do you suppose that I have no better +manners than to laugh? Only tell me how I +must behave; and I will do it."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Accordingly, the Muscovite ambassadors were +introduced; and Christina received them, and +answered their speeches, with as much dignity and +propriety as if she had been a grown woman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All this time, though Christina was now a queen, +you must not suppose that she was left to act as she +pleased. She had a preceptor, named John Mathias, +who was a very learned man, and capable of instructing +her in all the branches of science. But there +was nobody to teach her the delicate graces and +gentle virtues of a woman. She was surrounded +almost entirely by men; and had learned to despise +the society of her own sex. At the age of nine +years, she was separated from her mother, whom +the Swedes did not consider a proper person to be +entrusted with the charge of her. No little girl, +who sits by a New England fireside, has cause to +envy Christina, in the royal palace at Stockholm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yet she made great progress in her studies. She +learned to read the classical authors of Greece and +Rome, and became a great admirer of the heroes +and poets of old times. Then, as for active exercises, +she could ride on horseback as well as any man +in her kingdom. She was fond of hunting, and +could shoot at a mark with wonderful skill. But +dancing was the only feminine accomplishment with +which she had any acquaintance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was so restless in her disposition, that none +of her attendants were sure of a moment's quiet, +neither day nor night. She grew up, I am sorry to +say, a very unamiable person, ill-tempered, proud, +stubborn, and, in short, unfit to make those around +her happy, or to be happy herself. Let every little +girl, who has been taught self-control, and a due regard +for the rights of others, thank heaven that she +has had better instruction than this poor little queen +of Sweden.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the age of eighteen, Christina was declared +free to govern the kingdom by herself, without the +aid of a regency. At this period of her life, she +was a young woman of striking aspect, a good figure +and intelligent face, but very strangely dressed. +She wore a short habit of gray cloth, with a man's +vest over it, and a black scarf around her neck, but +no jewels, nor ornaments of any kind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yet, though Christina was so negligent of her +appearance, there was something in her air and +manner that proclaimed her as the ruler of a kingdom. +Her eyes, it is said, had a very fierce and +haughty look. Old General Wrangel, who had +often caused the enemies of Sweden to tremble in +battle, actually trembled himself, when he encountered +the eyes of the queen. But it would have +been better for Christina if she could have made +people love her, by means of soft and gentle looks, +instead of affrighting them by such terrible glances.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now I have told you almost all that is amusing +or instructive, in the childhood of Christina. Only +a few more words need be said about her; for it is +neither pleasant nor profitable to think of many +things that she did, after she grew to be a woman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When she had worn the crown a few years, she +began to consider it beneath her dignity to be called +a queen, because the name implied that she belonged +to the weaker sex. She therefore caused herself to +be proclaimed KING, thus declaring to the world +that she despised her own sex, and was desirous of +being ranked among men. But in the twenty-eighth +year of her age, Christina grew tired of royalty, and +resolved to be neither a king nor a queen any longer. +She took the crown from her head, with her own +hands, and ceased to be the ruler of Sweden. The +people did not greatly regret her abdication; for she +had governed them ill, and had taken much of their +property to supply her extravagance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Having thus given up her hereditary crown, Christina +left Sweden and travelled over many of the +countries of Europe. Everywhere, she was received +with great ceremony, because she was the daughter +of the renowned Gustavus, and had herself been a +powerful queen. Perhaps you would like to know +something about her personal appearance, in the +latter part of her life. She is described as wearing +a man's vest, a short gray petticoat, embroidered +with gold and silver, and a black wig, which was +thrust awry upon her head. She wore no gloves, +and so seldom washed her hands that nobody could +tell what had been their original color. In this +strange dress, and, I suppose, without washing her +hands or face, she visited the magnificent court of +Louis the Fourteenth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She died in 1689. None loved her while she +lived, nor regretted her death, nor planted a single +flower upon her grave. Happy are the little girls of +America, who are brought up quietly and tenderly, +at the domestic hearth, and thus become gentle and +delicate women! May none of them ever lose the +loveliness of their sex, by receiving such an education +as that of Queen Christina!</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Emily, timid, quiet, and sensitive, was the very +reverse of little Christina. She seemed shocked at +the idea of such a bold and masculine character as +has been described in the foregoing story.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"I never could have loved her," whispered she +to Mrs. Temple; and then she added, with that love +of personal neatness, which generally accompanies +purity of heart:—"It troubles me to think of her +unclean hands!"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Christina was a sad specimen of womankind, +indeed," said Mrs. Temple. "But it is very possible +for a woman to have a strong mind, and to be +fitted for the active business of life, without losing +any of her natural delicacy. Perhaps, some time +or other, Mr. Temple will tell you a story of such a +woman."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was now time for Edward to be left to repose. +His brother George shook him heartily by the hand, +and hoped, as he had hoped twenty times before, +that to-morrow or the next day, Ned's eyes would +be strong enough to look the sun right in the face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Thank you, George," replied Edward, smiling; +"but I am not half so impatient as at first. If my +bodily eyesight were as good as yours, perhaps I +could not see things so distinctly with my mind's +eye. But now there is a light within which shows +me the little Quaker artist, Ben West, and Isaac +Newton with his windmill, and stubborn Sam Johnson, +and stout Noll Cromwell, and shrewd Ben +Franklin, and little Queen Christina with the Swedes +kneeling at her feet. It seems as if I really saw +these personages face to face. So I can bear the +darkness outside of me pretty well."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Edward ceased speaking, Emily put up her +mouth and kissed him as her farewell for the night.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"Ah, I forgot!" said Edward, with a sigh. "I +cannot see any of your faces. What would it signify +to see all the famous people in the world, if I +must be blind to the faces that I love?"</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">"You must try to see us with your heart, my +dear child," said his mother.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Edward went to bed, somewhat dispirited, but +quickly falling asleep, was visited with such a pleasant +dream of the sunshine and of his dearest friends +that he felt the happier for it all the next day. And +we hope to find him still happy when we meet again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE END.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">JUVENILE BOOKS</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">PUBLISHED BY</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">TICKNOR, REED, AND FIELDS.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">JUST OUT,</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">History of my Pets</span></span>.<br /> +By Grace Greenwood. A beautiful little volume, with fine plates. + 50 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Barbauld's (Mrs.) Lessons for Children</span></span>.<br /> +With a large number of engravings. 16mo. 40 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Jonas's Stories. Related to Rollo and Lucy</span></span>.<br /> +By Jacob Abbott. With engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Jonas a Judge; or Law among the Boys</span></span>.<br /> +By Jacob Abbott. With engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Jonas on a Farm in Summer</span></span>.<br /> +By Jacob Abbott. 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Voyages and adventures in the +Arctic Ocean</span></span>.<br /> + With engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Lambert Lilly's History of the New England +States</span></span>.<br /> + With numerous engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Lambert Lilly's History of the Middle States</span></span>. +With numerous engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Lambert Lilly's History of the Southern States</span></span>, +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Virginia</span></span>, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">North and South Carolina</span></span>, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">and Georgia</span></span>.<br /> +With numerous engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Lambert Lilly's History of the Western States</span></span>.<br /> +With numerous engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Lambert Lilly's Story of the American Revolution.</span></span><br /> +With numerous engravings. 18mo. 38 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Little Stories for Little Folks</span></span>.<br /> +Translated from the German. With twelve fine steel engravings. 16mo. + 60 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mary Howitt's Birds and Flowers, and other</span></span> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Country Things</span></span>.<br /> + With engravings. 12mo. 50 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mother's Lessons, for Little Girls and Boys</span></span>.<br /> +By a Lady of Boston. With eight beautiful steel engravings. 16mo. + 50 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Olympic Games. A Gift for the Holidays</span></span>.<br /> +By the Author of "Poetry for Home and School," &c. 16mo. 50 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Parley's Short Stories for Long Nights</span></span>.<br /> +With eight colored engravings, 16mo. 50 cents; uncolored engravings, +40 cents.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Lights and Shadows of Domestic Life, and other Stories</span></span>.<br /> +By the authors of "Rose and her Lamb."</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">TICKNOR, REED, AND FIELDS</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">HAVE PUBLISHED</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Greenwood Leaves</span></span>.<br /> +A Collection of Stories and Letters, by Grace Greenwood. +Second edition. 1 vol. 12mo. $1.25; gilt $1.75.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">We suppose most of our readers are familiar with the name of +Grace Greenwood. For some half dozen of years she has been one +of the most acceptable contributors to our American monthlies, and +she possesses such liveliness and vivacity that it does one good to +read her productions. There is an ease and </span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">grace</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> about her, too, +that makes us feel acquainted with her, although we have never seen +her. The volume before us is filled with tales, sketches, letters, +and poems. We predict that every lady's library will contain this +volume.—BOSTON ATLAS.</span></p> +</div> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">The name of Grace Greenwood has now become a household word in the +popular literature of our country and our day. Of the intellectual woman +we are not called to say much, as her writings speak for themselves, and +they have spoken widely. They are eminently characteristic; they are +strictly national; they are likewise decisively individual. All true +individuality is honestly social; and also, in Miss Clarke's writings, +nothing is sectional, and nothing sectarian. There is much in them that +is subjective, much that is drawn from personal experience, but nothing +that is merely vain or selfish. A genuine human being, she is at the +same time a genuine American girl. And the spirit of her country finds +in her utterance a voice that must stir an earnest life in the brothers +and sisters of her nation. She is one of the spiritual products of the +soil, which has of late given evidence of spiritual fertility; and she +promises not to be the least healthy, as she is not the least choice +among them; she is only putting out her spring buds; if no untimely +frost shall nip them, when the summer suns are warm they will be +splendid blossoms, and long before autumn begins to dim the sky with its +mellow shootings they will be luxuriant fruit.—HENRY GILES.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Alderbrook</span></span>.<br /> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">A Collection of Fanny Forester's Village Sketches, Poems, +&c</span></span>. With a fine Mezzotinto Portrait of the Author, +engraved by Sartain. Ninth edition, enlarged.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">2 vols. 12mo, $1.75; gilt $2.50; gilt extra $3.00. +The same in 1 vol. $1.62; gilt $2.25; gilt extra $2.75.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">Who has not heard of Fanny Forester,—'charming Fanny Forester,' +as she is deservedly called? Her sketches have been more +generally read and admired than those of almost any other periodical +writer of our day. There is a freshness, grace, sprightliness, +purity, and actualness about them, which charms and invigorates; +and we are glad to find them collected and published in a form +both elegant and convenient. Miss Chubbuck, it will be remembered, +was married a few months ago to the Rev. Dr. Judson, and +is now on her way, with that devoted missionary, to the scene of +his former labors. The dedicatory preface of these volumes, to +her husband, is one of the most graceful and touching we have +ever seen. A beautifully engraved portrait of the lady, by Sartain, +is prefixed to the first volume. This collection will make a +very acceptable and suitable present in the approaching Holidays.—SALEM +REGISTER.</span></p> +</div> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">This is one of those charming books which well deserves a place +in every family library, and which has already won a place in thousands +of hearts. The Sketches comprised in these beautiful volumes +are so full of grace and tenderness, so pure in their style and +so elevated in their tone, that none can read them without delight +and profit. We hazard little in saying that the touching story of +"Grace Linden," which properly leads the collection, is scarcely +surpassed in beauty by any thing in the works of Maria Edgeworth, +or Mary Russell Mitford. There are a great many other +Sketches, in the volumes, that deserve special praise; but we will +not deal in particulars when all are so admirable.</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">The authoress of "Alderbrook" is now a self-denying, zealous +missionary of the Cross, in Asia, and, as Mrs. Judson, has written +many very charming things. She is best known, however, under +her </span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">nomme de plume</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">; and however honored may be the revered +name she now bears, that of Fanny Forester will be cherished +with pride and pleasure by her friends and readers.—So. LIT. +GAZETTE.</span></p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE STORIES FROM HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader135" id="rightpageheader135"></a><a name="pgtoc136" id="pgtoc136"></a><a name="pdf137" id="pdf137"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">March 2005 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item tei-item-gloss"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg Edition</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name">Josephine Paolucci</span> + <span class="tei tei-name">Joshua Hutchinson</span> + <span class="tei tei-name">Internet Archive Children's Library</span> + <span class="tei tei-name">Online Distributed Proofreading Team</span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">August 2005 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item tei-item-gloss"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Converted to PGTEI v0.3</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name">Joshua Hutchinson</span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">June 2006 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item tei-item-gloss"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Added PGHeader/PGFooter.</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name">Joshua Hutchinson</span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader138" id="rightpageheader138"></a><a name="pgtoc139" id="pgtoc139"></a><a name="pdf140" id="pdf140"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 15697-h.html or + 15697-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/6/9/15697/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/1/5/6/9/15697/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. 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