"The chair," said Grandfather, "after the ceremony of Mr. Oliver's oath, appears to have been quite forgotten by the multitude. Indeed, being much bruised8 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 skilful9 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."
"But why did not Mr. Hutchinson get possession of it again?" inquired Charley.
"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 bustle10, or would witness more important events, or be occupied by a greater variety of persons."
Grandfather went on to tell the proceedings11 of the despotic king and ministry12 of England, after the repeal13 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 craftily15 contrived16; for the women of America were very fond of tea, and did not like to give up the use of it.
But the people were as much opposed to this new act of Parliament, as they had been to the Stamp Act. England, however, was determined17 that they should submit. In order to compel their obedience18, two regiments19, consisting of more than seven hundred British soldiers, were sent to Boston. They arrived in September, 1768, and were landed on Long Wharf21. Thence they marched to the Common, with loaded muskets23, fixed24 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.
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 lodged25 in Faneuil Hall, which the inhabitants looked upon as a consecrated26 place, because it had been the scene of a great many meetings in favor of liberty. One regiment20 was placed in the town house, which we now call the Old State House. The lower floor of this edifice27 had hitherto been used by the merchants as an exchange. In the upper stories were the chambers28 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.
Sentinels, likewise, were posted at the lodgings29 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 rattle30 of the soldier's musket22 was heard, as he presented it against their breasts. There was no quiet, even on the Sabbath day. The pious31 descendants of the Puritans were shocked by the uproar32 of military music, the drum, fife, and bugle33, drowning the holy organ peal14 and the voices of the singers. It would appear as if the British took every method to insult the feelings of the people.
"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 vessels34, the very moment they landed on Long Wharf."
"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."
"Ah, it drooped35 its head, I know," said Charley, "when it saw how the province was disgraced. Its old Puritan friends never would have borne such doings."
"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."
"Why against him?" asked Charley.
"Because he was a great merchant, and contended against paying duties to the king," said Grandfather.
"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 scarlet36 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."
"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."
"It certainly was little less than sacrilege," replied Grandfather; "but the time was coming, when even the churches, where hallowed pastors37 had long preached the word of God, were to be torn down or desecrated38 by the British troops. Some years passed, however, before such things were done."
Grandfather now told his auditors39, 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 disposition40; and he had been bred at the University of Oxford41, 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.
About this period, the people were much incensed42 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 resentment43 that was already felt against the servants of the crown.
"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 brass44 cannons45, which pointed46 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."
"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."
"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 melancholy47 business."
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.
The younger people, however, could hardly be kept within such prudent48 limits. They reddened with wrath49 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.
"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 foretell50, that they will soon be turned against the bosoms51 of those who provoke their anger."
"Grandfather," said little Alice, looking fearfully into his face, "your voice sounds as though you were going to tell us something awful!"
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1
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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2
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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3
inclemency
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| n.险恶，严酷 | |
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4
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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5
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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6
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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7
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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8
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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11
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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13
repeal
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| n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消 | |
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peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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15
craftily
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| 狡猾地，狡诈地 | |
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16
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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17
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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18
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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19
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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22
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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24
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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25
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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26
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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27
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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28
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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30
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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31
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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32
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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33
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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34
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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35
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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pastors
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| n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 ) | |
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38
desecrated
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| 毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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40
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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41
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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42
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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43
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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44
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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45
cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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46
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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47
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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48
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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49
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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50
foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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51
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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