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 alligator2, a rattlesnake's skin, a bundle of Indian arrows, an old-fashioned matchlock gun, a walking-stick of Governor Winthrop's, a wig3 of old Cotton Mather's, and a colored print of the Boston Massacre4. 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.
"This was not a very dignified5 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."
"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 consecrated6 place."
"Perhaps so," answered Grandfather. "But the chair, in the course of its varied7 existence, had grown so accustomed to general intercourse8 with society, that I doubt whether it would have contented9 itself in the pulpit of the Old South. There it would have stood solitary10, 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 situated11 more to its mind, than on the sanded floor of the snug12 little barber's shop."
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.
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 appendage13 to a clerical skull14. There too, were officers of the continental15 army, who required their hair to be pomatumed and plastered, so as to give them a bold and martial16 aspect. There, once in a while, was seen the thin, care-worn, melancholy17 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 laden18 vessels19, belonging to King George's subjects. And, sometimes, a rosy20 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 glossy21 curls cropped off. The incidents of the Revolution plentifully22 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 formerly23 been to conquer it from the French.
"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 prospects24 were, the inhabitants welcomed these glorious tidings, and resolved to perish, rather than again bear the yoke25 of England!"
"And I would perish too!" cried Charley.
"It was a great day—a glorious deed!" said Laurence, coloring high with enthusiasm. "And, Grandfather, I love to think that the sages26 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."
Grandfather acquiesced27 in Laurence's view of the matter. He then touched briefly28 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 slain29 upon the field.
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 commissioners30 made a treaty at Paris, by which France bound herself to assist our countrymen. The gallant31 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 vicissitudes32 of human affairs, that the French, our ancient enemies, should come hither as comrades and brethren, and that kindred England should be our foe33.
"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."
"But, Grandfather, who had been governor since the British were driven away?" inquired Laurence. "General Gage34 and Sir William Howe were the last whom you have told us of."
"There had been no governor for the last four years," replied Grandfather. "Massachusetts had been ruled by the legislature, to whom the people paid obedience35 of their own accord. It is one of the most remarkable36 circumstances in our history, that, when the charter government was overthrown37 by the war, no anarchy38, nor the slightest confusion ensued. This was a great honor to the people. But now, Hancock was proclaimed governor by sound of trumpet39; and there was again a settled government."
Grandfather again adverted40 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.
"Now, at last," said Grandfather, "after weary years of war, the regiments41 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."
"And little boys ran after them, I suppose," remarked Charley; "and the grown people bowed respectfully."
"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 erect42 and rigid43 mien44 of disciplined soldiers. Some hobbled on crutches45 and wooden legs; others had received wounds, which were still rankling46 in their breasts. Many, alas47! had fallen in battle, and perhaps were left unburied on the bloody48 field."
"The country must have been sick of war," observed Laurence.
"One would have thought so," said Grandfather. "Yet only two or three years elapsed, before the folly49 of some misguided men caused another mustering50 of soldiers. This affair was called Shays' War, because a Captain Shays was the chief leader of the insurgents51."
"O Grandfather, don't let there be another war!" cried little Alice, piteously.
Grandfather comforted his dear little girl, by assuring her that there was no great mischief52 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.
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.
"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 distinguished53 patriot54 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."
"Well, Grandfather, I hope he sat in our chair!" said Clara.
"He did," replied Grandfather. "He had long been in the habit of visiting the barber's shop, where our venerable chair, philosophically55 forgetful of its former dignities, had now spent nearly eighteen not uncomfortable years. Such a remarkable piece of furniture, so evidently a relic56 of long-departed times, could not escape the notice of Samuel Adams. He made minute researches into its history, and ascertained57 what a succession of excellent and famous people had occupied it."
"How did he find it out?" asked Charley. "For I suppose the chair could not tell its own history."
"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 worthily58 for three years, as governor of Massachusetts."
"And what next?" asked Charley.
"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 auction59; and your Grandfather, who was then in the strength of his years, became the purchaser."
Laurence, with a mind full of thoughts, that struggled for expression, but could find none, looked steadfastly60 at the chair.
He had now learned all its history, yet was not satisfied.
"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!"
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1
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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alligator
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| n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼) | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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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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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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9
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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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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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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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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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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25
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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32
vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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33
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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39
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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adverted
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| 引起注意（advert的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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41
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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42
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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43
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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44
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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45
crutches
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| n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
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46
rankling
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的现在分词 ) | |
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47
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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48
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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49
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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50
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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51
insurgents
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| n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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52
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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53
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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54
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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56
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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57
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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59
auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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