Part 31 (1/2)

”Here is another chamber, my sister's; she spoke to you from the window. You will hardly think of entering the room till she has had time to put on her dress.”

”Oh, no; we would not be so rude as to enter her chamber. We do not suppose she had anything to do with it,” said the officers.

”Will you not take a look at the garret?” Tom asked.

”No. You have covered your tracks so well, I do not suppose we should find anything.”

”Thank you. If, as you say, I had a hand in it, I regard it quite a compliment that I have covered my tracks so well,” Tom replied, as the officers took their departure. He went upstairs and opened the door to Berinthia's chamber a little.

”'Rinth, you are the best girl that ever lived,” he said.

”Oh, Tom, you did that splendidly,” she replied.

There was merry laughter from her lips as he closed the door and returned to his chamber.

XIV.

BENEVOLENCE AND BROTHERHOOD.

The summer of 1774 was waning. Once more Robert Walden was on his way to Boston. The wagon which Jenny and Paul were dragging was loaded with bags filled with corn and rye, not to be sold in the market, but a gift from Joshua Walden and his fellow-citizens of Rumford to the people of Boston. Parliament, in retaliation for the destruction of the tea, had pa.s.sed an act closing the port to commerce.[50] After the first day of June, no vessels other than those of the navy could enter or depart from the harbor. Fishermen could no longer catch cod or mackerel for the market. Farmers on the banks of the Mystic could not dig potatoes from their fields and transport them down the river on the ebbing tide to the town dock. The people of Charlestown could not gather cabbages from their gardens, take them across the ferry, and peddle them in Boston. Only by the road leading to Roxbury could the suffering people be supplied with food. Besides closing the port, Parliament had abolished the charter of Ma.s.sachusetts. The people no longer could elect thirty-six councilors; they were to be appointed by the king, instead. No more could they lawfully a.s.semble in town meeting to elect representatives to the legislature. All rights and privileges were swept away.

[Footnote 50: It is known in history as the Boston Port Bill. It was pa.s.sed as a retaliatory measure. No possible advantage could accrue to government by its pa.s.sage and enforcement. It was designed not only to awe the people into submission, but to overturn the government of the people and establish kingly prerogative. Parliament could not have committed a greater blunder. Instead of humbling the people of Boston, it aroused the sympathies of the entire country, and became a potent influence in bringing about the union of the Colonies. Contributions of food, wheat, corn, rye, peas, beans, flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle came from all of the Colonies.]

It was near sunset when Robert turned into the highway leading from Roxbury to Boston. He was surprised to find fortifications--a ditch and embankment and cannon mounted upon it--at the narrowest part of the Neck. The sentinels glared at him, but did not offer any insult.[51] He knew several regiments of troops had already arrived, and it was reported that others would soon be sent from England to enforce the laws. He drove slowly along the street, past the Liberty Tree. A half dozen citizens were sitting on the benches beneath it smoking their pipes. There were few people but many soldiers in the streets. He watered the horses at the pump, then drove to the Green Dragon.

[Footnote 51: Several regiments of troops had already arrived in Boston, and fortifications were being constructed on Roxbury Neck, making it a garrisoned town.]

It was a hearty welcome which he received in the Brandon home.

”You find us under the harrow,” said Mr. Brandon. ”The king and ministry are determined to crush the life out of us. All business has stopped. Gra.s.s is growing in the streets. s.h.i.+p-carpenters, joiners, blacksmiths, ropemakers, are idle; no one has any work for them.

Thousands have already left town, and others are going. n.o.body can earn a penny, and we are all growing poorer. We should starve in a short time were it not for the kindness and benevolence of the people.

We are receiving contributions of food from everywhere. Doctor Warren, John Hanc.o.c.k, and a large number of our public-spirited citizens are distributing the gifts.”

Tom said he was aiding the committee, looking after the poor. Not only were kind-hearted people sending grain, but flocks and herds.

”Only yesterday,” he said, ”Colonel Israel Putnam, who served in the French and Indian war, arrived with a flock of sheep from Connecticut.

Day before yesterday a sloop dropped anchor in Salem harbor, loaded with corn contributed by the people of North Carolina. It will be teamed into Boston. The Marblehead fishermen have just sent between two and three hundred quintals of codfish. The committee has received a letter from Mr. Gadsden of South Carolina, expressing the hope that we never will pay a cent for the blasted tea. As evidence that South Carolina is with us, he sent one hundred casks of rice, contributed by his fellow-citizens, s.h.i.+pping it to Providence, to be hauled the rest of the way by teams. The people of Baltimore loaded a vessel with three thousand bushels of corn, twenty barrels of rye flour, and as many of s.h.i.+pbread. Herds of cattle and flocks of sheep are driven in every day. The town of Lebanon, Connecticut, sent three hundred and seventy sheep; Norwich, two hundred and ninety; Groton, one hundred sheep and twenty-six fat cattle. Two schooners have arrived at Salem, bringing three thousand bushels of corn from Maryland. Another vessel brought one thousand bushels from Virginia.”

”These contributions,” said Mr. Brandon, ”show that the people of the Colonies, or at least a large portion of them, sympathize with us in our resistance to tyranny.”

”You have not told me about Rachel; is she well?” Berinthia asked.

Robert informed her she was quite well, and hard at work as usual.

”I suppose she is spinning for herself, these days?” said Berinthia, smiling.

”Yes, I dare say; she has been making sheets and pillow-cases since Roger Stanley was in Rumford.”

”She has written me about him, and thinks there is n.o.body else in the world so good as he. I'm glad they are engaged. She is just the one for him and he for her.”