The First Capture; or, Hauling Down the Flag of England

the kitchen, "breakfast is ready and waiting. While you are eating it I shall be pleased to hear s

it looks to me, t

ed with clay and the roof was thatched with long grass or rye straw. The windows consisted of small lead frames set with diamond plates of glass hung so that they

so brightly that one could see his face in them, and in summer time the fireplace was always kept garnished with asparagus and hollyhocks. On the rude mantelpiece stood the high candlesticks made of the same material, and close beside them lay the tray and the snuffers.

he fireplace was always piled high, but even this was but little if any shelter from the cold. The places where the chinking did not fit were numerous, and the way the cold wind poured into the room made the words of an old writer

they had milk; for those one hundred and forty men had long ago thrown the tea overboard in Boston harbor, and all that Mrs. Crosby had left was some tied up in a paper and stowed away in one of her bureau drawers. Before they seated themselves at the table they took their stand behind their chairs with bo

at fight," said Mrs. Crosby, seating herself in her

not acted right with us anyway. When young Snyder was killed in Boston because he happened to be near a mob who were throwing stones at Richardson, the King went and p

ght of that. Like all old ladies she loved the "cup which cheers but does not inebriate," and sh

but he would not do it. If we have got to be taxed to help carry on the govern

ht. You said we killed alm

ugh you were there and helped sho

d it put in running order before this time," said his mother, pointing to the weapon which occupied its us

gan and told the history of the fight as he had heard it from the messenger, and, as he talked and told how the minute-men had concealed themselves behind every rock and t

"Of course I could not shoot with those who hunt squirrels every day, but I could have made a noise. And to

lled 'rebels,'" said his mother, w

d the King just what they wanted to do, and he turned around and made them do som

the rattling of a stick between the pickets of the front fence. The boys had not learned to whistle in those days to let a comr

im by the way he rattles his stick. I hope w

dressed after the fashion of a seafaring man as he was hi

re to tell about it?" sai

already told," said Caleb. "But s

else," said Enoch, sinking his voice to a whisper because Caleb did the sam

al that battle of Lexington in some way," said Caleb. "He has been talking to that Joseph Wheaton, and he has been advisi

we are going to hang, we

Caleb, striking the nearest picket with his clos

himself away from the fence. "You don't make a pirate out of me.

not ashamed to let everybody know it; but if we can capture that vessel

ssel do

ps that are loading with lumber, and she is in the service of th

noch, fairly aghast at the proposition. "T

atly whipped for their pains. Zeke and Joseph Wheaton would not have proposed that plan if they did not think we would make something by it. You ought to have hear

ked to me in the same way," said Enoch, with a laugh. "Ar

en they hear a cheer sounded. That is going to be our rallying cry, and we m

ming out to meet his friend. "When that cheer is sounded you

e come two of those Tories now," continued Caleb, pushing his hat on the back of his head and shoving up his sleeves. "Now let us see what they have got to say about that

s noted for his sharp shooting, and if he had got a bead on one of those fellows it would hav

with them," said Enoch in a lower

the approaching boys and resting his elbow on the fence. "But they must no

ed long ago to have gone out of style between the Tories and the Provincials. Whenever they met on the street they looked straight ahead as if there w

silver buckles. But their queues were what they prided themselves upon. They were neatly combed and hung down upon their coat collars. The arms of their coats were "slashed

wed in the footsteps of their fathers. One was a "passive" Tory and the other was an "agg