question of right and wrong, and put everything at stake for it." "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 5 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 10 descendants of the early settlers proved that they had the same kind of temper as their forefathers. The moment before, New England appeared like a humble and loyal subject of the Crown; the next instant she showed the grim, dark features of an old king-resisting Puritan." 15 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 20 every colony should meet in congress. Accordingly, nine colonies, both northern and southern, sent delegates to the city of New York. 25 "And did they consult about going to war with England?" asked Charley. "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 grievances of the colonists. They sent a humble petition to the King and a memorial to the Parliament beseeching that the stamp act might 80 be repealed. This was all that the delegates had it in their power to do." "They might as well have stayed at home, then," said Charley. "By no means," replied Grandfather. "It was a most important and memorable event, this first coming together of the 85 American people by their representatives from the North and 10 South. If England had been wise, she would have trembled at the first word that was spoken in such an assembly." 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. Liberty Tree was soon heard of in England." "What was Liberty Tree?" inquired Clara. "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 15 opinions. Thus, after a while it seemed as if the liberty of the country was connected with Liberty Tree." "It was glorious fruit for a tree to bear," remarked Laurence. "It bore strange fruit sometimes," said Grandfather. "One morning in August, 1765, two figures were found hanging on the 20 sturdy branches of Liberty Tree. They were dressed in squareskirted coats and smallclothes, 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 25 Andrew Oliver, a gentleman belonging to one of the most respectable families in Massachusetts." "What harm had he done?" inquired Charley. "The King had appointed him to be distributor of the stamps," answered Grandfather. "Mr. Oliver would have made a great 80 deal of money by this business; but the people frightened him so much by hanging him in effigy, and afterward 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." NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biography. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was a master of the short story as a means of interpreting character. His ancestors were men of action-soldiers, seamen, and public officials. But he was unlike them; all his life he was a dreamer who loved solitude better than society. The subject of his dreaming was human character, particularly the character of the Puritan founders of New England, and he retold many legends of colonial times. Besides these legends he wrote stories, visions of life in which one can scarcely draw the line between reality and illusion; stories of lovers who sought vainly for happiness; stories of a great stone face on the mountain side, and what it signified. Somewhat longer than these tales-which he called Twice-Told Tales-are his romances, such as The Scarlet Letter, and The House of the Seven Gables. Besides his longer romances he wrote simple and charming stories of New England history for children. In one such book, Grandfather's Chair, Hawthorne represents an old man sitting in a great armchair and telling his grandchildren stories of the famous men who had at different times occupied this chair, which had been brought to America in the Mayflower. "The Stamp Act" and "Some Famous Portraits" are two of Grandfather's stories taken from this book. Discussion. 1. Describe the loyalty of the colonists to King George. 2. Give two reasons why the colonies began to feel more and more independent. 3. What were some of the laws passed by the English Parliament that made the colonies wish for independence? 4. What was the Stamp Act? 5. Would you have felt as Clara did, or as Laurence felt? 6. How did these wrongs change the feelings of the colonists? 7. Describe the congress proposed by the Massachusetts legislature. 8. What did this congress do? 9. Why was this congress so important? 10. How did Liberty Tree get its name? 11. What "fruit" did it bear? 12. Show that the colonists in resisting the Stamp Act contributed to our "inheritance of freedom." 13. Find in the Glossary the meaning of comprehend; dominion; tributary. 14. Pronounce: sagacious; Parliament; effigy. Old French War, 263, 10 heighten his glory, 264, 6 Phrases for Study put everything at stake, 266, 1 subject of the Crown, 266, 12 Class Reading. Select passages to be read aloud in class. Outline for Testing Silent Reading. Make an outline to guide you in telling the story. Library Reading. Other stories from Grandfather's Chair, Hawthorne; "Boston Boys," Perry (in St. Nicholas, July, 1876); "Economic Freedom," McPherson (in The Youth's Companion, December 9, 1920). SOME FAMOUS PORTRAITS* 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. 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 fireside, and they looked over the portraits together, while Clara and Charley likewise lent their attention. As for little Alice, 10 she sat in Grandfather's lap, and seemed to see the very men alive whose faces were there represented. 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 15 have befitted one of those iron-hearted men. Beneath the portrait was the name of Samuel Adams. "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 20 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 anyone else, may be taken as a representative of the people of New England, 25 and of the spirit with which they engaged in the Revolutionary struggle. He was a poor man, and earned his bread by a humble occupation, but with his tongue and pen he made the King of *See Silent and Oral Reading, page 40. England tremble on his throne. Remember him, my children, as one of the strong men of our country." "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." "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 10 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 15 not a nobleman at the footstool of King George's throne who was a more skillful 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 20 he loved his country, yet thought quite as much of his own popu larity 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." On the next leaf of the book was the portrait of General 25 Joseph Warren. Charley recognized the name, and said that here was a greater man than either Hancock or Adams. "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 30 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." The next portrait was a venerable man who held his thumb under his chin, and through his spectacles appeared to be atten85 tively reading a manuscript. |