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"Here we see the most illustrious Boston boy that ever lived," said Grandfather. "This is Benjamin Franklin. But I will not try to compress into a few sentences the character of the sage who, as a Frenchman expressed it, snatched the lightning from the sky and the scepter from a tyrant. Mr. Sparks must help you to the knowledge of Franklin."

The book likewise contained portraits of James Otis and Josiah Quincy. Both of them, Grandfather observed, were men of wonderful talents and true patriotism. Their voices were like 10 the stirring tones of a trumpet arousing the country to defend its freedom. Heaven seemed to have provided a greater number of eloquent men than had appeared at any other period, in order that the people might be fully instructed as to their wrongs and the method of resistance.

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"It is marvelous," said Grandfather, "to see how many powerful writers, orators, and soldiers started up just at the time when they were wanted. There was a man for every kind of work. It is equally wonderful that men of such different characters were all made to unite in the one object of establishing 20 the freedom and independence of America. There was an overruling Providence above them."

"Here was another great man," remarked Laurence, pointing to the portrait of John Adams.

"Yes; an earnest, warm-tempered, honest, and most able 25 man," said Grandfather. "At the period of which we are now speaking he was a lawyer in Boston. He was destined in after years to be ruler over the whole American people, whom he contributed so much to form into a nation."

Grandfather here remarked that many a New Englander who so had passed his boyhood and youth in obscurity afterwards attained to a fortune which he never could have foreseen even in his most ambitious dreams. John Adams, the second President of the United States and the equal of crowned kings, was once a schoolmaster and country lawyer. Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, served his apprenticeship with

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a merchant.

Samuel Adams, afterwards governor of Massachusetts, was a small tradesman and a tax-gatherer. General Warren was a physician, General Lincoln a farmer, and General Knox a bookbinder. General Nathaniel Greene, the best soldier 5 except Washington in the Revolutionary army, was a Quaker and a blacksmith. All these became illustrious men, and can never be forgotten in American history.

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"And any boy who is born in America may look forward to the same thing," said our ambitious friend Charley.

After these observations Grandfather drew the book of portraits toward him, showed the children several British peers and members of Parliament who had exerted themselves either for or against the rights of America. There were the Earl of Bute, Mr. Grenville, and Lord North. These were looked upon as 15 deadly enemies to our country.

Among the friends of America was Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, who spent so much of his wondrous eloquence in endeavoring to warn England of the consequences of her injustice. He fell down on the floor of the House of Lords after 20 uttering his almost dying words in defense of our privileges as free men. There was Edmund Burke, one of the wisest men and greatest orators that ever the world produced. There was Colonel Barré, who had been among our fathers, and knew that they had courage enough to die for their rights. There was Charles 25 James Fox, who never rested until he had silenced our enemies in the House of Commons.

"It is very remarkable to observe how many of the ablest orators in the British Parliament were favorable to America," said Grandfather. "We ought to remember these great English80 men with gratitude, for their speeches encouraged our fathers almost as much as those of our own orators in Faneuil Hall and under Liberty Tree. Opinions which might have been received with doubt, if expressed only by a native American, were set down as true beyond dispute when they came from the lips of 85 Chatham, Burke, Barré, or Fox."

-Abridged.

NOTES AND QUESTIONS

Discussion. 1. Describe the family group around the fireside. 2. What is the center of interest? 3. Contrast the pictures of Samuel Adams and John Hancock. 4. What is said about General Joseph Warren? 5. Would you have been able to recognize "the illustrious Boston boy" from Hawthorne's word picture? 6. How does Grandfather explain the existence of these remarkable men just when they were most needed? 7. Do you know of any other time in our history when this seemed true? 8. Mention the humble origin of some of the Revolutionary patriots. 9. Why do you think they were well adapted to be founders of a great democracy? 10. What suggestion was there in this for Charley? 11. On page 220 you read that soldiers, poets, orators, and statesmen, all contributed to our "inheritance of freedom”; how many of these kinds of patriots are shown in this selection? 12. What is said on page 221 about many great Englishmen who sympathized with the American colonists in their struggle for independence? 13. Mention several of these Englishmen who are described by Hawthorne. 14. Why was Burke an especially valuable friend of the Americans? 15. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: distinguished; inflexible; zealous; venerable; destined; peer. 16. Pronounce: abhorrence; gorgeous; courtier.

astral lamp, 269, 1

Phrases for Study

animate the people's hearts, 269, 20

imbued with democratic principles, 269, 23

equal agency, 270, 9

external things, 270, 14

wrought together, 270, 18

exempted from pardon, 270, 23 overruling Providence above, 271, 20

attained to a fortune, 271, 31 served his apprenticeship, 271, 35

Outline for Testing Silent Reading. Make an outline to guide you in telling the story.

A Suggested Problem. Prepare an exhibit showing by means of pictures and brief biographies clipped from newspapers and magazines some famous Americans who have achieved greatness from humble beginnings. The list may include: (a) statesmen; (b) poets and prose writers; (c) editors and journalists; (d) soldiers; (e) clergymen; (f) physicians; (g) captains of industry; (h) inventors and scientists; (i) engineers and architects; (j) artists; (k) musicians; (1) nurses and social welfare workers.

WARREN'S ADDRESS AT THE BATTLE OF

BUNKER HILL

JOHN PIERPONT

Stand! the ground's your own, my braves!

Will ye give it up to slaves?
Will ye look for greener graves?
Hope ye mercy still?

5 What's the mercy despots feel?
Hear it in that battle peal!
Read it on yon bristling steel!
Ask it ye who will..

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Biographical and Historical Note. John Pierpont (1785-1866) was a clergyman of Connecticut and the author of several volumes of poetry.

General Joseph Warren was one of the commanders of the patriot army at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His death in this battle, while a great loss to the American forces, inspired the army to heroic efforts. He is considered one of the bravest and most unselfish patriots of the Revolutionary War. In this poem we have the poet's idea of how Warren inspired his men.

Discussion. 1. Find the lines that are an answer to those who still hoped for mercy from the British. 2. What lines show the striking contrast between those who fight for hire and those who fight to protect their homes? 3. Which of the appeals in the first and second stanzas seems most forceful to you? 4. Compare the spirit of Warren's address with that of Bruce at Bannockburn; what likeness do you note in the form of the poems? Which do you think is the more inspiring? 5. In what ways was the Battle of Bunker Hill like the Battle of Thermopylae, where Leonidas and the Spartans fought the Persians? 6. How does the Bunker Hill Monument answer the question asked in the last lines of the poem? 7. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: quail; consigned. 8. Pronounce: address.

greener graves, 274, 3 mercy despots feel, 274, 5

battle peal, 274, 6

Phrases for Study

bristling steel, 274, 7

leaden rain, 274, 15

iron hail, 274, 15

Class Reading. Bring to class and read, "The Old Continentals," McMaster; "Grandmother's Story of Bunker Hill Battle," Holmes.

LIBERTY OR DEATH

PATRICK HENRY

Mr. President-No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not 5 be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining, as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as noth

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