y thought them growing too fast--
'They will soon,' said they, 'become proud, and wish to be free and
independent--we must tax them--we must take away their money. This
will keep them poor and humble.'

"Those things used often to be talked over, at old Mr. Crosby's. The
neighbours would sometimes happen in there of a winter's evening to
spend an hour, or two--the minister--the schoolmaster--and others--and
although Southeast was a retired place, the conduct of the 'mother
country,' as England was called, was pretty well understood there, and
justly censured.

"Old Mr. Crosby, especially, condemned the conduct of England. He
said, for one, he did not wish to be trampled on. 'They have no right
to tax us,' said he,--'it is unjust--it is cruel--and, for myself, I
am ready to say, I will not submit to it. And, mark my word, the time
will come, when the people will defend themselves, and when that time
comes, I hope,' said he--looking round upon his sons, especially upon
Enoch--'I hope my boys will not shame their father--no, not they.'

"Enoch thought much of his father. He was a grave man--one who sat
steady in his chair when he talked--and talked so slowly, and so
emphatic, as always to be heard. Enoch, though a boy, listened--he was
_then_ interested--and as he grew older and was at home occasionally,
on a visit, and these subjects were discussed--he took a still deeper
interest, and would sometimes even mingle in the animated talk, round
the fire side of his father.

"And, then, there were times, too, when he was seated on his bench,
thinking over what he had heard; or sat listening to some customer of
his master, who happened in, on a rainy day--and who had seen the last
paper which gave an account of some new attempt to oppress the
colonies--at such times, he would almost wish himself a soldier, and
in the field fighting for his country. And then the hammer, it was
observed, would come down upon his lapstone with double force, as if
he were splitting the head of one of the enemy open, or his awl would
go through the leather, as if he were plunging a bayonet into the belt
of a soldier."

[Illustration]

"Such were the workings of Enoch Crosby's mind--the work of
preparation was going on there--the steam was gradually rising--and
though he realized it not--he was fitting to become a zealous and
active soldier, in his country's service.

"On the 5th of March, 1770, nearly a year before Enoch's time was out,
th