re was much which was comical in
the situation:

"It seems that however highly we value ourselves, and whatsoever of
importance we may attach to carrying a message from Doctor Warren to
Colonel Barrett, no one else appears to be of our opinion. I had not
thought they would kill a fatted calf for us as if we were Prodigal
Sons; but surely some one might have asked, knowing we had traveled all
night, whether or no a bit of corn bread would go amiss."

When he thus spoke we were come opposite a small, rude dwelling situate
in one corner of a pasture wherein even a sheep would have found it
difficult to satisfy its hunger, and in the door of this building stood
a motherly looking old woman, her hands on her hips, and her eyes fixed
on us in curiosity, as I fancied.

"You children are looking weary," she cried, and mayhap I bridled
somewhat because she had called us who counted on soon being a portion
of the Colonial army, "children." "Will you not wait and rest a while?"

I would have kept on, punishing my own body because Master Hadley's
people had failed to show hospitality; but Silas accepted the invitation
without ado, and threw himself down upon the moss nearby the door as if
too weary to advance any further.

After this had been done Archie and I could do no less than follow his
example, at least so far as coming to a halt was concerned, and I soon
forgot the vexation in my heart because of what I counted as neglect,
for the old woman ministered to us in as kindly, generous a fashion as
our own mothers would have done.

That she was not well off in this world's goods might readily have been
told by her surroundings, yet did she give of what she had freely,
buttering the coarse food with so many kindly words that I believe of a
verity I shall never partake again of so appetizing a meal.

As a matter of course she asked many questions as to why we were in the
neighborhood, and perhaps there was no reason why we might not have
satisfied her curiosity without explaining everything; yet it did not
seem to me well that we should make any one acquainted with our mission.
Even after we were told that she had a son who was then in Cambridge
ready and eager to serve the colony as a soldier, we held our peace,
save in so far as we told her that we were bound on getting into Boston,
where were our homes.

It was natural she should ask many questions as to what the British were
doing; whether we were so shut in by the lob