up a needle by touching it with the
blade. They had little time to spare, for they were to take supper
with Mr. Samuel Adams. Berinthia informed him that Mr. Adams was not
rich, that he was very kind-hearted, and had lost his property through
kindness to a friend.

"He lives very plainly," she said as they rode homeward. "We shall
find simple fare, but he will give you a hearty shake of the hand.
People have faith in him because he is true to his convictions."

It was supper time when they reached Mr. Adams's house.

"I am pleased to see you, and am glad to have an opportunity for a
little talk," said Mr. Adams, welcoming them.

"We have very simple fare, only mush and milk, pandowdy,[19] and some
Rumford cheese which is very delicious," said Mrs. Adams as she
invited them to the supper table. They stood by their chairs while Mr.
Adams asked a blessing, then took their seats.

[Footnote 19: Pandowdy was a compote of apples, with several layers of
pastry made from rye meal, baked in a deep earthen dish and eaten with
milk.]

"We have abolished tea from our table," he said. "I see no better way
of thwarting the designs of the king and the ministry to overthrow the
liberties of the Colonies than for the people to quit using it."

"Do you think the people will deny themselves for a principle?" Robert
asked.

"Yes; I have unbounded faith in the virtue of the American people. I
do not know that we naturally are more virtuous than the people of
other lands, but the course pursued by England ever since Cromwell's
time has been one of oppression. Now tyranny, when exercised towards a
free and intelligent people, is a process of education. Away back when
Cromwell was administering the affairs of the nation a law was passed,
the design of which was to build up the commerce of England. At that
time Spain and Holland were great maritime countries. The ships of
Spain were bringing gold from Cuba, Mexico, and South America to that
country. The ships of Holland were bringing silks and tea from India
and China. Those countries were doing pretty much all the carrying on
the ocean. Cromwell, one of the greatest and most far-sighted of all
England's rulers, determined that England should have her share of the
trade. The law which was passed provided that no goods should be
imported into that country or exported from it except in English
vessels, and the master of every ship and three fourths of the crew
must be Englishmen, under