Captain Enos, hurrying up from the shore, thought it the prettiest sight he had ever seen. The tall pole, covered with green vines and bright blossoms, the children forming in a circle round Anne, and the pleasant May skies over all, seemed to the sailor to make a picture worth remembering.
Then came the dance round the May-pole and the song. By this time, the other men had come up from the shore; Elder Haven was there, and every one in the little settlement had gathered at the spring. It was a circle of happy faces, and when the time came for them all to start for their homes, each one said that Province Town had never seen so pretty a sight.
“’Tis something we shall like to think about,” said Elder Haven to Jimmie Starkweather, as the two walked toward the Elder’s house.
Anne was sure that it was the happiest day in her life. “I wish my father could have seen me, Aunt Martha,” she said, as they walked toward home. “’Twould please him well to know the children like me. ’Tis only a year since they did scorn me at the spring.”
“You must forget about that, Anne,” said Aunt Martha. “They chose you for Queen because you have been a pleasant child. You see, it matters not what they said before they knew you.”
“Aunt Martha!” exclaimed Anne, suddenly looking up toward the harbor, “see! There are two big ships coming down the bay.”
“We are not to be in peace long,” said Mrs. Stoddard. “They are coming straight to anchorage.”
Every one soon knew that the “Somerset” was back again, and now the English sailors took no trouble to be civil. They laid hands on provisions of all sorts, but nevertheless they brought good news.
William Trull found a chance to tell Captain Enos that the Americans had won the battle at Lexington. “We’ll be in harbor here but a day or two,” he added; “we must be back to watch the Americans at Charlestown.” And, sure enough, the next morning the big ships had sailed away again, taking with them many things that the little settlement could ill spare.
As the summer days lengthened, Anne longed more and more for some news of her father. The battle of Bunker Hill had brought another triumph to the Americans, but the English vessels still cruised about the coast, making the fishermen careful about going far from shore.