CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| I. | Rousing the Lion | [9] |
| II. | Charlie Bell | [17] |
| III. | John goes to see the new Boy | [33] |
| IV. | Grit and Gratitude | [45] |
| V. | Charles returns John’s Visit | [58] |
| VI. | Charlie in a Snow Squall | [70] |
| VII. | Charlie plans a Surprise for Sally | [85] |
| VIII. | Charlie’s Home Life and Employments | [97] |
| IX. | Ben finds a Prize | [111] |
| X. | How they passed the Winter Evenings | [123] |
| XI. | Ben reveals his long-cherished Plan to his Father | [139] |
| XII. | The Mysterious Pig | [151] |
| XIII. | A Novel Craft | [171] |
| XIV. | The Burn | [183] |
| XV. | Fitting away | [203] |
| XVI. | A Well-deserved Holiday | [215] |
| XVII. | Uncle Isaac’s Pledge | [250] |
| XVIII. | Generosity and Pluck | [264] |
| XIX. | Fred’s Sand-bird Pie | [285] |
| XX. | A Hair-breadth Escape | [296] |
| XXI. | The Boys and the Widow | [315] |
CHAPTER I.
ROUSING THE LION.
When the English army, during the war of the Revolution, were driven out of Boston by the batteries of Washington, erected upon Dorchester Heights, those traitors to the liberties of their country (called in those days Tories), who had taken part with the British, accompanied them to Halifax, being more than a thousand in number, as they were fearful of the vengeance of their countrymen if they remained behind. During the war that followed, they, with their British friends, were accustomed to come along the coast and islands of Maine in vessels and armed boats, and maltreat and plunder the unarmed inhabitants. These vessels were called “shaving mills,” and they were wont to shave very close.
In Eaton’s History of Thomaston and Rockland, it is said that a Tory by the name of Pomeroy, who was captain of one of these mills, took Robert Jameson from his mowing field, carried him on board his vessel, and put him in irons, while his men killed a yoke of oxen and three fat hogs, and put them on board the vessel, together with three firkins of butter and two guns. Jameson vowed revenge.
As is usual in such cases, Pomeroy’s ill-gotten gains did not thrive with him. After the war he became poor, and finally shipped before the mast in a coaster, commanded by Paul Jameson, Robert’s brother, who told him that if they met his brother he would protect him, as he was the stouter of the two. But Robert got on board the vessel in Paul’s absence, and gave Pomeroy his choice to fight or take a whipping. But he refused, endeavoring to excuse his conduct by the usages of war, saying that, now the war was over, all ought to be forgotten and forgiven.
Jameson replied, “Strip and defend yourself! fight! only fight! I shall be satisfied.”