“And now,” said Revere, as they paused in Marlborough Street, near the Old South Meeting House, “I must leave you for a time. Before I sleep this night the members of the convention must be notified that the Continental Congress has acted, so that they may assemble to-morrow to receive its formal resolutions.” He shook hands with Nat, Ben and the Porcupine. “I shall see you again before you leave the city, no doubt; if not, good-bye.”
As Revere left them, Ezra said:
“It would be as well that I should deliver my letter to Dr. Warren, also. Misadventures on the road have taught me that a messenger is never safe until his errand is done.”
They turned their horses’ heads in the direction of Hanover Street, where the great patriot lived; and in a little while, leaving their horses in care of the Porcupine, they were shown into the library, where Dr. Warren received them. That he was all eagerness to read the communication from Mr. Adams was evident, but first he greeted Ben and Nat, bidding them welcome and directing a servant to prepare supper for them at once. When he had seen them comfortable and inquired eagerly after the cause in Philadelphia, he said:
“And now you’ll pardon me, I know. Mr. Adams is sure to have matters of moment to write of.”
And so, while the lads watched him, he broke the seals and carefully read the message. By the way his face lit up they knew that the news was good, and that the future had a brighter prospect than the present. When he had finished, he carefully tore the paper into fragments.
“You see,” said he to the boys, laughing, “it is not well for a marked man, such as I, to have papers about him that will tell so much. Almost at any time Gage is likely to take courage and swoop down upon me with a file of men.”
“And how are things in Boston, sir?” asked Ezra.
An anxious look came into the doctor’s fine, worn face. But, for all, there was hope in it also.
“Bad enough,” he answered. “But the people hold out wonderfully. The Port Bill has them upon the verge of starvation; those of us who were rich are now poor—those who were poor are now beggars.”