“I’m glad I’ve touched anything as interesting as this,” she said.
“Look at the inscription,” said James, calling their attention to the lettering. “WITHIN THESE WALLS HENRY, HANCOCK AND ADAMS INSPIRED THE DELEGATES OF THE COLONIES WITH NERVE AND SINEW FOR THE TOILS OF WAR!”
“John Hancock was my great-great-grandfather’s brother,” said James proudly.
“Good for you, old chap,” exclaimed Roger, thumping him on the back, while Helen beamed at Margaret.
“How long did these Congressmen chat here?” meekly asked Tom of Helen.
“After about a month they agreed on what they called a Declaration of Rights, and they sent it over to Franklin, who was in England, and asked him to present it to the House of Commons.”
“In the light of after events I suppose the House of Commons didn’t take a look at it,” said Roger.
“They certainly did not,” replied Helen, “and the battles of Lexington and Concord were the result. You remember they were fought in April of 1775. Ticonderoga was captured in May of the same year and the battle of Bunker Hill was fought in June.”
“And Congress kept on sitting while all this fighting was going on?”
“Yes; the men discussed each new move as it was made. Early in June one of the members made a motion before the Congress that ‘these Colonies ought to be Independent.’”