The admiral shut his window in a hurry, and the tea-party, with a laugh for the admiral, marched on. He was fond of a fight, but thought it best to decline this invitation.
HOW THE WARNING WAS GIVEN[O]
By Mabel Nelson Thurston
In this story an old-fashioned “courting-stick� in the hands of a quick-witted girl is the means of saving patriot lives and ammunition.
THE time was the year of Lexington and Concord, and the place, a little village not many miles away. Already men’s faces were stern and women’s eyes dim with sorrow; only the little children played on and knew no difference.
Dolly Pearson scorned the name of child, yet the thought of war brought to her only a sense of exhilaration. She had no father or brother to lose; but neither had Elizabeth who had not smiled these three months. Why? John Thurlow had said no word of enlisting. A shame it was, too—thought Dolly—and he a strong man with naught to bind him!
“Betty,� said Dolly, who was helping her sister to tidy the best room, “why does not John enlist? There, ’tis said now—I just had to! I’ve been waiting and waiting because I feared to hurt you by the question!�
Elizabeth turned her quiet face to the saucy one, and smiled a little sadly down at the girl. “John will go soon,� she said. “He is but tarrying till the time be ripe.�
“Well, right glad am I to know it!� cried Dolly. “I always liked John Thurlow, but had he been a coward——� She stopped, amazed at Elizabeth’s look.
“Never name coward and John Thurlow in the same breath again!� she said, vehemently, with wrathful face.