Many years ago when our country was at war with England, there lived in a little seaport town of Massachusetts a child named Rebecca. Rebecca’s father was the light-house keeper. A mile back inland was a little village of people.
One day Rebecca and her little friend, Alice, were playing on the shore, when they happened to look across the water and saw a ship headed for their harbor. There was something about this great ship which struck terror to these girls’ hearts, for those were trying days when British warships would unload their soldiers and march in upon the villagers.
Rebecca and Alice ran to the light-house tower and watched for an hour or two, until they saw that the soldiers were going to land.
“If I were only a man!” cried Rebecca.
“What could you do?” asked Alice.
“I’d fight ’em!” cried Rebecca. “I’d use father’s old gun.”
“I wonder if there’ll be a fight?” broke in Alice.
“I don’t know. Our men will do what they can.”
“But see how quiet it is! Not a man on shore.”
“Maybe they are hiding until the soldiers come, and then we shall hear shot and the drum. Oh, but the drum! It’s here; father brought it yesterday to mend it,” said Alice.