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&i6cl3  {,~










LIONEL LINCOLN;
OR)
TBlE LEAGUER OF BOSTON


BY J'. FENIMORE COOPER.
First let me talk with this philosopher.
COifLJ'LRJi! IN QYK VOL UI1EA
NEW YORK:
W. A. TOWNSEND & COMPANY,
1860.





LIONEL LINCOLN.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by
STRINGER & TOWNSEND,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of
New York.





TO


WILLIAM- JAY,
OF
BEDFORD, WEST-CHESTER,
ESQUIRE.
MY DEAR JAY,
An unbroken intimacy of four-and-twenty years
may justify the present use of your name. A man
of readier wit than myself might, on such a subject,
find an opportunity of saying something clever,
concerning the exalted services of your father.
No weak testimony of mine, however, can add to
a fame that belongs already to posterity: and
one like myself, who has so long known the merits, and has so often experienced the friendship
of the son, can find even better reasons for offering these Legends to your notice.
Very truly and constantly,
Yours,
THE AUTHOR.










PR EFAC E.
'HFrn mannet in which the author became pos.
sessed of the private incidents, the characters,
and the descriptions, contained in these tales, will,
most probably, ever remain a secret between himself and his publisher. That the leading events
are true, he presumes it is unnecessary to assert;
for should inherent testimony, to prove that im
portant point, be wanting, he is conscious that no
anonymous declaration can establish its credibility.
But while he shrinks from directly yielding his
authorities, the author has no hesitation in furnishing all the negative testimony in his power.
In the first place, then, he solemnly declares,
that no unknown man, nor woman, has ever died
in his vicinity, of whose effects he has become the
possessor, by either fair means or foul. No darklooking stranger, of a morbid temperament, and of
inflexible silence, has ever transmitted to him a
single page of illegible manuscript. Nor has ahy





Viii


PREFACE.


landlord furnished him with materials to be woiked up into a book, in order that the profits might
go to discharge the arrearages of a certain con
sumptive lodger, who made his exit so unceremo.
niously as to leave the last item in his account,
his funeral charges.
He is indebted to no garrulous tale-teller for
beguiling the long winter evenings; in ghosts he
has no faith; he never had a vision in his life;
and he sleeps too soundly to dream.
He is constrained to add, that in no " puff;"
" squib," " notice," " article," nor " review,"
whether in daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly
publication, has he been able to find a single hint
that his humble powers could improve. No one
regrets this fatality more than himself; for these
writers generally bring such a weight of imagination to their several tasks, that, propel ly improved,
might secure the immortality of any book, by rendering it unintelligible.
lie boldly asserts, that he has derived no information from  any of the learned societies-and
without fear of contradiction; for why should one
so obscure be the exclusive object of their favours!
Notwithstanding he occasionally is seen in that
erudite and abstemious association, the " Bread
and-Cheese Lunch," where he is elbowed by lawyers, doctors, jurists, poets, painters, editors, congressmen, and authors of every shade and quali




PREFACE.


IX


fication, whether metaphysical, scientific, or imaginative, he avers, that he esteems the lore which
is there culled, as far too sacred to be used in any
work less dignified than actual history.
Of the colleges it is necessary to speak with ieverence; though truth possesses claims even superior to gratitude. He shall dispose of them by
simply saying, that they are entirely innocent of
all his blunders; the little they bestowed having
long since been forgotten.
He has stolen no images from the deep, natural
poetry of Bryant; no pungency from the wit of
Halleck; no felicity of expression from the richness of Percival; no satire from the caustic pen
of Paulding; no periods nor humour from Irving;
nor any high finish from the attainments exhibited
by Verplanck.
At the " soirees" and " coteries des bas bleus"
he did think he had obtained a prize, in the dandies of literature, who haunt them. But experiment and analysis detected his error; as they
proved these worthies unfit for any better purpose than that which their own instinct had already dictated.
He has made no impious attempt to rob Joe
Miller of his jokes; the sentimentalists of their
pathcs; nor the newspaper Homers of their lofty
inspirations.
His presumption has not even imagined the vivacity of the eastern states; he has not analyzed





X                PREFACE
the homogeneous character of the middle; and he
has left the south in the undisturbed possession of
all their saturnine wit.
In short-he has pilfered from no black-letter
book, nor any six-penny pamphlet; his grandmother unnaturally refused her assistance to his la.
bours; and, to speak affirmdtively, for once, he
wishes to live in peace, and hopes to die in the
fear of God.





INTRODUCTION.
IN this tale there are one or two slight anachronisms; which, if unnoticed, might, with literal
readers, draw some unpleasant imputations on its
veracity -They relate rather to persons than to
things. As they are believed to be quite in character, connected with circumstances much more
probable than facts, and to possess all the harmony
of poetic colouring, the author is utterly unable to
discover the reason why they are not true.
He leaves the knotty point to the instinctive sagacity of the critics.
The matter of this " Legend" may be pretty
equally divided fnto that which is publicly, and
that which is privately certain. For the authorities of the latter, the author refers to the foregoing
preface; but he cannot dispose of the sources
whence he has derived the former, with so little
ceremony





xii


INTRODUCTION.


The good people of Boston are aware of the
creditable appearance they make in the early annals of the confederation, and they neglect no commendable means to perpetuate the glories of theii
ancestors. In consequence, the inquiry after his
torical facts, is answered, there, by an exhibition
of local publications, that no other town in the
union can equal. Of these means the author has
endeavoured to avail himself; collating with care,
and selecting, as he trusts, with some of that know
ledge of men and things which is necessary to present a faithful picture.
Wherever he may have failed, he has done it
honestly.
He will not take leave of the' cradle of liberty,'
without expressing his thanks for the facilities
which have been so freely accorded to his undertaking. If he has not been visited by aerial beings,
and those fair visions that poets best love to create,
he is certain he will not be misconceived when he
says, that he has been honoured by the notice of
some resembling those, who first inspired their
fancies.





LIONEL LINCOLN;
OR,
THE LEAGUER OF BOSTON.
CHAPTER I.
" My weary soul they seem to soothe,
" And, redolent of joy and youth," To breathe a second spring,"
Gray.
No American can be ignorant of the principal
events that induced the parliament of Great Britain, in 1774, to lay those impolitic restrictions on
the port of Boston, which so effectually destroyed
the trade of the chief town in her western colonies.
Nor should it be unknown to any American, how
nobly, and with what devotedness to the great
principles of the controversy, the inhabitants of
the adjacent town of Salem refused to profit by the
situation of their neighbours and fellow-subjects
In consequence of these impolitic measures of the
English government, and of the laudable unanimity
among the capitalists of the times, it became a rare
sight to see the canvass of any other vessels than
such as wore the pennants of the king, whitening
the forsaken waters of Massachusetts Bay.
Towards the decline of a day in April, 1775,
2





14


LTONEL LINCOLN.


however, the eyes of hundreds had been fastened
on a distant sail, which was seen rising from the
bosom of the waves, making her way along the
forbidden track, and steering directly for the mouth
of the proscribed haven. With that deep solicitude in passing events which marked the period, a
large group of spectators was collected on BeaconHill, spreading from its conical summit far down
the eastern declivity, all gazing intently on the object of their common interest. In so large an assemblage, however, there were those who were
excited by very different feelings, and indulging in
wishes directly opposite to each other. While the
decent, grave, but wary citizen was endeavouring
to conceal the bitterness of the sensations which
soured his mind, under the appearance of a cold indifference, a few gay young men, who mingled in
the throng, bearing about their persons the trappings of their martial profession, were loud in their
exultations, and hearty in their congratulations on
the prospect of hearing from their distant homes
and absent friends. But the long, loud rolls of the
drums, ascending on the evening air, from the adjacent common, soon called these idle spectators,
in a body, from the spot, when the hill was left to
the quiet possession of those who claimed the
strongest right to its enjoyment. It was not, however, a period for open and unreserved communications. Long before the mists of evening had
succeeded the shadows thrown from the setting
sun, the hill was entirely deserted; the remainder
of the spectators having descended from the eminence, and held their several courses, singly, silent,
and thoughtful, towards the rows of dusky roofs
that covered the lowland, along the eastern side
of the peninsula. Notwithstanding this appearance of apathy, rumour, which, in times of great





LIONEL LINCOLN.


15


excitement, ever finds means to convey its whisperings, when it dare not bruit its information
aloud, was busy in circulating the unwelcome intelligence, that the stranger was the first of a fleet,
bringing stores and reinforcements to an army al
ready too numerous, and too confident of its power, to respect the law. No tumult or noise succeeded this unpleasant annunciation, but the doors
of the houses were sullenly closed, and the windows darkened, as if the people intended to express their dissatisfaction, alone, by these silent
testimonials of their disgust.
In the mean time the ship had gained the rocky
entrance to the harbour, where, deserted by the
breeze, and met by an adverse tide, she lay inactive, as if conscious of the unwelcome reception
she must receive. The fears of the inhabitants of
Boston had, however, exaggerated the danger;
for the vessel, instead of exhibiting the confused
and disorderly throng of licentious soldiery, which
would have crowded a transport, was but thinly
peopled, and her orderly decks were cleared of
every incumbrance that could interfere with the
comfort of those she did contain. There was an appearance, in the arrangements of her external accommodations, which would have indicated to an
observant eye, that she carried those who claimed
the rank, or possessed the means, of making others
contribute largely to their comforts. The few seamen who navigated the ship lay extended on different portions of the vessel, watching the lazy sails
as they flapped against the masts, or indolently
bending their looks on the placid waters of the bay;
while several menials, in livery, crowded around a
young man who was putting his eager inquiries to
the pilot, that had just boarded the vessel off the
Graves. The dress of this youth was studiously





16


LIONEL LINCOLN.


neat, and from the excessive pains bestowed on its
adjustment, it was obviously deemed, by its wearer, to be in the height of the prevailing customs.
From the place where this inquisitive party stood,
nigh the main-mast, a wide sweep of the quarterdeck was untenanted; but nearer to the spot where
the listless seaman hung idly over the tiller of the
ship, stood a being of altogether different mould and
fashion. He was a man who would have seemed
in the very extremity of age, had not his quick,
vigorous steps, and the glowing, rapid glances
from his eyes, as he occasionally paced the deck,
appeared to deny the usual indications of many
years. His form was bowed, and attenuated nearly
to emaciation. His hair, which fluttered a little
wildly around his temples, was thin, and silvered to
the whiteness of at least eighty winters. Deep furrows, like the lines of great age and long endured
cares united, wrinkled his hollow cheeks, and rendered the bold haughty outline of his prominent features still more remarkable. He was clad in a simple and somewhat tarnished suit of modest gray,
which bore about it the ill-concealed marks of long
and neglected use. Whenever he turned his piercing look from the shores, he moved swiftly along
the deserted quarter deck, and seemed entirely
engrossed with the force of his own thoughts, his
lips moving rapidly, though no sounds were heard
to issue from a mouth that was habitually silent.
He was under the influence of one of those sud
den impulses, in which the body, apparently,
sympathized so keenly with the restless activity
of the mind, when a young man ascended from the
cabin and took his stand among the interested and
excited gazers at the land, on the upper deck,
The age of this gentleman might have been five
and twenty. He wore a military cloak, thrown





LIONEL LINCOLN.


17


carelessly across his form, which, in addition to
such parts of his dress as were visible through its
open folds, sufficiently announced that his profession was that of arms. There was an air of ease
and high fashion gleaming about his person, though
his speaking countenance, at.times, seemed melancholy, if not sad. On gaining the deck, this young
officer, encountering the eyes of the aged and restless being who trod its planks, bowed courteously
before he turned away to the view, and in his turn
became deeply absorbed in studying its fading
beauties.
The rounded heights of Dorchester were radiant
with the rays of the luminary that had just sunk
behind their crest, and streaks of paler light were
playing along the waters, and gilding the green
summits of the islands which clustered across the
mouth of the estuary. Far in the distance were
to be seen the tall spires of the churches, rising out
of the deep shadows of the town, with their vanes
glittering in the sun-beams, while a few rays of
strong light were dancing about the black beacon,
which reared itself high above the conical peak,
that took its name from the circumstance of supporting this instrument of alarms. Several large
vessels were anchored among the islands and before the town. their dark hulls, at each moment,
becoming less distinct through the haze of evening, while the summits of their long lines of
masts were yet glowing with the marks of day.
From each of these sullen ships, from the low fortification which rose above a small island deep in
the bay, and from various elevations in the town
itself, the broad, silky folds of the flag of England
were yet waving in the currents of the passing
air. The young man was suddenly aroused from
2*





18


I   LIONEL LINCOLN.


gazing at this scene, by the quick reports of the
evening guns, and while his eyes were yet tracing
the descent of the proud symbols of the British
power, f-rom their respective places of display, he
felt his arm convulsively pressed by the hand of his
aged fellow-passenger.
" Will the day ever arrive," said a low, hollow
voice at his elbow, " when those flags shall be low.
ered, never to rise again in this hemisphere!"
The young soldier turned his quick eyes to the
countenance of the speaker, but bent them instantly
in embarrassment on the deck, to avoid the keen,
searching glance he encountered in the looks of
the other. A long, and, on the part of the young
man, a painful silence succeeded this remark. At
length the youth, pointing to the land, said" Tell me, you who are of Boston, and must
have known it so long, the names of all these
beautiful places I see."
" And are you not of Boston, too?" asked his
old companion.
" Certainly by birth, bat an Englishman by habit
and education."
" Accursed be the habits, and neglected the
education, which would teach a child to forget its
parentage!" muttered the old man, turning suddenly, and walking away so rapidly as to be soon
lost in the forward parts of the ship.
For several minutes longer, the youth stood ab
sorbed in his own musings, when, as if recollecting
his previous purposes, he called aloud-- Meriton!"
At the sounds of his voice the curious group
around the pilot instantly separated, and the highly
ornamented youth, before mentioned, approached
the officer, with a manner in which pert familiarity and fearful respect were peculiarly blended.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


19


Without regarding the air of the other, however,
or indeed without even favouring him with a glance,
the young soldier continued" 1 desired you to detain the boat which boarded
us, in order to convey me to the town, Mr. Meriton, see if it be in readiness."
The valet flew to execute this commission, and
in an instant returned with a reply in the affirmative.
" But, sir," he'continued, " you will never think
of going in that boat, I feel very much assured,
sir."
" Your assurance, Mr. Meriton, is not the least
of your recommendations; why should I not?"
" That disagreeable old stranger has taken possession of it, with his mean, filthy bundle of rags;
and-"
" And what? you must name a greater evil,
to detain me here, than mentioning the fact that
the only gentleman in the ship is to be my companion."
" Lord, sir!" said Meriton, glancing his eye up
ward in amazement; " but, sir, surely you know
best as to gentility of behaviour-but as to gen
tility of dress-"
" Enough of this," interrupted his master, a little angrily; " the company is such as I am content with; if you find it unequal to your deserts,
you have my permission to remain in the ship until the morning-the presence of a coxcomb is by
no means necessary to my comfort for one night."
Without regarding the mortification of his disconcerted valet, the young man passed along the
deck to the place where the boat was in waiting.
By the general movement among the indolent menials, and the profound respect with which he was
attended by the master of the ship to the gangway,
2





20


LIONEL LINCOLN.


It was sufficiently apparent, that, notwithstanding
his youth, it was this gentleman whose presence
had exacted those arrangements in the ship, which
have been mentioned. While all around him,
however, were busy in facilitating the entrance of
the officer into the boat, the aged stranger occupied its principal seat, with an air of deep abstraction, if not of cool indifference. A hint from the
pliant Meriton, who had ventured to follow his
master, that it would be more agreeable if he would
relinquish his place, was disregarded, and the youth
took a seat by the side of the old man, with a simplicity of manner that his valet inwardly pronounced
abundantly degrading. As if this humiliation were
not sufficient, the young man, perceiving that a general pause had succeeded his own entrance, turned
to his companion, and courteously inquired if he
were ready to proceed. A silent wave of the hand
was the reply, when the boat shot away from the
vessel, leaving the ship steering for an anchorage
in Nantasket.
The measured dash of the oars was uninterrupted by any voice, while, stemming the tide, they
pulled laboriously up among the islands; but by
the time they had reached the castle, the twilight
had melted into the softer beams from a young
moon, and the surrounding objects becoming more
distinct, the stranger commenced talking with that
quick and startling vehemence which seemed his
natural manner. He spoke of the localities, with
the vehemence and fondness of an enthusiast, and
with the familiarity of one who had long known
their beauties.  His rapid utterance, however,
ceased as they approached the naked wharves, and
he sunk back gloomily in the boat, as if unwilling
to trust his voice on the subject of his country's
wi ongs  Thus left to his own thoughts, the youth





LIONEL LINCOLN.


21


gazed, with eager interest, at the long ranges ol
buildings, which were now clearly visible to the
eye, though with softer colours and more gloomy
shadows. A few neglected and dismantled ships
were lying at different points; but the hum of business, the forests -of masts, and the rattling of
wheels, which at that early hour should have distinguished the great mart of the colonies, were
wanting. In their places were to be hea'rd, at intervals, the sudden bursts of distant, martial music, the riotous merriment of the soldiery who frequented the taverns at the water's edge, or the
sullen challenges of the sentinels from the vessels
of war, as they vexed the progress of the few boats,
which the inhabitants still used in their ordinary
pursuits.
" Here indeed is a change!" the young officer
exclaimed, as they gli4ed swiftly along this desolate scene; " even my recollections, young and
fading as they are, recall the difference!"
The stranger made no reply, but a smile 6f sin
gular meaning gleamed across his wan features,
imparting, by the moonlight, to their remarkable
expression, a character of additional wildness.
The officer was again silent, nor did either speak
until the boat, having shot by the end of the long
wharf, across whose naked boundaries a sentinel
was pacing his measured path, inclined more to
the shore, and soon reached the place of its destination.
Whatever might have been the respective feelings of the two passengers, at having thus reached
in safety the object of their tiresome and protracted
voyage, they were not expressed in language. The
old man bared his silver locks, and, concealing his
face,with his hat, stood as if in deep mental thanksgiving at the termination of his toil, while his more





22


LIONEL LINCOLN.


youthful companion trod the wharf on which they
landed with the air of a man, whose emotions wei e
too engrossing for the ordinary use of words.
" Here we must part, sir," the officer at length
said; " but I trust the acquaintance, which has been
thus accidentally formed between us, is not to be
forgotten now there is an end to our common privations."
" It is 'not in the power of a man whose days, like
mine, are numbered," returned the stranger, " to
mock the liberality of his God, by any vain promises that must depend on time for their fulfilment.
I am one, young gentleman, who has returned from
a sad, sad pilgrimage, in the other hemisphere, to
lay his bones in this, his native land; but should
many hours be granted me, you will hear further
of the man, whom your courtesy and kindness have
so greatly obliged."
The officer was sensibly affected by the softened
but solemn manner of his companion, and pressed
his wasted hand fervently as he answered-'
" Do; 1 ask it as a singular favour; I know
not why, but you have obtained a command of my
feelings that no other being ever yet possessedand yet-'tis a mystery, 'tis like a dream! I feel
that I not only venerate, but love you!"
The old man stepped back, and held the youth
at the length of his arm for a moment, while he
fastened on him a look of glowing interest, and
then, raising his hand slowly, he pointed impressively upward, and said"'Tis from heaven, and for God's own purposes-smother not the sentiment, boy, but cherish
it in your heart's core!"
The reply of the youth was interrupted by
sudden and violent shrieks, that burst rudely on
the stillness of the place, chilling the very blood





LIONEL LINCOLN.


9q


of those who heard them, with their piteousness.
The quick and severe blows of a lash were blended
with the exclamations of the sufferer, and rude
oaths, with hoarse execrations, from various voices,
were united in the uproar, which appeared to be at
no great distance.  By a common impulse, the
whole party broke away from the spot, and moved
rapidly up the wharf in the direction of the sounds.
As they approached the buildings, a group was
seen collected around the man, who thus broke the
charm of evening by his cries, interrupting his
wailings with their ribaldry, and encouraging his
tormentors to proceed.
" Mercy, mercy, for the sake of the blessed God,
have mercy, and don't kill Job!" again shrieked
the sufferer; " Job will run your a'r'nds! Job is
half-witted! Mercy on poor Job! Oh! you make
his flesh creep!"
" I'll cut the heart from the mutinous knave,"
interrupted a hoarse, angry voice, " to refuse to
drink the health of his majesty!"
" Job does wish him good health-Job loves the
king-only Job don't love rum."
The officer had approached so nigh as to perceive that the whole scene was one of disorder and
abuse, and pushing aside the crowd of excited and
deriding soldiers, who composed the throng, he
broke at once into the centre of the circle.





CHAPTER II.


SThey'll have me whipped for speaking true;
"Thoul't have me whipped for lying;
SAnd sometimes I'm whipped for holding my peace.
"I had rather be any kind of a thing
"Than a fool."
Lear.
"'WHAT means this outcry?" demanded the
young man, arresting the arm of an infuriated soldier, who was inflicting the blows; " by what authority is this man thus abused?"
1" By what authority dare you to lay hands on a
British grenadier?" cried the fellow, turning in
his fury, and raising his lash against the supposed
townsman. But when, as the officer stepped aside
to avoid the threatened indignity, the light of the
moon fell full upon his glittering dress, through
the opening folds of his cloak, the arm of the brutal
soldier was held suspended in air, with the surprise of the discovery.
" Answer, I bid you," continued the young officer, his frame shaking with passion; " why is this
man tormented, and of what regiment are ye?"
"We belong to the grenadiers of the brave
47th, your honour," returned one of the bystanders, in a humble, deprecating tone, " and we was
lust polishing this 'ere natural, because as he refuses to drink the health of his majesty."
C lie's a scornful sinner, that don't fear his





LIONEL LINCOLN.


25


Maker," cried the man in duresse, eagerly bending his face, down which big tears were rolling,
towards his protector. " Job loves the king, but
Job don't love rum!"
The officer turned away from the cruel spectacle, as he bid the men untie their prisoner. Knives
and fingers were instantly put in requisition, and
the man was liberated, and suffered to resume his
clothes. During this operation, the tumult and
bustle, which had so recently distinguished the
riotous scene, were succeeded by a stillness that
rendered the hard breathing of the sufferer painfully audible.
" Now sirs, you heroes of the 47th!" said the
young man, when the victim of their rage was
again clad, " know you this button?" The soldier,
to whom this question was more particularly addressed, gazed at the extended arm, and, to his
vast discomfiture, he beheld the magical number
of his own regiment reposing on the well-known
white facings that decorated the rich scarlet of the
vestment. No one presumed to answer this appeal, and after an impressive silence of a few moments, he continued" Ye are noble supporters of the well-earned
fame of ' Wolfe's own!' fit successors to the gallant men who conquered under the walls of Quebec! away with ye; to-morrow it shall be looked to."
" I hope your honour will remember he refused
his majesty's health. I'm sure, sir, that if colonel
Nesbitt was here himself-"
" Dog! do you dare to hesitate! go, while you
have permission to depart."
The disconcerted soldiery, whose turbulence
had thus vanished, as if by enchantment, before
the frown of their superior, slunk away in a body,





26


'LIONEL LINCOLN.


a few of the older nien whispering to their comrades the name of the officer, who had thus unex
pectedly appeared in the midst of them. The angry eye of the young soldier followed their retiring forms, while a man of them was visible; after
which, turning to an elderly citizen, who, supported on a crutch, had been a spectator of the scene,
he asked" Know you the cause of the cruel treatment this
poor man has received? or what in any manner
has led to the violence?"
" The boy is weak," returned the cripple;
" quite an innocent, who knows but little good, but
does no harm. The soldiers have been carousing
in yonder dram-shop, and they often get the poor
lad in with them, and sport with his infirmity. It
these sorts of doings an't checked, I fear much
trouble will grow out of them! Hard laws firom
t'other side of the water, and tarring and feathering on this, with gentlemen like Colonel Nesbitt at
their head, will-"
" It is wisest for us, my friend, to pursue this
subject no further," interrupted the officer. " 1
belong myself to ' Wolfe's own,' and will endeavour to see justice done in the matter; as you will
credit when I tell you that I am a Boston boy.
But, though a native, a long absence has obliterated
the marks of the town from my memory; and I
am at a loss to thread these crooked streets.
Know you the dwelling of Mrs. Lechmere?"
" The house is well known to all in Boston,"'
returned the cripple, in a voice sensibly altered by
the information that he was speaking to a townsman. "Job, here, does but little else than run of
errands, and he will show you the way out of gra
titude; won't you, Job?"
The idiot,-for the vacant eye and unmeaning





LIONEL LINCOLN.


27


boyish countenance of the young man who had
just been liberated, but too plainly indicated that
he was to be included in that miserable class of
human beings,-answered with a caution and reluctance that were a little remarkable, considering
the recent circumstances.
" Ma'am Lechmere's! Oh! yes, Job knows
the way, and could go there blindfolded, if-if-"
" If what, you simpleton!" exclaimed the zealous cripple.
" Why, if 'twas daylight."
" Blindfolded, and daylight! do but hear the
silly child! Come, Job, you must take this gentleman to Tremont-street, without further words.
'Tis but just sundown, boy, and you can go there
and be home and in your bed before the Old South
strikes eight!"
" Yes; that all depends on which way you go,"
returned the reluctant changeling. " Now, I know,
neighbour Hopper, you couldn't go to Ma'am Lechmere's in an hour, if you went along Lynn-street,
and so along Prince-street, and back through SnowHill; and especially if you should stop any time to
look at the graves on Copps."
" Pshaw! the fool is in one of his sulks now,
with his Copps-Hill, and the graves!" interrupted
the cripple, whose heart had warmed to his youthful townsman, and who would have volunteered to
show the way himself, had his infirmities perm tted the exertion. " The gentleman must call the
grenadiers back, to bring the child to reason."
" 'Tis quite unnecessary to be harsh with the
unfortunate lad," said the young soldier; " my re.
collections will probably aid me as I advance; and
should they not, I can inquire of any passenger 1
meet."
" If Boston was what Boston has been, you





LIONEL LINCOLN.


might ask such a question of a civil inhabitant, at
any corner," said the cripple; " but it's rare to see
many of our people in the streets at this hour, since
the massacre. Besides, it is Saturday night, you
know; a fit time for these rioters to choose for their
revelries! For that matter, the soldiers have grown
more insolent than ever, since they have met that
disappointment about the cannon down at Salem;
'out I needn't tell such as you what the soldiers are
when they get a little savage."
" I know my comrades but indifferently well,
if their conduct to-night be any specimen of theii
ordinary demeanour, sir," returned the officer;
" but follow, Meriton; I apprehend no great difficulty in our path."
The pliant valet lifted the cloak-bag he carried,
from the ground, and they were about to proceed,
when the natural edged himself in a sidelong, slovenly manner, nigher to the gentleman, and looked
earnestly up in his face for a moment, where he
seemed to be gathering confidence to say-" Job
will show the officer Ma'am Lechmere's, if the officer wont let the grannies catch Job afore he gets
off the North End ag'in."
' Ah!" said the young man, laughing, " there:
is something of the cunning of a fool in that arrangement. Well, I accept the conditions; but
beware how you take me to contemplate the graves
by moonlight, or I shall deliver you not only tc
the grannies, but to the light infantry, artillery,
and all."
With this good-natured threat, the officer followed his nimble conductor, after taking a friendly
leave of the obliging cripple, who continued his
admonitions to the natural, not to wander from the
airect route, while the sounds of his voice were
audible to the retiring party. The progress of his





LIONEL LINCOLN.


29


guide was so rapid as to require the young officer
to confine his survey of the narrow and crooked
streets through which they passed, to extremely
hasty and imperfect glances. No very minute ob.
servation, however, was necessary to perceive that
he was led along one of the most filthy and inferior
sections of the town; and where, notwithstanding
his efforts, he found it impossible to recall a single
feature of his native place to his remembrance.
The complaints of Meriton, who followed close at
the heels of his master, were loud and frequent,
until the gentleman, a little doubting the sincerity
of his intractable conductor, exclaimed" Have you nothing better than this to show a
townsman, who has been absent seventeen years,
on his return? Pray let us go through some better streets than this, if any there are in Boston
which can be called better."
The lad stopped short, and looked up in the face
of the speaker, for an instant, with an air of undisguised amazement, and then, without replying, he
changed the direction of his route, and after one
or two more deviations in his path, suddenly turning again, he glided up an alley, so narrow that the
passenger might touch the buildings on either side
of him. The officer hesitated an instant to enter
this dark and crooked passage, but perceiving that
his guide was already hid by a bend in the houses,
he quickened his steps, and immediately regained
the ground he had lost. They soon emerged from
the obscurity of the place, and issued on a street
of greater width.
" There!" said Job, triumphantly, when they
had effected this gloomy passage, " does the king
Live in so crooked and narrow a street as that?"
" His majesty must yield the point in your fa
vour," returned the officer.
C.*





30


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Ma'am Lechmere is a grand lady!" continued
the lad, seemingly following the current of his
own fanciful conceits, " and she wouldn't live in
that alley for the world, though it is narrow, like
the road to heaven, as old Nab says; I suppose
they call it after the Methodies for that reason."
" I have heard the road you mention termed
narrow, certainly, but it is also called strait," returned the officer, a little amused with the humour
of the. lad; " but forward, the time is slipping
away, and we loiter."
Again Job turned, and moving onward, he led
the way, with swift steps, along another narrow
and crooked path, which, however, better deserved
the name of a street, under the projecting stories
of the wooden buildings, which lined its sides.
After following the irregular windings of their
route for some distance, they entered a triangular
area, of a few rods in extent, where Job, disregarding the use of the narrow walk, advanced directly
into the centre of the open space. Here he stopped once more, and, turning his vacant face with
an air of. much seriousness, towards a building
which composed one side of the triangle, he said,
with a voice that expressed his own deep admira
tion" There-that's the ' Old North!' did you ever
see such a meetin'us' afore? does the king worship God in such a temple?"
The officer did not chide the idle liberties of
the fool, for in the antiquated and quaint architecture of the wooden edifice, he recognised one of
those early efforts of the simple, puritan builders,
whose rude tastes have been transmitted to their
posterity with so many deviations in the style of
the same school, but so little of improvement.
Blended with these considerations, were the dawn.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


ings of revived recollections; and he smiled, as he
recalled the time when he also used to look up at
the building with feelings somewhat allied to the
profound admiration of the idiot. Job watched his
countenance narrowly, and easily mistaking its
expression, he extended his arm toward one of
the narrowest of the avenues that entered the
area, where stood a few houses of more than common pretension.
"And there ag'n!" he continued, "there's
palaces for you! stingy Tommy lived in the one
with the pile-axters, and the flowers hanging to
their tops; and see the crowns on them too  stingy Tommy loved crowns, they say; but Province'us' wasn't good enough for him, and he
lived here-now they say he lives in one of the
king's cupboards!"
" And who was stingy Tommy? and what right
had he to dwell in Province-House, if he would?"
" What right has any governor to live in Province'us'! because it's the king's! though the people paid for it."
" Pray, sir, excuse me," said Meriton, from behind, " but do the Americans usually call all their
governors stingy Tommies?"
The officer turned his head, at this vapid question, from his valet, and perceived that he had
been accompanied thus far by the aged stranger,
who stood at his elbow, leaning on his staff, studying with close attention the late dwelling of Hutchinson, while the light of the moon fell, unobstructed, on the deep lines of his haggard face.
During the first surpripe of this discovery, he forgot to reply, and Job took the vindication of his
language into his own hands.
"To be sure they do-they call people by then
right names," he said. "Insygn Peck is called





32


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Insygn Peck; and you call Deacon Winslow any
thing but Deacon Winslow, and see what a look
he'll give you! and I am Job Pray, so called; and
why shouldn't a governor be called stingy Tommy,
if he is a stingy Tommy?"
" Be careful how you speak lightly of the king's
representative," said the young officer, raising his
light cane with the affectation of correcting the
changeling.-" Forget you that I am a soldier?"
The idiot shrunk back a little, timidly, and then
leering from under his sunken brow, he answered" I heard you say you were a Boston boy!"
The gentleman was about to make a playful
reply, when the aged stranger passed swiftly before him, and took his stand at the side of the
lad, with a manner so remarkable for its earnestness, that it entirely changed the current of his
thoughts.
1" The young man knows the ties of blood and
country," the stranger muttered, " and I honour
him!"
It might have been the sudden recollection of
the danger of those allusions, which the officer so
well understood, and to which his accidental association with the singular being who uttered them
had begun to familiarize his ear, that induced the
youth to resume his walk, silently, and in deep
thought, along the street. By this movement, he
escaped observing the cordial grasp of the hand
which the old stranger bestowed on the idiot,
while he muttered a few more terms of commendation. Job soon took his station in front, and the
whole party moved on again, though with less
rapid strides. As the lad advanced deeper into
the town, he evidently wavered once or twice in
his choice of streets, and the officer began to suspect, that the changeling contemplated one of his





LIONEL LINCOLN.


33


wild circuits, to avoid the direct route to a house
that he manifestly approached with great reluctance. Once or twice the young soldier looked
about him, intending to inquire the direction, of
the first passenger he might see; but the quiet of
deep night already pervaded the place, and not an
individual, but those who accompanied him, appeared in the long ranges of streets they had passed
The air of the guide was becoming so dogged
and hesitating, that his follower had just determined to make an application at one of the
doors, when they emerged from a dark, dirty, and
gloomy street on an open space, of much greater
extent than the one they had so recently left. Passing under the walls of a blackened dwelling, Job
led the way to the centre of a swinging bridge,
which was thrown across an inlet from the harbour,
that extended a short distance into the area, forming a shallow dock. Here he took his stand, and
allowed the view of the surrounding objects.to work
its own effect on those he had conducted thither.
The square was composed of rows of low, gloomy,
and irregular houses, most of which had the ap
pearance of being but little used. Stretching from
the end of the basin, and a little on one side, a long,
narrow edifice, ornamented with pilasters, perforated with arched windows, and surmounted by a
humble cupola, reared its walls of brick, under the
light of the moon. The story which held the rows
of silent, glistening windows, was supported on
abutments and arches of the same material, through
the narrow vistas of which were to be seen the
shambles of the common market-place. Heavy
cornices of stone were laid above and beneath the
pilasters, and something more than the unskilful
architecture of the dwelling houses they had pass




34


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ed, was affected throughout the whole structure.
While the officer gazed at this scene, the idiot
watched his countenance with a keenness exceeding his usual observation, until, impatient at hearing no words of pleasure or of recognition, he exclaimed" If you don't know Funnel-Hall, you are no
Boston boy!"
" But I do know Faneuil-Hall, and I am a Boston boy," returned the amused gentleman; " the
place begins to freshen on my memory, and I now
recall the scenes of my childhood."
" This, then," said the aged stranger, " is the spot
where liberty has found so many bold advocates!"
" It would do the king's heart good to hear the
people talk in old Funnel, sometimes," said Job.
" I was on the cornishes, and looked into the winders, the last town-meetin'-da', and if there was
soldiers on the common, there was them in the hall
that didn't care for them!"
" Allthis is very amusing, no doubt," said the
officer, gravely, " but it does not advance me a
foot on my way to Mrs. Lechmere's."
" It is also instructing," exclaimed the stranger;
C"go on, child; I love to hear his simple feelings
thus expressed; they indicate the state of the public mind."
"Why," said Job, " they were plain spoken,
that's all; and it would be better for the king to
come over, and hear them-it would pull down
his pride, and make him pity the people, and then
he wouldn't think of shutting up Boston harbour.
Suppose he should stop the water from coming in
by the Narrows, why, we should get it by Broad
Sound! and if it didn't come by Broad Sound, it
would by Nantasket! He needn't think that the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


35


Boston folks are so dumb as to be cheated out of
God's water by acts of Parliament, while old Funnel stands in the Dock-square!"
" Sirrah!" exclaimed the officer, a little angrily, " we have already loitered until the clocks are
striking eight."
The idiot lost his animation, and lowered in his
looks again, as he answered'c Well, I told neighbour Hopper there was more
ways to Ma'am Lechmere's than straight forward I
but every body knows Job's business better than
Job himself! now you make me forget the road;
let us go in and ask old Nab; she knows the way
too well!"
"1 Old Nab! you wilful dolt! who is Nab, and
what have I to do with any but yourself?"
" Every body in Boston knows Abigail Pray."
" What of her?" asked the startling voice of the
stranger; " what of Abigail Pray, boy; is she not
honest?"1
C Yes, as poverty can make her," returned the
natural, gloomily; " now the king has said there
shall be no goods but tea sent to Boston, and the
people won't have the bohea, it's easy living rentfree.-Nab keeps her huckster-stuff in the old
ware'us', and a good place it is too-Job and his
rmother have each a room to sleep in, and they
say the king and queen haven't more!"
While he was speaking, the eyes of his listeners
were drawn by his gestures toward the singular
edifice to which he alluded. Like most of the
others adjacent to the square, it was low, old,
dirty, and dark. Its shape was triangular, a street
bounding it on each side, and its extremities were
flanked by as many low hexagonal towers, which
terminated, like the main building itself, in high
pointed roofs, tiled, and cappd with rude ornn3





LIONEL LINCOLN.


ments. Long ranges of small windows were to be
seen in the dusky walls, through one of which the
light of a solitary candle was glimmering, the only
indication of the presence of life about the silent
and gloomy building.
' Nab knows Ma'am Lechmere better than Job,"
continued the idiot, after a moment's pause, " and
she will know whether Ma'am Lechmere will have
Job whipped for bringing company on Saturdaynight; though they say she's so full of scoffery as
to talk, drink tea, and laugh on that night, just the
same as any other time."
" I will pledge myself to her courteous treatment," the officer replied, beginning to be weary
of the fool's delay.
" Let us see this Abigail Pray," cried the aged
stranger, suddenly seizing Job by the arm, and
leading him, with a sort of irresistible power, toward the walls of the building, through one of the
low doors of which they immediately disappeared.
Thus left on the bridge, with his valet, the young
officer hesitated a single instant how to act; but
yielding to the secret and powerful interest, which
the stranger had succeeded in throwing around all
his movements and opinions, he bade Meriton await
his return, and followed his guide and the old man
into the cheerless habitation of the former. On
passing the outer door, he found himself in a spacious, but rude apartment, which, from its appearance, as well as from the few articles of heavy but
valueless merchandise it now contained, would
seem to have been used once as a store-house.
The light drew his steps toward a room in one of
the towers, where, as he approached its open door,
he heard the loud, sharp tones of a woman'd voice,
exclaiming" Where have you been, graceless, this Satur




LIONEL LINCOLN.


37


day-night! tagging at the heels of the soldiers, or
gazing at the men-of-war, with their ungodly fashions of music and revelry at such a time, I dare
to say! and you knew that a ship was in the bay,
and that Madam Lechmere had desired me to send
her the first notice of its arrival. Here have I been
waiting for you to go up to Tremont-street since
sun-down, with the news, and you are out of call
-you, that know so well who it is she expects!"
" Don't be cross to Job, mother, for the grannies
have been cutting his back with cords, till the blood
runs! Ma'am Lechmere! I do believe, mother, that
Ma'am Lechmere has moved; for I've been trying
to find her house this hour, because there's a gentleman who landed from the ship wanted Job to
show him the way."
" What means the ignorant boy!" exclaimed
his mother.
" He alludes to me," said the officer, entering
the apartment; " I am the person, if any, expected
by Mrs. Lechmere, and have just landed from the,Avon, of Bristol; but your son has led me a circuitous path, indeed; at one time he spoke of visiting the graves on Copp's-Hill."
" Excuse the ignorant and witless child, sir,"'
exclaimed the matron, eyeing the young man keenly through her spectacles; " he knows the way as
well as to his own bed, but he is wilful at times.
This will be a joyful night in Tremont-street! So
handsome, and so stately too! Excuse me, young
gentleman," she added, raising the candle to his
features with an evident unconsciousness of the
act-" he has the sweet smile of the mother, and
the terrible eye of his father! God forgive us all
our sins, and make us happier in another world
than in this place of evil and wickedness!" As
she muttered the latter words, the woman set aside
4





38


LIONEL LINCOLN.


her candle with an aii of singular agitation. Each
syllable, notwithstanding her secret intention, was
heard by the officer, across whose countenance
there passed a sudden gloom that doubled its sad
expression. He, however, said' You know me, and my family, then."
"I was at your birth, young gentleman, and
a joyful birth it was! but Madam Lechmere waits
for the news, and my unfortunate child shall speedily conduct you to her door; she will tell you all
that it is proper to know. Job, you Job, where
are you getting to, in that corner ' take your hat,
and show the gentleman to Tremont-street directly; you know, my son, you love to go to Madam
Lechmere's!"
" Job would never go, if Job could help it,"
muttered the sullen boy; " and if Nab had never
gone, 'twould have been better for her soul."
C Do you dare, disrespectful viper!" exclaimed
the angry quean, seizing, in the violence of her
fury, the tongs, and threatening the head of her
stubborn child.
" Woman, peace!" said a voice behind.
The dangerous weapon fell from the nerveless
hand of the vixen, and the hues of her yellow
and withered countenance changed to the whiteness of death. She stood motionless, for near a
minute, as if rivetted to the spot by a super-human power, before she succeeded in muttering,
" who speaks to me?'
" It is I," returned the stranger, advancing from
the shadow of the door into the dim light of the
candle; " a man who has numbered ages, and who
knows, that as God loves him, so is he bound to
love the children of his loins."
The rigid limbs of the woman lost their stability,
in a tremour that shook every fibre in her body;





LIONEL LINCOLN.


39


she sunk in her chair, and her eyes rolled from
the face of one visiter to that of the other, while
her unsuccessful efforts to utter, denoted that she
had temporarily lost the command of speech.
Job stole to the side of the stranger, in this short
interval, and looking up in his face piteously, he
said" Don't hurt old Nab-read that good saying
to her out of the Bible, and she'll never strike
Job with the tongs ag'in; will you, mother? See
her cup, where she hid it under the towel, when
you came in! Ma'am Lechimere gives her the p'ison tea to drink, and then Nab is never so good to
Job, as Job would be to mother, if mother was
half-witted, and Job was old Nab."
The stranger considered the moving countenance of the boy, while he pleaded thus earnestly
in behalf of his mother, with marked attention, and
when he had done, he stroked the head of the natural compassionately, and said" Poor, imbecile child! God has denied the most
precious of his gifts, and yet his spirit hovers
around thee; for thou canst distinguish between
austerity and kindness, and thou hast learnt to
know good from evil. Young man, see you no
moral in this dispensation? nothing which says
that Providence bestows no gift in vain; while
it points to the difference between the duty that
is fostered by indulgence, and that which is extorted by power?"
The officer avoided the ardent looks of the
stranger, and after an embarrassing pause of a moment, he expressed his readiness, to the reviving
woman, to depart on his way. The matron, whose
eve had never ceased to dwell on the features
of the old man, since her faculties were restored,





40


LIONEL LINCOLN.


arose slowly, and in a feeble voice directed her
son to show the road to Tremont-street. She had
acquired, by long practice, a manner that never
failed to control, when necessary, the wayward humours of her child, and on the present occasion,
the unwonted solemnity imparted to her voice, by
deep agitation, aided in effecting her object. Job
quietly arose, and prepared himself to comply.
The manners of the whole party wore a restraint,
which implied they had touched on feelings that it
would be wiser to smother, and the separation
would have been silent, though courteous, on
the part of the youth, had he not perceived the
passage still filled by the motionless form of the
stranger.
" You will precede me, sir," he said; "the
hour grows late, and you, too, may need a guide
to find your dwelling."
" To me, the streets of Boston have long been
familiar," returned the old man. " I have noted
the increase of the town as a parent notes the increasing stature of his child; nor is my love for it
less than paternal. It is enough that I am within
its limits, where liberty is prized as the greatest
good; and it matters not under what roof I lay my
head-this will do as well as another."
"T This!" echoed the other, glancing his eyes
over the miserable furniture, and scanning the air
of poverty that pervaded the place; " why, this
house has even less of comfort than the ship we
have left!"
" It has enough for my wants," said the stranger,
seating himself with composure, and deliberately
placing his bundle by his side. " Go you to your
palace in Tremont-street: it shall be my care that
we meet again"





LIONEL LINCOLN.           41
The officer understood the character of his companion too well to hesitate, and bending low, he
quitted the apartment, leaving the other leaning
his head on his cane, in absent musing, while the
amazed matron was gazing at her unexpected
guest, with a wonder that was not unmingled with
dread.





CHAPTER Ill.


SFrom silver spouts the gratefil liquors glide,
' While China's earth receives the smoking tide <
SAt once they gratify their scent and taste,
' And frequent cups prolong the rich repast."
Rape of the Lock
TIHE recollection of the repeated admonitions of
his mother, served to keep Job to his purpose.
The instant the officer appeared, he held his way
across the bridge, and after proceeding, for a short
distance farther, along the water's edge, they entered a broad and well built avenue, which led
from the principal wharf into the upper parts of the
town. Turning up this street, the lad was making
his way, with great earnestness, when sounds of
high merriment and conviviality, breaking from an
opposite building, caught his attention, and induced
him to pause.
L" Remember your mother's injunction," said
the officer; " what see you in that tavern to stare
at?"
" 'Tis the British Coffee-house!" said Job,
shaking his head; " yes, any body might know that
by the noise they make in't on Saturday-night!
see! it's filled now with Lord Boot's officers, flaring afore the windows, just like so many red devils; but to-morrow, when the Old South bell
rings, they'll forget their Lord and Maker, every
sinner amrcn thc:m '"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


43


"Fellow!" exclaimed the officer, " this is trespassing too far-proceed to Tremont-street, or
leave me, that I may, at once, procure another
guide."
The changeling cast a look aside at the angry
eye of the other, and then turned and proceeded,
muttering so loud as to be overheard" Every body that's raised in Boston knows
how to keep Saturday-night; and if you're a Boston boy, you should love Boston ways."
The officer did not reply, and as they now pro
ceeded with great diligence, they soon passed
through King and Queen-streets, and entered that
of Tremont. At a little distance from the turning.
Job stopped, and pointing to a building near them,
he said" There; that house with the court-yard afore
it, and the pile-axters, and the grand looking door,
that's Ma'am Lechmere's; and every body says
she's a grand lady; but I say it is a pity she isn't a
better woman."
" And who are you, that ventures thus boldly
to speak of a lady so much your superior?"
" I!" said the idiot, looking up simply into the
face of his interrogator, " I am Job Pray, so
called."
" Well, Job Pray, here is a crown for you. The
next time you act as guide, keep more to your business.-I tell you, lad, I offer a crown."
" Job don't love crowns-they say the king
wears a crown, and it makes him flaunty and proud
like."
" The disaffection must have spread itself wide
indeed, if such as he refuse silver, rather than offend their principles!" muttered the officer to himself.-" Here then is half a guinea, if you like gold
better."





44


LIONEL LINCOLN.


The natural continued kicking a stone about with
his toes, without taking his hands from the pockets
where he wore them ordinarily, with a sort of idle
air, as he peered from under his slouched hat at
this renewed offer, answering--
" You wouldn't let the grannies whip Job, and
Job won't take your money."
" Well, boy, there is more of gratitude in that
than a wiser man would always feel! Come, Meriton, I shall meet the poor fellow again, and will
not forget this. I commission you to see the lad
better dressed, in the beginning of the week."
" Lord, sir," said the valet, " if it is your plea
sure, most certainly; but I declare I don't know in
what style I should dress such a figure and coun
tenance, to make any thing of them!"
" Sir, sir," cried the lad, running a few steps
after the officer, who had already proceeded, if
you won't let the grannies beat Job any more, Job
will always show you the way through Boston;
and run your a'r'nds too!"
" Poor fellow! well, I promise that you shall
not be again abused by any of the soldiery. Good
night, my honest friend-let me see you again."
The idiot appeared satisfied with this assurance,
for he immediately turned, and gliding along the
street with a sort of shuffling gait, he soon disappeared round the first corner. In the meantime
the young officer advanced to the entrance which
led into the court-yard of Mrs. Lechmere's dwelling. The house was of bricks, and of an exterior
altogether more pretending than most of those in
the lower parts of the town. It was heavily ornamented, in wood, according to the taste of a somewhat earlier day, and presented a front of seven
windows in its two upper stories, those at the extremes being much-narrower than the others The





LIONEL LINCOLN.


lower floor had the same arrangement, with the
exception of the principal door.
Strong lights were shining in many parts of the
house, which gave it, in comparison with the
gloomy and darkened edifices in its vicinity, an
air of peculiar gayety and life. The rap of the gentleman was answered instantly by an old black,
dressed in a becoming, and what, for the colonies,
was a rich livery. The inquiry for Mrs. Lechmere was successful, and the youth was conducted
through a hall of some dimensions, into.an apartment which opened from one of its sides. This
room would be considered, at the present day, as
much too small to contain the fashion of a country
town; but what importance it wanted in size, was
amply compensated for in the richness and labour
of its decorations. The walls were divided into
compartments, by raised panel-work, beautifully
painted with imaginary landscapes and ruins. Thhe
glittering, varnished surfaces of these pictures were
burthened with armorial bea ings, which were intended to illustrate the alliances of the family. Beneath the surbase were smaller divisions of panels,
painted with various architectural devices; and
above it rose, between the compartments, fluted
pilasters of wood, with gilded capitals. A heavy
wooden, and highly ornamented cornice, stretched
above the whole, furnishing an appropriate outline
to the walls. The use of carpets was, at that time,
but little known in the colonies, though the wealth
and station of Mrs. Lechmere would probably have
introduced the luxury, had not her age, and the
nature of the building, tempted her to adhere to
ancient custom. The floor, which shone equally
with the furniture, was tessellated with small alternate squares of red-cedar and pine, and in the cen
tre were the ' saliant Lions' of Lechmere, attempt




46


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ed by the blazonry of the joiner. On either side
of the ponderous and laboured mantel, were arched
compartments, of plainer work, denoting use, the
sliding panels of one of which, being raised, displayed a buffet, groaning with massive plate. The
furniture was old, rich, and heavy, but in perfect
preservation. In the midst of this scene of colonial splendour, which was rendered as impressive
as possible by the presence of numerous waxen
lights, a lady, far in the decline of life, sat, in formal propriety, on a small settee. The officer had
thrown his cloak into the hands of Meriton, in the
hall, and as he advanced up the apartment, his form
appeared in the gay dress of a soldier, giving to its
ease and fine proportions the additional charm of
military garnish. The hard, severe eye of the lady,
sensibly softened with pleased surprise, as it dwelt
on his person for an instant after she arose to receive her guest; but the momentary silence was
first broken by the youth, who said" I have entered unannounced, for my impatience has exceeded my breeding, madam, while
each step I have taken in this house recalls the
days of-my boyhood, and of my former freedom
within its walls."
" My cousin Lincoln!" interrupted the lady,
who was Mrs. Lechmere; " that dark eye, that
smile, nay, your very step, announces you! I must
have forgotten my poor brother, and one also who
is still so dear to us, not to have known you a true
Lincoln!"
There was a distance in the manner of both, at
meeting, which might easily have been imparted
by the precise formula of the provincial school, of
which the lady was so distinguished a member, but
which was not sufficient to explain the sad expression that suddenly and powerfully blended with





LIONEL LINCOLN.


47


the young man's smile, as she spoke. The change,
however, was but momentary, and he answered
courteously to her assurances of recognition" I have long been taught to expect a second
home in Tremont-street, and I find by your flattering remembrance of myself and parents, dear
madam, that my expectations are justified."
The lady was sensibly pleased at this remark,
and she suffered a smile to unbend her rigid brow,
as she answered" A home, certainly, though it be not such an
one as the heir of the wealthy house of Lincoln
may have been accustomed to dwell in. It would
be strange, indeed, could any, allied to that honourable family, forget to entertain its representative with due respect."
The youth seemed conscious that quite as much
had now been said as the occasion required, and
he raised his head from bowing respectfully on her
hand, with the intention of changing the subject
to one less personal, when his eye caught a glimpse
of the figure of another, and more youthful female,
who had been concealed, hitherto, by the drapery
of a window-curtain. Advancing to this young
lady, he said, with a quickness that rather betrayed his willingness to suspend further compliment" And here I see one also, to whom I have the
honour of being related; Miss Dynevor?"
"Though it be not my grand-child," said Mrs.
Lechmere," it is one who claims an equal affinity
to you, Major Lincoln; it is Agnes Danforth, the
daughter of my late niece."
" 'Twas my eye then, and not my feelings, that
were mistaken," returned the young soldier;" I
hope this lady will admit my claim tc call hei
cousin?"
A simple inclination of the body was the only





48


LIONEL LINCOLN.


answer he received, though she did not decline the
hand which he offered with his salutations. After
a few more of the usual expressions of pleasure,
and the ordinary inquiries that succeed such meetings, the party became seated, and a more regular
discourse followed.
" I am pleased to find you remember us then,
cousin Lionel," said Mrs. Lechmere; " we have
so little in this remote province that will compare
with the mother country, I had feared no vestiges
of the place of your birth could remain on your
mind."
" I find the town greatly altered, it is true, but
there are many places in it which I still remember,
though certainly their splendour is a little diininished, in my eyes, by absence and a familiarity
with other scenes."
" Doubtless, an acquaintance with the British
court will have no tendency to exalt our humble
customs in your imagination; neither do we possess many buildings to attract the notice of a tra.
velled stranger. There is a tradition in our family,
that your seat in Devonshire is as large as any
dozen edifices in Boston, public or private; nay,
we are proud of saying, that the king himself is
lodged as well as the head of the Lincoln family,
only when at his castle of Windsor!"
" Ravenscliffe is certainly a place of some magnitude," returned the young man, carelessly
" though you will remember his majesty affects
but little state at Kew. I have, however, spent
so little of my time in the country, that I hardly
know its conveniences or its extent."
The old lady bowed with that sort of complacency, which the dwellers in the colonies were apt
to betray, whenever an allusion was made to the
acknowledged importance of their connexions in





LIONEL LINCOLN.


49


that country, toward which they all looked as to the
fountain of honour; and then, as quickly as if the
change in her ideas was but a natural transition in
the subject, she observed" Surely Cecil cannot know of the arrival of
our kinsman! she is not apt to be so remiss in paying attention to our guests!"
" She does me the more honour, that she considers me a relative, and one who requires no formality in his reception."
" You are but cousins twice removed," returned the old lady, a little gravely; " and there is
surely no affinity in that degree which can justify
any forgetfulness of the usual courtesies. You see,
cousin Lionel, how much we value the consanguinity, when it is a subject of pride to the most
remote branches of the family!"
" I am but little of a genealogist, madam; though,
if I retain a true impression of what I have heard,
Miss Dynevor is of too good blood, in the direct
line, to value the collateral drops of an intermarriage."
"Pardon me, Major Lincoln; her father, Colonel Dynevor, was certainly an Englishman of an
ancient and honourable name, but no family in the
realm need scorn an alliance with our own. I say
our own, cousin Lionel, for I would never have
you forget that I am a Lincoln, and was the sister
of your grandfather."
A little surprised at the seeming contradiction
mn the language of the good lady, the young man
Dowed his head to the compliment, and cast his
eyes at his younger companion with a sort of longing, to change the discourse, by addressing the
reserved young woman nigh him, that was very
excusable in one of his sex and years. He had
not time, however, to make more than one or two
5





50


LIONEL LINCOLN.


common-place remarks, and receive their answers,
before Mrs. Lechmere said, with some exhibition
of staid displeasure against her grandchild--
"Go, Agnes, and acquaint your cousin of this
happy event. She has been sensibly alive to your
safety, during the whole time consumed by your
voyage. We have had the prayers of the church,
for a 'person gone to sea,' read each Sunday, since
the receipt of your letters, announcing your intention to embark; and I have been exceedingly
pleased to observe the deep interest, with which
Cecil joined in our petitions."
Lionel mumbled a few words of thanks, and
leaning back in his chair, threw his eyes upward,
but whether in pious gratitude or not, we conceive
it is not our province to determine. During the
delivery of Mrs. Lechmere's last speech, and the
expressive pantomime that succeeded it, Agnes
Danforth rose and left the room. The door had
been some little time closed before the silence was
again broken; during which Mrs. Lechmere evidently essayed in vain, once or twice, to speak.
Her colour, pale and immovable as usually seemed her withered look, changed in its shades, and
her lip trembled involuntarily.  She, however,
soon found her utterance, though the first tones of
her voice were choked and husky.
" I may have appeared remiss, cousin Lionel,"
she said, "1 but there are subjects that can be discussed with propriety, only between the nearest
relatives. Sir Lionel-you left him in as good a
state of bodily health, I hope, as his mental illness
will allow?"
" It is so represented to me."
" You have seen him lately?"
1" Not in fifteen years; my presence was said to
increase his disorder, and the physicians forbade





LIONEL LINCOLN.


any more interviews. He continues at the private
establishment near town, and, as the lucid intervals are thought to increase, both in frequency and
duration, I often indulge in the pleasing hope of
being restored again to my father. The belief is
iustified by his years, which, you know, are yet
under fifty."
A long, and apparently a painful silence, succeeded this interesting communication; at length
the lady said, with a tremour in her voice, for
which the young man almost reverenced her, as
it so plainly bespoke her interest in her nephew,
as well as the goodness of her heart" I will thank you for a glass of that water in
the buffet.  Pardon me, cousin Lionel, but this
melancholy subject always overcomes me. I will
retire a few moments, with your indulgence, and
hasten the appearance of my grandchild. I pine
that you may meet."
Her absence, just at that moment, was too agreeable to the feelings of Lionel, for him to gainsay
her intention; though, instead of following Agnes
Danforth, who had preceded her on the same
duty, the tottering steps of Mrs. Lechmere conducted her to a door, which communicated with
her own apartment. For several minutes the
young man trampled on the 'saliant lions' of
Lechmere, with a rapidity that seemed to emulate their own mimic speed, as he paced to and
fro across the narrow apartment, his eye glancing
vacantly along the laboured wainscots, embracing
the argent, azure and purpure fields of the different
escutcheons, as heedlessly as if they were not
charged with the distinguishing symbols of so many
honourable names. This mental abstraction was,
however, shortly dissipated by the sudden appear.
ance of one, who had glided into the room, and ad
4





502


LIONEL LINCOLN.


vanced to its centre, before he became conscious
of her presence. A light, rounded, and exquisitely
proportioned female form, accompanied by a youthful and expressive countenance, with an air in
which womanly grace blended so nicely with feminine delicacy as to cause each motion and gesture to command respect, at the same time that it
was singularly insinuating, was an object to suspend, even at a first glance, provided that glance
were by surprise, the steps of a more absent and
less courteous youth than the one we have attempted to describe. Major Lincoln knew that
this young lady could be no other than Cecil Dynevor, the daughter of a British officer, long since
deceased, by the only child of Mrs. Lechmere,
who was also in her grave; and, consequently, that
she was one to whom he was so well known by
character, and so nearly allied by blood, as to render it an easy task for a man accustomed to the
world, as he had been, to remove any little embarrassments, which might have beset a less practised
youth, by acting as his own usher. This he certainly attempted, and at first with a freedom which
his affinity, and the circumstances, would seem to
allow, though it was chastened by easy politeness.
But the restraint visible in the manner of the lady
was so marked, that, by the time his salutations
were ended, and he had handed her to a seat, the
young man felt as much embarrassment as if he
had found himself alone, for the first time, with
the woman whom he had been pining, for months,
to favour with a very particular communication.
Whether it is that nature has provided the other
sex with a tact for these occasions, or that the
young lady became sensible that her deportment
was not altogether such as was worthy either of
herself, or the guest of her grandmother, she was





LIONEL LINCOLN.


53


certainly the first to relieve the slight awkwardness
that was but too apparent in the commencement
of the interview.
" My grandmother has long been expecting this
pleasure, Major Lincoln," she said, "and your arrival has been at a most auspicious moment. The
state of the country grows each day so very alarming, that I have indeed long urged her to visit our
relatives in England, until the disputes shall have
terminated."
The tones of an extremely soft and melodious
voice, and a pronunciation quite as exact as if the
speaker had acquired the sounds in the English
court, and which was entirely free from the slight
vernacular peculiarity, which had offended his ear,
in the few words that fell from Agnes Danforth,
certainly aided a native attraction of manner, which
it seemed impossible for the young lady to cast entirely aside.
" You, who are so much of an English woman,
would find great pleasure in the exchange," he
answered, " and if half what I have heard from a
fellow passenger, of the state of the country, be
true, I shall be foremost in seconding your request.
Both Ravenschffe and the house in Soho would
be greatly at the service of Mrs. Lechmere."
' " It was my wish that she would accept the
pressing invitations of my father's relative, Lord
Cardonnel, who has long urged me to pass a few
years in his own family. A separation would be
painful to us both, but should my grandmother, in
such an event, determine to take her residence in
the dwellings of her ancestors, I could not be censured for adopting a resolution to abide under the
roofs of mine."
The piercing eye of Major Lincoln fell full upon
her own, as she delivered this intention, and as it
5^j





54


LIONEL LINCOLN.


dropped on the floor, the slight smile that played
round his lip, was produced by the passing thought.
that the provincial beauty had inherited so much
of her grandmother's pride of genealogy, as to be
willing to impress on his mind, that the niece of a
viscount was superior to the heir of a baronetcy.
But the quick, burning flush, that instantly passed
across the features of Cecil Dynevor, might have
taught him, that she was acting under the impulse
of much deeper feelings than such an unworthy
purpose would indicate.  The effect, however,
was such as to make the young man glad to see
Mrs. Lechmere re-enter the room, leaning on the
arm of her niece.
" I perceive, my cousin Lionel," said the lady,
as she moved with a feeble step toward the settee,
" that you and Cecil have found each other out,
without the necessity of any other introduction than
the affinity between you. I surely do not mean
the affinity of blood altogether, you know, for that
cannot be said to amount to any thing; but I believe there exist certain features of the mind that
are transmitted through families quite as distinctly
as any which belong to the countenance."
" Could I flatter myself with possessing the
slightest resemblance to Miss Dynevor, in either
of those particulars, I should be doubly proud of
the connexion," returned Lionel, while he assisted
the good lady to a seat, with a coolness that sufficiently denoted how little he cared about the
matter.
"' But I am not disposed to have my right to
claim near kindred with cousin Lionel at all disputed," cried the young lady, with sudden animation. " It has pleased our fore-fathers to order
such -
" Nay, nay, my child," interrupted her grand





LIONEL LINCOLN.


55


mother, " you forget that the term of cousin can
only be used in cases of near consanguinity, and
where familiar situations will excuse it. But Major Lincoln knows, that we in the colonies are apt
to make the most of the language, and count our
cousins almost as far as if we were members of the
Scottish clans. Speaking of the clans reminds me
of the rebellion of '45. It is not thought in England, that our infatuated colonists will ever be so
fool-hardy as to assume their arms in earnest?"
" There are various opinions on that subject,"
said Lionel. " Most military men scout the idea;
though I find, occasionally, an officer, that has
served on this continent, who thinks not only that
the appeal will be made, but that the struggle will
be bloody."
" Why should they not!" said Agnes Danforth,
abruptly; " they are men, and the English are no
more!P
Lionel turned his looks, in a little surprise, on
the speaker, to whose countenance an almost imperceptible cast in one eye imparted a look of
arch good nature, that her manner would seem to
contradict, and smiled as he repeated her words" Why should they not, indeed! I know no
other reasons than that it would be both a mad and
an unlawful act. I can assure you that I am not
one of those who affect to undervalue my own
countrymen; for you will remember that I too am
an American."
" I have heard it said that such of our volunteers as wear uniforms at all," said Agnes, 1" appear in blue, and not in scarlet."
" 'Tis his Majesty's pleasure that his 47th foot
should wear this gaudy colour," returned the
young man, laughing; " though, for myself, I am





5ti


LIONEL LINCOLN.


quite iilling to resign it to the use of you ladies,
and to adopt another, could it well be."
" It might be done, sir."
" In what manner?.
" By resigning your commission with it."
Mrs. Lechmere had evidently permitted her
niece to proceed thus far, without interruption, tc
serve some purpose of her own; but perceiving
that her guest by no means exhibited the air oI
pique, which the British officers were so often
weak enough to betray, when the women took into
their hands the defence of their country's honour,
she rang the bell, as she observed" Bold language, Major Lincoln! bold language,
for a young lady under twenty. But Miss Danforth is privileged to speak her mind freely, for
some of her father's family are but too deeply implicated in the unlawful proceedings of these evil
times. We have kept Cecil, however, more to her
allegiance."
" And yet even Cecil has been known to refuse
the favour of her countenance to the entertainments
given by the British officers!" said Agnes, a little
piquantly.
" And would you have Cecil Dynevor frequent
balls and entertainments unaccompanied by a proper chaperon," returned Mrs. Lechmere; " or is
it expected that, at seventy, I can venture in public to maintain the credit of our family. But we
keep Major Lincoln from his refreshments with
our idle disputes. Cato, we wait your movements."
Mrs. Lechmere delivered her concluding intimation to the black in attendance, with an air that
partook somewhat of mystery. The old domestic, who, probably from long practice, understood,
more by the expression of her eye than by any
words she had uttered, the wishes of his mistress,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


57


proceeded to close the outer shutters of the windows, and to draw the curtains with the most exact care. When this duty was performed, he raised a small oval table from its regular position
among -the flowing folds of the drapery that
shrouded the deep apertures for light, and placed
it in front of Miss Dynevor. A salver of massive
silver, contaming an equipage of the finest Dresden, followed, and in a few minutes a hissing urn
of the same precious metal garnished the polished
surface of the mahogany. During these arrangements, Mrs. Lechmere and her guest had maintained a general discourse, touching chiefly on the
welfare and condition of certain individuals of their
alliance, in England. Notwithstanding the demand thus made on his attention, Lionel was able
to discover a certain appearance of mystery and
caution in each movement of the black, as he proceeded leisurely in his duty. Miss Dynevor permitted the disposition of the tea-table to be made
before her, passively, and her cousin, Agnes Danforth, threw herself back on one of the settees,
with a look that indicated cool displeasure. When
the usual compound was made in two little fluted
cups, over whose pure white a few red and green
sprigs were sparingly scattered, the black presented one containing the grateful beverage to his mistress, and the other to the stranger.
"Pardon me, Miss Danforth," said Lionel, recollecting himself after he had accepted the offering; " I have suffered my sea-breeding to obtain
the advantage."
' Enjoy your error, sir, if you can find any gratification in the indulgence," returned the young
lady.
" But I should enjoy it the more, could I see
you participating in the luxury."





58


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" You have termed the idle indulgence well;
'tis nothing but a luxury, and such a one as can
be easily dispensed with: I thank you, sir, I do
not drink tea."
" Surely no lady can forswear her bohea! be
persuaded."
" I know not how the subtle poison may operate on your English ladies, Major Lincoln, but it
is no difficult matter for an American girl to decline the use of a detestable herb, which is one,
among many others, of the causes that is likely to
involve her country and kindred in danger and
strife."
The young man, who had really intended no
more than the common civilities due from his sex
to the other, bowed in silence, though, as he turned from her, he could not forbear looking toward
the table to see whether the principles of the other
young American were quite as rigid. Cecil sat
bending over the salver, playing idly with a curiously wrought spoon, made to represent a sprig of
the plant, whose fragrance had been thus put in
requisition to contribute to his indulgence, while
the steam from the china vessel before her was
wreathing in a faint mist around her polished brow.
" You at least, Miss Dynevor," said Lionel, " appear to have no dislike to the herb, you breathe
its vapour so freely."
Cecil cast a glance at him, which changed th,
demure and somewhat proud composure of her
countenance into a look of sudden, joyous humoum.
that was infinitely more natural, as she answered
laughingly" I own a woman's weakness.-I must believe
it was tea that tempted our common mother in Paradise!"
" It would show that the cunning of the serpent





LIONEL LINCOLN.


59


has been transmitted, to a later day, could that be
proved," said Agnes, " though the instrument of
temptation has lost some of its virtue."
" How know you that?" said Lionel, anxious
to pursue the trifling, in order to remove the evident distance which had existed between them,
" had Eve shut her ears as rigidly as you close
your mouth against the offering, we might yet have
enjoyed the first gift to our parents."
" Oh, sir, 'tis no such stranger to me as you may
imagine from the indifference I have assumed on
the present occasion; as Job Pray says, Boston
harbour is nothing but a 'big tea-pot ' "
" You know Job Pray, then, Miss Danforth!"
said Lionel, not a little amused by her spirit.
" Certainly; Boston is so small, and Job so useful, that every body knows the simpleton."
" He belongs to a distinguished family, then, for
I have his own assurance that every body knows
his perturbed mother, Abigail."
" You!" exclaimed Cecil, again, in that sweet,
natural voice that had before startled her auditor;
" what can you know of poor Job, and his almost
equally unfortunate mother!"
" Now, young ladies, I have you in my snares!"
cried Lionel; "you may possibly resist the steams
of tea, but what woman can withstand the impulse
of her curiosity! Not to be too cruel with my fair
kinswomen on so short an acquaintance, however,
I will go so far as to acknowledge that I have already had an interview with Mrs. Pray."
The reply which Agnes was about to deliver
was interrupted by a slight crash, and on turning
they beheld'the fragments of a piece of the splendid set of Dresden, lying at the feet of Mrs. Lechmere.
" My dear grand-mamma is ill!" cried Cecil,





6()


LIONEL LINCOLN.


springing to the assistance of the old lady. " Hasten,
Cato-Major Lincoln, you are more active-for
heaven's sake a glass of water-Agnes, your salts."
The amiable anxiety of her grand-child was not,
however, so necessary as first appearances would
have indicated, and Mrs. Lechmere gently put
aside the salts, though she did not decline the
glass which Lionel offered for the second time in
so short a period.
" I fear you will mistake me for a sad invalid,
cousin Lionel," said the old lady, when she had
become a little composed; " but I believe it is this
very tea, of which so much has been said, and
which I drink to excess, from pure loyalty, that
unsettles my nerves-I must refrain, like the girls,
though from a very difierent motive. We are a
people of early hours, Major Lincoln, but you are
at home here, and will pursue your pleasure.; 1
must, however, claim an indulgence for threescoreand-ten, and be permitted to wish you a good rest
after your voyage. Cato has his orders to contribute all he can to your comfort."
Leaning on her two assistants, the old lady withdrew, leaving Lionel to the full possession of the
apartment. As the hour was getting late, and from
the compliments they had exchanged, he did not
expect the return of the younger ladies, he called
for a candle, and was shown to his own room. As
soon as the few indispensables, which rendered a
valet necessary to a gentleman of that period, were
observed, he dismissed Meriton, and throwing him
self in the bed, courted the sweets of the pillow.
Many incidents, however, had occurred during
the day, that induced a train of thoughts, which
for a long time prevented his attaining the natural
rest he sought. After indulging in long and un
easy reflections on certain events, too closely con





LIONEL LINCOLN.


61


nected with his personal feelings to be lightly remembered, the young man began to muse on his
reception, and on the individuals who had been, as
it were, for the first time, introduced to him.
It was quite apparent, that both Mrs. Lechmere
and her grand-daughter were acting their several
parts, though whether in concert or not, remained
to be discovered. But in Agnes Danforth, with
all his subtlety, he could perceive nothing but the
plain and direct, though a little blunt, peculiarities
of her nature and education. Like most very young
men, who had just been made acquainted with two
youthful females, both of them much superior to
the generality of their sex in personal charms, he
fell asleep musing on their characters. Nor, considering the circumstances, will it be at all surprising, when we add that, before morning, he was
dreaming of the Avon, of Bristol, on board which
stout vessel he even thought that he was discussing a chowder on the Banks of Newfoundland,
which had been unaccountably prepared by the
fair hands of Miss Danforth, and which was strangely flavoured with tea; while the Hebe-looking
countenance of Cecil Dynevor was laughing at his
perplexities with undisguised good-humour, and
with al-the vivacity of girlish merriment.





CHAPTER IV.


6 A good portly man, i' faith, and a corpulent."
King Henry 1 V.
THE Yan was just stirring the heavy bank of
tbg, which had rested on the waters during the
night, as Lionel toiled his way up the side of
Beacon-Hill, anxious to catch a glimpse of his native scenery while it was yet glowing with the
first touch of day. The islands raised their green
heads above the mist, and the wide amphitheatre
of hills that encircled the bay was still visible,
though the vapour was creeping in places along
the vallies-now concealing the entrance to some
beautiful glen, and now wreathing itself fantastically around a tall spire that told the site of a
suburban village. Though the people of the town
were awake and up, yet the sacred character of
the day, and the state of the times, contributed to
suppress those sounds which usually distinguish
populous places. The cool nights and warm days
of April had generated a fog more than usually
dense, which was deserting its watery bed, and
stealing insidiously along the land, to unite with
the vapours of the rivers and brooks, spreading a
wiJer curtain before the placid view. As Lionel
stood on the brow of the platform that crowned





LIONEL LINCOLN.


63


the eminence, the glimpses of houses and hills, of
towers and ships, of places known and places forgotten, passed before his vision, through the openings in the mist, like phantoms of the imagination.
The whole scene, animated and in motion, as it
seemed by its changes, appeared to his excited
feelings like a fanciful panorama, exhibited for his
eye alone, when his enjoyment was interrupted by
a voice apparently at no great distance. It was a
man singing to a common English air fragments of
some ballad, with a peculiarly vile nasal cadency.
Through the frequent pauses, he was enabled to
comprehend a few words, which, by their recurrence, were evidently intended for a chorus to
the rest of the production. The reader will understand the character of the whole from these
lines, which ran as follows:
And they that would be free,
Out they go;
While the slaves, as you may see,
Stay, to drink their p'ison tea,
Down below!
Lionel, after listening to this expressive ditty loi
a moment, followed the direction of the sounds
until he encountered Job Pray, who was seated on
one of the flights of steps, which aided the ascent
to the platform, cracking a few walnuts on the
boards, while he employed those intervals, when
his mouth could find no better employment, in uttering the above-mentioned strains.
" How now, master Pray; do you come here to
sing your orisons to the goddess of liberty, on a
Sunday morning," cried Lionel; " or are you the
town lark, and for want of wings, take to this
height to obtain an altitude for your melody?"
"There's no harm in singing psalm tunes or
continental songs, any day in the week," said the





G64


LIONEL LINCOLN.


lad, without raising his eyes from his occupation
" Job don't know what a lark is, but if it belongs
to the town, the soldiers are so thick, they can't
keep it on the common."
" And what objection can you have to the soldiers possessing a corner of your common."
" They starve the cows, and then they won't
give milk; grass is sweet to beasts in the spring
of the year."
" But, my life for it, the soldiers don't eat the
grass; your brindles and your blacks, your reds
and your whites, may have the first offering of the
spring as usual."
" But Boston cows don't love grass that British
soldiers have trampled on," said the sullen lad.
" This is, indeed, carrying notions of liberty to
refinement!" exclaimed Lionel, laughing.
Job shook his head threateningly, as he looked
up and said, " Don't you let Ralph hear you say
any thing ag'in liberty!"
" Ralph! who is he, lad? your genius! where
do you keep the invisible, that there is danger of
his overhearing what I say?"
c He's up there in the fog," said Job, pointing
significantly toward the foot of the beacon, which
a dense volume of vapour was enwrapping, probably attracted up the tall post that supported the
grate.
Lionel gazed at the smoky column for a moment, when the mists began to dissolve, and amid
their evolutions, he beheld the dim figure of His
aged fellow passenger. The old man was still clad
in his simple, tarnished vestments of gray, which
harmonized so singularly with the mists as to impart a look almost ethereal to his wasted form. As
the medium through which he was seen became
less cloudy, his features grew visible, and Lionel





LIONEL LINCOLN.


65


could distinguish the uneasy, rapid glances of his
eyes, which seemed to roam over the distant objects with an earnestness that appeared to mock
the misty veil that was floating before so much of
the view. While Lionel stood fixed to the spot,
gazing at this irregular being with that secret awe
which the other had succeeded in inspiring, the
old man waved his hand impatiently, as if he would
cast aside his shroud. At that instant a bright sunbeam darted into the vapour, illuminating his person, and melting the mist into thin air. The anxious, haggard, and severe expression of his countenance changed at the touch of the ray, and he
smiled with a softness and attraction that thrilled
the nerves of the other, as he called aloud to the
sensitive young soldier" Come hither, Lionel Lincoln, to the foot of
this beacon, where you may gather warnings,
which, if properly heeded, will guide you through
many and great dangers unharmed."
" I am glad you have spoken," said Lionel, advancing to his side; " you appeared like a being
of another world, wrapped in that mantle of fog,
and I felt tempted to kneel, and ask a benediction."
" And am I not a being of another world! most
of my interests are already in the grave, and I tarry
nere only for a space, because there is a great work
to be done, which cannot be performed without
me. My view of the world of spirits, young man.
is much clearer and more distinct than yours of this
variable scene at your feet. There is no mist to
obstruct the eye, nor any doubts as to the colours
it presents."
" You are happy, sir, in the extremity of youi
age, to be so assured. But I fear your sudden deter
6*





66


LIONEL LINCOLN.


mination last night subjected you to inconvenience
in the tenement of this changeling."
" The boy is a good boy," said the old man,
stroking the head of the natural complacently
" we understand each other, Major Lincoln, and
that shortens introductions, and renders communion easy."
" That you feel alike on one subject, I have al
ready discovered; but there I should think the re
semblance and the intelligence must end."
" The propensities of the mind in its infancy and
in its maturity, are but a span apart," said the
stranger; " the amount of human knowledge is but
to know how much we are under the dominion ot
our passions; and he who has learned by experience how to smother the volcano, and he who
never felt its fires, are surely fit associates."
Lionel bowed in silence to an opinion so hum
bling to the other, and, after a pause of a moment,
adverted to their situation.
" The sun begins to make himself felt, and
when he has driven away these ragged remnants
of the fog, we shall see those places each of us have
frequented in his day.?.
"' Shall we find them as we left them, think
you? or will you see the stranger in possession of
the haunts of your infancy?"
1" Not the stranger, certainly, for we are the subjects of one king; children who own a common
parent."
" I will not reply4that he has proved himself an
unnatural father," said the old man, calmly; " the
gentleman who now fills the British throne is less
to be censured than his advisers, for the oppression of his reign."" Sir'," interrupted Lionel,, if such allusions





LIONEL LINCOL:N.


67


are made to the person of my sovereign, we must
separate; for it ill becomes a British officer to hear
his master mentioned with levity."
" Levity!" repeated the other slowly. "It is
a fault indeed to accompany gray locks and wasted
limbs! but your jealous watchfulness betrays you
into error. I have breathed in the atmosphere
of kings, young man, and know how to separate
the individual and his purpose from the policy of
his government. 'Tis the latter that will sever
this great empire, and deprive the third George of
what has so often and so well been termed ' the
brightest jewel in his crown.' "
" I must leave you, sir," said Lionel; " the opinions you so freely expressed during our passage,
were on principles which I can hardly call opposed
to our own constitution, and might be heard, not
only without offence, but frequently with admiration; but this language approaches to treason!"
" Go, then," returned the unmoved stranger;
" descend to yon degraded common, and bid your
mercenaries sieze me-'twill be only the blood of
an old man, but 'twill help to fatten the land; or
send your merciless grenadiers to torment their
victim before the axe shall do its work; a man
who has lived so long, can surely spare a little of
his time to the tormentors!"
" I could have thought, sir, that you might spare
such a reproach to me," said Lionel.
"I do spare it, and I do more; I forget my
years, and solicit forgiveness. But had you known
slavery, as I have done, in its worst of forms, you
would know how to prize the inestimable blessing
of freedom."
"Have you ever known slavery, in your travels, more closely than in what you deem the violations of principle?".5





68


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Have I not?" said the stranger, smiling bitterly;  I have known it as man should never know
it; in act and will. I have lived days, months, and
even years, to hear others coldly declare my wants;
to see others dole out their meager pittances to my
necessities, and to hear others assume the right, to
express the sufferings, and to control the enjoyments of sensibilities that God had given to me
only!"
" To endure such thraldom, you must have fallen
into the power of the infidel barbarians!"
" Ay! boy, I thank you for the words; they
were indeed most worthy of the epithets! infidels
that denied the precepts of our blessed Redeemer;
and barbarians that treated one having a soul, and
possessing reason like themselves, as a beast of the
field."
" Why didn't you come to Boston, Ralph, and
tell that to the people in Funnel-Hall?" exclaimed
Job; " ther'd ha' been a stir about it!"
" Child, I did come to Boston, again and again,
in thought; and the appeals that I made to my
townsmen would have moved the very roof of old
Faneuil, could they have been uttered within her
walls. But 'twas in vain! they had the power,
and like demons-or rather like miserable menthey abused it."
Lionel, sensibly touched, was about to reply in
a suitable manner, when he heard a voice calling
his own name aloud, as if the speaker were ascending the opposite acclivity of the hill. The instant
the sounds reached his ears, the old man rose from
his seat, on the foundation of the beacon, and
gliding over the brow of the platform, followed by
Job, they descended into a volume of mist that was
still clinging to the side of the hill, with amazing
swiftness.





JAONEL LINCOLN.


69


" Why, Leo! thou lion in name, and deer in
activity!" exclaimed the intruder, as he surmounted the steep ascent, " what can have brought you
up into the clouds so early! whew-a man needs
a New-Market training to scale such a precipice.
But, Leo, my dear fellow, I rejoice to see youwe knew you were expected in the first ship, and
as I was coming from morning parade, I met a
couple of grooms in the ' Lincoln green,' you
know, leading each a blooded charger-faith, one
of them would have been quite convenient to climb
this accursed hill on-whew and whew-w, againwell, I knew the liveries at a glance; as to the
horses, I hope to be better acquainted with them
hereafter. Pray, sir, said I, to one of the liveried
scoundrels, whom do you serve?"  " Major Lincoln, of Ravenscliffe, sir," said he, with a look as
impudent as if he could have said, like you and I,
his sacred majesty the king. That's the answer
of the servants of your ten thousand a year men!
Now, if my fool had been asked such a question,
his answer would have been, craven dog as he is,
Captain Polwarth, of the 47th; leaving the inquirer,
though it should even be some curious maiden, who
had taken a fancy to the tout ensemble of my outline, in utter ignorance that there is such a place
in the world as Polwarth-Hall!"
During this voluble speech, which was interrupted by sundry efforts to regain the breath lost
in the ascent, Lionel shook his friend cordially by
the hand, and attempted to express his own pleasure at the meeting. The failure of wind, however, which was a sort of besetting sin with Captain Polwarth, had now compelled him to pause,
and gave time to Lionel for a reply.
" This hill is th. last place where I should have
expected to meet you," he said. " I took it for





70


LIONEL LINCOLN.


granted you would not be stirring until nine or ten
at least, when it was my intention to inquire you
out, and to give you a call before I paid my respects to the commander-in-chief."
" Ah! you may thank his excellency, the ' Hon.
Thomas Gage, governor and commander-in-chief
in and over the Province of Massachusetts-Bay,
and vice-admiral of the same,' as he styles himself
in his proclamations, for this especial favour; though,
between ourselves, Leo, he is about as much governor over the Province, as he is owner of those
hunters you have just landed."
" But why am I to thank him for this interview?"
" Why! look about you, and tell me what you
behold-nothing but fog-nay, I see there is a
steeple, and yonder is the smoking sea, and here
are the chimneys of Hancock's house beneath us,
smoking too, as if their rebellious master were at
home, and preparing his feed! but every thing in
sight is essentially smoky, and there is a natural
aversion, in us epicures, to smoke. Nature dictates that a man who has as much to do in a day,
in carrying himself about, as your humble servant,
should not cut his rest too abruptly in the morning.
But the honourable Thomas, governor, and viceadmiral, &c. has ordered us undet arms with the
sun; officers as well as men!'
" Surely that is no great hardship to a soldier,"
returned Lionel; " and moreover, it seems to agree
with you marvellously! Now I look again, Polwarth, I am amazed! Surely you are not in a
light-infantry jacket!"
" Certes---what is there in that so wonderful,"
returned the other, with great gravity; " don't 1
become the dress? or is it the dress which does
not adorn me, that you look ready to die with





.IONEL LINCOLN.


71


mirth? Laugh it out, Leo. I am used to it these
three days-but what is there, after all, so remarkable in Peter Polwarth's commanding a company
of light infantry. Am I not just five feet, six and
one eighth of an inch?-the precise height!"
" You appear to have been so accurate in your
longitudinal admeasurement, that you must carry
one of Harrison's time-pieces in your pocket; did
it ever suggest itself to you to use the quadrant
also?"
" For my latitude! I understand you, Leo; because I am shaped a little like mother earth, does
it argue that I cannot command a light-infantry
company?"
" Ay, even as Joshua commanded the sun.
But the stopping of the planet itself, is not a
greater miracle in my eyes, than to see you in that
attire."
" Well, then, the mystery shall be explained;
but first let us be seated on this beacon," said Captain Polwarth, establishing himself with great
method in the place so lately occupied by the attenuated form of the stranger; " a true soldier husbands his resources for a time of need; that word,
husbands, brings me at once to the point-I am m
love."
" That is surprising!"
" But what is much more so, I would fain be
married."
" It must be a woman of no mean endowments
that could excite such desires in Captain Polwa th,
of the 47th, and of Polwarth-Hall!"
" She is a woman of great qualifications, Major
Lincoln," said the lover, with a sudden gravity
that indicated his gayety of manner was not entirely
natural. " In figure she may be said to be done





72


LIONEL LINCOLN.


to a turn. When she is grave, she walks with the
stateliness of a show beef; when she runs, 'tis with
the activity of a turkey; and when at rest, I can
only compare her to a dish of venison, savoury,
delicate, and what one can never get enough of."
" You have, to adopt your own metaphors,
given such a' rare' sketch of her person, I am 'burning' to hear something of her mental qualifications."
"My metaphors are not poetical, perhaps, but
they are the first that offer themselves to my mind,
and they are natural. Her accomplishments exceed her native gifts greatly. In the first place, she
is witty; in the second, she is as impertinent as the
devil; and in the third, as inveterate a little traitor
to king George as there is in all Boston."
"' These are strange recommendations to your
favour "'
" The most infallible of all recommendations.
They are piquant, like savoury sauces, which excite the appetite, and season the dish. Now her
treason (for it amounts to that in fact) is like
olives, and gives a gusto to the generous port of
my loyalty. Her impertinence is oil to the cold
salad of my modesty, and her acid wit mingles
with the sweetness of my temperament, in that
sort of pleasant combination, with which sweet and
sour blend in sherbet."
" It would be idle for me to gainsay the charms
of such a woman," returned Lionel, a good deal
amused with the droll mixture of seriousness and
humour in the other's manner; " now for her connexion with the light-infantry-she is not of the
light corps of her own sex, Polwaith?"
" Pardon me, Major Lincoln; I cannot joke on
this subject. Miss Danforth is of one of the best
families in Boston."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


73


" Danforth! not Agnes, surely!"
' The very same!" exclaimed Polwarth, in surprise; " what do you know of her?"
O Only that she is a sort of cousin of my own,
and that we are inmates of the same house. We
bear equal affinity to Mrs. Leehmere, and the good
lady has insisted that I shall make my home in
Tremont-street."
" I rejoice to hear it! At all events, our intimacy may now be improved to some better purpose
than eating and drinking. But to the point-there
were certain damnable innuendoes getting into cir
culation, concerning my proportions, which I con
sidered it prudent to look down at once."
"I In order to do which, you had only to look
thinner."
" And do I not, in this appropriate dress? To
be perfectly serious with you, Leo,-for to you I
can freely unburthen myself,-you know what a
set we are in the 47th: let them once fasten an
opprobrious term, or a nick-name, on you, and you
take it 'to the grave, be it ever so burthensome."
"' There is a way, certainly, to check ungentleman-like liberties," said Lionel, gravely.: Poh! poh! a man wouldn't wish to fight
about a pound more or a pound less of fat! still the
name is a great deal, and first impressions are every
thing. Now, whoever thinks of Grand Cairo, as a
village; of the Grand Turk and Great Mogul, as
little boys; or, who would believe, by hearsay,
that Captain Polwarth, of the light infantry, could
weigh one hundred and eighty!"
" Add twenty to it."
" Not a pound more, as I am a sinner. I was
weighed in the presence of the whole mess no
later than last week, since when I have rather lost
than gained an ounce, for this early rising is no
7





74


LIONEL IINCOLN.


friend to a thriving condition. 'Twas in my nightgown, you'll remember, Leo, for we, who tally so
often, can't afford to throw in boots, and buckles, and
all those sorts of things, like your feather-weights."
" But I marvel how Nesbitt was induced to consent to.the appointment," said Lionel; " he loves
a little display."" I am your man for that," interrupted the captain; "we are embodied you know, and I make
more display, if that be what you require, than any
captain in the corps. But I will whisper a secret
in your ear. There has been a nasty business
here, lately, in which the 47th has gained no new
laurels-a matter of tarring and feathering, about
an old rusty musket."
" I have heard something of the affair already,"
returned Lionel, " and was grieved to find the men
justifying some of their own brutal conduct last
night, by the example of their commander."
" Mum-'tis a delicate matter-well, that tar
has brought the colonel into particularly bad odour
in Boston, especially among the women, ilr whose
good graces we are all of us lower than I have ever
known scarlet coats to stand before. Why, Leo,
the Mohairs are altogether the better men, here!
But there is not an officer in the whole army who
has made more friends in the place than your humble servant. I have availed myself of my popularity, which just now is no trifling thing, and
partly by promises, and partly by secret interest,
I have the company; to which, you know, my rank
in the regiment gives me an undoubted title."
" A perfectly satisfactory explanation; a most
commendable ambition on your part, and a certain
symptom that the peace is not to be disturbed; for
Gage would never permit such an arrangement,
had he any active operations in his eye."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Why, there I think you are more than half
right; these Yankees have been talking, and resolving, and approbating their resolves, as they
call it, these ten years past; and what does it all
amount to? To be sure, things grow worse and
worse every day-but Jonathan is an enigma to
me. Now you know, when we were in the cavalry together-God forgive me the suicide I committed in exchanging into the foot, which I never
should have done, could I have found in all England such a thing as an easy goer, or a safe leaper
-but then, if the commons took offence at a new
tax, or a stagnation in business, why, they got together in mobs, and burnt a house or two, frightened a magistrate, and perhaps hustled a constable; then in we came at a hand gallop, you know,
flourished our swords, and scattered the ragged
devils to the four winds; when the courts did the
rest, leaving us a cheap victory at the expense of
a little wind, which was amply compensated by an
increased appetite for dinner. But here it is altogether a different sort of thing."
" And what are the most alarming symptoms,
just now, in the colonies?" asked Major Lincoln,
with a sensible interest in the subject.
" They refuse their natural aliment to uphold
what they call their principles; the women abjure
tea, and the men abandon their fisheries! There
has been hardly such a thing as even a wild-duck
brought into the market this spring, in consequence
of the Port-Bill, and yet they grow more stubborn
every day. If it should come to blows, however,
thank God we are strong enough to open a passage
lor ourselves to any part of the continent where
provisions may be plentier; and I hear more troops
are already on the way."
" If it should come to blows, which heaven for,





76


LIONEL LINCOLN.


bid," said Major Lincoln, " we shall be besieged
where we now are."
4' Besieged!" exclaimed Polwarth, in evident
alarm; " if I thought there was the least prospect
of such a calamity, I would sell out to-morrow. It
is bad enough now; our mess-table is never decently covered, but if there should come a siege,
'twould be absolute starvation.-No, no, Leo, their
minute men, and their long-tailed rabble, would
hardly think of besieging four thousand British
soldiers with a fleet to back them. Four thousand!
if the regiments I hear named are actually on the
way, there will be eight thousand of us-as good
men as ever wore-"
" Light-infantry jackets," interrupted Lionel.
" But the regiments are certainly coming; Clinton, Burgoyne, and Howe, had an audience to take
leave, on the same day with myself. The service
is exceedingly popular with the king, and our reception, of course, was most gracious; though 1
thought the eye of royalty looked on me as if it
remembered one or two of my juvenile votes in
the house, on the subject of these unhappy dissensions."
" You voted against the Port-Bill," said Polwarth, " out of regard to me?"
"' No; there I joined the ministry. The conduct of the people of Boston had provoked the
measure, and there were hardly two minds in Parliament on that question."
" Ah! Major Lincoln, you are a happy man,"
said the captain; " a seat in Parliament at five-andtwenty! I must think that I should prefer just
such an occupation to all others-the very name is
taking; a seat! you have two members for your
borough * who fills the second now?
" Say nothing on that subject, I entreat you,'





LIONEL LINCOLN.


77


whispered Lionel, pressing the arm of the other,
as he rose; " 'tis not filled by him who should occupy it, as you know.-Shall we descend to the
common? there are many friends that I could wish
to see before the bell calls us to church."
1" Yes; this is a church-going, or, rather, meetinggoing place; for most of the good people forswear
the use of the word church, as we abjure the supremacy of the pope," returned Polwarth, following in his companion's foot-steps; " I never think
of attending any of their schism-shops, for I would
any day rather stand sentinel over a baggage-wagon, than stand up to hear one of their prayers. I
can do very well at the King's Chapel, as they call
it; for when I am once comfortably fixed on my
knees, I make out as well as my lord archbishop of
Canterbury; though it has always been matter of
surprise to me, how any man can find breath to go
through their work of a morning."
They descended the hill, as Lionel replied, and
their forms were soon blended with those of twenty
others, who wore scarlet coats, on the common.





CHAPTER V.


* For us, and for our tragedy,
"Here stooping to yot r clemency,
" We beg your hearing patiently."
IHamlet.
WE must, now, carry the reader back a century, in order to clear our tale of every appearance
of ambiguity. Reginald Lincoln was a cadet of
an extremely ancient and wealthy family, whose
possessions were suffered to continue as appendages to a baronetcy, throughout all the changes
which marked the eventful periods of the commonwealth, and the usurpation of Cromwell. He
had himself, however, inherited little more than
a morbid sensibility, which, even in that age, appeared to be a sort of heir-loom to his family.
While still a young man, he had married a woman
to whom he was much attached, who died in giving birth to her first child. The grief of the husband took a direction toward religion; but unhappily, instead of deriving from his researches
that healing consolation, with which our faith
abounds, his mind became soured by the prevalent, but discordant views of the attributes of the
Deity; and the result of his conversion was, to
leave him an ascetic puritan, and an obstinate
predestinarian. That such a man, finding but lit




LIONEL LINCOLN.


79


tie to connect him with his native country, should
revolt at the impure practices of the court of
Charles, is not surprising; and, accordingly, though
not at all implicated in the guilt of the regicides,
he departed for the religious province of Massachusetts-Bay, in the first years of the reign of that
merry prince.
It was not difficult for a man of the rank and
reputed sanctity of Reginald Lincoln, to obtain
both honourable and lucrative employments in
the plantations; and, after the first glow of his
awakened ardour in behalf of spiritual matters had
a little abated, he failed not to improve a due portion of his time by a commendable attention to
temporal things. To the day of his death, however, he continued a gloomy, austere, and bigoted
religionist, seemingly too regardless of the vanities of this world to permit his pure imagination to
mingle with its dross, even while he submitted to
discharge its visible duties. Notwithstanding this
elevation of mind, his son, at the decease of his father, found himself in the p6ssessi3n of many goodly
effects; which were, questionless, the accumulations of a neglected use, during the days of his
sublimated progenitor.
Young Lionel so far followed in the steps of his
worthy parent, as to continue gathering honours
and riches into his lap; though, owing to an early
disappointment, and the inheritance of the ' heirloom' already mentioned, it was late in life before
he found a partner to share his happiness. Contrary to all the usual calculations that are made on
the choice of a man of self-denial, he was then
united to a youthful and gay Episcopalian, who had
little, beside her exquisite beauty and good blood,
to recommend her. By this lady he had four
children, three sons and a daughter, when he also





80


LIONEL LINCOLN.


was laid in the vault, by the side of his deceased
parent. The eldest of these sons was yet a boy
when he was called to the mother-country, to inherit the estates and honours of his family. The
second, named Reginald, who was bred to arms,
married, had a son, and lost his life in the wilds
where he was required to serve, before he was
five-and-twenty. The third was the grandfather
of Agnes Danforth; and the daughter was Mrs.
Lechmere.
The family of Lincoln, considering th'e shortness
of their marriages, had been extremely prolific,
while in the colonies, according to that wise allotment of providence, which ever seems to regulate
the functions of our nature by our wants; but the
instant it was reconveyed to the populous island of
Britain, it entirely lost its reputation for fruitfulness. Sir Lionel lived to a good age, married, but
died childless; notwithstanding, when his body lay
in state, it was under a splendid roof, and in halls
so capacious that they would have afforded comfortable shelter to the whole family of Priam.
By this fatality, it became necessary to cross the
Atlantic once more, to find an heir to the wide domains of Ravenscliffe, and to one of the oldest
baronetcies in the kingdom.
We have planted and reared this genealogical
tree to but little purpose, if it be necessary to tell
the reader that the individual, who had now become the head of his race, was the orphan son of
the deceased officer. He was married, and the
father of one blooming boy, when this elevation,
which was not unlooked for, occurred. Leaving
his wife and child behind him, Sir Lionel immediately proceeded to England, to assert his rights
and secure his possessions. As he was the nephew.
and acknowledged heir of the late incumbent, he





LIONEL LINCOLN.


81


met with no opposition to the more important
parts of his claims. Across the character and fortunes of this gentleman, however, a dark cloud had
early passed, which prevented the common eye
from reading the events of his life, like those of
other men, in its open and intelligible movements.
After his accession to fortune and rank, but little
was known of him, even by his earliest and most
intimate associates. It was rumoured, it is true,
that he had been detained in England, for two
years, by a vexatious contention for a petty appendage to his large estates, a controversy which was,
however, known to have been decided in his favour, before he was recalled to Boston by the sudden death of his wife. This calamity befell him
during the period when the war of '56 was raging
in its greatest violence: a time when the energies
of the colonies were directed to the assistance of
the mother-country, who, according to the language
of the day, was zealously endeavouring to defeat
the ambitious views of the French, in this hemisphere; or, what amounted to the same thing in effect, in struggling to advance her own.
It was an interesting period, when the mild and
peaceful colonists were seen to shake off their
habits of forbearance, and to enter into the strife
with an alacrity and spirit that soon emulated the
utmost daring of their more practised confederates.
To the amazement of all who knew his fortunes,
Sir Lionel Lincoln was seen to embark in many
of the most desperate adventures that distinguished the war, with a hardihood that rather sought
death than courted honour. He had been, like his
father, trained to arms, but the regiment in which
he held the commission of lieutenant colonel,
was serving his master in the most eastern of his
dontinions, while the uneasy soldier was thus rush




LIONEL LINCOLN.


ing from point to point, hazarding his life, and more
than once shedding his blood, in the enterprises
that signalized the war in his most western.
This dangerous career, however, was at length
suddenly and mysteriously checked. By the influence of some powerful agency, that was never
explained, the baronet was induced to take his
son, and embark once more for the land of their
fathers, from which the former had never been
known to return. For many years, all those in
quiries which the laudable curiosity of the townsmen and towns-women of Mrs. Lechmere, prompted them to make, concerning the fate of her nephew, (and we leave each of our readers to determine their numbers,) were answered by that lady
with the most courteous reserve; and sometimes
with such exhibitions of emotion, as we have already attempted to describe in her first interview
with his son. But constant dropping will wear
away a stone. At first there were rumours that
the baronet had committed treason, and had been
compelled to exchange Ravenseliffe for a less
comfortable dwelling in the Tower of London.
This report was succeeded by that of an unfortunate private marriage with one of the princesses
of the house of Brunswick; but a reference to the
calendars of the day showed, that there was no
lady of a suitable age disengaged; and this amour,
so creditable to the provinces, was necessarily
abandoned. Finally, the assertion was made, with
much more of the confidence of truth, that the unhappy Sir Lionel was the tenant of a private madhouse.
The instant this rumour was circulated, a film
fell from every eye, and none were so blind as not
to have seen indications of insanity in the baronet
long before; and not a few were enabled to trace





LIONEL LINCOLN.


83


nis legitimate right to lunacy through the hereditary bias of his race. To account for its sudden
exhibition, was a more difficult task, and exercised
the ingenuity of an exceedingly ingenious people,
for a long period.
The more sentimental part of the community,
such as the maidens and bachelors, and those votaries of Hymen who had twice and thrice proved
the solacing power of the god, did not fail to ascribe the misfortune of the baronet to the unhappy
loss of his wife; a lady to whom he was known to
be most passionately attached. A few, the relics
of the good old school, under whose intellectual
sway the incarnate persons of so many godless
dealers in necromancy had been made to expiate
for their abominations, pointed to the calamity as a
merited punishment on the backslidings of a family
that had once known the true faith; while a third,
and by no means a small class, composed of those
worthies who braved the elements in King-street,
in quest of filthy lucre, did not hesitate to say, that
the sudden acquisition of vast wealth had driven
many a better man mad. But the time was approaching, when the apparently irresistible propensity to speculate on the fortunes of a fellowcreature was made to yield to more important considerations. The hour soon arrived when the merchant forgot his momentary interests to look keenly
into the distant effects that were to succeed the
movements of the day; which taught the fanatic
the wholesome lesson, that providence smiled most
beneficently on those who most merited, by their
own efforts, its favours; and which even purged
the breast of the sentimentalist of its sickly tenant,
to be succeeded by the healthy and ennobling passion of love of country.
It was about this period that the contest for prin6





84


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ciple between the Parliament of Great Britain, and
the colonies of North America, commenced, that
in time led to those important results which have
established a new era in political liberty, as well as
a mighty empire. A brief glance at the nature of
this controversy may assist in rendering many of
the allusions in this legend more intelligible to some
of its readers.
The increasing wealth of the provinces had attracted the notice of the English ministry so early
as the year 1763. In that year the first effort to
raise a revenue which was to meet the exigencies
of the empire, was attempted by the passage of. a
law to impose a duty on certain stamped paper,
which was made necessary to give validity to contracts. This method of raising a revenue was not
new in itself, nor was the imposition heavy in
amount. But the Americans, not less sagacious
than wary, perceived at a glance the importance
of the principles involved in the admission of a
right as belonging to any body to lay taxes, in which
they were not represented. The question was not
without its difficulties, but the direct and plain argument was clearly on the side of the colonists.
Aware of the force of their reasons, and perhaps a
little conscious of the strength of their numbers,
they approached the subject with a spirit which
betokened this consciousness, but with a coolness
that denoted the firmness of their purpose. After
a struggle of nearly two years, during which the
law was rendered completely profitless by the unanimity among the people, as well as by a species
of good-humoured violence that rendered it exceedingly inconvenient, and perhaps a little dan
gerous, to the servants of the crown to exercise
their obnoxious functions, the ministry abandoned
the measure. But, at the same time that the law





LIONEL LINCOLN.


was repealed, the Parliament maintained its right
to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever, by recording a resolution to that effect in its journals.
That an empire, whose several parts were separated by oceans, and whose interests were so often
conflicting, should become unwieldy, and fall, in
time, by its own weight, was an event that all wise
men must have expected to arrive. But, that the
Americans did not contemplate such a division at
that early day, may be fairly inferred, if there were
no other testimony in the matter, by the quiet and
submission that pervaded the colonies the instant
that the repeal of the stamp act was known. Had
any desire for premature independence existed,
the Parliament had unwisely furnished abundant
fuel to feed the flame, in the very resolution already mentioned. But, satisfied with the solid
advantages they had secured, peaceful in their ha
bits, and loyal in their feelings, the colonists laughed
at the empty dignity of their self-constituted rulers,
while they congratulated each other on their own
more substantial success. If the besotted servants
of the king had learned wisdom by the past, the
storm would have blown over, and another age
would have witnessed the events which we are
about to relate. Things were hardly suffered,
however, to return to their old channels again, before the ministry attempted to revive their claims
by new impositions. The design to raise a revenue had been defeated in the case of the stamp act,
by the refusal of the colonists to use the paper;
but in the present instance, expedients were adopted, which, it was thought, would be more effective
-as in the case of tea, where the duty was paid
by the East-India Company in the first instance,
and the exaction was to be made on the Americans,
through their appetites. These new innovations
8





86


LIONEL LINCOLN.


on their rights were met by the colonists with the
same promptitude, but with much more of seriousness than in the former instances. All the provinces
south of the Great Lakes, acted in concert on this
occasion; and preparations were made to render
not only their remonstrances and petitions more
impressive by a unity of action, but their more serious struggles also, should an appeal to force become necessary. The tea was stored or sent back
to England, in most cases, though in the town of
Boston, a concurrence of circumstances led to the
violent measure, on the part of the people, of
throwing a large quantity of the offensive article
inkto the sea. To punish this act, which took place
in the early part of 1774, the port of Boston was
closed, and different laws were enacted in Parliament, which were intended to bring the people
back to a sense of their dependence on the British
power.
Although the complaints of the colonists were
hushed during the short interval that had succeeded the suspension of the efforts of the ministry to
tax them, the feelings of alienation which were engendered by the attempt, had not time to be lost
before the obnoxious subject was revived in its new
shape. From 1763 to the period of our tale, all
the younger part of the population of the provinces
had grown into manhood, but they were no longer
imbued with that profound respect for the mother
country, which had been transmitted from their an
cestors, or with that deep loyalty to the crown, that
usually characterizes a people who view the pageant
of royalty through the medium of distance. Still
those who guided the feelings, and controlled the
judgments of the Americans, were averse to a dis.
memberment of the empire, a measure which they
continued to believe both impolitic and unnatural.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


In the mean time, though equally reluctant to
shed blood, the adverse parties prepared for that
final struggle, which seemed to be unavoidably approaching. The situation of the colonies was now
so peculiar, that it may be doubted whether history furnishes a precise parallel. Their fealty to
the prince was every where acknowledged, while
the laws which emanated from his counsellors were
sullenly disregarded and set at naught. Each province possessed its distinct government, and in
most of them the political influence of the crown
was direct and great; but the time had arrived
when it was superseded by a moral feeling that defied the machinations and intrigues of the ministry.:
Such of the provincial legislatures as possessed a
majority of the " Sons of Liberty," as they who resisted, the unconstitutional attempts of the ministry
were termed, elected delegates to meet in a general congress to consult on the ways and means of
effecting the common objects. In one or two provinces, where the inequality of representation afforded a different result, the people supplied the
deficiencies by acting in their original capacity.
This body, meeting, unlike conspirators, with the'
fearless confidence of integrity, and acting under
the excitement of a revolution in sentiment, pos.
sessed an influence, which, at a later day, has been
denied to their more legally constituted successors.
Their recommendations possessed all the validity
of laws, without incurring their odium. While, as
the organ of their fellow-subjects, they still continued to petition and remonstrate, they did not
forget to oppose, by such means as were then
thought expedient, the oppressive measures of the
ministry.
An association was recommended to the people.
for those purposes that are amply expressed in the





88


LIONEL LINCOLN.


three divisions which were significantly given to
the subjects, in calling them by the several names
of' non-importation,'' non-exportation,' and ' nonconsumption resolutions.' These negative expedients were all that was constitutionally in their
power, and, throughout the whole controversy,
there had been a guarded care not to exceed the limits which the laws had affixed to the rights of the
subject. Though no overt act of resistance was committed, they did not, however, neglect such means
as were attainable, to be prepared for the last evil,
whenever it should arrive. In this manner a feeling of resentment and disaffection was daily increasing throughout the provinces, while in Massachusetts Bay, the more immediate scene of our
story, the disorder in the body politic seemed to
be inevitably gathering to its head.
The great principles of the controversy had been
blended, in different places, with various causes of
local complaint, and in none more than in the town
of Boston. The inhabitants of this place had been
distinguished for an early, open, and fearless resistance to the ministry. An armed force had long
been thought necessary to intimidate this spirit, to
effect which the troops were drawn from different
parts of the provinces, and concentrated in this devoted town. Early in 1774, a military man was
placed in the executive chair of the province, and
an attitude of more determination was assumed by
the government. One of the first acts of this gentleman, who held the high station of lieutenantgeneral, and who commanded all the forces of the
king in America, was to dissolve the colonial assembly. About the same time a new charter was
sent from England, and a material change was contemplated in the polity of the colonial government.
From this moment the power of the king, though





LIONEL LINCOLN.


89


It was not denied, became suspended in the province. A provincial congress was elected, and assembled within seven leagues of the capital, where
they continued, from time to time, to adopt such
measures as the exigencies of the times were
thought to render necessary. Men were enrolled,
disciplined, and armed, as well as the imperfect
means of the colony would allow. These troops,
who were no more than the elite of the inhabitants,
had little else to recommend them besides their
spirit, and their manual dexterity with fire-arms.
From the expected nature of their service, they
were not unaptly termed " minute-men."  The
munitions of war were seized, and hoarded with a
care and diligence that showed the character of
the impending conflict.
On the other hand, General Gage adopted a similar course of preparation and prevention, by fortifying himself in the strong hold which he possessed, and by anticipating the intentions of the
colonists, in their attempts to form magazines,
whenever it was in his power. He had an easy
task in the former, both from the natural situation
of the place he occupied, and the species of force
he commanded.
Surrounded by broad and chiefly by deep waters, except at one extremely narrow point, and
possessing its triple hills, which are not commanded by any adjacent eminences, the peninsula of
Boston could, with a competent garrison, easily be
made impregnable, especially when aided by a superior fleet. The works erected by the English
general were, however, by no means of magnitude; for it was well known that the whole park
of the colonists could not exceed some half dozen
pieces of field artillery, with a small battering train
that must be entirely composed of old and cum8*





LIONEL LINCOLN.


br(.us ship guns. Consequently, when Lionel ar,
rived in Boston, he found a few batteries thrown
up on the eminences, some of which were intended as much to control the town, as to repel an enemy from without, while lines were drawn across
the neck which communicated with the main.
The garrison consisted of something less than five
thousand men, besides which there was a fluctuating force of seamen and marines, as the vessels
of war arrived and departed.
All this time, there was no other interruption to
the intercourse between the town and the country,
than such as unavoidably succeeded the stagnation
of trade, and the distrust engendered by the aspect
of affairs. Though numberless families had deserted their homes, many known whigs continued
to dwell in their habitations, where their ears were
deafened by the sounds of the British drums, and
where their spirits were but too often galled by
the sneers of the officers, on the uncouth military
preparations of their countrymen. Indeed, an impression had spread further than among the idle
and thoughtless youths of the army, that the colonists were but little gifted with martial qualities;
and many of their best fiiends in Europe were in
dread, lest an appeal to force should put the contested points for ever at rest, by proving the incompetency of the Americans to maintain them to the
last extremity.
In this manner, both parties stood at bay; the
people living in perfect order and quiet, without
the administration of law, sullen, vigilant, and,
through their leaders, secretly alert; and the army, gay, haughty, and careless of the consequences, though far fi-om being oppressive or insolent, until after the defeat of one or two abortive
excursions into the country in quest of arms.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


91


Each hour, however, was rapidly adding to the
disaffection on one side, and to the contempt and
resentment on the other, through numberless public and private causes, that belong rather to history than to a legend like this. All extraordinary
occupations were suspended, and men awaited the
course of things in anxious expectation. It was
known that the Parliament, instead of retracing
their political errors, had imposed new restraints,
and, as has been mentioned, it was also rumoured
that regiments and fleets were on their way to enforce them.
How long a country could exist in such a primeval condition, remained to be seen, though it
was difficult to say when or how it was to terminate. The people of the land appeared to slumber; but, like vigilant and, wary soldiers, they
might be said to sleep on their arms; while the
troops assumed, each day, more of that fearful preparation, which gives, even to the trained warrior,
a more martial aspect-though both parties still
continued to manifest a becoming reluctance to
shed blood.





CHAPTER VI.


' Would he were fatter:-but I fear him not." Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort,
" As if he mocked himself, and scorned his spirit
" That could be moved to smile at any thing."
Judius C~sar
IN the course of the succeeding week, Lionel acquired a knowledge olmany minor circumstances
Selating to the condition of the colonies, which
may be easily imagined as incidental to the times,
but which would greatly exceed our limits to relate. He was received by his brethren in arms,
with that sort of cordiality that a rich, high-spirited, and free, if not a jovial comrade, was certain
of meeting among men who lived chiefly for pleasure and appearance. Certain indications of more
than usually important movements were discovered among the troops, the first day of the week,
and his own condition in the army was in some
measure affected by the changes. Instead of joining his particular regiment, he was ordered to hold
himself in readiness to take a command in the light
corps, which had begun its drill for the service that
was peculiar to such troops. As it was well known
that Boston was Major Lincoln's place of nativity,
the commander-in-chief, with the indulgence and
kindness of his character, granted to him, however,
a short respite from duty, in order that he might





LIONEL LINCOLN.


indulge in the feelings natural to his situation. It
was soon generally understood, that Major Lincoln, though intending to serve with the army in
America, should the sad alternative of an appeal
to arms become necessary, had permission to
amuse himself in such a manner as he saw fit, for
two months from the date of his arrival. Those
who affected to be more wise than common, saw,
or thought they saw, in this arrangement, a deep
iaid plan on the part of Gage, to use the influence
and address of the young provincial among his
connexions and natural friends, to draw them back
to those sentiments of loyalty which it was feared
so many among them had forgotten to entertain.
But it was the characteristic of the times to attach
importance to trifling incidents, and to suspect a
concealed policy in movements which emanated
only in inclination.
There was nothing, however, in the deportment,
or manner of life adopted by Lionel, to justify any
of these conjectures. He continued to dwell in
the house of Mrs. Lechmere, in person, though,
unwilling to burthen the hospitality of his aunt too
heavily, he had taken lodgings in a dwelling at no
great distance, where his servants resided, and
where it was generally understood, that his visits
of ceremony and friendship were to be received.
Captain Polwarth did not fail to complain loudly
of this arrangement, as paralyzing at once all the
advantages he had anticipated from  enjoying
the entre to the dwelling of his mistress, in the
right of his friend. But as the establishment of
Lionel was supported with much of that liberality
which was becoming in a youth of his large fortune, the exuberant light-infantry officer found
many sources of consolation in the change, which
could not have existed, had the staid_ Mrs. Lech




94


LIONEL LINCOLN.


mere presided over the domestic department.
Lionel and Polwarth had been boys together at
the same school, members of the same college at
Oxford, and subsequently, for many years, comrades in the same corps. Though, perhaps, no two
men in their regiment were more essentially different in mental as well as phy3ical constitution,
yet, by that unaccountable caprice, which causes
us to like our opposites, it is certain that no two
gentlemen in the service were known to be on
better terms, or to maintain a more close and unreserved intimacy. It is unnecessary to dilate
here on this singular friendship; it occurs every
day, between men still more discordant, the result
of accident and habit, and is often, as in the present instance, cemented by unconquerable good
nature in one of the parties. For this latter qualification Captain Polwarth was eminent, if for no
other. It contributed quite as much as his science
in the art of living, to the thriving condition of the
corporeal moiety of the man, and it rendered a
communion with the less material part at all times
inoffensive, if not agreeable.
On the. present occasion, the captain took
charge of the internal economy of Lionel's lodgings, with a zeal which he did not even pretend
was disinterested. By the rules of the regiment
he was compelled to live nominally with the mess,
where he found his talents and his wishes fettered
by divers indispensable regulations, and economical practices, that could not be easily overleaped; but with Lionel, just such an opportunity offered for establishing rules of his own, and disregarding expenditure, as he had been long pining fot
in secret. Though the poor of the town were, in
the absence of employment, necessarily supported
by large contributions of money, clothing, and food,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


95


which were transmitted to their aid from the fur
thermost parts of the colonies, the markets were
not yet wanting in all the necessaries of life, to
those who enjoyed the means of purchasing. With
this disposition of things, therefore, he became well
cortent, and within the first fortnight after the arrival of Lionel, it became known to the mess, that
Captain Polwarth took his dinners regularly with
his old friend, Major Lincoln; though in truth the
latter was enjoying, more than half the time, the
hospitality of the respective tables of the officers
of the staff.
In the mean time Lionel cultivated his acquaintance in Tremont-street, where he still slept, with
an interest and assiduity that the awkwardness of
his first interview would not have taught us to expect. With Mrs. Lechmere, it is true, he made
but little progress in intimacy; for, equally formal,
though polite, she was at all times enshrouded in a
cloud of artificial, but cold management, that gave
him little opportunity, had he possessed the desire,
to break through the reserve of her calculating
temperament. With his more youthful kinswomen, the case was, however, in a very few days,
entirely reversed. Agnes Danforth, who had nothing to conceal, began insensibly to yield to the
manliness and grace of his manner, and before the
end of the first week, she maintained the rights of
the colonists, laughed at the follies of the officers,
and then acknowledged her own prejudices, with
a familiarity and good-humour that soon made her,
in her turn, a favourite with her English cousin,
as she termed Lionel. But he found the demeanour
of Cecil Dynevor much more embarrassing, if not
inexplicable. For days she would be distant, silent, and haughty, and then again, as it were by
sudden impulses, she became easy and natural;





LIONEL LINCOLN.


her whole soul beaming in her speaking eyes, or
her innocent and merry humour breaking through
the bounds of her restraint, and rendering not only
herself, but all around her, happy and delighted.
Full many an hour did Lionel ponder on this unaccouatable difference in the manner of this young
lady, at different moments. There was a secret
excitement in the very caprices of her humours,
that had a piquant interest in his eyes, and which,
aided by her exquisite form and intelligent face,
gradually induced him to become a more close observer of their waywardness, and consequently a
more assiduous attendant on her movements. In
consequence of this assiduity, the manner of Cecil
grew, almost imperceptibly, less variable, and more
uniformly fascinating, while Lionel, by some unaccountable oversight, soon forgot to note its changes,
or even to miss the excitement.
In a mixed society, where pleasure, company,
and a multitude of objects, conspired to distract the
attention, such alterations would be the result of
an intercourse for months, if they ever occurred;
but in a town like Boston, from which most of those
with whom Cecil had once mingled were already
fled, and where, consequently, those who remained
behind lived chiefly for themselves and by themselves, it was no more than the obvious effect of
very apparent causes. In this manner something
like good-will, if not a deeper interest in each other
was happily effected within that memorable fortnight, which was teeming with events vastly more
important in their results than any that can appertain to the fortunes of a single family.
The winter of 1774-5 had been as remarkable
for its mildness, as the spring was cold and lingering. Like every season in our changeable climate,
however, the chilling days of March and April





LIONEL LINCOLN.


97


were intermingled with some, when a genial sun
recalled the ideas of summer, which, in their turn,
were succeeded by others, when the torrents of
cold rain, that drove before the easterly gales, would
seem to repel every advance toward a milder temperature. Many of those stormy days occurred in
the middle of April, and during their continuance
Lionel was necessarily compelled to keep himself
housed.
He had retired from the parlour of Mrs. Lechmere, one evening, when the rain was beating
against the windows of the house, in nearly horizontal lines, to complete some letters which, before dining, he had commenced to the agent of his
family, in England. On entering his own apartment, he was startled to find the room, which he
had left vacant, and which he expected to find in
the same state, occupied in a manner that he could
not anticipate. The light of a strong wood fire
was blazing on the hearth, and throwing about, in
playful changes, the flickering shadows of the furniture, and magnifying each object into some strange
and fantastical figure. As he steeped within the
door, his eye fell upon one of these shadows, which
extended along the wall, and, bending against the
ceiling, exhibited the gigantic but certain outlines
of the human form. Recollecting that he had left
his letters open, and a little distrusting the discretion of Meriton, Lionel advanced lightly, for a few
feet, so far as to be able to look round the drapery
of his bed, and, to his amazement, perceived that
the intruder was not his valet, but the aged stran
ger. The old man sat holding in his hand the open
letter which Lionel had been writing, and continued so deeply absorbed in its contents, that the
footsteps of the other were still disregarded. A
large, coarse over-coat, dripping with water, con9





98, LIONEL LINGCOLN.


cealed most of his person, though the white hair,
that strayed about his face, and the deep lines of his
remarkable countenance, could not be mistaken.
" I was ignorant of this unexpected visit," said
Lionel, advancing quickly into the centre of the
room, " or I should not have been so tardy in returning to my apartment, where, sir, I fear you
must have found your time irksome, with nothing
but that scrawl to amuse you."
The old man dropped the paper from before his
features, and betrayed, by the action, the large
drops that followed each other down his hollow
cheeks, until they fell even to the floor. The
haughty and displeased look disappeared from the
countenance of Lionel at this sight, and he was on
the point of speaking in a more conciliating manner, when the stranger, whose eye had not quailed
before the angry frown it encountered, anticipated
his intention.
" I comprehend you, Major Lincoln," he said,
calmly; " but there can exist justifiable reasons
for a greater breach of faith than this, of which you
accuse me. Accident, and not intention, has put
me in possession, here, of your most secret thoughts
on a subject that has deep interest for me. You
have urged me often, during our voyage, to make
you acquainted with all that you most desire to
know; to which request, as you may remember, I
have ever been silent."
" You have said, sir, that you are master of a
secret in which my feelings, I will acknowledge,
are deeply interested, and I have urged you to remove my doubts by declaring the truth; but I do
not perceive--"
C' How a desire to possess my secret gives me
a claim to inquire into yours, you would say," interrupted the stranger; "nor does it. But an in




LIONEL LINCOLN.


99


terest in your affairs, that you cannot yet understand, and which is vouched for by these scalding
tears, the first that have fallen in years from a
fountain that I had thought dried, should, and must,
satisfy you."
" It does," said Lionel, deeply affected by the
melandholy tones of his voice, " it does, it does,
and I will listen to no further explanation on the
unpleasant subject. You see nothing there, I am
sure, of which a son can have reason to be
ashamed."
" I see much here, Lionel Lincoln, of which a
father would have reason to be proud," returned
the old man. " It was the filial love which you
have displayed in this paper, which has drawn these
drops from my eyes; for he who has lived as I
have done, beyond the age of man, without knowing the love that the parent feels for its offspring,
or which the child bears to the author of its being,
must have outlived his natural sympathies, not to
be conscious of his misfortune, when chance makes
him sensible of affections like these."
" You have never been a father, then?" said
Lionel, drawing a chair nigh to his aged companion, and seating himself with an air of powerful
interest, that he could not control.
" Have I not told you that 1 am alone?" returned the old man, with a solemn manner. After an
impressive pause, he continued, though his tones
were husky and low-" I have been both husband
and parent, in my day, but 'tis so long since, that
no selfish tie remains to bind me to earth. Old
age is the neighbour of death, and the chill of the
grave is to be found in its warmest breathings."
" Say not so," interrupted Lionel, " for.you do
injustice to your own warm nature-you forget
7





100


LIONEL LINCOLN.


your zeal in behalf of what you deem these 3p.
pressed colonies."
" 'Tis no more than the flickering of the dying
lamp, which flares and dazzles most, when its
source of heat is nighest to extinction. But though
T may not infuse into your bosom a warmth that I
do not possess myself, I can point out the dangers
with which life abounds, and serve as a beacon,
when no longer useful as a pilot. It is for such a
purpose, Major Lincoln, that I have braved the
tempest of to-night."
" Has any thing occurred, which, by rendering
danger pressing, can make such an exposure necessary?"
" Look at me," said the old man earnestly-" I
have seen most of this flourishing country a wilderness; my recollection goes back into those periods when the savage, and the beast of the forest,
contended with our fathers for much of that soil
which now supports its hundreds of thousands in
plenty; and my time is to be numbered, not by
years, but by ages. For such a being, think you
there can yet be many months, or weeks, or even
days, in store?"
Lionel dropped his eyes, in embarrassment, to
the floor, as he answered" You cannot have very many years, surely, to
hope for; but with the activity and temperance
you possess, days and months confine you, I trust,
in limits much too small."
"What!" exclaimed the other, stretching forth
a colourless hand, in which even the prominent
veins partook in the appearance of a general decay
of nature; " with these wasted limbs, these gray
hairs, and this sunken and sepulchral cheek, would
you talk to me of years! to me, who have not the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


101


effrontery to petition for even minutes, were they
worth the prayer-so long already has been my
probation!"
" It is certainly time to think of the change,
when it approaches so very near."
" Well, then, Lionel Lincoln, old, feeble, and
on the threshold of eternity as I stand, yet am I
not nearer to my grave than that country, to which
you have pledged your blood, is to a mighty con
vulsion, which will shake her institutions to their
foundations."
" I cannot admit the signs of the times to be quite
so portentous as your fears would make them,"
said Lionel, smiling a little proudly. " Though the
worst that is apprehended should arrive, England
will feel the shock but as the earth bears an eruption of one of its volcanoes! But we talk in idle
figures, sir: know you any thing to justify the apprehension of immediate danger?"
The face of the stranger lighted with a sudden
and startling gleam of intelligence, and a sarcastic
smile passed across his wan features, as he answered slowly" They only have cause to fear, who will be the
losers by the change! A youth who casts off the
trammels of his guardians is not apt to doubt his
ability to govern himself. England has held these
colonies so long in leading-strings, that she forgets
her offspring is able to go alone."
" Now, sir, you exceed even the wild projects
of the most daring among those who call themselves the ' Sons of Liberty'-as if liberty existed
in any place more favoured or more nurtured than
under the blessed constitution of England! The
utmost required is what they term a redress of
grievances, many of which, I must think, exist only
in imagination."
9*





102


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Was a stone ever known to roll upward? Let
there be but one drop of American blood spilt in
anger, and its stain will become indelible."
"' Unhappily, the experiment has been already
tried; and yet years have rolled by, while England keeps her footing and authority good."
" Her authority!" repeated the old man; see
you not. Major Lincoln. in the forbearance of this
people, when they felt themselves in the wrong,
the existence of the very principles that will render them invincible and unyielding when right?
But we waste our time-I came to conduct you
to a place where, with your own ears, and with
your own eyes, you may hear and see a little of
that spirit which pervades the land-You will
follow?"
" Not surely in such a tempest!"
" This tempest is but a trifle to that which is
about to break upon you, unless you retrace your
steps; but follow, I repeat; if a man of my years
disregards the night, ought an English soldier to
hesitate?"
The pride of Lionel was touched; and remenbering an engagement he had previously made with
his aged friend to accompany him to a scene like
this, he made such changes in his dress as would
serve to conceal his profession, threw on a large
cloak to protect his person, and was about to lead
the way himself, when he was aroused by the voice
of the other.
" You mistake the route," he said; " this is to
be a secret, and I hope a profitable visit-none
must know of your presence; and if you are a
worthy son of your honourable father, I need
hardly add that my faith is pledged for your discretion."
" The pledge will be respected, sir," said Lio




LIONEL LINCOLN.


103


nel, haughtily.; "but in order to see what you
wish, we are not to remain here?"
'"Follow, then, and be silent," said the old
man, turning and opening the doors which led into
a little apartment lighted by one of those smaller
windows, already mentioned in describing the exterior of the building. The passage was dark and
narrow; but, observing the warnings of his companion, Lionel succeeded in descending, in safety, a
flight of steps which formed a private communication between the offices of the dwelling and its upper apartments. They paused an instant at the
bottom of the stairs, where the youth expressed
Ihis amazement that a stranger should be so much
more familiar with the building than he who had
for so many days made it his home.
"1Have I not often told you," returned the old
man, with a severity in his voice which was even
apparent in its suppressed tones, " that I have
known Boston for near an hundred years! How
many edifices like this does it contain, that I
should not have noted its erection! But follow in
silence, and be prudent."
He now opened a door which conducted them
through one end of the building, into the courtyard in which it was situated. As they emerged
into the open air, Lionel perceived the figure of a
man, crouching under the walls, as if seeking a
shelter from the driving rain. The moment they
appeared, this person arose, and followed as they
moved toward the street.
"Are we not watched?" said Lionel, stopping
to face the unknown; "'whom have we skulking
in our footsteps?"
" 'Tis the boy," said the old man,-for whom we
must adopt the name of Ralph, which it would
appear was the usual term used by Job when ad&





104


LIONEL LINCOLN.


dressing his mother's guest-" 'tis the boy, and he
can do us no harm. God has granted to him a
knowledge between much of what is good and
that which is evil, though the mind of the child is
at times, sadly weakened by his bodily ailings.
His heart, however, is with his country, at a moment when she needs all hearts to maintain her
rights."
The young British officer bowed his head to
meet the tempest, and smiled scornfully within the
folds of his cloak, which he drew more closely
around his form, as they met the gale in the open
streets of the town. They had passed swiftly
through many narrow and crooked ways, before
another word was uttered between the adventurers. Lionel mused on the singular and indefinable interest that he took in the movements of his
companion, which could draw him at a time like
this from the shelter of Mrs. Lechmere's roof, to
wander he knew not whither, and on an errand
which might even be dangerous to his person. Still
he followed, unhesitatingly; for with these passing
thoughts were blended the recollection of the many
recent and interesting communications he had held
with the old man during their long and close association in the ship;. nor was he wanting in a natural interest for all that involved the safety and happiness of the place of his birth. He kept the form
of his aged guide in his eye, as the other moved
before him, careless of the tempest which beat on
his withered frame, and he heard the heavy footsteps of Job in his rear, who had closed so near his
own person as to share, in some measure, in the
shelter of his ample cloak. But no other living
being seemed to have ventured abroad; and even
the few sentinels they passed, instead of pacing in
front of those doors which it was their duty to





LIONEL LINCOLN.


105


guard, were concealed behindthe angles of walls,
or sought shelter under the projections of some favouring roof. At moments the wind rushed into
the narrow avenues of the streets, along which it
swept, with a noise not unlike the hollow roaring
of the sea, and with a violence which was nearly
irresistible. At such times Lionel was compelled
to pause, and even frequently to recede a little
from his path, while his guide, supporte-d by his high
purpose, and but little obstructed by his garments,
seemed, to the bewildered imagination of his follower, to glide through the night with a facility
that was supernatural. At length the old man,
who had got some distance ahead of his followers,
suddenly paused, and allowed Lionel to approach
to his side. The latter observed with surprise,
that he had stopped before the root and stump of a
tree, which had once grown on the borders of the
street, and which appeared to have been recently
felled.
" Do you see this remnant of the Elm?" said
Ralph, when the others had stopped also; " their
axes have succeeded in destroying the motherplant, but her scions are flourishing throughout a
continent!"
" I do not comprehend you!" returned Lionel;
" I see here nothing but the stump of some tree;
surely the ministers of the king are not answera
ble that it stands no longer?"
" The ministers of the king are answerable to
their master, that it has ever become what it isbut speak to the boy at your side; he will tell you
of its virtues."
Lionel turned towards Job, aind perceived, by
the obscure light of the moon, to his surprise, that
the changeling stood with his head bared to the





lti6


LIONEL LINCOLN.


storm, regarding the root with an extraordinary
degree of reverence.
" This is all a mystery to me!" he said; " wha
do you know about this stump to stand in awe of,
boy?"
" 'Tis the root of ' Liberty-tree,' " said Job,
" and 'tis wicked to pass it without making your
manners!"
" And what has this tree done for liberty, that
it has merited so much respect?"
" What! why did you ever see a tree afore this
that could write and give notices of town-meetinda's, or that could tell the people what the king
meant to do with the tea and his stamps!"
" And could this marvellous tree work such
miracles?"
" To be sure it could, and it did too-you let
stingy Tommy think to get above the people with
any of his cunning over night, and you might come
here next morning, and read a warning on the bark
of this tree, that would tell all about it, and how
to put down his deviltries, written out fair, in a
hand as good as Master Lovell himself could put
on paper, the best day of his grand scholarship."
" And who put the paper there?"
" Who!" exclaimed Job, a little positively.
" why, Liberty came in the night, and pasted it
up herself. When Nab couldn't get a house to
live in, Job used to sleep under the tree, sometimes; and many a night has he seen Liberty with
his own eyes come and put up the paper."
" And was it a woman?"
" Do you think Liberty was such a fool as to
come every time in woman's clothes, to be follow..
ed by the rake-helly soldiers about the streets!"
said Job, with great contempt in his manner.
" Sometimes she did, though, and sometimes she





LIO NEL LINCOL N.


107


didn't; just as it happened. And Job was in the
tree when old Noll had to give up his ungodly
stamps; though he didn't do it till the' Sons of
Liberty' had chucked his stamp-shop in the dock,
and hung him and Lord Boot together, on the
branches of the old Elm!"
' Tung!" said Lionel, unconsciously drawing
back from the spot; ' was it ever a gallows?"
" Yes, for iffigies," said Job, laughing; "I wish
you could have been here to see how the old boot,
with Satan sticking out on't, whirled about when
they swung it off! they give the old boy a big shoe
to put his cloven huff in!"
Lionel, who was familiar with the peculiar
sound that his townsmen gave to the letter u,
now comprehended the allusion to the Earl of
Bute, and, beginning to understand more clearly
the nature of the transactions, and the uses to
which that memorable tree had been applied, he
expressed his desire to proceed.
The old man had suffered Job to make his own
explanations, though not without a curious interest
in the effect they would produce on Lionel; but
the instant the request was made to advance, he
turned, and once more led the way. Their course
was now directed more towards the wharves; nor
was it long before their conductor turned into a
narrow court, and entered a house of rather mean
appearance, without even observing the formality
of announcing his visit by the ordinary summons
of rapping at its door. A long, narrow, and dimlylighted passage, conducted them to a spacious
apartment far in the court, which appeared to have
been fitted as a place for the reception of large assemblages of people. In this room were collected
at least a hundred men, seemingly intent on some
object of more than usual interest, by the gravity





108


LIONEL LINCOLN.


and seriousness of demeanour apparent in every
countenance.
As it was Sunday, the first impression of Lionel,
on entering the room, was, that his old friend, who
often betrayed a keen sensibility on subjects of
religion, had brought him there with a design to
listen to some favourite exhorter of his own peculiar tenets, and as a tacit reproach for a neglect of
the usual ordinances of that holy day, of which
the conscience of the young man suddenly accused him, on finding himself unexpectedly mingled in such a throng. But after he had forced his
person among a dense body of men, who stood at
the lower end of the apartment, and became a silent observer of the scene, he was soon made to
perceive his error. The weather had induced all
present to appear in such garments as were best
adapted to protect them from its fury; and their
exteriors were rough, and perhaps a little forbidding; but there was a composure and decency in
the air common to the whole assembly, which denoted that they were men who possessed, in a high
degree, the commanding quality of self-respect
A very few minutes sufficed to teach Lionel, that
he was in the midst of a meeting collected to discuss questions connected with the political movements of the times, though he felt himself a little
at a loss to discover the precise results it was intended to produce. To every question, there were
one or two speakers, men who expressed their
ideas in a familiar manner, and with the peculiar
tones and pronunciation of the province, that left
no room to believe them to be orators of a higher
character than the mechanics and tradesmen of the
town. Most, if not all of them, wore an air of deliberation and coldness, that would have rendered
their sincerity in the cause they had apparently





LIONEL LINCOLN


109


espoused a little equivocal, but for occasional expressions of coarse, and sometimes biting invective
that they expended on the ministers of the crown,
and for the perfect and firm unanimity that was
manifested, as each expression of the common feel
ing was taken, after the manner of deliberative bo
dies. Certain resolutions, in which the most re
spectful remonstrances were singularly blended
with the boldest assertions of constitutional principles, were read, and passed without a dissenting
Voice, though with a calmness that indicated no
very strong excitement. Lionel was peculiarly
struck with the language of these written opinions,
which were expressed with a purity, and sometimes with an elegance of style, which plainly
showed, that the acquaintance of the sober artisan
with the instrument through whose periods he was
blundering, was quite recent, and far from being
very intimate. The eyes of the young soldier
wandered from face to face, with a strong desire to
detect the secret movers of the scene he was witnessing; nor was he long without selecting one in
dividual as an object peculiarly deserving of his
suspicions. It was a man apparently but just entering into middle age, of an appearance, both in
person, and in such parts of his dress as escaped
from beneath his over-coat, that denoted him to be
of a class altogether superior to the mass of the assembly. A deep but manly respect was evidently
paid to this gentleman, by those who stood nearest
to his person; and once or twice there were close
and earnest communications passing between him
and the more ostensible leaders of the meeting,
which roused the suspicions of Lionel in the manner related. Notwithstanding the secret dislike
that the English officer suddenly conceived against
a man that he fancied was thus abusing his powers,
10





I10


LIONEL LINCOLN.


by urging others to acts of insubordination, he
could not conceal from himself the favourable impression made by the open, fearless, and engaging
countenance of the stranger. Lionel was so situated as to be able to keep his person, which was
partly concealed by the taller forms that surrounded him, in constant view; nor was it long before
his earnest and curious gaze caught the attention
of the other. Glances of marked meaning were
exchanged between them during the remainder of
the evening, until the chairman announced that the
objects of the convocation were accomplished, and
dissolved the meeting.
Lionel raised himself from his reclining attitude
against the wall, and submitted to be carried by the
current of human bodies into the dark passage,
through which he had entered the room. Here
he lingered a moment, with a view to recover his
lost companion, and with a secret wish to scan more
narrowly the proceedings of the man, whose air
and manner had so long chained his attention. The
crowd had sensibly diminished before he was aware
that few remained beside himself, nor would he
then have discovered that he was likely to become
an object of suspicion to those few, had not a voice
at his elbow recalled his recollection.
C" Does Major Lincoln meet his countrymen tonight as one who sympathizes in their wrongs, or
as the favoured and prosperous officer of the
crown?" asked the very man for whose person he
had so long been looking in vain.
" Is sympathy with the oppressed incompatible
with loyalty to my prince?" demanded Lionel.
CC That it is not," said the stranger, in a friendly
accent, " is apparent from the conduct of many gallant Engiishmen among us, who espouse our cause
-but we claim Major Lincoln as a countryman."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


I'll!' Perhaps, sir, it would be indiscreet just now
to disavow that title, let my dispositions be as they
may," returned Lionel, smiling a little haughtily;
' this may not be as secure a spot in which to avow
one's sentiments, as the town common, or the palace of St. James."
" Had the king been present to-night, Major
Lincoln, would he have heard a single sentence
opposed to that constitution, which has declared
nim a member too sacred to be offended?1"
" Whatever may have been the legality of youi
sentiments, sir, they surely have not been expressed in language altogether fit for a royal ear."
" It may not have been adulation, or even flattery, but it is truth-a quality no less sacred than
the rights of kings."
" This is neither a place nor an occasion, sir,"
said the young soldier, quickly, " to discuss the
rights of our common master; but if, as from your
manner and your language I think not improbable,
we should meet hereafter in a higher sphere, you
will not find me at a loss to vindicate his claims."
The stranger smiled with meaning, and as he
bowed before he fell back and was lost in the darkness of the passage, he replied" Our fathers have often met in such society, I
believe; God forbid that their sons should ever
encounter in a less friendly manner."
Lionel, now finding himself alone, groped his way
into the street, where he perceived Ralph and the
changeling in waiting for his appearance. Without
demanding the cause of the other's delay, the old
man proceeded by the side of his companions, with
the same indifference to the tempest as before, toward the residence of Mrs. Lechmere.
" You have now had some evidence of the spirit
that pervades this people," said Ralph, after a few





tl2


LIONEL LINCOLN.


moments of silence; " think you still there is no
danger that the volcano will explode?"
" Surely every thing I have heard and seen tonight confirms such an opinion," returned Lionel.
" Men on the threshold of rebellion seldom reason
50 closely, and with such moderation. Why, the
very fuel for the combustion, the rabble themselves,
discuss their constitutional principles, and keep under the mantle of law, as though they were a club
of learned Templars."
"' Think you that the fire will burn less steadily,
because what you call the fuel has been prepared by
the seasoning of time?"1 returned Ralph. "' But this
comes firom sending a youth into a foreign land for
his education! The boy rates his sober and earnest
countrymen on a level with the peasants of Europe."'
So much Lionel was able to comprehend; but
notwithstanding the old man muttered vehemently
to himself for some time longer, it was in a tone too
indistinct for his ear to understand his meaning.
When they arrived in a part of the town, with
which Lionel was familiar, his aged guide pointed
out his way, and took his leave, saying" I see that nothing but the last, and dreadful argument of force, will convince you of the purpose of
the Americans to resist their oppressors. God avert
the evil hour! but when it shall come, as come it
must, you will learn your error, young man, and, I
trust, will not disregard the natural ties of country
and kindred."
Lionel would have spoken in reply, but the ra
pid steps of Ralph rendered his wishes vain; for, before hen had time for utterance, his emaciated form
was seen gliding, like an immaterial being, through
the sheets of driving rain, and was soon lost to the
eye, as it vanished in the dim shades of night, followed by the more substantial frame of the idiot.





CHAPTER VII.


" Sergeant, you shall.  Thus are poor servitera
" When others sleep upon their quiet beds,
" Constrained to watch in darkness, rain, and cold.)
King Henry VI.
Two or three days of fine, balmy, spring weather succeeded to the storm, during which Lionel
saw no more of his aged fellow-voyager. Job,
however, attached himself to the British soldier
with a confiding helplessness that touched the
heart of his young protector, who gathered from
the circumstance a just opinion of the nature of
the abuses that the unfortunate changeling was
frequently compelled to endure from the brutal
soldiery. Meriton performed the functions of master of the wardrobe to the lad, by Lionel's express
commands, with evident disgust, but with manifest
advantage to the external appearance, if with no
very sensible evidence of additional comfort to his
charge. During this short period, the slight impression made on Lionel by the scene related in
the preceeding chapter, faded before the cheerful
changes of the season, and the increasing interest
which he felt in the society of his youthful kinswomen. Polwarth relieved him from all cares of
a domestic nature, and the peculiar shade of sadness, which at times had been so very perceptible
10*





114


LIONEL LINCOLN.


in his countenance, was changed to a look of a
more brightening and cheerful character. Polwarth
and Lionel had found an officer, who had formerly served in the same regiment with them in the
British Islands, in command of a company of gie
nadiers, which formed part of the garrison of Boston. This gentleman, an Irishman, of the name of
IM'Fuse, was qualified to do great honour to the
culinary skill of the officer of light-infantry, by virtue of a keen natural gusto for whatever possessed
the inherent properties of a savoury taste, though
utterly destitute of any of that remarkable scientific
knowledge, which might be said to distinguish the
other in the art. He was, in consequence of this
double claim on the notice of Lionel, a frequent
guest at the nightly banquets prepared by Polwarth.
Accordingly, we find him, on the evening of the
third day in the week, seated with his two friends,
around a board plentifully garnished by the care
of that gentleman, on the preparations for which
more than usual skill had been exerted, if the repeated declarations of the disciple of Heliogabalus,
to that effect, were entitled to any ordinary credit.
"In short, Major Lincoln," said Polwarth, in
continuance of his favourite theme, while seated
before the table, " a man may live any where.
provided he possesses food-in England, or out of
England, it matters not. Raiment may be necessary to appearance, but food is the only indispensable that nature has imposed on the animal world,
and, in my opinion, there is a sort of obligation on
every man to be satisfied, who has wherewithal to
appease the cravings of his appetite.-Captain
M'Fuse, I will thank you to cut that sirloin with
the grain "
" What matters it, Polly," said the captain of
grenadiers, with a slight Irish accent, and with the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


115


humour of his countrymen strongly depicted in
his fine, open. manly features, " which way a
bit of meat is divided, so there be enough to allay
the cravings of the appetite, you will remember!"
" It is a collateral assistance to nature that should
never be neglected," returned Polwarth, whose
gravity and seriousness at his banquets were not
easily disturbed; "it facilitates mastication and
aids digestion, two. considerations of great importance to military men, sir, who have frequently such
little time for the former, and no rest after their
meals to complete the latter."
" He reasons like an army contractor, who wishes
to make one ration do the work of two, when
transportation is high," said M'Fuse, winking to
Lionel. " According to your principles, then, Polly,
a potato is your true campaigner, for that is a
cr'ature you may cut any way without disturbing
the grain, provided the article be a little m'aly."
" Pardon me, Captain M'Fuse," said Polwarth,
" a potato should be broken, and not cut at allthere is no vegetable more used, and less understood, than the potato."
" And is it you, Pater Polwarth, of Nesbitt's
light-infantry," interrupted the grenadier, laying
down his knife and fork with an air of infinite humour, " that will tell Dennis M'Fuse how to carve
a potato! I will yield to the right of an Englishman over the chivalry of an ox, your sirloins, and
your lady-rumps, if you please, but in my own
country, one end of every farm is a bog, and the
other a potato-field-'tis an Irishman's patrimony
that you are making so free with, sir!"
" The possession of a thing, and the knowledge how to use it, are two very different properties-"
" Give me the property of possession, then,"
8





116


LIICONE1L LINCOLN.


again interrupted the ardent grenadier, " especially when a morsel of the green island is in dispute;
and trust an old soldier of the Royal Irish to carve
his own enjoyments. Now, I'll wager a month's
pay, and that to me is as much as if the major
should say, Done for a thousand, that you can't tell
how many dishes can be made, and are made
every day in Ireland, out of so simple a thing as a
potato."
" You roast and boil; and use them in stuffing
tame birds, sometimes, and-"
" All old woman's cookery!"   interrupted
M'Fuse, with an affectation of great contempt in
his manner.-" Now, sir, we have them with butter, and without butter-that counts two; then we
have the fruit p'aled; and-"
" Impaled," said Lionel, laughing. "I believe
this nice controversy must be referred to Job, who
is amusing himself in the corner there, I see, with
the very subject of the dispute transfixed on his
fork in the latter condition."
" Or suppose, rather," said M'Fuse, " as it is a
matter to exercise the judgment of Solomon, we
make a potato umpire of master Seth Sage, yonder, who should have some of the wisdom of the
royal Jew, by the sagacity of his countenance as
well as of his name."
" Don't you call Seth r'yal,' said Job, suspending his occupation on the vegetable. " The,
king is r'yal and fla'nty, but neighbour Sage lets
Job come in and eat, like a Christian."
" That lad thete is not altogether without Teason, Major Lincoln,' said Polwarth; "on the contrary.) he discovers an instinctive knowledge of good
from evil, by favouring us with his company at the
hour of meals."
"The poor fellow nr ds but little at home to





LIONEL LINCOLN.


117


tempt him to remain there, I fear,"' said Lionel;
C" and as he was one of the first acquaintances I
made on returning to my native land, I have de,
sired Mr. Sage to admit him at all proper hours;
and especially, Polwarth, at those times when he
can have an opportunity of doing homage to your
skill."
"I am glad to see him," said Polwarth; for I
love an uninstructed palate, as much as I admire
naivete in a woman.-Be so good as to favour me
with a cut from the breast of that wild-goose,
M'Fuse-not quite so far forward, if you please;
your migratory birds are apt to be tough about the
wing-but simplicity in eating is, after all, the
great secret of life; that and a sufficiency of food."
", You may be right this time," replied the grenadier, laughing; "for this fellow made one of the
flankers of the flock, and did double duty in wheeling, I believe, or I have got him against the grain
too! But, Polly, you have not told us how yoa
improve in your light-infantry exercises of late."
By this time, Polwarth had made such progress
in the essential part of his meal, as to have recovered in some measure his usual tone of good-nature, and he answered with less gravity" If Gage does not work a reformation in our
habits, he will fag us all to death. I suppose you
know, Leo, that all the flank companies are relieved from the guards to learn a new species of
exercise. They call it relieving us, but the only
relief I find in the matter, is when we lie down to
fire-there is a luxurious moment or two then, I
must confess!"
"I have known the fact, any time these ten
days, by your moanings," returned Lionel; "( but
what do you argue from this particular exercise,





I 13


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Captain M'Fuse? Does Gage contemplate more
than the customary drills?"
" You question me now, sir, on a matter in
which I am uninstructed," said the grenadier; "
am a soldier, and obey my orders, without pretending to inquire into their objects or merits; all
I know is, that both grenadiers and light-infantry
are takefi from the guards; and that we travel over
a good deal of solid earth each day, in the way of
marching and counter-marching, to the manifest
discomfiture and reduction of Polly, there, who
loses flesh as fast as he gains ground."
" Do you think so, Mac?" cried the delighted
captain of light-infantry; " then I have not all the
detestable motion in vain. They have given us
little Harry Skip as a drill officer, who, I believe,
has the most restless foot of any man in his majesty's service. Do you join with me in opinion,
master Sage? you seem to meditate on the subject asif it had some secret charm."
The individual to whom Polwarth addressed this
question, and who has been already named, was
standing with a plate in his hand, in an attitude
that bespoke close attention, with a sudden and
deep interest in the discourse, though his eyes
were bent on the floor, and his face was averted
as if, while listening earnestly, he had a particular
desire to be unnoticed. He was the owner of the
house in which Lionel had taken his quarters.
His family had been some time before removed
into the country, under the pretence of his inability to maintain them in a place destitute of business and resources, like Boston; but he remained
himself, for the double purpose of protecting his
property and serving his guests. This man partook, in no small degree, of the qualities, both of





LIONEL LINCOLN.


119


person and mind, which distinguish a large class
among his countrymen. In the former, he was
rather over than under the middle stature; was
thin, angular, and awkward, but possessing an unusual proportion of sinew and bone. His eyes
were small, black, scintillating, and it was not easy
to fancy that the intelligence they manifested was
unmingled with a large proportion of shrewd cunning. The rest of his countenance was meager,
sallow, and rigidly demure. Thus called upon, on
a sudden, by Polwarth for an opinion, Seth answered, with the cautious reserve with which he
invariably delivered himself'" The adjutant is an uneasy manl; but that, I
suppose, is so much the better for a light-infantry
officer. Captain Polwarth must find it considerable jading to keep the step, now the general has
ordered these new doings with the soldiers."
" And what may be your opinion of these doings, as you call them, Mr. Sage?" asked M'Fuse;
" you, who are a man of observation, should understand your countrymen; will they fight?"
" A rat will fight if the cats pen him," said Seth,
without raising his eyes from his occupation.
" But do the Americans conceive themselves to
be penned?"
" Why, that is pretty much as people think,
captain; the country was in a great touse about the
stamps and the tea, but I always said such folks as
didn't give their notes-of-hand, and had no great
relish for any thing more than country food,
wouldn't find themselves cramped by the laws,
after all."
" Then you see no great oppression in being
asked to pay your bit of a tax, master Sage," cried
the grenadier, " to maintain such a worthy fellow





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LIONEL LINCOLN.


as myself in a dacent equipage to fight youi batties."
" Why, as to that, captain, I suppose we can do
pretty much the whole of our own fighting, when
occasion calls; though I don't think there is much
stomach for such doings among the people, without
need."
" But what do you think the 'Committee of
Safety,' and your ' Sons of Liberty,' as they call
themselves, really mean, by their parades of ' mi
nute-men,' their gathering of provisions, carrying
off the cannon, and such other formidable and appalling preparations-ha! honest Seth? do they
think to frighten British soldiers with the roll of a
drum, or are they amusing themselves, like boys
in the holidays, with playing war?"
" I should conclude," said Seth, with undisturbed gravity and caution, " that the people are pretty
much engaged, and in earnest."
" To*do what?" demanded the Irishman;  to
forge their own chains, that we may fetter them
in truth?"
" Why, seeing that they have burnt the stamps,
and thrown the tea into the harbour," returned
Seth, " and, since that, have taken the management
into their own hands, I should rather conclude that
they have pretty much determined to do what they
think best."
Lionel and Polwarth laughed aloud, and the
bfrmer observed" You appear not to come to conclusions with
our host, Captain M'Fuse, notwithstanding so mucl
is determined. Is it well understood, Mr. Sage,
that large reinforcements are coming to the colonies, and to Boston in particular?"
" Why, yes," returned Seth; " it seems to be
pretty generally contemplated on."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


121


" And what is the result of these contemplations?"
Seth paused a moment, as if uncertain whether
he was master of the other's meaning, before he
replied"' Why, as the country is considerably engaged
in the business, there are some who think, if the
ministers don't open the port, that it will be done
without much further words by the people."
" Do you know," said Lionel, gravely, " that
such an attempt would lead directly to a civil
war?"
" I suppose it is safe to calculate that such doings would bring on disturbances," returned his
phlegmatic host.
" And you speak of it, sir, as a thing not to be
deprecated, or averted by every possible means
in the power of the nation!"
" If the port is opened, and the right to tax
given up," said Seth, calmly, " I can find a man
in Boston, who'll engage to let them draw all the
blood that will be spilt, from his own veins, for
nothing."
" And who may that redoubtable individual be,
master Sage?" cried M'Fuse; " your own plethoric person?-How now, Doyle, to what am I indebted for the honour of this visit?"
This sudden question was put by the captain of
grenadiers to the orderly of his own company, who
at that instant filled the door of the apartment with
his huge frame, in the attitude of military respect,
as if about to address his officer.
" Orders have come down, sir, to parade the
men at half an hour after tattoo, and to be in readiness for active service."
The three gentlemen rose together from their
chairs at this intelligence, while M'Fuse exclaim11





122


LIONEL LINCOLN,


ed-" A night march! Pooh! We are to be sent
back to garrison-duty I suppose; the companies in
the line grow sleepy, and wish a relief-Gage might
have taken a more suitable time, than to put gentlemen on their march so soon after such a feast as
this of yours, Polly."
" There is some deeper meaning to so extraordinary an order," interrupted Lionel; " there goes
the tap of the tattoo, this instant! Are no other
troops but your company ordered to parade?"
" The whole battalion is under the same orders.
your honour, and so is the battalion of light infantry; I was commanded to report it so to Captain Polwarth, if I saw him."
" This bears some meaning, gentlemen," said
Lionel, " and it is necessary to be looked to. If
either corps leaves the town to-night, I will march
with it as a volunteer; for it is my business, just
now, to examine into the state of the country."
" That we shall march to-night, is sure, youi
nonour," added the sergeant, with the confidence
of an old soldier; " but how far, or on what road,
is known only to the officers of the staff; though
the men think we are to go out by the colleges."
" And what has put so learned an opinion in
their silly heads?" demanded his captain.
" One of the men who has been on leave, has
just got in, and reports that a squad of gentlemen
from the army dined near them, your honour, and
that as night set in they mounted and began to
patrole the roads in that direction. He was met
and questioned by four of them as he crossed the
flats."
" All this confirms my conjectures," cri.d Lionel-"- theie is a man who might -ow prove of
important service-Job--where is the simpleton,
Meriton;"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


123


" He was called out, sir, a minute since, and has
left the house."
" Then send in Mr. Sage," continued the young
man, musing as he spoke. A moment after it was
reported to him that Seth had strangely disappeared also.
" Curiosity has led him to the barracks," said
Lionel, " where duty calls you, gentlemen. I will
despatch a little business, and join you there in an
hour; you cannot march short of that time."
The bustle of a general departure succeeded.
Lionel threw his cloak into the arms of Meriton,
to whom he delivered his orders, took his arms,
and, making his apologies to his guests, he left the
house with the manner of one who saw a pressing
necessity to be prompt. M'Fuse proceeded to
equip himself with the deliberation of a soldier
who was too much practised to be easily disconcerted. Notwithstanding his great deliberation,
the delay of Polwarth, however, eventually vanquished the patience of the grenadier, who exclaimed, on hearing the other repeat, for the
fourth time, an order concerning the preservation
of certain viands, to which he appeared to cling
in spirit, after a carnal separation was directed by
fortune.
Poh! pol! man," exclaimed the Irishman,
" why will you bother yourself on the eve of a
march, with such epicurean propensities! It's the
soldier who should show your hermits and anchorites an example of mortification; besides, Polly,
this affectation of care and provision is the less
excusable in yourself,-you, who have been well
aware that we were to march on a secret expedition this very night on which you seem so much
troubled."
"I!" exclaimed Polwarth; " as I hope to eat





121


LIONEL LINCOLN.


another meal, I am as ignorant as the meanest corporal in the army of the whole transaction-why
do you suspect otherwise?"
" Trifles tell the old campaigner when and
where the blow is to be struck," returned M'Fuse,
coolly drawing his military over-coat tighter to his
large fame; " have I not, with my own eyes, seen
you, within the hour, provision a certain captain of
light-infantry after a very heavy fashion! Damn
it, man, do you think I have served these five-andtwenty years, and do not know that when a garrison begins to fill its granaries, it expects a siege?"
" I have paid no more than a suitable compliment to the entertainment of Major Lincoln," returned Polwarth; 1" but so far fi-om having had any
very extraordinary appetite, I have not found myself in a condition to do all the justice I could wish
to several of the dishes.-Mr. Meriton, I will thank
you to have the remainder of that bird sent down
to the barracks, where my man will receive it; and,
as it may be a long march, and a hungry one, add
the tongue, and a fowl, and some of the ragout:
we can warm it up at any farm-house-we'll take
the piece of beef, Mac-Leo has a particular taste
for a cold cut; and you might put up the ham,
also; it will keep better than any thing else, if we
should be out long-and-and-I believe that will
do, Meriton."
" I am as much rejoiced to hear it as I should
De to hear a proclamation of war read at CharingCross," cried M'Fuse-" you should have been a
commissary, Polly-nature meant you for an army
suttler!"
" Laugh as you will, Mac," returned the goodhumoured Polwarth; " I shall hear your thanks
when we halt for breakfast; but I attend you
now."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


125


As they left the house, he continued, " I hope
Gage means no more than to push us a little in advance with a view to protect the foragers and the
supplies of the army-such a situation would have
very pretty advantages; for a system might be established that would give the mess of the light
corps the choice of the whole market."
" 'Tis a mighty preparation about some old iron
gun, which would cost a man his life to put a match
to," returned M'Fuse, cavalierly; " for my part,
Captain Polwarth, if we are to fight these colonists at all, I would do the thing like a man, and
allow the lads to gather together a suitable arsenal,
that when we come to blows, it may be a military
affair-as it now stands, I should be ashamed, as
I am a soldier and an Irishman, to bid my fellows
pull a trigger, or make a charge, on a set of peasants, whose fire-arms look more like rusty waterpipes than muskets, and who have half a dozen
cannon with touch-holes that a man may put his
head in, with muzzles just large enough to throw
marbles."
" I don't know, Mac," said Polwarth, while
they diligently pursued their way toward the
quarters of their men; " even a marble may destroy a man's appetite for his dinner; and the
countrymen possess a great advantage over us in
commanding the supplies-the difference in equipments would not more than balance the odds."
" I wish to disturb no gentleman's opinion on
matters of military discretion, Captain Polwarth,"
said the grenadier, with an air of high martial
pride; ' but 1 take it there exists a material difference between a soldier and a butcher, though
killing be a business common to both-I repeat,
sir, I hope that this secret expedition is for a more
worthy object than to deprive those poor devils,
11





\126


LIONEL LINCOLN.


with whom we are about to fight, of the means of
making a good battle; and I add, sir, that such is
sound military doctrine, without regarding who
may choose to controvert it."
" Your sentiments are generous and manly,
Mac; but, after all, there is both a physical and
moral obligation on every man to eat; and if starvation be the consequence of permitting your enemies to bear arms, it becomes a solemn duty to deprive them of their weapons-no-no-I will support Gage in such a measure, at present, as highly
military."
"' And he is much obliged to you, sir, for your
support," returned the other-" I apprehend, Captain Polwarth, whenever the Lieutenant-General
Gage finds it necessary to lean on any one for extraordinary assistance, he will remember that there
is a regiment called the Royal Irish in the country,
and that he is not entirely ignorant of the qualities
of the people of his own nation.-You have done
well, Captain Polwarth, to choose the light-infantry
service-they are a set of foragers, and can help
themselves; but the grenadiers, thank God, love
to encounter men, and not cattle, in the field."
How long the good nature of Polwarth would
have endured the increasing taunts of the Irishman, who was exasperating himself, gradually, by
his own arguments, there is no possibility of determining; for their arrival at the barracks put an
end to the controversy and to the feelings it was
beginning to engender.





CHAPTER VIII.


" Preserve thy sighs, unthrifty girl!
" To purify the air;
"Thy tears to thread, instead of pearl,
"On bracelets of thy hair."
Deveuant
LIONEL might have blushed to acknowledge the
secret and inexplicable influence which his un
known and mysterious friend, Ralph, had obtained over his feelings, but which induced him, on
leaving his own quarters thus hastily, to take his
way into the lower parts of the town, in quest of
the residence of Abigail Pray. He had not visited
the sombre tenement of this woman since the night
of his arrival, but its proximity to the well-known
town-hall, as well as the quaint architecture of the
building itself, had frequently brought its exterior
under his observation, in the course of his rambles
through the place of his nativity. A guide being,
consequently, unnecessary, he took the most direct
and frequented route to the dock square. When
Lionel issued into the street, he found a deep dark
ness already enveloping the peninsula of Boston,
as if nature had lent herself to the secret designs
of the British commandant. The fine strain of a
shrill fife was playing among the naked hills of the
place, accompanied by the occasional and measured taps of the sullen drum; and, at moments,
the full, rich notes of the horns would rise from





123


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the common, and, borne on the night-air, sweep
along the narrow streets, causing the nerves of the
excited young soldier to thrill with a stern pleasure, as he stepped proudly along. The practised
ear, however, detected no other sounds in the music than the usual nightly signal of rest; and when
the last melting strains of the horns seemed to be
lost in the clouds, a stillness fell upon the town)
like the deep and slumbering quiet of midnight,
lie paused a moment before the gates of ProvinceHouse, and, after examining, with an attentive eye
the windows of the building, he spoke to the grenadier, who had stopped in his short walk, to note
the curious stranger.
" You should have company within, sentinel,"
he said, " by the brilliant light from those windows."
The rattling of Lionel's side-arms, as he pointed
with his hand in the direction of the illuminated
apartment, taught the soldier that he was addressed by his superior, and he answered respectfully" It does not become one such as I to pretend
to know much of what his betters do, your honour;
but I stood before the quarters of General Wolfe
the very night we went up to the Plains of Abram;
and I think an old soldier can tell when a movement is at hand, without asking his superiors any
impertinent questions."
"I suppose, from  your remark, the general'
holds a council to-night?" said Lionel.
"No one has gone in, sir, since I have been
posted," returned the sentinel, "but the lieutenant-colonel of the 10th, that great Northumbrian lord, and the old major of marines; a great
war-dog is that old man, your honour, and it is
not often he comes to Province-House for no
thing."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


129


"A good-night to you, my old comrade," said
Lionel, walking away; "'tis probably some con.
sultation concerning the new exercises that you
practise."
The grenadier shook his head, as if unconcerned,
and resumed his march with his customary steadiness. A very few minutes now brought Lionel
before the low door of Abigail Pray, where he
again stopped, struck with the contrast between
the gloomy, dark, and unguarded threshold over
which he was about to pass, and the gay portal he
had just left.  Urged, however, by his feelings
the young man paused but a moment before he
tapped lightly for admission. After repeating his
summons, and hearing no reply, he lifted the latch,
and entered the building without further ceremony. The large and vacant apartment, in which he
found himself, was silent and dreary as the still
streets he had quitted. Groping his way toward
the little room in the tower, where he had met the
mother of Job, as before related, Lionel found that
apartment also tenantless, and dark. He was turning, in disappointment, to quit the place, when a
feeble ray fell from the loft of the building, and
settled on the foot of a rude ladder which formed
the means'of communication with its upper apartments. Hesitating a single moment now to decide, he then yielded to his anxiety, and ascended
to the floor above, with steps as light as extreme
caution could render them. Like the basement,
the building was subdivided here, into a large,
open ware-room, and a small, rudely-finished
apartment in each of its towers. Following the
rays from a candle, he stood on the threshold of
one of these little rooms, in which he found the
'ndividual of whom he was in quest. The old man
was seated on the only broken chair which the





130


LIONEL LINCOLN.


loft contained, and before him, on the simple bun
die of straw which would seem, by the garments
thrown loosely over the pile, to be intended as his
place of rest, lay a large map, spread for inspection, which his glazed and sunken eyes appeared
to be intently engaged in marking. Lionel hesitated again, while he regarded the white hairs
which fell across the temples of the stranger, as he
bowed his head in his employment, imparting a
wild and melancholy expression to his remarkable
countenance, and seeming to hallow their possessor
by the air of great age and attendant care that
they imparted.
" I have come to seek you," the young man at
length said, " since you no longer deem me worthy of your care."
"c You come too late," returned Ralph, without
betraying the least emotion at the suddenness of
the interruption, or even raising his eyes from the
map he studied so intently; " too late at least to
avert calamity, if not to learn wisdom from its
lessons."
" You know, then, of the secret movements of
the night?"
" Old age, like mine, seldom sleeps," returned
Ralph, looking for the first time at his visiter;
" for the eternal night of death promises a speedy
repose.  I, too, served an apprenticeship in my
youth to your trade of blood."
" Your watchfulness and experience have then
detected the signs of preparation in the garrison?
Have they also discovered the objects, and probable consequences of the enterprise?"
" Both; Gage weakly thinks to crush the gerni
of liberty, which has already quickened in the land,
oy lopping its feeble branches, when it is rooted in
the hearts of the people. He thinks that bold





LIONEL LINCOLN.


131


thoughts can be humbled by the destruction of magazines."
" It is then only a measure of precaution that
he is about to take?"
The old man shook his head mournfully as he
answered" It will prove a measure of blood."
" I intend to accompany the detachment into the
country," said Lionel-" it will probably take post
at some little distance in the interior, and it will
afford me a fitting opportunity to make those inquiries which you know are so near my heart, and
in which you have promised to assist-it is to consult on the means, that I have now sought you."
The countenance of the stranger seemed to lose
its character of melancholy reflection, as Lionel
spoke, and his eyes moved, vacant and unmeaning,
over the naked rafters above him, passing in their
wanderings across the surface of the unheeded
map again, until they fell full upon the face of the
astonished youth, where they remained settled for
more than a minute, fixed in the glazed, riveted
look of death. The lips of Lionel had already
opened in anxious inquiry, when the expression
of life shot again into the features of Ralph, with
the suddenness, and with an appearance of the
physical reality with which light flashes from the
sun when emerging from a cloud.
"You are ill!" Lionel exclaimed.
" Leave me," said the old man, " leave me."
" Surely not at such a moment, and alone."
" I bid you leave me-we shall meet as you de
sire, in the country."
"You would then have me accompany the
troops, and expect your coming?"
" Both."
" Pardon me," said Lionel, dropping his eyes
9





132


LIONEL LINCOLN.


in embarrassment, and speaking with hesitation,
" but your present abode, and the appearance of
your attire, is an evidence that old age has come
upon you when you are not altogether prepared to
meet its sufferings.": You would offer me money?"
" By accepting it, I shall become the obliged
party."
" When my wants exceed my means, young
man, your offer shall be remembered. Go, now;
there is no time for delay."
" But I would not leave you alone; the woman,
the termagant, is better than none!"
" She is absent."
" And the boy-the changeling has the feelings
of humanity, and would aid you in extremity."
" He is better employed than in propping the
steps of a useless old man.-Go then, I entreat-I
command, sir, that you leave me."
The firm, if not haughty manner, in which the
other repeated his desire, taught Lionel that he
had nothing more to expect at present, and he
obeyed reluctantly, by slowly leaving the apartInent; and as soon as he had descended the ladder,
he began to retrace his steps towards his own quarters. In crossing the light draw-bridge thrown
over the narrow dock, already mentioned, his conlemplations were first disturbed by the sounds of
voices, at no great distance, apparently conversing
in tones that were not intended to be heard by
every ear. It was a moment when each unusual
incident was likely to induce inquiry, and Lionel,tc(-ped to examine two men, who, at a little distance, held their secret and suppressed communications. He had, however, paused but an instant.
when the whisperers separated; one walking leisurely up the centre of the square, entering undei





LIONEL LINCOLN.


133


one of the arches of the market-place, and the
other coming directly across the bridge on which
he himself was standing.
" What, Job, do I find you here, whispering and
plotting in the Dock-square!" exclaimed Lionel;
" what secrets can you have, that lequire the cover of night?"
" Job lives there, in the old ware'us'," said the
lad sullenly-" Nab has plenty of house-room,
now the king wont let the people bring in their
goods."
" But whither are you going? into the water?
surely the road to your bed cannot be through
the town dock."
" Nab wants fish to eat, as well as a ruff to keep
off the rain," said Job, "dropping lightly from the
bridge into a small canoe, which was fastened to
one of its posts, 1" and now the king has closed the
harbour, the fish have to come up in the dark; for
come they will; Boston fish an't to be shut out by
acts of Parliament!"
" Poor lad!" exclaimed Lionel, " return to youi
home and your bed; here is money to buy food
for your mother, if she suffers-you will draw a
shot from some of the sentinels by going about the
harbour thus at night."
' Job can see a ship farther than a ship can see
Job," returned the other; " and if they should
kill Job, they needn't think to shoot a Boston boy
without some stir."
Further dialogue was precluded; the canoe
gliding along the outer dock into the harbour, with
a stillness and swiftness that showed the idiot was
not ignorant of the business which he had undertaken. Lionel resumed his walk, and was passing
the head of the square, when he encountered, face
to face, under the light of a lamp, the man whose
12





134


LIONEL LINCOLN.


figure he had seen but a minute before to issue
from beneath the town-hall. A mutual desire to
ascertain the identity of each other drew them together.
" We meet again, Major Lincoln!" said the interesting stranger Lionel remembered to have seen
at the political meeting. " Our interviews appear
ordained to occur in secret places."
" And Job Pray would seem to be the presiding
spirit," returned the young soldier. " You parted
from him but now?"
" I trust, sir," said the stranger gravely, " that
this is not a land, nor have we fallen on times, when
and where an honest man dare not say that he has
spoken to whom he pleases."
" Certainly, sir, it is not for me to prohibit the
intercourse," returned Lionel. " You spoke of
our fathers; mine is well known to you, it would
seem, though to me you are a stranger."
" And may be so yet a little longer," said the
other, " though I think the time is at hand when
men will be known in their true characters; until
then, Major Lincoln, I bid you adieu."
Without waiting for any reply, the stranger took
a different direction from that which Lionel was
pursuing, and walked away with the swiftness of
one who was pressed with urgent business. Lionel
soon ascended into the upper part of the town,
with the intention of going into Tremont-street, to
communicate his design to accompany the expedition. It was now apparent to the young man, that
a rumour of the contemplated movement of the
troops was spreading secretly, but swiftly, among
the people. He passed several groups of earnest
and excited townsmen, conferring together at the
corners of the streets, from some of whom he overheard the startling intelligence that the neck, the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


135


only approach to the place by land, was closed by
a line of sentinels; and that guard-boats from the
vessels of war were encircling the peninsula in a
manner to intercept the communication with the
adjacent country. Still no indications of a military
alarm could be discovered, though, at times, a stifled hum, like the notes of busy preparation, was
borne along by the damp breezes of the night, and
mingled with those sounds of a spring evening,
which increased as he approached the skirts of the
dwellings. In Tremont-street Lionel found no appearance of that excitement, which was spreading
so rapidly in the old and lower parts of the town.
He passed into his own room without meeting any
of the family, and having completed his brief arrangements, he was descending to inquire for his
kinswomen, when the voice of Mrs. Lechmere,
proceeding from a small apartment, appropriated to
her own use, arrested his steps. Anxious to take
leave in person, he approached the half-open door,
and would have asked permission to enter, had not
his eye rested on the person of Abigail Pray, who
was in earnest conference with the mistress of the
mansion.
"A man aged, and poor, say you?" observed
Mrs. Lechmere, at that instant.
"' And one that seems to know all," interrupted
Abigail, glancing her eyes about with an expression of superstitious terror.
" All!" echoed Mrs. Lechmere, her lip trembling more with apprehension than age; "and he
arrived with Major Lincoln, say you?"
" In the same ship; and it seems that heaven
has ordained that he shall dwell with me in my
poverty, as a punishment for my great sins!"
" But why do you tolerate his presence, if it be





136


LIONEL LINCOLN.


irksome," said Mrs. Lechmere; " you are at least
the mistress of your own dwelling."
" It has pleased God that my home shall be the
home of any who are so miserable as to need one.
He has the same right to live in the warehouse that
I have."
" You have the rights of a woman, and of first
possession," said Mrs. Lechmere, with that unyielding severity of manner that Lionel had often
observed before; "I would turn him into the street,
like a dog."
" Into the street!" repeated Abigail, again
looking about her in secret terror; " speak lower,
Madam Lechmere, for the love of heaven-I dare
not even look at him-h.e reminds me of all I have
ever known, and of all the evil I have ever done,
by his scorching eye-and yet I cannot tell whyand then Job worships him as a god, and if I should
offend him, he could easily worm from the child
all that you and I wish so much-"
" How!" exclaimed Mrs. Lechmere, in a voice
husky with horror, " have you been so base as to
make a confidant of that fool?"
" That fool is the child of my bosom," said Abigail, raising her hands, as if imploring pardon for
the indiscretion.-" Ah! Madam Lechmere, you,
who are rich, and great, and happy, and have such
a sweet and sensible grandchild, cannot know how
to love one like Job; but when the heart is loaded
and heavy, it throws its burden on any that will
bear it; and Job is my child, though he is but little
better than an idiot!"
It was by no trifling exertion of his breeding
that Lionel was enabled to profit by the inability
of Mrs. Lechmere to reply, and to turn away from
the spot, and cease to listen to a conversation that





LIONEL LINCOLN.


137


was not intended for his ear. He ieached the
parlour, and threw himself on one of its settees, before he was conscious that he was no longer alone
or unobserved.
't What! Major Lincoln returned from  his
revels thus early, and armed like a bandit, to his
teeth!" exclaimed the playful voice of Cecil Dy
nevor, who, unheeded, was in possession of the opposite seat, when he entered the room.
Lionel started, and rubbed his forehead, like a
man awaking from a dream, as he answered---
" Yes, a bandit, or any other opprobrious name
you please; I deserve them all."
" Surely;" said Cecil, turning pale, " none other
dare use such language of Major Lincoln, and he
does it unjustly!"
" What foolish nonsense have I uttered, Miss
Dynevor?" cried Lionel, recovering his recollection; I was lost in thought, and heard your language without comprehending its meaning."
" Still you are armed; a sword is not a usual
instrument at your side, and now you bear even
pistols!"
" Yes," returned the young soldier, laying aside
his dangerous implements; ' yes, I am about to
march as a volunteer, with a paity that go into the
country to-night, and I take these because I would
affect something very warlike, though you well
know how peaceably I am disposed."
" March into the country-and in the dead of
night!" said Cecil, catching her breath, and turning pale-" And does Lionel Lincoln volunteer on
such a duty?"
" I volunteer to perform no other duty than tc
be a witness of whatever may occur-you are not
more ignorant yourself of the nature of the expedition than I am at this moment."
12*





138


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Then remain where you are," said Cecil firmly, " and enlist not in an enterprise that may
be unholy in its purposes and disgraceful in its
results."
" Of the former I am innocent, whatever they
may be- nor will they be affected by my presence
or absence. There is little danger of disgrace in
accompanying the grenadiers and light-infantry of
this army, Miss Dynevor, though it should be
against treble their numbers of chosen troops."
" Then it would seem," said Agnes Danforth,
speaking as she entered the room, " that our
friend Mercury, that feather of a man, Captain
Polwarth, is to be one of these night depredators!
heaven shield the hen-roosts!"
" You have then   heard the   intelligence,
Agnes?"
"I have heard that men are arming, and that
boats are rowing round the town in all directions,
and that it is forbidden to enter or quit Boston, as
we were wont to do, Cecil, at such hours and in
such fashion as suited us plain Americans," said
Agnes, endeavouring to conceal her deep vexation
in affected irony-" God only can tell in what all
these oppressive measures will end."
" If you go only as a curious spectator of the depredations of the troops," continued Cecil, " are
you not wrong to lend them even the sanction of
your name?"
" I have yet to learn that there will be depredations."
"You forget, Cecil," interrupted Agnes Danforth, scornfully, " that Major Lincoln did not arrive until after the renowned march from Roxbury
to Dorchester! Then the troops gathered their
laurels under the face of the sun; but it is easy





LIONEL LINCOLN.


139


to conceive how much more glorious their achievements will become when darkness shall conceal
their blushes!"
The blood rushed across the fine features of
Lionel, but he laughed as he arose to depart,
saying" You compel me to beat the retreat, my spirited coz. If I have my usual fortune in this forage,
your larder, however, shall be the better for it. I
kiss my hand to you, for it would be necessary to
lay aside the scarlet, to dare to approach with a
more peaceable offering. But here I may make
an approach to something like amity."
He took the hand of Cecil, who frankly met
his offer, and insensibly suffered herself to be led
to the door of the building while he continued
speaking.
" I would, Lincoln, that you were not to go,"
she said, when they stopped on the threshold"it is not required of you as a soldier; and as a
man your own feelings should teach you to be ten
der of your countrymen."
'I It is as a man that I go, Cecil," he answered;
"' I have motives that you cannot suspect."
" And is your absence.to be long?"
" If not for days, my object will be unaccomplished;" but he added, pressing her hand gently,
" you cannot doubt my willingness to return when
occasion may offer."
C Go, then," said Cecil, hastily, and perhaps unconsciously extricating herself-" go, if you have
secret reasons for your conduct; but remember
that the acts of every officer of your rank are
keenly noted."
" Do you then distrust me, Cecil?"
"No-no--I distrust no one, Major Lincoln




140            LIONEL LINCOLN.
go--go-and--and-we shall see you, Lionel, the
instant you return."
He had not time to reply, for she glided into
the building so rapidly as to give the young man
an opportunity only to observe, that, instead of rejoining her cousin, her light form passed up the
great stairs with the swiftness and grace of a fairy





CHAPTER IX


" Hang out our banners on the outward walls:
" The cry is still, They come "
Nlacbeth
LIONEL had walked from the dwelling of Mrs.
Lechmere to the foot of Beacon-Hill, and had even
toiled up some part of the steep ascent, before he
recollected why he was thus wandering by himself
at that unusjal hour. Hearing, however, no sounds
that denoted an immediate movement of the troops,
he then yielded, unconsciously, to the nature of his
sensations, which just at that moment rendered his
feelings jealous of communication with others, and
continued to ascend until he gained the summit of
the eminence. From this elevated stand he paused
to contemplate the scene which lay in the obscurity of night at his feet, while his thoughts returned from the flattering anticipations in which he
had been indulging, to consider the more pressing
business of the hour. There arose from the town
itself a distant buzzing, like the hum of suppressed
agitation, and lights were seen to glide along the
streets, or flit across the windows, in a manner
which denoted that a knowledge of the expedition
had become general within its dwellings. Lionel
turned his head toward the common, and listened





142


LIONEL LINCOLN.


long and anxiously, but in vain, to detect a single
sound that could betray any unusual stir among
the soldiery. Towards the interior, the darkness
of night had fallen heavily, dimming the amphitheatre of hills that encircled the place, and enshrouding the vales and lowlands between them
and the water with an impenetrable veil of gloom
There were moments, indeed, when he imagined
he overheard some indications among the people
of the opposite shore, that they were apprized ot
the impending descent; but on listening more attentively, the utmost of which his ear could assure
him, was the faint lowing of cattle from the meadows, or the plash of oars from a line of boats,
which, by stretching far along the shores, told both
the nature and the extent of the watchfulness that
was deemed necessary for the occasion.
While Lionel stood thus, on the margin of the
little platform of earth, that had been formed by
levelling the apex of the natural cone, musing on
the probable results of the measure his superiors
had been resolving to undertake, a dim light shed
itself along the grass, and glancing upward, danced
upon the beacon with strong and playful rays.
" Scoundrel!" exclaimed a man, springing from
his place of concealment, at the foot of the post,
and encountering him face to face, " do you dare
to fire the beacon?"
" I would answer, by asking how you dare to
apply so rude an epithet to me, did I not see the
cause of your error," said Lionel. "The light is
from yonder moon, which is just emerging from
the ocean."
"Ah! I see my error," returned his rough assailant.-" By heavens, I would have sworn at first,
'twas the beacon."
" You must then believe in the traditional witch




LIONEL LINCOLN.


143


craft of this country; for nothing short of necromancy could have enabled me to light those combustibles at this distance."
" I don't know; 'tis a strange people we have
got amongst-they stole the cannon from the gunhouse here, a short time since, when I would have
said the thing was impossible. It was before your
arrival, sir; for I now believe I address myself to
Major Lincoln, of the 47th."
" You are nearer the truth, this time, than in
your first conjecture as to my character," said Lionel; " but have I met one of the gentlemen of
our mess?"
The stranger now explained that he was a subaltern in a different regiment, but that he well
knew the person of the other. He added that he
had been ordered to watch on the hill to prevent
any of the inhabitants lighting the beacon, or
making any other signal which might convey into
the country a knowledge of the contemplated inroad.
" This matter wears a more serious aspect than
I had supposed," returned Lionel, when the young
man had ended his apologies and explanation;
" the commander-in-chief must intend more than
we are aware of, by employing officers in this
manner, to do the duties of privates."
" We poor subs know but little, and care less
what he means," cried the ensign; " though I will
acknowledge, that I can see no sufficient reason
why British troops should put on coats of darkness
to march against a parcel of guessing, canting,
countrymen, who would run at the sight of their
uniforms under a bright sun. Had I my will, the
tar above us, there, should blaze a mile high, to
bring down the heroes from Connecticut river;
the dogs would cow before two full companies of





144


LIONEL LINCOLN.


grenadiers-ha! listen, sir; there they go, now,
the pride of our army  I know them by their
heavy tread."
Lionel did listen attentively, and plainly distinguished the measured step of a ody of disciplined
men, moving rapidly across the common, as it
marching towards the water-side. Hastily bidding
his companion good-night, he threw himself over
the brow of the hill, and taking the direction of the
sounds, he arrived at the shore at the same instant
with the troops. Two dark masses of human bodies were halted in order, and as Lionel skirted
the columns, his experienced eye judged that the
force collected before him could be but little short
of a thousand men. A group of officers was clustered on the beach, and he approached it, rightly
supposing that it was gathered about the leader of
the party. This officer proved to be the lieutenant-colonel of the 10th, who was in close conversation with the old major of marines, alluded to by
the sentinel who stood before the gates of ProvinceHouse. To the former of these the young soldier
addressed himself, demanding leave to accompany
the detachment as a volunteer. After a few words
of explanation, his request was granted, though
eacn forbore to touch in the slightest manner on
the secret objects of the expedition.
Lionel now found his groom, who had followed
the troops with his master's horses, and, after giv
ing his orders to the man, he proceeded in quest
of his friend Polwarth, whom he soon discovered,.
posted in all the stiffness of military exactness, at
the head of the leading platoon of the column of
light-infantry. As it was apparent, both from the
position they occupied, as well as by the boats that
had been collected at the point, that the detachment was not to leave the peninsula by its ordinary





LIONEL LINCOLN.


14b


channel of communication with the country, there
remained no alternative but to await patiently the
order to embark. The delay was but short, and,
as the most perfect order was observed, the troops
were soon seated, nd the boats pulled heavily
from the land, just as the rays of the moon, which
had been some time playing among the hills, and
gilding the spires of the town, diffused themselves
softly over the bay, and lighted the busy scene,
with an effect not unlike the sudden rising of the
curtain at the opening of some interesting drama.
Polwarth had established himself by the side of
Lionel, much to the ease of his limbs, and as they
moved slowly into the light, all those misgivings
which had so naturally accompanied his musings
on the difficulties of a partisan irruption, vanished
before the loveliness of the time, and possibly before the quietude of the action.
" There are moments when I could fancy the
life of a sailor," he said, leaning indolently back,
and playing with one hand in the water. " This
pulling about in boats is easy work, and must be
capital assistance for a heavy digestion, inasmuch
as it furnishes air with as little violent exercise as
may be. Your marine should lead a merry life of
it!"
" They are said to murmur at the clashing of
their duties with those of the sea-officers," said
Lionel; " and I have often heard them complain
of a want of room to make use of their legs."
'" Humph!" ejaculated Polwarth; " the leg is
a part of a man for which I see less actual necessity than for any other portion of his frame. I often
think there has been a sad mistake in the formation
of the animal; as, for instance, one can be a very
good waterman, as you see, without legs-a good
fiddler, a first-rate tailor, a lawyer, a doctor, a par
l ()





146


1LIONEL LINCOLN.


son, a very tolerable cook, and, in short, any thing
but a dancing master. I see no use in a leg unless
it be to have the gout-at any rate, a leg of twelve
inches is as good as one a mile long, and the saving
might be appropriated to the "nobler parts of the
animal; such as the brain and the stomach."
11 You forget the officer of light-infantry," said
Lionel, laughing.
"' You might give him a couple of inches more;
though, as every thing in this wicked world is excellent only by comparison, it would amount to the
same thing, and on my system a man would be
just as fit for the light-infantry without, as with
legs; and he would get rid of a good deal of troublesome manCeuvring, especially of this new exercise. It would then become a delightful service,
Leo; for it may be said to monopolize all the poetry of military life, as you may see. Neither the
imagination nor the body can require more than
we enjoy at this moment, and of what use, I would
ask, are our legs? if any thing, they are incumbrances in this boat. Here we have a soft moon,
and softer seats-smooth water, and a stimulating
air-on one side a fine country, which, though but
faintly seen, is known to be fertile and rich to
abundance; and on the other a picturesque town,
stored with the condiments of every climate-even
those rascally privates look mellowed by the moonbeams, with their scarlet coats and glittering arms!
Did you meet Miss Danforth in your visit to Tremont-street, Major Lincoln?"
" That pleasure was not denied me."
" Knew she of these martial proceedings?"
" There was something exceedingly belligerant
in her humour."
" Spoke she of the light-infantry, or of any who
serve in the light corps?"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


147


" Your name was certainly mentioned," returned Lionel, a little dryly-" she intimated that the
hen-roosts were in danger."
" Ah! she is a girl of a million! her very acids
are sweet! the spices were not forgotten when the
dough of her composition,was mixed; would that
she were here-five minutes of moonshine to a
man in love is worth a whole summer of a broiling
sun-'twould be a master-stroke to entice her into
one of our picturesque marches; your partisan is
the man to take every thing by surprise-women
and fortifications! Where now are your companies of the line; your artillery and dragoons; your
engineers and staff! night-capped and snoring to a
man, while we enjoy here the very dessert of existence-I wish I could hear a nightingale!"
" You have a solitary whip-poor-will whistling
his notes, as if in lamentation at our approach."
" Too dolorous, and by far too monotonous; 'tis
like eating pig for a month. But why are our fifes
asleep?"
" The precautions of a whole day should hardly
be defeated by the tell-tale notes of our music,"
said Lionel; " your spirits get the better of your
discretion. I should think the prospect of a fa
tiguing march would have lowered your vein."
" A fico for fatigue!" exclaimed Polwarth" we only go out to take a position at the colleges
to cover our supplies-we are for school, Leoonly fancy the knapsacks of the men to be satchels,
-humour my folly,-and you may believe yourself once more a boy."
The spirits of Polwarth had indeed undergone a
sudden change, when he found the sad anticipations which crossed his mind on first hearing of a
night inroad, so agreeably disappointed by the
comfortable situation he occupied; and he conti10





148


LIONEL LINCOLN.


nued conversing in the manner described, until the
boats reached an unfrequented point that projected
a little way into that part of the Bay, which washed the western side of the peninsula of Boston.
Here the troops landed, and were again formed,vith all possible despatch. The company of Polwarth was posted, as before, at the head of the
column of light-infantry; and an officer of the staff
riding a short distance in front, it was directed to
follow his movements. Lionel ordered his groom
to take the route of the troops with the horses, and
placing himself once more by the side of the captain, they proceeded at the appointed signal.
" Now for the shades of old Harvard!" said
Polwarth, pointing towards the humble buildings
of the university; " you shall feast this night on
reason, while I will make a more sub-ha! what
can that blind quarter-master mean by taking this
direction! Does he not see that the meadows are
half covered with water!"
" Move on, move on with the light-infantry,"
cried the stern voice of the old major of marines,
who rode but a short distance in their rear. " Do
you falter at the sight of water!"
" We are not wharf-rats," said Polwarth.
Lionel seized him by the arm, and before the
disconcerted captain had time to recollect himself
he was borne through a wide pool of stagnant wa
ter, mid-leg deep.
" Do not let your romance cost your commission,' said the major, as Polwarth floundered out
of his difficulties; " here is an incident at once for
your private narrative of the campaign."
" Ah! Leo," said the captain, with a sort of
comical sorrow, " I fear we are not to court the
muses by this hallowed moon to-night!"
" You can assure yourself of that, by observing





LIONEL LINCOLN.


149


that we leave the academical roofs on our leftour leaders take the high-way."
They had by this time extricated themselves
from the meadows, and were moving on a road
which led into the interior.
" You had better order up your groom, and
mount, Major Lincoln," said Polwarth, sullenly;
" a man need husband his strength, I see."
"'Twould be folly now; I am wet, and must
walk for safety."
With the departure of Polwarth's spirits the
conversation began to flag, and the gentlemen continued their march with only such occasional communications as arose from the passing incidents of
their situation. It very soon became apparent,
both by the direction given to the columns, as well
as by the hurried steps of their guide, that the
march was to be forced, as well as of some length.
But as the air was getting cool, even Polwarth was
not reluctant to warm his chilled blood by more
than ordinary exertion. The columns opened for
the sake of ease, and each man was permitted
to consult his own convenience, provided he preserved his appointed situation, and kept even pace
with his comrades. In this manner the detachment advanced swiftly, a general silence pervading
the whole, as the spirits of the men settled into
that deep sobriety which denotes much earnestness of purpose. At first, the whole country appeared buried in a general sleep; but as they proceeded, the barking of the dogs, and the tread of
the soldiery, drew the inhabitants of the farm--
houses to their windows, who gazed in mute won
der at the passing spectacle, across which the mellow light of the moon cast a glow of brilliancy.
Lionel had turned his head from studying the surprise depicted in the faces of the members of one
13 *





150


LIONEL LINCOLN.


of these disturbed families, when the deep tones
of a distant church-bell came sweeping down the
valley in which they marched, ringing peal on
peal, in the quick, spirit-stirring sounds of an alarm.
The men raised their heads in wondering attention, as they advanced; but it was not long before
the reports of fire-arms were heard echoing among
the hills, and bell began to answer bell in every
direction, until the sounds blended with the murmurs of the night air, or were lost in distance.
The whole country was now filled with every organ of sound that the means of the people furnished, or their ingenuity could devise, to call the population to arms. Fires blazed along the heights,
the bellowing of the conchs and horns mingled
with the rattling of the muskets and the varied
tones of the bells, while the swift clattering of
horses' hoofs began to be heard, as if their riders
were dashing furiously along the flanks of the
party.
" Push on, gentlemen, push on," shouted the
old veteran of marines, amid the din. " The Yankees have awoke, and are stirring-we have yet a
long road to journey-push on, light-infantry, the
grenadiers are on your heels!"
The advance quickened their steps, and the
whole body pushed for their unknown object with
as much rapidity as the steadiness of military array would admit. In this manner the detachment
continued to proceed for some hours, without halting, and Lionel imagined that they had advanced
several leagues into the country. The sounds of
the alarm had now passed away, having swept far
inland, until the faintest evidence of its existence
was lost to the ear, though the noise of horsemen,
riding furiously along the by-ways, yet denoted
that men were still hurrying past them, to the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


scene of the expected strife. As the deceitful light
of the moon was blending with the truer colours
of the day, the welcome sound of' Halt!' was passed from the rear up to the head of the column of
light-infantry.
"Halt!" repeated Polwarth, with instinctive
readiness, and with a voice that sent the order
through the whole length of their extended line;
" halt, and let the rear close; if my judgment in
walking be worth so much as an anchovy, they
are some miles behind us, by this time! A man
needs to have crossed his race with the blood of
Flying Childers for this sort of work! The next
command should be to break our fasts-Tom, you
brought the trifles I sent you from Major Lincoln's
quarters?"
" Yes, sir," returned his man;" they are on
the major's horses, in the rear, as-"
" The major's horses in the rear, you ass, when
food is in such request in the front! I wonder,
Leo, if a mouthful couldn't be picked up in yon
farm-house?"
" Pick yourself off that stone, and make the men
diess; here is Pitcairn closing to the front with
the whole battalion."
Lionel had hardly spoken before an order was
passed to the light-infantry to look to their arms,
and for the grenadiers to prime and load. The
presence of the veteran who rode in front of the
column, and the hurry of the moment, suppressed
the complaints of Polwarth, who was in truth an
excellent officer, as it respected what he himself
termed the 'quiescent details of service.' Three
or four companies of the light-corps were detached from the main body, and formed in the open
marching order of their exercise, when the old
marine, placing himself at their head, gave forth the





152


LIONEL LINCOLN.


order to advance again at a quick step. The road
now led into a vale, and at some distance a simal
hamlet of houses was dimly seen through the
morning haze, clustered around one of the humble,
but decent temples, so common in Massachusetts.
The halt, and the brief preparations that succeeded, had excited a powerful interest in the whole
of the detachment, who pushed earnestly forward,
keeping on the heels of the charger of their veteran leader, as he passed over the ground at a small
trot. The air partook of the scent of morning,
and the eye was enabled to dwell distinctly on surrounding objects, quickening, aided by the excitement of the action, the blood of the men who had
been toiling throughout the night in uncertain obscurity along an unknown, and, apparently, interminable road. Their object now seemed before
them and attainable, and they pressed forward to
achieve it in animated but silent earnestness.
The plain architecture of the church and of its
humble companions had just become distinct, when
three or four armed horsemen were seen attempting to anticipate their arrival, by crossing the head
of the column, from a by-path.
" Come in," cried an officer of the staff m front,
" come in, or quit the place."
The men turned, and rode briskly off, one of
their party flashing his piece in a vain attempt to
give the alarm. A low mandate was now passed
through the ranks to push on, and in a few momonts they entered on a full view of the hamlet,
the church, and the little green on which it stood.
The forms of men were seen moving swiftly across
the latter, as a roll of a drum broke from the spot
and there were glimpses of a small body of countrymen, drawn up in the affectation of military
parade





LIONEL LINCOLN.


153


" Push on, light-infantry!" cried their leader,
spurring his horse, and advancing with the staff at
so brisk a trot, as to disappear round an angle of
the church.
Lionel pressed forward with a beating heart,
for a crowd of horrors rushed across his imagination at the moment, when the stern voice of the
major of marines was again heard, shouting" Disperse, ye rebels, disperse!-throw down
your arms, and disperse!"
These memorable words were instantly followed by the reports of pistols, and the fatal mandate
of' Fire!' when a loud shout arose from the whole
oody of the soldiery, who rushed upon the open
green, and threw in a close discharge on all before
them.
" Great God!" exclaimed Lionel, " what is it
ye do? ye fire at unoffending men! is there no
law but force! beat up their pieces, Polwarthstop their fire."
" Halt!" cried Polwarth, brandishing his sword
fiercely among his men; c come to an order, or I'll
fell ye to the earth."
But the excitement which had been gathering
to a head for so many hours, and the animosity
which had so long been growing between the
troops and the people, were not to be repressed at
a word. It was only when Pitcairn himself rode
in among the soldiers, and, aided by his officers,
beat down their arms, that the uproar was gradually quelled, and something like order was again
restored. Before this was effected, however, a
few scattering shot were thrown back from their
flying adversaries, though without material injury
to the British.
When the firing had ceased, officers and men
stood gazing at each other for a few moments, as





154


LIONEL LINCOLN.


if even they could foresee some of the mighty
events which were to follow the deeds of that hour.
The smoke slowly arose, like a lifted veil, from the
green, and, mingling with the fogs of morning,
drove heavily across the country, as if to communicate the fatal intelligence that the final appeal to
arms had been made. Every eye was bent inquiringly on the fatal green, and Lionel beheld,
with a feeling allied to anguish, a few men at a distance, writhing and struggling in their wounds,
while some five or six bodies lay stretched upon
the grass in the appalling quiet of death. Sickening at the sight, he turned, and walked away by
himself, while the remainder of the troops, alarmed by the reports of the arms, were eagerly pressing up from the rear to join their comrades. Unwittingly he approached the church, nor did he
awake from the deep abstraction into which he
had fallen, until he was aroused by the extraordinary spectacle of Job Pray, issuing from the edifice with an air in which menace was singularly
blended with resentment and feat. The changeling pointed earnestly to the body of a man, who,
having been wounded, had crept for refuge near
to the door of the temple, in which he had so often
worshipped that Being, to whom he had been thus
hurriedly sent to render his last and great account,
and said solemnly" You have killed one of God's creatures; and
he'll remember it!"
" I would it were one only," said Lionel; " but
they are many, and none can tell where the carnage is to cease."'
' Do you think," said Job, looking furtively
around to assure himself that no other overheard
him, " that the king can kill men in the Bay colony as he can in London? They'll take this up in





LIONEL LINCOLN


155


old Funnel, and 'twill ring again, from the North
End to the Neck."
"' What can they do, boy, after all," said Lionel, forgetting at the moment that he whom he addressed had been denied the reason of his kind"' the power of Britain is too mighty for these scattered and unprepared colonies to cope with, and
prudence would tell the people to desist from resistance while yet they may."
" Does the king believe there is more prudence
in London than there is in Boston?" returned the
simpleton; " he needn't think, because the people
were quiet at the massacre, therell be no stir about
this-you have killed one of God's creatures,"
added the lad, " and he'll remember it!"
" How came you here, sirrah?" demanded Li.
onel, suddenly recollecting himself; " did you not
tell me that you were going out to fish for your
mother?"
" And if I did," returned the other, sullenly,
" an't there fish in the ponds as well as in the bay,
and can't Nab have a fresh taste?-Job don't know
there is any act of Parliament ag'in taking brook
trout."
" Fellow, you are attempting to deceive me!
Some one is practising on your ignorance, and,
knowing you to be a fool, is employing you on er.
rands that may one day cost your life."
" The king can't send Job on a'r'nds," said the
lad, proudly; " for there is no law for it, and Job
wont go."
" Your knowledge will undo you, simpletonwho should teach you these niceties of the law?"
" Why, do you think the Boston people so
dumb as not to know the law?" asked Job, with
unfeigned astonishment-" and Ralph, too-he
knows as much law as the king-he told me it was





156


LIONEL LINCOLN.;tg'in all law to shoot at the minute-men, unless
they fired first, because the colony has a right to
train whenever it pleases."
" Ralph!" said Lionel, eagerly-" can Ralph
be with you, then! 'tis impossible; I left him ill,
and at home-neither would he mingle in such a
business as this, at his years."
" I expect Ralph has seen bigger armies than
the light-infantry, and grannies, and all the soldiers left in town put together," said Job, evasively.
Lionel was far too generous to practise on the
simplicity of his companion, with a view to extract
any secret which might endanger his liberty, but
he felt a deep concern in the welfare of a young
man, who had been thrown in his way in the manner already related. He therefore pursued the
subject, with the double design to advise Job
against any dangerous connexions, and to relieve
his own anxiety on the subject of the aged stranger. But to all his interrogatories the lad answered guardedly, and with a discretion which denoted
that he possessed no small share of cunning, though
a higher order of intellect had been denied him.
" I repeat to you," said Lionel, losing his patience, " that it is important for me to meet the
man you call Ralph in the country, and I wish to
know if he is to be seen near here."
'" Ralph scorns a lie," returned Job-" go where
he promised to meet you, and see if he don't
come."
" But no place was named-and this unhappy
event may embarrass him, or frighten him-"
" Frighten him!" repeated Job, shaking his
head with solemn earnestness; " you can't frighten
Ralph!"
" His daring may prove his misfortune. Boy.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


157


I ask you for the last time whether the old
man-"
Perceiving Job to shrink back timidly, and lower
in his looks, Lionel paused, and casting a glance
behind him, beheld the captain of gienadiers standing with folded arms, silently contemplating the
body of the American.
" Will you have the goodness to explain to me,
Major Lincoln," said the captain, when he perceived himself observed, " why this man lies here
(lead?"
You see the wound in his breast?"
" It is a palpable and baistly truth, that he has
been shot-but why, or with what design?"
" I must leave that question to be answered by
our superiors, Captain M'Fuse," returned Lionel.
" It is, however, rumoured that the expedition is
out to seize certain magazines of provisions and
arms, which the colonists have been collecting, it
is feared, with hostile intentions."
" I had my own sagacious thoughts that we were
bent on some such glorious errand!" said M'Fuse,
with strong contempt expressed in his hard features. " Tell me, Major Lincoln-you are certainly but a young soldier, though, being of the
staff, you should know-does Gage think we can
have a war with the arms and ammunition all on
one side? We have had a long p'ace, Major Lincoln, and now, when there is a small prospect of
some of the peculiarities of our profession arising,
we are commanded to do the very thing which is
most likely to def'ate the object of war."
" I do not know that I rightly understand you,
sir," said Lionel; " there can be but little glory
gained by such troops as we possess, in a contest
with the unarmed and undisciplined inhabitants of
any country."
14





158


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Exactly my maining, sir; it is quite obvious
that we understand ea.h other thoroughly, without
a world of circumlocution. The lads are doing very
well at present, and if left to themselves a few
months longer, it may become a creditable affair.
You know, as well as I do, Major Lincoln, that
time is necessary to make a soldier, and if they
are hurried into the business, you might as well be
chasing a mob up Ludgate hill, for the honour you
will gain. A discrate officer would nurse this little matter, instead of resorting to such precipitation. To my id'a'a's, sir, the man before us has
been butchered, and not slain in honourabei
battle!"
" There is much reason to fear that others may
use the same term in speaking of the affair," returned Lionel; " God knows how much cause we
may have to lament the death of the poor man!"
"On that topic, the man may be said to have
gone through a business that was to be done, and
is not to be done over again," said the captain, very
coolly, " and therefore his death can be no very
great calamity to himself, whatever it may be to
us. If these minute-men-and, as they stand but a
minute, they 'am their name like worthy fellowsif these minute-men, sir, stood in your way, you
should have whipped them from the green with
your ramrods."
" Here is one who may tell you that they are
not to be treated like children either,' said Lionel, turning to the place which had been so recently occupied by Job Pray, but which, to his surprise, he now found vacant. While he was yet
looking around him, wondering whither the lad
could so suddenly have withdrawn, the drums beat
the signal to form, and a general bustle among the
soldiery showed them to be on the eve of further





LIONEL LINCOLN.


159


movements. The two gentlemen instantly rejoined their companions, walking thoughtfully towards
the troops, though influenced by such totally different views of the recent transactions.
During the short halt of the advance, the whole
detachment was again united, and a hasty meal
had been taken. The astonishment which succeeded the rencontre, had given place, among the
officers, to a military pride, capable of sustaining
them in much more arduous circumstances. Even
the ardent looks of professional excitement were
to be seen in most of their countenances, as with
glittering arms, waving banners, and timing theii
march to the enlivening music of their band, they
wheeled from the fatal spot, and advanced again,
with proud and measured steps, along the highway.
If such was the result of the first encounter on the
lofty and tempered spirits of the gentlemen of the
detachment, its effect on the common hirelings in
the ranks, was still more palpable and revolting.
Their coarse jests, and taunting looks, as they
moved by the despised victims of their disciplined
skill, together with the fierce and boastful expression of brutal triumph, which so many among them
betrayed, exhibited the infallible evidence, that
having tasted of blood, they were now ready, like
tigers, to feed on it till they were glutted.





CHAPTER X.


" There was mounting 'mong Grames of the Netherby clan;
" Fosters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran;
" There was racing, and chasing, on Cannobie Lea.-"
JMarmsn.
THE pomp of military parade, with which the
troops marched from the village of Lexington, as
the little, hamlet was called, where the foregoing
events occurred, soon settled again into the sober
and business-like air of men earnestly bent on the
achievement of their object. It was no longer a
secret that they were to proceed two leagues further into the interior, to destroy the stores already
mentioned, and which were now known to be collected at Concord, the town where the Congress
of Provincial Delegates, who were substituted by
the colonists for the ancient legislatures of the province, held their meetings. As the march could
not now be concealed, it became necessary to resort to expedition, in order to ensure its successful termination. The veteran officer of marines,
so often mentioned, resumed his post in front, and
at the head of the same companies of the light
corps, which he had before led, pushed in advance
of the heavier column of the grenadiers. Polwarth, by this arrangement, perceived himself
again included among those, on whose swiftness of





LIONEL LINCOLN.


161


foot so much depended. When Lionel rejoined
his friend, he found him at the head of his men.
marching with so grave an air, as at once induced
the major to give him credit for regrets much more
commendable than such as were connected with
his physical distress. The files were once more
opened for room, as well as for air, which was becoming necessary, as a hot sun began to dissipate
the mists of the morning, and shed that enervating
influence on the men, so peculiar to the first
warmth of an American spring.
" This has been a hasty business altogether, Major Lincoln," said Polwarth, as Lionel took his
wonted station at the side of the other, and dropped mechanically into the regular step of the party
-" I know not that it is quite as lawful to knock
a man in the head as a bullock."
" You then agree with me in thinking our attack hasty, if not cruel?'
C" Hasty! most unequivocally. Haste may be
called the distinctive property of the expedition;
and whatever destroys the appetite of an honest
man, may be set down as cruel. I have not been
able to swallow a mouthful of breakfast, Leo. A
man must have the cravings of a hyena, and the
stomach of an ostrich, to eat and digest with such
work as this of ours before his eyes."'
" And yet the men regard their acts with
triumph!"
' The dogs are drilled into it. But you saw
how sober the Provincials looked in the matter;
we must endeavour to soothe their feelings in the
best manner we can."
" Will they not despise our consolation and apologies, and look rather to themselves for redress
and vengeance?"
Polwarth smiled contemptuously, and there was
14 *





162


1LIONEL LINCOLN.


an air of pride about him that gave an appearance
of elasticity even to his heavy tread, as he answered" The thing is a bad thing, Major Lincoln, and,
if you will, a wicked thing-but take the assurance
of a man who knows the country well, there will
be no attempts at vengeance; and as for redress,
in a military way, the thing is impossible."
" You speak with a confidence, sir, that should
find its warranty in an intimate acquaintance with
the weakness of the people."
"C I have dwelt two years, Major Lincoln, in the
very heart of the country," said Polwarth, without turning his eyes from the steady gaze he main
tained on the long road which lay before him,
"even three hundred miles beyond the inhabited
districts; and I should know the character of the
nation, as well as its resources. In respect to the
latter, there is no esculent thing within its borders,
from a humming-bird to a buffalo, or from an artichoke to a water-melon, that I have not, on some
occasion or other, had tossed up, in a certain way
-therefore, I can speak with confidence, and do
not hesitate to say, that the colonists will never
fight; nor, if they had the disposition, do they possess the means to maintain a war."
"1 Perhaps, sir," returned Lionel sharply, "you
have consulted the animals of the country too
closely to be acquainted with its spirits?"
" The relation between them is intimate-tell
me what food a man diets on, and I will furnish
you with his character. 'Tis morally impossible
that a people who eat their pudding before the
meats, after the fashion of these colonists, can
ever make good soldiers, because the appetite is
appeased before the introduction of the succulent
nutriment of the flesh, into--"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


163


" Enough! spare me the remainder," interrupted Lionel-" too much has been said already to
prove the inferiority of the American to the European animal, and your reasoning is conclusive."
" Parliament must do something for the familier
of the sufferers."
" Parliament!" echoed Lionel, with bitter emphasis; " yes, we shall be called on to pass resolutions to commend the decision of the general,
and the courage of the troops; and then, after we
have added every possible insult to the injury, under the conviction of our imaginary supremacy,
we may hear of some paltry sum to the widows
and orphans cited as an evidence of the unbounded generosity of the nation!"
" The feeding of six or seven broods of young
Yankees is no such trifle, Major Lincoln," returned Polwarth; " and there I trust the unhappy affair will end. We are now marching on Concord,
a place with a most auspicious name, where we
shall find repose under its shadow, as well as the
food of this home-made parliament, which they
have gotten together. These considerations alone
support me under the fatigue of this direful trot
with which old Pitcairn goes over the grounddoes the man think he is hunting with a pack of
beagles at his heels!"
The opinion expressed by his companion, corcerning the martial propensities of the Americans,
was one too common among the troops to excite
any surprise in Lionel; but, disgusted with the illiberality of the sentiment, and secretly offended at
the supercilious manner with which the other expressed these injurious opinions of his countrymen,
he continued his route in silence, while Polwarth
speedily lost his loquacious propensity in a sense
11





164


LIONEL LINCOLN.


of the fatigue that assailed every muscle and joint
in his body.
That severe training of the corps, concerning
which the captain vented such frequent complaints, now stood the advance in good service.
It was apparent that the whole country was in a
state of high alarm, and small bodies of armed men
were occasionally seen on the heights that flanked
their route, though no attempts were made to revenge the deaths of those who fell at Lexington.
The march of the troops was accelerated rather
with a belief that the colonists might remove, oi
otherwise secrete the stores, than from any apprehension that they would dare to oppose the progress of the chosen troops of the army. The slight
resistance of the Americans in the rencontre of
that morning, was already a jest among the soldiers, who sneeringly remarked, that the term of
" minute-men" was deservedly applied to warriors
who had proved themselves so dexterous at flight.
In short, every opprobrious and disrespectful epithet, that contempt and ignorance could invent,
were freely lavished on the forbearing mildness of
the suffering colonists. In this temper the troops
reached a point whence the modest spire and roofs
of Concord became visible. A small body of the
colonists retired through the place as the English
advanced, and the detachment entered the town
without the least resistance, and with the appearance of conquerors. Lionel was not long in discovering from such of the inhabitants as remained,
that, notwithstanding their approach had been
known for some time, the events of that morning
were yet a secret from the people of the village.
Detachments from the light corps were immediate
ly sent in various directions; some to search for





LIONEL LINCOLN


165


the ammunition and provisions, and some to guard
the approaches to the place. One, in particular,
followed the retreating footsteps of the Americans.
and took post at a bridge, at some little distance,
which cut off the communication with the country
to the northward.
In the meantime, the work of destruction was
commenced in the town, chiefly under the superintendence of the veteran officer of the marines.
The few male inhabitants who remained in their
dwellings, were of necessity peaceable, though
Lionel could read, in their flushed cheeks and
gleaming eyes, the secret indignation of men, who,
accustomed to the protection of the law, now found
themselves subjected to the insults and wanton
abuses of a military inroad. Every door was flung
open, and no place was held sacred from the rude
scrutiny of the licentious soldiery. Taunts and
execrations soon mingled with the seeming noderation with which the search had commenced, and
loud exultation was betrayed, even among the officers, as the scanty provisions of the colonists were
gradually brought to light. It was not a moment
to respect private rights, and the freedom and ribaldry of the men were on the point of becoming
something more serious, when the report of firearms was heard suddenly to issue from the post
held by the light-infantry, at the bridge. A few
scattering shot were succeeded by a volley, which
was answered by another, with the quickness of
lightning, and then the air became filled with the
incessant rattling of a sharp conflict. Every arm
was suspended, and each tongue became mute with
astonishment, and the men abandoned their occupations as these unexpected sounds of war broke
on their ears. The chiefs of the party weie seen





166


LIONEL LINCOLN.


in consultation, and horsemen rode furiously:nto
the place, to communicate the nature of this new
conflict. The rank of Major Lincoln soon obtained for him a knowledge that it was thought impolitic to communicate to the whole detachment.
Notwithstanding it was apparent that they who
brought the intelligence were anxious to give it the
most favourable aspect, he soon discovered that the
same body of Americans, which had retired at their
approach, having attempted to return to their
homes in the town, had been fired on at the bridge,
and in the skirmish which succeeded, the troops
had been compelled to give way with loss. The
effect of this prompt and spirited conduct on the
part of the provincials produced a sudden alteration, not only in the aspect, but also in the proceedings of the troops. The detachments were
recalled, and the drums beat to arms, and, for the
first time, both officers and men seemed to recollect that they had six leagues to march through a
country that hardly contained a friend. Still few
or no enemies were visible, with the exception of
those men of Concord, who had already drawn
blood freely from the invaders of their domestic
sanctuaries. The dead, and all the common wounded, were left where they had fallen, and it was
thought an unfavourable omen among the observant of the detachment, that a wounded young
subaltern, of rank and fortune, was also abandoned
to the mercy of the exasperated Americans. The
privates caught the infection from their officers,
and Lionel saw, that in place of the high and insulting confidence, with which the troops had
wheeled into the streets of Concord, that they left
them, when the order was given to march, with
faces bent anxiously on the surrounding heights,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


I17


and with looks that bespoke a consciousness.f the
dangers that were likely to beset the long road
which lay before them.
Their apprehensions were not groundless. The
troops had hardly commenced their march before
volley was fired upon them from the protection
of a barn, and as they advanced, volley succeeded
volley, and musket answered musket from behind
every cover that offered to their assailants. At
first these desultory and feeble attacks were but
little regarded; a brisk charge, and a smart fire of
a few moments never failed to disperse their enemies, when the troops again proceeded for a short
distance unmolested. But the alarm of the preceding iight had gathered the people over an immense extent of country; and, having waited for
information, those nearest to the scene of action
were already pressing forward to the assistance of
their friends. There was but little order, and no
concert among the Americans; but each party, as
it arrived, pushed into the fri-ay, hanging on the
skirts of their enemies, or making spirited, though
ineffectual efforts to stop their progress. While the
men from the towns behind them pressed upon
their rear, the population in their front accumulated in bodies, like a rolling ball of snow, and before half the distance between Concord and Lexington was accomplished, Lionel perceived that
the safety of their boasted power was in extreme
jeopardy. During the first hour of these attacks,
while they were yet distant, desultory, and feeble,
the young soldier had marched by the side of
M'Fuse, who shook his head disdainfully whenever a shot whistled near him, and did not fail to
comment freely on the folly of commencing a war
thus prematurely, which, if properly nursed, might,





168


LIONEL LINCOLN.


to use his own words, " be in time brought to some
thing pretty and interesting."
"You perceive, Major Lincoln," he added,
"that these provincials have got the first elements
of the art, for the rascals fire with exceeding accuracy, when the distance is considered; and six
months or a year of close drilling would make
them good for something in a regular charge.
They have got a smart crack to their p'aces, and
a pretty whiz to their lead already; if they could
but learn to deliver their fire in platoons, the lads
might make some impression on the light-infantry
even now; and in a year or two, sir, they would
not be unworthy of the favours of the grenadiers."
Lionel listened to this, and much other similar
discourse, with a vacant ear; but as the combat
thickened, the blood of the young man began to
course more swiftly through his veins; and at
length, excited by the noise and the danger which
was pressing more closely around them, he mounted, and, riding to the commander of the detachment, tendered his assistance as a volunteer aid,
having lost every other sensation in youthful blood,
and the pride of arms. He was immediately charged
with orders for the advance, and driving his spurs
into his steed, he dashed through the scattered
line of fighting and jaded troops, and galloped to
its head. Here he found several companies, diligently employed in clearing the way for their
comrades, as new foes appeared at every few rods
that they advanced. Even as Lionel approached,
a heavy sheet of fire flashed from a close barnyard, full in the faces of the leading files, sending
the swift engines of death into the very centre of
the party.
" Wheel a company of the light-infantry, Captain Polwarth," cried the old major of marines,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


169


who battled stoutly in the van, " and drive the
skulking scoundrels from their ambush."
" Oh! by the sweets of ease, and the hopes of a
halt! b-t here is another tribe of these white
savages!" responded the unfortunate captain"Look out, my brave men! blaze away over the
walls on your left-give no quarter to the annoying rascals-get the first shot-give them a foot of
your steel."
While venting such terrible denunciations and
commands, which were drawn from the peaceable
captain by the force of circumstances, Lionel beheld his friend disappear amid the buildings of the
farm-yard in a cloud of smoke, followed by his
troops. In a few minutes afterwards, as the line
toiled its way up the hill on which this scene occurred, Polwarth reappeared, issuing from the fray
with his face blackened and grimmed with powder,
while a sheet of flame arose from the spot, which
soon laid the devoted buildings of the unfortunate
husbandman in ruins.
" Ha! Major Lincoln," he cried, as he approached the other, " do you call these light-infantry movements! to me they are the torments
of the damned!-Go, you who have influence.
and, what is better, a horse, go to Smith, and tell
him if he will call a halt, I will engage, with my
single company, to seat ourselves in any field he
may select, and keep these blood-suckers at bay
for an hour, while the detachment can rest and
satisfy their hunger-trusting that he will then allow time for his defenders to perform the same
necessary operations. A night-march, no breakfast-a burning sun-mile after mile-no halt, and
nothing but fire-fire-'tis opposed to every principle in physics, and even to the anatomy of man,
to think he can endure it!"
15





170


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Lionel endeavoured to encourage his friend to
new exertions, and, turning away from their leader,
spoke cheeringly, and with a martial tone, to his
troops. The men cheered as they passed, and
dashed forward to new encounters; the Americans yielding sullenly, but necessarily, to the constant charges of the bayonet, to which the regulars resorted to dislodge them. As the advance
moved on again, Lionel turned to contemplate the
scene in the rear. They had now been marching
and fighting, for two hours, with little or no cessation; and it was but too evident that the force of
the assailants was increasing, both in numbers and
in daring, at each step they took. On either side
of the highway, along the skirts of every wood or
orchard, in the open fields, and from every house,
barn, or cover in sight, the flash of fire arms was
to be seen, while the shouts of the English grew,
at each instant, feebler and less inspiriting. Heavy clouds of smoke rose above the valley, into
which he looked, and mingled with the dust of the
march, drawing an impenetrable veil before the
view; but as the wind, at moments, shoved it
aside, he caught glimpses of the worried and faltering platoons of the party, sometimes breasting
and repulsing an attack with spirit, and at others
shrinking from the contest, with an ill-concealed desire to urge their retreat to the verge of
an absolute flight. Young as he was, Major Lincoln knew enough of his profession to understand
that nothing but the want of concert, and of a
unity of command among the Americans, saved
the detachment from total destruction. The attacks were growing extremely spirited, and not unfrequently close and bloody, though the discipline
of the troops enabled them still to bear up against
this desultory and divided warfare, when Lionel





LIONEL LINCOLN.


171


heard, with a pleasure he could not conceal, the
loud shouts that arose from the van, as the cheering intelligence was proclaimed through the ranks,
that the cloud of dust in their front was raised by
a chosen brigade of their comrades, which habd
come most timely to their succour, with the heir of
Northumberland at its head. *The Americans gave
way as the two detachments joined, and the artillery of the succours opened upon their flying parties, giving a few minutes of stolen rest to those
who needed it so much. Polwarth threw himself
flat on the earth, as Lionel dismounted at his side,
and his example was followed by the whole party,
who lay panting, under the heat and fatigue, like
worried deer, that had succeeded in throwing the
hounds from their scent.
1" As I am a gentleman of simple habits, and a
man innocent of all this bloodshed, Major Lincoln,"
said the captain, " I pronounce this march to be a
most unjust draft on the resources of human nature.
I have journeyed at least five leagues between this
spot and that place of discord that they falsely call
Concord, within two hours, amidst dust, smoke,
groans, and other infernal cries, that would cause
the best trained racer in England to bolt; and
breathing an air, all the time, that would boil an
egg in two minutes and a quarter, if fairly exposed
to it."
" You overrate the distance-'tis but two
leagues by the stones-"
" Stones!" interrupted Polwarth--  I scorn
their lies-I have a leg here that is a better index
for miles, feet, or even inches, than was ever
chiselled in stone."
" We must not contest this idle point," returned
Lionel,L for I see the troops are about to dine





172


LIONEL LINCOLN.


and we have need of every moment to reach Boston before the night closes around us."
" Eat! Boston! night!" slowly repeated Polwarth, raising himself on one arm, and staring
wildly about him. " Surely no man among us is
so mad as to talk of moving from this spot short
of a week--it would take half that time to receive the internal refreshment necessary to our
systems, and the remainder to restore us healthy
appetites."
" Such, however, are the orders of the Earl
Percy, from whom I learn that the whole country
is rising in our front."
" Ay, but they are fellows who slept peacefully
in their beds the past night; and I dare say that
every dog among them ate his half-pound of pork,
together with additions suitable for a breakfast, before he crossed his threshold this morning. But
with us the case is different. It is incumbent on
two thousand British troops to move with deliberation, if it should be only for the credit of his majesty's arms. No, no-the gallant Percy too
highly respects his princely lineage and name, to
assume the appearance of flight before a mob of
base-born hinds!"
The intelligence of Lionel was nevertheless
true; for, after a short halt, allowing barely time
enough to the troops to eat a hasty meal, the drums
again beat the signal to march, and Polwarth, as
well as many hundred others, was reluctantly compelled to resume his feet, under the penalty of being abandoned to the fury of the exasperated Americans. While the troops were in a state of rest,
the field-pieces of the reinforcement kept their foes
at a distance; but the instant the guns were limbered, and the files had once more opened for





LIONEL -LINCOLN.


173


room, the attacks were renewed from every quarter, with redoubled fury. The excesses of the
troops, who had begun to vent their anger by plundering and firing the dwellings that they passed,
added to the bitterness of the attacks; and the
march had not been renewed many minutes, before a fiercer conflict raged along its skirts than had
been before witnessed on that day.
" Wourld to God that the great Northumbrian
would form us in order of battle, and make a fair
field with the Yankees," groaned Polwarth, as he
toiled his way once more with the advance-" half
an hour would settle the matter, and a man would
then possess the gratification of seeing himself a
victor, or at least of knowing that he was comfortably and quietly dead."
" Few of us would ever arrive in the morning,
if we left the Americans a night to gather in; and
a halt of an hour would lose us the advantages of
the whole march," returned Lionel.-" Cheer up,
my old comrade, and you will establish your reputation for activity for ever-here comes a party of
the provincials over the crest of the hill to keep
you in employment."
Polwarth cast a look of despair at Lionel, as he
muttered in reply" Employment! God knows that there has not
been a single muscle, sinew, or joint, in my body
in a state of wholesome rest for four-and-twenty
hours!" Then turning to his men, he cried, with
tones so cheerful and animated, that they seemed
to proceed from a final and closing exertion, as he
led them gallantly into the approaching fray" Scatter the dogs, my brave friends-away with
them like gnats, like moschetoes, like leeches, as
they are-give it them-lead and steel by handsful-"
li1.r *





174


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" On-push on with the advance!" shouted the
old major of marines, who observed the leading
platoons to stagger.
The voice of Polwarth was once more heard in
the din, and their irregular assailants sullenly
yielded before the charge.
" On-on with the advance!" cried fifty voices
out of a cloud of smoke and dust that was moving
up the hill, on whose side this encounter occurred.
In this manner the war continued to roll slowly
onward, following the weary and heavy footsteps
of the soldiery, who had now toiled for many miles,
surrounded by the din of battle, and leaving in
their path the bloody impressions of their footsteps. Lionel was enabled to trace their route,
far towards the north, by the bright red spots,
which lay scattered in alarming numbers along the
highway, and in the fields, through which the troops
occasionally moved. He even found time, in the
intervals of rest, to note the difference in the characters of the combatants. Whenever the ground
or the circumstances admitted of a regular attack,
the dying confidence of the troops would seem restored; and they moved up to the charge with the
bold carriage which high discipline Inspires, rending the air with shouts, while their enemies melted
before their power in sullen silence, never ceasing
to use their weapons, however, with an expertness
that rendered them doubly dangerous. The direction of the columns frequently brought the
troops over ground that had been sharply contested in front, and the victims of these short struggles
came under the eyes of the detachment. It was
necessary to turn a deaf ear to the cries and
prayers of many wounded soldiers, who, with hor.
ror and abject fear written on every feature of their
countenances, were the helpless witnesses of the





,LIONEL LINCOLN.


175


retreating files of their comrades. On the other
hand, the American lay in his blood, regarding the
passing detachment with a stern and indignant eye.
that appeared to look far beyond his individual
suffering. Over one body, Lionel pulled the reins
of his horse, and he paused a moment to consider
the spectacle. It was the lifeless form of a man,
whose white locks, hollow cheeks, and emaciated
firame, denoted that the bullet which had stricken
him to the earth had anticipated the irresistible decrees of time but a very few days. He had fallen
on his back, and his glazed eye expressed, even in
death, the honest resentment he had felt while
living; and his palsied hand continued to grasp
the fire-lock, old and time-worn, like its owner.
with which he had taken the field in behalf of his
country.
" Where can a contest end which calls such
champions to its aid!" exclaimed Lionel, observing that the shadow of another spectator fell across
the wan features of the dead--' who can tell where
this torrent of blood can be stayed, or how many
are to be its victims!"
Receiving no answer, he raised his eyes, and
discovered that he had unwittingly put this searching question to the very man whose rashness had
precipitated the war. It was the major of marines,
who sat looking at the sight, for a minute, with an
eye as vacant as the one that seemed to throw
back his wild gaze, and then, rousing from his
trance, he buried his rowels in the flanks of his
horse, and disappeared in the smoke that enveloped
a body of the grenadiers, waving his sword on high,
and shouting" On-push on with the advance!"
Major Lincoln slowly followed, musing on the
scene he had witnessed, when, to his surprise, he





176


LIONEL LINCOLN.


encountered Polwarth, seated on a rock by the
roadside, looking with a listless and dull eye at the
retreating columns. Checking his charger, he in..
quired of his friend if he were hurt.
" Only melted," returned the captain; " I have
outdone the speed of man this day, Major Lincoln.
and can do no more. If you see any of my friends
in dear England, tell them that I met my fate as a
soldier should, stationary; though I am actually
melting away in rivulets, like the snows of April.'
" Good God! you will not remain here to be
slain by the provincials, by whom you see we are
completely enveloped?"
" I am preparing a speech for the first Yankee
who may approach. If he be a true man, he will
melt into tears at my sufferings this day-if a savage, my heirs will be spared the charges of my
funeral."
Lionel would have continued his remonstrances,
but a fierce encounter between a flanking party of
the troops and a body of Americans, drove the
former close upon him; and, leaping the wall, he
rallied his comrades, and turned the tide of battle
in their favour. He was drawn far from the spot
by the vicissitudes of the combat, and there was a
moment, while passing from one body of the troops
to another, that he found himself unexpectedly
alone, in a most dangerous vicinity to a small wood
The hurried call of " Pick off that officer!" first
aroused him to his extreme danger, and he had
mechanically bowed himself on the neck of his
charger, in expectation of the fatal messengers,
when a voice was heard among the Americans,
crying, in tones that caused every nerve in his
body to thrill" Spare him! for the love of that God you wor
ship, spare him!"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


177


The overwhelming sensations of the moment
prevented flight, and the young man beheld Ralph,
running with frantic gestures, along the skirts of
the cover, beating up the fire-arms of twenty
Americans, and repeating his cries in a voice that
did not seem to belong to a human being-then,
in the confusion which whirled through his brain,
Lionel thought himself a prisoner, as a man, armed
with a long rifle, glided from the wood, and laid
his hand on the rein of his bridle, saying earnestly" 'Tis a bloody day, and God will remember it,
but if Major Lincoln will ride straight down the
hill, the people wont fire for fear of hitting Joband when Job fires, he'll shoot that granny who's
getting over the wall, and there'll never be a stir
about it in Funnel-Hall."
Lionel wheeled away quicker than thought, and
as his charger took long and desperate leaps down
the slight declivity, he heard the shouts of the
Americans behind him, the crack of Job's rifle,
and the whizzing of the bullet which the changeling sent, as he had promised, in a direction to do
him no harm. On gaining a place of comparative
safety, he found Pitcairn in the act of abandoning
his bleeding horse, the close and bitter attacks of
the provincials rendering it no longer safe for an
officer to be seen riding on the flanks of the de
tachment.  Lionel, though he valued his steed
highly, had also received so many intimations of
the dangerous notice he had attracted, that he was
soon obliged to follow this example; and he saw,
with deep regret, the noble animal scouring across
the fields with a loose rein, snorting and snuffing
the tainted air  He now joined a party of the
combatants on foot, and continued to animate them





nIs


LIONEL LINCOLN.


to new exertions during the remainder of the tedious way.
From the moment the spires of Boston met the
view of the troops, the struggle became intensely
interesting. New vigour was imparted to their
weary friames by the cheering sight, and, assuming
once more the air of high martial training, they
bore up against the assaults of their enemies with
renewed spirit. On the other hand, the Americans seemed aware that the moments of vengeance
were passing swiftly away, and boys, and grayheaded men, the wounded and the active, crowded
around their invaders, as if eager to obtain a parting blow. Even the peaceful ministers of God
were known to take the field on that memorable
occasion, and, mingling with their parishioners, to
brave every danger in a cause which they believed
in consonance with their holy calling. The sun
was sinking over the land, and the situation of the
detachment had become nearly desperate, when
Percy abandoned the idea of reaching the Neck,
across which he had proudly marched that morning
friom Boston, and strained every nerve to get the
remainder of his command within the peninsula of
Charlestown.  The crests and the sides of the
heights were alive with men, and as the shades of
evening closed about the combatants, the bosoms
of the Americans beat high with hope, while they
witnessed the faltering steps and slackened fire of
the troops. But high discipline finally so far prevailed as to'snatch the English from the very
grasp of destruction, and enabled them to gain the
narrow entrance to the desired shelter, just as night
had come apparently to seal their doom.
Lionel stood leaning against a fence, as this fine
body of men, which a few hours before had thought





LIONEL LINCOLN.


179


themselves equal to a march through the colonies,
defiled slowly and heavily by him, dragging their
weary and exhausted limbs up the toilsome ascent
of Bunker-Hill. The haughty eyes of most of the
officers were bent to the earth in shame; and the
common herd, even in that place of security, cast
many an anxious glance behind them, to assure
themselves that the despised inhabitants of the
province were no longer pressing on their footsteps.  Platoon after platoon passed, each man
compelled to depend on his own wearied limbs for
support, until Lionel at last saw a solitary horseman slowly ascending among the crowd. To his
utter amazement and great joy, as this officer ap
proached, he beheld Polwarth, mounted on his
own steed, riding towards him, with a face of the
utmost complacency and composure. The dress
of the captain was torn in many places, and the
housings of the saddle were cut into ribands, while
here and there a spot of clotted blood, on the sides
of the beast, served to announce the particular notice the rider had received from the Americans.
The truth was soon extorted from the honest soldier. The love of life had returned with the sight
of the abandoned charger. lie acknowledged it
had cost him his watch to have the beast caught;
but, once established in the saddle, no danger, nor
any remonstrances, could induce him to relinquish
a seat which he found so consoling after all the fatigue and motion of that evil day, in which he had
been compelled to share in the calamities of those
who fought on the side of the crown. in the memorable battle of Lexington.
12





CHAPTER XI.


I" Fluel.-Is it not lawful, an' please your majesty,
" To tell how many is killed "
King Henry V
WHILE a strong party of the royal troops took
post on the height which commanded the approach
to their position, the remainder penetrated deeper
into the peninsula, or were transported by the
boats of the fleet to the town of Boston. Lionel
and Polwarth passed the strait with the first division cf the wounded, the former having no duty to
detain him any longer with the detachment, and
the latter stoutly maintaining that his corporeal
sufferings gave him an undoubted claim to include
his case among the casualties of the day. Perhaps
no officer in the army of the king felt less chagrin
at the result of this inroad than Major Lincoln; for,
notwithstanding his attachment to his prince, and
adopted country, he was keenly sensitive on the
subject of the reputation of his real countrymen;
a sentiment that is honourable to our nature, and
which never deserts any that do not become dis
loyal to its purest and noblest impulses. Even
while he regretted the price at which his comrades
had been taught to appreciate the characters of
those whose long and mild forbearance had been
misconstrued into pusillanimity, he rejoiced that





LIONEL LINCOLN.


181


the eyes of the more aged would now be opened
to the truth, and that the mouths of the young and
thoughtless were to be for ever closed in shame.
Although the actual losses of the two detachments
were probably concealed from motives of policy,
it was early acknowledged to amount to about one
sixth of the whole number employed.
On the wharf, Lionel and Polwarth separated;
the latter agreeing to repair speedily to the private
quarters of his friend, where he promised himself
a solace for the compulsory abstinence and privations of his long march, and the former taking his
way towards Tremont-street, with a view to allay
the uneasiness which the secret and flattering
whisperings of hope taught him to believe his fair
young kinswomen would feel in his behalf. At
every corner he encountered groups of earnest
townsmen, listening with greedy ears to the particulars of the contest, a few walking away dejected
at the spirit exhibited by that country they had
vilified to its oppressors; but most of them regarding the passing form of one whose disordered
dress announced his participation in the affair, with
glances of stern satisfaction. As Lionel tapped at
the door of Mrs. Lechmere, he forgot his fatigue;
and when it opened, and he beheld Cecil standing
in the hall, with every lineament of her fine countenance expressing the power of her emotions, he
no longer remembered those trying dangers he had
so lately escaped.'
" Lionel!" exclaimed the young lady, clasping
her hands with joy--" himself, and unhurt!" The
blood rushed from her heart across her face to
her forehead, and burying her shame in her hands,
she burst into a flood of tears, and fled his presence.
Agnes Danforth received him with undisguised
16





182


LIONEL LINCOLN


pleasure, nor would she indulge in a single question to appease her burning curiosity, until thoroughly assured of his perfect safety. Then, indeed, she remarked, with a smile of triumph seated on her arch features" Your march has been well attended, Major
Lincoln; from the upper windows I have seen
some of the honours which the good people of the
Massachusetts have paid to their visiters."
" On my soul, if it were not for the dreadful
consequences which must follow, I rejoice, as well
as yourself, in the events of the day," said Lincoln; for a people are never certain of their rights,
until they are respected."
" Tell me then all, cousin Lincoln, that I may
know how to boast of my parentage."
The young man gave her a short, but distinct
and impartial account of all that had occurred, to
which his fair listener attended with undisguised
interest.
" Now, then," she exclaimed, as he ended,
"' there is an end for ever of those biting taunts
that have so long insulted our ears! But you
know," she added with a slight blush, and a smile
most comically arch, " I had a double stake in the
fortunes of the day-my country and my true
love!"
" Oh! be at ease; your worshipper has returned, whole in body, and suffering in mind only
through your cruelty-he performed the route
with wonderful address, and really showed himself a soldier in danger."
" Nay, Major Lincoln," returned Agnes, still
blushing, though she laughed; " you do not mean
to insinuate that Peter Polwarth has walked forty
miles between the rising and setting of the sun."
" Between two sun-sets he has done the deed,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


183


if you except a trifling promenade a cheval, on
my own steed, whom Jonathan compelled me to
abandon, and of whom he took, and maintained
the possession, too, in spite of dangers of every
kind."
" Really," exclaimed the wilful girl, clasping
her hands in affected astonishment, though Lionel
thought he could read inward satisfaction at his
intelligence-" the prodigies of the man exceed
belief! one wants the faith of father Abraham to
credit such marvels! though, after the repulse of
two thousand British soldiers by a body of hus
bandmen, I am prepared for an exceeding use of
my credulity."
"' The moment is then auspicious for my friend,"
whispered Lionel, rising to follow the flitting
form of Cecil Dynevor, which he saw gliding
into the opposite room, as Polwarth himself entered the apartment. " Credulity is said to be the
great weakness of your sex, and I must leave you
a moment exposed to the failing, and that too, in
the dangerous company of the subject of our discourse."'
" Now would you give half your hopes of promotion, and all your hopes of a war, Captain Polwar th, to know in what manner your character
has been treated in your absence!" cried Agnes,
blushing slightly. " I shall not, however, satisfy
the cravings of your curiosity, but let it serve as a
stimulant to better deeds than have employed you
since we met last."
" I trust Lincoln has done justice to my service," returned tlhe good-humoured captain, " and
that he has not neglected to mention the manner
in which I rescued his steed from the rebels."
" The what, sir?" interrupted Agnes, with a





184


LIONEL LINCOLN.


frown-" how did you style the good people of
Massachusetts-Bay?"
" I should have said the excited dwellers in the
land, I believe. Ah! Miss Agnes, I have suffered this day as man never suffered before; and all
on your oehalf-"
" On my behalf! Your words require explanation, Captain Polwarth."
" 'Tis impossible," returned the captain-" there
are feelings and actions connected with the heart
that will admit of no explanation. All I know is,
that I have suffered unutterably on your account,
to-day; and what is unutterable is in a great degree inexplicable."
" I shall set this down for what I understand occurs regularly in a certain description of tete-atetes-the expression of an unutterable thing!
Surely, Major Lincoln had some reason to believe
he left me at the mercy of my credulity!"
" You slander your own character, fair Agnes,"
said Polwarth, endeavouring to look piteously;
" you are neither merciful nor credulous, or you
would long since have believed my tale, and taken
pity on my misery."
" Is not sympathy a sort-a kind-in short, is
not sympathy a dreadful symptom in a certain disease?" asked Agnes, resting her eyes on the floor,
and affecting a girlish embarrassment.
"Who can gainsay it!" cried the captain; " 'tis
the infallible way for a young lady to discover the
bent of her inclinations. Thousands have lived in
ignorance of their own affections until their sympathies have been awakened. But what means
the question, my fair tormentor? May I dare to
flatter myself that you at length feel for my
pains!"
" I am sadly afraid 'tis but too true, Polwarth,"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


185


returned Agnes, shaking her head, and continuing
to look exceedingly grave.
Polwarth moved, with something like animation
again, nigher to the amused girl; and attempted to
take her hand, as he said" You restore me to life with your sweet acanowledgments-I have lived for six months like
a dog under your frowns, but one kind word acts
like a healing balm, and restores me to myself
again!"
" Then my sympathy is evaporated!" returned
Agnes. " Throughout this long and anxious day
have I fancied myself older than my good, staid,
great-aunt; and whenever certain thoughts have
crossed my mind, I have even imagined a thousand of the ailings of age had encircled me-rheumatisms, gouts, asthmas, and numberless other
aches and pains, exceedingly unbecoming to a young
lady of nineteen. But you have enlightened me,
and given vast relief to my apprehensions, by explaining it to be no more than sympathy. You
see, Polwarth, what a wife you will obtain, should
I ever, in a weak moment, accept you; for I have
already sustained one half your burthens!"
" A man is not made to be in constant motion,
like the pendulum of that clock, Miss Danforth,
and yet feel no fatigue," said Polwarth, more vexed
than he would permit himself to betray; "yet I
flatter myself there is no officer in the light-infantry-you understand me to say the light-infantry-who has passed over more ground, within
four-and-twenty hours, than the man who hastens,
notwithstanding his exploits, to throw himself at
your feet, even before he thinks of his ordinary
rest."
" Captain Polwarth," said Agnes, rising, " for
the compliment, if compliment it be, I thank you"
16 *





186


LIONEL LINCOLN.


but," she added, losing her affected gravity in a
strong natural feeling that shone in her dark eye,
and illuminated the whole of her fine countenance,
as she laid her hand impressively on her heart--
" the man who will supplant the feelings which
nature has impressed here, must not come to my
feet, as you call it, from a field of battle, where he
has been contending with my kinsmen, and helping to enslave my country. You will excuse me,
sir, but as Major Lincoln is at home here, permit
me, for a few minutes, to leave you to his hospitality."
She withdrew as Lionel re-entered, passing him
on the threshold.
" I would rather be a leader in a stage-coach,
or a running footman, than in love!" cried Polwarth-" 'tis a dog's life, Leo, and this girl treats
me like a cart-horse! But what an eye she has!
I could have lighted my segar by it-my heart is
a heap of cinders. Why, Leo, what aileth thee?
throughout the whole of this damnable day, I have
not before seen thee bear such a troubled look!"
" Let us withdraw to my private quarters,'
muttered the young man, whose aspect and air expressed the marks of extreme disturbance-" 'tis
time to repair the disasters of our march."
" All that has been already looked to," said
Polwarth, rising and limping, with sundry grimaces,
in the best manner he was able, in a vain effort to
equal the rapid strides of his companion. " My
first business on leaving you was to borrow a conveyance of a friend, in which I rode to your place;
and my next was to write to little Jimmy Craig, to
offer an exchange of my company for his-for from
this hour henceforth I denounce all light-infantry
movements, and shall take the first opportunity tc
get back again into the dragoons; as soon as I have





LIONEL LINCOLN.


187


effected which, Major Lincoln, I propose to treat
with you for the purchase of that horse. After that
duty was performed,-for, if self-preservation be
commendable, it became a duty,-I made out a bill
of fare for Meriton, in order that nothing might be
forgotten; after which, like yourself, Lionel, I hastened to the feet of my mistress-Ah! Major Lincoin, you are a happy man; for you there is no
reception but smiles-and charms so-s'
" Talk not to me, sir, of smiles," interrupted
Lionel, impatiently, " nor of the charms of woman.   They are all alike, capricious and unaccountable."
" Bless me!" exclaimed Polwarth, staring about
him in wonder; " there is then favour for none,
in this place, who battle for the king! There is
a strange connexion between Cupid and Mars, love
and war; for here did I, after fighting all day like
a Saracen, a Turk, Jenghis Khan, or, in short, any
thing but a good Christian, come with full intent to
make a serious offer of my hand, commission, and
of Polwarth-Hall, to that treasonable vixen, when
she repulses me with a frown and a sarcasm as biting as the salutation of a hungry man. But what
an eye the girl has, and what a bloom, when she is
a little more seasoned than common! Then you,
too, Lionel, have been treated like a dog!"
" Like a fool, as I am," said Lionel, pacing
haughtily over the ground at a rate that soom threw
his companion too far in the rear to admit of further discourse until they reached the place of their
destination. Here, to the no small surprise of both
gentlemen, they found a company collected that
neither was prepared to meet. At a side-table sat
M'Fuse, discussing, with singular relish, some of
the cold viands of the previous night's repast,
and washing down his morsels with deep potations





188


LION EL LINCOLN.


of the best wine of his host. In one corner of the
room Seth Sage was posted, with the appearance
of a man in duresse, his hands being tied before
him, from which depended a long cord, that might,
on emergency, be made to serve the purpose of a
halter. Opposite to the prisoner, for such in truth
he was, stood Job, imitating the example of the
captain of grenadiers, who now and then tossed
some fragment of his meal into the hat of the simpleton. Meriton and several of the menials of the
establishment were in waiting.
" What have we here!" cried Lionel, regarding
the scene with a curious eye. " Of what offence
has Mr. Sage been guilty, that he bears those
bonds?"
" Of the small crimes of tr'ason and homicide,"
returned M'Fuse, " if shooting at a man, with a
hearty mind to kill him, can make a murder."
" It can't," said Seth, raising his eyes from the
floor, where he had hitherto kept them in demure
silence; " a man must kill with wicked intent to
commit murder-"
" Hear to the blackguard, detailing the law as
if he were my lord chief justice of the King's
Bench!" interrupted the grenadier; "and what
was your own wicked intention, ye skulking vagabond, but to kill me! I'll have you tried and hung
for the same act."
"It's ag'in reason to believe that any jury will
convict one man for the murder of another that
an't dead," said Seth-" there's no jury to be
found in the Bay colony, to do it."
" Bay colony" ye murdering thief and rebel!"
cried the captain; " I'll have ye transported to
England; ye shall be both transported and hung.
By the Lord, I'll carry ye back to Ireland with me,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


189


and I'll hang ye up in the green Island itself, and
bury ye, in the heart of winter, in a bog-"
"C But what is the offence," demanded Lionel,
" that calls forth these severe threats?1"
" The scoundrel has been out-"
" Out!"
': Ay, out! Damn it, sir, has not the whole
country been like so many bees in search of a
nive r Is your memory so short that ye forget, already, Major Lincoln, the tramp the blackguards
have given you over hill and dale, through thick
and thin?;"
"And was Mr. Sage, then, found among our
enemies to-day?"I" Didn't I see him pull trigger on my own stature three times within as many minutes?" returned the angry captain; " and didn't he break
the handle of my sword? and have not I a bit of
lead he calls a buck-shot in my shoulder as a present from the thief?"
" It's ag'in all law to call a man a thief," said
Job, c" unless you can prove it upon him; but it
an't ag'in law to go in and out of Boston as often
as you choose."
" Do you hear the rascals! They know every
angle of the law as well, or better than 1 do myself,
who am the son of a Cork counsellor.. I dare to
say, you were among them too, and that ye deserve the gallows as well as your commendable
companion, there."
" How is this!" said Lionel, turning quickly
away from Job, with a view to prevent a reply
that might endanger the safety of the changeling;
" did you not only mingle in this rebellion, Mr.
Sage, but also attempt the life of a gentleman who
may be said, almost, to be an inmate of your own
house?"





190


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" I conclude," returned Seth, " it's best not to
talk too much, seeing that no one can foretell what
may happen."
" Hear to the cunning reprobate! he has not
the grace to acknowledge his own sins, like an
honest man," interrupted M'Fuse; " but I can
save him that small trouble-I got tired, you must
know, Major Lincoln, of being shot at like noxious
vermin, from morning till night, without making
some return to the compliments of those gentlemen who are out on the hills; and I took advantage of a turn, ye see, to double on a party of the
uncivilized demons; this lad, here, got three good
pulls at me, before we closed and made an end of
them with the steel, all but this fellow, who, having a becoming look for a gallows, I brought
him in, as you see, for an exchange, intending to
hang him the first favourable opportunity."
" If this be true, we must give him into the
hands of the proper authorities," said Lionel,
smiling at the confused account of the angry captain-" for it remains to be seen yet what course
will be adopted with the prisoners in this singular
contest."
" I should think nothing of the matter," returned M'Fuse, " if the reprobate had not tr'ated me
like a beast, of the field, with his buck-shot, and
taking his aim each time, as though I had been a
mad dog. Ye villain, do you call yourself a man,
and aim at a fellow-creature as you would at a
brute?"
" Why," said Seth sullenly, " when a man has
pretty much made up his mind to fight, I conclude
it's best to take aim, in order to save ammunition
and time."
' You acknowle dge the charge, then?' demanded Lionel.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


191


", As the major is a moderate man, and will hear
to reason, I will talk the matter over with him rationally," said Seth, disposing himself to speak
more to the purpose. "You see I had a small call
to Concurd early this morning-"
" Concord!" exclaimed Lionel.
" Yes, Concurd," returned Seth, laying great
stress on the first syllable, and speaking with an
air of extreme innocence-" it lies here-away, say
twenty or one-and-twenty miles-"
" Damn your Concords and your miles too,"
cried Polwarth; "is there a man in the army who
can forget the deceitful place? Go on with your
defence, without talking to us of the distance, who
have measured the road by inches."
" The captain is hasty and rash!" said the deliberate prisoner-" but being there, I went out
of the town with some company that I happened
in with; and after a time we concluded to return
-and so, as we came to a bridge about a mile beyond the place, we received considerable rough
treatment from some of the king's troops, who
were standing there-"
" What did they?"
" They fired at us, and killed two of our company, besides other threatening doings. There
were some among us that took the matter up in
considerable earnest, and there was a sharp toss
about it for a few minutes; though finally the law
prevailed."
" The law!"
" Certain-'tis ag'in all law, I believe the major
will own, to shoot peaceable men on the public
highway!"
" Proceed with your tale in your own way."
" That is pretty much the whole of it," said
Seth, warily. " The people rather took that, and





192


LIONEL LINCOLN.


some other things that happened at Lexington, to
heart, and I suppose the major knows the rest."
" But what has all this to do with your attempt
to murder me, you hypoc:ite?" demanded M'Fuse
--" confess the whole, ye thief, that I may hang
you with an aisy conscience."
" Enough," said Lionel; " the man has acknowledged sufficient already to justify us in transferring him to the custody of others-let him be
taken to the main guard, and delivered as a prisoner of this day."
" I hope the major will look to the things," said
Seth, who instantly prepared to depart, but stopped on the threshold to speak-" I shall hold him
accountable for all."
" Your property shall be protected, and I hope
your life may not be in jeopardy," returned Lionel, waving his hand for those who guarded him
to proceed. Seth turned, and left his own dwelling with the same quiet air which had distinguished him throughout the day; though there were
occasional flashes from his quick, dark eyes, that
looked like the glimmerings of a fading fire. Notwithstanding the threatening denunciation he had
encountered, he left the house-with a perfect conviction, that if his case were to be tried by those
principles of justice which every man in the colony
so well understood, it would be found that both h
and his fellows had kept thoroughly on the windy
side of the law.
During this singular and characteristic discourse,
Polwarth, with the solitary exception we have recorded, had employed his time in forwarding the
preparations for the banquet.
As Seth and his train disappeared, Lionel cast a
furtive look at Job, who was a quiet, and apparently
an undisturbed spectator of the scene, and then





LIONEL LINCOLN.


193


turned his attention suddenly to his guests, as if
fearful the folly of the changeling might betray his
agency also in the deeds of the day. The simplicity of the lad, however, defeated the kind intentions of the major, for he immediately observed,
without the least indication of fear" The king can't hang Seth Sage for firing back,
when the rake-helly soldiers began first."
" Perhaps you were out too, master Solomon,"
cried M'Fuse, " amusing yourself at Concord, with
a small party of select friends?"
' Job didn't go any further than Lexington," returned the lad, " and he hasn't got any friend, except old Nab."
" The devil has possessed the minds of the people!" continued the grenadier-" lawyers and doctors-praists and sinners-old and young-big and
little, beset us in our march, and here is a fool to
be added to the number! I dare say that fellow,
now, has attempted murder in his day too."
" Job scorns such wickedness," returned the
unmoved simpleton; " he only shot one granny,
and hit an officer in the arm."
" D'ye hear that, Major Lincoln?" cried M'Fuse,
jumping from the seat, which, notwithstanding the
bitterness of his language, he had hitherto perseveringly maintained; " d'ye hear that shell of a
man, that effigy, boasting of having killed a grena
dier!"
" Hold!"-interrupted Lionel, arresting his excited companion by the arm-" remember we are
soldiers, and that the boy is not a responsible being. No tribunal would ever sentence such an unfortunate creature to a gibbet; and in general he
is as harmless as a babe-"
"' The devil burn such babes-a pretty fellow is
he to kill a man of six feet! and with a duckinQ
17





S94


LIONEL LINCOLN.


gun, I'll engage. I'll not hang the rascal, Major
Lincoln, since it is your particular wish-I'll only
have him buried alive."
Job continued perfectly unmoved in his chair;
and the captain, ashamed of his resentment against
such unconscious imbecility, was soon persuaded
to abandon his intentions of revenge, though he
continued muttering his threats against the provincials, and his denunciations against such 1 "an unmanly spacies of warfare," until the much-needed
repast was ended.
Polwarth, having restored the equilibrium of his
system by a hearty meal, hobbled to his bed, and
M'Fuse, without any ceremony, took possession
of another of the apartments in the tenement of
Mr. Sage. The servants withdrew to their own
entertainment; and Lionel, who had been sitting
for the last half hour in melancholy silence, now
unexpectedly found himself alone with the changeling. Job had waited for this moment with exceeding patience, but when the door closed on
Meriton, who was the last to retire, he made a
movement that indicated some communication of
more than usual importance, and succeeded in attracting the attention of his companion.
"Foolish boy!" exclaimed Lionel, as he met
the unmeaning eye of the other,," did I not warn
you that wicked men might endanger your life!
HIow was it that I saw you in arms to-day against
the troops?"'
"L How came the troops in arms ag'in Job?" returned the changeling--" they needn't think to
wheel about the Bay province, clashing their
godless drums and trumpets, burning housen, and
shooting people, and find no stir about it!"
"( Do you know that your life has been twice
forfeited within twelve hours, by your own con.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


195


fession; once for murder, and again for treason
against your king? You have acknowledged killing a man!"
" Yes," said the lad, with undisturbed simplicity, " Job shot the granny; but he didn't let the
people kill Major Lincoln."
" True, true," said Lionel, hastily-" I owe my
life to you, and that debt shall be cancelled at
every hazard. But why have you put yourself
into the hands of your enemies so thoughtlessly?
what brings you here to-night?"
' Ralph told me to come; and if Ralph told Job
to go into the king's parlour, he would go."
" Ralph!" exclaimed Lionel, stopping in his
hurried walk across the room, " and where is he?"
"' In the old ware-'us'; and he has sent me to
tell you to come to him; and what Ralph says
must be done."
" He here too! is the man crazed?-would not
his fears teach him-"
" Fears!" interrupted Job, with singular disdain
-c you can't frighten Ralph! The grannies
couldn't frighten him, nor the light-infantry couild'nt
hit him, though he eat nothing but their smoke the
whole day-Ralph's a proper warrior!"
"And he waits me, you say, in the tenement
of your mother?"
" Job don't know what tenement means, but
he's in the old ware-'us'."
" Come, then," said Lionel, taking his hat, " let
us go to him-I must save him from the effects of
his own rashness, though it cost my commission!"
He left the room while speaking, and the simpleton followed close at his heels, well content with
having executed his mission without encountering
any greater difficulties.
13





CHAPTER XII.


SThis play is the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago is the duke's name; his wife, Baptista:
" You shall see, anon; 'tis a knavish piece of work."
Hamlet.
THE agitation and deep excitement produced by
the events of the day had not yet subsided in the
town, when Lionel found himself again in its narrow streets. Men passed swiftly by him, as if bent
on some unusual and earnest business; and more
than once the young soldier detected the triumphant smiles of the women, as they looked curiously
out on the scene, from their half-open windows,
and their eyes detected the professional tiappings
of his dress. Strong bodies of the troops were
marching in different directions, and in a manner
which denoted that the guards were strengthening, while the few solitary officers he met watched his approaching figure with cautious jealousy,
as if they apprehended a dangerous enemy in every
form they encountered.
The gates of Province-House were open, and,
as usual, guarded by armed men. As Lionel passed leisurely along, he perceived that the grenadiei
to whom he had spoken on the preceding evening,
again held his watch before the portal of the governor.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


197


" Your experience did not deceive you, my old
comrade," said Lionel, lingering a moment to address him-c" we have had a warm day."
" So it is reported in the barracks, your honour,"
returned the soldier--" our company was not ordered out, and we are to stand double duty. I
hope to God the next time there is any thing to
do, the grenadiers of the - th may not be left
behind-it would have been for the credit of the
army had they been in the field to-day."
" Why do you think so, my veteran? The men
who were out are thought to have behaved well;
but it was impossible to make head against a multitude in arms.5"
L" It is not my place, your honour, to say, this
man did well, and that man behaved amiss," returned the proud old soldier; "but when I hear
of two thousand British troops turning their backs,
or quickening their march, before all the rabble this
country can muster, I want the flank companies of
the -  th to be at hand, if it should be;only that
I may say I have witnessed the disgraceful sight
with my own eyes."
" There is no disgrace where there is no misconduct," said Lionel.
"C There must have been misconduct somewhere,
your honour, or such a thing could not have happened-consider, your honour, the very flower of
the army! Something must have been wrong; and
although I could see the latter part of the business
from the hills, I can hardly believe it to be true."
As he concluded, he shook his head, and continued
his steady pace along his allotted ground, as if unwilling to pursue the humiliating subject any further. Lionel passed slowly on, musing on that
deep-rooted prejudice, which had even taught this
humble menial of the crown to regard with con17 *





198


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tempt a whole nation, because they were believed
to be dependants.
The Dock-square was stiller than usual, and the
sounds of revelry, which it was usual to hear at
that hour from the adjacent drinking-houses, were
no longer audible. The moon had not yet risen,
and Lionel passed under the dark arches of the
market with a quick step, as he now remembered
that one in whom he felt so deep an interest awaited his appearance. Job, who had followed in silence, glided by him on the drawbridge, and stood
holding the door of the old building in his hand,
when he reached its threshold. Lionel found the
large space in the centre of the ware-house, as
usual, dark and empty, though the dim light of a
candle glimmered through the fissures in a partition, which separated an apartment, in one of the
little towers that was occupied by Abigail Pray,
from the ruder parts of the edifice. Low voices
were also heard issuing from this room, and Major
Lincoln, supposing he should find the old man and
the mother of Job in conference together, turned
to request the lad would precede him, and announce
his name. But the changeling had also detected
the whispering sounds, and it would seem with a
more cunning ear, for he turned and darted through
the door of the building with a velocity that did
not abate until Lionel, who watched his movements with amazement, saw his shuffling figure
disappear among the shambles of the market-place.
Thus deserted by his guide, Lionel groped his way
towards the place where he believed he shoula
find the door which led into the tower. The light
deceived him; for, as he approached it, his eye
glanced through one of the crevices of the wall
and he again became an unintentional witness of
another of those interviews, which evinced the sin




LIONEL LINCOLN.


199


gular and mysterious affinity between the fortunes
of the affluent and respected Mrs. Lechmere and
the miserable tenant of the warehouse.  Until
that moment, the hurry of events, and the crowd
of reflections, which had rushed over the mind of
the young man, throughout the busy time of the
last twenty-four hours, had prevented his recalling
the hidden meaning of the singular discourse of
which he had already been an auditor. But now,
when he found his aunt led into these haunts of
beggary, by a feeling he was not weak enough to
attribute to her charity, he stood rooted to the
spot by a curiosity, which, at the same time that
he found it irresistible, he was willing to excuse,
under a strong impression that these private communications were in some way connected with
himself.
Mrs. Lechmere had evidently muffled her person in a manner that was intended to conceal this
mysterious visit from any casual observer of her
movements; but the hoops of her large calash
were now so far raised as to admit a distinct view
of her withered features, and of the hard eye
which shot forth its selfish, worldly glances, from
amid the surrounding decay of nature. She was
seated, both in indulgence to her infirmities, and
from that assumption of superiority she never neglected in the presence of her inferiors, while her
companion stood before her, in an attitude that partook more of restraint than of respect.
"Your weakness, foolish woman," said Mrs.
Lechmere, in those stern, repulsive tones she so
well knew how to use, when she wished to intimidate, " will yet prove your ruin. You owe it to
respect for yourself, to your character, and even
to your safety, that you should exhibit more firm




200


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ness, and show yourself above this weak and
idle superstition."
"' My ruin! and my character!" returned Abigail, looking about her with a haggard eye and a
trembling lip; " what is ruin, Madam Lechmere,
if this poverty be not called so? or what loss of
character can bring upon me more biting scorn than
I am now ordained to suffer for my sins?"
" Perhaps," said Mrs. Lechmere, endeavouring
to affect a kinder tone, t ough dislike was still too
evident in her manner, " in the hurry of my grandnephew's reception, I have forgotten my usual liberality."
The woman took the piece of silver which Mrs.
Lechmere slowly placed in her hand, and held it
in her open palm for several moments, regarding it
with a vacant look, which the other mistook for
dissatisfaction.
" The troubles, and the decreasing value of property, have sensibly affected my income," continued the richly clad and luxurious Mrs. Lechmere; "but if that should be too little for your
immediate wants, I will add to it another crown."
" 'Twill do-'twill do," said Abigail, clenching
her hand over the money, with a grasp that was
convulsive-" yes, yes, 'twill do. Oh! Madam
Lechmere, humbling and sinful as that wicked passion is, would to God that no motive worse than
avarice had proved my ruin!"
Lionel thought his aunt cast an uneasy and embarrassed glance at her companion, which he construed into an expression that betrayed there were
secrets even between these strange confidants;
but the momentary surprise exhibited in her features soon gave place to her habitual look of
guarded and severe formality; and she replied,
with an air of coldness, as if she would repulse any





LIONEL LINCOLN.


201


approach to an acknowledgment of their common
transgression" The woman talks like one who is beside herself! Of what crime has she been guilty, but such
as those to which our nature is liable!"
" True, true," said Abigail Pray, with a halfstifled, hysterical laugh-" 'tis our guilty, guiliy
nature, as you say. But I grow nervous, I believe,
as I grow old and feeble, Madam Lechmere; and
I often forget myself. The sight of the grave, so
very near, is apt to bring thoughts of repentance
to such as are more hardened even than I."
" Foolish girl!" said Mrs. Lechmere, endeavouring to skreen her pallid features, by drawing
down her calash, with a hand that trembled more
with terror than with age; " why should you speak
thus freely of death, who are but a child?"
Lionel heard the faltering, husky tones of his
aunt, as they appeared to die in her throat, but nothing more was distinctly audible, until, after a long
pause, she raised her face, and looked about her
again with her severe, unbending eye, and continued" Enough of this folly, Abigail Pray-I have
come to learn more of your strange inmate-"
" Oh! 'tis not enough, Madam Lechinere," interrupted the conscience-stricken woman; " we
have so little time left us for penitence and prayer,
that there never can be enough, I fear, to answer
our mighty transgressions. Let us speak of the
grave, Madam Lechmere, while we can yet do it
on this side of eternity."
" Ay! speak of the grave, while out of its damp
cloisters; 'tis the home of the aged," said a third
voice, whose hollow tones might well have issued
from some tomb, " and I am here to join in the
wholesome theme."





202


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Who-who-in the name of God, who art
thou?" exclaimed Mrs. Lechmere, forgetting her
infirmities, and her secret compunctions, in new
emotions, and rising involuntarily from her seat;
' tell me, I conjure thee, who art thou?"
" One, aged like thyself, Priscilla Lechmere, and
standing on the threshold of that final home of
which you would discourse. Speak on, then, ye
widowed women; for if ever ye have done aught
that calls for forgiveness, 'tis in the grave ye shall
find the heavenly gift of mercy offered to your unworthiness."
By changing the position of his body a little,
Lionel was now enabled to command a view of the
whole apartment. In the door-way stood Ralph,
immovable in his attitude, with one hand raised
high towards heaven, and the other pointing impressively downward, as if about to lay bare the
secrets of that tomb, of which his wasted limbs, and
faded lineaments, marked him as a fit tenant, while
his searching eye-balls glared about him, from the
face of one to the other, with that look of quickness and penetration, that Abigail Pray had so well
described as ' scorching.' Within a few feet of the
old man, Mrs. Lechmere remained standing, rigid
and motionless as marble, her calash fallen back,
and her death-like features exposed, with horror
and astonishment rooted in every muscle, as, with
open mouth, and eyes riyeted on the intruder, she
gazed as steadily as if placed in that posture by the
chisel of the statuary. Abigail shaded her eyes
with her hand, and buried her face in the folds of
her garments, while strong convulsive shudderings
ran through her frame, and betrayed the extent of
the emotions she endeavoured to conceal. Amazed
at what he had witnessed, and concerned for the
apparent insensibility of his aunt, whose great age





LIONEL LINCOLN.


203


rendered such scenes dangerous, Lionel was about
to rush into the apartment, when Mrs. Lechmere
so far recovered her faculties as to speak, and
the young man lost every consideration in a burning curiosity, which was powerfully justified by his
situation.
"' Who is it that calls me by the name of Priscilla?" said Mrs. Lechmere; "none now live who
can claim to be so familiar."
" Priscilla-Priscilla," repeated the old man,
looking about him, as if he would require the presence of another; " it is a soft and pleasant sound
to my ears, and there is one that owns it besides
thee, as thou knowest."
" She is dead; years have gone by since I saw
her in her coffin; and I would forget her, and all
like her, who have proved unworthy of my blood."
" She is not dead!"-shouted the old man,-in a
voice that rung through the naked rafters of the
edifice like the unearthly tones of some spirit of
the air; " she lives-she lives-ay! she yet
lives!"
"Lives!" repeated Mrs. Lechmere, recoiling a
step before the forward movement of the other;
" why am I so weak as to listen! 'tis impossible."
"' Lives!" exclaimed Abigail Pray, clasping her
hands with agony. " Oh! would to God she did
live! but did I not see her a bloated, disfigured
corpse? did I not with these very hands place the
grave-clothes about her once lovely frame? Oh!
no-she is dead-dead-and I am a-"
" 'Tis some madman that asserts these idle
tales," exclaimed Mrs. Lechmere, with a quickness that interrupted the criminal epithet the other
was about to apply to herself. " The unfortunate
girl is long since dead, as we know; why should
we reason with a maniac?"





204


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Maniac!" repeated Ralph, with an expression
of the most taunting irony; " no-no-no-such
an one there is, as you and I well know, but 'tis
not I who am mad-thou art rather crazed thyself,
woman; thou hast made one maniac already
wouldst thou make another?"'
" I!" said Mrs. Lechmere, without quailing before the ardent look she encountered-" that God
who bestows reason, recalls his gift at will; 'tis
not I who exercise such power."
" How sayest thou, Priscilla Lechmere?" cried
Ralph, stepping with an inaudible tread so nigh as
to grasp, unperceived, her motionless arm with his
own wasted fingers; "yes-I will call thee Priscilla, little as thou deservest such a holy namedost thou deny the power to craze-where, then,
is the head of thy boasted race? the proud baronet
of Devonshire, the wealthy, and respected, and
once happy companion of princes-thy nephew,
Lionel Lincoln? Is he in the halls of his fathers?
-leading the armies of his king?-ruling and pro-.
tecting his household?-or is he the tenant of a
gloomy cell?-thou knowest he is-thou knowest he is-and, woman, thy vile machinations have
placed him there!"
" Who is it that dare thus speak to me?" demanded Mrs. Lechmere, rallying her faculties
with a mighty effort, to look down this charge" if my unhappy nephew is indeed known to thee,
thy own knowledge will refute this base accusat10On-'
" Known to me! I would ask what is hid from
me? 1 have looked at thee, and observed thy conduct, woman, for the life of man; and nothing that
thou hast done is hid from me-I tell thee, I know
all. Of this sinful woman here, also, I know all




LIONEL LINCOLN.


205


have I not told thee, Abigail Pray, of thy most se
cret transgressions:"
SOh! yes-yes; he is indeed acquainted with
what I had thought was now concealed from every
eye but that of God!" cried Abigail, with superstitious terror.
"Nor of thee am I ignorant, thou miserable
widow of John Lechmere; and of Priscilla, too,
do I not know all?"" All!" again exclaimed Abigail"All!" repeated Mrs. Lechmere, in a voice
barely audible; when she sunk back in her chair,
in a state of total insensibility. The breathless interest he felt in all that had passed, could detain
Lionel no longer from rushing to the assistance of
his aunt. Abigail Pray, who, it would seem, had
been in some measure accustomed to such scenes
with her lodger, retained, however, sufficient selfcommand to anticipate his motions; and, when he
had gained the door, he found her already supporting, and making the usual applications to Mrs.
Lechmere. It became necessary to divest the sufferer of part of her attire, and Abigail, assuring
Lionel of her perfect competency to act by herself,
requested him to withdraw, not only on that account, but because she felt assured that nothing
could prove more dangerous to her reviving patient, than his unexpected presence. After lingering a moment, until he witnessed the signs of
returning life, Lionel complied with the earnest
entreaties of the woman; and, leaving the room,
he groped his way to the foot of the ladder, with
a determination to ascend to the apartment of
Ralph, in order to demand at once an explanation
of what he had just seen and heard. He found
the old man seated in his little tower, his hand
shading his eyes from the feeble light of the mise18





206


LIONEL LINCOLN.


rable candle, and his head drooping upon his bosom, like one in pensive musing. Lionel approached him, without appearing to attract his attention,
and was compelled to speak, in order to announce
his presence.
" I have received your summons, by Job," he
said, " and have obeyed it."
"'Tis well," returned Ralph.
"( Perhaps I should add, that I have been an astonished witness of your interview with Mrs.
Lechmere, and have heard the bold and unaccountable language you have seen proper to use
to that lady."
The old man now raised his head, and Lionel
saw the bright rays from his eyes quicken, as he
answered"1 You then heard the truth, and witnessed its
effects on a guilty conscience."
" I also heard what you call the truth, in connexion, as you know, with the names most dear
to me."
" Art certain of it, boy?" returned Ralph, looking the other steadily in the face; " has no other
become dearer to you, of late, than the authors of
your being?-speak, and remember that you answer one of no common knowledge."
"What mean you, sir? is it in nature to love
any as we do a parent?"
" Away with this childish simplicity," continued
the other, sternly;" the grandchild of that wretched woman below-do you not love her, and can I
put trust in thee?"
" What trust is there incompatible with affection
for a being so pure as Cecil Dynevor?"
" Ay," murmured the old man in an under tone
"her mother was pure, and why may not the child
be worthy of its parentage?" He paused, and a





LIONEL LINCOLN.


207


nong, and, on the part of Lionel, a painful' and embarrassing silence succeeded, which was at length
broken by Ralph, who said, abruptly-" you were
in the field to-day, Major Lincoln."
" Of that you must be certain, as I owe my life
to your kind interposition. But why have you
braved the danger of an arrest, by trusting your
person in the power of the troops? Your presence
and activity among the Americans must be known
to many in the army besides myself."
" And would they think of searching for their
enemies within the streets of Boston, when the
hills without are filling with armed men? My residence in this building is known only to the woman
below, who dare not betray me, her worthy son,
and to you. My movements are secret and sudden,
when men least expect them.   Danger cannot
touch such as I."
SBut," said Lionel, hesitating with embarrassment, " ought I to conceal the presence of one
whom I know to be inimical to my king?"
" Lionel Lincoln, you overrate your courage,"
interrupted Ralph, smiling in scorn-" you dare
not shed the blood of him who has spared your
own;-but enough of this-we understand each
other, and one old as I should be a stranger to
fear?"
" No, no," said a low, solemn voice, from a dark
corner of the apartment, where Job had stolen unseen, and was now nestled in security-" you
can't frighten Ralph!"
"' The boy is a worthy boy, and he knows good
from evil; what more is necessary to man in this
wicked world?" muttered Ralph, in those quick
and indistinct tones that characterized his manner.
"' Whence came you, fellow, and why did you
abandon me so abruptly?" demanded Lionel.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Job has just been into the market, to see if he
couldn't find something that might be good for
Nab," returned the lad.
"Think not to impose on me with this nonsense! Is food to be purchased at any hour of the
night, though you had the means?"
" Now that is convincing the king's officers don't
know every thing," said the simpleton, laughing
within himself-" heie's as good a pound bill, old
tenor, as was ever granted by the Bay colony;
and meat's no such rarity, that a man, who has a
pound-bill, old tenor, in his pocket, can't go under
old Funnel when he pleases, for all their acts of
Parliament."
" You have plundered the dead!" cried Lionel,
observing that Job exhibited in his hand several
pieces of silver, besides the note he had mentioned.
" Don't call Job a thief!" said the lad, with a
threatening air; " there's law in the Bay yet,
though the people don't use it; and right will be
done to all, when the time comes. Job shot a
granny, but he's no thief."
" You were then paid for your secret errand,
last night, foolish boy; and have been tempted to
run into danger by money. Let it be the last
time-in future, when you want, come to me for
assistance."
"Job won't go of a'r'nds for the king, if he'd
give him his golden crown, with all its di'monds
and flauntiness, unless Job pleases, for there's no
law for it."
Lionel, with a view to appease the irritated lad,
now made a few kind and conciliating remarks,
but the changeling did not deign to reply, falling
back in his corner in a sullen manner, as if he
would repair the fatigue of the day by a few mo




LIONEL LINCOLN.


209


ments of sleep. In the mean time, Ralph had
sunk into a profound reverie, when the young soldier remembered that the hour was late, and he
had yet obtained no explanation of the mysterious
charges. He therefore alluded to the subject in a
manner which he thought best adapted to obtain
the desired intelligence. The instant Lionel men
tioned the agitation of his aunt, his companion
raised his head again, and a smile like that of fierce
exultation lighted the wan face of the old man, who
answered, pointing with an emphatic gesture to his
own bosom" 'Twas here, boy, 'twas here-nothing short
of the power of conscience, and a knowledge like
that of mine, could strike that woman speechless
in the presence of any thing human."
" But what is this extraordinary knowledge?
I am in some degree the natural protector of Mrs.
Lechmere; and, independent of my individual
interest in your secret, have a right, in her behalf,
to require an explanation of such serious allegations."
" In her behalf!" repeated Ralph. " Wait, impetuous young man, until she bids you push the
inquiry-it shall then be answered, in a voice of
thunder."
" If not in justice to my aged aunt, at least remember your repeated promises to unfold that sad
tale of my own domestic sorrows, of which you
claim to be the master."
" Ay, of that, and much more, am I in possession," returned the old man, smiling, as if conscious
of his knowledge and power; " if you doubt it, descend and ask the miserable tenant of this warehouse-or the guilty widow of John Lechmere."
" Nay, I doubt nothing but my own patience;
18*





210


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the moments fly swiftly, and I have yet to learn all
I wish to know."
" This is neither the time, nor is it the place,
where you are to hear the tale," returned Ralph;
'L I have already said that we shall meet beyond
the colleges for that purpose."
"I But after the events of this day, who can tell
when it will be in the power of an officer of the
crown to visit the colleges in safety?"
" What!" cried the old man, laughing aloud, in
the bitterness of his scorn, " has the boy found the
strength and the will of the despised colonists so
soon! But I pledge to thee my word, that thou
shalt yet see the place, and in safety.-Yes, yes,
Priscilla Lechmere, thy hour is at hand, and thy
doom is sealed for ever!"
Lionel again mentioned his aunt, and alluded to
the necessity of his soon rejoining her, as he already heard footsteps below, which indicated that
preparations were making for her departure. But
his petitions and remonstrances were now totally
unheeded: his aged companion was pacing swiftly
up and down his small. apartment, muttering incoherent sentences, in which the name of Priscilla
was alone audible, and his countenance betraying
the inward workings of absorbing and fierce passions. In a few moments more, the shrill voice of
Abigail was heard calling upon her son, in a manner which plainly denoted her knowledge that the
changeling was concealed somewhere about the
building. Job heard her calls repeated, until the
tones of her voice became angry and threatening,
when he stole slowly from his corner, and moved
towards the ladder, with a sunken brow and lingering steps. Lionel now knew not how to act.
His aunt was still ignorant of his presence, and he





LIONEL LINCOLN.


211


thought if Abigail Pray had wished him to appeal,
he would in some manner be soon included in the
summons. He had also his own secret reasons for
wishing his visits to Ralph unknown. Accordingly,
he determined to watch the movements below,
under the favour of the darkness, and to be governed entirely by circumstances. He took no
leave of his companion on departing, for long use
had so far accustomed him to the eccentric manner of the old man, that he well knew any attempt
to divert his attention from his burning thoughts,
would be futile at a moment of such intense excitement.
From the head of the ladder, where Lionel took
his stand, he saw Mrs. Lechmere, preceded by Job
with a lantern, walking, with a firmer step than he
could have hoped for, towards the door, and he
overheard Abigail cautioning her wilful son to light
her visiter to a neighbouring corner, where it appeared a conveyance was in waiting. On the
threshold, his aunt turned, and, the light from the
candle of Abigail falling on her features, Lionel
caught a full view of her cold, hard eye, which had
regained all its worldly expression, though softened
a little by a deeper shade of thought than usual.
" Let the scene of to-night be forgotten, my
good Abigail," she said. " Your lodger is a nameless being, who has gleaned some idle tale, and
wishes to practise on our credulity to enrich himself. I will consider more of it; but on no account
do you hold any further communion with himI must remove you, my trusty woman; this habitation is unwoithy of you, and of your dutiful
son, too-I must see you better lodged; my good
Abigail, indeed 1 must."
Lionel could distinguish the slight shudder that
passed through the frame of her companion, as she
14





212


LIONEL LINCOLN.


alluded to the doubtful character of Ralph; but.
without answering, Abigail held the door open for
the departure of her guest. The instant Mrs. Lech
mere disappeared, Lionel glided down the ladder,
and stood before the astonished woman.
" When I tell you I have heard all that passed
to-night," he abruptly said," you will see the folly
of any further attempt at concealment-I now demand so much of your secret as affects the happiness of me or mine."
" No-no-not of me, Major Lincoln," said the
terrified female-" not of me, for the love of God,
not of me-I have sworn to keep it, and one
oath-   " Her emotions choked her, and her voice
became indistinct.
Lionel regretted his vehemence, and, ashamed
to extort a confession from a woman, he attempted
to pacify her feelings, promising to require no further communication at that time.
" Go-go"-she said, motioning him to depart,
"and I shall be well again-leave me, and then I
shall be alone with that terrible old man, and my
God!"
Perceiving her earnestness, he reluctantly complied, and, meeting Job on the threshold, he ceased
to feel any further uneasiness for her safety.
During his rapid walk to Tremont-street, Major
Lincoln thought intently on all he had heard and
witnessed. He remembered the communications
by which Ralph had attained such a powerful interest in his feelings, and he fancied he could discover a pledge of the truth of the old man's knowledge in the guilt betrayed by the manner of his
aunt. From Mrs. Lechmere his thoughts recurred
to her lovely grandchild, and for a moment he was
perplexed, by endeavouring to explain her contradictory deportment towards himself;-at one





LIONEL LINCOLN.           213
time she was warm, frank, and even affectionate;
and at another, as in the short and private interview  of that very evening, cold, constrained,
and repulsive. Then, again, he recollected the
object which had chiefly induced him to follow his
regiment to his native country; and the recollection was attended by that shade of dejection which
such reflections never failed to cast across his intelligent features. On reaching the house, he ascertained the safe return of Mrs. Lechmere, who
had already retired to her room, attended by her
lovely relatives.  Lionel immediately followed
their example; and as the excitement of that memorable and busy day subsided, it was succeeded
by a deep sleep, that fell on his senses like the
forgetfulness of the dead.





CHAPTER XIII.


SNow let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot:
" Take thou what course thou wilt I"
Shakspeare.
THE alarm of the inroad passed swiftly by the
low shores of the Atlantic, and was heard echoing
among the rugged mountains west of the rivers,
as if borne along on a whirlwind. The male population, between the rolling waters of Massachusetts Bay and the limpid stream of the Connecticut,
rose as one man; and as the cry of blood was
sounded far inland, the hills and valleys, the highways and footpaths, were seen covered with bands
of armed husbandmen, pressing eagerly toward the
scene of the war. Within eight-and-forty hours after
the fatal meeting at Lexington, it was calculated
that more than a hundred thousand men were in
arms; and near one fourth of that number was
gathered before the peninsulas of Boston and
Charlestown. They who were precluded by distance, and a want of military provisions, to support
such a concourse, from participating in the more
immediate contest, lay by in expectation of the
arrival of that moment when their zeal might also
be put to severer trials. In short, the sullen quietude, in which the colonies had been slumbering





LIONEL LINCOLN.


215


for a year, was suddenly and rudely broken by
the events of that day; and the patriotic among
the people rose with such a cry of indignation on
their lips, that the disaffected, who were no insignificant class in the more southern provinces, were
compelled to silence, until the first burst of revolutionary excitement had an opportunity to subside, under the never-failing influence of time and
suffering.
Gage, secure in his positions, and supported by
a constantly increasing power, as well as the presence of a formidable fleet, looked on the gathering storm with a steady eye, and with that calmness which distinguished the mild benevolence of
his private character. Though the attitude and
the intentions of the Americans could no longer be
mistaken, he listened with reluctant ears to the
revengeful advice of his counsellors, and rather
strove to appease the tumult, than to attempt crushing it by a force, which, though a month before
it had been thought equal to the united power of
the peaceful colonists, he now prudently deemed
no more than competent to protect itself within its
watery boundaries.  Proclamations were, however, fulminated against the rebels; and such
other measures as were thought indispensable to
assert the dignity and authority of the crown, were
promptly adopted. Of course, these harmless denunciations were disregarded, and all his exhortations to return to an allegiance, which the people
still denied had ever been impaired, were lost amid
the din of arms, and the popular cries of the time.
These appeals of the British general, as well as
sundry others, made by the royal governors, who
yet held their rule throughout all the provinces,
except the one in which the scene of our tale is
laid, were answered by the people in humble, but





216


LIONEL LINCOLN.


manly petitions to the throne for justice; and in
loud remonstrances to the Parliament, requiring to
be restored to the possession of those rights and
immunities, which should be secured to all who enjoyed the protection of their common coostitution
Still the power and prerogatives of the prince
were deeply respected, and were alluded to in all
public documents, with the veneration which was
thought due to the sacredness of his character and
station.  But that biting, though grave sarcasm,
which the colonists knew so well how to use, was
freely expended on his ministers, who were accused of devising the measures so destructive to
the peace of the empire. In this manner passed
some weeks after the series of skirmishes which
were called the battle of Lexington, from the circumstance of commencing at the hamlet of that
name, both parties continuing to prepare for a
mightier exhibition of their power and daring.
Lionel had by no means been an unconcerned
spectator of these preparations. The morning after the return of the detachment, he applied for a
command, equal to his just expectations.  But
while he was complimented on the spirit and loyalty he had manifested on the late occasion, it was
intimated to the young man that he might be of
more service to the cause of his prince, by devoting
his time to the cultivation of his interest among
those powerfid colonists, with whom his family was
allied by blood, or connected. by long and close intimacies. It was even submitted to his own judgment whether it would not be well, at some auspiicious moment, to trust his person without the
defences of the army, in the prosecution of this
commendable design. There was so much that
was flattering to the self-love, and soothing to the
pride of the young soldier, artfully mingled with





LIONEL LINCOLN.


217


these ambiguous proposals, that he became content to await the course of events, having, however, secured a promise of obtaining a suitable
military command in the case of further hostilities.
That such an event was at hand, could not well
be concealed from one much less observing than
Major Lincoln.
Gage had already abandoned his temporary position in Charlestown, for the sake of procuring additional security by concentrating his force. From
the hills of the peninsula of Boston, it was apparent that the colonists were fast assuming the front
of men who were resolved to beleaguer the army of
the king. Many of the opposite heights were al
ready crowned with hastily-formed works of earth,
and a formidable body of these unpractised warriors had set themselves boldly down before the
entrance to the isthmus, cutting off all communication with the adjacent country, and occupying the
little village of Roxbury, directly before the muzzles of the British guns, with a hardiness that
would not have disgraced men much longer tried
in the field, and more inured to its dangers.
The surprise created in the army by these appearances of skill and spirit among the hitherto
despised Americans, in some measure ceased when
the rumour spread itself in their camp, that many
gentlemen of the provinces, who had served with
credit in the forces of the crown, at former periods,
were mingled with the people in stations of responsibility and command. Among others Lionel
heard the names of Ward and Thomas; men of
liberal attainments, and of some experience in arms
Both were regularly commissioned by the con
gress of the colony as leaders of their forces:
and under their orders were numerous regiments
duly organized; possessing all the necessary quali1i9





218


LIONEL LINCOLN.


fications of soldiers, excepting the two indispensable requisites of discipline and arms. Lionel heard
the name of Warren mentioned oftener than any
other in the circles of Province-House, and with
that sort of bitterness, which, even while it bespoke their animosity, betrayed the respect of his
enemies. This gentleman, who until the last moment had braved the presence of the royal troops,
and fearlessly advocated his principles, while encircled with their bayonets, was now known to
have suddenly disappeared from among them, abandoning home, property, and a lucrative profession;
and by sharing in the closing scenes of the day of
Lexington, to have fairly cast his fortunes on the
struggle. But the name which in secret possessed
the greatest charm for the ear of the young British
soldier, was that of Putnam, a yeoman of the neighbouring colony of Connecticut, who, as the uproar
of the alarm whirled by him, literally deserted his
plough, and mounting a beast from its team, made
an early halt, after a forced march of a nundred
miles, in the foremost ranks of his countrymen.
While the name of this sturdy American was passing in whispers among the veterans who crowded
the levees of Gage, a flood of melancholy and tender recollections flashed through the brain of the
young man. He remembered the frequent and in
teresting communications which, in his boyhood. he
had held with his own father, before the dark shade
had passed across the reason of Sir Lionel, and, in
every tale of murderous combats with the savage
tenants of the wilds, in each scene of danger and
of daring that had distinguished the romantic warfare of the wilderness, and even in strange and fearful encounters with the beasts of the forest, the
name of this man was blended with a species of
chivalrous fame that is seldom obtained in an en




LIONEL LINCOLN.


2190


lightened age, and never undeservedly. The great
wealth of the family of Lincoln, and the high ex
pectations of its heir, had obtained for the latter a
military rank which at that period was rarely enjoyed by any but such as had bought the distinction by long and arduous services. Consequently,
many of his equals had shared in those trials of his
father, in which the ' Lion heart' of America had
been so conspicuous for his deeds. By these grave
veterans, who should know him best, the name of
Putnam was always mentioned with strong and
romantic affection; and when the notable scheme
of detaching him, by the promise of office and
wealth, from the cause of the colonists was proposed by the cringing counsellors who surrounded
the commander-in-chief, it was listened t5 with a
contemptuous incredulity by the former associates
of the old partisan, that the result of the plan fully
justified. Similar inducements were offered to
others among the Americans, whose talents were
thought worthy of purchase; but so deep root had
the principles of the day taken, that not a man of
any note was found to listen to the proposition.
While these subtle experiments were adopted
in the room of more energetic measures, troops
continued to arrive fiom England, and, before the
end of May, many leaders of renown appeared in
the councils of Gage, who now possessed a disposable force of not less than eight thousand bayonets. With the appearance of these reinforce
ments, the fallen pride of the army began to revive
and the spirits of the haughty young men, who had
so recently left the gay parades of their boasted;sland, were chafed by the reflection that such an
army should be cooped within the narrow limits of
the peninsula by a band of half-armed husbandmen,
destitute alike of the knowledge of war, and of most





LIONEL LINCOLN.


of its munitions. This feeling was increased by
the taunts of the Americans themselves, who now
turned the tables on their adversaries, applying,
among other sneers, the term of " elbow-room'
freely to Burgoyne, one of those chieftains of the
royal army, who had boasted unwittingly of the intention of himself and his compeers to widen the
limits of the army immediately on their arrival at
the scene of the contest. The aspect of things
within the British camp began to indicate, however, that their leaders were serious in the intention to extend their possessions, and all eyes were
again turned to the heights of Charlestown, the
spot most likely to be first occupied.
No military positions could be more happily
situated, as respects locality, to support each other,
and to extend and weaken the lines of their enemies, than the two opposite peninsulas so often
mentioned. The distance between them was but
six hundred yards, and the deep and navigable waters, by which they were nearly surrounded, rendered it easy for the royal general to command, at
any time, the assistance of the heaviest vessels of
the fleet, in defending either place. With these
advantages before them, the army gladly heard
those orders issued, which, it was well understood,
indicated an approaching movement to the opposite shores.
It was now eight weeks since the commencement of hostilities, and the war had been confined
to the preparations detailed, with the exception of
one or two sharp skirmishes on the islands of the
harbour, between the foragers of the army, and
small parties of the Americans, in which the latter
well maintained their newly acquired reputation
(or spirit.
With the arrival of the regiments firom England





LIONEL LINCOLN.


221


gayety had once more visited the town, though
such of the inhabitants as were compelled to remain against their inclinations, continued to maintain that cold reserve, in their deportment, which
effectually repelled all the efforts of the officers to
include them in the wanton festivities of the time.
There were a few, however, among the colonists,
who had been bribed, by offices and emoluments,
to desert the good cause of the land; and as some
of these had already been rewarded by offices
which gave them access to the ear of the royal governor, he was thought to be unduly and unhappily influenced by the pernicious counsels with
which they poisoned his mind, and prepared him
for acts of injustice and harshness, that both his
unbiassed feelings and ordinary opinions would
have condemned. A few days succeeding the affair of Lexington, a meeting of the inhabitants had
been convened, and a solemn compact was made
between them and the governor, that such as
chose to deliver up their arms might leave the
place, while the remainder were promised a suitable protection in their own dwellings. The arms
were delivered, but that part of the conditions which
related to the removal of the inhabitants was violated under slight and insufficient pretexts. This,
and various other causes incidental to military rule,
imbittered the feelings of the people, and furnished
new causes of complaint; while, on the other hand,
hatred was rapidly usurping the place of contempt,
in the breasts of those who had been compelled to
change their sentiments with respect to a people
that they could never love. In this manner, resentment and distrust existed, with all the violence
of personality, within the place itself, affording an
additional reason to the troops for wishing to extend their limits. Notwithstanding these inauspi.
19





222


LIONEL LINCOLN.


cious omens of the character of the contest, the
native kindness of Gage, and perhaps a desire tc
rescue a few of his own men from the hands of the
colonists, induced him to consent to an exchange
of the prisoners made in the inroad; thus establishing, in the outset, a precedent to distinguish the
controversy from an ordinary rebellion against the
loyal authority of the sovereign. A meeting was
held, for this purpose, in the village of Charlestown, at that time unoccupied by either army. At
the head of the American deputation appeared
Warren, and the old partisan of the wilderness already mentioned, who, by a happy, though not uncommon constitution of temperament, was as forward in deeds of charity as in those of daring. At
this interview, several of the veterans of the royal
army were present, having passed the strait to
hold a last, friendly converse with their ancient
comrade, who received them with the frankness
of a soldier, while he rejected their subtle endeavours to entice him from the banners under which
he had enlisted, with a sturdiness as unpretending
as it was inflexible.
While these events were occurring at the great
scene of the contest, the hum of preparation was
to be heard throughout the whole of the wide extent of the colonies. In various places slight acts
of hostility were committed, the Americans no
longer waiting for the British to be the aggressors, and every where such military stores as could
be reached, were seized, peaceably or by violence.
as the case required. The concentration of most
of the troops in Boston, had, however, left the
other colonies comparatively but little to achieve,
though, while they still rested, nominally, under
the dominion of the crown, they neglected no





LIONEL LINCOLN.           223
means within their power to assert their rights in
the last extremity.
At Philadelphia " the Congress of the Delegates
from the United Colonies," the body that controlled the great movements of a people, who now first
began to.ct as a distinct nation, issued their manifestos, supporting, in a masterly manner, theii
principles, and proceeded to organize an army
that should be as.competent to maintain them as
circumstances would allow. Gentlemen who had
been trained to arms in the service of the king,
were invited to resort to their banners, and the
remainder of the vacancies were filled by the
names of the youthful, the bold, and adventurous,
who were willing to risk their lives in a cause
where even success promised so little personal advantage.  At the head of this list of untrained
warriors, the congress placed one of their own body, a man already distinguished for his services in
the field, and who has since bequeathed to his
country the glory of an untarnished name.





CHAPTER XIV.


Thon shalt meet me at Philippi."
Julius OsaLr.
DURING this period of feverish excitement, while
the appearance and privations of war existed with
Po little of its danger or its action, Lionel had not
altogether forgotten his personal feelings, in the
powerful interest created by the state of public affairs. Early on the morning succeeding the night
of the scene between Mrs. Lechmere and the inmates of the warehouse, he had repaired again to
the spot, to relieve the intense anxiety of his mind,
by seeking a complete explanation of all those mysteries, which had been the principal ligament that
bound him to a man, little known, except for his
singularities.
The effects of the preceding day's battle were
already visible in the market-place, where, as Li.
onel passed, he saw few or none of the countrymen, who usually crowded the square at that hour.
In fact, the windows of the shops were opened
with caution, and men looked out upon the face of
the sun, as if doubting of its appearance and warmth,
as in seasons of ordinary quiet; jealousy and distrust having completely usurped the place of security within the streets of the town. Notwith




LIONEL LINCOLN


225


standing the hour, few were in their beds, and
those who appeared betrayed by their looks that
they had passed the night in watchfulness. Among
this number was Abigail Pray, who received her
guest in her little tower, surrounded by every thing
as he had seen it on the past evening, nothing altered, except her own dark eye, which at times
looked like a gem of price set in her squalid fea
tures, but which now appeared haggard and sunken, participating, more markedly than common, in
the general air of misery that pervaded the woman.
" I have intruded at a somewhat unusual hour,
Mrs. Pray," said Lionel, as he entered;," but business of the last moment requires that I should
see your lodger-I suppose he is above; it will be
well to announce my visit."
Abigail shook her head with an air of solemn
meaning, as she answered in a subdued voice, " He
is gone!"
" Gone!" exclaimed Lionel-" whither, and
when?'
" The people seem visited by the wrath of God,
sir;" returned the woman-" old and young, the
sick and well, are crazy about the shedding of
blood; and it's beyond the might of man to say
where the torrent will be stayed!"
" But what has this to do with Ralph? where is
he? Woman, you are not playing me false?"
" I! heaven forbid that I should ever be false
again! and to you least of all God's creatures!
No, no, Major Lincoln; the wonderful man, who
seems to have lived so long that he can even read
our secret thoughts, as I had supposed man could
never read them, has left me, and I know not
whether he will ever return."
" Ever! you have not driven him by violence
from under your miserable roof?"





LIONEL LINCOLN


" My roof is like that of the fowls of the air'tis the roof of any who are so unfortunate as to
need it.-There is no spot on earth, Major Lin
coin, that I can call mine-but one day there will
be one-yes, yes, there will be a narrow house
provided for us all; and God grant that mine may
be as quiet as the coffin is said to be! I lie not,
Major Lincoln-no, this time I am innocent of deceit-Ralph and Job have gone together, but whither, I know not, unless it be to join the people
without the town-they left me as the moon rose,
and he gave me a parting and a warning voice, that
will ring in my ears until they are deafened by the
damps of the grave!"
" Gone to join the Americans, and with Job!"
returned Lionel, musing, and without attending to
the closing words of Abigail.-" Your boy will
purchase peril with this madness, Mrs. Pray, and
should be looked to."
"' Job is not one of God's accountables, nor is he
to be treated like other children," returned the
woman. " Ah! Major Lincoln, a healthier, and a
stouter, and a finer boy was not to be seen in the
Bay province, till the child had reached his fifth
year! then, then it was that the judgment of heaven
fell on mother and son-sickness made him what
you see, a being with the form, but without the
reason of man, and I have grown the wretch I am.
But it has all been foretold, and warnings enough
have I had of it all! for is it not said, that he " will
visit the sins of the fathers upon the children until
the third and fourth generation?"  Thank God.
my sorrows and sins will end with Job, for there
never can be a third to suffer!"
" If," said Lionel, " there be any sin which lies
heavy at your heart, every consideration, whether
of justice or repentance, should induce you to con




LIONEL LINCOLN.


227


fess your errors to those whose happiness may be
affected by the knowledge, if any such there be."
The anxious eye of the woman raised itself to
meet the look of the young man; but, quailing before the piercing gaze it encountered, she quickly
turned it upon the litter and confusion of her disordered apartment. Lionel waited some time for
a reply, but finding that she remained obstinately
silent, he continued" From what has already passed, you must be
conscious that I have good reason to believe, that
my feelings are deeply concerned in your secret;
make, then, your confession of the guilt which
seems to bear you down so heavily; and in return
for the confidence, I promise you my forgiveness
and protection."
As Lionel pressed thus directly the point so
near his heart, the woman shrunk away from her
situation near him, and her countenance lost, as
he proceeded, its remarkable expression of compunction, in a forced look of deep surprise, that
showed she was no novice in dissimulation, whatever might be the occasional warnings of her conscience.
"Guilt!" she repeated, in a-slow and tremulous voice; " we are all guilty, and would be lost
creatures, but for the blood of the Mediator."
"Most true; but you have spoken of crimes
that infringe the laws of man, as well as those
of God."
" I! Major Lincoln-I a disorderly law-breaker?" exclaimed Abigail, affecting to busy herself
in arranging her apartment-" it is not such as I,
that have leisure or courage to break the laws!
Major Lincoln is trying a poor lone woman, to
make his jokes with the gentlemen of his mess this
everning-'tis certain we all of us have our bur15





228


LIONEL LINCOLN.


thens of guilt to answer for-surely Major Lincoln
couldn't have heard minister Hunt preach his sermon, the last Sabbath, on the sins of the town!"
Lionel coloured highly at the artful imputation
of the woman, that he was practising on her sex
and unprotected situation; and, greatly provoked,
in secret, at her duplicity, he became more guard.
ed in his language, endeavouring to lead her on,
by kindness and soothing, to the desired communications. But all his ingenuity was met by more
than equal abilities on the part of Abigail, from
whom he only obtained expressions of surprise,
that he could have mistaken her language for more
than the usual acknowledgment of errors, that
are admitted to be common to our lost nature. In
this particular, the woman was in no respect singular; the greater number of those, who are loudest
in their confessions and denunciations on the abandoned nature of our hearts, commonly resenting,
in the deepest manner, the imputation of individual offences. The more earnest and pressing his
inquiries became, the more wary she grew, until,
disgusted with her pertinacity, and secretly suspecting her of foul play with her lodger, he left
the house in anger, determining to keep a close
eye on her movements, and,at a suitable moment, to
strike such a blow as should bring her not only to
confession, but to shame.
Under the influence of this momentary resentment, and unable'to avoid harbouring the most unpleasant suspicions of his aunt, the young man determined, that very morning to withdraw himself
entirely, as a guest, from her dwelling. Mrs.
Lechmere, who, if she knew at all that Lionel had
been a witness of her intercourse with Ralph,
must have received the intelligence from Abigail,
received him, at breakfast, with a manner that be





LIONEL LINCOLN.


229


trayed no such consciousness. She listened to his
excuses for removing, with evident concern; and
more than once, as Lionel spoke of the probable
nature of his future life, now that hostilities haa
commenced-the additional trouble his presence
would occasion to one of her habits and years-of
his great concern in her behalf-and, in short, of all
that he could devise in the way of apology for the
step, he saw her eyes turned anxiously on Cecil
with an expression which, at another time, might
have led him to distrust the motives of her hospitality. The young lady herself, however, evidently heard the proposal with great satisfaction,
and, when her grandmother appealed to her opinion, whether he had urged a single good reason
for the measure, she answered with a vivacity that
had been a stranger to her manner of late" Certainly, my dear grandmamma-the best of
all reasons-his inclinations. Major Lincoln tires
of us, and of our hum-drum habits, and, and in my
eyes, true politeness requires, that we should suffer him to leave us for his barracks, without a
word of remonstrance."
" My motive must be greatly mistaken, if a desire to leave you-"
c Oh! sir, the explanation is not required. You
have urged so many reasons, cousin Lionel, that
the true and moving motive is yet kept behind
the curtain. It must, and can be no other than
ennuzi.
" Then I will remain," said Lionel; " for any
thing is better than to be suspected of insensibility."
Cecil looked both gratified and disappointedshe played with her spoon a moment in embarrassment, bit her beautiful lip with vexation, and
then said, in a more fiiendly toneS' nust then exonerate you from the imputa20





230


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tion. Go to your own quarters, if it be agreeable
and we will believe your incomprehensible reasons
for the change-besides, as a kinsman, we shall see
you every day, you know."
Lionel had now no longer any excuse for not
abiding by his avowed determinati)on; and, notwithstanding Mrs. Lechmere parted from her interesting nephew with an exhibition of reluctance
that was in singular contrast with her usually cold
and formal manner, the desired removal was made
in the course of that very morning.
When this change was accomplished, week after
week slipped by, in the manner related in the preceding chapter, during which the reinforcements
continued to arrive, and general after general appeared in the place to support the unenterprising
Gage in the conduct of the war.   The timid
amongst the colonists were appalled as they heard
the long list of proud and boasted names recounted. There was Howe, a man sprung from a noble
race, long known for their deeds in arms, and
whose chief had already shed his blood on the soil
of' America-Clinton, another cadet of an illustrious house, better known for his personal intrepidity
and domestic kindness, than for the rough qualities
of the warrior-and the elegant and accomplished
Burgoyne, who had already purchased a name in
the fields of Portugal and Germany, which he was
destined soon to lose in the wilds of America. In
addition to these might be mentioned Pigot, Grant,
Robertson, and the heir of Northumberland, each
of whom led a brigade in the cause of his prince;
besides a host of men of lesser note, who had passed their youth in arms, and were now about to bring
their experience to the field, in opposition to the
untrained husbandmen of the plains of New-England. As if this list were not sufficient to over




LIONEL LINCOLN.


231


whelm their inexperienced adversaries, the pride
of arms had gathered many of the young among the
noble and chivalric in the British empire, to the
point on which all eyes were turned; amongst
whom the one who afterwards added the fairest
wreath to the laurels of his ancestors, was the joint
heir of Hastings and Moira, the gallant, but, as yet,
untried boy of Rawdon. Amongst such companions, many of whom had been his associates in
England, the hours of Lionel passed swiftly by,
leaving him but little leisure to meditate on those
causes which had brought him also to the scene of
contention.
One warm evening, towards the middle of June,
Lionel became a witness of the following scene,
through the open doors which communicated between his private apartment and the room which
Polwarth had dedicated to what he called " the
knowing mess." M'Fuse was seated at a table,
with a ludicrous air of magisterial authority, while
Polwarth held a station at his side, which appeared
to partake of the double duties of a judge and a
scribe. Before this formidable tribunal Seth Sage
was arraigned, as it would seem, to answer for certain offences alleged to have been committed in the
field of battle. Ignorant that his landlord had not
received the benefit of the late exchange, and curious to know what all the suppressed roguery he
could detect in the demure countenances of his
friends might signify, Lionel dropped his pen, and
listened to the succeeding dialogue.
"Now answer to your offences, thou silly fellow, with a wise name," M'Fuse commenced. in a
voice that did not fail, by its harsh cadences, to
create some of that awe, which, by the expression
of the speaker's eye, it would seem he laboured to
produce-" speak out with the freedom of a man,





232


LIONEL LINCOLN.


and the compunctions of a Christian, if you have
them. Why should I not send you at once to Ireland, that ye may get your deserts on three pieces
of timber, the one being laid cross-wise for the
sake of convenience? If you have a contrary reason, bestow it without delay, for the love you bear
your own angular daiformities."
The wags did not altogether fail in their object,
Seth betraying a good deal more uneasiness than
it was usual for the man to exhibit even in situations of uncommon peril. After clearing his throat,
and looking about him, to gather from the eyes of
the spectators which way their sympathies inclined, he answered with a very commendable fortitude" Because it's ag'in all law."
" Have done with your interminable perplexities of the law," cried M'Fuse, " and do not bother honest gentlemen with its knavery, as if they
were no more than so many proctors in big wigs!
'tis the gospel you should be thinking of, you god
less reprobate, on account of that final end you
will yet make, one day, in a most indecent hurry.'
" To your purpose, Mac," interrupted Polwarth,
who perceived that the erratic feelings of his friend
were beginning already to lead him from the de
sired point; "or I will propound the matter myself, in a style that would do credit to a mandamus
counsellor."
1" The mandamuses are all ag'in the charter, and
the law too," continued Seth, whose courage increased as the dialogue bore more directly upon
his political principles-" and to my mind it's
quite convincing, that if ministers calculate largely
on upholding them, there will be great disturbances, if not a proper fight in the land; for the whole
country is in a blaze I"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


233


" Disturbances, thou immovable iniquity! thou
quiet assassin!" roared M'Fuse; " do ye not call a
light of a day a disturbance?-or do ye tarm skulking behind fences, and laying the muzzle of a musket
on the head of Job Pray, and the breech on a mullein-stalk, while ye draw upon a fellow-creature, a
commendable method of fighting? Now answer
me to the truth, and disdain all lying, as ye would
'ating any thing but cod on a Saturday, who
were the two men that fired into my very countenance, from  the unfortunate situation among the
mulleins that I have detailed to you?"
" Pardon me, Captain M'Fuse," said Polwarth,
" if I say that your zeal and indignation run ahead
of your discretion. If we alarm the prisoner in
this manner, we may defeat the ends of justice.
Besides, sir, there is a reflection contained in your
language, to which I must dissent. A real dumb
is not to be despised, especially when served u-p
in wrapper, and between two coarser fish, to preserve the steam-I have had my private meditations on the subject of getting up a Saturday's club,
in order to enjoy the bounty of the Bay, and for
improving the cookery of the cod!".
" And let me tell you, Captain Polwarth," returned the grenadier, cocking his eye fiercely at
the other, " that your epicurean propensities lead
you to the verge of cannibalism; for sure it may
be called that, when you speak of 'ating, while the
life of a fellow cr'ature is under a discussion for its
termination-"
[TF NOTE-It may be a fit matter of inquiry for the antiquarian, to
learn whether the captain ever put his project in execution; and if so,
whether he has not the merit of founding that famous association, which,
to this hour, maintains the Catholic custom of the east, by feasting on the
last day of the week on the staple of New-England; and which is said to
assemble regularly, with much good-fellowship, around more good wine
than is ever encountered at any other board in the known world
20 *





234


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" I conclude," interrupted Seth, who was greatly averse to all quarrelling, and who thought he
saw the symptoms of a breach between his judges,
" the captain wishes to know who the two men
weie that fired on him a short time before he got
the hit in the shoulder?"
" A short time,ye marvellous hypocrite!-'twas
as quick as pop and slap could make it."
" Perhaps there might be some mistake, for a
great many of the troops were much disguised-"
" Do ye insinuate that I got drunk before the
enemies of my king?" roared the grenadier" Harkye, Mister Sage; I ask you in a genteel way,
who the two men were that fired on me, in the
manner detailed; and remember that a man may
tire of putting questions which are never answered."
"Why," returned Seth, who, however expert
at prevarication, eschewed, with religious horror,
a direct lie-" I pretty much conclude that they
-the captain is sure the place he means was just
beyond Menotomy?"
' As sure as men can be," said Polwarth, " who
possess the use of their eyes."
" Then Captain Polwarth can give testimony to
the fact?"
" I believe Major Lincoln's horse carries a small
bit of your lead to this moment, Master Sage."
Seth yielded to this accumulation of evidence
against him; and knowing, moreover, that the
grenadier had literally made him a prisoner in the
fact of renewing his fire, he sagaciously determined to make a merit of necessity, and candidly
to acknowledge his agency in inflicting the wounds.
The utmost, however, that his cautious habits
would permit him to say, was




LIONEL LINCOLN.


235


C Seeing there can't well be any mistake, I seem
to think the two men were chiefly Job and I."
"c Chaifly, you lath of uncertainty!" exclaimed
M'Fusc; " if there was any chaif in that cowardly
assassination of wounding a Christian, and of also
hurting a horse-which, though nothing but a dumb
baste, has better blood than runs in your own beggarly veins-'twas your own ugly proportions. But
I rejoice that you have.come to the confessional!
I can now see you hung with felicity-if you have
any thing to say, urge it at once, why I should not
embark you for Ireland by the first vessel, in a letter to my lord-lieutenant, with a request that he'll
give you an early procession, and a dacent funeral."
Seth belonged to a class of his countrymen,
amongst whom, while there was a superabundance
of ingenuity, there was literally no joke. Deceived
by the appearance of anger, which had in reality
blended with the assumed manner of the grenadier, as he dwelt upon the irritating subject of his
own injuries, the belief of the prisoner in the sacred protection of the laws became much shaken,
and he began to reflect very seriously on the insecurity of the times, as well as on the despotic nature of the military power. The little humour he
had inherited from his puritan ancestors, was,
though exceedingly quaint, altogether after a different fashion from the off-hand, blundering wit of
the Irishman; and that manner which he did not
possess, he could not entirely comprehend, so that,
as far as a very visible alarm furthered the views
of the two conspirators, they were quite successful. Polwarth now took pity on his evident embarrassment, and observed, with a careless manner" Perhaps I can make a proposal, by which Mr.





236


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Sage may redeem his neck from the halter, and at
the same time essentially serve an old friend."
" Hear ye that, thou confounder of men and
bastes!" cried M'Fuse-"c down on your knees,
and thank Mr. Paiter Polwarth for the charity of
his insinuation."
Seth was not displeased to hear such amicable
intentions announced; but, habitually cautious in
all bargaining, he suppressed the exhibition of his
satisfaction, and said, with an air of deliberation
that would have done credit to the keenest trader
in King-street-that " he should like to hear the
terms of the agreement, before he gave hi; conclusion."
"C They are simply these," returned Polwarth" you shall receive your passports and freedom tonight, on condition that you sign this bond, whereby you will become obliged to supply our mess, as
usual, during the time the place is invested, with
ceitain articles of food and nourishment, as herein
set forth, and according to the prices mentioned,
which the veriest Jew in Duke's-place would pronounce to be liberal. Here; take the instrument,
and 'read, and mark,' in order that we may 'inwardly digest.' "
Seth took the paper, and gave it that mannei
of investigation that he was wont to bestow on
every thing which affected his pecuniary interests.
He objected to the price of every article, all of which
were altered in compliance with his obstinate resistance; and he moreover insisted, that a clause
should be inserted to exonerate him from the penalty, provided the intercourse should be prohibited by the authorities of the colony; after which
he continued" If the captain will agree to take charge of the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


237


things, and become liable, I will conclude to make
the trade."
" Here is a fellow who wants boot in a bargain
for his lift!" cried the grenadier; "but we N ill
humour his covetous inclinations, Polly, and take
charge of the chattels. Captain Polwarth and myself pledge our words to their safe-keeping. Let
me run my eyes over the articles," continued the
grenadier, looking very gravely at the several covenants of the bond-" faith, Paiter, you have bargained for a goodly larder! Baif, mutton, pigs, turnips, potatoes, melons, and other fruits-there's a
blunder, now, that would keep an English mess on
a grin for a month, if an Irishman had made it! as
if a melon was a fruit, and a potato was not! The
devil a word do I see that you have said about a
mouthful, except aitables, either! Here, fellow,
clap your learning to it, and Ill warrant you we
yet get a meal out of it, in some manner or other."
"' Wouldn't it be as well to put the last agreement in the writings, too," said Seth, "in case of
accidents?"
"( Hear how a knave halters himself!" cried
M'Fuse; " he has the individual honour of two
captains of foot, and is willing to exchange it for
their joint bond! The request is too raisonable to
be denied, Polly, and we should be guilty of pecuniary suicide to reject it; so place a small article at the bottom, explanatory of the mistake the
gentleman has fallen into.
Polwarth did not hesitate to comply, and in a
very few minutes every thing was arranged to the
perfect satisfaction of the parties; the two sol
diers felicitating themselves on the success of a
scheme, which seemed to avert the principal evils
of the leaguer from their own mess; and Seth
finding no difficulty in complying with an agree





LIONEL LINCOLN.


ment, which was likely to prove so profitable, how
ever much he doubted its validity in a court of jus.
tice. The prisoner was now declared at liberty,
and N as advised to make his way out of the place,
with as little noise as possible, and under favour
of the pass he held. Seth gave the bond a last
and most attentive perusal, and then departed, well
contented to abide by its conditions, and not a little pleased to escape from the grenadier, the expression of whose half-comic, half-serious eye, occasioned him more perplexity than any Gther subject, which had ever before occupied his astuteness. After the disappearance of the prisoner,
the two worthies repaired to their nightly banquet,
laughing heartily at the success of their notable
invention.
Lionel suffered Seth to pass from the room,
without speaking; but, as the man left his own
abode with a lingering and doubtful step, the young
soldier followed him into the street, without communicating to any one that he had witnessed what
had passed, with the laudable intention of adding
his own personal pledge for the security of the
household goods in question. He, however, found
it no easy achievement to equal the speed of a
man, who had just escaped from a long confinement,
and who now appeared inclined to indulge his
limbs freely in the pleasure of an unlimited exercise. The velocity of Seth continued unabated,
until he had conducted Lionel far into the lower
parts of the town, where the latter perceived him
to encounter a man, with whom he turned suddenly under an arch which led into a dark and narrow
court. Lionel instantly increased his speed, and
as he entered beneath the passage, he caught a
glimpse of the lank figure of the object of his pursuit, gliding through the opposite entrance to the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


239


court, and, at the same moment, he encountered
the man who had apparently induced the deviation
in his route. As Lionel stepped a little on one
side, the light of a lamp fell full on the form of the
other, and he recognised the person of the active
eader of the caucus, (as the political meeting he
had attended was called,) though so disguised and
muffled, that, but for the accidental opening of the
folds of his cloak, the unknown might have passed
his nearest friend without discovery.
" We meet again!" exclaimed Lionel, in the
quickness of surprise; " though it would seem that
the sun is never to shine on our interviews."
The stranger started, and betrayed an evident
wish to continue his walk, as though the other had
mistaken his person; then, as if suddenly recollecting himself, he turned and approached Lionel,
with easy dignity, and answered" The third time is said to contain the charm!
1 am happy to find that I meet Major Lincoln unharmed, after the dangers he so lately encountered."
" The dangers have probably been exaggerated
by those who wish ill to the cause of our master,"
returned Lionel, coldly.
There was a calm, but proud smile on the face
of the stranger, as he replied" I shall not dispute the information of one who
bore so conspicuous a part in the deeds of that day
--still you will remember, though the march to
Lexington was, like our own accidental rencontres.
in the dark, that a oright sun shone upon the re
treat, and nothing has been hid."
" Nothing need be concealed," replied Lionel.
nettled by the proud composure of the other' unless, indeed, the man I address is afriaid to
xvalk the streets of Boston in open day."





240,


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" The man you address, Major Lincoln," said
the stranger, advancing in his warmth a step nearer to Lionel, " has dared to walk the streets of
Boston both by day and by night, when the bullies
of him you call your master have strutted their
hour in the security of peace; and, now a nation
is up to humble their pretensions, shall he shrink
from treading his native soil when he will?"
" This is bold language from an enemy within a
British camp! Ask yourself what course my duty
requires of me?"
" That is a question which lies between Major
Lincoln and his conscience," returned the stranger-" though," he added, after a momentary pause,
and in a milder tone, as if he recollected the danger of his situation-" the gentlemen of his name
and lineage were not apt to be informers, when
they dwelt in the land of their birth."
" Neither is their descendant. But let this be
the last of our interviews, until we can meet as
friends, or, as enemies should, where we may discuss these topics at the points of our weapons."
" Amen," said the stranger, seizing the hand of
the young man, and pressing it with the warmth
of a generous emulation-" that hour may not be
far distant, and may God smile only on the just
cause."
Without uttering more, he drew the folds of his
dress more closely around his form, and walked
so swiftly away that Lionel, had he possessed the
inclination, could not have found an opportunity to
arrest his progress. As all expectation of overtaking Seth was now lost, the young soldier returned slowly and thoughtfully towards his quarters.
The two or three succeeding days were distinguished by an appearance of more than usual pre





LIONEL LINCOLN.


241


paration among the troops, and it became known
that officers of rank had closely reconnoitered the
grounds of the opposite peninsula. Lionel patiently awaited the progress of events; but as the
probability of active service increased, his wishes
to make another effort to probe the secret of the
tenant of the warehouse revived, and he took his
way towards the Dock-square, with that object, on
the night of the fourth day from the preceding interview with the stranger. It was long after the
tattoo had laid the town in that deep quiet, which
follows the bustle of a garrison; and, as he passed
along, he saw none but the sentinels pacing their
short limits, or an occasional officer, returning at
that late hour from his revels or his duty. The
windows of the warehouse were dark, and its inhabitants, if any it had, were wrapped in deep
sleep. Restless, and excited, Lionel pursued his
walk through the narrow and gloomy streets of the
North-End, until he unexpectedly found himself
issuing upon the open space that is tenanted by the
dead, on Copp's-Hill. On this eminence the English general had caused a battery of heavy cannon to be raised, and Lionel, unwilling to encounter the challenge of the sentinels, inclining a little
to one side, proceeded to the brow of the hill, and,
seating himself on a stone, began to muse deeply
on his own fortunes, and the situation of the
country.
The night was obscure, but the thin vapours
which appeared to overhang the place opened at
times, when a faint star-light fell from the heavens,
and rendered the black hulls of the vessels of war,
that lay moored before the town, and the faint outlines of the opposite shores, dimly visible. The
stillness of midnight rested on the scene, and when
the loud calls of " all's well" ascended from thl
21





242.LIONEL LINCOLNI


ships and batteries, the momentary cry was succeeded by a quiet as deep as if the universe slumbered under this assurance of safety. At such an
instant, when even the light breathings of the night
air were audible, the sound of rippling waters, like
that occasioned by raising a paddle with extreme
caution, was borne to the ear of the young soldier.
lie listened intently, and then, bending his eyes in
the direction of the faint sounds, he saw a small
canoe gliding along the surface of the water, and
soon shoot upon the gravelly shore, at the foot of
the hill, with a motion so easy and uniform as
scarcely to curl a wave on the land. Curious to
know who could be moving about the harbour at
this hour, in such a secret manner, Lionel was in
the act of rising to descend, when he saw the dim
figure of a man land from the boat, and climb the
hill, directly in a line with his own position. Suppressing even the sounds of his breath, and drawing his body back within the deep shadow cast from
a point of the hill, a little above him, Lionel waited
until the figure had approached within ten feet of
him, when it stopped, and appeared, like himself,
to be endeavouring to suppress all other sounds
and feelings in the absorbing act of deep attention.
The young soldier loosened his sword in its sheath.
before he said" We have chosen a private spot, and a secret
hour, sir, for our meditations!"
Had the figure possessed the impalpable nature
of an immaterial being, it could not have received
this remark, so startling from its suddenness, with
greater apathy than did the man to whom it was
addressed. He turned slowly towards the speaker, and seemed to look at him earnestly, before he
answered, in a low, menacing voice" There's a granny on the hill, with a gun and





LIONEL LINCOLN.


243


baggonet, walking among the cannon, and if he
hears people talking down here, he'll make them
prisoners, though one of them should be Major
Lincoln."
- Ha! Job," said Lionel-" and is it you I meet
prowling about like a thief at night!-on what errand of mischief have you been sent this time?"
" If Job's a thief for coming to see the graves
on Copp's," returned the lad sullenly, " there's
two of them."
1" Well answered, boy!" said Lionel, with a
smile; " but I repeat, on what errand have you
returned to the town at this unseasonable and suspicious hour?":
" Job loves to come up among the graves, before the cocks crow; they say the dead walk when
living men sleep."
" And would you hold communion with the dead,
then?"
" 'Tis sinful to ask them many questions, and
such as you do put should be made in the Holy
Name," returned the lad, in a tone so solemn, that,
connected with the place and the scene, it caused
the blood of Lionel to thrill-" but Job loves to
be near them, to use him to the damps, ag'in the
time he shall be called to walk himself in a sheet
at midnight."
" Hush!" said Lionel-" what noise is that?"'
Job stood a moment, listening as intently as his
companion, before he answered" There's no noise but the moaning of the wind
in the bay, or the sea tumbling on the beaches of
the islands."
" 'Tis neither," said Lionel; " I heard the low
hum of a hundred voices, or my ears have played
me falsely."
" May be the spirits speak to each other," said
16





244


4   LIONEL LINCOLN.


the lad-" they say their voices are like the rushing winds."
Lionel passed his hand across his brow, and en.
deavoured to recover the tone of his mind, which
had been strangely disordered by the solemn manner of his companion, and walked slowly from the
spot, closely attended by the silent changeling
He did not stop until he had reached the inner
angle of the wall that enclosed the field of the
dead, when he paused, and, leaning on the fence,
again listened intently.
SBoy, I know not how your silly conversation
may have warped my brain," he said, " but there
are surely strange and unearthly sounds lingering
about this place, to-night! By heavens! there is
another rush of voices, as if the air above the water were filled with living beings; and then again,
I think I hear a noise as if heavy weights were
falling to the earth!"
" Ay," said Job," 'tis the clods on the coffins,
the dead are going into their graves ag'in, and
'tis time that we should leave them their own
grounds."
Lionel hesitated no longer, but he rather run
than walked from the spot, with a secret horror
that, at another moment, he would have blushed
to acknowledge; nor did he perceive that. he was
still attended by Job, until he had descended some
distance down Lynn-street.  Here he was addressed by his companion, in his usually quiet and
unmeaning tones" There's the house that the governor built, who
went down into the sea for money!" he said"he was a poor boy once, like Job, and now they
say his grandson is a great lord, and the king
knighted the grand'ther too. It's pretty much the
same thing whether a man gets his money out ot





LIONEL LINCOLN.


245


the sea or out of the earth; the king will make
him a lord for it."
" You hold the favours of royalty cheap, fellow," returned Lionel, glancing his eye carelessly
at the ' Phipps' house,' as he passed-" you forget that I am to be some day one of your despised
knights!"
" I know it," said Job; "and you come from
America too-it seems to me that all the pool
boys go from America to the king to be great lords,
and all the sons of the great lords come to America to be made poor boys-Nab says Job is the
son of a great lord too!"
" Then Nab is as great a fool as her child," said
Lionel; "but, boy, I would see your mother in
the morning, and I expect you to let me know at
what hour I may visit her."
Job did not answer, and Lionel, on turning his
head, perceived that he was suddenly deserted by
the changeling, who was already gliding back towards his favourite haunt among the graves. Vexed at the wild humours of the lad, Lionel hastened
to his quarters, and threw himself in his bed,
though he heard the loud cries of "all's well,"
again and again, before the strange phantasies,
which continued to cross his mind, would permit
him to.obtain the rest he sought.
21 *





CHAPTER XV.
a We are finer gentlemen, no doubt, than the plain farmers we are about
" toencounter. Our hats carry a smarter cock, our swords hang more grace' fully by our sides, and we make an easier figure in a ball-room; but let
Sit be remembered, that the most finished maccaroni amongst us, would
" pass for an arrant clown at Pekin."
Letter from a veteran Officer, 4c
WHEN the heavy sleep of morning fell upon his
senses, visions of the past and future mingled with
wild confusion in the dreams of the youthful soldier. The form of his father stood before him, as
he had known it in his childhood, fair in the proportions and vigour of manhood, regarding him
with those eyes of benignant, but melancholy affection, which characterized their expression after
he had become the sole joy of his widowed parent.
While his heart was warming at the sight, the
figure melted away, and was succeeded by fantastic phantoms, which appeared to dance among the
graves on Copp's, led along in those gambols,
which partook of the ghastly horrors of the dead,
by Job Pray, who glided among the tombs like a
being of another world. Sudden and loud thunder
then burst upon them, and the shadows fled into
their secret places, from whence he could see,
ever and anon, some glassy eyes and spectral faces.
peering out upon him, as if conscious of the power





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241


they possessed to chill the blood of the living.
His visions now became painfully distinct, and his
sleep was oppressed with theiir vividness, when
his senses burst their unnatural bonds, and he
awoke. The air of morning was breathing through
his open curtains, and the light of day had already
shed itself upon the dusky roofs of the town.
Lionel arose friom his bed, and had paced his chamber several times, in a vain effort to shake off the
images that had haunted his slumbers, when the
sounds which broke upon the stillness of the air,
became too plain to be longer mistaken by a practised ear.
" Ha!" he muttered to himself, " I have been
dreaming but by halves-these are the sounds of
no fancied tempest, but cannon, speaking most
plainly to the soldier!"
He opened his window, and looked out upon the
surrounding scene. The roar of artillery was now
quick and heavy, and Lionel bent his eyes about
him to discover the cause of this unusual occurrence. It had been the policy of Gage to await
the arrival of his reinforcements, before he struck
a blow, which was intended to be decisive; and
the Americans were well known to be too scantily
supplied with the munitions of war, to waste a single charge of powder in any of the vain attacks of
modern sieges. A knowledge of these facts gave
an additional interest to the curiosity with which
Major Lincoln endeavoured to penetrate the mystery of so singular a disturbance. Window after
window in the adjacent buildings soon exhibited,
like his own, its wondering and alarmed spectator.
Here and there a half-dressed-soldier, or a busy
townsman, was seen hurrying along the silent
streets, with steps that denoted the eagerness of
his curiosity. Women began to rush wildly fiom





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LIONEL LINCOLN.


their dwellings, and then, as the sounds broke on
their ears with ten-fold heaviness in the open air,
they shrunk back into their habitations in pallid dismay. Lionel called to three or four of the men,
as they hurried by; but, turning their eyes wildly
towards his window, they passed on without answering, as if the emergency were too pressing to
admit of speech. Finding his repeated inquiries
fruitless, he hastily dressed himself, and descended to the street. As he left his own door, a halfclad artillerist hurried past him, adjusting his garments with one hand, and bearing in the other
some of the lesser implements of the particular
corps in which he served.
" What means the firing, sergeant," demanded
Lionel, " and whither do you hasten with those
fusees?"
" The rebels, your honour, the rebels!" returned the soldier, looking back to speak, without
ceasing his speed; "and I go to my guns!"
" The rebels!" repeated Lionel-" what can
we have to fear from a mob of countrymen, in such
a position-that fellow has slept from his post, and
apprehensions for himself mingle with this zeal
for his king!"
The towns-people now began to pour from their
dwellings in scores; and Lionel imitated their example, and took his course towards the adjacent
height of Beacon-Hill. He toiled his way up the
steep ascent, in company with twenty more, without exchanging a syllable with men who appeared
as much astonished as himself at this early interruption of their slumbers, and in a few minutes he
stood on the little grassy platform, surrounded by
a hundred interested gazers. The sun had just
lifted the thin veil of mist from the bosom of the
waters. and the eye was permitted to range over a





LIONEL LINCOLN.


249


wide field beneath the light vapour. Several vessels were moored in the channels of the Charles
and Mystick, to cover the northern approaches to
the place; and as he beheld the column of white
smoke that was wreathing about the masts of a
frigate among them, Lionel was no longer at a loss
to comprehend whence the firing proceeded.
While he was yet gazing, uncertain of the reasons
which demanded this show of war, immense fields
of smoke burst from the side of a ship of the line,
who also opened her deep-mouthed cannon, and
presently her example was followed by several
floating batteries, and lighter vessels, until the
wide amphitheatre of hills that encircled Boston,
was filled with the echoes of a hundred pieces of
artillery.
" What can it mean, sir?" exclaimed a young
officer of his own regiment, addressing Major Lincoln-" the sailors are in downright earnest, and
they scale their guns with shot, I know, by the
rattling of the reports!"
" I can boast of a vision no better than your
own," returned Lionel; " for no enemy can I see.
As the guns seem pointed at the opposite peninsula, it is probable a party of the Americans are attempting to destroy the grass which lies newly
mown in the meadows."
The young officer was in the act of assenting
to this conjecture, when a voice was heard above
their heads, shouting" There goes a gun from Copp's! They needn't
think to frighten the people with their rake-helly
noises; let them blaze away till the dead get out
of their graves-the Bay-men will keep the hill!"
Every eye was immediately turned upward, and
the wondering and amused spectators discovered
Job Pray, seated in the grate of the beacon, his





250


LIONEL LINCOLN.


countenance, usually so vacant, gleaming with exultation, while he continued waving his hat high
in air, as gun after gun was added to the uproar of
the cannonade.
C How now, fellow!" exclaimed Lionel; what
see you  and where are the Bay-men of whom
you speak?"
" Where?" returned the simpleton, clapping his
hands with childish delight-" why, where they
came at dark midnight, and where they'll stand at
open noon-day! The Bay-men can look into the
windows of old Funnel at last, and now let the
reg'lars come on, and they'll teach the godless
murderers the law!"
Lionel, a little irritated with the bold language
of Job, called to him in an angry voice" Come down from that perch, fellow, and explain yourself, or this grenadier shall lift you from
your seat, and transfer you to the post for a little
of that wholesome correction which you need."
" You promised that the grannies should never
flog Job ag'in," said the changeling, crouching down
in the 6rate, whence he looked out at his threatened chastiser with a lowering and sullen eye" and Job agreed to run your a'r'nds, and not take
any of the king's crowns in pay."
c Come down, then, this instant, and I will remember the compact."
Comforted by this assurance, which was made
in a more friendly tone, Job threw himself carelessly from his iron seat, and clinging to the post,
he slid swiftly to the earth, where Major Lincoh:
immediately arrested him by the arm, and demanded"1Where are those Bay-men, I once more
ask?"
" There!" repeated Job, pointing over the low





LIONEL LINCOLN.


251


roofs of the town, in the direction of the opposite
peninsula. 1" They dug their cellar on Breed's,
and now they are fixing the underpinnin', and
next you'll see what a raising they'll invite the
people to!"
The instant the spot was named, all those eyes,
which had hitherto gazed at the vessels themselves, instead of searching for the object of their
hostility, were turned on the green eminence
which rose a little to the right of the village of
Charlestown, and every doubt was at once removed by the discovery. The high, conical summit of Bunker-Hill lay naked, and unoccupied, as
on the preceding day; but on the extremity of a
more humble ridge, which extended vithin a short
distance of the water, a low bank of earth had been
thrown up, for purposes which no military eye
could mistake. This redoubt, small and inartificial
as it was, commanded by its position the whole
of the inner harbour of Boston, and even endangered, in some measure, the occupants of the town
itself. It was the sudden appearance of this magical mound, as the mists of the morning had dispersed, which roused the slumbering seamen; and
it had already become the target of all the guns of
the shipping in the bay. Amazement at the temerity of their countrymen held the townsmen silent, while Major Lincoln, and the few officers
who stood nigh him, saw, at a glance, that this step
on the part of their adversaries would bring the
affairs of the leaguer to an instant crisis. In vain
they turned their wondering looks on the neighbouring eminence, and around the different points
of the peninsula, in quest of those places of support, with which soldiers generally entrench their
defences. The husbandmen opposed to them had
seized upon the point best calculated to annoy





252


LIONEL LINCOLN.


their foes, without regard to the consequences;
and in a few short hours, favoured by the mantle
of night, had thrown up their work with a dexterity that was only exceeded by their boldness.
The truth flashed across the brain of Major Lincoln with his first glance, and he felt his cheeks
glow as he remembered the low and indistinct
murmurs, which the night air had wafted to his
ears, and those inexplicable fancies, which had
even continued to haunt him till dispersed by truth
and the light of day. Motioning to Job to follow,
he left the hill with a hurried step, and when they
gained the common, he turned, and said, sternly,
to his companion" Fellow, you have been privy to this midnight
work!"
" Job has enough to do in the day, without labouring in the night, when none but the dead are
out of their places of rest," returned the lad, with
a look of mental imbecility, which immediately
disarmed the resentment of the other.
Lionel smiled as he again remembered his own
weakness, and repeated to himself" The dead! ay, these are the works of the living; and bold men are they who have dared to do
the deed. But tell me, Job,-for 'tis in vain to attempt deceiving me any longer-what number of
Americans did you leave on the hill, when you
crossed the Charles to visit the graves on Copp's,
the past night?"
" Both hills were crowded," returned the othei
-" Breed's with the people, and Copp's with the
ghosts-Job believes the dead rose to see their
children digging so nigh them!"
"'Tis probable," said Lionel, who believed it
wisest to humour the wild conceits of the lad, in
order to disarm his cunning; "but, though the
dead are invisible, the living may be counted "





LIONEL LINCOLN.


253


"Job did count five hundred men, marching
over the nose of Bunker, by star-light, with their
picks and spades; and then he stopped, for he forgot whether seven or eight hundred came next."
" And after you ceased to count, did many
others pass?"
" The Bay colony isn't so poorly off for men,
that it can't muster a thousand at a raising."
" But you had a master workman on the occasion; was it the wolf-hunter of Connecticut?"
" There is no occasion to go from the province
to find a workman to lay out a cellar!-Dickey
Gridley is a Boston boy!"
" Ah! he is the chief! we can have nothing to
fear then, since the Connecticut woodsman is not
at their head!"
" Do you think old Prescott, of Pepperel, will
quit the hill while he has a kernel of powder to
burn?-no, no, Major Lincoln, Ralph himself an't
a stouter warrior; and you can't frighten Ralph!"
" But if they fire their cannon often, their small
stock of ammunition will be soon consumed, and
then they must unavoidably run."
Job laughed tauntingly, and with an appearance
of high scorn, before he answered" Yes, if the Bay-men were as dumb as the
king's troops, and used such big guns! but the
cannon of the colony want but little brimstone, and
there's but few of them.-Let the rake-hellies go
up to Breed's; the people will teach them the law!"
Lionel had now obtained all he expected to
learn from the simpleton, concerning the force
and condition of the Americans; and as the moments were too precious to be wasted in vain discourse, he bid the lad repair to his quarters that
night, and left him. On entering his own lodg.
ings, Major Lincoln shut himself up in his private
02





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LIONEL LINCOLN.


apartment, and passed several hours in writing, and
examining important papers. One letter, in particular, was written, read, torn, and re-written, five
or six times, until at length he placed his seal, and
directed the important paper with a sort of carelessness that denoted his patience was exhausted
by repeated trials. These documents were entrusted to Meriton, with orders to deliver them to
their several addresses, unless countermanded be-fore the following day; and the young man hastily
swallowed a late and light breakfast. While shut
up in his closet, Lionel had several times thrown
aside his pen to listen, as the hum of the place penetrated to his retirement, and announced the excitement and bustle which pervaded the streets of
the town. Having at length completed the task
he had assigned himself, he caught up his hat, and
took his way, with hasty steps, into the centre of
the place.
Cannon were rattling over the rough pavements,
followed by ammunition wagons, and officers and
men of the artillery were seen in swift pursuit of
their pieces. Aide-de-camps were riding furiously
through the streets, charged with important messages; and here and there an officer might be seen
issuing from his quarters, with a countenance in
which manly pride struggled powerfully with inward dejection, as he caught the last glance of anguish, whicn followed his retiring form, from eyes
that had been used to meet his own with looks of
confidence and love. There was, however, but
little time to dwell on these flitting glimpses of domestic wo, amid the general bustle and glitter of
the scene. Now and then the strains of martial
mtrsic broke up through the windings of the crooked avenues, and detachments of the troops wheeled
by, on their way to the appointed place of em





LIONEL LINCOLN.


255


barkation. While Lionel stood a moment at the
corner of a street, admiring the firm movement of
a body of grenadiers, his eye fell on the powerful
frame and rigid features of M'Fuse, marching at
the head of his company with that gravity which regarded the accuracy of the step amongst the important incidents of life. At a short distance from him
was Job Pray, timing his paces to the tread of the
soldiers, and regarding the gallant show with stupid admiration, while his ear unconsciously drank
the inspiriting music of their band. As this fine
body of men passed on, it was immediately succeeded by a battalion, in which Lionel instantly recognised the facings of his ow'n regiment. The
warm-hearted Polwarth led its forward files, and,
waving his hand, he cried" God bless you, Leo, God bless you-we shall
make a fair stand up fight of this; there is an end
of all stag-hunting."
The notes of the horns rose above his voice,
and Lionel could do no more than return his cordial salute; when, recalled to his purpose by the
sight of his comrades, he turned and pursued his
way to the quarters of the commander-in-chief."
The gate of Province-House was thronged with
military men; some waiting for admittance, and
others entering and departing with the air of those
who were charged with the execution of matters
of the deepest moment. The name of Major Lincoln was hardly announced before an aid appeared
to conduct him into the presence of the governor,
with a politeness and haste that several gentlemen.
who had been in waiting for hours, deemed in a
trifling degree unjust.
Lionel, however, having little to do with murmurs which he did not hear, followed his conductor, and was immediately ushered into the apart




256


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ment, where a council of war had just closed its
deliberations. On the threshold of its door he was
compelled to give way to an officer, who was departing in haste, and whose powerful frame seemed bent a little in the intensity of thought, as his
dark, military countenance lighted fot an instant
with the salutation he returned to the low bow of
the young soldier. Around this chief a group of
younger men immediately clustered, and as they
departed in company, Lionel was enabled to gather
friom their conversation, that they took their way
for the field of battle. The room was filled with
officers of high rank; though here and there was to
be seen a man in civil attire, whose disappointed
and bitter looks announced him to be one of those
mandamus counsellors, whose evil advice had
hastened the mischief their wisdom could never repair. Front out a small circle of these mortified
civilians, the unpretending person of Gage advanced to meet Lionel, forming a marked contrast,
by the simplicity of its dress, to the military splendour that was glittering around him.
" In what can I oblige Major Lincoln?" he said,
taking the young man by the hand cordially, as if
glad to be rid of the troublesome counsellors he
had so unceremoniously quitted.
"' Wolfe's own' has just passed me on its way
to the boats, and I have ventured to intrude on
your excellency to inquire if it were not time its
major had resumed his duty."
A shade of thought was seated for a moment on
the placid features of the general, and he then answered, with a friendly smile"' Twill be no more than an affair of out-posts,
and must be quickly ended. But should I grant
the request of every brave young man whose spirit is up to-day, it might cost his majesty's service





LIONEL LINCOLN.


257


the life of some officer that would make the purchase of the pile of earth too dear."
" But may I not be permitted to say, that the
family of Lincoln is of the province, and its example should not be lost on such an occasion?"
" The loyalty of the colonies is too well represented here to need the sacrifice," said Gage
glancing his eyes carelessly at the expecting group
behind him.-" My council have decided on the
officers to be employed, and I regret that Major
Lincoln's name was omitted, since I know it will
give him pain; but valuable lives are not to be
lightly and unnecessarily exposed."
Lionel bowed in submission; and, after communicating the little he had gathered from Job Pray,
he turned away, and found himself near another
officer of high rank, who smiled as he observed his
disappointed countenance, and, taking him by the
arm, led him from the room, with a freedom suited to his fine figure and easy air.
"' Then, like myself, Lincoln, you are not to
battle for the king to-day," he said, on gaining the
anti-chamber. " Howe has the luck of the occasion, if there can be luck in so vulgar an affair.
But allons; accompany me to Copp's, as a spectator, since they deny us parts in the drama; and
perhaps we may pick up materials for a pasquinade, though not for an epic."
" Pardon me, General Burgoyne," said Lionel,
" if I view the matter with more serious eyes than
yourself."
" Ah! I had forgot that you were a follower of
Percy in the hunt of Lexington!" interrupted the
other; " we will call it a tragedy, then, if it better
suits your humour. For myself, Lincoln, I weary
of these crooked streets and gloomy houses, and,
having some taste for the poetry of nature, would
22





LIONEL LINCOLN.


have long since looked out upon the deserted fields
of these husbandmen, had the authority, as well as
the inclination, rested with me. But Clinton is
joining us; he, too, is for Copp's, where we can
all take a lesson in arms, by studying the manner
in which Howe wields his battalions."
A soldier of middle age now joined them, whose
stout frame, while it wanted the grace and ease of
the gentleman who still held Lionel by the arm,
bore a martial character to which the look of the
quiet and domestic Gage was a stranger; and, followed by their several attendants, the whole party
immediately left the government-house to take
their destined position on the eminence so often
mentioned.
As they entered the street, Burgoyne relinquished the arm of his companion, and moved with becoming dignity by the side of his brother general.
Lionel gladly availed himself of this alteration, to
withdraw a little from the group, whose steps he
followed at such a distance as permitted him to observe those exhibitions of feeling, on the part of the
inhabitants, which the pride of the others induced
them to overlook. Pallid and anxious female faces
were gleaming out upon them from every window,
while the roofs of the houses, and the steeples of
the churches, were beginning to throng with more
daring, and equally interested spectators. The
drums no longer rolled along the narrow streets,
though, occasionally, the shrill strain of a fife was
heard from the water, announcing the movements
of the troops to the opposite peninsula. Over all
was heard the incessant roaring of the artillery,
which, untired, had not ceased to rumble in the air
since the appearance of light, until the ear, accustomed to its presence, had learnt to distinguish
the lesser sounds we have recorded.
As the party descended into the lower passages





LIONEL LINCOLN.


2009


of the town, it appeared deserted by ever.y thing
having life; the open windows and neglected doors
netraying the urgency of the feelings, which had
called the population to situations more favourable
for observing the approaching contest. This appearance of intense curiosity excited the sympathies of even the old and practised soldiers; and,
quickening their paces, the whole soon rose from
among the gloomy edifices to the open and unobstructed view from the hill.
The whole scene now lay before them. Nearly
in their front was the village of Charlestown,
with its deserted streets, and silent roofs, looking
like a place of the dead; or, if the signs of life
were visible within its open avenues, 'twas merely some figure moving swiftly in the solitude, like
one who hastened to quit the devoted spot. On
the opposite point of the south-eastern face of the
peninsula, and at the distance of a thousand yards,
the ground was already covered by masses of human beings, in scarlet, with their arms glittering in
a noon-day sun. Between the two, though in the
more immediate vicinity of the silent town, the
rounded ridge, already described, rose abruptly
from a flat that was bounded by the water, until,
having attained an elevation of some fifty or sixty
feet, it swelled gradually to the little crest, where
was planted the humble object that had occasioned
all this commotion. The meadows, on the right,
were still peaceful and smiling, as in the most quiet
days of the province, though the excited fancy of
Lionel imagined that a sullen stillness lingered
about the neglected kilns in their front, and over
the whole landscape, that was in gloomy consonance with the approaching scene. Far on the
left, across the waters of the Charles, the American
camp had poured forth its thousands to the hills;
and the whole population of the country, for many
17





260


LIONEL LINCOLN.


miles inland, had gathered to a point, to witness a
struggle charged with the fate of their nation. Beacon-Hill rose from out the appalling silence of the
town of Boston, like a pyramid of living faces, with
every eye fixed on the fatal point; and men hung
along the yards of the shipping, or were suspended
on cornices, cupolas, and steeples, in thoughtless security, while every other sense was lost in the absorbing interest of the sight. The vessels of war
had hauled deep into the rivers, or, more properly,
those narrow arms of the sea which formed the peninsula, and sent their iron missiles with unwearied
industry across the low passage, which alone opened
the means of communication between the self-devoted yeomen on the hill, and their distant countrymen. While battalion landed after battalion on
the point, cannon-balls from the battery of Copp's,
and the vessels of war, were glancing up the natural
glacis that surrounded the redoubt, burying themselves in its earthen parapet, or plunging with violence into the deserted sides of the loftier height
which lay a few hundred yards in its rear; and the
black and smoking bombs appeared to hover above
the spot, as if pausing to select the places in which
to plant their deadly combustibles.
Notwithstanding these appalling preparations,
and ceaseless annoyances, throughout that long and
anxious morning, the stout husbandmen on the hill
had never ceased their steady efforts to maintain,
to the uttermost extremity, the post they had so
daringly assumed. In vain the English exhausted
every means to disturb their stubborn foes; the
pick, the shovel, and the spade continued to perform their offices; and mound rose after mound,
amidst the din and danger of the cannonade, steadily, and as well as if the fanciful conceits of Job
Pray embraced their real objects, and the labourers
were employed in the peaceful ptursuits of their oi -





LIONEL LINCOLN.


261


dinary lives. This firmness, however, was not like
the proud front, which high training can impart to
the most common mind; for, ignorant of the glare
of military show; in the simple and rude vestments
of their calling; armed with such weapons as they
had seized from the hooks above their own mantels;
and without even a banner to wave its cheering
folds above their heads, they stood, sustained only
by the righteousness of their cause, and those deep
moral principles which they had received from their
fathers, and which they intended this day should
show were to be transmitted untarnished to their
children. It was afterwards known, that they endured their labours and their dangers even in want
of that sustenance, which is so essential to support
animal spirits in moments of calmness and ease;
while their enemies, on the point, awaiting the arrival of their latest bands, were securely devouring
a meal, which to hundreds amongst them proved to
be their last. The fatal instant now seemed approaching. A general movement was seen among
the battalions of the British, who began to spread
along the shore, under cover of the brow of the
hill-the lingering boats having arrived with the
rear of their detachments-and officers hurried from
regiment to regiment with the final mandates of
their chief. At this moment a body of Americans
appeared on the crown of Bunker-Hill, and descending swiftly by the road, disappeared in the meadows
to the left of their own redoubt. This band was
followed by others, who, like themselves, had broken through the dangers of the narrow pass, by braving the fire of the shipping, and who also hurried to
join their comrades on the low land. The British
general determined at once to anticipate the arrival
of further reinforcements, and gave forth the longexpected order to prepare for the attack.





CHAPTER XVI.


" Th' imperious Briton, on the well-fought ground,
SNo cause for joy, or wanton triumph found;
"But saw, with griefl their dreams of conquest vain
' Felt the deep wounds, and mourn'd their vet'rans slain.
Humphreys
THE Americans had made a show, in the course
of that fearful morning, of returning the fire of their
enemies, by throwing a few shot from their light
field-pieces, as if in mockery of the tremendous
cannonade which they sustained. But as the moment of severest trial approached, the same awful
stillness, which had settled upon the deserted streets
of Charlestown, hovered around the redoubt. On
the meadows, to its left, the recently arrived bands
hastily threw the rails of two fences into one, and,
covering the whole with the mown grass that surrounded them, they posted themselves along the
frail defence, which answered no better purpose
than to conceal their weakness from their adversaries. Behind this characteristic rampart, several
bodies of husbandmen, from the neighbouring provinces of New-Hampshire and Connecticut, lay on
their arms, in sullen expectation. Their line extended from the shore to the base of the ridge,
where it terminated several hundred feet behind
the works; leaving a wide opening in a diagonal
direction, between the fence and an earthen breast




LIONEL LINCOLN.


263


work, which ran a short distance down the declivity of the hill, from the north-eastern angle of
the redoubt. A few hundred yards in the rear
of this rude disposition, the naked crest of BunkerHill rose unoccupied and undefended; and the
streams of the Charles and Mystick, sweeping
around its base, approached so near each other as
to blend the sounds of their rippling. It was across
this low and narrow isthmus, that the royal frigates
poured a stream of fire, that never ceased, while
around it hovered the numerous parties of the undisciplined Americans, hesitating to attempt the
dangerous passage.
In this manner Gage had, in a great degree,
surrounded the devoted peninsula with his power;
and the bold men, who had so daringly planted
themselves under the muzzles of his cannon, were
left, as already stated, unsupported, without nourishment, and with weapons from their own gunhooks, singly to maintain the honour of their nation. Including men of all ages and conditions,
there might have been two thousand of them; but,
as the day advanced, small bodies of their countrymen, taking counsel of their feelings, and animated
by the example of the old partisan of the woods,
who crossed and recrossed the neck, loudly scoffing at the danger, broke through the fire of the
shipping. in time to join in the closing and bloody
business; of the hour.
On the other hand, Howe led more than an
equal number, of the chosen troops of his prince;
and as boats continued to ply between the two
peninsulas throughout the afternoon, the relative
disparity continued undiminished to the end of
the struggle  It was at this point in~ our narrative
that,,deeming himself sufficiently strong to: force
the defene's of his despised foes, the arrangements





264


LIONEL LINCOLN.


immediately preparatory to such an undertaking
were made in full view of the excited spectators.
Notwithstanding the security with which the English general marshalled his warriors, he felt that
the approaching contest would be a battle of no
common incidents. The eyes of tens of thousands
were fastened on his movements, and the occasion
demanded the richest display of the pageantry of
war.
The troops formed with beautiful accuracy, and
the columns moved steadily along the shore, and
took their assigned stations under cover of the
brow of the eminence. Their force was in some
measure divided; one moiety attempting the toilsome ascent of the hill, and the other moving along
the beach, or in the orchards of the more level
ground, towards the husbandmen on the meadows.
The latter soon disappeared behind some fruittrees and the brick-kilns just mentioned. The advance of the royal columns up the ascent was slow
and measured, giving time to their field-guns to add
their efforts to the uproar of the cannonade, which
broke out with new fury as the battalions prepared
to march. When each column arrived at the allotted point, it spread the gallant array of its glittering warriors under a bright sun.
" It is a glorious spectacle," murmured the
graceful chieftain by the side of Lionel, keenly
alive to all the poetry of his alluring profession
" how exceeding soldier-like! and with what accuracy his 'first-arm ascends the hill,' towards his
enemy!"
The intensity of his feelings prevented Major
Lincoln firom replying, and the other soon forgot
that he had spoken, in the overwhelming anxiety of
the moment. The advance of the British line, so
beautiful and slow, resembled rather the ordered





IOCNEL LINCOLN.


265


steadiness of a drill, than an approach to a deadly
struggle. Their standards fluttered proudly above
them; and there were moments when the wild
music of their bands was heard rising on the air.
and tempering the ruder sounds of the artillery.
The young and thoughtless in their ranks turned
their faces backward, and smiled exultingly, as
they beheld steeples, roofs, masts, and heights,
teeming with their thousands of eyes, bent on the
show of their bright array. As the British lines
moved in open view of the little redoubt, and began slowly to gather around its different faces, gun
after gun became silent, and the curious artillerist,
or tired seaman, lay extended on his heated piece,
gazing in mute wonder at the spectacle. There
was just then a minute when the roar of the cannonade seemed passing away like the rumbling of
distant thunder.
"' They will not fight, Lincoln," said the animated leader at the side of Lionel-" the military
front of Howe has chilled the hearts of the knaves,
and our victory will be bloodless!"
" We shall see, sir-we shall see!"
These words were barely uttered, when platoon
alter platoon, among the British, delivered its fire,
thp blaze of musketry flashing swiftly around the
brow of the hill, and was immediately followed by
heavy volleys that ascended from the orchard.
Still no answering sound was heard from the
Americans, and the royal troops were soon lost
to the eye, as they slowly marched into the white
cloud which their own fire had alone created.
" They are cowed, by heavens-the dogs are
cowed!" once more cried the gay companion of
Lionel, " and Howe is within two hundred feet of
them, unharmed!"
At that instant a sheet, of flame glanced through
23





*66


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the smoke, like lightning playing in a cloud, while
at one report a thousand muskets were added to
the uproar. It was not altogether fancy, which led
Lionel to imagine that he saw the smoky canopy
of the hill to wave, as if the trained warriors it enveloped faltered before this close and appalling discharge; but, in another instant, the stimulating
war-cry, and the loud shouts of the combatants
were borne across the strait to his ears, even amid
the horrid din of the combat. Ten breathless
minutes flew by like a moment of time, and the
bewildered spectators on Copp's were still gaging
intently on the scene, when a voice was raised
among them, shouting" Hurrah! let the rake-hellies go up to Breed's;
the people will teach 'em the law!"
" Throw the rebel scoundrel from the hill!
Blow him from the muzzle of a gun!" cried twenty
soldiers in a breath.
" Hold!" exclaimed Lionel-" 'tis a simpleton,
an idiot, a fool!"
But the angry and savage murmurs as quickly
subsided, and were lost in other feelings, as the
bright red lines of the royal troops were seen issuing from the smoke, waving and recoiling before
the still vivid fire of their enemies.
"Ha!" said Burgoyne-" 'tis some feint to
draw the rebels from their hold!"
"'Tis a palpable and disgraceful retreat!" muttered the stern warrior nigh him, whose truer eye
detected at a glance the discomfiture of the assailants.-" 'Tis another base retreat before the
rebels!"
"Hurrah!" shouted the reckless changeling
again; "there come the reg'lars out of the orchard too --see the grannies skulking behind the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


267


kilns! Let them go on to Breed's; the people will
teach 'em the law!"
No cry of vengeance preceded the act this time,
but fifty of the soldiery rushed, as by a common
impulse, on their prey. Lionel had not time to
utter a word of remonstrance, before Job appeared
in the air, borne on the uplifted arms of a dozen
men, and at the next instant he was seen rolling
down the steep declivity, with a velocity that carried him to the water's edge. Springing to his
feet, the undaunted changeling once more waved
his hat in triumph, and shouted forth again his offensive challenge. Then turning, he launched his
canoe from its hiding place among the adjacent
lumber, amid a shower of stones, and glided across
the strait; his little bark escaping unnoticed in the
crowd of boats that were rowing in all directions.
But his progress was watched by the uneasy eye
of Lionel, who saw him land and disappear, with
hasty steps, in the silent streets of the town.
While this trifling by-play was enacting, the
great drama of the day was not at a stand. The
smoky.eil, which clung around the brow of the
eminence, was lifted by the air, and sailed heavily
away to the south-west, leaving the scene of the
bloody struggle again open to the view. Lionel witnessed the grave and meaning glances which the
two lieutenants of the king exchanged as they simultaneously turned their glasses from the fatal
spot, and, taking the one proffered by Burgoyne,
he read their explanation in the numbers of the
dead that lay profusely scattered in front of the redoubt. At this instant, an officer from the field
held an earnest communication with the two leaders; when, having delivered his orders, he hastened back to his boat, like one who felt himself employed in matters of life and death.





268


LIONEL LINCOLN.


"' It shall be done, sir," repeated Clinton, as the
other departed, his own honest brow sternly knit
under high martial excitement.-" The artillery
have their orders, and the work will be accomplished without delay."
" This, Major Lincoln!" cried his more sophisticated companion, " this is one of the trying duties of the soldier  To fight, to bleed, or even to
die, for his prince, is his happy privilege; but it is
sometimes his unfortunate lot to become the instrument of vengeance."
Lionel waited but a moment for an explanation
-the flaming balls were soon seen taking their
wide circuit in the air, and carrying their desolation among the close and inflammable roofs of the
opposite town. In a very few minutes, a dense,
black smoke arose from the deserted buildings,
and forked flames played actively along the heated
shingles, as though rioting in their unmolested
possession of the place. He regarded the gathering destruction in painful silence; and, on bending his looks towards his companions, he fancied,
notwithstanding the language of the other, that he
read the deepest regret in the averted eye of him
who had so unhesitatingly uttered the fatal mandate to destroy.
In scenes like these we are attempting to describe, hours appear to be minutes, and time flies
as imperceptibly as life slides from beneath the
feet of age. The disordered ranks of the British
had been arrested at the base of the hill, and were
again forming under the eyes of theii leaders,
with admirable discipline, and extraordinary care.
Fresh battalions, from Boston, marched with high
military pride into the line, and every thing betokened that a second assault was at hand. When
the moment of stupid amazement, which succeeded





LIONEL LINCOLN.


269


the retreat of the royal troops, had passed, the
troops and batteries poured out their wrath with
tenfold fury on their enemies. Shot were incessantly glancing up the gentle acclivity, madly
ploughing across its grassy surface, while black
and threatening shells appeared to hover above
the work, like the monsters of the air, about to
stoop upon their prey.
Still all lay quiet and immovable within the
low mounds of earth, as if none there had a stake
in the issue of the bloody day. For a few moments only, the tall figure of an aged man was seen
slowly moving along the summit of the rampart,
calmly regarding the dispositions of the English
general in the more distant part of his line, and after exchanging a few words with a gentleman, who
ioined him in his dangerous lookout, they disappeared together behind the grassy banks. Lionel
soon detected the name of Prescott of Pepperel,
passing through the crowd in low murmurs, and
his glass did not deceive him when he thought, in
the smaller of the two, he had himself descried
the graceful person of the unknown leader of the
Scaucus.'
All eyes were now watching the advance of the
battalions, which once more drew nigh the point
of contest. The heads of the columns were already in view of their enemies, when a man was seen
swiftly ascending the hill from the burning town:
he paused amid the peril, on the natural glacis,
and swung his hat triumphantly, and Lionel even
fancied he heard the exulting cry, as he recognised the ungainly form of the simpleton, before it
plunged into the work.
The right of the British once more disappeared
in the orchard, and the columns in front of the redoubt again opened with all the imposing exact
23*





270


7LIONEL LINCOLN.


ness of their high discipline. Their arms were al
ready glittering in a line with the green faces of
the mound, and Lionel heard the experienced warrior at his side murmuring to himself" Let him hold his fire, and he will go in at the
point of the bayonet!"
But the trial was too great for even the practised courage of the royal troops. Volley succeeded volley, and in a few moments they had
again curtained their ranks behind the misty
skreen produced by their own fire. Then came
the terrible flash from the redoubt, and the eddying volumes from the adverse hosts rolled into one
cloud, enveloping the combatants in its folds, as if
to conceal their bloody work from the spectators.
Twenty times, in the short space of as many minutes, Major Lincoln fancied he heard the incessant roll of the American musketry die away before the heavy and regular volleys of the troops;
and then he thought the sounds of the latter grew
more faint, and were given at longer intervals.
The result, however, was soon known. The
heavy bank of smoke, which now even clung along
the ground, was broken in fifty places; and the disordered masses of the British were seen driven before their deliberate foes, in wild confusion. The
flashing swords of the officers in vain attempted to
arrest the torrent, nor did the flight cease, with
many of the regiments, until they had even reached
their boats. At this moment a hum was heard in
Boston, like the sudden rush of wind, and men
gazed in each other's faces with undisguised
amazement. Here and there a low sound of exultation escaped some unguarded lip, and many an
eye gleamed with a triumph that could no longer
be suppressed. Until this moment the feelings of
Lionel had vacillated between the pride of country





LIONEL LINCOLN.


271


and his military spirit; but, losing all other feelings
in the latter sensation, he now looked fiercely
about him, as if he would seek the man who dare
exult in the repulse of his comrades. The poetic
chieftain was still at his side, biting his nether lip
in vexation; but his more tried companion had
suddenly disappeared. Another quick glance fell
upon his missing form in the act of entering a boat
at the foot of the hill. Quicker than thought, Lionel was on the shore, crying, as he flew to the
water's edge" Hold! for God's sake, hold! remember the
47th is in the field, and that I am its major!"
" Receive him," said Clinton, with that grim
satisfaction, with which men acknowledge a valued
friend in moments of great trial; " and then row
for your lives, or, what is of more value, for the
honour of the British name."'
The brain of Lionel whirled as the boat shot
along its watery bed, but before it had gained the
middle of the stream he had time to consider the
whole of the appalling scene. The fire had spread
from house to house, and the whole village of
Charlestown, with its four hundred buildings, was
just bursting into flames. The air seemed filled
with whistling balls, as they hurtled above his head,
and the black sides of the vessels of war were
vomiting their sheets of flame with unwearied industry. Amid this tumult, the English general
and his companions sprung to land. The former
rushed into the disordered ranks, and by his presence and voice recalled the men of one regiment
to their duty. But long and loud appeals to their
spirit and their ancient fame were necessary to
restore a moiety of their former confidence to
men, who had been thus rudely repulsed, and who
now looked along their thinned and exhausted





272


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ranks, missing, in many instances, more than hall
the well-known countenances of their fellows. In
the midst of the faltering troops stood their stern
and unbending chief; but of all those gay and gallant youths, who followed in his train as he had departed from Province-House that morning, not one
remained, but in his blood. He alone seemed undisturbed in that disordered crowd; and his mandates went forth as usual, calm and determined.
At length the panic, in some degree, subsided, and
order was once more restored as the high-spirited
and mortified gentlemen of the detachment regained their lost authority.
The leaders consulted together, apart, and the
dispositions were immediately renewed for the
assault. Military show was no longer affected,
but the soldiers laid down all the useless implements of their trade, and many even cast aside
their outer garments, under the warmth of a broiling sun, added to the heat of the conflagration,
which began to diffuse itself along the extremity
of the peninsula. Fresh companies were placed
in the columns, and most of the troops were withdrawn from the meadows, leaving merely a few
skirmishers to amuse the Americans who lay behind the fence. When each disposition was completed, the final signal was given to advance.
Lionel had taken post in his regiment, but marching on the skirt of the column, he commanded a
view of most of the scene of battle. In his front
moved a battalion, reduced to a handful of men in
the previous assaults. Behind these came a party
of the marine guards, from the shipping, led by their
own veteran major; and next followed the dejected Nesbitt and his corps, amongst whom Lionel
looked in vain for the features of the good-natured
Polwarth. Similar columns marched on their right





LIONEL LINCOLN.


273


and left, encircling three sides of the redoubt by
their battalions.
A few minutes brought him in full view of that
humble and unfinished mound of earth, for the
possession of which so much blood had that day
been spilt in vain. It lay, as before, still as if none
breathed within its bosom, though a terrific row of
dark tubes were arrayed along its top, following
the movements of the approaching columns, as the
eyes of the imaginary charmers of our own wilderness are said to watch their victims. As the
uproar of the artillery again grew fainter, the crash
of falling streets, and the appalling sounds of the
conflagration, on their left, became more audible.
Immense volumes of black smoke issued from
the smouldering ruins, and, bellying outward, fold
beyond fold, it overhung the work in a hideous
cloud, casting its gloomy shadow across the place
of blood.
A strong column was now seen ascending, as if
from out the burning town, and the advance of the
whole became quick and spirited. A low call ran
through the platoons, to note the naked weapons
of their adversaries, and it was followed by the cry
of" To the bayonet! to the bayonet!"
" Hurrah! for the Royal Irish!" shouted
M'Fuse, at the head of the dark column from the
conflagration.
" Hurrah!" echoed a well-known voice from
the silent mound; "let them come on to Breed's;
the people will teach 'em the law!"
Men think at such moments with the rapidity
of lightning, and Lionel had even fancied his
comrades in possession of the work, when the terrible stream of fire flashed in the faces of the men
in fiont.
" Push on with the --  th," cried the veteran





274


XIlONEL LINCOLN.


major of marines-"-push on, or the 18th will get
the honour of the day!"
"We cannot," murmured the soldiers ot the
--  th; their fire is too heavy!"
"Then break, and let the marines pass through
you!"
The feeble battalion melted away, and the warriors of the deep, trained to conflicts of hand to
hand, sprang forward, with a loud shout, in their
places. The Americans, exhausted of their ammunition, now sunk sullenly back, a few hurling stones
at their foes, in desperate indignation. The cannon of the British had been brought to enfilade
their short breast-work, which was no longer tenable; and as the columns approached closer to the
low rampart, it became a mutual protection to the
adverse parties.
"Hurrah! for the Royal Irish!" again shouted
M'Fuse, rushing up the trifling ascent, which was
but of little more than his own height.
" Hurrah!" repeated Pitcairn, waving his sword
on another angle of the work-" the day's our
own P!
One more sheet of flame issued out of the bosom of the work, and all those brave men, who
had emulated the examples of their officers, were
swept away, as though a whirlwind had passed
along. The grenadier gave his war-cry once more,
before he pitched headlong among his enemies;
while Pitcairn fell back into the arms of his own
child. The cry of ' Forward, 47th,' rung through
their ranks, and in their turn this veteran batta.
lion gallantly mounted the ramparts. In the shallow ditch Lionel passed the expiring marine, and
caught the dying and despairing look from his
eyes, and in another instant he found himself in
the presence of his foes. As company followed





LIONEL LINCOLN,


275


company into the defenceless redoubt, the Ame
ricans sullenly retired by its rear, keeping the
Dayonets of the soldiers at bay with clubbed muskets and sinewy arms. When the whole issued
upon the open ground, the husbandmen received
a close and fatal fire from the battalions, which
were now gathering around them on three sides.
A scene of wild and savage confusion then succeeded to the order of the fight, and many fatal
blows were given and taken, the mele rendering
the use of fire-arms nearly impossible for several
minutes.
Lionel continued in advance, pressing on the
footsteps of the retiring foe, stepping over many a
lifeless body in his difficult progress. Notwithstanding the hurry, and vast disorder of the fray, his
eye fell on the form of the graceful stranger,
stretched lifeless on the parched grass, which had
greedily drank his blood.  Amid the ferocious
cries, and fiercer passions of the moment, the
young man paused, and glanced his eyes around
him, with an expression that said, he thought the
work of death should cease. At this instant the
trappings of his attire caught the glaring eye-balls
of a dying yeoman, who exerted his wasting
strength to sacrifice one more worthy victim to
the manes of his countrymen. The whole of the
tumultuous scene vanished from the senses of Lionel at the flash of the musket of this man, and he
sunk beneath the feet of the combatants, insensible of further triumph, and of every danger.
The fall of a single officer, in such a contest,
was a circumstance not to be regarded; and regiments passed over him, without a single man stooping to inquire into his fate. When the Americans
had disengaged themselves from the troops, they
descended into the little hollow between the two
18





LIONEL LINCOLN,


hills, swiftly, and like a disordered crowd, bearing
off most of their wounded, and leaving but few
prisoners in the hands of their foes. The formation of the ground favoured their retreat, as hun
dreds of bullets whistled harmlessly above their
heads; and by the time they gained the acclivity
of Bunker, distance was added to their security.
Finding the field lost, the men at the fence broke
away in a body from their position, and abandoned
the meadows; the whole moving in confused
masses behind the crest of the adjacent height.
The shouting soldiery followed in their footsteps,
pouring in fruitless and distant volleys; but on the
summit of Bunker their tired platoons were halted,
and they beheld the throng move fearlessly through
the tremendous fire that enfiladed the low pass, as
little injured as though most of them bore charmed
lives.
The day was now drawing to a close. With
the disappearance of their enemies, the ships and
batteries ceased their cannonade; and presently not
a musket was heard in that place, where so fierce
a contest had so long raged. The troops comn
menced fortifying the outward eminence, on which
they rested, in order to maintain their barren conquest; and nothing further remained for the
ijchievement of the royal lieutenants, but to gc
and mourn over their victory.





CHAPTER XVII.


She speaks, yet she says nothing; what of that I
Her eye discourses-I will answer it."
Romeo
ALTHOUGH the battle of Bunker-Hill was fought
while the grass yet lay on the meadows, the heats
of summer had been followed by the nipping frosts
of November; the leaf had fallen in its hour, and
the tempests and biting colds of February had
succeeded, before Major Lincoln left that couch
where he had been laid, when carried, in total
helplessness, from the fatal heights of the peninsula. Throughout the whole of that long period,
the hidden bullet had defied the utmost skill of the
British surgeons; nor could all their science and
experience embolden them to risk cutting certain
arteries and tendons in the body of the heir of
Lincoln, which were thought to obstruct the passage to that obstinate lead, which, all agreed, alone
impeded the recovery of the unfortunate sufferer.
This indecision was one of the penalties that poor
24





278


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Lionel paid for his greatness; for had it been Me.
riton who lingered, instead of his master, it is quite
probable the case would have been determined at
a much earlier hour. At length, a young and enterprising leech, with the world before him, arrived from Europe, who, possessing greater skill or
more effrontery (the effects are sometimes the
same) than his fellows, did not hesitate to decide
at once on the expediency of an operation. The
medical staff of the army sneered at this bold innovator, and at first were content with such silent
testimonials of their contempt.  But when the
friends of the patient, listening, as usual, to the
whisperings of hope, consented that the confident
man of probes should use his instruments, the
voices of his contemporaries became not only loud,
but clamorous. There was a day or two when
even the watch-worn and jaded subalterns of the
army forgot the dangers and hardships of the siege,
to attend with demure and instructed countenances to the unintelligible jargon of the " Medici" of
their camp; and men grew pale, as they listened,
who had never been known to exhibit any symptoms of the disgraceful passion before their more
acknowledged enemies. But when it became
known that the ball was safely extracted, and the
patient was pronounced convalescent, a calm succeeded, that was much more portentous to the human race than the preceding tempest; and in a
short time the daring practitioner was universally
acknowledged to be the founder of a new theory.
The degrees of M. D. were showered upon his
honoured head from half the learned bodies in
Christendom, while many of his enthusiastic ad.
mirers and imitators became justly entitled to the
use of the same magical symbols, as annexments
to their patronymics, with the addition of the first





LIONEL LINCOLN


279


letter in the alphabet. The ancient reasoning was
altered to suit the modern facts, and before the
war was ended, some thousands of the servants of
the crown, and not a few of the patriotic colonists,,
were thought to have died, scientifically, under
the favour of this important discovery.
We might devote a chapter to the minute promulgation of such an event, had not more recent
philosophers long since upset the practice, (in
which case the theory seems to fall, as a matter of
course,) by a renewal of those bold adventures,
which teach us, occasionally, something new in
the anatomy of man; as in the science of geography, the sealers of New-England have been able
to discover Terra Australis, where Cook saw nothing but water; or Parry finds veins and arteries in
that part of the American continent, which had so
long been thought to consist of worthless cartilage.
Whatever may have been the effects of the
operation on the surgical science, it was healthful,
in the first degree, to its subject. For seven weary
months Lionel lay in a state in which he might be
said to exist, instead of live, but little conscious of
surrounding occurrences; and, happily for himself,
nearly insensible to pain and anxiety. At moments
the flame of life would apparently glimmer like the
dying lamp, and then both the fears and hopes of
his attendants were disappointed, as the patient
dropped again into that state of apathy in which so
much of his time was wasted. From an erroneous opinion of his master's sufferings, Meriton had
been induced to make a free use of soporifics, and
no small part of Lionel's insensibility was produced
by an excessive use of that laudanum, for which he
was indebted to the mistaken humanity of his valet.
At the moment of the operation, the adventurous
surgeon had availed himself of the same stupifv





280


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ing drug, and many days of dull, heavy, and alarm
ing apathy succeeded, before his system, finding
itself relieved from its unnatural inmate, resumed
its healthful functions, and began to renew its powers. By a singular good fortune his leech was too
much occupied by his own novel honours, to follow
up his success, secundem artem, as a great general
pushes a victory to the utmost; and that matchless doctor, Nature, was permitted to complete the
cure.
When the effects of the anodynes had subsided,
the patient found himself entirely free from uneasiness, and dropped into a sweet and refreshing
sleep, that lasted for many hours without interruption. He awoke a new man; with his body renovated, his head clear, and his recollections,
though a little confused and wandering, certainly
better than they had been since the moment when
he fell in the mel^e on Breed's. This restoration
to all the nobler properties of life occurred about
the tenth hour of the day; and as Lionel opened
his eyes, with understanding in their expression,
they fell upon the cheerfulness which a bright sun,
assisted by the dazzling light of the masses of
snow without, had lent to every object in his apartment.  The curtains of the windows had been
opened, and every amrticle of the furniture was arranged with a neatness that manifested the studied
care which presided over his illness. In one corner, it is true, Meriton had established himself in
an easy-chair, with an arrangement of attitude
which spoke more in favour of his consideration
for the valet than the master, while he was comn.
forting his faculties for a night of watchfulness, by
the sweet, because stolen, slumbers of the morn
ing.
A flood of recollections broke into the mind of





LIONEL LINCOLN.


281


Lionel together, and it was some little time before
he could so far separate the true from the imaginary, as to attain a tolerably clear comprehension
of what had occurred in the little age he had been
dozing. Raising himself on one elbow, without
difficulty, he passed his hand once or twice slowly
over his face, and then trusted his voice in a summons to his man. Meriton started at the wellknown sounds, and after diligently rubbing his
eyes, like one who awakes by surprise, he arose
and gave the customary reply.
"How now, Meriton!" exclaimed Major Lincoln; "you sleep as sound as a recruit on post,
and I suppose you have been stationed like one,
with twice-told orders to be vigilant."
The valet stood with open mouth, as if ready
to devour his master's words with more senses
than one, and then, as Lionel concluded, passed
his hands in quick succession over his eyes, as before, though with a very different object, ere he
answered"Thank God, sir, thank God! you look like
yourself once more, and we shall live again as we
used to. Yes, yes, sir-you'll do now-you'll do
this time. That's a miracle of a man, is the great
Lon'non surgeon! and now we shall go back to
Soho, and live like civilizers. Thank God, sir,
thank God! you smile again, and I hope if any
thing should go wrong you'll soon be able to give
me one of those awful looks that I am so used to,
and which makes my heart jump into my mouth,
when I know I've been forgetful!"
The poor fellow, in whom long service had created a deep attachment to his master, which had
been greatly increa ed by the solicitude of a nurse,
was compelled to cease his unconnected expressions of joy, while he actually wept. Lionel was
24





282


LIONEL LINCOLN.


too much affected by this evidence of feeling, to
continue the dialogue, for several minutes; during
which time he employed himself in putting on part
of his attire, assisted by the gulping valet, when,
drawing his robe-de-chambre around his person,
he leaned on the shoulder of his man, and took
the seat which the other had so recently quitted.
" Well, well, Meriton, that will do," said Lionel,
giving a deep hem, as though his breathing was
obstructed; C that will do, silly fellow; I trust I
shall live to give you many a frown, and some few
guineas, yet.-I have been shot, I know-"
" Shot, sir!" interr'upted the valet-" you have
been downright and unlawfully murdered! you
were first shot, and then baggoneted, and after
that a troop of horse rode over you.-I had it from
one of the royal Irish, who lay by your side the
whole time, and who now lives to tell of it-a
good honest fellow is Terence, and if such a thing
was possible that your honour was poor enough to
need a pension, he would cheerfully swear to your
hurts at the King's Bench, or War-office; Bridewell, or St. James', its all one to the like of him."
" I dare say, I dare say," said Lionel, smiling,
though he mechanically passed his hand over his
body, as his valet spoke of the bayonet-" but the
poor fellow must have transferred some of his own
wounds to my person-I own the bullet, but ob.
ject to the cavalry and the steel."
' No, sir, I own the bullet, and it shall be buried with me in my dressing-box, at the head of my
grave," said Meriton, exhibiting the flattened bit
of lead, exultingly, in the palm of his hand-" it
has been in my pocket these thirteen days, after
tormenting your honour for six long months, hid
in the what d'ye call 'em muscles, away behind
the thingumy artery. But snug as it was, we got





LIONEL LINCOLN


283


it out! He is a miracle is the great Lon'non surgeon!"
Lionel reached over to his purse, which Meriton had placed regularly on the table, each morning, in order to remove it again at night, and, dropping several guineas in the hand of his valet,
said" So much lead must need some gold to sweeten it. Put up the unseemly thing, and never let
me see it again!"
Meriton coolly took the opposing metals, and
after glancing his eyes at the guineas, with a readiness that embraced their amount in a single look,
he dropped them carelessly into one pocket, while
he restored the lead to the other with an exceed
ing attention to its preservation. He then turned
his hand to the customary duties of his station.
" I remember well to have been in a fight on
the heights of Charlestown, even to the instant
when I got my hurt," continued his master-" and
I even recollect many things that have occurred
since; a period which appears like a whole life to
me. But after all, Meriton, I believe my ideas
have not been remarkable for their clearness."
C' Lord, sir, you have talked to me, and scolded
me, and praised me, a hundred and a hundred times
over again; but you have never scolded as sharp
like as you can, nor have you ever spoken and
looked as bright as you do this morning!"
"I am in the house of Mrs. Lechmere," again
continued Lionel, examining the room-" I know
this apartment, and those private doors too well
to be mistaken."
"To be sure you are, sir; Madam Lechmere
had you brought here from the field to her own
house, and one of the best it is in Boston, too:
and I expect that madam would some how lose her





284


LIONEL LINCOLN.


title to it, if any thing serious should happen to
us!"
" Such as a bayonet, or a troop of horse! but
why do you fancy any such thing?"
" Because, sir, when madam comes here of an
afternoon, which she did daily, before she sickened, I heard her very often say to herself, if you
should be so unfortunate as to die, there would be
an end to all her hopes of her house."
" Then it is Mrs. Lechmere who visits me daily," said Lionel, thoughtfully; " I have recollections of a female form hovering around my bed,
though I had supposed it more youthful and active,
than that of my aunt."
" And you are quite right, sir-you have had
such a nurse the whole time as is seldom to be
met with. For making a posset or a gruel, I'll
match her with the oldest woman in the wards of
Guy's; and, to my taste, the best bar-keeper at
the Lon'non is a fool to her at a negus."
"These are high accomplishments, indeed! and
who may be their mistress?"
" Miss Agnus, sir; a rare good nurse is Miss
Agnus Danforth! though in point of regard to the
troops, I shouldn't presume to call her at all distinguishable."
" Miss Danforth," repeated Lionel, dropping his
expecting eyes, in disappointment, from the face of
Meriton to the floor-" I hope she has not sustained all this trouble on my account alone. There
are women enough in the establishment-one would
think such offices might be borne by the domestics-in short, Meriton, was she without an assistant in all these little kindnesses?"
"I helped her, you know, sir, all I could;
though my neguses never touch the right spot, like
Miss Agnus's."





LION EL LINCOLN.


2-85


" One would think, by your account, that I have
done little else than guzzle port wine for six
months," said Lionel, pettishly.
" Lord, sir, you wouldn't drink a thimblefull
from a glass,. often; which I always took for a bad
symptom; for I'm certain 'twas no fault of the
liquor, if it wasn't drunk."
" Well, enough of your favourite beverage! I
sicken at the name already-but, Meriton, have
not others of my friends called to inquire after my
fate?"
" Certainly, sir-the commander-in-chief sends
an aid or a servant every day; and Lord Percy
left his card more than-"
" Poh! these are calls of courtesy; but I have
relatives in Boston-Miss Dynevor, has she left
the town?"
" No, sir," said the valet, very coolly resuming
the duty of arranging the phials on the night-table;
" she is not much of a moving body, is that Miss
Cecil."
" She is not ill, I trust?" demanded Lionel.
" Lord, it goes through me, part joy and part
fear, to hear you speak again so quick and brisk,
sir! No, she isn't downright ailing, but she hasn't
the life and knowledge of things, as her cousin,
Miss Agnus."
" Why do you think so, fellow?"
" Because, sir, she is mopy, and don't turn her
hand to any of the light lady's work in the family.
I have seen her sit in that very chair, where you
sae nvw, sir, for hours together, without moving;
unless it was some nervous start when you groaned, or breathed a little upward through your honour's nose-I have taken it into my consideration, sir, that she poetizes; at all events, she likes
what I calls quietude!"





280


LIONEL LINCOLN.


"Indeed!" said Lionel, pursuing the conversation with an interest that would have struck a more
tbservant man as remarkable-" what reason have
you for suspecting Miss Dynevor of manufacturing
rhymes?"
" Because, sir, she has often a bit of paper in
her hand; and I have seen her read the same thing
over and over again, till I'm sure she must know
it by heart; which your poetizers always do with
what they writes."
"Perhaps it was a letter?" cried Lionel, with
a quickness that caused Meriton to drop a phial
he was dusting, at the expense of its contents.
" Bless me, master Lionel, how strong, and like
old times you speak!"
" I believe I am amazed to find you know so
much of the divine art, Meriton."
" Practice makes perfect, you know, sir," said
the simpering valet-" I can't say I ever did much
in that way, though I wrote some verses on a pet
pig, as died down at Ravenscliffe, the last time we
was there; and I got considerable eclaw for a few
lines on a vase which lady Bab's woman broke one
day, in a scuffle when the foolish creature said as
I wanted to kiss her; though all that knows me,
knows that I needn't break vases to get kisses
from the like of her!"
" Very well," said Lionel; " some day, when 1
am stronger, I may like to be indulged with a perusal-go now, Meriton, to the larder, and look
about you; I feel the symptoms of returning health
grow strong upon me."
The gratified valet instantly departed, leaving
his master to the nmusings of his own busy fancy.
Several minutes passed away before the young
man raised his head from the hand that supported
it, and then it was only done when he thought he





LIONEL LINCOLN,


287


heard a light footstep near him. His ear had not
deceived him, for Cecil Dynevor herself stood
within a few feet of the chair, which concealed, in
a great measure, his person from her view. It
was apparent, by her attitude and her tread, that
she expected to find the sick where she had seen
him last, and where, for so many dreary months,
his listless form had been stretched in apathy.
Lionel followed her graceful movements with his
eyes, and as the airy band of her morning cap
waved aside at her own breathing, he discovered
the unnatural paleness that was seated on her speaking features. But when she drew the folds of the
bed curtains, and missed the invalid, thought is not
quicker than the motion with which she turned her
light person towards the chair. Here she encountered the eyes of the young man, beaming on her
with delight, and expressing all that animation and
intelligence, to which they had so long been strangers. Yielding to the surprise and the gush of her
feelings, Cecil flew to his feet, and clasping one of
his extended hands in both her own, she cried" Lionel, dear Lionel, you are better! God be
praised, you look well again!"
Lionel gently extricated his hand from the warm
and unguarded pressure of her soft fingers, and
drew forth a paper which she had unconsciously
committed to his keeping.
" This, dearest Cecil," he whispered to the
blushing maiden, " this is my own letter, written
when I knew my life to be at imminent hazard,,nd speaking the purest thoughts of my hearttell me, then, it has not been thus kept for nothing?"
Cecil dropped her face between her hands for
a moment, in burning shame, and then, as all the
emotions of the moment crowded around her





LIONEL LINCOLN.*


heart, she yielded to them as a woman, and burst
into a paroxysm of tears. It is needless to dwell
on those consoling and seducing speeches of the
young man, which soon succeeded in luring his
companion not only from her sobs, but even from
her confusion, and permitted her to raise her
beautiful countenance to his ardent gaze, bright
and confiding as his fondest wishes could have
made it.
The letter of Lionel was too direct, not to save
her pride, and it had been too often perused for
a single sentence to be sooin forgotten. Besides,
Cecil had watched over his couch too fondly and
too long, to indulge in any of those little coquetries
which are sometimes met with in similar scenes.
She said all that an affectionate, generous, and
modest female would say on such an occasion; and
it is certain, that, well as Lionel looked on waking, the little she uttered had the effect to improve
his appearance ten-fold.," And you received my letter on the morning
after the battle?1" said Lionel, leaning fondly over
her, as she still, unconsciously, kneeled by his
side.
'L Yes--yes-it was your order that it should be
sent to me only in case of your death; but for
more than a month you were numbered as among
the dead by us all.-Oh! what a month was that!"
"'Tis past, my sweet friend, and, God be praised
I may now look forward to health and happiness."
'" God be praised, indeed," murmured Cecil, the
tears again rushing to her eyes-" I would not live
that month over again, Lionel, for all that this
world can offer!"
"1 Dearest Cecil," he replied, " 1 can only repay
this kindness and suffering on my account, by
shielding you from the rude contact of the world,





LIONEL LINCOLN.           289
even as your father would protect you, were he
again in being."
She looked up in his face with all the soul of a
woman's confidence beaming in her eyes, as she
answered" You will, Lincoln, I know you will-you have
sworn it, and I should be a wretch to doubt you."
He drew her unresisting form into his arms, and
folded her to his bosom. In another moment a
noise, like one ascending the stairs, was heaid
through the open door of the room, when all the
feelings of her sex rushed to the breast of Cecil.
She sprung on her feet, and, hardly allowing time
to the delighted Lionel to note the burning tints
that suffused her whole face, she darted from the
room with the rapidity and lightness of an antelope.





CHAPTER XVIII.


" Dead, for a ducat, dead.
Hamlct.
WHILE Lionel was in the confusion of feeling
produced by the foregoing scene, the intruder, after a prelude of singularly heavy and loud steps,
on the floor, as if some one approached on crutches,
entered by a door opposite to the one through
which Cecil had so suddenly vanished. At the
next moment the convalescent was saluted by the
full, cheerful voice of his visiter" God bless you, Leo, and bless the whole of us,
for we need it," cried Polwarth, eagerly advancing
to grasp the extended hands of his friend. " Meriton has told me that you have got the true mark
of health--a good appetite-at last. I should have
broken my neck in hurrying up to wish you joy on
the moment, but I just stepped into the kitchen,
without Mrs. Lechmere's leave, to show her cook
how to broil the steak they are warming through
for you-a capital thing after a long nap, and full
of nutriment-God bless you, my dear Leo; the
look of your bright eye is as stimulating to my spirits as a West-India pepper is to the stomach."
Polwarth ceased shaking the hands of his reanimated friend, as with a husky voice he concluded,
and turning aside under the pretence of reaching a





LIONEL LINCOLN.


291


chai, he dashed his hand before his eyes, gave a
loud hem, and took his seat in silence. Duiing the
performance of this evolution, Lionel had leisure to
observe the altered person of the captain. His form,
though still rotund, and even corpulent, was much
reduced in dimensions, while, in the place of one.f those lower members, with which nature furnishes the human race, he had been compelled to substitute a leg of wood, somewhat inartificially made,
and roughly shod with iron. This last sad alteration, in particular, attracted the look of Major Lincoln, who continued to gaze at it with glistening
eyes, for some time after the other had established
himself, to his entire satisfaction, in one of the
cushioned seats of the apartment.: I see my frame-work has caught your eye,
Leo," said Polwarth, raising the wooden substitute with an air of affected indifference, and tapping
it lightly with his cane.  'Tis not as gracefully
cut, perhaps, as if it had been turned from the
hands of master Phidias; but in a place like Boston,
it is an invaluable member, inasmuch as it knows
neither hunger nor cold!",1 The Americans, then, press the town," said
Lionel, glad to turn the subject, " and maintain the
siege with vigour?"
" They have kept us in horrible bodily terror,
ever since the shallow waters toward the main land
have been frozen, and opened a path directly into the
heart of the place. Their Virginian generalissimo,
Washington, appeared a short time after the affair
over on the other peninsula, (a cursed business
that, Leo!) and with him came all the trimmings
of a large army. Since that time they have worn
a more military front, though little else has been
done, excepting an occasional skirmish, but cooping
us up, like so many uneasy pigeons, in our cage."
19





292


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" And Gage chafes not at the confinement f"
" Gage!-we sent him off like the soups, months
ago. No, no-the moment the ministry discovered that we had come to our forks, in good earnest,
they chose black Billy to preside: and now we
stand at bay with the rebels, who have already
learnt that our leader is not a child at the grand
entertainment of war."
" Yes, seconded by such men as Clinton and
Burgoyne, and supported by the flower of our
troops, the position can be easily maintained."
" No position can be easily maintained, Major
Lincoln," said Polwarth, promptly, " in the face of
starvation, both internal and external."
" And is the case so desperate?"
" Of that you shall judge yourself, my friend.
When Parliament shut the port of Boston, the'colonies were filled with grumblers; and now we
have opened it, and would be glad to see their sup.
plies, the devil a craft enters the harbour willing
ly.-Ah! Meriton, you have the steak, I see; put
it here, where your master can have it at his elbow, and bring another plate-I breakfasted but
indifferently well this morning.-So we are thrown
completely on our own resources. But the rebels
do not let us enjoy even them in peace.-This
thing is done to a turn-how charmingly the blood
follows the knife!-They have gone so far as to
equip privateers, who cut off our necessaries, and
he is a lucky man who can get a meal like the one
before us."
" I had not thought the power of the Americans
could have forced matters to such a pass."
" What I have mentioned, though of vital importance, is not half. If a man is happy enough
to obtain the materials for a good dish-you should
have rubbed an onion over these plates, Mr. Merin





LIONEL LINCOLN.


29S


ton-he don't know where he is to find fuel to
cook it withal."
" Looking at the comforts with which I am surrounded, my good firiend, I cannot but fancy your
imagination heightens the distress."
" Fancy no such silly thing; for when you get
abroad, you will find it but too exact. In the
article of food, if we are not reduced, like the men
of Jerusalem, to eating one another, we are, half
the time, rather worse off, being entirely destitute
of wholesome nutriment. Let but an unlucky log
float by the town, among the ice, and go forth and
witness the struggling and skirmishing between the
Yankees and our f-rozen fingers for its possession,
and you will become a believer! 'Twill be lucky
if the water-soaked relic of some wharf should
escape without a cannonade! I don't tell you these
things as a grumbler, Leo; for, thank God, I have
only half as many toes as other men, to keep warmth
in; and as for eating, a little will suffice for me,
now my corporeal establishment is so sadly reduced."
Lionel paused in melancholy, as his friend attempted to jest at his misfortune, and then, by a
very natural transition, for a young man in his situation, he proudly exclaimed" But we gained the day, Polwarth! and drove
the rebels fi-om their entrenchments, like chaff before a whirlwind!"
" Humph!" ejaculated the captain, laying his
wooden leg carefully over its more valuable fellow, and regarding it ruefully, while he spoke" had we made a suitable use of the bounties of
nature, and turned their position, instead of running into the jaws of the beast, many might have
left the field better supplied with appurtenances
than are some among us at present. But dark Wil25 *





294


SLIONEL LINCOLN.


liam loves a brush, they say, and he enjoyed it, or,
that occasion, to his heart's content!"
" He must be grateful to Clinton for his timely
presence!"
" Does the devil delight in martyrdom? The
presence of a thousand rebels would have been
more welcome, even at that moment; nor has he
smiled once on his good-natured assistant, since he
thrust himself, in that unwelcome manner, between
him and his enemy. We had enough to think of,
with our dead and wounded, and in maintaining
our conquest, or something more than black looks
and unkind eyes would have followed the deed."
" I fear to inquire into the fortunes of the field,
so many names of worth must be numbered in the
loss."
" Twelve or fifteen hundred men are not to be
knocked on the head out of such an army, and all
the clever fellows escape. Gage, I know, calls the
loss something like eleven hundred; but, after vapouring so much about the Yankees, their prowess
is not to be acknowledged in its bloom at once. A
man seldom goes on one leg, but he halts a little at
first, as I can say from experience-put down thirteen, Leo, as a medium, and you'll not miscalculate largely-yes, indeed, there were some brave
young men amongst them! those rascally light-footed gentry, that I gave up so opportunely, were
finely peppered-and there were the Fusileers
had hardly men enough left to saddle their goat!"*
" And the marines! they must have suffered
heavily; I saw Pitcairn fall before me;" said Lio* This regiment, in consequence of some tradition, kept a goat, with
gilded horns, as a memorial. Once a year it celebrated a festival, in
which the bearded quadruped acted a conspicuous part.  In the battle of
Bunkei -Hill, the corps was distinguished alike fbr its courage and its
losses.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


295


nel, speaking with hesitation-" I greatly feal our
old comrade, the grenadier, did not escape with
better fortune."
" Mac '" exclaimed Polwarth, casting a furtive
glance at his companion.-" Ay, Mac was not as
lucky in that business as he was in Germanyhe-em-Mac-had an obstinate way with him, Leo,
a damn'd obstinate fellow in all military matters;
but as generous a heart, and as free in sharing a messbill as any man in his majesty's service! I crossed
the river in the same boat with him, and he entertained us with his queer thoughts on the art of
war. According to Mac's notions of things, the
grenadiers were to do all the fighting-a damn'd
odd way with him had Mac!"
" There are few of us without peculiarities, and
I could wish that none of them were more offensive than the trifling prejudices of poor Dennis
M'Fuse."
" Yes, yes," added Polwarth, hemming violently, as if determined to clear his throat at every
hazard; " he was a little opinionated in trifles,
such as a knowledge of war, and matters of discipline; but in all important things as tractable as
a child. He loved his joke, but it was impossible
to have a less difficult or a more unpretending palate in one's mess! The greatest evil I can wish
him is breath in his body, to live and enjoy, in
these hard times, when things become excellent by
comparison, the sagacious provision which his own
ingenuity contrived to secure out of the cupidity
of our ancient landlord, Mister Seth Sage."
" Then that notable scheme did not entirely fall
to the ground," said Lionel, with a feverish desire
to change the subject once more. " I had thought
the Americans were too vigilant to admit the intercourse."





296


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Seth has been too sagacious to permit then to
obstruct it. The prices acted like a soporific on
his conscience, and by using your name, I believe,
he has formed some friend of sufficient importance
amongst the rebels to protect him in his trade.
His supplies make their appearance twice a-week
as regularly as the meats follow the soups in a
well-ordered banquet."
" You then can communicate with the country,
and the country with the town! Although Washington may wink at the proceeding, I should fear
the scowl of Howe."
" Why, in order to prevent suspicions of unfair
practices, and at the same time to serve the cause
of humanity, so the explanation reads, you know,
our sapient host has seen fit to employ a fool as his
agent in the intercourse-a fellow, as you may
remember, of some notoriety; a certain simpleton,
who calls himself Job Pray."
Lionel continued silent for many moments, during which time his recollections began to revive,
and his thoughts glanced over the scenes that occurred in the first months of his residence in Boston. It is quite possible that a painful, though still
gencral and indefinite feeling mingled with his
musings; for he evidently strove to expel some
such unwelcome intruder, as he resumed the dis,
course with a strong appearance of forced gayety.
" Ay, ay, I well remember poor Job-a fellow
once seen and known, not easily to be forgotten,
He used, of old, to attach himself greatly to my
person, but I suppose, like the rest of the world, I
am neglected when in retirement."
" You do the lad injustice; he not only makes
frequent inquiries, after his slovenly manner I acknowledge, concerning your condition, but sometimes he seems better informed in the matter than





LIONEI, LINCOLN.


297'


myself, and can requite my frequent answers to his
questions, by imparting, instead of receiving, intel,
ligence of your improvement; more especially
since the ball has been extracted."
" That should be very singular, too," said Lionel, with a still more thoughtful brow.
C Not so very remarkable, Leo, as one would at
first imagine," interrupted his companion-" the
lad is not wanting in sagacity, as he manifested
by his choice of dishes at our old mess-table.Ah! Leo, Leo, we may see many a discriminating
palate, but where shall we go to find another such
a firiend!-one who could eat and joke-drink
and quarrel with a man, in a breath, like poor
Dennis, who is gone from among us for ever!There was a piquancy about poor Mac, that acted
on the dulness of life like condiments on the natural appetite!"
Meriton, who was diligently brushing his master's.coat, an office that he performed daily, though
the garment had not been worn in so long a period, stole a glance at the averted eye of the major, and understanding its expression to indicate a
determined silence, he ventured to maintain the
discourse in his own unworthy person.
" Yes, sir, a nice gentleman was Captain M'Fuse,
and one as fought as stoutly for the king as any
gentleman in the army, all agrees.-It was a thousand pities such a fine figure of a man hadn't a
better idea of dress; it isn't all, sir, as is gifted in
that way! But every body says he's a detrimental
loss, though there's some officers in town, who
consider so little how to wear their ornaments
that if they were to be shot, I am sure no one
would miss them."
" Ah   Meriton," cried the full-hearted Polwarth, " I see you are a youth of more observa





298


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tion than I had suspected! Mac had all the seeds
of a man in him, though some of them might not
have come to maturity. There was a flavour in
his humour, that served as a relish to every conversation in which he mingled. Did you serve the
poor fellow up in handsome style, Meriton, for his
last worldly exhibition?"
" Yes, indeed, sir, we gave him as ornamental
a funeral as can be seen out of Lon'non. Besides
the Royal Irish, all the grenadiers was out; that
is, all as wasn't hurt, which was neai half of them.
As I knowed the regard Master Lionel had for
the captain, I dressed him with my own hands-I
trimmed his whiskers, sir, and altered his hair
more in front, and seeing that his honour was getting a little gray, I threw on a sprinkling of powder, and as handsome a corpse was Captain M'Fuse
as any gentleman in the army, let the other be
who he may!"
The eyes of Polwarth twinkled, and he-blew
his nose with a noise not unlike the sound of a clarion, ere he rejoined" Yes, yes, time and hardships had given a touch
of frost to the head of the poor fellow; but it is
a consolation to know, that he died like a soldier,
and not by the hands of that vulgar butcher, Nature; and that, being dead, he was removed according to his deserts!"
" Indeed, sir," said Meriton, with a solemnity
worthy of the occasion, " we gave him a great
procession-a great deal can be made out of his
majesty's uniform, on such festivities, and it had
a wonderful look about it!-Did you speak, sir?"
"' Yes," addec Lionel, impatiently; "' remove
the cloth; and go, inquire if there be letters for
me.I"
The valet submissively obeyed, and after a short





LIONEL LINCOLN.


209


pause the dialogue was resumed by the gentlemen
on subjects of a less painful nature.
As Polwarth was exceedingly communicative,
Lionel soon obtained a very general, and, to do the
captain suitable justice, an extremely impartial account of the situation of the hostile forces, as well
as of all the leading events that had transpired
since the day of Breed's. Once or twice the invalid ventured an allusion to the spirit of the rebels, and to the unexpected energy they haA discovered; bu.t Polwarth heard them all in silence,
answering only by a melancholy smile, and, in the
last instance, by a significant gesture towards his
unnatural supporter. Of course, after this touching acknowledgment of his former error, his friend
waved the subject for others less personal.
He learned that the royal general maintained
his hardly-earned conquest on the opposite peninsula, where he was as effectually beleaguered,
however, as in the town of Boston itself. In the
meantime, while the war was conducted in earnest
at the point where it commenced, hostilities had
broken out in every one of those colonies, south
of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, where
the presence of the royal troops invited an appeal
to force. At first, while the colonists acted under
the impulses of the high enthusiasm of a sudden
rising, they had been every where successful. A
general army had been organized, as already related, and divisions were employed at different points
to effect those conquests, which, in that early state
of the struggle, were thought to be important to
the main result. But the effects of their imperfect means and divided power were already becoming visible. After a series of minor victories,
Montgomery had fallen in a most desperate but
unsuccessful attempt to carry the impregnable for,





300


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tress of Quebec; and ceasing to be the assailants,
the Americans were gradually compelled to collect their resources to meet that mighty effort of
the crown, which was known to be not far distant,
As thousands of their fellow-subjects in the mother
country manifested a strong repugnance to the war,
the ministry so far submitted to the influence of
that free spirit, which first took deep root in Britain, as to turn their eyes to those states of Europe,
who made a trade in human life, in quest of mercenaries to quell the temper of the colonists. In
consequence, the fears of the timid amongst the
Americans were excited by rumours of the vast
hordes of Russians and Germans, who were to be
poured into their country, with the fell intent to
make them slaves. Perhaps no step of their enemies had a greater tendency to render them odious
in the eyes of the Americans, than this measure
of introducing foreigners to decide a quarrel purely
domestic. So long as none but men who had been
educated in those acknowledged principles of justice and law, known to both people, were admitted
to the contest, there were visible points, common
to each, which might render the struggle less fierce,
and in time lead to a permanent reconciliation.
But they reasoned not inaptly, when they asserted,
that in a contest rendered triumphant by slaves,
nothing but abject submission could ensue to the
conquered. It was like throwing away the scabbard, and, by abandoning reason, submitting the
result to the sword alone. In addition to the estrangement these measures were gradually increasing between the people of the mother-country and
the colonies, must be added the change it produced
amongst the latter in their habits of regarding the
person of their prince.
During the whole of the angry discussion, and





LIONEL LINCOLN.


301


the recriminations, whichr preceded the drawing of
blood, the colonists had admitted, to the fullest ex
tent, not only in their language, but in their feelings, that fiction of the British law, which says
" the king can do no wrong." Throughout the
wide extent of an empire, on which the sun was
never known to set, the English monarch could
boast of no subjects more devoted to his family
and person, than the men who now stood in arms
against what they honestly believed to be the unconstitutional encroachments of his power. Hitherto the whole weight of their resentment had
justly fallen on the advisers of the prince, who
himself was thought to be ignorant, as he was probably innocent, of the abuses so generally practised
in his name. But as the contest thickened, the
natural feelings of the man were thought to savoui
of the political acts he was required to sanction
with his* name. It was soon whispered, amongst
those who had the best means of intelligence, that
the feelings of the sovereign were deeply interested in the maintenance of what he deemed his prerogative, and the ascendency of that body of the
representatives of his empire, which he met in
person and influenced by his presence. Ere long
this opinion was rumoured abroad, and as the minds
of men began to loosen from their ancient attachments and prejudices, they confounded, by a very
natural feeling, the head with the members; forgetting that " Liberty and Equality" formed no
part of the trade of princes. The name of the
monarch was daily falling into disrepute; and as
the colonial writers ventured to allude more freely
to his person and power, the glimmerings of that
light were seen, which was a precursor of the rise
of 'the stars of the west' amongst the national
symbols of the earth. Until then, few had thought,
26





302


LIONEL LINCOLN.


and none had ventured to speak openly, of inde
pendence, though events had been silently pre
paring the colonists for such a final measure.
Allegiance to the prince was the last and only
tie to be severed; for the colonies already governed themselves in all matters, whether of internal
or foreign policy, as effectually as any people could,
whose right to do so was not generally acknowledged. But as the honest nature of George IIld.
admitted of no disguise, mutual disgust and alienation were the natural consequences of the reaction of sentiment between the prince and his
western people.*
All this, and much more of minute detail, was
hastily commented on by Polwarth, who possessed, in the midst of his epicurean, propensities,
sterling good sense, and great integrity of intention. Lionel was chiefly a listener, nor did he
cease the greedy and interesting employment until
warned by his weakness, and the stroke of a neighbouring clock, that he was trespassing too far on
prudence. His friend then assisted the exhausted
invalid to his bed, and after giving him a world ot
good advice, together with a warm pressure of the
hand, he stumped his way out of the room, with a
noise that brought, at every tread, an echo from
the heart of Major Lincoln.
* NOTE.-The prejudices of the king of England were unavoidable
in his insulated  situation, but his virtues and integrty were exclusively
the property of the man. His speech to our first minister after the peace
cannot be too often recorded. "1 was the last man in my kingdom to
acknowledge your independence, and I shall be the last to violate it."





CHIA PTER XIX.


* God never meant that man should scale the heavens
" By strides of human wisdom."
Cowper
A VERY few days of gentle exercise in the bracing air of the season, were sufficient to restore the
strength of the invalid, whose wounds had healed
while he lay slumbering under the influence of the
anodynes prescribed by his leech. Polwarth, in
consideration of the dilapidated state of his own
limbs, together with the debility of Lionel, had so
far braved the ridicule of the army, as to set up
one of those comfortable and easy conveyances,
which, in the good old times of colonial humility,
were known by the quaint and unpretending title
of tom-pungs. To equip this establishment, he
had been compelled to impress one of the fine hunters of his friend. The animal had been taught,
by virtue of much training from his groom, aided a
little, perhaps, by the low state of the garners of
the place, to amble through the snow as quietly
as if he were conscious of the altered condition
of his master's health. In this safe vehicle the
two gentlemen might be seen daily, gliding along
the upper streets of the town, and moving through
the winding paths of the common, receiving the





304


LIONEL LINCOLN.


congratulations of their friends; or, in their turn,
visiting others, who, like themselves, had been
wounded in the murderous battle of the preceding
summer, but who, less fortunate than they, were
still compelled to submit to the lingering confinement of their quarters.
It was not difficult to persuade Cecil and Agnes
to join in many of their short excursions, though
no temptation could induce the latter to still the
frown that habitually settled on her beautiful brow,
whenever chance or intention brought them in
contact with any of the gentlemen of the army.
Miss Dynevor was, however, much more conciliating in her deportment, and even, at times, so gra
cious as to incur the private reproaches of her
friend.
" Surely, Cecil, you forget how much our poor
countrymen are suffering in their miserable lodgings without the town, or you would be less prodigal of your condescension to these butterflies of the
army," cried Agnes, pettishly, while they were
uncloaking after one of these rides, during which
the latter thought her cousin had lost sight of that
tacit compact, by which most of the women of the
colonies deemed themselves bound to exhibit their
feminine resentments to their invaders.-" Were a
chief from our own army presented to you, he
could not have been received in a sweeter manner than you bestowed your smile to-day on that
Sir Digby Dent!"
" I can say nothing in favour of its sweetness.
mny acid cousin, but that Sir Digby Dent is a gentleman-"
A A gentleman! yes- so is every Englishman
who wears a scarlet coat, and knows how to play
off his airs in the colonies!"
" And as I hope I have some claims to be called





LIONEL LINCOLN.


305


a lady," continued Cecil, quietly, "' I do not know
why, in the little intercourse we have, I should be
rude to him."
" Cecil Dynevor!" exclaimed Agnes, with a
sparkling eye, and with a woman's intuitive perception of the other's motives, "' all Englishmen
ar e not Lionel Lincolns."
" Nor is Major Lincoln an Englishman," re
turned Cecil, laughing, while she blushed; " though
I have reason to think that Captain Polwarth may
be."
'" Silly, child, silly; the poor man has paid the
penalty of his offence, and is to be regarded with
pity."
" Have a care, my coz.-Pity is one of a large
connexion of gentle feelings; when you once admit the first-born, you may leave open your doors
to the whole family."
"' Now that is exactly the point in question,
Cecil-because you esteem Major Lincoln, you
are willing to admire Howe and all his myrmidons;
out I can pity, and still be firm."
" Le bon temps viendra!"
" Never," interrupted Agnes, with a warmth
that prevented her perceiving how much she admitted-t" never, at least under the guise of a scarlet coat.7"
Cecil smiled, but having completed her toilet,
she withdrew without making any reply.
Such little discussions, enlivened more or less by
the peculiar spirit of Agnes, were of frequent occurrence, though the eye of her cousin became
daily more thoughtful, and the indifference witl
which she listened was more apparent in each
succeeding dialogue.
In the mean time, the affairs of the siege, though
26 *





306


LIONEL LINCOLN.


conducted with extreme caution, amounted only (o
a vigilant blockade.
The Americans lay by thousands in the surrounding villages, or were hutted in strong bands
nigh the batteries which commanded the approaches to the place. Notwithstanding their
means had been greatly increased by the capture
of several vessels, loaded with warlike stores, as
well as by the reduction of two important fortresses
toward the Canadian frontiers, they were still too
scanty to admit of thatwasteful expenditure, which
is the usual accompaniment of war. In addition
to their necessities, as a reason for forbearance,
might also be mentioned the feelings of the colonists, who were anxious, in mercy to themselves.
to regain their town as little injured as possible.
On the other hand, the impression made by the
battle of Bunker-Hill was still so vivid as to curb
the enterprise of the royal commanders, and Washington had been permitted to hold their powerful
forces in check, by an untrained and half-armed multitude, that was, at times, absolutely destitute of
the means of maintaining even a momentary contest.
As, however, a show of hostilities was maintained, the reports of cannon were frlequently heard,
and there were days when skirmishes between the
advanced parties of the two hosts brought on more
heavy firings, which continued for longer periods.
The ears of the ladies had been long accustomed
to these rude sounds, and as the trifling loss which
followed was altogether confined to the outworks,.they were listened to with but little or no terror.
In this manner a fortnight flew swiftly away,
without an incident to be related. One fine morning, at the end of that period, Polwarth drove into





LIONEL LINCOLN.


307


the little court-yard of Mrs. Lechmere's residence,
with all those knowing flourishes he could command, and which, in the year 1775, were thought
to indicate the greatest familiarity with the properties of a tom-pung.  In another minute his
wooden member was heard in the passage, timing
his steps, as he approached the room where the
rest of the party were waiting his appearance.
The two cousins stood wrapped in furs, with their
smiling faces blooming beneath double rows of lace
to soften the pictures, while Major Lincoln was in
the act of taking his cloak from Meriton, as the
door opened for the admission of the captain.
" What, already dished!" exclaimed the goodnatured Polwarth, glancing his eyes from one to
the other-" so much the better; punctuality is
the true leaven of life-a good watch is as necessary to the guest as the host, and to the host as
his cook. Miss Agnes, you are amazingly murderous to-day! If Howe expects his subalterns to do
their duty, he should not suffer you to go at large
in his camp."
The fine eye of Miss Danforth sparkled as he
proceeded, but happening to fall on his mutilated
person, its expression softened, and she was content with answering with a smile" Let your general look to himself; I seldom
go abroad but to espy his weakness!"
The captain gave an expressive shrug of his
shoulder, and turning aside to his friend, said in an
under tone" You see how it is, Major Lincoln; ever since
I have been compelled to serve myself up, like a
turkey from yesterday's dinner, with a single leg,
I have not been able to get a sharp reply from the
young woman-she has grown an even-tempered,
tasteless morsel! and I am like a two-prong fork;
20





3;08


LIONEL LINCOLN.


only fit for carving! well, I care not how soon they
cut me up entirely, since she has lost her piquancy-but shall we to the church?"
Lionel looked a little embarrassed, and fingered
a paper he held in his hand, for a moment, before
he handed it to the other for his perusal.
" What have we here?" continued Polwarth -
" ' Two officers, wounded in the late battle, desire
to return thanks for their recovery'-hum-hum
-hum-two?-yourself, and who is the other ~"
" I had hoped it would be my old companion
and school-fellow?"
" Ha! what, me!" exclaimed the captain, unconsciously elevating his wooden leg, and examining it with a rueful eye-" umph! Leo, do you
think a man has a particular reason to be gratefu)
for the loss of a leg?"
" It might have been worse."" I don't know," interrupted Polwarth, a little
obstinately-" there would have been more symmetry in it, if it had been both."
" You forget your mother," continued Lionel,
as though the other had not spoken; " I am very
sure it will give her heart-felt pleasure."
Polwarth gave a loud hem, rubbed his hand
over his face once or twice, gave another furtive
glance at his solitary limb, and then answered with
a little tremour in his voice" Yes, yes-I believe you are quite right--a
mother can love her child. though he should be
chopped into mince-meat! The sex get that gene.
rous feeling after they are turned of forty---it's
your young woman that is particular about proportions and correspondents."
" You consent, then, that Meriton shall hand
in the request, as it reads?"
Polwarth hesitated a single instant longer, and





LIONEL LINCOLN.


309


then, as he remembered his distant mother, (for
Lionel had touched the right chord,) his heart
melted within him.
" Certainly, certainly-it might have been
worse, as it was with poor Dennis-ay, let it pass
for two; it shall go hard, but I find a knee to bend
on the occasion. Perhaps, Leo, when a certain
young lady sees I can have a ' te deum' for my adventure, she may cease to think me such an object
of pity as at present."
Lionel bowed in silence, and the captain, turning to Agnes, conducted her to the sleigh with a
particularly lofty air, that he intended should indicate his perfect superiority to the casualties of
war. Cecil took the arm of Major Lincoln, and
the whole party were soon seated in the vehicle
that was in waiting.
Until this day, which was the second Sunday
since his reappearance, and the first on which the
weather permitted him to go abroad, Lionel had
no oppoitunity to observe the altered population
of the town. The inhabitants had gradually left
the place, some clandestinely, and others under
favour of passes from the royal general, until those
who remained were actually outnumbered by the
army and its dependents. As the party approached the " King's Chapel," the street was crowded
by military men, collected in groups, who indulged
in thoughtless merriment, reckless of the wounds
their light conversation inflicted on the few townsmen, who might be seen moving towards the
church, with deportments suited to the solemnity
of their purpose, and countenances severely chastened by a remembrance of the day, and its serious duties.  Indeed, so completely had Boston
lost that distinctive appearance of sobriety, which
had ever been the care and pride of its people, in





310


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the levity of a garrison, that even the immediate
precincts of the temple were not protected fi-rom
the passing jest or rude mirth of the gay and unreflecting, at an hour when a quiet was wont to settle on the whole province, as deep as if Nature
had ceased her ordinary functions to unite in the
worship of man. Lionel observed the change with
mortification, nor did it escape his uneasy glances,
that his two female companions concealed their
faces in their muffs, as if to exclude a view that
brought still more painful recollections to minds
early trained in the reflecting habits of the country
When the sleigh drew up before the edifice, a
dozen hands were extended to assist the ladies in
their short but difficult passage into the heavy portico. Agnes coldly bowed her acknowledgments,
observing, with an extremely equivocal smile, to
one of the most assiduous of the young menC" We, who are accustomed to the climate, find
no difficulty in walking on ice, though to you foreigners it may seem so hazardous."--She then
bowed, and walked gravely into the bosom of the
church, without deigning to bestow another glance
to her right hand or her left.
The manner of Cecil, though more chastened
and feminine, and consequently more impressive,
was equally reserved. Like her cousin, she proceeded directly to her pew, repulsing the attempts
of those who wished to detain her a moment in
idle discourse, by a lady-like propriety that checked the advance of all who approached her. In
consequence of the rapid movement of their comipanions, Lionel and Polwarth were left among the
crowd of officers who thronged the entrance of
the church. The former moved up within the
colonnade, and passed from group to group, answering and making the customary inquiries of men





LIONEL LINCOLN


31 1


engaged in the business of war. Here. three or
four veterans were clustered about one of those
heavy columns, that were arranged in formidable
show on three faces of the building, discussing,
with becoming gravity, the political signs of the
times, or the military condition of their respective
corps. There, three or four unfledged boys, tricked in all the vain emblems of their profession, impeded the entrance of the few women who appeared, under the pretence of admiration for the sex,
while they secretly dwelt on the glitter of their
own ornaments. Scattered along the whole extent of the entrance were other little knots; some
listening to the idle tale of a professed jester, some
abusing the land in which it was their fate to serve,
and others recounting the marvels they had witnessed in distant climes, and in scenes of peril
which beggared their utmost powers of description.
Among such a collection it was not difficult, however, to find a few whose views were more elevated, and whose deportment might be termed less
offensive, either to breeding or principles. With
one of the gentlemen of the latter class Lionel was
held for some time in discourse, in a distant part
of the portico. At length the sounds of the organ
were heard issuing from the church, and the gay
parties began to separate, like men suddenly reminded why they were collected in that unusual
place. The companion of Major Lincoln had left
him, and he was himself following along the colonnade, which was now but thinly peopled, when
his ear was saluted by a low voice singing in a
sort of nasal chant at his very elbow" Wo unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in
the market!"





312


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Though Lionel had not heard the voice since
the echoing cry had issued out of the fatal redoubt.
he knew its first tones on the instant. Turning at
this singular denunciation, he beheld Job Pray,
erect and immovable as a statue, in one of the
niches, in front of the building, whence he gave
forth his warning voice, like some oracle speaking
to its devotees.
"C Fellow, will no peril teach you wisdom!" demanded Lionel-" how dare you brave our resentment so wantonly?"
But his questions were unheeded. The young
man, whose features looked pale and emaciated,
as if he had endured recent bodily disease, whose
eye was glazed and vacant, and whose whole appearance was more squalid and miserable than
usual, appeared perfectly indifferent to all around
him. Without even altering the rivetted gaze of
his unmeaning eye, he continued" Wo unto you! for ye neither go in yourselves;
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in!"
1" Art deaf, fool?" demanded Lionel.
In an instant the eye of the other was turned
on his interrogator, and Major Lincoln felt a thrill
pass through him, when he met the wild gleam of
intelligence, that lighted the countenance of the
changeling, as he continued, in the same ominous
tones"' Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall
te in danger of the council; but whosoever shall
say, Thou fool, is in danger of hell-fire."
For a moment Lionel stood as if spell-bound, by
the manner of Job, while he uttered this dreadfu.
anathema. But the instant the secret influence
ceased, he tapped. the lad lightly with his cane,
and bid him descend from the niche.
" Job's a prophet," returned the other, disho




LIONIL LINCO1N.


ail8


nouring his declaration at the same time, by losing
the singular air of momentary intelligence, in his
usual appearance of mental imbecility-'" it's wicked to strike a prophet. The Jews stoned the prophets, and beat them too."
" Do then as I bid you-would you stay here
to be beaten by the soldiers? Go now, away;
after service come to me, and I will furnish you
with a better coat than the garment you wear."
" Did you never read the good book," said Job,
" where it tells how you mus'n't take heed for
food nor raiment? Nab says when Job dies he'll
go to heaven, for he gets nothing to wear, and but
little to eat. Kings wear their di'mond crowns
and golden flauntiness; and kings always go to the
dark place."
The lad suddenly ceased, and crouching into the
very bottom of his niche, he began to play with
his fingers, like an infant amused with the power
of exercising its own members. At the same moment Lionel turned from him, attracted by the
rattling of side-arms, and the tread of many feet
behind him. A large party of officers, belonging
to the staff of the army, had paused to listen to what
was passing. Amongst them Lionel recognised
at the first glance, two of the chieftains, who, a
little in advance of their attendants, were keenly
eyeing the singular being that was squatted in the
niche. Notwithstanding his surprise, Major Lincoln detected the scowl that impended over the
dark brow of the commander-in-chief, while he
oowed low, in deference to his rank.
" Who is this fellow, that dare condemn the
mighty of the earth to such sweeping perdition?"
demanded Hiowe-" his own sovereign amongst
the number!"
27





314


LIONEL LINCOLN.


"'Tis an unfortunate being, wanting in intellect,
with whom accident has made me acquainted,"
returned Major Lincoln; " who hardly knows
what he utters, and least of all in whose presence
he has been speaking."
" It is to such idle opinions, which are conceived by the designing, and circulated by the ignorant,
that we may ascribe the wavering allegiance of
the colonies," said the British general.  " I hope
you can answer for the loyalty of your singular
acquaintance, Major Lincoln?"
Lionel was about to reply, with some little spirit, when the companion of the frowning chief suddenly exclaimed" By the feats of the feathered Hermes, but this
is the identical Merry Andrew who took the flying
leap from Copp's, of which I have already spoken
to you.-Am 1 in error, Lincoln? Is not this the
shouting philosopher, whose feelings were so elevated on the day of Breed's, that he could not refrain from flying, but who, less fortunate than Icarus, made his descent on terra firma?"
" I believe your memory is faithful, sir," said
Lionel, answering the smile of the other--" the lad
is often brought to trouble by his simplicity."
Burgoyne gave a gentle impulse to the arm he
held, as if he thought the wretched being before
them unworthy of further consideration; though
secretly with a view to prevent an impolitic exhibition of the well-known propensity of his senior
to push his notions of military ascendency to the
extreme. Perceiving by the still darkening.look
of the other, that he hesitated, his ready lieutenant
observed"Poor fellow! his treason was doubly punish
ed, by a flight of some fifty feet down the declivity





LIONEL LINCOLN.


315


of Copp's, and the mortification of witnessing the
glorious triumph of his majesty's troops.-To such
a wretch we may well afford forgiveness."
Howe insensibly yielded to the continued pressure of the other, and his hard features even relaxed into a scowling smile, as he said, while turning away1" Look to your acquaintance, Major Lincoln, or,
bad as his present condition seems, he may make
it worse. Such language cannot be tolerated in a
place besieged. That is the word, I believe-the
rebels call their mob a besieging army, do they
not?"
" They do gather round our winter-quarters,
and claim some such distinction-"
t It must be acknowledged they did well on
Breed's too! The shabby rascals fought like true
men."
1 Desperately, and, with some discretion,5" answered Burgoyne; "but it was their fortune to
meet those who fought better, and with greater
skill-shall we enter?"
The frown was now entirely chased from the
brow of the chief, who said complacently"1 Come, gentlemen, we are tardy; unless more
industrious, we shall not be in season to pray for
the king, much less ourselves."
The whole party advanced a step, when a bustle in the rear announced the approach of another
officer of high rank, and the second in command
entered into the colonnade, followed also by the
gentlemen of his family. The instant he appeared, the self-contented look vanished from the features of Howe, who returned his salute with cold
civility, and immediately entered the church.
The quick-witted Burgoyne again interposed,
and as he made way in his turn, he found means





316


LIONEL LINCOLN.


to whisper into the ear of Clinton some well-ima.
gined allusion to the events of that very field,
which had given birth to the heart-burnings between his brother generals, and had caused the
feelings of Howe to be estranged from the man, to
whose assistance he owed so much. Clinton yielded to the subtle influence of the flattery, and followed his commander into the house of God, with
a bland contentment that he probably mistook for
a feeling much better suited to the place and the
occasion. As the whole group of spectators, con
sisting of aids, secretaries, and idlers, without, im
mediately imitated the example of the generals,
Lionel found himself alone with the changeling.
From the moment that Job discovered the vicinity of the English leader, to that of his disappearance, the lad remained literally immovable. His
eye was fastened on vacancy, his jaw had fallen in
a manner to give a look of utter mental alienation
to his countenance; and, in short, he exhibited the
degraded lineaments and figure of a man, without
his animation or intelligence. But as the last footsteps of the retiring party became inaudible, thc
fear, which had put to flight the feeble intellects of
the simpleton, slowly left him, and raising his face
he said, in a low, growling voice" Let him go out to Prospect; the people will
teach him the law!"
" Perverse and obstinate simpleton!" cried Lionel, dragging him, without further ceremony, firon
the niche-" will you persevere in that foolish cry
until you are whipped from regiment to regiment
for your pains!"
" You promised Job the grannies shouldn't
beat him any more, and Job promised to run your
ar'n'ds."
" Ay! but unless you learn to keep silence





LIONEL LINCOLN.


317


uoy, I shall forget my promise, and give you up to
the anger of all the grannies in townl."
" Well," said Job, brightening in his look, like a
fool in his exultation, " they are half of them dead,
at any rate; Job heard the biggest man among 'em
roar like a ravenous lion, 'hurrah for the royal
Irish,' but he never spoke ag'in; though there
wasn't any better rest for Job's gun than a dead
man's shoulder!"
" Wretch!" cried Lionel, recoiling from him in
horror, " are your hands then stained with the
blood of M'Fuse!"
"' Job didn't touch him with his hands," returned the undisturbed simpleton-" for he died like a
dog, where he fell!"
Lionel stood a moment in utter confusion of
thought; but hearing the infallible evidence of the
near approach of Polwarth in his tread, he said, in
a hurried manner, and in a voice half choked by
his emotions" Go, fellow, go to Mrs. Lechmere's, as I bid
you-tell-tell Meriton to look to my fire."
The lad made a motion towards obeying, but
checking himself, he looked up into the face of the
other with a piteous and suffering look, and said'' See, Job's numb with cold! Nab and Job
can't get wood now; the king keeps men to fight
for it-let Job warm his flesh a little; his body is
cold as the dead!"
Touched to the heart by the request, and the
helpless aspect of the lad, Lionel made a silent
signal of assent, and turned quickly to meet his
friend. It was not necessary for Polwarth to speak,
in order to apprise Major Lincoln that he had overheard part of the dialogue between him and Job.
His countenance and attitude sufficiently betrayed
his knowledge, as well as the effect it had pro27 *"





318


LIONEL 'LINCOLN.


duced on his feelings. He kept his eyes on the
form of the simpleton, as the lad shuffled his way
along the icy street, with an expression that could
not easily be mistaken.
" Did I not hear the name of poor Dennis?'" at
length he asked.
" 'Twas some of the idle boasting of the fool.
But why are you not in the pew?"
" The fellow is a protege of yours, Major Lincoln; but you may carry forbearance too far," returned Polwarth, gravely.-" I come for you, at
the request of a pair of beautiful blue eyes, that
have inquired of each one that has entered the
church, this half hour, where and why Major Lincoln has tarried."
Lionel bowed his thanks, and affected to laugh
at the humour of his firiend, while they proceeded
together to the pew of Mrs. Lechmere without
further delay.
The painful reflections excited by this interview
with Job, gradually vanished from the mind of Lionel, as he yielded to the influence of the solemn
service of the church. He heard the difficult and
suppressed breathing of the fair being who kneeled
by his side, while the minister read those thanksgivings which personally concerned himself, and
no little of earthly gratitude mingled with the loftier aspirations of the youth, as he listened. He
caught the timid glance of the soft eye from behind the folds of Cecil's veil, as they rose, and he
took his seat as happy as an ardent young man
might well be fancied, under the consciousness of
possessing the best affections of a female so youthful, so lovely, and so pure.
Perhaps the service was not altogether so consoling to the feelings of Polwarth. As he recovered his solitary foot again, with some little difficut




LIONEL LINCOLN.


319


ty, he cast a very equivocal glance at his dismembered person, hemmed aloud, and finished with a
rattling of his wooden leg about the pew, that attracted the eyes of the whole congregation, as if
he intended the ears of all present should bear testimony in whose behalf their owners had uttered
their extraordinary thanksgivings.
The officiating minister was far too di.creet to
vex the attention of his superiors with any prolix
and unwelcome exhibitions of the Christian's duty.
The impressive delivery of his text required one
minute. Four were consumed in the exordium.
The argument was ingeniously condensed into ten
more; and the peroration of his essay was happily
concluded in four minutes and a half; leaving him
the satisfaction of knowing, as he was assured by
fifty watches, and twice that number of contented
faces, that he had accomplished his task by half a
minute within the orthodox period.
For this exactitude he doubtless had his reward.
Among other testimonials in his favour, when Polwarth shook his hand to thank him for his kind offices in his own behalf, he found room for a high
compliment to the discourse, concluding by assuring the flattered divine, "that, in addition to its
other great merits, it was done in beautiful time!"





CHAPTER XX.


* Away; let naught to love displeasing,
" My Winifreda, move your care:
" Let naught delay the heavenly blessing,
" Nor squeamish pride, nor gloomy fear."
A/lnonymos s
IT was perhaps fortunate for the tranquillity of
all concerned, that, during this period of their open
ing confidence, the person of Mrs. Lechmere came
not between the bright image of purity and happiness that Cecil presented in each lineament and
action, and the eyes of her lover. The singular,
and somewhat contradictory interests that lady had
so dften betrayed in the movements of her young
kinsman, were no longer visible to awaken his
slumbering suspicions. Even those inexplicable
scenes, in which his aunt had so strangely been an
actor, were forgotten in the engrossing feelings of
the hour; or, if remembered at all, were only suffered to dim the pleasing pictures of his imagination, as an airy cloud throws its passing shadows
across some cheerful and lovely landscape. In addition tc those very natural auxiliaries, love and
hope, the cause of Mrs. Lechmere had found a
very powerful assistant, in the bosom of Lionel,
through an accident which had confined her, for a
long period, not only to her apartment, but to her
bed.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


321


On that day, when the critical operation was
performed on the person of Major Lincoln, his
aunt was known to have awaited the result in intense anxiety. As soon as the favourable termination was reported to her, she hastened toward
his room with an unguarded eagerness, which, added to the general infirmities of her years, had nearly cost the price of her life. Her foot became
entangled in her train, in ascending the stairs, but
disregarding the warning cry of Agnes Danforth,
with that sort of reckless vehemence that sometimes broke through the formal decorum of her
manners, she sustained, in consequence, a fall that
might well have proved fatal to a much younger
woman. The injury she received was severe and
internal; and the inflammation, though not high,
was sufficiently protracted to arouse the apprehensions of her attendants. The symptoms were,
however, now abating, and her recovery no longer
a matter of question.
As Lionel heard this from the lips of Cecil, the
reader will not imagine the effect produced by the
interest his aunt took in his welfare, was at all les.
sened by the source whence he derived his knowledge.  Notwithstanding Cecil dwelt on such a
particular evidence of Mrs. Lechmere's attachment
to her nephew with much earnestness, it had not
escaped Major Lincoln, that her name was but seldom introduced in their frequent conversations, and
never, on the part of his companion, without a
guarded delicacy that appeared sensitive in the extreme. As their confidence, however, increased
with their hourly communications, he began gently
to lift the veil which female reserve had drawn
before her inmost feelings, and to read a heart
whose purity and truth would have repaid a more
difficult investigation.





322


LIONEL LINCOLN.


When the party returned from the church, Ce
oil and Agnes immediately hastened to the apartment of the invalid, leaving Lionel in possession
of the little wainscoted parlour by himself; Polwarth having proceeded to his own quarters, with
the assistance of the hunter.  The young man
passed a few minutes in pacing the room, musing
deeply on the scene he had witnessed before the
church; now and then casting a vacant look on the
fanciful ornaments of the walls, among which the
armorial bearings of his own name were so frequent, and in such honourable situations. At length
he heard that light footstep approach, whose sound
had now become too well known to be mistaken,
and in another instant he was joined by Miss Dynevor.
" Mrs. Lechmere!" he said, leading her to a
settee, and placing himself by her side; "you
found her better, I trust?"
" So well, that she intends adventuring, this
morning, an interview with your own formidable
self. Indeed, Lionel, you have every reason to
be grateful for the deep interest my grand-mother
takes in your welfare! Ill as she has been, her
inquiries in your behalf were ceaseless; and I have
known her refuse to answer any questions about
her own critical condition, until her physician had
relieved her anxiety concerning yours."
As Cecil spoke, the tears rushed into her eyes,
and her bloom deepened with the strength of her
feelings.
" It is to you, then, that much of my gratitude
is due," returned Lionel; "for, by permitting me
to blend my lot with yours, I find new value in her
eyes. Have you acquainted Mrs. Lechmere with
the fiull extent of my presumption? She knows of
oui engagement?"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


323


" Could I do otherwise? while your life was in
peril, I confined the knowledge of my interest in
your situation to my own breast; but when we
were flattered with the hopes of a recovery, I
placed your letter in the hands of my natural adviser, and have the consolation of knowing, that
she approves of my-what shall I call it, Lionel?--
would not folly be the better word?"
" Call it what you will, so you do not disavow
it. I have hitherto forborne inquiring into the
views of Mrs. Lechmere, in tenderness to her situation; but I may flatter myself, Cecil, that she
will not reject me?'
For a single instant the blood rushed tumultuously over the fine countenance of Miss Dynevor,
suffusing even her temples and forehead with its
healthful bloom; but, as she cast a reproachful
glance at her lover, it deserted even her cheeks,
while she answered calmly, though with a slight
exhibition of displeasure in her air" It may have been the misfortune of my grandmother to view the head of her own family with
too partial eyes; but, if it be so, her reward should
not be distrust. The weakness is, I dare say, very
natural, though not less a weakness."
For the first time, Lionel fully comprehended
the cause of'that variable manner, with which Cecil had received his attentions, until interest in his
person had stilled her sensitive feelings. Without,
however, betraying the least consciousness of his
intelligence, he answered" Gratitude does not deserve so forbidding a
name as distrust; nor will vanity permit me to
call partiality in my favour a weakness."
"' The word is a good and a safe. term, as applied
to poor human nature," said Cecil. smiline once
21





324


LIONEL LINCOLN.


more with all her native sweetness, " and you may
possibly overlook it, when you recollect that our
foibles are sometimes hereditary."
S1 pardon your unkind suspicion for that gentle acknowledgment. But I may now, without
hesitation, apply to your grandmother for her consent to our immediate union?"
" You would not have your epithalamium sung,
when. at the next moment, you may be required
to listen to the dirge of some friend!"
" The very reason you urge against our marriage, induces me to press it, Cecil. As the season advances, this play of war must end. Howe
will either break out of his bounds, and drive the
Americans from the hills, or seek some other point
for more active warfare. In either case you would
be left in a distracted and divided country, at an
age too tender for your own safety, rather the
guardian than the ward of your helpless parent.
Surely, Cecil, you would not hesitate to accept of
my protection at such a crisis, I had almost dared
to say, in tenderness to yourself, as well as to my
feelings!"
" Say on," she answered; " I admire your ingenuity, if not your argument. In the first place,
however, I do not believe your general can drive
the Americans from their posts so easily; for, by
a very simple process in figures, that even I understand, you may find, if one hill costs so many hundred men, that the purchase of the whole would
be too dear-nay, Lionel, do not look so grave, I
implore you! Surely, surely, you do not think 1
would speak idly of a battle that had nearly cost
your life, and-and-my happiness."
" Say on," said Lionel, instantly dismissing the
momentary cloud from his brow, and smiling fond




LIONEL LINCOLN.


325


ly in her anxious face; " I admire your casuistry,
and worship your feeling; but can, also, deny your
argument."
Reassured by his voice and manner, after a moment of extreme agitation, she continued, in the
same playful tones as beforeC" But we will suppose all the hills won, and the
American chief, Washington, who, though nothing
but a rebel, is a very respectable one, driven into
the country with his army at his heels; I trust it
is to be done without the assistance of the women!
Or, should Howe remove his force, as you intimate,
will he not leave the town behind him? In either
case, I should remain quietly where I am; safe in a
British garrison, or safer among my countrymen."
" Cecil, you are alike ignorant of the dangers
and of the rude lawlessness of war! Though Howe
should abandon the place, 'twould be only for a
time; believe me, the ministry will never yield
the possession of a town like this, which has so
long dared their power, to men in arms against
their lawful prince."
" You have strangely forgotten the last six
months, Lionel, or you would not accuse me of
ignorance of the misery that war can inflict."
" A thousand thanks for the kind admission,
dearest Cecil, as well as for the hint," said the
young man, shifting the ground of his argument
with the consistency, as well as the readiness, of a
lover; " you have owned your sentiments to me,
and would not refuse to avow them again?"
1" Not to one whose self-esteem will induce him
to forget the weakness; but, perhaps, I might hesi
tate to do such a silly thing before the world."
" I will then put it to your heart," he continued, without regarding the smiling coquetry she had
affected.  "Believing the best, you will admit
28





326


LIONEL -LINCOLN.


that another battle would be no strange occurrence?"
She raised her anxious looks to his face,'but remained silent.
" W*e both know, at least I know, from sad experience, that I am far from being invulnerable.
Now answer me, Cecil,-not as a female, struggling
to support the false pride of her sex, but as a woman, generous and full of heart, like yourself,were ithe events of the last six months to recur,
whether would you live them over affianced in secret, or as an acknowledged wife, who might not
blush-to show her tenderness to the world?"
It was not until the large drops, that glistened at
his words upon the dark lashes of Miss Dynevor,
were shaken firom the tremulous fringes that concealed her eyes, that she looked up, blushing, into
his face, and said-.
" Do you not then think, that I endured enough,
as one who felt herself betrothed; but that closer
ties were necessary to fill the measure of my suffering?"
" I cannot even thank you as I would for those
flattering tears, until my question is plainly answered."
" Is this altogether generous, Lincoln?"
" Perhaps not in appearance, but sincerely so
in truth. By heaven, Cecil, I would shelter and
protect you from a rude contact with the world,
even as I seek my own happiness!"
Miss Dynevor was not only confused, but distressed; she however said, in a low voice" You forget, Major Lincoln, that I have one
to consult, without whose approbation I can promise nothing."
L Will you, then, refer the question to her wisdom? Should Mrs. Lechmere approve of our irm'





LIONEL LINCOLN;


327


mediate union, may I say to her, that you authorize
me to ask it?"
Cecil said nothing; but smiling through her
tears, she permitted Lionel to take her hand in a
manner that a much less sanguine man would
have found no difficulty in construing into an assent.
" Come, then," he cried, let us hasten to the
apartment of Mrs. Lechmere; did you not say she
expected me?" She suffered him to draw her arm
through his own, and lead her from the room.
Notwithstanding the buoyant hopes, with which
Lionel conducted his companion through the passages of the house, he did not approach the cham..
ber of Mrs. Lechmere without some inward repugnance. It was not possible to forget entirely all
that had so recently passed, or to still, effectually,
those dark suspicions, which had been once awakened within his bosom. His purpose, however, bore
him onward, and a glance at the trembling being,
who now absolutely leaned on him for support,
drove every consideration, in which she did not
form a most prominent part, from his mind.
The enfeebled appearance of the invalid, with
a sudden recollection that she had sustained so
much, in consequence of her anxiety in his own
behalf, so far aided the cause of his aunt, that the
young man not only met her with cordiality, but
with a feeling akin to gratitude."
The indisposition of Mrs. Lechmere had now
continued for several weeks, and her features, aged
and sunken as they were, by the general decay of
nature, afforded strong additional testimony of the
severity of her recent illness. Her face, besides
being paler and more emaciated than usual, had
caught that anxious expression, which great and
protracted bodily ailing is apt to leave on the hu




328


LIONEL LINCOLN.


man countenance. Her brow     was, however,
smooth and satisfied, unless at moments, when a
slight and involuntary play of the muscles betrayed
that fleeting pains continued, at short intervals, to
remind her of her illness. She received her visiters with a smile that was softer and more conciliating than usual, and which the pallid and careworn appearance of her features rendered deeply
impressive.
" It is kind, cousin Lionel," she said, extending
her withered hand to her young kinsman, " in the
sick to come thus to visit the well. For after so
long apprehending the worst on your account, I
cannot consent that my trifling injury should be
mentioned before your more serious wounds."
" Would, madam, that you had as happily recovered from their effects as myself," returned Lionel.
taking her hand, and pressing it with great sincerity. "I shall never forget, that you owe your
illness to anxiety for me."
' Let it pass, sir; it is natural that we should
feel strongly in behalf of those we love. I have
lived to see you well again, and, God willing, I
shall live to see this wicked rebellion crushed."
She paused; and smiling, for a moment, on the
young pair who had approached her couch, she
continued, " Cecil has told me all, Major Lincoln."
" No, not all, dear madam," interrupted Lionel;
"I have something yet to add; and in the commencement, I will own that I depend altogether
on your pity and judgment to support my pretensions.'
" Pretensions is an injudicious word, cousin Lionel; where there is a perfect equality of birth,
education, and virtues, and, I may say, considering
the difference in the sexes, of fortune too, it may
amount to claims; but pretensions is an expression





LIONEL LINCOLN.


329


too amoiguous. Cecil, my child, go to my library; in the small, secret drawer of my escritoire,
you will find a paper bearing your name; read it,
my love, and then bring it hither."
She motioned to Lionel to be seated, and when
the door had closed on the retiring form of Cecil,
she resumed the conversation.
" As we are about to speak of business, the confused girl may as well be relieved, Major Lincoln.
What is this particular favour that I shall be required to yield?"
" Like any other sturdy mendicant, who may
have already partaken largely of your bounty, I
come to beg the immediate gift of the last and
greatest boon you can bestow."
" My grandchild. There is no necessity for
useless reserves between us, cousin Lionel, for you
will remember that I too am a Lincoln. Let us
then speak freely, like two friends, who have met
to determine on a matter equally near to the heart
of each."
" Such is my earnest wish, madam.-I have
been urging on Miss Dynevor the peril of the
times, and the critical situation of the country, in
both of which I have found the strongest reasons
for our immediate union."
" And Cecil?-"
" Has been like herself; kind, but dutiful. She
refers me entirely to your decision, by which alone
she consents to be guided."
Mrs. Lechmere made no immediate reply, but
her features powerfully betrayed the inward workings of her mind. It certainly was not displeasure
that caused her to hesitate, her hollow eye lighting
with a gleam of satisfaction that could not be mistaken; neither was it uncertainty, for her whole
countenance seemed to express rather the uncon2S 8





330


LIONEL LINCOLN.


trollable agitation, which might accompany the sudden accomplishment of long-desired ends, than any
doubt as to their prudence. Gradually her agitation subsided; and as her feelings became more
natural, her hard eyes filled with tears, and when
she spoke, there was a softness mingled with the
tremour of her voice, that Lionel had never before
witnessed.
" She is a good and a dutiful child, my own, my
obedient Cecil! She will bring you no wealth,
Major Lincoln, that will be esteemed among your
hoards, nor any proud title to add to the lustre of
your honourable name; but she will bring you
what is as good, if not better-nay, I am sure it
must be better-a pure and virtuous heait, that
knows no guile!"
" A thousand and a thousand times more estimable in my eyes, my worthy aunt!" cried Lionel,
melting before the touch of nature, which had so
effectually softened the harsh feelings of Mrs. Lechmere; " let her come to my arms pennyless, and
without a name; she will be no less my wife, no
less her own invaluable self."
" I spoke only by comparison, Major Lincoln,
the child of Colonel Dynevor, and the granddaughter of the Lord Viscount Cardonnell, can
have no cause to blush for her lineage; neither
will the descendant of John Lechmere be a dowerless bride! When Cecil shall become Lady
Lincoln, she need never wish to conceal the escutcheon of her own ancestors under the bloody
hand of her husband's."
" May heaven long avert the hour when either
of us may be required to use the symbol!" exclaimed Lionel.
" Did I not understand aright! was not your re,
quest for an instant marriage?"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


331


" Nex er less in error, my dear madam; but you
surely do not forget that one lives so mutually
dear to us, who has every reason to hope for many
years of life; and I trust, too, of happiness and
reason!"
Mrs. Lechnere looked wildly at her nephew,
and then passed her hand slowly before her eyes,
from whence she did not withdraw them until an
universal shudder had shaken the whole of her enfeebled frame.
" You are right, my young cousin," she said,
smiling faintly-" I believe my bodily weakness
has impaired my memory.-I was indeed dreaming of days long since past! You stood before me
in the image of your desolate father, while Cecil
bore that of her mother; my own long-lost, but
wilful Agnes! Oh! she was my child! my child '
and God has forgotten her faults in mercy to a mother's prayers I"
Lionel recoiled a step before the wild energy of
the invalid's manner, in speechless amazement.
A flush had passed into her pallid cheeks, and as
she concluded, she clasped her hands before her,
and sunk on the pillows which supported her back.
Large insulated tears fell from her eyes, and, slowly moving over her wasted cheeks, dropped singly
upon the counterpane. Lionel laid his hand upon
the night-bell, but an expressive gesture from his
aunt prevented his ringing.
"I am well again," she said-" hand me the
restorative by your side."
Mrs. Lechmere drank freely from the glass, and
in another minute her agitation subsided, her features settling into their rigid composure, and her
eye resuming its hard expression, as though nothing had occurred to disturb her usual cold and
worldly look.





332


LIONEL LINCOLN.


'" You see how much better youth can endure
the ravages of disease than age, by my present
weakness, Major Lincoln," she continued; " but
let us return to other and more agreeable subjects-you have not only my consent, but my wish,
that you should wed my grandchild. It is a happiness that I have rather hoped for, than dared to
expect, and I will freely add, 'tis a consummation
of my wishes that will render the evening of my
(lays not only happy, but blessed!": Then, dearest madam, why should it be delayed?-no one can say what a day may bring
forth, at such a time as this, and the moment of
bustle and action is not the hour to register the
marriage vows."
After musing a moment, Mrs. Lechmere replied" We have a good and holy custom in this religious province, of choosing the day which the Lord
has set apart for his own exclusive worship, as that
on which to enter into the honourable state of matrimony. Choose, then, between this or the next
Sabbath for your nuptials."
Whatever might be the ardour of the young
man, he was a little surprised at the shortness of
the former period; but the pride of his sex would
not admit of any hesitation.
" Let it be this day, if Miss Dynevor can be
brought freely to consent."
" Here then she comes, to tell you, that, at my
request, she does. Cecil, my own sweet child, I
have promised Major Lincoln that you will become
his wife this day."
Miss Dynevor, who had advanced into the centre
of the room, before she heard the purport of this
speech, stopped short, and stood like a beautiful
statue, expressing astonishment and dismay. Her





LIONEL LINCOLN.


333


colour went and came with alarming quickness,
and the paper fell from her trembling hands to her
feet, which appeared rivetted to the floor.
"' To-day!" she repeated, in a voice barely audible-" did you say to-day, my grandmother?"
" Even to-day, my child."
" Why this reluctance, this alarm, Cecil?" said
Lionel, approaching, and leading her gently to a
seat. " You know the peril of the times-you
have condescended to own your sentiments-consider; the winter is breaking, and the first thaw
can lead to events which may entirely alter our
situation."
" All these may have weight in your eyes, Major Lincoln," interrupted Mrs. Lechmere, in a
voice whose marked solemnity drew the attention
of her hearers; " but I have other and deeper
motives. Have 1 not already proved the dangers
and the evils of delay? Ye are young, and ye are
virtuous; why should ye not be happy? Cecil,
if you love and revere me, as I think you do, you
will become his wife this day."
" Let me have time -to think, dearest grandmother. The tie is so new and so solemn! Major
Lincoln,-dear Lionel,-you are not wont to be
ungenerous; I throw myself on your kindness!"
Lionel did not speak, and Mrs. Lechmere calmly answered" 'Tis not at his, but my request, that you will
comply."
Miss Dynevor rose from her seat by the side of
Lionel, with an air of offended delicacy, and said,
with a mournful smile, to her lover" Illness has rendered my good mother timid
and weak-will you excuse my desire to be alone
with her?"
" I leave you, Cecil," he said, " but if you as




334


LIONEL LINCOLN.


cribe my silence to any other motive than tenderness to your feelings, you are unjust both to your..
self and me."
She expressed her gratitude only in her looks,
and he immediately withdrew, to await the result
of their conversation in his own apartment. The
half hour that Lionel passed in his chamber seemed half a year; but at the expiration of that short
period of time, Meriton came to announce that
Mrs. Lechmere desired his presence again in her
room.
The first glance of her eye assured Major Lincoln-that his cause had triumphed. His aunt had
sunk back on her pillows, with her countenance
set in a calculating and rigid expression, which indicated a satisfaction so selfish that it almost induced the young man to regret she had not failed.
But when his eyes met the tearful and timid
glances of the blushing Cecil, he felt that, provided
she could be his without violence to her feelings,
he cared but little at whose instigation she had
consented.
" If I am to read my fate by your goodness, 1
know I may hope," he said, advancing to her side
-"if in my own deserts, I am left to despair."
SPerhaps 'twas foolish, Lincoln," she said,
smiling through her tears, and frankly placing her
hand in his, " to hesitate about a few days, when I
feel ready to devote my life to your happiness. It
is the wish of my grandmother that I place myself
under your protection."
" Then this evening unites us for ever?"
" There is no obligation on your gallantry, that
it should positively take place this very evening, if
any, or the least difficulties present."
" But none do, nor can," interrupted Lionel.
SHappily the marriage forms of the colony are





LIONEL LINCOLN.           335
simple, and we enjoy the consent of all who have
any right to interfere."
" Go, then, my children, and complete your
brief arrangements," said Mrs. Lechmere; " 'tis
a solemn knot that ye tie! it must, it will be
happy!"
Lionel pressed the hand of his intended bride,
and withdrew; and Cecil, throwing herself into the
arms of her grandmother, gave vent to her feelings in a burst of tears. Mrs. Lechmere did not
repulse her child; on the contrary, she pressed
her once or twice to her heart; but still an observant spectator might have seen that her looks betrayed more of worldly pride, than of those natural
emotions which such a scene ought to have excited.





CHAPTER XXT.


Come, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage."
Much ado about nothing
MAJOR LINCOLN had justly said, the laws regulating marriages in the Massachusetts, which were
adapted to the infant state of the country, threw
hut few impediments in the way of the indissoluble
connexion. Cecil had, however, been educated in
the bosom of the English church, and she clung to
its forms and ceremonies with an affection that
ma= easily be accounted for in their solemnity and
beauty. Notwithstanding the colonists often chose
the weekly festival for their bridals, the rage of reform had excluded the altar from most of their
temples, and it was not usual with them to celebrate their nuptials in the places of public worship
But there appeared so much of unreasonable haste,
and so little of due preparation, in her own case,
that Miss Dyncvor, anxious to give all solemnity
to an act, to whose importance she was sensibly
alive, expressed her desire to pronounce her vows
at that altar where she had so long been used to
worship, and under that roof where she had already, since the rising of the sun, poured out the
thanksgivings of her pure spirit in behalf of thet
man who was so soon to become her husband.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


337


As Mrs. Lechmere had declared, that the agitation of the day, and her feeble condition, must unavoidably prevent her witnessing the ceremony,
there existed no sufficient reason for not indulging
the request of her grandchild, notwithstanding it
was not in strict accordance with the customs of
the place. But being married at the altar, and
being married in public, were not similar duties;
and in order to effect the one, and avoid the
other, it was necessary to postpone the ceremony until a late hour, and to clothe the whole in a
cloak of mystery, that the otherwise unembarrassed state of the parties would not have required.
Miss Dynevor made no other confidant than her
cousin. Her feelings being altogether elevated
above the ordinarily idle considerations, which are
induced by time and preparations on such an occasion, her brief arrangements were soon ended, and
she awaited the appointed moment without alarm,
if not without emotion.
Lionel had much more to perform. He knew
that the least intimation of such a scene would collect a curious and a disagreeable crowd around and
in the church, and he therefore determined that
his plans should be arranged in silence, and manag.
ed secretly.  In order to prevent a surprise, Me
riton was sent to the clergyman, requesting him
to appoint an hour in the evening when he could
give an interview to Major Lincoln. He was answered, that at any moment after nine o'clock Dr.
Liturgy would be released from the duties of the
day, and in readiness to receive him. There was
no alternative; and ten was the time mentioned
to Cecil when she was requested to meet him before the altar. Major Lincoln distrusted a little
the discretion of Polwarth, and he contented himself with merely telling his friend that he was to
29





338


LIONEL LINCOLN.


be married that evening, and that he must be careful to repair to Tremont-street in order to give
away the bride; appointing an hour sufficiently
early for all the subsequent movements. His groom
and his valet had their respective and separate orders, and, long before the important moment, lihe
had every thing arranged, as he believed, beyond
the possibility of a disappointment.
Perhaps there was something a little romantic,
if not diseased, in the mind of Lionel, that caused
him to derive a secret pleasure from the hidden
movements he contemplated. He was certainly
not entirely free from a touch of that melancholy
and morbid humour, which has been mentioned as
the characteristic of his race, nor did he always
feel the less happy because he was a little miserable. However, either by his activity of intellect,
or that excellent training in life he had undergone,
by being required to act early for himself, he had
so far succeeded in quelling the evil spirit within
him, as to render its influence quite imperceptible
to others, and nearly so to himself. It had, in fine,
left him what we have endeavoured to represent
him in these pages, not a man without faults, but
certainly one of many high and generous virtues.
As the day drew to a close, the small family
party in Tremont-street collected, in their usual
manner, to partake of the evening repast, which
was common throughout the colonies at that period.
Cecil was pale, and at times a slight tremor was
perceptible in the little hand which did the offices
of the table; but there was a forced calmness seated in her humid eyes, that betokened the resolution she had summoned to her assistance, in order
to comply with the wishes of her grandmother
Agnes Danforth was silent and observant, though
an occasional look, of more than usual meaning, be




LIONEL LINCOLN.


339


trayed what she thougnt of the mystery and suddenness of the approaching nuptials. It would
seem, however, that the importance of the step
she was about to take, had served to raise the
bride above the little affectations of her sex; for
the spoke of the preparations like one who owned
her interest in their completion, and who even
dreaded that something might yet occur to mat
them.
" If I were superstitious, and had faith in
omens, Lincoln," she said, "the hour and the
weather might well intimidate me from taking this
step. See, the wind already blows across the
endless wastes of the ocean, and the snow is driving through the streets in whirlwinds!"
" It is not yet too late to countermand my orders, Cecil," he said, regarding her anxiously; "I
have made all my movements so like a great commander, that it is as easy to retrograde as to advance."
" Would you then retreat before one so little
formidable as I?" she returned, smiling.
" You surely understand me as wishing only to
change the place of our marriage. I dread exposing you and our kind cousin to the tempest, which,
as you say, after sweeping over the ocean so long,
appears rejoiced to find land on which to expend
its fury."
" I have not misconstrued your meaning, Lionel, nor must you be mistaken in mine. I willbecome your wife to-night, and cheerfully too; for
what reason can I have to doubt you now, more
than formerly! But my vows must be offered at
the altar."
Agnes, perceiving that her cousin spoke with a
suppressed emotion that made utterance difficult,
eayly interrupted her22





340


LIONEL LINCOLN.


"And as for the snow, you know little of Boston girls, if you think an icicle has any terrors for
them. I vow, Cecil, I do think you and I have
been guilty, when children, of coasting in a handsled, down the side of Beacon, in a worse flurry
than this."
" We were guilty of many mad and silly things
at ten, that might not grace twenty, Agnes."
" Lord, how like a matron she speaks already!"
interrupted the other, throwing up her eyes and
clasping her hands in affected admiration; " nothing short of the church will satisfy so discreet a
dame, Major Lincoln! so dismiss your cares on
her account, and begin to enumerate the cloaks and
over-coats necessary to your own preservation."
Lionel made a lively reply, when a dialogue of
some spirit ensued between him and Ages, to
which even Cecil listened with a beguiled ear.
When the evening had advanced, Polwarth made
his appearance, suitably attired, and with a face
that was sufficiently knowing and important for
the occasion. The presence of the captain remind
ed Lionel of the lateness of the hour, and, without
delay, he hastened to communicate his plans to his
friend.
At a few minutes before ten, Polwarth was to
accompany the ladies in a covered sleigh to the
chapel, which was not a stone's throw from their
iesidence, where the bridegroom was to be in readiness to receive them, with the divine. Referring the captain to Meriton for further instructions,
and without waiting to hear the other express his
amazement at the singularity of the plan, Major
Lincoln said a few words of tender encouragement
to Cecil, looked at his watch, and throwing his
cloak around him, took his hat, and departed.
We shall leave Polwarth endeavouring to ex




LIONEL LINCOLN.


341


tract the meaning of all these mysterious movements from the wilful and amused Agnes, (Cecil
having retired also,) and accompany the bridegroom in his progress towards the residence of the
divine.
Major Lincoln found the streets entirely deserted. The night was not dark, for a full moon was
wading among the volumes of clouds, which drove
before the tempest in dark and threatening masses,
that contrasted singularly and wildly to the light
covering of the hills and buildings of the town.
Occasionally the gusts of the wind would lift eddying wreaths of fine snow from some roof, and
whole squares were wrapped in mist as the frozen
vapour whistled by. At times, the gale howled
among the chimneys and turrets, in a steady, sullen roaring; and there were again moments when
the element appeared hushed, as if its fury were
expended, and winter, having worked its might,
was yielding to the steady, but insensible advances
of spring. There was something in the season
and the hour peculiarly in consonance with the
excited temperament of the young bridegroom.
Even the solitude of the streets, and the hollow
rushing of the winds, the fleeting and dim light of
the moon, which afforded passing glimpses of surrounding objects, and then was hid behind a dark
veil of shifting vapour, contributed to his pleasure
He made his way through the snow, with that species of stern joy, to which all are indebted, at times,
for moments of wild and pleasing self-abandonment. His thoughts vacillated between the pur
pose of the hour, and the unlooked-for coincidence
of circumstances that had clothed it in a dress of
such romantic mystery. Once or twice a painful
and dark thought, connected with the secret of
Mrs. Lechmere's life, found its way among his
29 *





342


LIONEL.LINCOLN.


more pleasing visions, but it was quickly chased
from his mind by the image of her who awaited
his movements in such confiding faith, and with
such secure and dependent affection.
As the residence of Dr. Liturgy was on the
North-end, which was then one of the fashionable
quarters of the town, the distance required that
Lionel should be diligent, in order to be punctual
to his appointment. Young, active, and full of
hope, he passed along the unequal pavements with
great rapidity, and had the satisfaction of perceiving by his watch, when admitted to the presence
of the clergyman, that his speed had even outstrip.
ped the proverbial fleetness of time itself.
The reverend gentleman was in his study, consoling himself for the arduous duties of the day.
with the comforts of a large easy-chair, a warm
fire, and a pitcher filled with a mixture of cidec
and ginger, together with other articles that would
have done credit to the knowledge of Polwarth in
spices. His full and decorous wig was replaced by
a velvet cap, his shoes were unbuckled, and his
heels released from confinement. In short, all his_
arrangements were those of a man who, having endured a day of labour, was resolved to prove the
enjoyments of an evening of rest. His pipe, though
filled, and on the little table by his side, was not
lighted, in compliment to the guest he expected at
that hour. As he was slightly acquainted with
Major Lincoln, no introduction was necessary, and
the two gentlemen were soon seated; the one endeavouring to overcome the embarrassment he felt
on revealing his singular errand, and the other
waiting, in no little curiosity, to learn the reason
why a member of Parliament, and the heir of ten
thousand a year, should come abroad on such an
unpropitious night.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


343


At length Lionel succeeded in making the astonished priest understand his wishes, and paused to
hepr the expected approbation of his proposal.
Dr. Liturgy had listened with the most profound
attention, as if to catch some clue to explain the
mystery of the extraordinary proceeding, and when
the young man concluded, he unconsciously lighted his pipe, and began to throw out large clouds of
smoke, like a man who felt there was a design to
abridge his pleasures, and who was consequently
determined to make the most of his time.
" Married! To be married in church! and after
the night lecture!" he muttered in a low voice between his long-drawn puffs-" 'tis my duty-certainly-Major Lincoln-to marry my parishioners-"
" In the present instance, as I know my request
to be irregular, sir," interrupted the impatient Lionel, " I will make it your interest also."  While
speaking, he took a well-filled purse from his pocket, and, with an air of much delicacy, laid a small
pile of gold by the side of the silver spectacle-case
of the divine, as if to show him the difference in
the value of the two metals.
Dr. Liturgy bowed his acknowledgments, and
insensibly changed the stream of smoke to the opposite corner of his mouth, so as to leave the view
of the glittering boon unobstructed. At the same
time he raised the heel of one shoe, and threw an
anxious glance at the curtained window, to inquire
into the state of the weather.
1" Could not the ceremony be performed at the
blouse of Mrs. Lechmere?" he asked; " Miss Dynevor is a tender child, and I fear the cold air of
the chapel might do her no service!"
-' It is her wish to go to the altar, and you are





344


LIONEL LINCOLN.


sensible it is not my part to question her decision
in such a matter."
" 'Tis a pious inclination; though I trust she
knows the distinction between the spiritual and
the temporal church. The laws of the colonies are
too loose on the subject of marriages, Major Lin.
coln; culpably and dangerously loose!"
" But as it is not in our power to alter, my good
sir, will you permit me to profit by them, imperfect as they are?"
" Undeniably-it is part of my office to christen, to marry, and to bury; a duty which, I often
say, covers the beginning, the middle, and the end
of existence.-But permit me to help you to a little
of my beverage, Major Lincoln-we call it ' Samson,' in Boston; you will find the ' Danite' a warm
companion for a February night in this climate."
" The mixture is not inaptly named, sir," said!
Lionel, after Wetting his lips, " if strength be the
quality most considered!"
" Ah! you have him from the lap of a Delilah,
but it is unbecoming in one of my cloth to meddle
with aught of the harlot."
He laughed at his own wit, and made a more
spirituous than spiritual addition to his own glass,
while he continued" We divide it into ' Samson with his hair off,'
and ' Samson with his hair on;' and I believe my
self the most orthodox in preferring the man of
strength, in his native comeliness. I pledge you,
Major Lincoln; may the middle of your days be
as happy as the charming young lady you are about
to espouse may well render them; and your end,
sir, that of a good churchman, and a faithful subject."
Lionel, who considered this compliment as an





LIONEL LINCOLN.


345


tndication of his success, now rose, and said a few
words on the subject of their meeting in the chapel.
The divine, who manifestly possessed no great relish for the duty, made sundry slight objections to
the whole proceeding, which were, however, soon
overcome by the arguments of the bridegroom. At
length, every difficulty was happily adjusted, save
one, and that the epicurean doctor stoutly declared
to be a serious objection to acting in the matter.
The church fires were suffered to go down, and
his sexton had been taken from the chapel, that
very evening, with every symptom on him of the
terrible pestilence which then raged in the place.
adding, by its danger, to the horrors and the privations of the siege.
" A clear case of the small pox, I do assure you,
Major Lincoln," he continued, " and contracted,
without doubt, from some emissaries sent into the
town for that purpose, by the wicked devices of
the rebels."
" I have heard that each party accuses the other
of resorting to these unjustifiable means of annoyance," returned Lionel; " but, as I know our own
leader to be above such baseness, I will not suspect any other man of it without proof."
" Too charitable by half, sir-much too charitable! But let the disease come whence it will, I
fear my sexton will prove its victim."
" 1 will take the charge on myself of having the
fires renewed," said Lionel; " the embers must
yet be in the stoves, and we have still an hour of
time before us."
As the clergyman was much too conscientious
to retain possession of the gold without fully entitling himself to the ownership, he had long before
determined to comply, notwithstanding the secret
yearnings of his flesh. Their plans were no, soon





846


LIONEL LINCOLN.


arranged, and Lionel, after receiving the key of the
chapel, took his leave for a time.
When Major Lincoln found himself in the street
again, he walked for some distance in the direction
of the chapel, anxiously looking along the deserted
way, in order to discover an unemployed soldier,
who might serve to perform the menial offices of
the absent sexton. He proceeded for some distance without success; for every thing human
seemed housed, even the number of lights in the
windows beginning to decrease in a manner which
denoted that the usual hour of rest had arrived.
He had paused in the entrance of the Dock-square,
uncertain where to apply for an assistant, when he
caught a glimpse of the figure of a man, crouching
under the walls of the old turreted ware-house, so
often mentioned. Without hesitating an instant,
he approached the spot, firom which the figure neither moved, nor did it indeed betray any other
evidence of a consciousness of his proximity. Notwithstanding the dimness of the moon, there was
light enough to detect the extreme misery of the
object before him. His tattered and thin attire
sufficiently bespoke the motive of the stranger for
seeking a shelter from the cutting winds behind
an angle of the wall, while his physical wants were
betrayed by the eager manner in which he gnawed at a bone that might well have been rejected
from the mess of the meanest private, notwithstanding the extreme scarcity that prevailed in the
garrison. Lionel forgot for a moment his present
object, at this exhibition of human suffering, and
with a kind voice he addressed the wretched being.
1" You have a cold spot to eat your supper in
my friend," he said; " and it would seem, too, but
a scanty meal."





LIONEL LINCOLN,


347


Without ceasing to masticate his miserable nutriment, or even raising his eyes, the other said, in
a growling voice" The king could shut up the harbour, and keep
out the ships; but he hasn't the might to drive
cola weather from Boston, in the month of March!"
" As I live, Job Pray! Come with me, boy, and
I will give you a better meal, and a warmer place
to enjoy it in-but first tell me; can you procure
a lantern and a light from your mother?"
" You can't go in the ware'us' to-night," returned the lad, positively.
" Is there no place at hand, then, where such
things might be purchased?"
" They keep them there," said Job, pointing
sullenly to a low building on the opposite side of
the square, through one of the windows of which
a faint light was glimmering.
" Then take this money, and go buy them for
me, without delay."
Job hesitated with ill-concealed reluctance.
" Go, fellow, I have instant need of them, and
you can keep the change for your reward."
The young man no longer betrayed any indisposition to go, but answered with great promptitude, for one of his imbecile mind" Job will go, if you will let him buy Nab gome
meat with the change?"
" Certainly, buy what you will with it; and furthermore, I promise you, that neither your mother
nor yourself shall want again for food or clothing."
" Job's a-hungry," said the simpleton; " but
they say hunger don't come as craving upon a
young stomach as upon an old one. Do you
think the king knows what it is to be a-cold and
hungry?"
" I know not, boy-but I know fill well that if





318


LIONEL LINCOLN.


one suffering like you were before him, his heart
would yearn to relieve him. Go, go, and buy
yourself food too, if they have it."
In a very few minutes Lionel saw the simpleton issuing fron the house to which he had run at
his bidding, with the desired lantern.
" Did you get any food?" said Lionel, motioning
to Job to precede him with the light-" I trust
you did not entirely forget yourself in your haste
to serve me."
" Job hopes he didn't catch the pestilence," returned the lad, eating at the same time voraciously of a small roll of bread.
" Catch whlat? what is it you hope you did not
catch?"
' The pestilence-they are full of the foul disorder in that house."
" Do you mean the small-pox, boy?"
" Yes; some call it small-pox, and some call it
the foul disorder, and other some the pestilence.
The king can keep out the trade, but he can't
keep out the cold and the pestilence from Boston
-but when the people get the town back, they'll
know what to do with it-they'll send it all to the
pest-housen!"
" I hope I have not exposed you unwittingly to
danger, Job-it would have been better had I gone
myself; for I was inoculated for the terrible disease in my infancy."
Job, who, in expressing his sense of the dangeri
had exhausted the stores of his feeble mind on the
subject, made no reply, but continued walking
through the square, until they reached its termination, when he turned, and inquired which way he
was to go.
STo the church," said Lionel, " and swiftly.
lad."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


349


As they entered Corn-hill, they encountered the
fury of the wind, when Major Lincoln, bowing his
head, and gathering his cloak about him, followed
the light which flitted along the pavement in his
front. Shut out in a manner from the world by
this covering, his thoughts returned to their former
channel, and in a few moments he forgot where
he was, or whom he was following. He was soon
awakened from his abstraction by perceiving that
it was necessary for him to ascend a few steps,
when, supposing he had reached the place of destination, he raised his head, and unthinkingly followed his conductor into the tower of a large edifice.
Immediately perceiving his mistake, by the difference of the architecture from that of the King's
Chapel, he reproved the lad for his folly, and demanded why he had brought him thither.
" This is what you call a church," said Job,
" though I call it a meetin'us'.-It's no wonder you
don't know it-for what the people built for a temple, the king has turned into a stable!"
"A stable!" exclaimed Lionel.-Perceiving a
strong smell of horses in the place, he advanced
and threw open the inner door, when, to his amazement, he perceived that he stood in an area fitted
for the exercises of the cavalry. There was no
mistaking the place, nor its uses. The naked galleries, and many of the original ornaments, were
standing; but the accommodations below were destroyed, and in their places the floor had been
covered with earth, for horses and their riders to
practise in the cavesson. The abominations of the
place even now offended his senses, as he stood on
that spot where he remembered so often to have
seen the grave and pious colonists assemble, in
crowds, to worship. Seizing the lantern from Job:
lie hurried out of the building, with a disgust that
'30





350


LIONEL LINCOLN.


even the unobservant simpleton had no difficulty
in discovering. On reaching the street, his eyes
fell upon the lights, and on the silent dignity of the
Province-House, and he was compelled to recollect,
that this wanton violation of the feelings of the
colonists had been practised directly under the
windows of the royal governor.
"Fools, fools!" he muttered bitterly; " when
ye should have struck like men, ye have trifled
as children; and ye have forgotten your manhood,
and even your God, to indulge your besotted
spleen!"
" And now these very horses are starving for
want of hay, as a judgment upon them!" said
Job, who shuffled his way industriously at the
other's side.-" They had better have gone to
meetin' themselves, and heard the expounding,
than to set dumb beasts a rioting in a place that
the Lord used to visit so often!"
"' Tell me, boy, of what other act of folly and
madness has the army been guilty?"
" What! hav'n't you heard of the Old North!
They've made oven-wood of the grandest temple
in the Bay! If they dared, they'd lay their ungodly hands on old Funnel itself!"
Lionel made no reply. He had heard that the
distresses of the garrison, heightened as they were
by the ceaseless activity of the Americans, had
compelled them to convert many houses, as well
as the church in question, into fuel. But he saw
in the act nothing more than the usual recourse of
a common military exigency. It was free from
that reckless contempt of a people's feelings, which
was exhibited in the prostitution of the ancient walls
of the sister edifice, which was known throughout
New-England, with a species of veneration, as the
" Old South."  He continued his way gloomily





LIONEL LINCOLN.           351
along the silent streets, until he reached the more
favoured temple, in which the ritual of the English
church was observed, and whose roof was rendered doubly sacred, in the eyes of the garrison, by
the accidental circumstance of bearing the title of
their earthly monarch.





CHAPTER XXII.


" Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down!".Macbeth
MAJOR LINCOLN found the King's Chapel differing in every particular from the venerable, but
prostituted building he had just quitted. As he
entered, the light of his lantern played over the
rich scarlet covering of many a pew, and glanced
upon the glittering ornaments of the polished organ, which now slumbered in as chilled a silence
as the dead, which lay in such multitudes within
and without the massive walls.  The laboured
columns, with their slender shafts, and fretted capitals, threw shapeless shadows across the dim
back-ground, peopling the galleries and ceiling with
imaginary phantoms of thin air. As this slight
delusion passed away, he became sensible of the
change in the temperature. The warmth was not
yet dissipated, which had been maintained during
the different services of the day; for, notwithstanding the wants of the town and garrison, the favbur
ed temple, where the representative of the sovereign was wont to worship, knew not the ordinary
privations of the place. Job was directed to supply the dying embers of the stoves with fresh fuel,
and as the simpleton well knew where to find the
stores of the church, his office was performed with





LIONEL LINCOLN.


3 53


an alacrity that was not a little increased by his
own sufferings.
When the bustle of preparation had subsided,
Lionel drew a chair from the chancel; while Job
crouched by the side of the quivering iron he had
neated, in that attitude he was wont to assume,
and which so touchingly expressed the secret consciousness he felt of his own inferiority. As the
grateful warmth diffused itself over the half-naked
frame of the simpleton, his head sunk upon his bosom, and he was fast falling into a slumber, like a
worried hound that had at length found ease and
shelter. A more active mind would have wished
to learn the reasons that could induce his comnipanion to seek such an asylum at that unseasonable
hour. But Job was a stranger to curiosity; nor
did the occasional glimmerings of his mind often
extend beyond those holy precepts which had been
taught him with such care, before disease had sapped his faculties, or those popular principles of the
time, that formed so essential a portion of the
thoughts of every New-England man.
Not so with Major Lincoln. His watch told him
that many weary minutes must elapse before he
could expect to receive his bride; and he disposed
himself to wait, with as much patience as comported with five-and-twenty, and the circumstances.
In a short time the stillness of the chapel was restored, interrupted only by the passing gusts of
the wind without, and the dull roaring of the furnace, by whose side Job slumbered in a state of
happy oblivion.
Lionel endeavoured to still his truant thoughts,
and bring them in training for the solemn ceremony in which he was soon to be an actor. Findling
the task too difficult, he arose, and approaching a
window, looked out upon the solitude, and the
"0 "





354


LIONEL LINCOLN.


whirlwinds of snow that drifted through the streets,
eagerly listening for those sounds of approach,
which his reason told him he ought not yet to
expect. Again he seated himself, and turned his
eyes inquiringly about him, with a sort of inward
apprehension that some one lay concealed, in the
surrounding gloom, with a secret design to mar his
approaching happiness. There was so much of
wild and feverish romance in the incidents of the
day, that he found it difficult, at moments, to credit their reality, and had recourse to hasty glances
at the altar, his attire, and even his insensible companion, to remove the delusion from his mind.
Again he looked upward at the unsteady and huge
shadows which wavered along the ceiling of the
walls, and his former apprehensions of some hidden evil were revived with a vividness that amounted nearly to a presentiment. So uneasy did he
become at length, under this impression, that Ibe
walked along the more distant aisles, scrupulou.li
looking into the dark pews, and throwing a scrutinizing glance behind each column, and was rewarded for his trouble, by hearing the hollow echoes
of his own footsteps.
In returning from this round, he approached the
stove, and yielded to a strong desire of listening
to the voice of even Job, in a moment of such morbid excitement. Touching the simpleton lightly
with his foot, the other awoke with that readiness
which denoted the sudden and disturbed nature of
his ordinary rest.
" You are unusually dull to-night, Job," said
Lionel, endeavouring to hush his uneasiness in af
fected pleasantry, " or you would inquire the reason why I pay my visit to the church at this ex
traordinary hour."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


355


" Boston folks love their meetin'us's," returned
the obtuse simpleton.
" Ay! but they love their beds, too, fellow;
and one half of them are now enjoying what you
seem to covet so much."
" Job loves to eat, and to be warm!i
" And to sleep too, if one may judge by your
drowsiness."
" Yes, sleep is sweet; Job don't feel a-hungered
when he's sleepipg."
Lionel remained silent, for several moments,
under a keen perception of the suffering exhibited
in the touching helplessness, which marked the
manner of the other, before he continued" But I expect to be joined soon by the clergyman, and some ladies, and Captain Polwarth."
" Job likes Captain Polwarth-he keeps a grand
sight of provisions!"
" Enough of this! can you think of nothing but
your stomach, boy?"
" God made hunger," said Job, gloomily, " and
he made food too; but the king keeps it all for his
rake-hellies!"
" Well, listen, and be attentive to what I tell
you.-One of the ladies who will come here is
Miss Dynevor; you know Miss Dynevor, Job?
the beautiful Miss Dynevor!"
The charms of Cecil had not, however, made
their wonted impression on the dull eye of the
idiot, who still regarded the speaker with his customary air of apathy.
" Surely, Job, you know Miss Dynevor!" repeated Lionel, with an irritability that, at any other
time, he would have been the first to smile at" she has often given you money and clothes."
" Yes; Ma'am Lechmere is her grandam!"
This was certainly one of the least recommen23





356


LIONEL LINCOLN


dations his mistress possessed, in the eyes of Lionel, who paused a moment, with inward vexation,
before he added" Let who will be her relatives, she is this night
to become my wife. You will remain and witness
the ceremony, and then you will extinguish the
lights, and return the key of the church to Dr.
Liturgy. In the morning come to me for your reward."
The changeling arose, with in air of singular
importance, and answered" To be sure. Major Lincoln is to be married,
and he asks Job to the wedding! Now, Nab may
preach her sarmons about pride and flaunty feelings as much as she will; but blood is blood, and
flesh is flesh, for all her sayings!"
Struck by the expression of wild meaning that
gleamed in the eyes of the simpleton, Major Lincoln demanded an explanation of his ambiguous
language. But ere Job had leisure to reply, though
his vacant look again denoted that his thoughts
were already contracting themselves within their
usually narrow limits, a sudden noise drew the attention of both to the entrance of the chapel. The
door opened in the next instant, and the figure of
the divine, powdered with drifted snow, and encased in various defences against the cold, was
seen, moving with a becoming gravity, through the
principal aisle. Lionel hastened to receive him,
and to conduct him to the seat he had just occupied himself.
When Dr. Liturgy had uncloaked, and appeared
in his robes of office, the benevolence of his smile,
and the whole expression of his countenance, denoted that he was satisfied with the condition in
which he found the preparations.
"( There is no reason why a church should no1





L1ONEL LINCOLN.


357


be as comfortable as a man's library, Major Lincoin," he said, hitching his seat a little nearer to
the stove. " It is a puritanical and a dissenting
idea, that religion has any thing forbidding or
gloomy in its nature; and wherefore should we
assemble amid pains and inconvenience to discharge
its sacred offices."
SQuite true, sir," returned Lionel, looking
anxiously through one of the windows-" I have
not yet heard the hour of ten strike, though my
watch tells me it is time!"
" The weather renders the public clocks very
irregular. There are so many unavoidable evils
to which flesh is heir, that we should endeavour to
be happy on all occasions-indeed it is a duty--"
" Its not in the natur of sin to make fallen man
happy," said a low, growling voice from behind the
stove.
" Ha! what! did you speak, Major Lincoln--
a very singular sentiment for a bridegroom!" muttered the divine.
" 'Tis that weak young man, whom I have
brought hither to assist with the fires, repeating
some of the lore of his mother; nothing else, sir."
By this time Dr. Liturgy had caught a glimpse
of the crouching Job, and comprehending the interruption, he fell back in his chair, smiling superciliously, as he continued" I know the lad, sir; I should know him. He
is learned in the texts, and somewhat given to disputation in matters of religion. 'Tis a pity the
little intellect he has, had not been better managed
in his infancy; but they have helped to crush his
feeble mind with their subtilties. We-I mean
we of the established church-often style him the
Boston Calvin-ha, ha, ha!-Old Cotton was not
his equal in subtilty!-But speaking of the esta




358


LIONEL LINCOLN,


blishment, do you not fancy that one of the consequences of this rebellion will be to extend its benefits to the colonies, and that we may look forward to the period when the true church shall possess its inheritance in these religious provinces?"
" Oh, most certainly!" said Lionel, again walking anxiously to the window; "would to God they
had come!"
The divine, with whom weddings were matters
of too frequent occurrence to awaken his sympathies, understood the impatient bridegroom literally, and replied, accordingly" I am glad to hear you say it, Major Lincoln,
and I hope, when the act of amnesty shall be passed, to find your vote on the side of such a condition."
At this instant Lionel caught a glimpse of the
well-known sleigh, moving slowly along the deserted street, and, uttering a cry of pleasure, he
rushed to the door to receive his bride. Dr. Liturgy finished his sentence to himself, and, rising
from his comfortable position, he took the light, and
entered the chancel. The disposition of the candles having been previously made, when they were
lighted, his book opened, his robes adjusted, and
his features settled into a suitable degree of solemnity, he stood, waiting with becoming dignity the
approach of those over whom he was to pronounce
the nuptial benediction. Job placed himself within
the shadows of the building, and stood regarding
the attitude and imposing aspect of the priest, with
a species of childish awe.
Then came a group, emerging from the obscurity of the distant part of the church, and moving
slowly toward the altar. Cecil was in front, leaning on that arm which Lionel had given her, as
much for support, as through courtesy. She had





LIONEL LINCOLN*.


359


removed her outer and warmer garments in the
vestibule of the sacred edifice, and now appeared,
attired in a manner as well suited to the suddenness and privacy, as to the importance, of the ceremony. A mantle of satin, trimmed with delicate
furs, fell carelessly from her shoulders, partly concealing by its folds the exquisite proportions of her
slender form. Beneath was a vestment of the
same rich material, cut, after the fashions of that
period, in a manner to give the exact outlines of
the bust. Across the stomacher were deep rows
of fine lace, and wide borders of the same valuable texture followed the retiring edges of her robe,
leaving the costly dress within partly exposed to
the eyeo. But the beauty and simplicity of her attire (it was simple for that day) was lost, or, rather, it served to adorn, unnoticed, the melancholy
beauty ofnier countenance.
As they approached the expecting priest, Cecil
threw, by a gentle movement, her mantle on the
rails of the chancel, and accompanied Lionel, with
a firmer tread than before, to the foot of the altar.
Her cheeks were pale; but it was rather with a
compelled resolution than dread, while her eyes
were full of tenderness and thought. Of the two
devotees of Hymen, she exhibited, if not the most
composure, certainly the most singleness of purpose, and intentness on the duty before them; for
while the looks of Lionel were stealing uneasily
about the buildinig, as if he expected some hidden
object to start up out of the darkness, hers were
riveted on the priest in sweet and earnest attention.
They paused in their allotted places; and after
a moment was allowed for Agnes and Polwarth,
who alone followed, to enter the chancel, the low
but deep tones of the minister were heard in the
solemn.stillness of the place.





360


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Dr. Liturgy had borrowed a suitable degree of
inspiration from the dreariness of the hour, and
the solitude of the building where he was required
to discharge his sacred functions. As he delivered the opening exhortation of the service, he made
long and frequent pauses between the members
of the sentences, giving to each injunction a distinct and impressive emphasis. But when he came
to those closing words" If any man can show just cause why they may
not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak,
cr else, hereafter, for ever hold his peace."
Hle lifted his voice, and raised his eyes to the
mlore distant parts of the chapel, -Zs though he addressed a multitude'in the gloom. The faces of
all present involuntarily followed the direction of
his gaze, and a moment of deep expectation, which
can only be explained by the singularly wild character of the scene, succeeded the reverberation of
his tones. At that moment, when each had taken
breath, and all were again turning to the altar, a
huge shadow rose upon the gallery, and extended
itself along the ceiling, until its gigantic proportions were seen hovering, like an evil spectre,
nearly above them.
The clergyman-suspended the half-uttered sentence. Cecil grasped the arm of Lionel convulsively, while a shudder passed through her frame
that seemed about to shake it to dissolution.
The shadowy image then slowly withdrew, not
without, however, throwing out a fantastic gesture,
with an arm which stretched itself across the vaulted
roof, and down the walls, as if about to clutch its
victims beneath.
"If any man can show just cause why they may
not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak,
or else, hereafter, for ever hold his peace," repeat




LIONEL LINCOLN.


361


ed the priest aloud, as if he would summon the
universe at the challenge.
Again the shadow rose, presenting this time the
strong and huge lineaments of a human face, which
it was not difficult, at such a moment, to fancy possessed even expression and life. Its strongly marked features seemed to work with powerful emotion, and the lips moved as if the airy being was
speaking to unearthly ears. Next came two arms,
raised above the gazing group, with clasped hands,
as in the act of benediction, after which the whole
vanished, leaving the ceiling in its own dull white,
and the building still as the graves which surrounded it.
Once more the excited minister uttered the summons; and again every eye was drawn, by a secret impulse, to a spot which seemed to possess
the form, without the substance, of a human being.
But the shadow was seen no more. After waiting several moments in vain, Dr. Liturgy proceeded, with a voice in which a growing tremor was
very perceptible; but no further interruption was
experienced to the end of the service.
Cecil pronounced her vows, and plighted her
troth, in tones of holy emotion; while Lionel, who
was prepared for some strange calamity, went
through the service to the end, with a forced calmness. They were married; and when the blessing was uttered, not a sound nor a whisper was
heard in the party. Silently they all turned away
from the spot, and prepared to leave the place.
Cecil stood passively, and permitted Lionel to
wrap her form in the folds of her mantle with tender care; and when she would have smiled her
thanks for the attention, she merely raised her
anxious eyes to the ceiling, with an expression that
could not be mistaken. Even Polwarth was mute;
31





2. LIONEL LINCOLN.
and Agnes forgot to offer those congratulations and
good wishes, with which her heart had so recently
been swelling.
The clergyman muttered a few words of caution
to Job concerning the candles and the fire, and
hurried after the retiring party with a quickness of
step that he was willing to ascribe to the lateness
of the hour, and with a total disregard to the safety of the edifice; leaving the chapel to the possession of the ill-gifted, but undisturbed son of
Abigail Pray.





CHAPTER XXIIT.


" Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all;
"Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close;
" And let us all to meditation."
King Henry VI
THE bridal party entered their little vehicle silent
and thoughtful; the voice of Polwarth being alone
audible, as he gave a few low and hurried orders
to the groom who was in waiting. Dr. Liturgy
approached for a moment, and made his compliments, when the sleigh darted away from before
the building, as swiftly as if the horse that drew it
partook of the secret uneasiness of those it held.
The movements of the divine, though less rapid,
were equally diligent, and in less than a minute
the winds whistled, and clouds of snow were driven through a street, which every thing possessing
life appeared once more to have abandoned.
The instant Polwarth had discharged his load,
at the door of Mrs. Lechmere, he muttered something of " happiness and to-morrow," which his
friend did not understand, and dashed through the
gate of the court-yard, at the--same mad rate thai
he had driven from the church. On entering the
house, Agnes repaired to the room of her aunt, to





364


LIONEL LINCOLN.


report that the marriage knot was tied, while Lionel led his silent bride into the empty parlour.
Cecil stood, fixed and motionless as a statue,
while her husband removed her eloak and mantle;
her cheeks pale, her eyes riveted on the floor, and
her whole attitude and manner exhibiting the intensity of thought, which had been created by the
scene in which she had just been an actor. When
he had relieved her light form from the load of
garments in which it had been enveloped by his
care, he impelled her gently to a seat by his side,
on the settee, and, for the first time since she had
uttered the final vow at the altar, she spoke" Was it a fearful omen?" she whispered, as he
folded her to his heart, " or was it no more than
a horrid fancy?"
" 'Twas nothing, love-'twas a shadow-that of
Job Pray, who was with me to light the fires."
" No-no-no," said Cecil, speaking with the
rapidity of high excitement, and in tones that
gathered strength as she proceeded-" Those
were never the unmeaning features of the miserable simpleton! Know you, Lincoln, that in the
haughty, the terrific outlines of those dreadful
lineaments on the wall, I fancied a resemblance to
the profile of our great uncle, your father's predecessor in the title-Dark Sir Lionel, as he was
called."
" It was easy to fancy any thing, at such a time,
and under such circumstances. Do not cloud the
happiness of our bridal by these gloomy fancies."
" Am 1 gloomy or superstitious by habit, Lionel?" she asked, with a deprecating tenderness in
her voice, that touched his inmost heart-" But it
came at such a moment, and in such a shape, that
I should be more than woman not to tremble at its
terrible import!"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


365


"C What is it you dread, Cecil? Are we not
married; lawfully, solemnly united?"--The bride
shuddered; but perceiving her unwilling, or unable to answer, he continued-" beyond the power
of man to sever; and with the consent, nay, by the
earnest wish, the command, of the only being who
can have a right to express a wish, or have an
opinion on the subject?"
" I believe-that is, I think, it is all as you say,
Lionel," returned Cecil, still looking about her
with a vacant and distressed air, that curdled his
blood; " yes-yes, we are certainly married; and
oh! how ardently do I implore Him who sees and
governs all things, that our union may be blessed!
but-"
" But what, Cecil? will you let a thing of
naught-a shadow-affect you in this manner "
" 'Twas a shadow, as you say, Lincoln; but
where was the substance?"
" Cecil, my sensible, my good, my pious Cecil,
why do your faculties slumber in this unaccountable apathy? Ask your own excellent reason: can
there be a shade where nothing obstructs the
light?"
" I know not. I cannot reason-I have not reason. All things are possible to Him, whose will is
law, and whose slightest wish shakes the universe.
There was a shadow-a dark, a speaking, and a
terrible shadow; but who can say, where was the
reality?"
" I had almost answered, with the phantom, only
in your own sensitive imagination, love. But
arouse your slumbering powers, Cecil, and reflect
how possible it was for some curious idler of the
garrison to have watched my movements, and to
have secreted himself in the chapel; perhaps from
31 *





8866


LIONEL LINCOLN.


wanton mischief-perhaps without motive of any
kind."
" He then chose an awful moment in which to
Ict his gambols!"
" It may have been one whose knowledge was
just equal to giving a theatrical effect tol his silly
deception. But are we to be cheated of our happiness by such weak devices; or to be miserable
because Boston contains a fool?"
1 I may be weak, and silly, and even impious in
this terror, Lincoln," she said, turning her softened looks upon his anxious face, and attempting to
smile; but it is assailing a woman in a point where
she is most sensitive.-You know that I have no
reserve with you, now. Marriage with us is the
tie that ' binds all charities in one,' and at the moment when the heart is full of its own security, is
it not dreadful to have such mysterious presages,
be they true, or be they false, answering to the
awful appeal of the church!"
L Nor is the tie less binding, less important, or
less dear, my own Cecil, to us. Believe me, what
ever the pride of manhood may say of high destinies, and glorious deeds, the same affections are
deeply seated in our nature, and must be soothed
by those we love, and not by those who contribute
to our vanity. Why then permit this chill to
blight your best affections in their budding?"
There was so much that was soothing to the
anxiety of a bride, in his sentiments, and so much
of tender interest in his manner, that he at length
succeeded, in a great degree, in luring Cecil from
her feverish apprehensions. As he spoke, a mantling bloom diffused itself over her cold and pallid
cheeks, and when he had done, her eyes lighted
with the glow of a woman's confidence, and were
turned on his own in bright, but blushing pleasure.





LIONEL LINCOLN,


3867


She repeated his word 'chill,: with an emphasis
and a smile that could not be misconstrued, and in
a few minutes he entirely succeeded in quelling
the uneasy presentiments that had gained a momentary ascendency over her clear and excellent
faculties.
But notwithstanding Major Lincoln reasoned so
well, and with so much success, against the infitmity of his bride, he was by no means equal to
maintain as just an argument with himself. The
morbid sensibility of his mind had been awakened
in a most alarming manner by the occurrences of
the evening, though his warm interest in the happiness of Cecil had enabled him to smother them,
so long as he witnessed the extent and nature of
her apprehensions. But, exactly in the propoi tion
as he persuaded her into forgetfulness of the past,
his recollections became more vivid and keen;
and, notwithstanding his art, he might not have
been able to conceal the workings of his troubled
thoughts from his companion, had not Agnes appeared, and announced the desire of Mrs. Lechmere to receive the bride and bridegroom in her
sick chamber.
" Come, Lincoln," said his lovely companion,
rising at the summons, " we have been selfish in
forgetting how strongly my grandmother sympathizes in our good or evil fortunes. We should
have discharged this duty without waiting to be
reminded of it."
Without making any other reply than a fond
pressure of the hand he held, Lionel drew her arm
through his own, and followed Agnes into the little
hall which conducted to the upper part of the
dwelling.
" You know the way, Major Lincoln," said Miss
Danforth; " and should you not. my lady bride ca)





368


LIONEL LINCOLN.


show you. I must go and cast a worldly eye on
the little banquet I have ordered, but which I fear
will be labour thrown away, since Captain Polwarth
has disdained to exhibit his prowess at the board.
Truly, Major Lincoln, I marvel that a man of so
much substance as your friend, should be frighten
ed from his stomach by a shadow!"
Cecil even laughed, and in those sweet feminine
tones tnat are infectious, at the humour of her
cousin; but the dark and anxious expression that
gathered round the brow of her husband as suddenly checked her mirth.
' Let us ascend, Lincoln," she said, instantly.
' and leave mad Agnes to her household cares, and
her folly."
" Ay, go," cried the other, turning away towards
the supper-room-" eating and drinking is not ethereal enough for your elevated happiness; would I
had a repast worthy of such sentimental enjoyment! Let me see-dew drops and lovers' tears,
in equal quantities, sweetened by Cupid's smiles,
with a dish of sighs, drawn by moon-light, for piquancy, as Polwarth would say, would flavour a
bowl to their tastes. The dew drops might be difficult to procure, at this inclement season, and in
such a night; but if sighs and tears would serve
alone, poor Boston is just now rich enough in
materials!"
Lionel, and his half-blushing, half-smiling companion, heard the dying sounds of her voice, as she
entered the distant apartment, expressing, by its
tones, the mingled pleasantry and spleen of its
mistress, and in the next instant they forgot both
Agnes and her humour, as they found themselves
in the presence of Mrs. Lechmere.
The first glance of his eye at their expecting re
lative, brought a painful throb to the heart of Ma





LIONEL LINCOLN.


360


jor Lincoln. Mrs. Lechmere had caused herself
to be raised in her bed, in which she was seated
nearly upright, supported by pillows. Her wrinkled and emaciated cheeks were flushed with an
unnatural colour, that contrasted too violently with
the marks which age and strong passions had impressed, with their indelible fingers, on the surrounding wreck of those haughty features, which
had once been distinguished for great, if not attractive beauty. Her hard eyes had lost their ordinary expression of worldly care, in a brightness which
caused them rather to glare than beam with flashes
of unbridled satisfaction that could no longer be
repressed. In short, her whole appearance brought
a startling conviction to the mind of the young man,
that whatever might have been the ardour of his
own feelings in espousing her grand-child, he had
at length realized the fondest desires of a being so
worldly, so designing, and, as he was now made
keenly to remember, of one also, who, he had
much reason to apprehend, was so guilty. The
invalid did not seem to think a concealment of her
exultation any longer necessary; for, stretching out
her arms, she called to her child, in a voice raised
above its natural tones, and which was dissonant
and harsh from a sort of unholy triumph" Come to my arms, my pride, my hope, my dutiful, my deserving daughter! Come and receive
a parent's blessing; that blessing which you so
much deserve!"
Even Cecil, warm and consoling as was the
language of her grandmother, hesitated an instait
at the unnatural voice in which the summons was
uttered, and advanced to meet her embrace winh
a manner less warm than was usual to her own ardent and unsuspecting nature.  This secret re
straint existed, however, but for a moment; foi





370


SLIONEL LINCOLN.


when she felt the encircling arms of Mrs. I ech
mere pressing her warmly to her aged bosom, she
looked up into the face of her grandmother, as if
to thank her for so much affection, by her own
guileless smiles and tears.
" Here, then, Major Lincoln, you possess my
greatest, I had almost said my only treasure!"
added Mrs. Lechmere--" she is a good, a gentle,
and dutiful child; and heaven will bless her for it,
as I do." Leaning forward, she continued in a
less excited voice-" Kiss me, my Cecil, my bride,
my Lady Lincoln! for by that loved title I may
now call you, as yours, in the course of nature, it
soon will be."
Cecil, greatly shocked at the unguarded exultation of her grandmother, gently withdrew herself
from her arms, and with eyes bent to the floor in
shame, and burning cheeks, she willingly moved
aside, to allow Lionel to approach, and receive his
share of the congratulations. He stooped to bestow
the cold and reluctant kiss, which the offered
cheek of Mrs. Lechmere invited, and muttered a
few incoherent words concerning his present happiness, and the obligation she had conferred. Notwithstanding the high and disgusting triumph which
had broken through the usually cold and cautious
manner of the invalid, a powerful and unbidden
touch of nature mingled in her address to the
bridegroom. The fiery and unnatural glow of her
eyes even softened with a tear, as she spoke--
" Lionel, my nephew, my son," she said-" I
have endeavoured to receive you in a manner worthy of the head of an ancient and honourable name;
but were you a sovereign prince, I have now done
my last and best in your favour!-Cherish herlove her-be more than husband-be all of kin to
the precious child, for she merits all! Now is my





LIONEL LINCOLN.


371


latest wish fulfilled!-Now may I prepare myself
for the last great change, in the quiet of a long and
tranquil evening to the weary and troublesome day
of life!"
"C Woman!" said a tremulous voice in the back
ground-" thou deceivest thyself!"
" Who," exclaimed Mrs. Lechmere, raising her
body with a convulsive start, as if about to leap
from the bed-" who is it speaks?"
" 'Tis I," returned the well-remembered tones
of Ralph, as he advanced from the door to the foot
of her couch--" 'tis I, Priscilla Lechmere; one
who knows thy merits and thy doom!"
The appalled woman fell back on her pillows,
gasping for breath, the flush of her cheeks giving
place to their former signs of age and disease, and
her eye losing its high exultation in the glazed
look of sudden terror. It would seem, however,
that a single moment of reflection was sufficient to
restore her spirit, and with it all her deep resentments. She motioned the intruder away, by a violent gesture of the hand, and after an effort to command her utterance, she said, in a voice rendered
doubly strong by overwhelming passion" Why am I braved, at such a moment, in the
privacy of my sick chamber? Have that madman,
or impostor, whichever he may be, removed from
my presence P"
She uttered her request to deadened ears. Lionel neither moved nor answered. His whole attention was given to Ralph, across whose hollow
features a smile of calm indifference passed, which
denoted how little he regarded the threatened violence. Even Cecil, who clung to the arm of Lionel, with all a woman's dependence on him she
loved, was unnoticed by the latter, in the absorbing interest he took in the sudden re-appearance of
24





372


LIONEL LINCOLN.


one whose singular and mysterious character had
long since, raised such hopes and fears in his own
bosom.
" Your doors will shortly be open to all who
may choose to visit here," the old man coldly answered; why should I be driven from a dwelling
where heartless crowds shall so soon enter and depart at will! Am I not old enough; or do I not
bear enough of the aspect of the grave, to become
your companion? Priscilla Lechmere, you have
lived till the bloom of your cheeks has given place
to the colour of the dead; your dimples have become furrowed and wrinkled lines; and the beams
of your once bright eye have altered to the dull look
of care-but you have not yet lived for repentance."
" What manner of language is this?" cried his
wondering listener, inwardly shrinking before his
steady, but glowing look. " Why am I singled
from the world for this persecution?-are my sins
past bearing; or am I alone to be reminded that
sooner or later age and death will come?-I have
long known the infirmities of life, and may truly
say, that I am prepared for their final consequences."
" 'Tis well," returned the unmoved and apparently immovable intruder-" take, then, and read
the solemn decree of thy God; and may He grant
thee firmness to justify so much confidence."
As he spoke, he extended, in his withered hand,
an open letter towards Mrs. Lechmere, which the
quick glance of Lionel told him bore his own name
in the superscription. Notwithstanding the gross invasion of his rights, the young man was passive under the detection of this second and gross interference of the other in his most secret matteis,
watching with eager interest the effect the strange
communication would produce on his aunt.
Mrs. Lechmere took the letter from the stran





LION-L LINC6LN'5373


373


ger with a sort of charmed submission, which denoted how completely his solemn manner had bent
her to his will. The instant her look fell on the
contents, it became fixed and wild. The note was,
however, short, and the scrutiny was soon ended.
Still she grasped it with an extended arm, though
the vacant expression of her countenance betrayed
that it was held before an insensible eye. A moment of silent and breathless wonder followed. It
was succeeded by a shudder which passed through
the whole frame of the invalid, her limbs shaking
violently, until the rattling of the folds of the paper was audible in the most distant corner of the
apartment.
"This bears my name," cried Lionel, shocked
at her emotions, and taking the paper from her unresisting hand, "and should first have met my
eye.7"
" Aloud-aloud, dear Lionel," said a faint but
earnest whisper at his elbow; "aloud, I implore
you, aloud!"
It was not, perhaps, so much in compliance with
this affecting appeal, in which the whole soul of
Cecil seemed wrapped, as by yielding to the overwhelming flow of that excitement to which he had
been aroused, that Major Lincoln was led to conform to her request. In a voice rendered desperately calm by his emotions, he uttered the fatal
contents of the note, in tones so distinct, that they
sounded to his wife, in the stillness of the place,
like the prophetic warnings of one from the dead:
"The state of the town has prevented that close
attention to the case of Mrs. Lechmere; which her
injuries rendered necessary. An inward mortification has taken place, and her present ease is only
the forerunner of her death. I feel it my duty to
32





.374


LIONEL LINCOLN.


say, that though she may live many hours, it is not
improbable that she will die to-night."
To this short, but terrible annunciation, was
placed the well-known signature of the attending
physician. Here was a sudden change, indeed!
All had thought that the disease had given way,
when it seemed it had been preying insidiously
on the vitals of the sick. Dropping the note, Lionel exclaimed aloud, in the suddenness of his surprise" Die to night! This is an unexpected summons, indeed!"
The miserable woman, after the first nerveless
moment of her dismay, turned her looks anxiously
from face to face, and listened intently to the words
of the note, as they'fell from the lips of Lionel,
like one eager to detect the glimmerings of hope
in the alarmed expression of their countenances.
But the language of her physician was too plain,
direct, and positive, to be misunderstood or perverted. Its very coldness gave it a terrific character of truth.
" Do you then credit it?" she asked in a voice
whose husky tones betrayed but too plainly her
abject unwillingness to be assured. " You! Lionel Lincoln, whom I had thought my friend."
Lionel turned away silently from the sad spectacle of her misery; but Cecil dropped on her
knees at the bed-side, and clasping her hands, she
elevated them, looking like a beautiful picture of
pious hope, as she murmured"He is no friend, dearest grandmother, who
would lay flattery to a parting soul! But there is
a better and a safer dependence than all this world
can offer!"
"And you, too " cried the devoted woman,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


375


rousing herself with a strength and energy that
would seem to put the professional knowledge of
her medical attendant at defiance-" do you also
abandon me? you, whom I have watched in infancy, nursed in suffering, fondled in happiness,
ay! and reared in virtue-yes, that I can say boldly in the face of the universe!-you, whom I have
brought to this honourable marriage; would you
repay me for all, by black ingratitude?"
" My grandmother! my grandmother! talk not
thus cruelly to your child! But lean on the Rock
of Ages for support, even as I have leaned on
thee!"
" Away-away-weak, foolish child! Excess
of happiness has maddened thee! Come hither,
my son; let us speak of Ravenscliffe, the proud
seat of our ancestors; and of those days we are yet
to pass under its hospitable roofs. The silly girl
thou hast wived would wish to frighten me!"
Lionel shuddered with inward horror while he
listened to the forced and broken intonations of her
voice, as she thus uttered the lingering wishes of
her nature. He turned again from the view, and,
for a moment, buried his face in his hands, as if to
exclude the world and its wickedness, together,
from his sight.
" My grandmother, look not so wildly at us!"
continued the gasping Cecil-" you may have yet
hours, nay, days, before you." She paused an instant to follow the unsettled and hopeless gaze of
an eye that gleamed despairingly on the objects of
the room, and then, with a meek dependence on
her own purity, dropping her face between ner
hands, she cried aloud in her agony"My mother's mother! would that I could
die for thee!"





376


LIONEL LINCOLN.


C Die!" echoed the same dissonant voice as be
fore, from a throat that already began to rattle with
the hastened approaches of death-" who would
die amid the festivities of a bridal!-Away-leave
me.-To thy closet, and thy knees, if thou wiltbut leave me."
She watched, with bitter resentment, the retiring form of Cecil, who obeyed with the charitable
and pious intention of complying literally with her
grandmother's order, before she added" The girl is not equal to the task I had set her!
All of my race have been weak, but I-my daughter-my husband's niece-"
" What of that niece?" said the startling voice
of Ralph, interrupting the diseased wanderings of
her mind-" that wife of thy nephew-the mother
of this youth? Speak, woman, while time and
reason are granted thee."
Lionel now advanced to her bed-side, under an
impulse that he could no longer subdue, and addressed her solemnly" If thou knowest aught of the dreadful calamity
that has befallen my family," he said, " or in any
manner hast been accessary to its cause, disburthen thy soul, and die in peace. Sister of my
grandfather! nay, more, mother of my wife! I
conjure thee, speak-what of my injured mother?"
" Sister of thy grandfather-mother of thy wife,"
repeated Mrs. Lechmere, slowly, and in a manner
that sufficiently indicated the unsettled state of her
thoughts-" Yes, both are true!"
" Speak to me, then, of my mother, if you acknowledge the ties of blood-tell me of her dark
fate!"
" She is in her grave-dead-rotten-yes--yes
-her boasted beauty has been fed upon by beastly





LIONEL LINCOLN.


371


worms! What more would ye have, mad boy?
Would'st wish to see her bones in their windingsheet?"
" The truth!" cried Ralph; ' declare the truth,
and thy own wicked agency in the deed!"
" Who speaks?" repeated Mrs. Lechmere, dropping her voice from its notes of high excitement
again, to the tremulous cadency of debility and age,
and looking about her at the same time, as if
a sudden remembrance had crossed her brain;
" surely I heard sounds I should know!"
" Here; look on me-'fix thy wandering eye,
if it yet has power to see, on me," cried Ralph,
aloud, as though he would command her attention
at every hazard-" 'tis I that speak to thee, Priscilla Lechmere."
" What wouldst thou have?   My daughter?
She is in her grave! Her child? She is wedded
to another.-Thou art too late! Thou art too late!
Would to God thou hadst asked her of me in season--"
" The truth-the truth-the truth!" continued
the old man, in a voice that rung through the
apartment in wild and startling echoes-" the holy
and undefiled truth! Give us that, and naught
else."
This singular and solemn appeal awakened the
latest energies of the despairing woman, whose
inmost soul appeared to recoil before his cries.
She made an effort to raise herself once more, and
exclaimed" Who says that I air. dying? I am but seventy ' and 'tis only yesterday I was a child-a pure,
an uncontaminated child! He lies-he lies!
have no mortification-I am strong, and have years
to live and repent in."
32 *





378


LIONEL LINCOLN.


In the pauses of her utterance, the voice of the
old man was still heard shouting"The truth-the truth-the holy, undefiled
truth!"
" Let me rise and look upon the sun," continued
the dying woman. " Where are ye all? Cecil,
Lionel-my children, do ye desert me now? Why
do ye darken the room? Give me light-more
light!-more light! for the sake of all in heaven
and earth, abandon me not to this black and terrific darkness!"
Her aspect had become so hideously despairing,
that the voice of eveh Ralph was stilled, and she
continued uninterruptedly to shriek out the ravings
of her soul.
" Why talk to such as I of death!-My time has
been too short!-give me days-give me hoursgive me moments! Cecil, Agnes-Abigail; where
are ye?-help me, or I fall!"
She raised herself, by a desperate effort, from
the pillows, and clutched wildly at the empty air.
Meeting the extended hand of Lionel, she caught
it with a dying grasp, gave a ghastly smile, under
the false security it imparted, and falling backward
again, her mortal part settled, with an universal
shudder, into a state of eternal rest.
As the horrid exclamations of the deceased ended, so deep a stillness succeeded in the apartment,
that the passing gusts of the gale were heard sighing among the roofs of the town, and might easily
be mistaken, at such a moment, for the moaning.s
af unembodied spirits over so accursed an end.





CHAPTER XXIV.


" I wonder, sir, since wives are monstrous to you,
" And that you fly them, as you swear them, lordship,
" Yet, you desire to marry."
All's well that ends well
CECIL had left the room of her grandmother,
with the consciousness of sustaining a load of angui':h, to which her young experience had hitherto
left her a stranger. On her knees, and in the privacy of her closet, she poured out the aspirations
of her pure spirit, in fervent petitions to that power, which she, who most needed its support, had so
long braved by the mockery of respect, and the
seemliness of devotion. With her soul elevated
by its recent communion with her God, and her
feelings soothed even to calmness by the sacred
glow that was shed around them, the youthful
bride at length prepared to resume her post at the
bed-side of her aged relative.
In passing from her own room to that of Mrs.
Lechmere, she heard the busy voice of Agnes below, together with the sounds of the preparations
that were making to grace her own hasty bridal,
and for a moment she paused to assure herself that
all which had so recently passed, was more than
the workings of a disturbed fancy. She eazed at





380


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the unusual, though modest ornaments of her attire;
shuddered as she remembered the awful omen of
the shadow; and then came to the dreadful reality
with an overwhelming conviction of its truth. After laying her hand on the door, she paused, with
secret terror, to catch the sounds that might issue
from the chamber of the sick. After listening a
moment, the bustle below was hushed, and she
too, heard the whistling of the wind, as its echoes
died away among the chimneys and angles of the
building. Encouraged by the death-like stillness
of those within her grandmother's room, Cecil now
opened the door, uhder the pleasing impression
that she should find the resignation of a Christian,
where she had so lately witnessed the incipient ravings of despair. Her entrance was timid; for she
dreaded to meet the hollow, but glaring eye of the
nameless being who had borne the message of the
"physician, and of whose mien and language she retained a confused but fearful recollection. Her
hesitation and her fears were, however, alike vain;
for the room was silent and tenantless. Casting
one wondering look around, in quest of the form
most dear to her, Cecil advanced with a light step
to the bed, and raising the coverlet, discovered the
fatal truth at a glance.
The lineaments of Mrs. Lechmere had already
stiffened, and assumed that cadaverous and ghastly
expression, which marks the touch of death. The
parting soul had left the impression of its agony on
her features, exhibiting the wreck of those passions which caused her, even in death, to look
backward on that world she was l1aving for ever,
instead of forward to the unknown existence, towards which she was hurried. Perhaps the suddenness, and the very weight of the shock, sustained the cheerless bride in that moment of trial. She





LIONEL LINCOLN.


381


neither spoke nor moved for more than a minute;
but remained with her eyes riveted on the desolation of that countenance she had revered from her
infancy, with a species of holy awe that was not
entirely free from horror. Then came the recollection of the portentous omens of her wedding,
and with it a dread that the heaviest of her misfortunes were yet in reserve. She dropped the covering on the pallid features of the dead, and quitted the apartment with a hurried step. The room
of Lionel was on the same floor with that which
she had just left, and before she had time for
reflection, her hand was on its lock. Her brain
wvas bewildered with the rush of circumstances.
For a single instant she paused with maiden bashfulness, even recoiling in sensitive shame from the
act she was about to commit, when all her fears,
mingled with glimmerings of the truth, flashed
again across her mind, and she burst into the room,
uttering the name of him she sought, aloud.
The brands of a fallen fire had been carefllly
raked together, and were burning with a feeble
and wavering flame. The room seemed filled with
a cold air, which, as she encountered it, chilled the
delicate person of Cecil; and flickering shadows
were playing on the walls, with the uncertain
movements imparted by the unsteady light. But,
like the apartment of the dead, the room was still
and empty. Perceiving that the door of the little
dressing-room was open, she rushed to its threshold, and the mystery of the cold air, ar d the wavering fire, was explained, when she felt the gusts
of wind rush by her from the open door at the foot
of the narrow stairs. If Cecil had ever been required to explain the feelings which induced her
to descend, or the manner in which it was effected,
she would have been unable to comply; for, quick





382


LIONEL LINCOLN


as thought, she stood on the threshold of the outer
door, nearly unconscious of her situation.
The moon was still wading among the driving
clouds, shedding just light enough to make the
spectator sensible of the stillness of the camp and
town. -The easterly wind yet howled along the
streets, occasionally lifting whirlwinds of snow.
and wrapping whole squares in its dim wreaths.
But neither man nor beast was visible amid the
dreariness.
The bewildered bride shrunk from the dismal
view, with a keen perception of its wild consonance with the death of her grandmother. In another moment she was again in the room above,
each part of which was examined with maddening
anxiety for the person of her husband. But her
powers, excited and unnatural as they had become,
could support her no longer. She was forced to
yield to the impression that Lionel had deserted
her in the most trying moment, and it was not
strange that she coupled the sinister omens of the
night with his mysterious absence. The heartstricken girl clasped her hands in anguish, and
shrieking the name of her cousin, sunk on the floor
in total insensibility.
Agnes was busily and happily employed with
her domestics, in preparing such a display of the
wealth of the Lechmeres as should not disgrace
her cousin in the eyes of her more wealthy lord
and master. The piercing cry, however, notwithstanding the bustle of hurrying servants, and the
clatter of knives and plates, penetrated to the supper-room, stilling each movement, and blanching
every cheek.
" 'Tis my name!" said Agnes; " who is it
calls?"
" If it was possible," returned Meriton, with a





LIONEL LINCOLN.


383


suitable emphasis, " that Master Lionel's bride
could scream so, I should say it was my lady's
voice!"
" 'Tis Cecil-'tis Cecil!" cried Agnes, darting
from the room;; 0, I feared-I feared these hasty
nuptials!"
There was a general rush of the menials into the
chambers, when the fatal truth became immediately known to the whole family. The lifeless clay
of Mrs. Lechmere was discovered in its ghastly deformity, and, to all but Agnes, it afforded a sufficient solution of the situation of the bride.
More than an hour passed before the utmost
care of her attendants succeeded in restoring Cecil
to a state in which questions might avail any thing.
Then her cousin took advantage of the temporary
absence of her women, to mention the name of her
husband. Cecil heard her with sudden joy; but
looking about the room wildly, as if seeking him
with her eyes, she pressed her hands upon her
heart, and fell backward in that state of insensibility, from which she had just been roused. No part
of this expressive evidence of her grief was lost on
the other, who left the room the instant her care
had succeeded in bringing the sufferer once more
to her recollection.
Agnes Danforth had never regarded her aunt
with that confiding veneration and love which purified the affections of the granddaughter of the deceased. She had always possessed her more immediate relatives, from whom she derived her feelings and opinions, nor was she wanting in sufficient
discernment to distinguish the cold and selfish
traits that had so particulaily marked the character
of Mrs. Lechmere. She had, therefore, consented
to mortify her own spirit, and submit to the privations and dangers of the siege, entirely from a dis





384


384       LIonEL LINGoLt.


interested attachment to her cousin, who, without
her presence, would have found her solitude and
situation irksome.
In consequence of this disposition of her mind,
Agnes was more shocked than distressed by the
unexpected death that had occurred. Perhaps, if
her anxiety had been less roused in behalf of Cecil,
she might have retired to weep over the departure
of one she had known so long, and of one, also,
that, in the sincerity of her heart, she believed so
little prepared for the mighty change. As it was,
however, she took her way calmly to the parlour,
where she summoned Meriton to her presence.
When the valet made his entrance, she assumed
the appearance of a composure that was far from
her feelings, and desired him to seek his master,
with a request that he would give Miss Danforth a
short interview, without delay. During the time
Meriton was absent on this errand, Agnes endeavoured to collect her thoughts for any emergency.
Minute passed after minute, however, and the
valet did not return.  She arose, and stepping
lightly to the door, listened, and thought she heard
his footsteps moving about in the more distant parts
of the building, with a quickness that proved he
conducted the search in good faith. At length she
heard them nigher, and it was soon certain he was
on his return. Agnes seated herself, as before,
and with an air that seemed as if she expected to
receive the master instead of the man. Meriton,
however, returned alone.
" Major Lincoln," she said, 1 you desired him
to meet me here?"
The whole countenance of Meriton expressed
his amazement, as he answered"Lord! Miss Agnus, Master Lionel has gone
out! gone out on such a night! and what is more





LIONEL LINCOLN.


385


remarkable, he has gone out without his mourning; though the dead of his own blood and connexions lies unburied in the house!"
Agnes preserved her composure, and gladly led
the valet on in the path his thoughts had taken, in
order to come at the truth, without betraying her
own apprehensions.
" How know you, Mr. Meriton, that your master has been so far forgetful of appearances?"
" As certain, ma'am, as I know that he wore his
parade uniform this evening when he left the house
the first time; though little did I dream his honour was going to get married! If he hasn't gone
out in the same dress, where is it?-Besides,
ma'am, his last mourning is under lock, and here
is the key in my pocket."
" 'Tis singular he should choose such an hour,
as well as the time of his marriage, to absent himself!"
Meriton had long learned to identify all his interests with those of his master, and he coloured
highly under the oblique imputation that he thought
was no less cast on Lionel's gallantry, than on his
sense of propriety in general.
" Why, Miss Agnus, you will please remember,
ma'am," he answered, "as this wedding hasn't
been at all like an English wedding-nor can I say
that it is altogether usual to die in England as suddenly as Ma'am Lechmere has been pleased-"
" Perhaps," interrupted Agnes, " some accident
may have happened to him. Surely no man of
common humanity would willingly be away at such
a moment!"
The feelings of Meriton now took another direction, and he unhesitatingly adopted the worst apprehensions of the young lady.
Agnes leaned her forehead on her hand, for a
33





386


LIONEL LINCOLN.


minute, in deep reflection, before she spoke again,
then, raising her eyes to the valet, she said" Mr. Meriton, know you where Captain Polwarth sleeps?"
" Certainly, ma'am!-He's a gentleman as al
ways sleeps in his own bed, unless the king's service calls him elsewhere. A considerate gentleman is Captain Polwarth, ma'am, in respect of
himself!'"
Miss Danforth bit her lip, and her playful eye
lighted for an instant, with a ray that banished its
look of sadness; but in another moment her features became demure, if not melancholy, and she
continued" I believe, then-'tis awkward and distressing,
too, but nothing better can be done."
" Did you please to give me any orders, Miss
Agnus?"
" Yes, Meriton; you will go to the lodgings of
Captain Polwarth, and tell him Mrs. Lincoln desires his immediate presence here, in Tremontstreet."
" My lady!" repeated the amazed valet-" why,
Miss Agnus, the women says as my lady is unconscionable, and does not know what is doing, or
who speaks to her! A mournful wedding, ma'am,
for the heir of our house!"
" Then tell him," said Agnes, as she arose to
leave the room, " that Miss Danforth would be
glad to see him."
Meriton waited no longer than was necessary to
mutter his approbation of this alteration in the message, when he left the house, with a pace that was
a good deal quickened by his growing fears on the
subject of his master's safety. Notwithstanding his
apprehensions, the valet was by no means insensible to the severity of the climate he was in, nor to





SLIONEL LINCOLN.


the peculiar qualities of that night, in which he was
so unexpectedly thrust abroad to encounter its fu
ry. He soon succeeded, however, in making his
way co the quarters of Polwarth, in the midst of
the Iriving snow, and in defiance of the cold that
chilled his very bones. Happily for the patience
of the worthy valet, Shearflint, the semi-military
attendant of the captain, was yet up, having just
discharged his nightly duties about the person of
his master, who had not deemed it prudent to seek
his pillow without proving the consolations of the
trencher. The door was opened at the first tap
of Meriton, and when the other had expressed his
surprise, by the usual exclamations, the two attendants adjourned to the sitting-room, where the
embers of a good wood fire were yet shedding a
grateful heat in the apartment.
" What a shocking country is this America for
cold, Mr. Shearflint!" said Meriton, kicking the
brands together with his boot, and rubbing his
hands over the coals-" I doesn't think as our
English cold is at all like it. It's a stronger and a
better cold is ours, but it doesn't cut one like dull
razors, as this here of America."
Shearflint, who fancied himself particularly liberal, and ever made it a point to show his magnani
mity to his enemies, never speaking of the colonists
without a sort of protecting air, that he intended
should reflect largely on his own candour, briskly
replied" This is a new country, Mr. Meriton, and one
shouldn't be over-nice. When one goes abroad,
one must learn to put up with difficulties; especially in the colonies, where it can't be expected all
things should be as comfortable as we has 'em at
'omle."
" Well, now, I call myself as little particulat in
25





388


LIONEL LINCOLN.


respect of weather," returned Meriton, " as and
going. But give me England for climate, if for
nothing else. The water comes down in that
blessed country in good, honest drops, and not in
little frozen bits, which prick one's face like so
many fine needles!"
" You do look, Mr. Meriton, a little as if you had
been shaking your master's powder-puffabout your
own ears. But 1 was just finishing the heel-tap of
the captain's hot toddy; perhaps if you was to
taste it, 'twould help to thaw out the idears."
" God bless me! Shearflint," said Meriton, relinquishing his grasp of the tankard, to take breath
after a most vigorous draught-"' do you always
stuff his night-cap so thick?"
" No-no-the captain can tell a mixtpre by his
nose, and it doesn't do to make partial alterations
in his glass," returned Shearflint, giving the tankard a circular motion to stir its contents, while he
spoke, and swallowing the trifle that remained, apparently at a gulp; " then as I thinks it a pity that
any thing should be wasted in these distressing
times, I generally drinks what's left, after adding
sum'at to the water,just to mellow it down. But what
brings you abroad such a foul night, Mr. Meriton?"
" Sure enough, my idears wanted thawing, as
you instigated, Shearflint! Here have I been sent
on a message of life and death, and I was forget
ting my errand like a raw boy just hired from the
country!"
" Something is stirring, then!" said the other,
offering a chair, which his companion received
without any words, while Polwarth's man took another, with equal composure. " I thought as much,
from the captain's hungry ippearance, when he
came home to night, after dressing himself with so
much care, to take his supper in Tremont-street "





-LIONEL LINCOLN,.


389


" Something has been stirring indeed! For one
thing, it is certain, Master Lionel was married tonight, in the King's Chapel!"
" Married!" echoed the other-" well, thank
heaven, no such unavoidables has befallen us.
though we have been amputrated. I couldn't live
with a married gentleman, no how, Mr. Meriton.
A master in breeches is enough for me, without
one in petticoats to set him on!"
" That depends altogether on people's conditions, Shearflint," returned Meriton, with a sort of
condescending air of condolence, as though he pitied the other's poverty.-" It would be great folly
for a captain of foot, that is nothing but a captain
of foot, to unite in Hymen. But, as we say at
Ravenscliffe and Soho, Cupid will listen to the
siyths of the heir of a Devonshire baronet, with fifteen thousand a year."
" I never heard any one say it was more than
ten," interrupted the other, with a strong taint oi
ill-humour in his manner.
" Not more than ten! I can count ten myself,
and I am sure there must be some that I doesn't
know of."
"Well, if it be twenty," cried Shearflint, rising
and kicking the brands among the ashes, in a man.
ner to destroy all the cheerfulness of the little fire
that remained, " it wont help you to do your er
rand. You should remember that us servants of
poor captains have nobody to help us with our
work, and want our natural rest. What's your
pleasure, Mr. Meriton?"
" To see your master, Mister Shearflint."
" That's impossibility! he's under five blankets;
and I wouldn't lift the thinnest of them for a month's
wages."
33 *





:390


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Then I shall do it for you, because speak to
him I must. Is he in this room?"
"Ay, you'll find him somewhere there, among
the bed-clothes," returned Shearflint, throwing
open the door of an adjoining apartment, secretly
hoping Meriton would get his head broken for his
trouble, as he removed himself out of harm's way.
by returning to the fire-place.
Meriton was compelled to give the captain several rough shakes before he succeeded in rousing
him, in the least, from his deep slumbers. Then,
indeed, he overheard the sleeper muttering" A damn'd foolish business, that-had we made
proper use of our limbs, we might have kept them.
You take this man to be your husband-better for
worse-richer or poorer-ha! who are you rolling,
dog? have you no regard to digestion, to shake a
man in this manner, just after eating!"
" It's I, sir-Meriton."
" And what the devil do you mean by this liberty, Mr. I, or Meriton, or whatever you call yourself?"
" I am sent for you in a great hurry, sir-awful
things have happened to-night up in Tremont!-"
" Happened!" repeated Polwarth, who by this
time was thoroughly awake-" I know, fellow, that
your master is married-I gave the bride away
myself. I suppose nothing else, that is particularly extraordinary, has happened."
" Oh! Lord, yes, sir-my lady is in fainting
its, and Master Lionelhas gone, God knows whither, and Madam Lechmere is dead!"
Meriton had not concluded, before Polwarth
spratig from his bed in the best manner he was
able, and began to dress himself, by a sort of instinct, though without any definite object. By the
unfortunate arrangement of Meriton's intelligence,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


391


he supposed the death of Mrs. Lechmere to be in
consequence of some strange and mysterious separation of the bride from her husband, and his busy
thoughts did not fail to recall the singular interruption of the nuptials, so often mentioned.
" And Miss Danforth!" he asked-" how does
the bear it?"
" Like a woman, as she is, and a true lady. It
is no small thing as puts Miss Agnus beside herself, sir!"
'" No, that it is not! she is much more apt to
drive others mad."
" 'Twas she, sir, as sent me to desire you to
come up to Tremont-street, without any delay."
" The devil it was! Hand me that boot, my
good fellow. One boot, thank God, is sooner put
on than two! The vest and stock next. You,
Shearflint! where have you got to, sirrah! Bring
me my leg, this instant."
As soon as his own man heard this order, he
made his appearance; and as he was much more
conversant with the mystery of his inaster's toilet
than Meriton, the captain was soon equipped for
his sudden expedition.
During the time he was dressing, he continued
to put'hasty questions to Meriton, concerning the
cause of the disturbance in Tremont-street, the answers to which only served to throw him more
upon the ocean of uncertainty than ever. The instant he was clad, he wrapped himself in hiscloak,
and. taking the arm of the valet, he essayed to find
his way through the tempest to the spot where he
was told Agnes Danforth awaited his appearance,
with a chivalry that, in another age, and under different circumstances, would have made him a hero





CHAPTER XXV.


u Proud lineage! now how little thou appearet!"
Blair
NOTWITHSTANDING the unusual alacrity with
which Polwarth obeyed the unexpected summons
of the capricious being whose favour he had so
long courted, with so little apparent success, he
lingered in his steps as he approached near enough
to the house in Tremont-street, to witness the
glancing lights which flitted before the windows.
On the threshold he stopped, and listened to the
opening and shutting of doors, and all those marked, and yet stifled sounds, which are wont to succeed
a visit of the grim monarch to the dwellings of the
sick. His rap was unanswered, and he was compelled to order Meriton to show him into the little
parlour where he had so often been a guest, under
more propitious circumstances. Here he found
Agnes, awaiting his appearance with a gravity, if
not sadness of demeanour, that instantly put to
flight certain complimentary effusions, with which
the captain had determined to open the interview,
in order to follow up, in the true temper of a soldier, the small advantage he conceived he had obtained in the good opinion of his mistress. Altering the exulting expression of his features, with his





LIONEL LINCOLN.


'393


first glance at the countenance of Miss Danforth,
Polwarth paid his compliments in a manner better
suited to the state of the family, and desired to
know, if in any manner he could contribute to their
comfort or relief.
" Death has been among us, Captain Polwarth,"
said Agnes, " and his visit has, indeed, been sudden and unexpected. To add to our embarrassment, Major Lincoln is missing!'
As she concluded, Agnes fastened her eyes on
the face of the other, as though she would require
an explanation of the unaccountable absence of the
Sridegroom.
"' Lionel Lincoln is not a man to fly, because
death approaches," returned the captain, musing;
" and less should I suspect him of deserting, in her
distress, one like the lovely creature he has married. Perhaps he has gone in quest of medical
aid?"
" It cannot be. I have gathered from the broken sentences of Cecil, that he, and some third
person, to me unknown, were last with my aunt,
and must have been present at her death; for the
face was covered. I found the bride in the room
which Lionel has lately occupied-the doors open,
and with indications that he and his unknown companion had left the house by the private stairs
which communicate with the western door. As
my cousin speaks but little, all othei clue to the
movements of her husband is lost, unless this ornament, which I found glittering among the embers
of the fire, may serve for such a purpose. It is, I
believe, a soldier's gorget."'
1C It is, indeed; and it would seem the wearer
has been in some jeopardy, by this bullet-hole
through its centre. By heavens!-'tis that of,NM'Fuse!-Here is the 18th engraved; and I know





39)4


LIONEL LINCOLN.


these little marks which the poor fellow was ac
customed to make on it at every battle; for he
never failed to wear the bauble. The last was the
saddest record of them all!"
" In what manner, then, could it be conveyed
into the apartment of Major Lincoln? Is it possible that-"
" In what manner, truly!" interrupted Polwarth,
rising in his agitation, and beginning to pace the
room, in the best manner his mutilated condition
would allow-" Poor Dennis! that I should find
such a relic of thy end, at last! You did not know
Dennis, I believe. He was a man, fair Agnes,
every way adapted by nature for a soldier. Hi,
was the form of Hercules! the heart of a lion,
and the digestion of an ostrich! But he could not
master this cruel lead! He is dead, poor fellow,
he is dead!"
"' Still you find no clue in the gorget by which
to trace the living?"  demanded Agnes.
" Ha!" exclaimed Polwarth, starting-" I think
I begin to see into the mystery! The fellow who
could slay the man with whom he had eaten and
drunk, might easily rob the dead! You found the
gorget near the fire of Major Lincoln's room, say
you, fair Agnes?"
' In the embers, as if cast there for concealment,
or dropped in some sudden strait."
"'I have it-I have it!" returned Polwarth,
striking his hands together, and speaking through
his teeth-c" 'twas that dog who murdered him,
and justice shall now take its swing-fool or no
fool, he shall be hung up like jerked beef, to dry
in the winds of heaven!"
" Of whom speak you, Polwarth, with that threatening air?" inquired Agnes, in a soothing voice,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


395


of which, like the rest of her sex, she well knew
not only the power, but when to exercise it.
" Of a canting, hypocritical miscreant, who is
called Job Pray-a fellow with no more conscience
than brains, nor any more brains than honesty.
An ungainly villain; who will eat of your table today, and put the same knife that administered to
his hunger to your throat to-morrow! It was such
a dog that butchered the glory of Erin!"
" It must have been in open battle, then," saia
Agnes, "for though wanting in reason, Job has
been reared in the knowledge of good and evil
The child must be strongly stamped with the wratn
of God, indeed, for whom some effort is not made
by a Boston mother, to recover his part in the
great atonement!"
"He, then, is an exception; for surely no Christian will join you in the great natural pursuit of
eating at one moment, and turn his fangs on a comrade at the next."
" But what has all this to do with the absent
bridegroom?"
" It proves that Job Pray has been in his room
since the fire was replenished, or some other than
you would have found the gorget."
" It proves a singular association, truly, between
Major Lincoln and the simpleton," said Agnes,
musing; " but still it throws no light on his disappearance. 'Twas an old man that my cousin
mentioned in her unconnected sentences!"
" My life on it, fair Agnes, that if Major Lincoln
has left the house mysteriously to-night, it is under
the guidance of that wretch!-I have known them
together in council more than once, before this."
" Then, if he be weak enough to forsake such
a woman as my cousin, at the instigation of a fool,
he is unworthy of another thought!"





396


LIONEL LINCOLN


Agnes coloured as she spoke, and turried the
conversation with, a manner that denoted how
deeply she resented the slight to Cecil.
The peculiar situation of the town, and the absence of all her own male relatives, soon induced
Miss Danforth to listen to the reiterated offers of
service from the captain, and finally to accept
them. Their conference was long and confiden
tial; nor did Polwarth retire until his footsteps
were assisted by the dull light of the approaching
day. When he left the house to return to his own
quarters, no tidings had been heard of Lionel,
whose intentional absence was now so certain,
that the captain proceeded to give his orders for
the funeral of the deceased, without any further
delay. He had canvassed with Agnes the propriety of every arrangement so fully, that he was
at no loss how to conduct himself. It had been
determined between them that the state of the
siege, as well as certain indications of movements
which were already making in the garrison, ren
dered it inexpedient to delay the obsequies a mo
ment longer than was required by the unavoida
ble preparations.
Accordingly, the Lechmere vault, in the churchyard of the 'King's Chapel,' was directed to be
opened, and the vain trappings, in which the dead
are usually enshrouded, were provided. The same
clergyman, who had so lately pronounced the nuptial benediction over the child, was now required
to perform the last melancholy offices of the church
over the parent, and the invitations to the few
friends of the family who remained in the place
were duly issued in suitable form.
By the time the sun had fallen near the amphitheatre of hills, along whose crests were, here and
there, to he seen the works of the indefatigable





LIONEL LINCOLN.


391


men who held the place in leaguer, the brief preparations for the interment of the deceased were
completed. The prophetical words of Ralph were
now fulfilled, and, according to the custom of the
province, the doors of one of its proudest dwellings were thrown open for all those who chose to
enter and depart at will. The funeral train, though
respectable, was far from extending to that display
of solemn countenances which Boston, in its peace
and pride, would not have failed to exhibit on any
similar occasion. A few of the oldest and most respected of the inhabitants, who were distantly connected by blood or alliances with the deceased, attended; but there had been nothing in the cold
and selfish character of Mrs. Leclhnere to gather
the poor and dependent in sorrowing groups around
her funeral rites. The passage of the body, from
its late dwelling to the tomb, was quiet, decent,
and impressive, but entirely without any demonstrations of grief. Cecil had buried herself and her
sorrows, together, in the privacy of her own room,
and none of the more distant relatives who had
collected, male or female, appeared to find it at all
difficult to restrain their feelings within the bounds
of the most rigid decorum.
Dr. Liturgy received the body, as usual, on the
threshold of the sacred edifice, and the same solemn
and affecting language was uttered over the dead,
as if she had departed soothed by the most cheerful visions of an assured faith. As the service proceeded, the citizens clustered about the coffin, in
deep attention, in admiration of the unwonted tremor and solemnity that had crept into the voice of
the priest.
Among this little collection of the inhabitants of
the colony, were interspersed a few men in the
imilitary dress, who, having known the family of
34





398


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the deceased in more settled times, had not forgot
ten to pay the last tribute to the memory of one of
its dead.
When the short service was ended, the body was
raised on the shoulders of the attendants, and borne
into the yard, to its place of final rest. At such a
funeral, where few mourned, and none wept, no
unnecessary delay would be made in disposing of
the melancholy relics of mortality. In a very few
moments, the narrow tenement, which contained
the festering remains of one who had so lately harboured such floods of human passion, was lowered
from the light of day, and the body was left to
moulder by the side of those, which had gone before to the darkness of the tomb. Perhaps, of all
who witnessed the descent of the coffin, Polwarth
alone, through that chain of sympathies which
bound him to the caprice of Agnes, felt any emotion at all in consonance with the solemn scene.
The obsequies of the dead were, like the living
character of the woman, cold, formal, and artificial.
The sexton and his assistants had hardly commenced replacing the stone which covered the entrance of the vault, when a knot of elderly men
set the example of desertion, by moving away in a
body fromn the spot. As they picked their footsteps among the graves, and over the frozen ground
of the church-yard, they discoursed idly together,
of the fortunes and age of the woman of whom they
had now taken their leave for ever. The curse of
selfishness appeared even to have fallen on the
warning, which so sudden an end should have given
to those who forgot they tottered on the brink of
the grave. They spoke of the deceased as of one
who had failed to awaken the charities of our nature, and though several ventured their conjectures
as to the manner in which she had disposed of her,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


399


worldly possessions, not one remembered to lament
that she had continued no longer to enjoy them.
From this theme they soon wandered to themselves, and the whole party quitted the churchyard, joking each other on the inroads of time,
each man attempting to ape the elastic tread of
youth, in order not only to conceal from his companions the ravages of age, but with a vain desire
to extend the artifice so far, if possible, as to deceive himself.
When the seniors of the party withdrew, the remainder of the spectators did not hesitate to follow;
and in a few minutes Polwarth found himself standing before the vault, with only two others of all
those who had attended the body. The captain,
who had been at no little expense of time and trouble to maintain the decencies which became a near
friend of the family of the deceased, stood a minute
longer, to permit these lingering followers to retire
also, before he turned his own back on the place
of the dead. But perceiving they both maintained
their posts, in silent attention, he raised his eyes,
more curiously, to examine who these loiterers
might be.
The one nearest to himself was a man, whose
dress and air bespoke him to be of no very exalted
rank in life, while the other was a woman of even
an inferior condition, if an opinion might be formed
from the squalid misery that was exhibited in her
attire. A little fatigued with the arduous labours
of the day, and of the duties of the unusual office
he had assumed, the worthy captain touched his
hat with studied decorum, and said" I thank you, good people, for this mark of respect to the memory of my deceased friend; but
as we have performed all that can now be done i,
Eer behalf, we will retire "





400.LIONEL LINCOLN,


Apparently encouraged by the easy and courteous manner of Polwarth, the man approached
still nigher, and, after bowing with much respect,
ventured to say" They tell me 'tis the funeral of Madam Lechmere that I have witnessed?"
" They tell you true, sir," returned the captain
beginning slowly to pick his way towards the gate
" of Mrs. Priscilla, the relict of Mr. John Lech
mere-a lady of a creditable descent, and I think it
will not be denied, that she has had honourable
interment!"
" If it be the lady I suppose," continued the
stranger, 1" she is of an honourable descent indeed. Her maiden name was Lincoln, and she
is aunt to the great Devonshire baronet of that
family."
" How! know you the Lincolns?" exclaimed
Polwarth, stopping short, and turning to examine
the other with a stricter eye. Perceiving, however, that the stranger was a man of harsh and peculiarly forbidding features, in the vulgar dress already mentioned, he muttered-" you may have
heard of them, friend, but I should doubt whether
your intimacy could amount to such wholesome familiarities as eating and drinking."
" Stronger intimacies than that, sir, are sometimes brought about between men who were born
to very different fortunes," returned the stranger,
with a peculiarly sarcastic and ambiguous smile,
which meant more than met the eye-" but all
who know the Lincolns, sir, will allow their claims
to distinction. If this lady was one of them, she
had reason to be proud of her blood."
" Ay, you are not tainted, I see, with these reVolutionary notions, my friend," returned Polwarth  " she was also connected with a very good





LIONEL' LINCOLN.


41)


sort of a family in this colony, called the Danforths
-you know the Danforths?"
" Not at all, sir, I-"
" Not know the Danforths!" exclaimed Polwarth, once more stopping to bestow a.freer scrutiny on his companion. After a short pause, however, he nodded his head, in approbation of his
own conclusions, and added-" No, no-I am
wrong-I see you could not have known much of
the Danforths!"
The stranger appeared quite willing to overlook
the cavalier treatment he received, for he continued to attend the difficult footsteps of the maimed
soldier, with the same respectful deference as before.
" I have no knowledge of the Danforths, it is
true," he answered; " but I may boast of some intimacy with the family of Lincoln."
C" Would to God, then," cried Polwarth, in a
sort of soliloquy, which escaped him in the fulness
of his heart, " you could tell us what has become
of its heir!"
The stranger stopped short in his turn, and exclaimed" Is he not serving with the army of the king,
against this rebellion?-Is he not here?"
C He is here, or he is there, or he is any where;
I tell you he is lost."
" He is lost!" echoed the other.
" Lost!" repeated a humble female voice, at the
very elbow of the captainThis singular repetition of his own language,
aroused Polwarth from the abstraction into which
he had suffered himself to fall. In his course from
the vault to the church-yard gate, he had unconsciously approached the woman before mentioned.
and when he turned at the sounds of her voice, his
34 *





402


LIONEL LINCOLN.


eyes fell full upon her anxious countenance. The
very first glance was enough to tell the observant
captain, that, in the midst of her poverty and rags,
he saw the broken remains of great female beauty.
ler dark and intelligent eyes, set as they were in
a sallow and sunken countenance, still retaine:l
much of the brightness, if not of the softness and
peace of youth. The contour of her face was als)
striking, though she might be said to resemble one
whose loveliness had long since departed with her
innocence. But the gallantry of Polwarth was
proof even against the unequivocal signs of misery,
if not of guilt, which were so easily to be traced in
her appearance; and he too much respected even
the remnants of female charms which were yet visible amid such a mass of unseemliness, to regard
them with an unfriendly eye. Apparently encouraged by the kind look of the captain, the woman
ventured to add" Did I hear aright, sir?-said you that Major
Lincoln was lost?"
"  am afraid, good woman,'-returned the captain, leaning on the iron-shod stick, with which he
was wont to protect his footsteps along the icy
streets of Boston-" that this siege has, in your
case, proved unusually severe. If I am not mistaken in a matter in which I profess to know much,
nature is not supported as nature should be. You
would ask for food, and God forbid that I should
deny a fellow-creature a morsel of that which constitutes both the seed and the fruits of life. Here
is money."
The muscles of the attenuated countenance of
the woman worked with a sudden convulsive motion, and, for a moment, she glanced her eyes
wistfully towards his silver, but a slight flush pass





LIONEL LINCOLN.


403


ing quickly over her pallid features, she answer.
ed': Whatever may be my wants and my suffering,
I thank my God that he has not levelled me with
the beggar of the streets. Before that evil day
shall come, may I find a place amongst these frozen
hillocks where we stand.  But I beg pardon, sir;
I thought I heard you speak of Major Lincoln."
"I did-and what of him? I said he was lost;
and it is true, if that be lost which cannot be
found."
"And did Madam Lechmere take her leave before he was missing?" asked the woman advancing
a step nearer to Polwarth, in her intense anxiety
to be answered.
"Do you think, good woman, that a gentleman
of Major Lincoln's notion of things, would disappear after the decease of his relative, and leave a
comparative stranger to fill the office of principal
mourner?"
"The Lord forgive us all our sins and wickedness!" muttered the woman, drawing the shreds
of her tattered cloak about her shivering form,
and hastenirg silently away into the depths of the
grave-yard. Polwarth regarded her unceremonious
departure for a moment, in surprise, and then, turning to his remaining companion, he remarked"That woman is unsettled in her reason, for
the want of wholesome nutriment. It is just as
impossible to retain the powers of the mind, and
neglect the stomach. as it is to expect a truant boy
will make a learned man." By this time the worthy captain had forgotten whom it was he addressed, and he continued, in his usual philosophic
strain, "Children are sent to school to learn all
useful inventions but that of eating; for to eat--
that is, td eat with judgment,-is as much of an in26





404


LIONEL LINCOLN.


vention as any other discovery. Every mouthfula
man swallows has to undergo four important ope-;rations, each of which may be called a crisis in the
human constitution."
" Suffer me to help you over this grave," said
the other, officiously offering his assistance.
" I thank you, sir, I thank you-'tis a sad corn
mentary on my words!" returned the captain
with a melancholy smile. " The time has been
when I served in the light corps, but your men in
unequal quantities are good for little else but garrisons!-As I was saying, there is first, the selection; second, mastication; third, deglutition; and
lastly, the digestion."
" Quite true, sir," said the stranger, a little abruptly; " thin diet and light meals are best for the
brain."
" Thin diet and light meals, sir, are good for
nothing but to rear dwarfs and idiots!" returned
the captain with some heat. " I repeat to you, sir-5
He was interrupted by the stranger, who suddenly smothered a dissertation on the connexion
between the material and immaterial, by asking" If the heir of such a family be lost, is there
none to see that he is found again?"
Polwarth, finding himself thus checked in the
very opening of his theme, stopped again, and
stared the other full in the face for a moment, without making any reply. His kind feeling, however,
got the better of his displeasure, and yielding to
the interest he felt in the fate of Lionel, he answered" I would go all lengths, and incur every hazard
to do him service!"
" Then, sir, accident has brought those toge
ther who are willing to engage in the same undertaking! I, too, will do my utmost to discover





LIONEL LINCOLN.


405


him! I have heard he has friends in this province. Has he no connexion to whom we may
apply for intelligence?"
"None nearer than a wife."
"A wife!" repeated the other in surprise-" is
he then married?"
A long pause ensued, during which the stranger mused deeply, and Polwarth bestowed a still
more searching scrutiny than ever on'his companion. It would appear that the result was not
satisfactory to the captain; for, shaking his head, in
no very equivocal manner, he resumed the task
of picking his way among the graves, towards the
gate, with renewed diligence. He was in the act
of seating himself in the pung, when the stranger
again stood at his elbow, and said" If I knew where to find his wife, I would
offer my services to the lady."
Polwarth pointed to the building of which Cecil
was now the mistress, and answered, somewhat
superciliously, as he drove away" She is there, my good friend, but your application will be useless!"
The stranger received the direction in an understanding manner, and smiled with satisfied confidence, while he took the opposite route from that
by which the busy equipage of the captain had
already disappeared





CHAPTER XXVI.


* Up Fish-street! down Saint Magnus' corner I
" Kill and knock down I Throw them into Thames I" What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound
Retreat or parley, when I command them kill?"
King Henry IV
IT was rarely, indeed, that the equal minded
Polwarth undertook an adventure with so fell an
intent as was the disposition with which le directed the head of the hunter to be turned towards
the Dock-square. He had long known the resi'dence of Job Pray, and often, in passing from his
lodgings, near the common, into the more fashionable quarter of the town, the good-natured epicure
had turned his head to bestow a nod and a smile
onr the unsophisticated admirer of his skill in the
culinary art. But now, as the pung whirled out of
Corn-hill into the well-known area, his eye fell on
the low and gloomy walls of the warehouse, with
a far less amicable design.
From the time he was apprized of the disappear.
ance of his friend, the captain had been industri.
ously ruminating on the subject, in a vain wish to
discover any probable reason that might induce
a bridegroom to adopt so hasty, and, apparently, so
unjustifiable a step, as the desertion of his bride.





LIONEL LINCOLN


407


and that, too, under circumstances of such peculiar
distress. But the more he reasoned, the more he
found himself involved in the labyrinth of perplexity, until he was glad to seize on the slightest clue
which offered, to lead him from his obscurity. It
has already been seen in what manner he received
the intelligence conveyed through the gorget of
M'Fuse, and it now remains for us to show with
what commendable ingenuity he improved the hint.
It had always been a matter of surprise to Polwarth, that a man like Lionel should tolerate so
much of the society of the simpleton; nor had it
escaped his observation, that the communications
between the two were a little concealed under a
shade of mystery. He had overheard the foolish
boast of the lad, the preceding day, relative to the
death of M'Fuse; and the battered ornament, in
conjunction with the place where it was found,
which accorded so well with his grovelling habits,
had tended to confirm its truth. The love of Polwarth for the grenadier was second only to his attachment for his earlier friend. The one had avowedly fallen, and he soon began to suspect that the
other had been strangely inveigled from his duty
by the agency of this ill-gifted changeling. To
conceive an opinion, and to become confirmed in its
justice, were results generally produced by the
same operation of the mind, with this disciple of
animal philosophy. Whilst he stood near the tomb
of the Lechmeres, in the important character of
chief mourner, he had diligently revolved in his
mind the brief arguments which he found necessary to this conclusion. The arrangement of his ideas
might boast of the terseness of a syllogism. His
proposition and inference were something as follows:- Job murdered M'Fuse;--some great evil





408


LIONcL, LINCOLN*


has occurred to Lionel;-and therefore Job has.
been its author.
It is true, there was a good deal of intermediate
argument to support this deduction, at which the
captain cast an extremely cursory glance, but which
the reader may easily conceive, if at all gifted in
the way of imagination. It would require no un
due belief of the connexion between very natural
effects and their causes, to show that Polwarth was
not entirely unreasonable in suspecting the agency
of the simpleton, nor in harbouring the deep and
bitter resentment that so much mischief, even
though it were sustained from the hands of a fool,
was likely to awaken. Be that as it may, by the
time the pung had reached the point already mentioned, its rapid motion, which accelerated the ordinarily quiet circulation of his blood, together with
the scene through which he had just passed, and
the recollections which had been crowding on his
mind, conspired to wind up his resolution to a
very obstinate pitch of determination. Of all his
schemes, embracing, as they did, compulsion, confession, and punishment, Job Pray was, of course,
destined to be both the subject and the victim.
The shadows of evening were already thrown
upon the town, and the cold had long before driven
the few dealers in meats and vegetables, who continued to find daily employment arourd the ill-furnished shambles, to their several homes. In their
stead there was only to be seen a meager and impoverished follower of the camp, stealing along the
shadows of the building, with her half-famished
child, as they searched among the offals of the market for some neglected morsel, to eke out the scanty
meal of the night. But while the common mart
presented this appearance of dullness and want, the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


409


lower part of the square exhibited a very different
aspect.
The warehouse was surrounded by a body of
men in uniform, whose disorderly and rapid movements proclaimed at once, to the experienced eye
of the captain, that they were engaged in a scene
of lawless violence. Some were rushing furiously
into the building, armed with such weapons as the
streets first offered to their hands, while others
returned, filling the air with their threats and outcries. A constant current of eager soldiers was setting out of the dark passages in the neighbourhood
towards the place, and every window of the building was crowded with excited witnesses, who
clung to the walls, apparently animating those within by their cheers and applause.
When Polwarth bade Shearflint pull the reins,
he caught the quick, half-formed sentences that
burst fi-om the rioters, and even before he was
able, in the duskiness of the evening, to discover
the facings of their uniform, his ear detected the
well-known dialect of the Royal Irish. The whole
truth now broke upon him at once, and throwing
his obese person from the sleigh, in the best manner he was able, he hobbled into the throng, with
a singular compound of feeling, which owed its
birth to the opposing impulses of a thirst for vengeance, and the lingering influence of his natural
kindness.  Better men than the captain have,
however, lost sight of their humanity, under those
fierce sympathies that are awakened in moments
of tumult and violence  By the time he had forced his person into the large, dark apartment that
formed the main building, he had, in a great degree, suffered himself to be worked into a sternness of purpose, which comported very ill with his
intelligence and rank. He evec: listened, with un35





410


LIONEL LINCOLN.


accountable pleasure, to the threats and denunciations which filled the building; until he foresaw,
from their savage nature, there was great danger
that one half of his object, the discovery of Lionel, was likely to be frustrated by their fulfilment.
Animated anew by this impression, he thiew the
rioters from him with prodigious energy, and succeeded in gaining a position where he might become a more efficient actor in the fray.
There was still light enough to discover Job
Pray placed in the centre of the warehouse, on
his miserable bed, in an attitude between lying
and sitting. While his bodily condition seemed to
require the former position, his fears had induced
him to attempt the latter. The large, red blotches
which covered his unmeaning countenance, and
his flushed eye-balls, too plainly announced that
the unfortunate young man, in addition to having
become the object of the wrath of a lawless mob,
was a prey to the ravages of that foul disorder
which had long before lighted on the town. Around
this squalid subject of poverty and disease, a few
of the hardiest of the rioters, chiefly the surviving
grenadiers of the 18th, had gathered; while the
less excited, or more timid among them, practised
their means of annoyance at a greater distance from
the malign atmosphere of the distemper. The
bruised and bloody person of the simpleton manifested how much he had already suffered from the
hands of his tormentors, who happily possessed no
very fatal weapons, or the scene would have been
much earlier terminated.  Notwithstanding his
great bodily debility, and the pressing dangers that
beset him on every side, Job continued to face his
assailants, with a sort of stupid endurance of the
pains they inflicted.
At the sight of this revolting spectacle, the heart





LIONEL LINCOLN.


411


of Polwarth began greatly to relent, and he endeavoured to make himself heard, in the clamour
of fifty voices. But his presence was unheeded,
for his remonstrances were uttered to ignorant
men, wildly bent on vengeance.
"Pul the baist from his rags!" cried one-"'tis
no a human man, but a divil's imp, in the shape of
a fellow cratur!"
" For such as him to murder the flower of the
British army!" said another-" his small-pox is
nothing but a foul invintion of the ould one, to
save him from his daisarrevings!"
'L Would any but a divil invent such a disordei
at all?" interrupted a third, who, even in his anger, could not forget his humour. " Have a care
b'ys, he may give it to the whole family the naat'ral way, to save the charges of the inoculation!"
"Have done wid ye'r foolery, Terence," returned the first; " would ye trifle about death,
and his unrevenged? Put a coal into his filth,
b'ys, and burren it and him in the same bonfire!"
"d A coal! a coal! a brand for the divil's burning!" echoed twenty soldiers, eagerly listening,
in the madness of their fury, to the barbarous
advice.
Polwarth again exerted himself, though unsuccessfully, to be heard; nor was it until a dozen
voices proclaimed, in disappointment, that the
house contained neither fire nor fuel, that the sudden commotion in the least subsided.
"Out of the way! out of the way wid ye!"
roared one of gigantic mould, whose heavy nature
had, like an overcharged volcano, been slowly
wrought up to the eve of a fearful eruption" Here is fire to destroy a salamander! Be lie
divil o0 be he saint, he has great need of his
prayers!"





412


LIONEL LINCOLN.


As he spoke, the fellow levelled a musket, and
another instant would have decided the fate of Job,
who cowered before the danger with instinctive
dread, had not Polwarth beat up the piece with his
cane, and interposed his body between them.
" Hold your fire, brave grenadier," he said,
warily adopting a middle course between the language of authority and that of counsel. ' This is
hasty and unsoldier-like. I knew, and loved your
late commander well; let us obtain the confessions
of the lad before we proceed to punishment-there
may be others more guilty than he."
The men regarded the unexpected intruder with
such furious aspects as augured ill of their deference
for his advice and station. " Blood for blood!"
passed from mouth to mouth, in low, sullen mutterings; and the short pause which had succeeded
his appearance was already broken by still less
equivocal marks of hostility, when, happily for Polwarth, he was recognised, through the twilight, by
a veteran of the grenadiers, as one of the former
intimates of M'Fuse. The instant the soldier communicated this.discovery to his fellows, the growing uproar again subsided, and the captain was relieved from no small bodily terror, by hearing his
own name passing among them, coupled with such
amicable additions as, " his ould fri'nd!"-" an offisher of the light troops!"-" he that the ribbils
massacred of a leg!" &c. As soon as this explanation was generally understood, his ears were
greeted with a burst from every mouth, of" Hurrah! for Captain Pollywarreth! His fri'nd!
the brave Captain Pollywarreth!"
Pleased with his success, and secretly gratified
by the commendations that were now freely lavished on himself, with characteristic liberality, the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


413


mediator improved the slight advantage he had ob
tained, by again addressing them.
" I thank you for your good opinion, my friends,"
he added, " and must acknowledge it is entirely
mutual. I love the royal Irish, on account of one
that I well knew, and greatly esteemed, and who,
I fear, was murdered in defiance of all the rules of
war."
" Hear ye that, Dennis? murdered!"
" Blood for blood!" muttered three or four surly voices at once.
" Let us be deliberate, that we may be just, and
just that our vengeance may be awful," Polwarth
quickly answered, fearful that if the torrent once
more broke loose, it would exceed his powers to
stay it. " A true soldier always awaits his orders;
and what regiment in the army can boast of its discipline, if it be not the 18th! Form yourselves in
a circle around your prisoner, and listen, while I
extract the truth from him. After that, should he
prove guilty, I will consign him to your tenderest
mercy."
The rioters, who only saw, in the delay, a more
methodical execution of their own violent purpose,
received the proposition with another shout, and
the name of Polwarth, pronounced in all the varieties of their barbarous idioms, rung loudly through
the naked rafters of the building, while they disposed themselves to comply.
The captain, with a wish to gain iame to command his thoughts, required that a light should be
struck, in order, as he said, to study the workings
of the countenance of the accused. As the night
had now gathered about them in good earnest, the
demand was too reasonable for objection, and with
the same headlong eagerness that they had manifested a few minutes before, to shed the blood of
3.) *)





414


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Job, they turned their attention, with thoughtless
versatility, to effect this harmless object. A brand
had been brought, for a very different end, when
the plan of burning was proposed, and it had been
cast aside again with the change of purpose. A
few of its sparks were now collected, and some
bundles of oakum, which lay in a corner of the
warehouse, were fired, and carefully fed in such a
manner as to shed a strong light through every
cranny of the gloomy edifice.
By the aid of this fitful glare, the captain succeeded once more in marshalling the rioters in
such a manner that no covert injury could be offered to Job. The whole affair now assumed, in
some measure, the character of a regular investigation. The curiosity of the men without overcame their fears of infection, and they crowded
into the place, in earnest attention, until, in a very
few moments, no other sound was audible but the
difficult and oppressed respiration of their victim.
When all the other noises had ceased, and Polwarth
perceived by the eager and savage countenances,
athwart which the bright glare of the burning hemp
was gleaming, that delay might yet be dangerous,
he proceeded at once in his inquiries.
C You may see, Job Pray, by the manner in
which you are surrounded," he said, " that judgment has at length overtaken you, and that your
only hope for mercy lies in your truth. Answer,
then, to such questions as I shall put, and keep the
fear of God before your eyes."
The captain paused to allow this exhortation to
produce its desired effect. But Job, perceiving
that his late tormentors were quiet, and to all appearance bent on no immediate mischief, sunk his
head languidly upon his blankets, where he lay in
silence, watching, with rolling and anxious eyes,





LIONEL LINCOLN.


415


the smallest movements of his enemies. Polwarth
soon yielded to the impatience of his listeners, and
continued" You are acquainted with Major Lincoln?"
" Major Lincoln!" grumbled three or four of the
grenadiers-" is it of him that we want to hear?"
" One moment, my worthy 18ths; I shall come
at the whole truth the sooner, by taking this indirect course."
" Hurrah! for Captain Pollywarreth!" shouted
the rioters-" him that the ribbils massacred of a
leg!"
" Thank you-thank you, my considerate friends
-answer, fellow, without prevarication; you dare
not deny to me your knowledge of Major Lincoln?"
After a momentary pause, a low voice was heard
muttering among the blankets" Job knows all the Boston people; and Major
I incoln is a Boston boy."
" But with Major Lincoln you had a more particular acquaintance.-Restrain your impatience,
men; these questions lead directly to the facts
you wish to know."  The rioters, who were profoundly ignorant of what sort of facts they were to
be made acquainted with by this examination, looked at each other in uneasy doubt, but soon settled
down again into their former deep silence.-" You
know him better than any other gentleman of the
army?"
c He promised Job to keep off the grannies, and
Job agreed to run his ar'n'ds."
" Such an arrangement betrays a greater inti.
macy than is usual between a wise man and a fool!
If you are then so close in league with him, I de
mand what has become of your associate?'
The young man made no reply.





416


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" You are thought to know the reasons why he
has left his friends," returned Polwarth, " and I
iow demand that you declare them."
" Declare!" repeated the simpleton, in his most
unmeaning and helpless manner-" Job was never
good at his schooling.". Nay, then, if you are obstinate, and will not
answer, I must withdraw, and permit these brave
grenadiers to work their will on you."
This threat served to induce Job to raise his
head, and assume that attitude and look of instinctive watchfulness that he had so recently abandoned. A slight movement of the crowd followed,
and the terrible words of " Blood for blood!" again
passed among them in sullen murmurs. The help.less youth, whom we have been obliged to call an
idiot, for want of a better term, and because his
mental imbecility removed him without the pale
of legal responsibility, now stared wildly about him,
with an increasing expression of reason, that might
be ascribed to the force of that inward fire which
preyed upon his vitals, and which seemed to purify the spirit in proportion as it consumed the material dross of his existence.
" It's ag'in the laws of the Bay, to beat and torment a fellow-creature," he said, with a solemn
earnestness in his voice, that would have melted
hearts of ordinary softness; " and, what is more,
it's ag'in His holy book! If you hadn't made
oven-wood of the Old North, and a horse-stable of
the Old South, you might have gone to hear such
expounding as would have made the hair rise on
your wicked heads!"
The cries of " Have done wid his foolery!"" The imp is playing his games on us!"-" As if
his wooden mockery was a church at all fit for a
ra'al Christian!"--were heard on every side, and





LIONEL LINCOLN.


417


they were succeeded by the often repeated and
appalling threat of " Blood for blood!"
" Fall back, men, fall back!" cried Polwarth,
flourishing his walking-stick in such a manner as
effectually to enforce his orders; " wait for his
confession before you judge.-Fellow, this is the
last and trying appeal to your truth-your life
most probably depends on the answer. You are
known to have been in arms against the crown.Nay, I myself saw you in the field on that day when
the troops a-a-a countermarched from Lexington;
since when you are known to have joined the rebels while the army went out to storm the entrenchment on the heights of Charlestown."  At this
point in the recapitulation of the offences of Job,
the captain was suddenly appalled by a glimpse at
the dark and threatening looks that encircled him,
and he concluded with a laudable readiness-" on
that glorious day when his majesty's troops scattered your provincial rabble like so many sheep
driven from their pastures by dogs!"
The humane ingenuity of Polwarth was reward
ed by a burst of loud and savage laughter. En
couraged by this evidence of his power over his
auditors, the worthy captain proceeded with an increased confidence in his own eloquence.
" On that glorious day," he continued, gradually warming with his subject, " many a gallant gentleman, and hundreds of fearless privates, met their
fate. Some fell in open and manly fight, and according to the chances of regular warfare. Some
-he-e-m-some have been mutilated; and will
carry the marks of their glory with. them to the
grave."  His voice grew a little thick and husky
as he proceeded; but, shaking off his weakness, he
ended with an energy that he intended should





418.LIONEL LINCOLN.


curdle the heart of the prisoher,-" while, fellow,
some have been murdered!"
" Blood for blood!" was heard again passing its
fearful round. Without attempting any longer to
repress the rising spirit of the rioters, Polwarth
continued his interrogatories, entirely led away by
the strength of his own feelings on this sensitive
subject.
" Remember you such a man as Dennis M'Fuse?"
he demanded in a voice of thunder; "he that was
treacherously slain in your inmost trenches, after
the day was won! Answer me, knave, were you
not among the rabble, and did not your own vile
hand the bloody deed?"
A few words were heard from Job, in a low.
muttering tone, of which only " the rake-hellies,"
and " the people will teach 'em the law!" were
sufficiently distinct to be understood.
" Murder him! part him sowl from body!" exclaimed the fiercest of the grenadiers.
" Hold!" crieth Polwarth; " but one moment
more-I would relieve my mind from the debt I
owe his memory. Speak, fellow; what know you
of the death of the commander of these brave
grenadiers?"
Job, who had listened to his words attentively,
though his uneasy eyes still continued to watch
the slightest movements of his foes, now turned to
the speaker with a look of foolish triumph, and
answered" The 18th came up the hill, shouting like roaring lions! but the Royal Irish had a death-howl,
that evening, over their tallest man!i
Polwarth trembled with the violence of the passions that beset him; but, while with one hand he
motioned to the men to keep back, with the other





LIONEL LINCOLN.


419


he produced the battered gorget from his pocket,
and held it before the eyes of the simpleton.
" Know you this?" he demanded; " who sent
the bullet through this fatal hole?"
Job took the ornament, and for a moment regarded it with an unconscious look. But his countenance gradually lighting with a ray of unusual
meaning, he laughed in scornful exultation, as he
answered" Though Job is a fool, he can shoot!"
Polwarth started back aghast, while the fierce
resentments of his ruder listeners broke through
all restraint. They raised a loud and savage shout,
as one man, filling the building with hoarse exe
crations and cries for vengeance. Twenty expedients to destroy their captive were named in a
breath, and with all the characteristic vehemence
of their nation. Most of them would have been
irregularly adopted, had not the man who attended the burning hemp caught up a bundle of the
flaming combustible, and shouted aloud" Smodder him in the fiery flames!-he's an
imp of darkness; burren him, in his rags, from
before the face of man!"
The barbarous proposition was received with
a sort of frenzied joy, and in another moment a
dozen handsful of the oakum were impending above
the devoted head of the helpless lad. Job made
a feeble attempt to avert the dreadful fate that
threatened him, but he could offer no other resistance than his own weakened arm, and the abject moanings of his impotent mind. He was enveloped in a cloud of black smoke, through which
the forked flames had already begun to play, when
a woman burst into the throng, casting the fiery
combustibles from her, on either side, as she ad27





420


LIONEL LINCOLN.


vanced, with a strength that seemed supernatural.
When she had reached the bed, she tore aside the
smoking pile with hands that disregarded the heat,
and placed herself before the victim, like a fierce
lioness, at bay, in defence of her whelps. In this
attitude she stood an instant, regarding the rioters
with a breast that heaved with passions too strong
for utterance, when she found her tongue, and
vented her emotions with all the fearlessness of a
woman's indignation.
" Ye monsters in the shape of men, what is't
ye do!" she exclaimed, in a voice that rose above
the tumult, and had the effect to hush every mouth
" Have ye bodies without hearts! the forms with
out the bowels of the creatures of God! Who
made you judges and punishers of sins! Is there
a father among you, let him come and view the anguish of a dying child! Is there a son, let him
draw near, and look upon a mother's sorrow! Oh!
ye savages, worse than the beasts of the howling
wilderness, who have mercy on their kinds, what
is't ye do-what is't ye do!"
The air of maternal intrepidity with which this
burst from the heart was uttered, could not fail to
awe the worst passions of the rioters, who gazed
on each other in stupid wonder, as if uncertain
how to act. The hushed and momentary stillness
was, however, soon broken once more by the low,
umurming threat of " Blood for blood!"
" Cowards! dastards! soldiers in name, and
demons in your deeds!" continued the undaunted
Abigail-" come ye here to taste of human blood!
Go-away with you to the hills! and face the men
of the Bay, who stand ready to meet you with
arms in their hands, and come not hither to bruise
the broken reed! Poor, suffering, and stricken as





LIONEL LINCOLN


421


ne is, by a hand far mightier than yours, my child
will meet you there, to your shame, in the cause
of his country, and the law!"
This taunt was too bitter for the unnurtured
tempers to which she appealed, and the dying
spark of their resentment was at once kindled into
a blaze by the galling gibe.
The rioters were again in motion, and the cry
of "Burn the hag and the imp together!" was
fiercely raised, when a man of a stout, muscular
frame forced his way into the centre of the crowd,
making room for the passage of a female, whose
gait and attire, though her person was concealed
by her mantle, announced her to be of a rank
altogether superior to the usual guests of the warehouse. The unexpected appearance, and lofty,
though gentle bearing of this unlooked-for visiter,
served to quell the rising uproar, which was immediately succeeded by so deep a silence, that a
whisper could have been heard in that throng,
which so lately resounded with violent tumult and
barbaious execrations.
36





CHAPTER X XVIT.


SAy, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so, I shall do that
Sthat is reason."
Slendet
DURING the close of the foregoing scene, Polwarth was in a bewildered state, that rendered him
utterly incapable of exertion, either to prevent or
to assist the evil intentions of the soldiery. His discretion and all his better feelings were certainly
on the side of humanity, but the idle vaunt of the
simpleton had stirred anew the natural thirst for
vengeance. He recognised, at the first glance, in
the wan, but speaking lineaments of the mother of
Job, those faded remnants of beauty that he had
traced, so lately, in the squalid female attendant
who was seen lingering near the grave of Mrs.
Lechmere. As she rushed before the men, with
all the fearlessness of a mother who stood in defence of her child, the brightness of her dark eyes,
aided as they were by the strong glare from the
scattered balls of fire, and the intense expression
of maternal horror that shone in every feature of
her countenance, had imparted to her appearance
a dignity and interest that greatly served to quell





LIONEL LINCOLN.


423


the unusual and dangerous passions that beset
him. He was on the point of aiding her appeal by
his authority and advice, when the second interruption to the brutal purpose of the men occurred,
as just related. The effect of this strange appear
ance, in such a place, and at such a time, was not
less instant on the captain than on the vulgar
throng who surrounded him. He remained a silent and an attentive spectator.
The first sensation of the I;dy in finding herself
in the centre of such a confused and unexpected
throng, was unequivocally that of an alarmed and
shrinking delicacy; but, forgetting her womanish
apprehensions in the next moment, she collected
the powers of her mind, like one sustained by high
and laudable intentions, and, dropping the silken
folds of her calash, exhibited the pale, but lovely
countenance of Cecil to the view of the wondering
by-standers. After a moment of profound silence,
she spoke" I know not why I find this fierce collection of
faces around the sick-bed of that unfortunate young
man," she said; " but if it be with evil purpose,
I charge you to relent, as you love the honour of
your gallant profession, or fear the power of your
leaders. I boast myself a soldier's wife, and promise you, in the name of one who has the ear of
Howe, pardon for what is past, or punishment for
your violence, as you conduct yourselves."
The rude listeners stared at each other in irresolute hesitation, seeming already to waver in their
purpose, when the old grenadier, whose fiercenese
had so nearly cost Job his life, gruffly replied"If you're an officer's lady, madam, you'll be
knowing how to feel for the fri'nds of him that's
dead and gone. I put it to the face of your ladyship's reason, if it's not too much for men to bear,




424


LIONEL LINCOLN.


and they such men as the 18ths,-to hear a fool
boasting on the high-ways and through the streets
of the town, that he has been the death of the like
of Captain M'Fuse, of the grenadiers of that same
radg'ment!P
"C I believe I understand you, friend," returned
Cecil, " for I have heard it whispered that the
young man was believed to aid the Americans on
the bloody day to which you allude-but if it is not
lawful to kill in battle, what are you, whose whole
trade is war?1'
She was interrupted by half a dozen eager,
though respectful voices, muttering, in the incoherent and vehement manner of their country, " It's
all a difference, my lady!"-"- Fair fighting isn'i
foul-fighting, and foul fighting is murder!"-with
many other similar half-formed and equally intelligible remonstrances. When this burst was ended,
the same grenadier, who had before spoken, took
on himself the office of explaining.
1" If your ladyship spoke never a word again,
ye've said the truth this time," he answered,
I' though it isn't exactly the truth at all. When a
man is kill't in the fair war, it's a god-send; and
no true Irishman will gainsay the same; but skulk
ing behind a dead body, and taking aim into the
f'atures of a fellow-crature, is what we complain
of against the bloody-minded rascal.  Besides,
wasn't the day won? and even his death couldn't
give them the victory!"
"t I know not all these nice distinctions in your
dreadful calling, friend," Cecil replied, " but I have
heard that many fell after the troops mounted the
works."
1" That did they; sure your ladyship is knowing
all about it! and it's the more need that some
should be punished for the murders! It's hard to





LIONEL LINCOLN.


42-5


tell when we've got the day with men who make
a fight of it after they are fairly baitin!"
" That others suffered under similar circumstances," continued Cecil, with a quivering lip, and a
tremulous motion of her eye-lids, " I well know;
but had never supposed it more than the usual fortune of every war. But even if this youth has
erred-look at him!-is he an object for the resentment of men, who pride themselves on meeting
their enemies on equal terms! He has long been
visited by a blow from a hand far mightier than
yours, and even now is labouring, in addition to
all other misfortunes, under that dangerous distemper, whose violence seldom spares those it seizes.
Nay, you, in the blindness of your'anger, expose
yourselves to its attacks; and when you think only
of revenge, may become its victims!"
The crowd insensibly fell back as she spoke,
and a large circle was left around the bed of Job,
while many in the rear stole silently from the
building, with a haste that betrayed how completely apprehension had got the better of their more
evil passions. Cecil paused but an instant, and
pursued her advantage.
" Go," she said; " leave this dangerous vicinity. I have business with this young man, touching
the interests, if not the life, of one dear, deservedly dear, to the whole army, and would be left alone
with him and his mother. Here is money-retire
to your own quarters, and endeavour to avert the
danger you have so wantonly braved, by care and
regimen.  Go; all shall be forgotten and pardoned."
The reluctant grenadier took her gold, and, perceiving that he was already deserted by most of
his companions, he made an awkward obeisance to
the fair being before him, and withdrew, not with36 *





4W2f


LIONEL LINCOLN.


out, however, casting many a savage and sullen
glance at the miserable wretch, who had been thus
singularly rescued from his vengeance. Not a soldier now remained in the building; and the noisy
and rapid utterance of the retiring party, as each
vehemently recounted his deeds, soon became inaudible in the distance.
Cecil then turned to those who remained, and
cast a rapid glance at each individual of the party.
The instant she encountered the wondering look
of Polwarth, the blood mantled her pale features
once more, and her eyes fell, for an instant, in
embarrassment to the floor.
1" I trust we have been drawn here for a similar
purpose, Captain Polwarth," she said, when the
slight confusion had passed away-" the welfare
of a common friend?"
" You have not done me injustice," he replied.
" When the sad office, which your fair cousin
charged me with, was ended, I hastened hither to
follow a clue which, I have reason to believe, will
conduct us to-"
" What we most desire to find," said Cecil, involuntarily glancing her anxious eyes towards the
other spectators. " But our first duty is humani.
ty. Cannot this miserable young man be reconveyed to his own apartment, and have his hurts
examined?"
" It may be done now, or after our examination," returned the captain, with a cool indifference that caused Cecil to look up at him in surprise. Perceiving the unfavourable impression his
apathy had produced, Polwarth turned carelessly
to a couple of men who were still curious lookerson, at the outer door of the building, and called to
them-" Here, Shearflint, Meriton, remove the
fellow into yonder room."





LIONEL LINCOLN,


427


The servants in waiting, who had been hitherto
wondering witnesses of all that passed, received
this mandate with strong disgust. Meriton was
loud in his murmurs, and approached the verge of
disobedience, before he consented to touch such
an object of squalid misery. As Cecil, however,
enforced the order by her wishes, the disagreeable
duty was performed, and Job replaced on his pallet in the tower, from which he had been rudely
dragged an hour before, by the soldiers.
At the moment when all danger of further violence disappeared, Abigail had sunk on some of the
lumber of the apartment, where she remained during the removal of her child, in a sort of stupid
apathy. When, however, she perceived that they
were now surrounded by those who were bent on
deeds of mercy rather than of anger, she slowly
followed into the little room, and became an anxious observer of the succeeding events.
Polwarth seemed satisfied with what had been
done for Job, and now stood aloof, in sullen attendance on the pleasure of Cecil. The latter, who
had directed every movement with female tenderness and care, bade the servants retire into the
outer room, and wait her orders. When Abigail,
therefore, took her place, in silence, near the bed
of her child, there remained present, besides herself and the sick, only Cecil, the captain, and the
unknown man, who had apparently led the former
to the warehouse. In addition to the expiring
flames of the oakum, the feeble light of a candle
was shed through the room, merely rendering the
gloomy misery of its tenants more striking.
Notwithstanding the high, but calm resolution
which Cecil had displayed in the foregoing scene
with the rioters, and which still manifested itself,
in the earnest brightness of her intelligent eye,





428


LIONEL LINCOLN.


she appeared willing to profit by the duskiness of
the apartment, to conceal her expressive features
from the gaze of even the forlorn female. She
placed herself in one of the shadows of the room,
and partly raised the calash, by a graceful movement of one of her hands, while she addressed the
simpleton.
" Though I have not come hither with any intent to punish, nor in any manner to intimidate
you with threats, Job Pray," she said, with an earnestness that rendered the soft tones of her voice
doubly impressive-" yet have I come to question
you on matters that it would be wrong, as well as
cruel in you, to misrepresent, or in any manner to
conceal-"
" You have little cause to fear that any thing
out the truth will be uttered by my child," interrupted Abigail. " The same power that destroyed
his reason, has dealt tenderly with his heart-the
boy knows no guile-would to God the same could
be said of the sinful woman who bore him!"
" I hope the character you give your son will
be supported by his conduct," replied Cecil: " with
this assurance of his integrity, I will directly question him. But that you may see I take no idle
liberty with the young man, let me explain my mo
tives!"  She hesitated a moment, and averted her
face unconsciously, as she continued-" I should
think, Abigail Pray, that my person must be known
to you?"
" It is-it is," returned the impatient woman,
who appeared to feel the feminine and polished
elegance of the other a reproach to her own misery-" you are the happy and wealthy heiress of
her whom I have seen this day laid in her vault.
The grave will open for all alike! the rich and the
poor, the happy as well as the wretched! Yes--





LIONEL LINCOLN.


429


yes, I know you! you are the bride of a rich man's
son!"
Cecil shook back the dark tresses that had
fallen about her countenance, and raised her face,
tinged with its richest bloom, as she answered,
with an air of matronly dignity" If you then know of my marriage, you will at
once perceive that I have the interest of a wife in
Major Lincoln-I would wish to learn his movements of your son."
" Of my boy! of Job! from the poor despised
child of poverty and disease, would you learn tidings of your husband?-no-no, young lady, you
mock us;-he is not worthy to be in the secrets of
one so great and happy!"
" Yet am I deceived if he is not! Has there
not been one called Ralph, a frequent inmate of your
dwelling, during the past year; and has he not
been concealed here within a very few hours?"
Abigail started at this question, though she did
not hesitate to answer without prevarication" It is true. If I am to be punished for harbouring a being that comes I know whence, and goes I
know whither, who can read the heart, and knows
what man, by his own limited powers, could never
know, I must submit. He was here yesterday;
he may be here again to-night; for he comes and
goes at will. Your generals and army may interfere, but such as I dare not forbid it!"
" Who accompanied him when he departed last?"
asked Cecil, in a voice so low, that, but for the profound stillness of the place, it would have been inaudible.
" My child-my weak, unmeaning, miserable
child!" said Abigail, with a reckless promptitude
that seemed to court any termination to her misery,
however sudden or adverse. " If it be treasonable





430


LIONtEL LINCOLN


to follow in the footsteps of that nameless man,
Job has much to answer for!"
" You mistake my purpose-good, rather than
evil, will attend your answers, should they be
found true."
" True!" repeated the woman, ceasing the rocking motion of her body, and looking proudly up
into the anxious face of Cecil-" but you are
great and powerful, and are privileged to open the
wounds of the unhappy!"
" If I have said any thing to hurt the feelings of
a child, I shall deeply regret the words," said Cecil, with gentle fervour-" I would rather be your
friend than your oppressor, as you will learn when
occasion offers."
" No-no-you can never be a friend to me!"r
exclaimed the woman, shuddering; " the wife of
Major Lincoln ought never to serve the interests
of Abigail Pray!"
The simpleton, who had apparently lain in dull
indifference to what was passing, raised himself
now from among his rags, and said, with foolish
pride" Major Lincoln's lady has come to see Job, because Job is a gentleman's son!i
" You are the child of sin and misery!" groaned Abigail, burying her head in her cloak-" would
that you had never seen the light of day!"
" Tell me, then, Job, whether Major Lincoln
himself has paid you this compliment, as well as
I," said Cecil, without regarding the conduct of
the mother-" when did you see him last?"
" Perhaps I can put these questions in a more
intelligible manner," said the stranger, with a
meaning glance of his eye towards Cecil, that she
appeared instantly to comprehend. He turned
then to Job, whose countenance he studied closely,





IIONEL LINCOLN.


431


for several moments, before he continued-" Boston must be a fine place for parades and shows,
young man; do you ever go to see the soldiers
exercise?"
" Job always keeps time in the marchings," ieturned the simpleton; " 'tis a grand sight to see
the grannies treading it off to the awful sound of
drums and trumpets!"
"And Ralph," said the other, soothingly"does he march in their company too.,"
" Ralph! he's a great warrior! he teaches the
people their trainings, out on the hills-Job sees
him there every time he goes for the major's provisions."
"This requires some explanation," said the
stranger.
"'Tis easily obtained," returned the observant
Polwarth. " The young man has been the bearer of certain articles, periodically, from the country into the town, during the last six months, under the favour of a flag."
The man mused a moment before he pursued
the subject.
" When were you last among the rebels, Job "
he at length asked.
" You had best not call the people rebels," muttered the young man, sullenly, "for they wont
put up with bitter names!"
"I was wrong, indeed," said the stranger.
"But when went you last for provisions?"
" Job got in last Sabba'day morning; and that's
only yesterday!"
" How happened it, fellow, that you did not
bring the articles to me?" demanded Polwarth,
with a good deal of impatient heat.
" He has unquestionably a sufficient reason for
the apparent neglect," said the cautious and sooth




432


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ing stranger. " You brought them here, I suppose,
for some good reason?"
" Ay! to feed his own gluttony!" muttered the
irritated captain.
The mother of the young man clasped her hands
together convulsively, and made an effort to rise
and speak; but she sunk again into her humble
posture, as if choked by emotions that were too
strong for utterance.
This short, but impressive pantomime was unnoticed by the stranger, who continued his inquiries in the same cool and easy manner as before.
" Are they yet here?" he asked.
" Certain," said the unsuspecting simpleton;
" Job has hid them 'till Major Lincoln comes back.
Both Ralph and Major Lincoln forgot to tell Job
what to do with the provisions."
" In that case I am surprised you did not pursue
them with your load."
" Evqry body thinks Job's a fool," muttered the
young man; " but he knows too much to be lugging provisions out ag'in among the people.
Why!" he continued, raising himself, and speaking, with a bright glare dancing across his eyes,
that betrayed how much he prized the envied advantage-" the Bay-men come down with cartloads of things to eat, while the town is filled with
hunger!"
"True; I had forgotten they were gone ou
among the Americans-of course they went under
the flag that you bore in?"
"Job didn't bring any flag-insygns carry the
lags! He brought a turkey, a grand ham, and a
little sa'ce-there wasn't any flag among them."
At the sound of these eatables, the captain
pricked up his ears, and he pibably would have





LIONEL LINCOLN.


433


again violated the rigid rules of decorum, had not
the stranger continued his questions.
" I see the truth of all you say, my sensible fellow," he observed. " It was easy for Ralph and
Major Lincoln to go out by means of the same
privilege that you used to enter?"
" To be sure," muttered Job, who, tired of tho
questions, had already dropped his head again
among his blankets-" Ralph knows the wayhe's Boston born!"
The stranger turned to the attentive bride, and
bowed, as if he were satisfied with the result of his
examination. Cecil understood the expression of
his countenance, and made a movement towards
the place where Abigail Pray was seated on a
chest, betraying, by the renewed rocking of her
body, and the low groans that from time to time
escaped her, the agony of mind she endured.
" My first care," she said, speaking to the mo
ther of Job, " shall be to provide for your wants;
after which I may profit by what we have now gathered from your son."
" Care not for me and mine!" returned Abigail,
in a tone of bitter resignation. " The last blow is
struck, and it behoves such as we to bow our heads
to it in submission. Riches and plenty could not
save your grandmother from the tomb, and perhaps
Death may take pity, ere long, on me. What do I
say, sinner that I am! can I never bring my rebellious heart to wait his time!"
Shocked at the miserable despair that the other
exhibited, and suddenly recollecting the similar
evidences of a guilty life that the end of Mrs.
Lechmere had revealed, Cecil continued silent, in
sensitive distress. After a moment, to collect hei
thoughts, she said, with the meekness of a Christian, united to the soothing gentleness of her sex37





434


LIONEL LINCOLN


" We are surely permitted to administer to ou
earthly wants, whatever may have been our transgressions. At a proper time I will not be denied
in my wish to serve you. Let us now go," she
added, addressing her unknown companion. Then,
observing Polwarth making an indication to advance to her assistance, she gently motioned him
back, and anticipated his offer, by saying, " I thank
you, sir-but I have Meriton, and this worthy man,
besides my own maid without-I will not further
interfere with your particular objects."
As she spoke, she bestowed a melancholy, though
sweet smile on the captain, and left the tower and
the building, before he could presume to dispute
her pleasure. Notwithstanding Cecil and her companion had obtained from Job all that he could expect, or in fact had desired to know, Polwarth lingered in the room, making those preparations that
should indicate an intention to depart. He found,
at length, that his presence was entirely disregarded by both mother and child. 'The one was still
sitting, with her head bowed to her bosom, abandoned to her own sorrows, while the other had
sunk into his customary dull lethargy, giving no
other signs of life than by his laboured and audible
breathing. The captain, for a moment, looked upon
the misery of the apartment, which wore a still
more dreary aspect under the dull light of the paltry candle, as well as at the disease and suffering
which were too plainly exhibited in the persons of
its abject tenants; but the glance at neither served to turn him from his purpose. Temptation had
beset the humble follower of Epicurus, in a form
that never failed to subdue his most philosophic
resolutions; and, in this instance, it prevailed once
more over his humanity. Approaching the pallet





LIONEL LINCOLN.


435


of the simpleton, he spoke to him in a sharp voice,
saying" You must reveal to me what you have done
with the provisions with which Mr. Seth Sage has
entrusted you, young man-I cannot overlook so
gross a violation of duty, in a matter of such singular importance. Unless you wish to have the grannies of the 18th back upon you, speak at once, and
speak truly."
Job continued obstinately silent, but Abigail
raised her head, and answered for her child" He has never failed to carry the things to the
quarters of the major, whenever he got back. No,
no-if my boy was so graceless as to steal, it would
not be him that he would rob!"
" I hope so-I hope so, good woman; but this
is a sort of temptation to which men yield easily
in times of scarcity," returned the impatient captain, who probably felt some inward.jokens of his
own frailty in such matters.-" If they had been
delivered, would not I have been consulted concerning their disposition! The young man acknowledges that he quitted the American camp yesterday at an early hour."
" No, no," said Job; " Ralph made him come
away on Saturda'-night. He left the people without his dinner!"
" And repaid his loss by'eating the stores! Is
this your honesty, fellow?"
" Ralph was in such a hurry that he wouldn't
stop to eat. Ralph's a proper warrior, but he
doesn't seem to know how sweet it is to eat "'
" Glutton! gormandizer! thou ostrich of a
man!" exclaimed the angry Polwarth-" is it not
enough that you have robbed me of my own, but
you mus! make me more conscious of my loss by
thy silly prating!"
28





436


LIONEL LINCOLN.


"If you really suspect my child of doing wrong
to his employers," said Abigail, " you know neither his temper nor his breeding. I will answer
for him, and with bitterness of heart do I say it,
that nothing in the shape of food has entered his
mouth for many long and weary hours. Hear you
not his piteous longings for nourishment? God,
who knows all hearts, will hear and believe his
cry!"
" What say you, woman?" cried Polwarth, aghast
with horror, " not eaten, did you say?-Why hast
thou not, unnatural mother, provided for his wants?
-why has he not shared in your meals?"
Abigail looked up into his face with eyes that
gleamed with hopeless want, as she answered" Would I willingly see the child of my body
perish of hunger?  The last crum he had was
all that was left me, and that came from the
hands of one, who, in better justice, should have
sent me poison!"
" Nab don't know of the bone that Job found
before the barracks," said the young man, feebly;
"I wonder if the king knows how sweet bones
are?"
" And the provisions, the stores!" cried Polwarth, nearly choking-" foolish boy, what hast
thou done with the provisions?"
" Job knew the granrfies couldn't find them
under that oakum," said the simpleton, raising
himself to point out their place of concealment,
with silly exultation-" when Major Lincoln comes
oack, may be he'll give Nab and Job the bones to
pick!"
Polwarth was no sooner made acquainted with
the situation of the precious stores, than he tore
them from their concealment, with the violence of
a maniac. As he separated the articles with an





LONJEL LINCOL.N.


unsteady hand, he rather panted than breathed;
and during the short operation, every feature in
his honest face was working with extraordinary
emotion. Now and then he muttered in an undei
tone-" No food!"-" Suffering of inanition!" o0
some such expressive exclamation, that sufficiently explained the current of his thoughts. When
all was fairly exposed, he shouted, in a tremendous
voice" Shearflint! thou rascal! Shearflint-where
have you hidden yourself?"
The reluctant menial knew how dangerous it
was to hesitate answering a summons uttered in
such a voice, and while his master was yet repeating his cries, he appeared at the door of the little
apartment, with a face expressive of the deepest
attention.
" Light up the fire, thou prince of idlers!" Polwarth continued in the same high strain; " here is
food, and there is hunger! God be praised that I
am the man who is permitted to bring the two acquainted!  Here, throw on oakum--light up,
light up!"
As these rapid orders were accompanied by a
corresponding earnestness of action, the servant,
who knew his master's.humour, sat himself most
diligently at work to comply. A pile of the tarred
combustible was placed on the dreary and empty
hearth, and by a touch of the candle, it was lighted
into a blaze. As the roar of the chimney and
the bright glare were heard and seen, the mother
and child both turned their longing eyes toward,
the busy actors in the scene. Polwarth threw
aside his cane, and commenced slicing the ham
with a dexterity that denoted great practice, as
well as an eagerness that renewed the credit of
his disgraced humanity.
37 *





43S


LIONEL LINCOLN


" Bring wood-hand down that apology for a
gridiron-make coals, make coals at once, rascal,"'
he said, at short intervals--" God forgive me, that
I should ever have meditated evil to one suffering
under the heaviest of curses!-D'ye hear, thou
Shearflint! bring more wood; I shall be ready
for the fire in a minute."
" 'Tis impossible, sir," said the worried domestic; " I have brought the smallest chip there is to
be found-wood is too precious in Boston to be
lying in the streets."
" Where do you keep your fuel, woman?" demanded the captain, unconscious that he addressed her in the same rough strain that he used to
his menial-" I am ready to put down."
" You see it all! you see it all!" said Abigail,
in the submissive ton'es of a stricken conscience;
'"the judgment of God has not fallen on me singly!"
" No wood! no provisions!" exclaimed Polwarth, speaking with difficulty-then, dashing his
hand across his eyes, he continued to his man, in
a voice whose hoarseness he intended should conceal his emotion--" thou villain, Shearflint, come
hither-unstrap my leg."
The servant looked at him in wonder,-but an
impatient gesture hastened his compliance.
" Split it into ten thousand fragments; 'tis seasoned and ready for the fire. The best of them,
they of flesh I mean, are but useless incumbrances, after all! A cook wants hands, eyes, nose,
and palate, but I see no use for a leg!"
While he was speaking, the philosophic captain
seated himself on the hearth with great indifference, and, by the aid of Shearflint, the culinary
process was soon in a state of forwardness.
" There are people," resumed the diligent Polwarth, who did not neglect his avocation while





LIONEL LINCOLN.


439


speaking, " that eat but twice a-day; and some
who cat but once; though I never knew any man
thrive who did not supply nature in four substantial and regular meals. These sieges are damnable visitations on humanity, and there should be
plans invented to conduct a war without them.
The moment you begin to starve a soldier, he
grows tame and melancholy: feed him, and defy
the devil! How is it, my worthy fellow? do you
like your ham running or dry?"
The savoury smell of the meat had caused the
suffering invalid to raise his feverish body, and he
sat watching, with greedy looks, every movement
of his unexpected benefactor. His parched lips
were already working with impatience, and every
glance of his glassy eye betrayed the absolute dominion of physical want over his feeble mind. To
this question he made the simple and touching reply of" Job isn't particular in his eating."
" Neither am I," returned the methodical gourmand, returning a piece of the meat to the fire,
that Job had already devoured in imaginationon one would like to get it up well, notwithstanding the hurry. A single turn more, and it will be
fit for the mouth of a prince. Bring hither that
trencher, Shearflint-it is idle to be particular
about crockery in so pressing a case. Greasy scoundrel, would you dish a ham in its gravy! What a
nosegay it is, after all! Come hither; help me to
the bed."
" May the Lord, who sees and notes each kind
thought of his creatures, bless and reward you for
this care of my forlorn boy!" exclaimed Abigail,
in the fulness of her heart; " but will it be prudent
to give such strong nourishment to one in a burn.
ing fever?"





440


LIONEL JLIMCOL.N.


C" What else would you give, woman? I doubt
not he owes his disease to his wants. An empty
stomach is like an empty pocket, a place for the
devil to play his gambols in. 'Tis your small doctor who prates of a meager regimen. Hunger is a
distemper of itself, and no reasonable man, who is
above listening to quackery, will believe it can be
a remedy. Food is the prop of life-and eating,
like a crutch to a maimed man.-Shearflint, examine the ashes for the irons of my supporter, and
then dish a bit of the meat for the poor woman.Eat away, my charming boy, eat away!" he continued, rubbing his hands in honest delight, to see
the avidity with which the famishing Job received
his boon. " The second pleasure in life is to see
a hungry man enjoy his meal; the first being
more deeply seated in human nature. This ham
has the true Virginia flavour! Have you such a
thing as a spare trencher, Shearflint? It is so near
the usual hour, I may as well sup. It is rare, indeed, that a man enjoys two such luxuries at once!"
The tongue ofPolwarth ceased the instant Shear
flint administered to his wants; the warehouse
into which he had so lately entered with such fell
intent, exhibiting the strange spectacle of the captain, sharing, with social communion, in the hum
ble repast of its hunted and miserable tenants.





CHAPTER XXVIII.


'S 'ir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile,
SWe have some secrets to confer about."
Two Gentlemen of Verona.
DURING the preceding exhibition of riot and degradation, in the Dock-square, a very different
state of things existed beneath the roof of a proud
edifice that stood in an adjacent street. As was
usual at that hour of the night, the windows of
Province-House were brilliant with lights as if in
mockery of the naked dreariness of the neighbouring church; and every approach to that privileged
residence of the representative of royalty, was
closely guarded by the vigilance of armed men.
Into this favoured dwelling it now becomes necessary to remove the scene, in order to pursue the
thread of our unpretending narrative.
Domestics, in rich military liveries, might be
seen gliding from room to room, in the hurry of a
banquet-some bearing vessels of the most gene
rous wines into the apartment where Howe entertained the leaders of the royal army, and others
returning with the remnants of a feast, which,
though sumptuously served, having felt the scarcity of the times, had offered more to the eyes than





LIONEL LINCOLN.


to the appetites of the guests. Idlers, ii the loose
undress of their martial profession, loitered through
the halls; and many a wistful glance, or lingering
look, followed ihe odorous scents, as humbler menials received the viands to transport them into the
more secret recesses of the building. Notwithstanding the life and activity which prevailed, every
movement was conducted in silence and regularity,
the whole of the lively scene affording a happy illustration of the virtues and harmony of order.
Within the walls of that apartment, to which
every eye seemed directed as to a common centre
in anticipation of the slightest wish of those who
revelled there, all was bright and cheerful. The
hearth knew no want of fuel; the coarser workmanship of the floor was hid beneath rich and ample carpets, while the windows were nearly lost
within the sweeping folds of curtains of figured damask. Every thing wore an air of exquisite comfort, blended with a species of careless elegance.
Even the most minute article of the furniture had
been transported from that distant country, which
was then thought to monopolize all the cunning
arts of handicraft, to administer to the pleasures of
those, who, however careless of themselves in moments of trial, courted the most luxurious indulgencies in their hours of ease.
Along the centre of this gay apartment was
spread the hospitable board of the entertainer. It
was surrounded by men in the trappings of high
military rank, though here and there might be seen
0 guest, whose plainer attire and dejected countenance betrayed the presence of one or two of those
misjudging colonists, whose confidence in the resistless power of the crown began already to waver. The lieutenant of the king held his wonted
place at the banquet, his dark visage expressing





LIONEL LINCOLN.


443


ail the heartiness of a soldier's welcome, while he
pointed out this or that favourite amongst an abundant collection of wines, that included the choicest
liquors of Europe.
" For those who share the mess of a British general, you have encountered rude fare to-day, gentlemen," he cried; " though, after all, 'tis such as
a British soldier knows how to fatten on, in the
service of his master. Fill, gentlemen; fill in loyal
bumpers; for we have neglected our allegiance."
-Each glass now stood sparkling and over-charged with wine, when, after a short and solemn pause,
the host pronounced aloud the magical words"' The King."--Every voice echoed the name, after which there literally succeeded a breathless
pause; when an old man, in the uniform of an officer
of the fleet, first proving his loyalty by flourishing
on high his inverted glass, added, with hearty will" God bless him!"
" God bless him!" repeated the graceful leader, who has already been more than once named
in these pages; " and grant him a long and glorious reign! and, should there be no treason in the
wish, in death, a Grave like yourself, worthy admiral-' Sepulcrum sine sordibus extrue.' "
" Like me!" echoed the blunt seaman, whose
learning was somewhat impaired by hard and long
service--" I am, it is true, none of your cabinwindow gentry; but his majesty might stoop lowet
than by favouring a faithful servant, like me, with
llis gracious presence."
" Your pardon, sir; I should have included,
permissum arbitrio.' "
The equivoque had barely excited a smile, when
the sedate countenance of the commander-in-chief
indicated that the subject was too serious for a jest.
Nor did the naval chieftain appear to relish the un




444.


LIONEL LINCOLN.


known tongue; for, quite as much, if not a little
more, offended with the liberty taken with his own
name, than with the privileged person of the sovereign, he somewhat smartly retorted" Permitted or not permitted, I command the
fleet of his majesty in these waters, and it shall be
noted as a cheerful day in our log-books, when you
gentlemen of the army dismiss us to our duty
again, on the high-seas. A sailor will grow as tired
of doing nothing, as ever a soldier did of work, and
I like ' elbow-room,' even in my coffin-ha, ha,
ha-what d'ye think of that, master wit?-ha, ha,
ha-what d'ye say to that?"
" Quite fair, well deserved, and cuttingly severe, admiral," returned the undisturbed soldier,
smiling with perfect self-possession, as he sipped
his wine. " But as you find confinement and leisure so irksome, I will presume to advise your
seizing some of these impudent Yankees, who look
into the port so often, not only robbing us of our
stores, but offending so many loyal eyes with their
traitorous presence."
" I command a parley to be beaten," interrupted the commander-in-chief, " and a truce to fuither hostilities. Where all have done their duty,
and have done it so well, even wit must respect
their conduct. Let me advise you to sound the
contents of that dusty-looking bottle, Mr. Graves;
I think you will approve the situation as an anchorage for the night."
The honest old seaman instantly drowned his
displeasure in a glass of the generous liquor, and,
smacking his lips after the potations, for he repeated the first on the moment, he exclaimed" Ah! you are too stationary, by half, to stir up
the soul of your liquors. Wine should never slumber on its lees until it has been well rolled in the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


445


trough of a sea for a few months; then, indeed.
you may set it asleep, and yourself by the side of
it, if you like a cat's nap."
" As orthodox a direction for the ripening of
wine as was ever given by a bishop to his butler!"
exclaimed his adversary.  Another significant
glance from his dark-looking superior again checked his wilful playfulness, when Howe profited by
the silence, to say with the frank air of a liberal
host" As motion is, just now, denied us, the only
means I can devise, to prevent my wine from
slumbering on its lees, is to drink it."
" Besides which, we are threatened with a visit
from Mr. Washington, and his thirsty followers,
who may save us all trouble in the matter, unless
we prove industrious. In such a dilemma, Mi
Graves will not hesitate to pledge me in a glass,
though it should be only to disappoint the rebels!"
added Burgoyne, making a graceful inclination to
the half-offended seaman.
" Ay, ay, I would do much more disagreeable
things to cheat the rascals of their plunder," returned the mollified admiral, good-naturedly nodding his head before he swallowed his bumper."If there be any real danger of the loss of such
liquid amber as this, 'twould be as well to send it
along-side my ship, and I will hoist it in, and find
it a birth, though it shares my own cott. I believe
I command a fortress which neither Yankee,
Frenchman, nor Don, would like to besiege, unless
at a respectful distance."
The officers around him looked exceedingly
grave, exchanging glances of great meaning,
though all continued silent, as if the common subject of their meditations was too delicate to be
loudly uttered in such a presence. At length the
SS38





-146


LIONEL LINCOLN.


second in command, who still felt the coldness of
his superior, and who had, hitherto, said nothing
luring the idle dialogue, ventured a remark, with
the gravity and distance of a man who was not
certain of his welcome.
" Our enemies grow bold as the season advances," he said, " and it is past a doubt that they
will find us employment in the coming summer.
It cannot be denied but they conduct themselves
with great steadiness in all their batteries, especially in this last, at the water-side; nor am I
without apprehension that they will yet get upon
the islands, and render the situation of the shipping hazardous."
"Get upon the islands! drive the fleet from
their anchors!" exclaimed the veteran sailor, in
undisguised amazement. " I shall account it a
happy day for England, when Washington and his
rabble trust themselves within reach of our shot!"
" God grant us a chance at the rascals with the
bayonet in the open field," cried Howe, " and an
end of these winter quarter! I say winter-quarters, for I trust no gentleman can consider this army
as besieged by a mob of armed peasants! We
hold the town, and they the country; but when
the proper time shall come-well, sir, your pleasure," he continued, interrupting himself to speak
to an upper servant at his elbow.
The man, who had stood for more than a minute,
in an attitude of respectful attention, anxious to
catch the eye of his master, muttered his message
in a low and hurried voice, as if unwilling to be
heard by others, and at the same time conscious
of the impropriety of whispering. Most of those
around him turned their heads in polite indifference; but the old sailor, who sat too near to be
totally deaf, had caught the words,  a lady,"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


417


wlhich was quite enough to provoke all his merriment, after such a free indulgence of the bottle.
Striking his hand smartly on the table, he exclaimed, with a freedom that no other present could
have presumed to use" A sail! a sail! by George, a sail! under what
colours, friend? king's, or rebels'? Here has been
a blunder, with a vengeance! The cook has certainly been too late, or the lady is too early! ha,
ha, ha-Oh! you are wicked, free livers in the
army!"
The tough old tar enjoyed his joke exceedingly,
chuckling with inward delight at his discovery.
He was, however, alone in his merriment, none
of the soldiers venturing to understand his allusions, any further than by exchanging a few stolen
looks of unusual archness. Howe bit his lips, with
obvious vexation, and sternly ordered the man to
repeat his errand in a voice that was more audible.
" A lady," said the trembling menial, " wishes
to see your excellency, and she waits your pleasure, sir, in the library."
" Among his books, too!" shouted the admiral
-" that would have better become you, my joking friend! I say, young man, is the girl young
and handsome?"
"By the lightness of her step, sir, I should
think her young; but her face was concealed under a hood."
" Ay! ay! the jade comes hooded into the
house of the king! Damn me, Howe, but modesty is getting to be a rare virtue amongst you
gentlemen on shore!"
" 'Tis a plain case against you, sir, for even the
servant, as you find, has detected that she is light
of carriage," said the smiling Burgoyne, making
half a motion towards rising,.  It is probably





448


4WQII-iL LNrMCOLN.


some applicant for relief, or for permission to depart the place. Suffer me to see her, and spare
yourself the pain of a refusal."
" Not at all," said Howe, gaining his feet with
an alacrity that anticipated the more deliberate
movement of the other-" I should be unworthy
of the trust I hold, could I not lend an occasional
ear to a petition. Gentlemen, as there is a lady in
the case, I presume to trespass on your indulgence.
Admiral, I commend you to my butler, who is a
worthy fellow, and can give you all the cruises of
the bottle before you, since it left the island of
Madeira."
He inclined his head to his guests, and passed
from the room with a hurried step, that did not altogether consult appearances. As he proceeded
through the hall, his ears were saluted by anothet
burst from the hearty old seaman, who, however.
enjoyed his humour alone, the rest of the party
immediately turning to other subjects, with well.
bred dullness. On entering the room already mentioned, Howe found himself in the presence of the
female, who, notwithstanding their apparent indifference, was at that very moment occupying the
thoughts, and exercising the ingenuity of every
man he had left behind him. Advancing at once
to the centre of the apartment, with the ease and
freedom of a soldier who felt himself without a superior, he asked, with a politeness somewhat equi
vocal" Why am I favoured with this visit? and why
has a lady, whose appearance shows she might
command friends at any time, assumed this personal trouble?"
" Because I am a supplicant for a favour that
might be denied to one who petitioned coldly,"
returned a soft, tremulous voice, deep within the





LIONEL  LINCOLN.


449


covering of a silken calash. " As time is wanting
to observe the usual forms of applications, I have
presumed to come in person, to prevent delay."
C" And surely, one like you can have little reason to dread a repulse," said Howe, with an attempt at gallantry, that would have better become
the man who had offered to be his substitute.
While speaking, he advanced a step nigher to the
lady, and, pointing to her hood, he continued" WVould it not be wise to aid your request with a
view of a countenance that I am certain can speak
better than any words?-whom have I the honour
to receive, and what may be the nature of her
business?"
" A wife, who seeks her husband," returned the
female, dropping the folds of her calash, and exposing to his steady eyes the commanding loveliness of the chaste countenance of Cecil. The sudden annunciation of her character was forced from
the lips of the unclaimed bride, by the freedom of
a gaze to which she was unused; but the instant
she had spoken, her eyes fell on the floor in embarrassment, and she stood deeply blushing at the
strength of her own language, though preserving
all the apparent composure and dignity of female
pride. The English general regarded her beauty
for a moment, with a pleased, though doubting eye,
before he continued" Is he whom you seek within or without the
town?"
" I much fear without p"
" And you would follow him into the camp of
the rebels? This is a case that may require some
deliberation. I feel assured I entertain a lady of
great beauty; might I, in addition, know how to
address her?".
38 *





450


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" For my name I can have no reason to blush.'"
said Cecil, proudly-" 'tis noble in the land of our
common ancestors, and may have reached the ears
of Mr. Howe-I am the child of the late Colonel
Dynevor!"
" The niece of Lord Cardonnel!" exclaimed
her auditor, in amazement, instantly losing the
equivocal freedom of his manner in an air of deep
respect-" I have long known that Boston contained such a lady; nor do I forget that she is accused
of concealing herself from the attentions of the army,
like one of the most obdurate of our foes-attentions which every man in the garrison would be
happy to show her, from myself down to the lowest
onsign.-Do me the honour to be seated!"
Cecil bowed her acknowledgments, but continued standing" I have neither time nor spirits to defend myself from such an imputation," she answered'" though, should my own name prove no passport
to your favour, I must claim it in behalf of him I
seek."
" Should he be the veriest rebel in the train ot
Washington, he has great reason to be proud of his
fortune!"
" So far from ranking among the enemies of the
king, he has already been lavish of his blood in behalf of the crown," returned Cecil, unconsciously
raising the calash again, with maiden bashfulness.
as she felt the moment was approaching when she
must declare the name of the man, whose influence
over her feelings she had already avowed.
'" And he is called-?"
The answer was given to this direct question in
a low but distinct voice. Howe started when he
heard the well-known name of an officer of so





LIONEL LINCOLN.


451


much consideration, though a meaning smile light.
ed his dark features, as he repeated her words in
surprise" Major Lincoln! his refusal to return to Europe, in search of health, is then satisfactorily explained! Without the town did you say! there
must be some error."
" I fear it is too true!"
The harsh features of the leader contracted
again into their sternest look, and it was apparent
how much he was disturbed by the intelligence.
" This is presuming too far on his privilege,"
he muttered in an under tone.-" Left the place
say you, without my knowledge and approbation,
young lady?"
" But on no unworthy errand!" cried the almost
breathless Cecil, instantly losing sight of herself
in her anxiety for Lionel-" private sorrows have
driven him to an act, that, at another time, he
would be the first to condemn, as a soldier."
Howe maintained a cool, but threatening silence,
that was far more appalling than any words could
be. The alarmed wife gazed at his lowering face
for a minute, as if to penetrate his secret thoughts;
then yielding, with the sensitiveness of a woman,
to her worst apprehensions, she cried" Oh! you would not avail yourself of this confession to do him harm! Has he not bled for you?
lingered for months on the verge of the grave, in
defence of your cause? and will you now doubt
him? Nay, sir, though chance and years may
have subjected him, for a time, to your control,
he is every way your equal, and will confron
each charge before his royal master, let who may
bring them against his spotless name!"
" 'Twill be necessary," the other coldly re
plied.
29





452


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Nay, hearken not to my weak, unmeaning
words," continued Cecil, wringing her hands in
doubting distress; " I know not what I say. He
has your permission to hold intercourse with the
country weekly?"
" For the purpose of obtaining the supplies ne
cessary to his past condition."
" And may he not have gone on such an er
rand, and under favour of the flag you yourself
have cheerfully accorded?"
" In such a case would I not have been spared
the pain of this interview?"
Cecil paused a moment, and seemed collecting
her scattered faculties, and preparing her mind foi
some serious purpose. After a little time, she attempted a painful smile, saying, more calmly" I had presumed too far on military indulgence,
and was even weak enough to believe the request
would be granted to my name and situation."
" No name, no situation, no circumstances, can
ever render-"
" Speak not the cruel words, least they once
more drive me from my recollection," interrupted
Cecil. " First hear me, sir-listen to a wife and
a daughter, and you will recall the cruel sentence."
Without waiting for a reply, she advanced with
a firm and proud step to the door of the room,
passing her astonished companion with an eye and
a face beaming with the fulness of her object.
In the outer passage, she beckoned from among
the loiterers in the hall, to the stranger who had
accompanied her in the visit to the warehouse, and
when he had approached, and entered the room,
the door once more closed, leaving the spectators
without wondering whence such a vision of purity
could have made its way within the sullied walls
of Province-House.





LIONEl LINCOLN.


453


Many long and impatient minutes were passed
by the guests in the banqueting-room, during the
continuance of this mysterious interview. The
jests of the admiral began to flag, just as his companions were inclined to think they were most
merited, and the conversation assumed that broken
and disjointed character which betrays the wandering of the speakers' thoughts.
At length a bell rang, and orders came from
the commander-in-chief, to clear the hall of its
curious idlers. When none were left but the regular domestics of the family, Howe appeared, supporting Cecil, closely hooded, to the conveyance
that awaited her presence at the gate. The air
of their master communicated a deep respect to
the manners of the observant menials, who crowded about their persons, to aid the departure, withofficious zeal. The amazed sentinels dropped
their arms, with the usual regularity, to their chieftain, as he passed to the outer portal in honour of
his unknown companion, and eyes met the expressive glances of eyes, as all who witnessed the
termination of this visit sought, in the countenances of those around them, some solution of its object.
When Howe resumed his seat at the table, another attempt was made by the admiral to renew
the subject; but it was received with an air so
cold, and a look so pointedly severe, that even
the careless son of the ocean forgot his humour
under the impression of so dark a frown.





CHAPTER XXIX.


* Nor martial shout, nor minstrel tone,
" Announced their march-"
CECIL suffered the night to advance a little, before she left Tremont-street, to profit by the permission to leave the place, her communication had
obtained from the English general. It was, however, far from late when she took leave of Agnes,
and commenced her expedition, still attended by
Meriton and the unknown man, with whom she
has already, more than once, made her appearance
in our pages. At the lower part of the town she
left her vehicle, and pursuing the route of several
devio'ls and retired streets, soon reached the margin of the water. The wharves were deserted and
still. Indicating the course by her own light and
hurried footsteps, to her companions, the youthful
bride'moved unhesitatingly along the rough planks,
until her progress was checked by a large basin,
between two of the ordinary wooden piers which
line the shores of the place. Here she paused for
a moment, in doubt, as if fearful there had been
some mistake, when the figure of a boy was seen
advancing out of the shadows of a neighbouring
store-house.





LIONEL LINCOLN.


455


c( I fear you have lost your way," he said, when
within a few feet of her, where he stood, apparently examining the party with rigid scrutiny. " May
I venture to ask whom or what you seek?"
" One who is sent hither on private duty, by
orders from the commander-in-chief."
" I see but two," returned the lad, hesitating" where is the third?"
"' He lingers in the distance," said Cecil, pointing to Meriton, whose footsteps were much more
guarded than those of his mistress. " Three is our
number, and we are all present."
" I beg a thousand pardons," returned the youth,
dropping the folds of a sailor's over-coat, under
which he had concealed the distinguishing marks
of a naval dress, and raising his hat at the same
moment, with great respect; " my orders were to
use the utmost precaution, ma'am, for, as you hear,
the rebels sleep but little to-night!"
" 'Tis a dreadful scene I leave, truly, sir," returned Cecil, " and the sooner it will suit your convenience to transport us from it, the greater will
be the obligation you are about to confer."
The youth once more bowed, in submission Lo
her wishes, and requested the whole party to follow whither he should lead. A very few moments
brought them to a pair of water-stairs, where, under cover of the duskiness thrown upon the basin
from the wharf, a boat lay concealed, in perfect
readiness to receive them.
" Be stirring, boys!" cried the youth, in a tone
of authority; " ship your oars as silently as if stealing away from an enemy. Have the goodness,
ma'am, to enter, and you shall have a quick and
safe landing on the other shore, whatever may be
the reception of the rebels."
Cecil and her two attendants complied without





456


LIONEL LINCOLN.


delay, when the boat glided into the stream with
a velocity that promised a speedy verification of
the words of the midshipman. The most profound
stillness reigned among these nocturnal adventur
ers, and by the time they had rowed a short dis
tance, the bride began to lose an immediate consciousness of her situation in contemplation of the
scene.
The evening was already milder, and by one of
those sudden changes, peculiar to the climate, it
was rapidly becoming even bland and pleasant.
The light of a clear moon fell upon the town and
harbour, rendering the objects of both visible, in
mellowed softness. The huge black hulls of the
vessels of war rested sullenly on the waters, like
slumbering leviathans, without even a sail or a
passing boat, except their own, to enliven the view
in the direction of the port. On the other hand,
the hills of the town rose, in beautiful relief, against
the clear sky, with here and there a roof or a steeple reflecting the pale light of the moon. The
bosom of the place was as quiet as if its inhabitants were buried in midnight sleep; but behind
the hills, in a circuit extending fi-om the works on
the heights of Charlestown, to the neck, which lay
in open view of the boat, there existed all the
evidences of furious warfare. During the few preceding nights, the Americans had been more than
commonly diligent in the use of their annoyances
but now they appeared to expend their utmos
energies upon their enemies. Still they spared the
town, directing the weight of their fire at the different batteries which protected the approaches to
the place, as already described, along the western
borders of the peninsula.
The ears of Cecil had long been accustomed tc
the uproar of arms, but this was the first occasion





LIONEL LINCOLN.


457


in which she was ever a witness of the mingled
beauties and terrors of a cannonade at night. Suffering the calash to fall, she shook back the dark
tresses from her face, and, leaning over the sides
of the little vessel, listened to the bursts of the
artillery, and gazed on the sudden flashes of vivid
light that mocked the dimmer illumination of the
planet, with an absorbed attention that momentarily lured her into forgetfulness. The men pulled
their light boat with muffled oars, and so still was
its progress, that there were instants when even
the shot might be heard rattling among the ruins
they had made.
" It's amazement to me, madam," said Meriton,
( that so many British generals, and brave gentlemen as there is in Boston, should stay in such a
little spot to be shot at by a parcel of country-men,
when there is Lon'non, as still and as safe, at
this blessed moment, as a parish church-yard at
midnight!"
Cecil raised her eyes at this interruption, and
perceived the youth gazing at her countenance in
undisguised admiration of its beauty. Blushing,
and once more concealing her features beneath
her calash, she turned away from the view of the
conflict, in silence.
" The rebels are free with their gunpowder tonight!" said the midshipman.-" Some of their
cruisers have picked up another of our storeships,
I fancy, or Mr. Washington would not make such
a noisy time of it, when all honest people should
be thinking of their sleep. Don't you believe,
ma'am, if the admiral would warp three or four
of our heaviest ships up into the channel, back of
the town, it would be a short method of lowering
the conceit of these Yankees?"
" Really, sir, I am so little acquainted with mill
39





458


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tary matters," returned Cecil, suffering her anxious features to relax into a smile, " that my opi.
nion, should I venture to give one, would be utterly worthless."
" Why, young gentleman," said Meriton, " the
rebels drove a galley out of the river, a night or
two ago, as I can testify myself, having stood behind a large brick store, where I saw the whole
affair, most beautifully conducted!"
" A very fit place for one like you, no doubt,
sir," returned the midshipman, without attempting
to conceal his disgust at so impertinent an interruption- " do you know what a galley is, ma'am?
nothing but a small vessel cut down, with a few
heavy guns, I do assure you. It would be a very
different affair with a frigate or a two-decker!
Do but observe what a charming thing our ship
is, ma'am- -I am sure so beautiful a lady must know
how to admire a handsome ship!-she lies here.
away, nearly in a range with the second island."
To please the earnest youth, Cecil bent her
head toward the quarter he wished, and murmured a few words in approbation of his taste. But
the impatient boy had narrowly watched the direction of her eyes, and she was interrupted by
his exclaiming, in manifest disappointment"What! that shapeless hulk, just above the
castle! she is an old Dutch prize, en flute, ay,
older than my grandmother, good old soul; and it
wouldn't matter the value of a piece of junk, into
which end you stepped her bowsprit! One of my
school-fellows, Jack Willoughby, is a reefer on
board her; and he says that they can just get six
knots out of her, on her course in smooth water
with a fresh breeze, allowing seven knot for leeway! Jack means to get rid of her the moment
he can catch the admiral running large; for the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


459


Graves's live near the Willoughby's in town, and
he knows all the soundings about the old man's
humour. No, no, ma'am; Jack would give every
shot in his lockers to swing a hammock between
two of the beams of our ship. Do excuse me,
one moment;"-presuming to take one of the
hands of Cecil, though with sufficient delicacy, as
he pointed out his favourite vessel-" There,
ma'am, now you have her! she that's so taunt
rigged, with a flying-jib-boom, and all her topgallant-yards stopped to her lower rigging-we
send them down every night at gun-fire, and cross
them again next morning as regularly as the bell
strikes eight.-Isn't she a sweet thing, ma'am? for
I see she has caught your eye at last, and I am
sure you can't wish to look at any other ship in
port."
Cecil could not refuse her commendations to
this eloquent appeal, though at the next moment
she would have been utterly at a loss to disunguish the much-admired frigate from the despised
store-ship.
" Ay, ay, madam, I knew you would like her
when you once got a fair glimpse at her propor--
tions," continued the delighted boy; " though she
is not half so beautiful on her broadside, as when
you can catch her lasking, especially on her lar.
board bow.-Pull, long and strong, men, and with a
light touch of the water-these Yankees have ears
as long as borricoes, and we are getting in with
the land. This set-down at Dorchester's neck
will give you a long walk, ma'am, to Cambridge,
but there was no possibility of touching the rebels
any where else to-night, or, as you see, we should
have gone right into the face of their cannon."
" (s it not a little remarkable," said Cecil, willing to pay the solicitude of the boy to amuse her,





460


LIONEL LINCOLN.


by some reply, "that the colonists, while they
invest the town so closely on the north and west
should utterly neglect to assail it on the south? for
I believe they have never occupied the hills in
Dorchester at all; and yet it is one of the points
nearest to Boston."
" it is no mystery at all!" returned the boy,
shaking his head with all the sagacity of a veteran-" it would bring another Bunker-Hill about
their ears; for you see it is the same thing at this
end of the place that Charlestown neck is at the
other!-a light touch, men, a light touch!" he continued, dropping his voice, as they approached the
shore;-" besides, ma'am, a fort on that hill could
throw its shot directly on our decks, a thing the
old man would never submit to; and that would
either bring on a regular hammering match, or a
general clearing out of the fleet; and then what
would become of the army?-No, no-the Yankees wouldn't risk driving the cod-fish out of their
bay, to try such an experiment!-Lay on your oars,
boys, while I take a squint along this shore, to see
if there are any Jonathans cooling themselves near
the beach, by moon-light."
The obedient seamen rested from their labours,
while their youthful officer stood up in the boat,
and directed a small night-glass over the intended
place of landing. The examination proved entirely satisfactory, and, in a low, cautious voice, he ordered the men to.pull into a place where the sha.dow of the hills might render the landing still less
likely to be observed.
From this moment the most profound silence
was observed, the boat advancing swiftly, though
under perfect command, to the desired spot, where
it was soon heard grazing upon the bottom,,as it
gradually lost its motion, and finally became sta




LIONEL LINCOLN.


461


tionary. Cecil was instantly assisted to the land
whither she was followed by the midshipman, who
jumped upon the shore with great indifference, and
approached the passenger, from whom he was now
about to part.
" I only hope that those you next fall in with
may know how to treat you as well as those you
leave," said the boy, approaching, and offering his
hand, with the frankness of an older seaman, to Cecil-" God bless you, my dear ma'am; I have two
little sisters at home, nearly as handsome as yourself; and I never see a woman in want of assistance.
but I think of the poor girls I've left in old England-God bless you, once more-I hope when we
meet again, you will take a nearer view of the-"
" You are not likely to part so soon as you imagine," exclaimed a man, springing on his feet, from
his place of concealment behind a rock, and advancing rapidly on the party-" offer the least resistance, and you are all dead."
" Shove off, men, shove off, and don't mind
me!" cried the youth, with admirable presence of
mind-" For God's sake, save the boat, if you die
for it!"
The seamen obeyed with practised alacrity,
when the boy darted after them with the lightness
of his years, and, making a desperate leap, caught
the gunwale of the barge, into which he was instantly drawn by the sailors. A dozen armed men
had by this time reached the edge of the water,
and as many muskets were pointed at the retreating party, when he who had first spoken, cried" Not a trigger!-the boy has escaped us, and
he deserves his fortune!-Let us secure those who
remain; but if a single gun be fired, it will only
draw the attention of the fleet and castle."
His companions, who had acted with the hesita-.39 *





462


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tion of men that were not assured the coi se they
took was correct, willingly dropped the muzzles
ot their pieces, and in another instant the boat was
ploughing its way towards the much-admired frigate, at a distance which would probably have rendered their fire quite harmless. Cecil had hardly
breathed during the short period of uncertainty;
but when the sudden danger was passed, she prepared herself to receive their captors with the perfict confidence which an American woman seldom
fails to feel in the mildness and reason of her countrymen. The whole party, who now approached
her, were dressed in the ordinary habiliments of
husbandmen, mingled, in a slight degree, with the
more martial accoutrements of soldiers. They were
armed with muskets only, which they wielded like
men acquainted with-all the uses of the weapon, at
the same time that they were unaccustomed to the
mere manual of the troops.
Every fibre of the body of Meriton, however,
shook with fear, as he found this unexpected guard
encircling their little party, nor did the unknown
man who had accompanied them appear entirely
free from apprehension. The bride still maintained her self-possession, supported either by hei
purpose, or her greater familiarity with the character of the people into whose hands she had fallen.
When the whole party were posted within a few
feet of them, they dropped the butts of their muskets on the ground, and stood patient listeners to
the ensuing examination. The leader of the party, who was only distinguished from his companions by a green cockade in his hat, which Cecil had heard was the symbol of a subaltern officer
among the American troops, addressed her in a
calm, but steady tone" It is unpleasant to question a woman," he





LIONEL LINCOLN.


463


said, " and especially one of your appearance; but
duty requires it of me. What brings you to this
unfrequented point, in the boat of a king's ship,
and at this unusual hour of the night?"
" I come with no intent to conceal my visit from
any eyes," returned Cecil; "' for my first wish is
to be conducted to some officer of rank, to whom I
will explain my object. There are many that I
should know, who will not hesitate to believe my
words."
" We none of us profess to doubt your truth;
we only act with caution, because it is required by
circumstances.-Cannot the explanation be made to
me?-for I dislike the duty that causes trouble to a
female."
" 'Tis impossible!" said Cecil, involuntarily
shrinking within the folds of her mantle.
" You come at a most unfortunate moment,"
said the other, musing; -" and I fear you will pass
an uneasy night, in consequence. By your tongue,
I think you are an American?"
" I was born among those roofs, which you may
see on the opposite peninsula."
" Then we are of the same town," returned the
officer, stepping back in a vain attempt to get a
glimpse of those features which were concealed
beneath the hood. He made no attempt, however, to remove the silk; nor did he in the slightest manner convey any wish of a nature that might
be supposed to wound the delicacy of her sex; but
finding himself unsuccessful, he turned away, as he
added'-" and I grow tired of remaining where I
can see the smoke of my own chimneys, at the
same time I know that strangers are seated around
the hearths below!"
" None wish more fervently than I, that the





464


LIONEL LINCOLN.


moment had arrived when each might enjoy his
own, in peace and quietness."
" Let the Parliament repeal their laws, and the
king recall his troops," said one of the men, "' and
there will be an end of the struggle at once. We
don't fight because we love to shed blood!"
"i He would do both, friend, if the coursel of
one so insignificant as I could find weight in his
royal mind."
" I believe there is not much difference between
a royal mind and that of any other man, when the
devil gets hold of it!" bluntly exclaimed another
of the party. " I've a notion the imp is as mischievous with a king as with a cobbler!"
" Whatever I may think of the conduct of his
ministers," said Cecil, coldly, " 'tis unpleasant to
me to discuss the personal qualities of my sovereign."
" Why, I meant no offence; though when the
truth is uppermost in a man's thoughts, he is apt
to let it out," returned the soldier. After this uncouth apology, he continued silent, turning away
like one who felt dissatisfied with himself for what
he had done.
In the mean time the leader had been consulting with one or two of his men aside. He now
advanced again, and delivered the result of their
united wisdom.
"' Under all circumstances, I have concluded,"
ne said, speaking in the first person, in deference
to his rank, though in fact he had consented to
change his own opinion at the instigation of his advisers, " to refer you for information to the nearest
general officer, under the care of these two men,
who will show you the way. They both know the
country, and there is not the least danger of their
mistaking the road."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


465


Cecil bo~ ed in entire submission to this characteristic intimation of his pleasure, and declared
her anxiety to proceed. The officer held another
short consultation with the two guides, which soon
terminated by his issuing orders to the rest of the
detachment to prepare to depart. Before they separated, one of the guides, or, more properly,guards,
approached Meriton, and said, with a deliberation
that might easily be mistaken for doubt" As we shall be only two to two, friend, will it
not be as well to see what you have got secreted
about your person, as it may prevent any hard
words or difficulties hereafter? You will see the
reason of the thing, I trust, and make no objection."
" Not at all, sir, not at all!" returned the trem
bling valet, producing his purse, without a mo
ment's hesitation; " it is not heavy, but what there
is in it, is of the best English gold; which I expect
is much regarded among you who see nothing but
rebel paper!"
" Much as we set store by it, we do not choose
to rob for it," returned the soldier, with cool contempt. " I wish to look for weapons, and not for
money."
" But, sir, as I unluckily have no weapons, had
you not better take my money? there are ten good
guineas, I do assure you; and not a light one
among them all, 'pon honour! besides several
pieces of silver."
" Come, Allen," said the other soldier, laughing,
" it's no great matter whether that gentleman has
arms or not, I believe. His comrade, here, who
seems to know rather better what he is about, has
none, at any rate; and for one of two men, I am
willing to trust the other."
" I do assure you," said Cecil, " that our inten




466


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tions are peaceable, and that your charge will
prove in no manner difficult."
The men listened to the earnest tones of her
sweet voice with much deference, and in a few
moments the two parties separated, to proceed on
their several ways. While the main body of the
soldiers ascended the hill, the guides of Cecil took
a direction which led them around its base. Their
route lay towards the low neck, which connected
the heights with the adjacent country, and their
progress was both diligent and rapid. Cecil was
often consulted as to her ability to endure the fatigue, and repeated offers were made to accommodate their speed to her wishes. In every other
respect she was totally disregarded by the guides,
who, however, paid much closer attention to her
companions, each soldier attaching himself to one
of her followers, whom he constantly regarded
with a watchful and wary eye.
" You seem cold, friend," said Allen to Meriton,
" though I should call the night quite pleasant for
the first week in March!"
" Indeed I'm starved to the bones!" returned
the valet, with a shivering that would seem to
verify his assertion-" It's a very chilly climate
is this of America, especially of nights! I never
really felt such a remarkable dampness about the
throat before, within memory, 1 do assure you."
" Here is another handkerchief," said the soldier, throwing him a common 'kerchief from his
pocket-" wrap it round your neck, for it gives
me an ague to hear your teeth knocking one another about so."
" I thank you, sir, a thousand times," said Meriton, producing his purse again, with an instinctive readiness-" what may be the price?"
The man pricked up his ears, and dropping his





LIONEL LINCOLN.


461


musket from the guarded position in which he had
hitherto carried it, he drew closer to the side of
his prisoner, in a very companionable way, as he
replied" I did not calculate on selling the article; but
if you have need of it, I wouldn't wish to be
hard."
" Shall I give you one guinea, or two, Mr. Rebel?" asked Meriton, whose faculties were utterly
confounded by his terror.
" My name is Allen, friend, and we like civil
language in the Bay," said the soldier. " Two
guineas for a pocket handkerchief! I couldn't
think of imposing on any man so much!"
" What shall it be then, half a guinea, or four
half-crown pieces?"
" I didn't at all calculate to part with the handkerchief when I left home-it's quite new, as you
can see by holding it up, in this manner, to the
moon-besides, you know, now there is no trade,
these things come very high.-Well, if you are
disposed to buy, I don't wish to crowd; you may
take it, finally, for the two crowns."
Meriton dropped the money into his hands,
without hesitation, and the soldier pocketed the
price, perfectly satisfied with his bargain and himself, since he had sold his goods at a clear profit of
about three hundred per cent. He soon took occasion to whisper to his comrade, that in his opinion " he had made a good trade;" and laying their
heads together, they determined that the bargain
was by no means a bad wind-fall. On the other
hand, Meriton, who knew the difference in value
between cotton and silk quite as well as his American protectors, was equally well satisfied with
the arrangement; though his contentment was derived from a very different manner of reasoning.
30





468


LIONEL LINCOLN.


From early habit, he had long been taught to be
lieve, that every civility, like patriotism in the
opinion of Sir Robert Walpole, had its price; and
his fears had rendered him somewhat careless
about the amount of the purchase-money. He
now considered himself as having a clear claim
on the protection of his guard, and his apprehensions gradually subsided into security under the
soothing impression.
By the time this satisfactory bargain was concluded, and each party was lawfully put in possession of his own, they had reached the low land
already mentioned as the " neck."  Suddenly the
guard stopped, and bending forward, in the attitude of deep attention, they seemed to listen, intently, to some faint and distant sounds, that were,
for moments, audible in the intervals of the cannonade.
"They are coming," said one to the other;
" shall we go on, or wait until they've passed?"
The question was answered in a whisper, and,
after a short consultation, they determined to proceed.
The attention of Cecil had been attracted by
this conference, and the few words which had escaped her guides; and, for the first time, she harboured some little dread as to her final destination.
Full of the importance of her errand, the bride now
devoted every faculty to detect the least circumstance that might have a tendency to defeat it.
She trode so lightly on the faded herbage as to
render her own footsteps inaudible, and more than
once she was about to request the others to imitate her example, that no danger might approach
them unexpectedly. At length her doubts were
relieved, though her wonder was increased, by
distinctly hearing the lumbering sounds of wheels





LIONEL LINCOLN.


469


on the fiozen earth, as if innumerable groaning
vehicles were advancing with slow and measured
progress. In another instant her eyes assisted
the organs of hearing, and by the aid of the moon
her doubts, if not her apprehensions, were entirely removed.
Her guards now determined on a change of purpose, and withdrew with their prisoners within the
shadow of an apple tree that stood on the low
land, but a few paces from the line of the route
evidently taken by the approaching vehicles. In
this position they remained for several minutes,
attentive observers of what was passing around
them.
" Our men have woke up the British by their
fire," said one of the guards; " and all their eyes
are turned to the batteries!"
" Yes, it's very well as it is," returned his comrade; "but if the old brass congress mortar hadn't
gi'n way yesterday, there would be a different sort
of roaring. Did you ever see the old congress?"
" I can't say I ever saw the cannon itself, but I
have seen the bomnbs fifty times; and pokerishlooking things they be, especially in a dark night
-but hush, here they come."
A large body of men now approached, and moved swiftly past them, in deepest silence, defiling at
the foot of the hills, and marching towards the
shores of the peninsula. The whole of this party
was attired and accoutred much in the fashion of
those who had received Cecil. One or two who
were mounted, and in more martial trappings, announced the presence of some officers of higher
rank. At the very heels of this detachment of
soldiers, came a great number of carts, which took
the route that led directly up to the neighbouring
heights. After these came another, and more
40





470


LIONEL LINCOLN.


numerous body of troops, who followed the teams
the whole moving in the profoundest stillness, and
with the diligence of men who were engaged in
the most important undertaking. In the rear of
the whole, another collection of carts appearted,
groaning under the weight of large bundles of hay,
and other military preparations of defence. Before this latter division left the low land, immense
numbers of the closely-packed bundles were tumbled to the ground, and arranged, with a quickness
almost magical, in such a manner as to form a light
breast-work across the low ground, which would
otherwise have been completely exposed to be
swept by the shot of the royal batteries; a situation of things that was believed to have led to the
catastrophe of Breed's, the preceding summer.
Among the last of those who crossed the neck,
was an officer on horse-back, whose eye was attracted by the group who stood as idle spectators
under the tree. Pointing out the latter object to
those around him, he rode nigher to the party,
and leaned forward in his saddle to examine theii
persons" How's this?" he exclaimed-" a woman and
two men under the charge of sentinels! Have
we then more spies among us?-cut away the tree,
men; we have need of it, and let in the light of
the moon upon them!"
The order was hardly given before it was executed, and the tree felled with a despatch that, to
any but an American, would appear incredible
Cecil stepped aside from the impending branches,
and by moving into the light, betrayed the appearance of a gentlewoman by her mien and apparel.
" Here must be some mistake!" continued the
officer-" why is the lady thus guarded P"
One of the soldiers, in a few words, explained





LIONEL LINCOLN.


471


the nature of her arrest, and in retuin received
directions, anew, how to proceed. The mounted
officer now put spurs into his horse, and galloped
away, in eager pursuit of more pressing duties,
though he still looked behind him, so long as the
deceptive light enabled him to distinguish either
form or features.
" 'Tis advisable to go on the heights," said the
soldier, "where we may find the commanding
general."
" Any where," returned Cecil, confused with
the activity and bustle that had passed before her
eyes, " or any thing, to be relieved from this distressing delay."
In a very few moments they reached the summit of the nearest of the two hills, where they
paused just without the busy circle of men who
laboured there, while one of the soldiers went in
quest of the officer in command. From the point
where she now stood, Cecil had an open view of
the port, the town, and most of the adjacent country. The vessels still reposed heavily on the waters, and she fancied that the youthful midshipman
was already nestling safe in his own hammock, on
board the frigate, whose tall and tapering spars
rose against the sky in such beautiful and symmetrical lines. No evidences 'of alarm were manifested in the town; but, on the contrary, the lights
were gradually disappearing, notwithstanding the
heavy cannonade which still roared along the
western side of the peninsula; and it was probable
that Howe, and his unmoved companions, yet continued their revels, with the same security in
which they had been left two short hours before.
While, with the exception of the batteries, every
thing in the distance was still, and apparently
slumbering, the near view was one of life and ac





472


LIONEL LINCOLN.


tivity. Mounds of earth were already rising on
the crest of the hill; labourers were filling bat rels
with earth and sand; fascines were tumbling about
from place to place, as they were wanted; and yet
the stillness was only interrupted by the unremitting strokes of the pick, the low and earnest hum
5f voices, or the crashing of branches, as the pride
of the neighbouring orchards came crushing to the
earth. The novelty of the scene beguiled Cecil of
her anxiety, and many minutes passed unheeded
by. Fifty times parties, or individuals amongst the
labourers, approaching near her person, paused to
gaze a moment at the speaking and sweet features
that the placid light of the moon rendered even
more than usually soft, and then pushed on in silence, endeavouring to repair, by renewed diligence, the transient forgetfulness of their urgent
duties. At length the man returned, and announced
the approach of the general who commanded on the
hill. The latter was a soldier of middle age, of
calm and collected deportment, roughly attired for
the occasion, and bearing no other symbol of his
rank than the distinctive crimson cockade, in one
of the large military hats of the period.
" You find us in the midst of our labours," he
pleasantly observed, as he approached; " and will
overlook the delay I have given you. It is reported you left the town this evening?"
" Within the hour."
C And Howe-dreams he of the manner in which
we are likely to amuse him in the morning?"
" It would be affectation in one like me,"' said
Cecil, modestly, "1 to decline answering questions
concerning the views of the royal general; but
still you will pardon me if I say, that in my present
situation, I could wish to be spared the pain of even
confessing my ignorance."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


473


"I acknowledge my error," the officei unhesitatingly answered. After a short pause, in which
he seemed to muse, he continued-" this is no ordinary night, young lady, and it becomes my duty
to refer you to the general commanding this wing
of the army. He possibly may think it necessary
to communicate your detention to the commanderin-chief."
" It is he I seek, sir, and would most wish to
meet."
He bowed, and, giving his orders to a subaltern
in a low voice, walked away, and was soon lost in
the busy crowd that came and went in constant
employment, around the summit of the hill. Cecil
lingered a single moment after her new conductor
had declared his readiness to proceed, to cast an
other glance at the calm splendour of the sea and
bay; the distant and smoky roofs of the town; the
dim objects that moved about the adjacent eminence, equally and similarly employed with those.around her; and then raising her calash, and tightening the folds of her mantle, she descended the
hill with the light and elastic steps of youth.
40 *





CHAPTER XXX.


"The rebel vales, the rebel dales,
" With rebel trees surrounded,
" The distant woods, the hills and floods,
" With rebel echoes sounded."
The Battle of the Kegs
THE enormous white cockade that covered near.
ly one side of the little hat of her present conductor, was the only symbol that told Cecil she wasnow committed to the care of one who held the
rank of captain, among those who battled for the
rights of the colonies. No other part of his attire
was military, though a cut-and-thrust was buckled
to his form, which, from its silver guard, and formidable dimensions, had probably been borne by
some of his ancestors, in the former wars of the
colonies. The disposition of its present wearer
was, however, far from that belligerant nature that
his weapon might be thought to indicate, for he
tendered the nicest care and assiduity to the movements of his prisoner.
At the foot of the hill, a wagon, returning from
the field, was put in requisition by this semi-mili.
tary gallant; and, after a little suitable preparation,
Cecil found herself seated on a rude bench by hii





LIONEL LINCOLN.


475


side, in the vehicle; while her own attendants,
and the two private men, occupied its bottom in
still more social affinity. At first their progress
was slow and difficult, return carts, literally by
hundreds, impeding the way; but when they had
once passed the heavy-footed beasts who drew
them, they proceeded in the direction of Roxbury,
with greater rapidity. During the first mile, while
they were extricating themselves from the apparently interminable line of carts, the officer directed his whole attention to this important and difficult manoeuvre; but when their uneasy vessel
might be said to be fairly sailing before the wind,
he did not choose to neglect those services, which,
from time immemorial, beautiful women in distress have had a right to claim of men in his profession.
" Now do not spare the whip," he said to the
driver, at the moment of their deliverance; " but
push on, for the credit of horse-flesh, and to the
disgrace of all horned cattle. This near beast of
yours should be a tory, by his gait and his reluc
tance to pull in the traces for the common-goodtreat him as such, friend, and, in turn, you shall receive the treatment of a sound whig, when we
make a halt. You have spent the winter in Boston, madam?"
Cecil bent her head in silent assent.
" The royal army will, doubtless, make a better
figure in the eyes of a lady, than the troops of the
colonies; though there are some among.s who
are thought not wholly wanting in military knowledge, and the certain air of a soldier," he continued; extricating the silver-headed legacy of his
grandfather from its concealment under a fold of
his companion's mantle--" you have balls and en




476


LIONEL LINCOLA.


tertainmentI without number, I fancy, ma'am, from
the gentlemen in the king's service."
" I believe that few hearts are to be found
amongst the females in Boston, so light as to mingle in their amusements!"
" God bless them for it!" exclaimed her escort;
" I am sure every shot we throw into the town is
like drawing blood from our own veins. I suppose
the king's officers don't hold the colonists so cheap,
since the small affair on Charlestown neck, as they
did fbrmerly?"
" None who had any interest at stake, in the
events of that fatal day, will easily forget the impression it has made!"
The young American was too much struck by
the melancholy pathos in the voice of Cecil, not to
fancy he had, in his own honest triumph, unwittingly probed a wound which time had not yet
healed. They rode many minutes, after this unsuccessful effort on his part to converse, in profound silence; nor did he again speak until the
trampling of horses' hoofs was borne along by the
evening air, unaccompanied by the lumbering
sounds of wheels. At the next turn of the road
they met a small cavalcade of officers, riding at
a rapid rate in the direction of the place they
had so recently quitted. The leader of this party
drew up when he saw the wagon, which was also
stopped in deference to his obvious wish to speak
with them.
There was something in the haughty, and yet
easy air of the gentleman who addressed her com.
panion, that induced Cecil to attend to his remarks
with more than the interest that is usually excited
by the common-place dialogues of the road. His
dress was neither civil, nor wholly military, though





LIONEL LINCOLN.


477


his bearing had much of a soldier's manner. As
he drew up, three or four dogs fawned upon him,
or passed with indulged impunity between the legs
of his high-blooded charger, apparently indifferent
to the impatient repulses that were freely bestowed on their troublesome familiarities.
" High discipline, by --!" exclaimed this singular specimen of the colonial. chieftains-" I dare
presume, gentlemen, you are from the heights of
Dorchester; and having walked the whole distance thither from camp, are disposed to try the
virtues of a four-wheeled conveyance over the
same ground, in a retreat!"
The young man rose in his place, and lifted his
hat, with marked respect, as he answered" We are returning from the hills, sir, it is true;
out we must see our enemy before we retreat!"
" A white cockade! As you hold such rank,
sir, I presume you have authority for your movements?-Down, Juno-down, slut."
" This lady was landed an hour since on the
Point, from the town, by a boat from a king's ship,
sir; and I am ordered to see her in safety to the
general of the right wing."
" A lady!" repeated the other, with singular
emphasis, slowly passing his hand over his remarkably aquiline and prominent features, " if there be
a lady in the case, ease must be indulged. Will
you down, Juno!" Turning his head a little aside,
to his nearest aid, he added, in a voice that was
suppressed only by the action-" Some trull of
Howe's sent out as the newest specimen of loyal
modesty! In such a case, sir, you are quite right
to use horses.-I only marvel that you did not take
six instead of two. But how come we on in the
trenches?-Down, you hussy, down!    Thou
shouldst go to court, Juno, and fawn upon his ma





478


LIONEL LINCOLN.


jesty's ministers, where thy sycophancy might
purchase thee a riband! How come we on in
the trenches?"
" We have broken ground, sir, and as the eyes
of the royal troops are drawn upon the batteries,
we shall make a work of it before the day shows
them our occupation."
" Ah! we are certainly good at digging, if at
no other part of our exercises! Miss Juno, thou
puttest thy precious life in jeopardy!-you will?
then take thy fate!"  As he spoke, the impatient
chief drew a pistol from his holster, and snapped
it twice at the head of the dog, that still fawned
upon him in unwitting fondness. Angry with
himself, his weapon, and the animal at the same
moment, he turned to his attendants, and added,
with bitter deliberation-" Gentlemen, if one of
you will exterminate that quadruped, I promise
him an honourable place in my first despatches to
congress, for the service!"
A groom in attendance whistled to the spaniel,
and probably saved the life of the disgraced favourite.
The officer now addressed himself to the party
he had detained, with a collected and dignified air,
that showed he had recovered his self-possession,
by saying" I beg pardon, sir, for this trouble-let me not
prevent you from proceeding; there may be serious work on the heights before morning, and you
will doubtless wish to be there."-He bowed with
perfect ease and politeness, and the two parties
were slowly passing each other, when, as if repenting of his condescension, he turned himself
in his saddle, adding, with those sarcastic tones so
peculiarly his own--" Captain, I beseech thee
have an especial care of the lady!"





LIONEL LINCOLN.


479


With these words in his mouth, he clapped
spurs to his horse, and galloped onward, followed
by all his train, at the same impetuous rate.
Cecil had heard each syllable that fell from the
lips of both in this short dialogue, and she felt a
chill of disappointment gathering about her heart,
as it proceeded. When they had parted, drawing
a long, tremulous breath, she asked, in tones that
betrayed all her feelings"And is this Washington?"
" That!" exclaimed her companion-" No, no,
madam, he is a very different sort of man! That
is the great English officer, whom congress has
made a general.in our army. He is thought to be
as great in the field, as he is uncouth in the drawing room-yes, I will acknowledge that much in
his favour, though I never know how to understand him; he is so proud-so supercilious-and
yet, he is a great friend of liberty!"
Cecil permitted the officer to reconcile the
seeming contradictions in the character of his superior, in his own way, feeling perfectly relieved,
when she understood it was not the man who
could have any influence on her own destiny.
The driver now appeared anxious to recover the
lost time, and he urged his horses over the ground
with increased rapidity. The remainder of their
short drive to the vicinity of Roxbury, passed in
silence. As the cannonading was still maintained
with equal warmth by both parties, it was hazarding too much to place themselves in the line of the
enemy's fire. The young man, therefore, aftet
finding a secure spot among the uneven ground ol
the vicinity, where he mhight leave his charge in
safety, proceeded by himself to the point where
he had reason to believe he should find the officer
he was ordered to seek. During his short absence,





480


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Cecil remained in the wagon, an appalled listener,
and a partial spectator of the neighbouring contest,
'The Americans had burst their only mortar of
size, the preceding night; but they applied theii
cannon with unwearied diligence, not only in the
face of the British entrenchments, but on the low
land, across the estuary of the Charles; and still
farther to the north, in friont of the position which
their enemies held on the well-known heights of
Charlestown. In retaliation for this attack, the
batteries along the western side of the town were
ini a constant blaze of fire, while those of the eastern continued to slumber, in total unconsciousness
of the coming danger.
When the officer returned, he reported that his
search had been successful, and that he had been
commanded to conduct his charge into the presence of the American commander-in-chief. This
new arrangement imposed the necessity of driving
a few miles farther; and as the youth began to regard his new duty with some impatience, he was
in no humour for delay. The route was circuitous
and safe; the roads good; and the driver diligent.
In consequence, within the hour they passed the
river, and Cecil found herself, after so long an absence, once more approaching the ancient provincial seat of learning.
The little village, though in the hands of friends
exhibited the infallible evidences of the presence
of an irregular army. The luildings of the University were filled with troops, and the doors of
the different inns were thronged with noisy soldiers, who were assembled for the inseparable
purposes of revelry and folly. The officer drove
to one of the most private of these haunts of the
unthinking and idle, and declared his intentions to
deposit his charge under its roof, until he could





LIONEL LINCOLN.


481


learn the pleasure of the American leader. Cecil
heard his arrangements with little satisfaction; but,
yielding to the necessity of the case, when the vehicle had stopped, she alighted, without remonstrance. With her two attendants in her t-ain,
and preceded by the officer, she passed through
the noisy crowd, not only without insult, but without molestation. The different declaimers in the
throng, and they were many, even lowered their
clamorous voices as she approached, the men giving way, in deference for her sex; and she entered
the building without hearing but one remark applied to herself, though a low and curious buzz of
voices followed her footsteps to its very threshold.
That solitary remark was a sudden exclamation, in
admiration of the grace of her movements; and,
singular as it may seem, her companion thought it
necessary to apologize for its rudeness, by whispering that it had proceeded from the lips of " one
of the southern riflemen; a corps as distinguished
for its skill and bravery, as for its want of breeding!"
The inside of this inn presented a very different
aspect from its exterior. The decent tradesman
who kept it, had so far yielded to the emergency
of the times, and perhaps, also, to a certain propensity towards gain, as temporarily to adopt the profession he followed; but by a sort of implied compact with the crowd without, while he administered to their appetite for liquor, he preserved most
of the privacy of his domestic arrangements. He
had, however, been compelled to relinquish one
apartment entirely to the service of the public, into
which Cecil and her companions were shown, as a
matter of course, without the smallest apology for
its condition.
There might have been a dozen people in the
41





482


LIONEL LINCOLN.


common room; some of whom were quietly seated before its large fire, among whom were one or
two females; some walking, and others distributed
on chairs, as accident or inclination had placed
them. A slight movement was made at the entrance of Cecil, but it soon subsided; though her
rich mantle of fine cloth, and silken calash, did not
fail to draw the eyes of the women upon her, with
a ruder gaze than she had yet encountered from
the other sex, during the hazardous adventures of
the night. She took an offered seat near the bright
and cheerful blaze on the hearth, which imparted
all the light the room contained, and disposed herself to wait in patience the return of her conducti'
who immediately took his departure for the neighbouring quarters of the American chief.
" 'Tis an awful time for women bodies to journey in!" said a middle-aged woman near her, who
was busily engaged in knitting, though she also
bore the marks of a traveller in her dress-" 'Pm
sure if I had thought there'd ha' been such contentions, I would never have crossed the Connecticut; though I have an only child in camp!"
" To a mother, the distress must be great, indeed," said Cecil, " when she hears the report of
a contest in which she knows her children are engaged."
" Yes, Royal is engaged as a six-months'-man,
and he is partly agreed to stay till the king's troops
conclude to give up the town."
" It seems to me," said a grave looking yeoman,
who occupied the opposite corner of the fire-place,
" your child has an unfitting name for one w\ho
fights against the crown!"
" Ah, he was so called before the king wore his
Scottish Boot! and what has once been solemnly
named, in holy baptism, is not to be changed with





LIONEL LINCOLN.,483


the shift of the times! They were twins, and I
called one Prince and the other Royal; for they
were born the day his present majesty came to
man's estate. That, you know, was before his
heart had changed, and when the people of the
Bay loved him little less than they did their own
flesh and blood."
" Why, Goody," said the yeoman, smiling goodnumouredly, and rising to offer her a pinch of his
real Scotch, in token of amity, while he made so
free with her domestic matters--" you had then an
heir to the throne in your own family! The Prince
Royal, they say, comes next to the king; and by
your tell, one of them, at least, is a worthy fellow,
who is not likely to sell his heritage for a mess of
pottage! If I understand you, Royal is here in
service?"
" He's at this blessed moment in one of the battering-rams in front of Boston-neck," returned the
woman; " and the Lord, he knows, 'tis an awful
calling, to be beating down the housen of people of
the same religion and blood with ourselves! but so
it must be, to prevail over the wicked designs of
such as would live in pomp and idleness, by the
sweat and labour of their fellow-creatures."
The honest yeoman, who was somewhat more
familiar with the terms of modern wararfre than the
woman, smiled at her mistake, while ie pursued
the conversation with a peculiar gravity, which
rendered his humour doubly droll.
" 'Tis to be hoped the boy will not weary at the
weapon before the morning cometh. But why does
Prince linger behind, in such a moment? Tarries
he with his father, on the homestead, in safety, being the younger born?"
" No, no," said the woman," shaking her head,
in sorrow, " he dwells, I trust, with our common
31





484


LIONEL LINCOLN.


Father, in heaven! Neither are you right in calling him the home-child. He was my first-born,
and a comely youth he grew to be! When the cry
that the reg'lars were out at Lexington, to kill and
destroy, passed through the country, he shouldered his musket, and came down with the people, to
know the reason the land was stained with American blood. He was young, and full of ambition to
be foremost among them who were willing to fight
for their birth-rights; and the last I ever heard of
him was in the midst of the king's troops on
Breed's. No, no; his body never came off the
hill! The neighbours sent me up the clothes he
left in camp, and 'tis one of his socks that I'm now
footing for his twin-brother."
The woman delivered this simple explanation
with perfect calmness; though, as she advanced in
the subject, large tears started from her eyes, and,
following each other down her cheeks, fell unheeded upon the humble garment of her dead son.
" This is the way our bravest striplings are cut
off, fighting with the scum of Europe!" exclaimed
the yeoman, with a warmth that showed how powerfully his feelings were touched-" I hope the boy
who lives may find occasion to revenge his brother's death."
" God forbid! God forbid!" exclaimed the weeping mother-" revenge is an evil passion; and least
of all would I wish a child of mine to go into the
field of blood with so foul a breast. God has given
us this land to dwell in, and to rear up temples and
worshippers of his holy name; and in giving it, he
bestowed the right to defend it against all earthly
oppression. If 'twas right for Prince to come, 'twas
right for Royal to follow!"
" I believe I am reproved in justice," returned
the man, looking around at the spectators with an





LIONEL LINCOLN.


485


eye that no longer teemed with a hidden meaning
-" God bless you, my good woman, and deliver
you, with your remaining boy, and all of us, from
the scourge which has been inflicted on the country for our sins. I go west, into the mountains,
with the sun; and if I can carry any word of comfort from you to the good man at home, it will not
be a hill or two that shall hinder it."
" The same thanks to you for the offer, as if
you did it, friend; my man would be right glad to
see you at his settlement; but I sicken already with
the noises and awful sights of warfare, and shall
not tarry long after my son comes forth from the
battle. I shall go down to Cragie's-house in the
morning, and look upon the blessed man whom the
people have chosen from among themselves as a
leader, and hurry back again; for I plainly see that
this is not an abiding place for such as I!"
" You will then have to follow him into the line
of danger; for I saw him, within the hour, riding,
with all his followers, towards the water-side; and
I doubt not that this unusual waste of ammunition
is intended for more than we of little wit can
guess."
" Of whom speak you?" Cecil involuntarily
asked.
" Of whom should he speak, but of Washington?" returned a deep, low voice at her elbow
whose remarkable sounds instantly recalled the
tones of the aged messenger of death, who had appeared at the bed-side of her grandmother. Cecil
started from her chair, and recoiled several paces
from the person of Ralph, who stood regarding her
with a steady and searching look, heedless of the
observation they attracted, as well as of the number and quality of the spectators.
" We are not strangers, young lady," continued
41 *





486


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the old man; " and you will excuse me, if I add.
that the face of an acquaintance must be grateful to
one of your gentle sex, in a place so unsettled and
disorderly as this."
" An acquaintance l" repeated the unprotected
bride.
" I said an acquaintance; we know each other.
surely," returned Ralph, with marked emphasis;
" you will believe me when I add, that I have
seen the two men in the guard-room, which is at
hand."
Cecil cast a furtive glance behind her, and, with
some alarm, perceived that she was separated from
Meriton and the stranger. Before time was allowed for recollection, the old man approached her
with a courtly breeding, that was rendered more
striking by the coarseness as well as negligence
of his attire.
" This is not a place for the niece of an English
peer," he said; " but I have long been at home in
this warlike village, and will conduct you to another residence, more suited to your sex and condition."
For an instant Cecil hesitated; but observing
the wondering faces about her, and the intense curiosity with which all in the room suspended their
several pursuits, to listen to each syllable, she
timidly accepted his offered hand, suffering him to
lead her, not only from the room, but the house,
in profound silence. The door through which they
left the building, was opposite to that by which she
had entered; and when they found themselves in
the open air, it was in a different street, and a
short distance removed from the crowd of revellers
already mentioned.
" I have left two attendants behind me," she
said, " without whom 'tis impossible to proceed."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


487


" As they are watched by armed men, you have
no choice but to share their confinement, or to
submit to the temporary separation," returned the
other, calmly. " Should his keepers discover the
character of him who led you hither, his fate
would be certain!"
" His character!" repeated Cecil, again shrinking from the touch of the old man.
". Surely my words are plain! I said his character. Is he not the deadly, obstinate enemy of
liberty? And think you these countrymen of
ours so dull as to suffer one like him to go at large
in their very camp!-No, no," he muttered with
a low, but exulting laugh; "like a fool has he
tempted his fate, and like a dog shall he meet it'
Let us proceed; the house is but a step from this,
and you may summon him to your presence if you
will."
Cecil was rather impelled by her companion,
than induced to proceed, when, as he had said,
they soon stopped before the door of a humble and
retired building. An armed man paced along its
front, while the lengthened shadow of another sentinel in the rear was every half-minute thrown far
into the street, in confirmation of the watchfulness
that was kept over those who dwelt within.
" Proceed," said Ralph, throwing open the outer door, without hesitation. Cecil complied, but
started at encountering another man, trailing a
musket, as he paced to and fro in the narrow passage that received her. Between this sentinel
and Ralph, there seemed to exist a good understanding, for the latter addressed him with perfect
freedom" Has no order been yet received from Washington?" he asked.





488           LIONEL LINCOLN.
"None; and I rather conclude, by the aelay,
that nothing very favourable is to be expected."
The old man muttered to himself, but passed
on, and, throwing open another door, said" Enter."
Again Cecil complied, the door closing on her
at the instant; but before she had time to express
either her wonder or her alarm, she was folded in
the arms of her husband.





CHAPTER XXXI.


" Is she a Capulet?
" 0 dear account I my life is my foe's debt"
Romeo.
" AH! Lincoln! Lincoln!" cried the weeping
bride, gently extricating herself from the long
embrace of Lionel, "at what a moment did you
desert me!"
" And how have I been punished, love! a night
of phrensy, and a morrow of useless regrets!
How early have I been made to feel the strength
of those ties which unite us;-unless, indeed, my
own folly may have already severed them for
ever!"
" Truant! I know  you! and shall hereafter
weave a web, with woman's art, to keep you in
my toils! If you love me, Lionel, as I would fain
believe, let all the past be forgotten. I ask-I
wish, no explanation. You have been deceived,
and that repentant eye assures me of your returning reason. Let us now speak only of yourself.
Why do I find you thus guarded, more like a
criminal than an officer of the crown?"
"They have, indeed, bestowed especial watch
fulness on my safety!"
19





490


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" How came you in their power? and why do
they abuse their advantage?"
"'Tis easily explained. Presuming on the tempestuousness of the night-what a bridal was ours,
Cecil!"
"'Twas terrible!" she answered, shuddering
then, with a bright and instant smile, as if sedulous
to chase every appearance of distrust or care from
her countenance, she continued-" but I have no
longer faith in omens, Lincoln! or, if one has
been given, is not the awful fulfilment already
come? I know not how you value the benedictions of a parting soul, Lionel, but to me there is
holy consolation in knowing that my dying parent
left her blessing on our sudden union!"
Disregarding the hand, which, with gentle earnestness, she had laid upon his shoulder, he walked gloomily away, into a distant corner of the
apartment.
" Cecil, I do love you, as you would fain be.
lieve," he said, " and I listen readily to your wish
to bury the past in oblivion.-But I leave my tale
unfinished. You know the night was such that
none would choose, uselessly, to brave its fury-I
attempted to profit by the storm, and availing myself of a flag, which is regularly granted to the
simpleton, Job Pray, I left the town. Impatientdo I say impatient?-borne along rather by a tempest of passions that mocked the feebler elements,
we ventured too much-Cecil, I was not alone!"
" I know it-I know it," she said, hurriedly,
though speaking barely above her breath--" you
ventured too much-"
" And encountered a piquet that would not mistake a royal officer for an impoverished, though
privileged idiot. In our anxiety we overlookedbelieve me, dearest Cecil, that if you knew all--





LIONEL LINCOLN.


491


the scene I had witnessed-the motives which
urged-they, at least, would justify this strange
and seeming desertion."
" Did I doubt it, would I forget my condition,
my recent loss, and my sex, to follow in the footsteps of one unworthy of my solicitude!" returned
the bride, colouring as much with innate modesty,
as with the power of her emotions. " Think not
I come, with girlish weakness, to reproach you
with any fancied wiongs! I am your wife, Major
Lincoln; and as such would I serve you, at a moment when I know all the tenderness of the tie
will most be needed. At the altar, and in the
presence of my God, have I acknowledged the
sacred duty; and shall I hesitate to discharge it
because the eyes of man are on me i"
" I shall go mad!-I shall go mad!" cried Lionel, in ungovernable mental anguish, as he paced
the floor, in violent disorder.-" There are moments when I think that the curse, which destroyed the father, has already lighted on the son!"
" Lionel!" said the soft, soothing voice of his
companion, at his elbow, "is this to render me
more happy?-the welcome you bestow on the
confiding girl, who has committed her happiness to
your keeping? I see you relent, and will be more
just to us both; more dutiful to your God! Now
let us speak of your" confinement. Surely, you
are not suspected of any criminal designs in this
rash visit to the camp of the Americans! 'Twere
easy to convince their leaders that you are innocent of so base a purpose!"
" 'Tis difficult to evade the vigilance of those
who struggle for liberty!" returned the low, calm
voice of Ralph, who stood before them, unexpectedly. " Major Lincoln has too long listened to
the councils of tyrants and slaves, and forgotten





492


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the land of his birth. If he would1 be safe, let
him retract the error, while yet he may, with honour."
" Honour!" repeated Lionel, with unconcealed
disdain-again pacing the room with swift and
uneasy steps, without deigning any other notice
of the unwelcome intruder. Cecil bowed hei
head, and, sinking in a chair, concealed her face in
her small muff, as if to exclude some horrid and
fearful sight from her view.
The momentary silence was broken by the
sound of footsteps and of voices in the passage,
and at the next instant, the door of the room opening, Meriton was seen on its threshold. His appearance roused Cecil, who, springing on her feet,
beckoned him away, with a sort of phrensied earnestness, exclaiming" Not here! not here!-for the love of heaven,
not here!"
The valet hesitated, but, catching a glimpse of
his master, his attachment got the ascendency of
his respect" God be praised for this blessed sight, Master
Lionel!" he cried-  'tis the happiest hour I have
seen since I lost the look at the shores of old
England! If 'twas only at Ravenscliffe, or in
Soho, I should be the most contented fool in the
three kingdoms! Ah, Master Lionel, let us get
out of this province, into the country, where there
is no rebels; or any thing worse than King, Lords,
and Commons!"
" Enough now; for this time, worthy Meriton.
enough!" interrupted Ce'cil, breathing with difficulty, in her eagerness to be heard.-" Go-return to the inn-the colleges-any where--do
but go!"
"' Don't send a loyal subject, ma'am, again





LIONEL LINCOLN.


493


among the rebels, I desire to entreat of you. Such
awlul blasphemies, sir, as I heard while I was
there! They spoke of his sacred majesty just as
freely, sir, as if he had been a gentleman like yourself. Joyful was the news of my release!"
" And had it been a guard-room on the opposite
shore," said Ralph, " the liberties they used with
your earthly monarch, would have been as freely
taken with the King of kings!"
" You shall remain, then," said Cecil, probably
mistaking the look of high disdain which Meriton
bestowed on his aged fellow-voyager, for one of a
very different meaning-" but not here. You have
other apartments, Major Lincoln; let my attendants be received there-you surely would not admit the menials to our interview "
" Why this sudden terror, love? Here, if not
happy, you at least are safe. Go, Meriton, into
the adjoining room; if wanted, there is admission
through this door of communication."
The valet murmured some half-uttered sentences, of which only the emphatic word " genteel" was audible; while the direction of his discontented eye sufficiently betrayed that Ralph
was the subject of his meditations. The old man
followed his footsteps, and the door of the passage soon closed on both, leaving Cecil standing,
like a beautiful statue, in an attitude of absorbed
thought. When the noise of her attendants, as
they quietly entered the adjoining room, was
heard, she breathed again, with a tremulous sigh,
that seemed to raise a weight of apprehension from
her heart.
" Fear not for me, Cecil, and least of all for
yourself," said Lionel, drawing her to his bosom
with fond solicitude-" my headlong rashness, or
rather that fatal bane to the happiness of my house,
42





194


LIONEL LINCOLN.


the disterapered feeling which you must have often
seen and deplored, has indeed led me into a seeming danger. But I have a reason for my conduct,
which, avowed, shall lull the suspicions of even our
enemies to sleep."
" I have no suspicions-no knowledge of any
imperfections-no regrets, Lionel;-nothing but
the most ardent wishes for your peace of mind;
and, if I might explain!-yes, now is a time-Lionel, kind, but truant Lionel-"
Her words were interrupted by Ralph, who appeared again in the room, with that noiseless step,
which, in conjunction with his great age and attenuated frame, sometimes gave to his movements
and aspect the character of a being superior to the
attributes of humanity. On his arm he bore an
over-coat and a hat, both of which Cecil recognised, at a glance, as the property of the unknown
man who had attended her person throughout all
the vicissitudes of that eventful night.
" See!" said Ralph, exhibiting his spoils with a
ghastly, but meaning smile, " see in how many
forms Liberty appears to aid her votaries! Here
is the guise in which she will now be courted!
Wear them, young man, and be free!"
" Believe him not-listen not," whispered Cecil, while she shrunk friom his approach in undis
guised terror--" nay, do listen, but act with caution!"
" Dost thou delay to receive the blessed boon
of freedom, when offered?" demanded Ralph;
" wouldst thou remain, and brave the angry justice
of the American chief, and make thy wife, of a day,
a widow for an age?"
" In what manner am I to profit by this dress?"
said Lionel.-" To submit to the degradation of a
disguise, success should be certain."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


495


" Turn thy haughty eyes, young man, on the
picture of innocence and terror at thy side. For
the sake of her whose fate is wrapped in thine, if
not for your own, consult thy safety, and fly-another minute may be too late."
" Oh! hesitate not a moment longer, Lincoln,"
cried Cecil, with a change of purpose as sudden as
the impulse was powerful--" fly,-leave me; my
sex and station will be-"
" Never," said Lionel, casting the garment from
him, in cool disdain.-" Once, when Death was
busy, did I abandon thee; but, ere I do it again,
his blow must fall on me!"
" I will follow-I will rejoin you."
" You shall not part," said Ralph, once more
raising the rejected coat, and lending his aid to
envelop the form of Lionel, who stood passive under the united efforts of his bride and her aged assistant.-Remain here," the latter added, when
their brief task wVas ended, " and await the summons to freedom. And thou, sweet flower of innocence and love, follow, and share in the honour
of liberating him who has enslaved thee!"
Cecil blushed with virgin shame, at the strength
of his expressions, but bowed her head in silent
acquiescence to his will. Proceeding to the door.
he beckoned her to approach, indicating, by an expressive gesture to Lionel, that he was to remain
stationary. When Cecil had complied, and they
were in the narrow passage of the building, Ralph,
instead of betraying any apprehension of the sentinel who paced its length, fearlessly approached,
and addressed him with the confidence of a known
friend" See!" he said, removing the calash fiom before the pale features of his companion, " how terror for the fate of her husband has caused the good





496


LIONEL LINCOLN.


child to weep! She quits him now, friend, with
one of her attendants, while the other tarries to
administer to his master's wants. Look at her;
is't not a sweet, though mourning partner, to
smooth the path of a soldier's life!"
The man seemed awkwardly sensible of the unusual charms that Ralph so unceremoniously exhibited to his view; and while he stood in admiring
embarrassment, ashamed to gaze, and yet unwilling to retire, Cecil traced the light footsteps of
the old man, entering the room occupied by Meriton and the stranger. She was still in the act of
veiling her features from the eyes of the sentinel,
when Ralph re-appeared, attended by a figure
muffled in the well-known over-coat. Notwithstanding the flopped hat, and studied concealment
of his gait, the keen eyes of the wife penetratea
the disguise of her husband; and recollecting, at
the same instant, the door of communication between the two apartments, the whole artifice was
at once revealed. With trembling eagerness she
glided past the sentinel, and pressed to the side
of Lionel, with a dependence that might have betrayed the deception to one more accustomed to
the forms of life, than was the honest countryman
who had so recently thrown aside the flail to carry a musket.
Ralph allowed the sentinel no time to delibe
rate; but waving his hand in token of adieu, he led
the way into the street, with his accustomed activity. Here they found themselves in the presence of the other soldier, who moved to and fro,
along the allotted ground in front of the building,
rendering the watchfulness, by which they were
environed, doubly embarrassing. Following the
example of their aged conductor, Lionel and his
trembling companion walked with apparent indif




LIONEL LINCOLN.


497


terence towards this man, who, as it proved, was
better deserving of his trust than his fellow with
in doors. Dropping his musket across their path,
in a manner which announced an intention to inquire into their movements, before he suffered
them to proceed, he roughly demanded" How's this, old gentleman? you come out of
the prisoners' rooms by squads! one, two, three;
our English gallant might be among you, and there
would still be two left! Come, come, old father,
render some account of yourself, and of your command. For, to be plain with you, there are those
who think you are no better than a spy of Howe's,
notwithstanding you are left to run up and down
the camp, as you please. In plain Yankee dialect,
and that's intelligible English, you have been
caught in bad company of late, and there has been
hard talk about shutting you up, as well as your
comrade!"
" Hear ye that?" said Ralph, calmly smiling,
and addressing himself to his companions, instead
of the man whose interrogatories-he was expected
to answer-" think you the hirelings of the crown
are thus alert? Would not the slaves be sleeping
the moment the eyes of their tyrants are turned
on their own lawless pleasures? Thus it is with
Liberty! The sacred spirit hallows its meanest
votaries, and elevates the private to all the virtues
of the proudest captain!"
1" Come, come, " returned the flattered sentinel,
throwing his musket back to his shoulder again,
c" I believe a man gains nothing by battling you
with words! I should have spent a year or two
inside yonder colleges to dive at all your meaning.
Though I can guess you are more than half right
in one thing; for if a poor fellow, who loves his
42 *





498


LIONEL LINCOLN.


country, and the good cause, finds it so hard to
keep his eyes open on post, what must it be to a
half-starved devil on six-pence a-day! Go along,
go along, old father; there is one less of you than
went in, and if there was any thing wrong, the
man in the house should know it!"
As he concluded, the sentinel continued his
walk, humming a verse of Yankee-doodle, in excellent favour with himself and all mankind, with
the sweeping exception of his country's enemies.
To say that this was not the first instance of wellmeaning integrity being cajoled by the jargon of
liberty, might be an assertion too hazardous; but
that it has not been the last, we conscientiously
believe, though no immediate example may present itself to quote in support of such heretical
credulity.
Ralph appeared, however, perfectly innocent
of intending to utter more than the spirit of the
times justified; for, when left to his own pleasure,
he pursued his way, muttering rapidly to himself,
and with an earnestness that attested his sincerity.
When they had turned a corner, at a little distance
from any pressing danger, he relaxed in his movements, and, suffering his eager companions to approach, he stole to the side of Lionel, and, clenching his hand fiercely, he whispered, in a voice half
choked by inward exultation"I have him now; he is no longer dangerous.
Ay-ay---I have him closely watched by the vigi
lance of three incorruptible patriots!"
" Of whom speak you?" demanded Lionel" what is his offence, and where is your captive?"
"A dog! a man in form, but a tiger in heart-!
Ay! but I have him!" the old man continued,
with a hollow laugh, that seemed to heave up





LIONEL LINCOLN.499


from his inmost soul-" a dog; a veritable dog'
I have him, and God grant that he may drink of
the cup of slavery to its dregs!"
"' Old man," said Lionel, firmly, " that I have
followed you thus far on no unworthy errand,
you best may testify-I have forgotten the oath
which, at the altar, I had sworn to, to cherish this
sweet and spotless being at my side, at your instigation, aided by the maddening circumstances of a
moment; but the delusion has already passed
away! Here we part for ever, unless your solemn
and often-repeated promises are, on the instant, redeemed."
The high exultation, which had so lately rendered the emaciated countenance of Ralph hideously
ghastly, disappeared like a passing shadow; and he
listened to the words of Lionel with calm and settled attention. But when he would have answered, he was interrupted by Cecil, who uttered, in a
voice nearly suppressed by her fears" Oh! delay not a moment! Let us proceed any
where, or any-how! even now the pursuers may
be on our track. I am strong, dearest Lionel, and
will follow to the ends of the earth, so you but
lead!"
" Lionel Lincoln, I have not deceived thee!"
said the old man, solemnly. " Providence has already led us on our way, and a few minutes will
bring us to our goal-suffer, then, that gentle trembler to return into the village, and follow!"
" Not an inch!" returned Lionel, pressing Cecil
still closer to his side-" here we part, or your
promises are fulfilled."
" Nay, go with him-go," again whispered the
being who clung to him in trembling dependence.
" This very controversy may prove your ruin- -
did I not say I would accompany you, Lincoln?"
32





500


LIONEL LINCOLN.


" Lead on, then," said her husband, motioning
Ralph to proceed-" once again will I confide in
you; but use the trust with discretion, for my
guardian spirit is at hand; and remember, thou no
longer leadest a lunatic!"
The moon fell upon the wan features of the old
man, and exhibited their contented smile, as he silently turned away, and resumed his progress with
his wonted rapid and noiseless tread.  Their
route still lay towards the skirts of the village.
While the buildings of the University were yet in
the near view, and the loud laugh of the idlers
about the inn, with the frequent challenges of the
sentinels,were still distinctly audible, their conductor
bent his way beneath the walls of a church, that
rose in solemn solitude in the deceptive light of the
evening. Pointing upward at its somewhat unusual, because regular architecture, Ralph muttered, as
he passed" Here, at least, God possesses his own, without insult!"
Lionel and Cecil slightly glanced their eyes at.the silent walls, and followed into a small enclosure, through a gap in its humble and dilapidated
fence. Here the former again paused, and spoke( I will go no further," he said, unconsciously
strengthening the declaration by placing his foot
firmly on a mound of frozen earth, in an attitude
of resistance-"c 'tis time to cease thinking of self,
ana to listen to the weakness of her whom I support!"
" Think not of me, dearest Lincoln-"
Cecil was interrupted by the voice of the old
man, who, raising his hat, and baring his gray locks
to the mild rays of the planet, answered with tremulous emotion--





LIONEL LINCOLN           501
" Thy task is already ended! Thou hast reached the spot, where moulder the bones of one who
long supported thee. Unthinking boy, that sacrilegious foot treads on thy mother's grave!"





CHAPTER XXXII.


u Oh, age has weary days,
" And nights o' sleepless pain!
" Thou golden time o' youthful prime,
' Why con'st thou not again!'
Burrs.
THE stillness that succeeded this unexpected
annunciation was like the cold silence of those who
elumbered on every side of them. Lionel recoiled
a pace, in horror; then, imitating the action of the
old man, he uncovered his head, in pious reverence
of the parent, whose form floated dimly in his imagination, like the earliest recollections of infancy, or
the imperfect fancies of some dream. When time
was given for these sudden emotions to subside, he
turned to Ralph, and said" And was it here that you would bring me, to
listen to the sorrows of my family?"
An expression of piteous anguish crossed the
features of the other, as he answered, in a voice
which was subdued to softness" Even here-here, in the presence of thy mother's grave, shalt thou hear the tale!"
" Then let it be here!" said Lionel, whose eye
was already kindling with a wild and disordered





LIONEL LINCOLN.


503


meaning, that curdled the blood of the anxious Cecil, who watched its expression with a woman's
solicitude.-" Here, on this hallowed spot, will I listen, and swear the vengeance that is due, if all thy
previous intimations should be just-"
" No, no, no-listen not-tarry not!" said Cecil, clinging to his side in undisguised alarm-" Lincoln, you are not equal to the scene!"
" I am equal to any thing, in such a cause."
"' Nay, Lionel, you overrate your powers!Think only of your safety, now; at another, and
happier moment you shall know all-yes-I-Cecil-thy bride, thy wife, promise that all shall be
revealed-"
" Thou!"
" It is the descendant of the widow of John
Lechmere who speaks, and thy ears will not refuse
the sounds," said Ralph, with a smile that acted
like a taunt on the awakened impulses of the young
man.-" Go-thou art fitter for a bridal than a
church-yard!"
" I have told you that I am equal to any thing,"'
sternly answered Lionel; " here will I sit, on this
humble tablet, to hear all that you can utter, th6ugh
the rebel legions encircle me to my death!"
" What! dar'st brave the averted eye of one so
dear to thy heart?"
" All, or any thing," exclaimed the excited
youth, " with so pious an object."
" Bravely answered! and thy reward is nighnay, look not on the syren, or thou wilt relent."
" My wife!" said Lionel, extending his hand,
kindly, towards the shrinking form of Cecil.
" Thy mother '" interrupted Ralph, pointing
with his emaciated hand to the cold residence of
the dead.
Lionel sunk on the dilapidated grave-stone to





504


LIONEL LINCOLN.


which he had just alluded, and, gathering his coat
about him, he rested an arm upon his knee, while
its hand supported his quivering chin, as if he
were desperately bent on his gloomy purpose. The
old man smiled with his usual ghastly expression,
as he witnessed this proof of his success, and he
took a similar seat on the opposite side of the
grave, which seemed the focus of their common
interest. Here he dropped his face between his
hands, and appeared to muse, like one who was collecting his thoughts for the coming emergency.
During this short and impressive pause, Lionel felt
the trembling form of Cecil drawing to his side;
and before his aged companion spoke, her unveiled
and pallid countenance was once more watching the
changes of his own features, in submissive, bui
anxious attention.
" Thou knowest already, Lionel Lincoln," commenced Ralph, slowly raising his body to an upright attitude, " how, in past ages, thy family
sought these colonies, to find religious quiet, and
the peace of the just. And thou also knowest,-for
often did we beguile the long watches of the night
in discoursing of these things, while the nevertiring ocean was rolling its waters unheeded
around,-how Death came into its elder branch,
which still dwelt amid the luxury and corruption
of tLe English court, and left thy father the heir of
all its riches and honours."
" How much of this is unknown to the meanest
gossip in the province of Massachusetts-Bay?" interrupted the impatient Lionel.
" But they do not know, that, for years before
this accumulation of fortune actually occurred, it
was deemed to be inevitable by the decrees of
Providence; they do not know how much more
value the orphan son of the unprovided soldier





LIONEL LINCOLN.


505


found in the eyes of those even of his own blood,
by the expectation; nor do they know how the
worldly-minded Priscilla Lechmere, thy father's
aunt, would have compassed heaven and earth, to
have seen that wealth, and those honours, to which
it was her greatest boast to claim alliance, descend
in the line of her own body."
" But 'twas impossible! She was of the female
oranch; neither had she a son!"
1" Nothing seems impossible to those on whose
eace of mind the worm of ambition feeds-thou
nowest well she left a grand-child; had not that
child a mother?"
Lionel felt a painful conviction of the connexion, as the trembling object of these remarks sunk
her head in shame and sorrow on his bosom, keenly alive to the justice of the character drawn of
her deceased relative, by the mysterious being
who had just spoken.
" God forbid, that I, a Christian, and a gentleman," continued the old man, a little proudly,
" should utter a syllable to taint the spotless name
of one so free from blemish as she of whom I
speak. The sweet child who clings to thee, in
dread, Lionel, was not more pure and innocent
than she who bore her. And long before ambition
had wove its toils for the miserable Priscilla, the
heart of her daughter was the property of the gallant and honourable Englishman, to whom in later
years she was wedded."
As Cecil heard this soothing commendation of
her more immediate parents, she again raised her
face into the light of the moon, and remained, where
she was already kneeling, at the side of Lionel,
no longer an uneasy, but a deeply interested listener to what followed.
"As the wishes of my unhappy aunt were not
43





506


LIONEL LINCOLN.


realized," said Major Lincoln, "in what manner
could they affect the fortunes of my father?"
"Thou shalt hear. In the same dwelling lived
another, "even fairer, and, to the eye, as pure as
the daughter of Priscilla. She was the relative,
the god-child, and the ward of that miserable woman. The beauty, and seeming virtues of this
apparent angel in human form, caught the young
eye of thy father, and, in defiance of arts and
schemes, before the long-expected title and fortune came, they were wedded, and thou wert born,
Lionel, to render the boon of Fate doubly welcome."
" And then-"
"And then thy father hastened to the land ofhis ancestors, to claim his own, and to prepare the way foi
the reception of yourself, and his beloved Priscillafor then there were two Priscillas; and now both
sleep with the dead! All having life and nature
can claim the quiet of the grave, but I," continued
the old man, glancing his hollow eye upward, with
a look of hopeless misery.-" I, who have seen
ages pass since the blood of youth has been chilled, and generation after generation swept away,
must still linger in the haunts of men! but 'tis to
aid in the great work which commences here, but
which shall not end until a continent be regenerate."
Lionel suffered a minute to pass without a question, in deference to this burst of feeling; but soon,
making an impatient movement, it drew the eyes
of Ralph once more upon him, and the old man
continued"Month after month, for two long and tedious
years, did thy father linger in England, struggling
for his own. At length he prevailed. He then
hastened hither; but there was no wife-no fond





LIONEL LINCOLN.


507


and loving Priscilla, like that tender flower that
reposes in thy bosom, to welcome his return."
" I know it," said Lionel, nearly choked. by his
pious recollections--" she was dead."
"She was more," returned Ralph, in a voice so
deep, that it sounded like one speaking from the
grave-c she was dishonoured!"
" 'Tis false!"
" 'Tis true; true as that holy gospel which comes
to men through the inspired ministers of God!"
" 'Tis false," repeated Lionel, fiercely-" blacker than the darkest thoughts of the foul spirit of
evil!"
" I say, rash boy, 'tis true! She died in giving
birth to the fruits of her infamy. When Priscilla
Lechmere met thy heart-stricken parent with the
damning tale, he read in her exulting eye the treason of her mind, and, like thee, he dared to call
heaven to witness, that thy mother was defamed.
But there was one known to him, under circumstances that forbade the thoughts of deceit, who
swore-ay, took the blessed name of Him who
reads all hearts, for warranty of her- truth!-and
she confirmed it."
" The infamous seducer!" said Lionel, hoarsely, his body turning unconsciously away from Cecil-" does he yet live? Give him to my vengeance, old man, and I will yet bless you for your
accursed history!"
" Lionel, Lionel," said the soothing voice of his
bride, "C do you credit him?"
" Credit him!" said Ralph, with a horrid, inward laugh, as if he would deride the idea of incredulity; " all this must he believe, and more!
Once again, weak girl, did thy grandmother throw
out her lures for the wealthy baronet, and when
he would not become her son, then did she league





LIONEL LINCOLN.


with the spirits of hell to compass his ruin. Re*
venge took place of ambition, and thy husband's
father was the victim!"
" Say on!" cried Lionel, nearly ceasing to breathe
in the intensity of his interest.
" The blow had cut him to the heart; and, for a
time, his reason was crushed beneath its weight.
Yet 'twas but for an hour, compared to the eternity a man is doomed to live! They profited by
the temporary derangement, and when his wandering faculties were lulled to quiet, he found
himself the tenant of a mad-house, where, for twenty long years, was he herded with the defaced
images of his Maker, by the arts of the base widow
of John Lechmere."
" Can this he true! Can this be true!" cried
Lionel, clasping his hands wildly, and springing to
his feet, with a violence that cast the tender form
that still clung to him, aside, like a worthless toy
-" Can this be proved?    How knowest thou
these facts?"
The calm, but melancholy smile that was wont
to light the wan features of the old man, when he
alluded to his own existence, was once more visible, as he answered" There is but little hid from the knowledge acquired by length of days; besides, have I not
secret means of intelligence that are unknown to
thee?  Remember what, in our frequent interviews, I have revealed; recall the death-bed scene
of Priscilla Lechmere, and ask thyself if there be
not truth in thy aged friend?"
" Give me all! hold not back a tittle of thy accursed tale-give me all-or take back each syllable thou hast uttered."
" Thou shalt have all thou askest, Lionel Lincoln, and more," returned Ralph, throwing into his





LIONEL LINCOLN.


509


manner and voice its utmost powers of solemnity
and persuasion-"- provided thou wilt swear eternal hatred to that country and those laws, by which
an innocent and unoffending man can be levelled
with the beasts of the field, and be made to rave
even at his Maker, in the bitterness of his sufferings."
"More than that--ten thousand times more
than that, will I swear-I will league with this
rebellion-"
" Lionel, Lionel-what is't you do?" interrupted the heart-stricken Cecil.
But her voice was stilled by loud and busy
cries, which broke out of the village, above the
hum of revelry, and was instantly succeeded by
the trampling of footsteps, as men rushed over the
frozen ground, apparently by hundreds, and with
headlong rapidity. Ralph, who was not less quick
to hear these sounds than the timid bride, glided
from the grave, and approached the high-way,
whither he was slowly followed by his companions;
Lionel utterly indifferent whither he proceeded,
and Cecil trembling in every limb with terror for
the safety of him, who so little regarded his own
danger.
" They are abroad, and think to find an enemy,"
said the old man, raising his hand with a gesture
to command attention; " but he has sworn to join
their standards, and gladly will they receive any
of his name and family!"
" No, no-he has pledged himself to no dishonour;', cried Cecil.-" Fly, Lincoln, while you
are free, and leave me to meet the pursuers-they
will respect my weakness."
Fortunately, the allusion to herself awakened
Lionel fiom the dull forgetfulness, into which his
faculties had fallen. Encircling her slight figure
43 *





510


LIONEL LINCOLN.


with his arm, he turned swiftly from the spot, say
ing, as he urged her forward" Old man, when this precious charge is in safe.
ty, thy truth or falsehood shall be proved."
But Ralph, whose unincumbered person, and
iron frame, which seemed to mock the ravages of
time, gave a vast superiority over the impeded
progress of the other, moved swiftly ahead, waving his hand on high, as if to indicate his intention
to join in the flight, while he led the way into
the fields adjacent to the church-yard they had
quitted.
The noise of the pursuers soon became more
distinct, and, in the intervals of the distant cannonade, the cries and directions of those who conducted the chase were distinctly audible. Notwithstanding the vigorous arm of her supporter, Cecil
was soon sensible that her, delicate frame was unequal to continue the exertions necessary to ensure
their safety.  They had entered another road,
which lay at no great distance from the first, when
she paused, and reluctantly declared her inability
to proceed.
" Then, here will we await our captors," said
Lionel, with forced composure-" let the rebels
beware how they abuse their slight advantage!"
The words were scarcely uttered, when a cart,
drawn by a double team, turned an angle in the
highway, near them, and its driver appeared within a few feet of the spot where, they stood. He
was a man far advanced in years, but still wielded
his long goad with a dexterity, which had been
imparted by the practice of more than half a century. The sight of this man, alone, and removed
from immediate aid, suggested a desperate thought
for self-preservation to Lionel. Quitting the side
of his exhausted companion, he advanced upon





LIONEL LINCOLN..11


him with an air so fierce, that it might have created
alarm in one who had the smallest reason to apprehend any danger.
"Whither go you with that cart?" sternly demanded the young man, on the instant.
' To the point," was the ready answer. " Yes,
yes-old and young-big and little-men and cre'turs-four-wheels and two-wheels-every thing
goes to the point to-night, as you can guess, fri'nd!
Why," he continued, dropping one end of his
goad on the ground, and supporting himself by
grasping it with both his hands-" I was eightythree the fourteenth of the last March, and I hope,
God willing, that when the next birth-day comes,
there wont be a red coat left in the town of Boston. To my notion, fri'nd, they have held the
place long enough, and it's time to quit. My
boys are in the camp, soldiering a turn-the old
woman has been as busy as a bee, sin' sun-down,
helping me to load up what you see, and I am
carrying it over to Dorchester, and not a farthing
shall it ever cost the congress!"
" Aid you are going to Dorchester-neck with
your bundles of hay!" said Lionel, eyeing both
him and his passing team, in hesitation whether
to attempt violence on one so infirm and helpless.
" Anan! you must speak up, soldier-fashion,
as you did at first, for I am a little deaf," returned
the carter. "Yes, yes, they spared me in the
press, for they said I had done enough; but I say
a man has never done enough for his own country,
when any thing is left to be done. I'm told they
are carrying over fashines, as they call 'em, and
pressed-hay, for their forts.-As hay is more in my
fashion than any other fashion, I've bundled up a
stout pile on't here; and if that wont do, why, let





512


LIONEL LINtUOLN.


Washington come; he is welcome to the barn,
stacks and all!"
" While you are so liberal to the congress, can
you help a female in distress, who would wish to
go in the direction of your route, but is too feeble
to walk?"
" With all my heart," said the other, turning
round in quest of her whom he was desired to assist-" I hope she is handy; for the night wears
on, and I shouldn't like to have the English send
a bullet at our people o:1 Dorchester hills, before
my hay gets there to help stop it."
" She shall not detain you an instant," said Lionel, springing to the place where Cecil stood, partly concealed by the fence, and supporting her to
the side of the rude vehicle-" you shall be amply
rewarded for this service."
" Reward! Perhaps she is the wife or daughter
of a soldier, in which case she should be drawn
in her coach and four, instead of a cart and double
team."
" Yes, yes-you are right, she is both-the wife
of one, and the daughter of another soldier."
"Ay! God bless her! I warrant-me old Put
was more than half-right, when he said the women
would stop the two ridgements, that the proud parliamenter boasted could march through the colonies, from Hampshire to Georgi'.-Well, fri'nds,
are ye situated?"
" Perfectly," said Lionel, who had been preparing seats for himself and Cecil among the bundles of hay, and assisting his companion into her
place during the dialogue-" we will detain you no
longer."
The carter, who was no less than the owner of
a hundred acres of good land in the vicinity, signified his readiness; and sweeping through the air





LIONEL LINCOLN.


513


with his goad, he brought his cattle to the proper
direction, and slowly moved on. During this
hurried scene, Ralph had continued hid by the
shadows of the fence. When the cart proceeded, he waved his hand, and gliding across the
road, was soon lost to the eye in the misty distaince, with which his gray apparel blended, like a
spectre vanishing in air.
In the mean time the pursuershad not been idle.
Voices were heard in different directions, and
dim forms were to be seen rushing through the
fields, by the aid of the deceptive light of the moon.
To add to the embarrassment of their situation,
Lionel found, when too late, that the route to
Dorchester lay directly through the village of Cambridge. When he perceived they were approaching the streets, he would have left the cart, had
not the experiment been two dangerous, in the
midst of the disturbed soldiery, who now flew by
on every side of them. In such a strait, his safest
course was to continue motionless and silent, secreting his own form, and that of Cecil, as much as
possible, among the bundles of hay. Contrary to
all the just expectations, which the impatient patriotism of the old yeoman had excited, instead of
driving steadily through the place, he turned his
cattle a little from the direct route, and stopped in
front of the very inn, where Cecil had so lately
been conducted by her guide from the point.
Here the same noisy and thoughtless revelry existed as before. The arrival of such an equipage
at once drew a crowd to the spot, and the uneasy
pair on the top of the load became unwilling listeners to the conversation.
" What, old one, hard at it for Congress!" cried
a man, approaching with a mug in his hand; "come,





514


LIONEL LINCOLN.


wet your throat, my venerable father of Liberty,
for you are too old to be a son!"
"Yes, yes," answered the exutlting farmer, " I
am father and son, too! I have four boys in camp.
and seven grand'uns, in the baigain; and that would
be eleven good triggers in one family, if five good
muskets had so many locks-but the youngest men
have got a ducking-gun, and a double barrel atween
them, howsomever; and Aaron, the boy, carries as
good a horse-pistol, I calculate, as any there is
going in the Bay! But what an uneasy time you
have on't to-night! There's more powder wasted
in mocking thunder, than would fight old Bunker
over again, at ' white o' the eye' distance!"
"'Tis the way of war, old man; and we want to
keep the reg'lars from looking at Dorchester."
" If they did, they couldn't see far to-night.
But, now, do tell me; I am an old man, and have
a grain of cur'osity in the flesh; my woman says
that Howe casts out his carcasses at you; which 1
hold to be an irreligious deception."
" As true as the gospel."
" Well, there is no calculating on the wastefulness of an ungodly spirit!" said the worthy
yeoman, shaking his head-" I could believe any
wickedness of him but that! As cre'turs must be
getting scarce in the town, I conclude he makes
use of his own slain?"
" Certain," answered the soldier, winking at
his companions-" Breed's Hill has kept him in
ammunition all winter."
"'Tis awful, awful! to see a fellow-cre'tur flying
through the air, after the spirit has departed to
judgment! War is a dreadful calling; but, then,
what is a man without liberty!"
" Hark ye, old gentleman, talking of flying,





LIONEL LINCOLN,


515


have you seen any thing of two men and a woman,
flying up the road as you came in?"
" Anan! I'm a little hard o' hearing--women.
too! do they shoot their Jezebels into our camp!
There is no wickedness the king's ministers wont
attempt to circumvent our weak naturs!"
" Did you see two men and a woman, running
away as you came down the road?" bawled the
fellow in his ear.
" Two! did you say two?" asked the yeoman,
turning his head a little on one side, in an attitude
of sagacious musing.
" Yes, two men."
"No, I didn't see two. Running out of town,
did you say?"
" Ay, running, as if the devil was after them."
" No; I didn't see two; nor any body running
away-it's a sartain sign of guilt to run away-is
there any reward offered?" said the old man, suddenly interrupting himself, and again communing
with his own thoughts.
" Not yet-they've just escaped."
" The surest way to catch a thief is to offer a
smart reward-no-I didn't see two men-you are
sartain there was two?"
" Push on with that cart! drive on, drive on,"
cried a mounted officer of the quarter-master's department, who came scouring through the street,
at that moment, awakening all the slumbering ideas
of haste, which the old farmer had suffered to lie
dormant so long. Once more flourishing his goad,
he put his team in motion, wishing the revellers
good night as he proceeded. It was, however,
long after he had left the village, and crossed the
Charles, before he ceased to make frequent and
sudden halts in the highway, as if doubtful whether to continue his route, or to return. At length
33





516


LIONEL LINCOLN.


he stopped the cart, and clambering up on the hay,
he took a seat, where with one eye he could regulate his cattle, and with the other examine his
companions. This investigation continued another hour, neither party uttering a syllable, when
the teamster appeared satisfied that his suspicions
were unjust, and abandoned them. Perhaps the
difficulties of the road assisted in dissipating his
doubts; for, as they proceeded, return carts were
met, at every few rods, rendering his undivided
attention to his own team indispensable.
Lionel, whose gloomy thoughts had been chased
from his mind by the constant excitement of the
foregoing scenes, now felt relieved from any immediate apprehensions. He whispered his soothing hopes of a final escape to Cecil, and folding her
in his coat, to shield her from the night-air, he was
pleased to find, ere long, by her gentle breathing,
that, overcome by fatigue, she was slumbering in
forgetfulness on his bosom.
Midnight had long passed when they came in
sight of the eminences beyond Dorchester-neck.
Cecil had awoke, and Lionel was already devising
some plausible excuse for quitting the cart, without reviving the suspicions of the teamster. At
length a favourable spot occurred, where they
were alone, and the formation of the ground was
adapted to such a purpose. Lionel was on the
point of speaking, when the cattle stopped, and
Ralph suddenly appeared in the highway, at their
heads.
" Make room, fri'nd, for the oxen," said the
farmer--" dumb beasts wont pass in the face of
man."
" Alight," said Ralph, seconding his words with
a wide sweep of his arm towards the fields.
Lionel quickly obeyed, and, by the time the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


517


driver had descended also, the whole party stood
together in the road.
" You have conferred a greater obligation than
you are aware of," said Lionel to the driver.
" Here are five guineas."
" For what? for riding on a load of hay a few
miles?--no, no-kindness is no such boughten article in the Bay, that a man need pay for it! But,
fri'nd, money seems plenty with you, for these
difficult days!"
" Then thanks, a thousand times-I can stay to
offer you no more."
He was yet speaking, when, obedient to an impatient gesture from Ralph, he lifted Cecil over
the fence, and in a moment they disappeared from
the eyes of the astonished farmer.
"Halloo, fri'nd!" cried the worthy advocate
for his country, running after them as fast as old
age would allow-" were there three of you, when
1 took ye up?"
The fugitives heard the call of the simple and
garrulous old man, but, as will easily be imagined,
did not deem it prudent to stop and discuss the
point in question between them. Before they had
gone far, the furious cry of " Take care of that
team!" with the rattling of wheels, announced that
their pursuer was recalled to his duty, by an arrival of empty wagons; and, before the distance
rendered sounds unintelligible, they heard the
noisy explanation, which their late companion was
giving to the others, of the whole transaction.
They were not, however, pursued; the teamsters
having more pressing objects in view than the detection of thieves, or even of pocketing a reward.
Ralph led his companions, after a brief explanation, by a long and circuitous path, to the shores of
the bay. Here they found, hid in the rushes of a
44





518


LIONEL LINCOLN.


shallow inlet, a small boat, that Lionel recognised
as the little vessel in which Job Pray was wont to
pursue his usual avocation of a fisherman. Entering it without delay, he seized the oars, and, aided
by a flowing tide, he industriously urged it towards
the distant spires of Boston.
The parting shades of the night were yet struggling with the advance of day, when a powerful
flash of light illuminated the hazy horizon, and the
roar of cannon, which had ceased towards morning,
was again heard. But this time the sounds came
from the water, and a cloud rose above the smoking
harbour, announcing that the ships were again ei,listed in the contest. This sudden cannonade induced Lionel to steer his boat between the islands;
for the castle, and southern batteries of the town.
were all soon united in pouring out their vengeance
on the labourers, who still occupied the heights of
Dorchester. As the little vessel glided by a tall
frigate, Cecil saw the boy, who had been her first
escort in the wanderings of the preceding night,
standing on its taffrail, rubbing his eyes with wonder, and staring at those hills, whose possession he
had prophesied would lead to such bloody results.
In short, while he laboured at the oars, Lionel witnessed the opening scene of Breed's acted anew,
as battery after battery, and ship after ship, brought
their guns to bear on the hardy countrymen, who
had once more hastened a crisis by their daring
enterprise. Their boat passed unheeded, in the
excitement and bustle of the moment, and the mists
of the morning had not yet dissipated, when it shot
by the wharves of Boston, and, turning into the narrow entrance of the Town-dock, it touched the land,
near the warehouse, where it had so often been
moored, in more peaceable times, by its simple
master.





CHAPTER XXXIII.


" Now cracks a noble heat;--good night,
" Sweet prince."
Shakspeare
LIONEL assisted Cecil to ascend the difficult
water-stairs, and, still attended by their aged companion, they soon stood on the drawbridge that
connected the piers which formed the mouth of the
narrow basin.
" Here we again part," he said, addressing himn
self to Ralph; " at another opportunity let us resume your melancholy tale."
" None so fitting as the present: the time, the
place, and the state of the town, are all favourable."
Lionel cast his eyes around on the dull misery
which pervaded the neglected area. A few halfdressed soldiers and alarmed townsmen were
seen, by the gray light of the morning, rushing
across the square towards the point whence the
sounds of cannon proceeded. In the hurry of the
moment, their own arrival was not noted.
" The place-the time!" he slowly repeated.
' Ay, both. At what moment can the friend
of liberty pass more unheeded amongst these miscreant hirelings than now, when fear has broker





520


LIONEL LINCOLN.


their slumbers! Yon is the place," he said, point
ing to the warehouse, " where all that I have uttered will find its confirmation."
Major Lincoln communed momentarily with his
thoughts. It is probable, that, in the rapid glances
of his mind, he traced the mysterious connexion
between the abject tenant of the adjacent building,
and the deceased grandmother of his bride, whose
active agency in producing the calamities of his family had now been openly acknowledged. It was
soon apparent, that he wavered in his purpose; nor
was he slow to declare it.
" I will attend you," he said; " for who can
say what the hardihood of the rebels may next at.
tempt; and future occasions may be wanting. I
will first see this gentle charge of mine-"
" Lincoln, I cannot-must not leave you," interrupted Cecil, with earnest fervour-" go, listen,
and learn all; surely there can be nothing that a
wife may not know!"
Without waiting for further objection, Ralph
made a hurried gesture of compliance, and, turning,
he led the way, with his usual swift footsteps,
into the low and dark tenement of Abigail Pray.
The commotion of the town had not yet reached
this despised and neglected building, which was
even more than ordinarily gloomy and still. As
they picked their way, however, among the scattered hemp, across the scene of the preceding
night's riot, a few stifled groans proceeded from
one of the towers, and directed them where to
seek its abused and suffering inmates. On opening
the door of this little apartment, not only Lionel
and Cecil paused, but even the immovable old
man appeared to hesitate, in wonder.
The heart-stricken mother of the simpleton was
seated on her humble stool, busied in repairing





LIONEL LINCOLN.


521


some mean and worthless garments which had,
seemingly, been exposed to the wasteful carelessness of her reckless child. But while her fingers
performed their functions with mechanical skill,
her contracted brow, working muscles, and hard,
dry eyes, betrayed the force of the mental suffering that she struggled to conceal. Job still lay
stretched on his abject pallet, though his breathing
was louder and more laboured than when we lasi
left him, while his sunken features indicated the
slow, but encroaching advances of the disease
Polwarth was seated at his side, holding a pulse,
with an air of medical deliberation; and attempting, every few moments, to confirm his hopes or
fears, as each preponderated in turn, by examining the glazed eyes of the subject of his care.
Upon a party thus occupied, and with feelings
so much engrossed, even the sudden entrance of
the intruders was not likely to make any very sensible impression. The languid and unmeaning look
of Job wandered momentarily towards the door,
and then became again fixed on vacancy. A gleam
of joy shot into the honest visage of the captain,
when he first beheld Lionel, accompanied by Cecil,
but it was instantly chased away by the settled
meaning of care, which had gotten the mastery of
his usually contented expression. The greatest
alteration was produced in the aspect of the woman,
who bowed her head to her bosom, with a universal shudder of her frame, as Ralph stood unexpectedly before her. But from her, also, the sudden
emotion passed speedily away, her hands resuming
their humble occupation, with the same mechanical and involuntary movements, as before.
" Explain this scene of silent sorrow!" said Lionel to his friend-" how came you in this haunt of
wretchedness? and who has harmed the lad?"
44 *





522


LIONEL LINCOLN.


' Your question convevs its own answer, Major
Lincoln," returned Polwarth, with a manner so
deliberate, that he refused to raise his steady look
from the face of the sufferer-" I am here, because
they are wretched!"
" The motive is commendable! but what aileth
the youth?"
" The functions of nature seem suspended by
some remarkable calamity! I found him suffering
from inanition, and notwithstanding I applied as.hearty and nutritious a meal as the strongest man
in the garrison could require, the symptoms, as
you see, are strangely threatening!"
" He has taken the contagion of the town, and you
have fed him, when his fever was at the highest!"
" Is small-pox to be considered more than a
symptom, when a man has the damnable disease of
starvation! go to-go to, Leo; you read the Latin poets so much at the schools, that no leisure is
left to bestow on the philosophy of nature. There
is an inward monitor, that teaches every child the
remedy for hunger."'
Lionel felt no disposition to contend with his
friend on a point where the other's opinions were so
dogmatical, but, turning to the woman, he saida The experience of a professional nurse should
have taught you, at least, more care."
" Can experience steel a mother to the yearnings of her offspring for food?" returned the forlorn Abigail-" no, no-the ear cannot be deaf to
such a moaning, and wisdom is as folly when the
heart bleeds."
"Lincoln, you chide unkindly," said Cecil"let us rather attempt to avert the danger, than
quarrel with its cause."
" It is too late-it is too late," returned the
disconsolate mother; "his hours are already





LIONEL LINCOLN.


5423


numbered, and death is on him. I can now only
pray, that God will lighten his curse, and suffer the
parting spirit to know his Almighty power."
" Throw aside these worthless rags," said Cesil: gently attempting to take the clothes, " nor
fatigue yourself longer, at such a sacred moment,
with unnecessary labour."
" Young lady, you little know a mother's longings; may you nevei know her sorrows! I have
been doing for the child these seven-and-twenty
years; rob me not of the pleasure, now that so little remains to be done."
" Is he then so old!" exclaimed Lionel, in surDrise.
" Old as he is, 'tis young for a child to die!
He wants the look of reason; heaven in its mercy
grant, that he may be found to have a face of innocence!"
Hitherto Ralph had remained where he first
stood, as if riveted to the floor, with his eyes fastened on the countenance of the sufferer. He now
turned to Lionel, and, in a voice rendered even
plaintive by his deep emotion, he asked the simple
question" Will he die?"
" I fear it-that look is not easily to be mis
taken."
With a step so light that it was inaudible, the
old man moved to the bed, and seated himself on
the side, opposite to Polwarth. Without regarding the wondering look of the captain, he waved
his hand on high, as if to exhort to silence, and
then, gazing on the features of the sick, with melancholy interest, he said"Here, then, is death again! None are so
young as to be unheeded; 'tis only the old that
cannot die. Tell me, Job, what seest thou in the





LIONEL LINCOLN.


visions of thy mind-the unknown places of the
damned, or the brightness of such as stand in presence of their God?"
At the well-known sound of his voice, the glazed eye of the simpleton lighted with a ray of reason,
and was turned towards the speaker, once more,
teeming with a look of meek assurance. The rattling in his throat, for a moment, increased, ana
then ceased entirely; when a voice so deep, that
it appeared to issue from the depths of his chest,
was heard, saying" The Lord wont harm him who never harm'd
the creatures of the Lord!"
"Emperors and kings, yea, the great of the
earth, might envy thee thy lot, thou unknown
child of wretchedness!" returned Ralph. " Not
yet thirty years of probation, and already thou
throwest aside the clay! Like thee did I grow to
manhood, and learn how hard it is to live; but like
thee I cannot die!-Tell me, boy, dost thou enjoy
the freedom of the spirit, or hast thou still pain
and pleasure in the flesh? Dost see beyond the
tomb, and trace thy route through the pathless air,
or is all yet hid in the darkness of the grave?"
" Job is going where the Lord has hid his reason," answered the same hollow voice as before;
" his prayers wont be foolish any longer."
" Pray, then, for one aged and forlorn; who
has borne the burden of life till Death has forgotten him, and who wearies of the things of earth,
where all is treachery and sin. But stay; depart
not till thy spirit can bear the signs of repentance
from yon sinful woman into the regions of day."
Abigail groaned aloud; her hands again refused
their occupation, and her head once more sunk
on her bosom in abject misery. From this posture of self-abasement and grief, the woman raised





LIONEL LINCOLN.


525


herself to her feet, and, putting aside the careless
tresses of dark hair, which, though here and there
streaked with gray, retained much of their youthful gloss, she looked about her with a face so haggard, and eyes so full of meaning, that the common attention was instantly attracted to her move
ments.
' The time has come, and neither fear nor shame
shall longer tie my tongue," she said. " The hand
of Providence is too manifest in this assemblage
around the death-bed of that boy, to be unheeded.
Major Lincoln, in that stricken and helpless child,
you see one who shares your blood, though he
has ever been a stranger to your happiness. Job
is your brother!"
Grief has maddened her!" exclaimed the anx
ious Cecil-" she knows not what she utters."
" 'Tis true!" said the calm tones of Ralph.
"Listen," continued Abigail; " a terrible witness, sent hither by heaven, speaks to attest I tell
no lie. The secret of my transgiession is known
to him, when I had thought it buried in the affection of one only who owed me every thing."
" Woman!" said Lionel, " in attempting to deceive me, you deceive yourself. Though a voice
from heaven should declaie the truth of thy damnable tale, still would I deny that foul object being
the child of my beauteous mother."
" Foul and wretched as you see him, he is the
offspring of one not less fair, though far less fortunate, than thy own boasted parent, proud child of
prosperity! Call on heaven as thou wilt, with that
blasphemous tongue, he is no less thy brother, and
the elder born."
"'Tis true-'tis true-'tis most solemnly a
truth!" repeated the unmoved and aged stranger.





526


5LIONEL LINCOLN.


" It cannot be!" cried Cecil--" Lincoln, credit
them not; they contradict themselves."
" Out of thy own mouth will I find reasons to convince you," said Abigail. " Hast thou not owned
the influence of the son at the altar? Why should
one, vain, ignorant, and young as I was, be insensible to the seductions of the father!"
" The child is, then, thine!" exclaimed Lionel,
once more breathing with freedom-" proceed
with thy tale; you confide it to friends!"
" Yes-yes," cried Abigail, clasping her hands,
and speaking with bitter emphasis; " you have all
the consolation of proving the difference between
the guilt of woman and that of man? Major Lincoln, accursed and polluted as you see me, thy
own mother was not more innocent nor fair, when
my youthful beauty caught thy father's eye. He
was great and powerful, and I unknown and frail
-yon miserable proof of our transgression did not
appear, until he had met your happier mother!"
" Can this be so?"
"The holy Gospels are not more true!" murmured Ralph."
" And my father! did he-could he desert thee
in thy need?"
" Shame came when virtue and pride had been
long forgotten. I was a dependant of his own
proud race, and opportunities were not wanting to
mark his wandering looks and growing love for
the chaste Priscilla. He never knew my state.
While I was stricken to the earth by the fruits of
guilt, he proved how easy it is for us to forget, in
the days of prosperity, the companions of our
shame. At length, you were born; and, unknown
to him, I received his new-born heir from the
hands of his jealous aunt. What accursed thoughts





LIONEL LINCOLN.


527


beset me at that bitter moment! But, praised be
God in heaven, they passed away, and I was
spared the sin of murder!"
" Murder!"
"Even of murder. You know not the desperate
thoughts the wretched harbour for relief! But opportunity was not long wanting, and I enjoyed
the momentary, hellish pleasure of revenge. Your
father went in quest of his rights, and disease attacked his beloved wife. Yes, foul and unseemly as
is my wretched child, the beauty of thy mother was
changed to a look still more hideous! Such as Job
now seems, was the injured woman on her deathbed. I feel all thy justice, Lord of power, and
bow before thy will!"
" Injured woman!" repeated Lionel, " say on,
and I will bless thee!"
Abigail gave a groan, so deep and hollow, that,
for a moment, the listeners believed it was the parting struggle of the spirit of her son, and she sunk.
helplessly, into her seat, again concealing her features in her dress.
" Injured woman!" slowly repeated Ralph, with
the most taunting contempt in his accents--" what
punishment does not a wanton merit?"
" Ay, injured!" cried the awakened son-" my
life on it, thy tale, at least, is false."
The old man was silent, but his lips moved rapidly, as if he muttered an incredulous reply to
himself, while a scornful smile cast its bright and
peculiar meaning across the wasted lineaments of
his face.
" I know not what you may have heard from
others," continued Abigail, speaking so low that
her words were nearly lost in the difficult and
measured breathing of Job-" but I call heaven to





528


LIONEL LINCOLN.


witness, that you, now, shall hear no lie. The
laws of the province commanded that the victims
of the foul distemper should be kept apart, and
your mother was placed at the mercy of myself,
and one other, who loved her still less than I."
" Just providence! you did no violence?"
" The disease spared us such a crime. She
died in her new deformity, while I remained a
looker-on, if not in the beauty of my innocence, still
free from the withering touch of scorn and want.
Yes, I found a sinful, but flattering consolation in
that thought! Vain, weak, and foolish as I had
been, never did I regard my own fresh beauty
with half the inward pleasure that I looked upon
the foulness of my rival. Your aunt, too-she was
not without the instigations of the worker of mischief."
" Speak only of my mother," interrupted the
impatient Lionel-" of my aunt I already know
the whole."
"' Unmoved and calculating as she was, how little did she understand good from evil! She even
thought to crack the heart-strings, and render
whole, by her weak inventions, that which the powerof God could only create. The gentle spirit of thy
mother had hardly departed, before a vile plot was
hatched to destroy the purity of her fame. Blinded
fools that we were! She thought to lead by her
soothing arts, aided by his wounded affections, the
husband to the feet of her own daughter, the innocent mother of her who stands beside thee; and
I was so vain as to hope, that, in time, justice and
my boy might plead with the father and seducer.
and raise me to the envied station of her whom 1
hated."





LIONEL LINCOLN.


529


" And this foul calumny you. repeated, with all
its basest colouring, to my abused father?"
"We did-we did; yes, God, he knows we
did! and when he hesitated to believe, I took the
holy evangelists as witnesses of my truth!"
" And he," said Lionel, nearly choked by his
emotions-"' he believed it I"
1" When he heard the solemn oath of one, whose
whole guilt, he thought, lay in her weakness to
himself, he did. As we listened to his terrible denunciations, and saw the frown which darkened
his manly beauty, we both thought we had succeeded. But how little did we know the difference between rooted passion and passing inclination! The heart we thought to alienate from its
dead partner, we destroyed; and the reason we
conspired to deceive, was maddened!"
When her voice ceased, so profound a silence
reigned in the place, that the roar of the distant
cannonade sounded close at hand, and even the
low murmurs of the excited town swept by, like
the whisperings of the wind. Job suddenly ceased
to breathe, as though his spirit had only lingered
to hear the confession of his mother, and Polwarth
dropped the arm of the dead simpleton, unconscious of the interest he had so lately taken in his
fate. In the midst of this death-like stillness, the
old man stole from the side of the body, and stood
before the self-condemned Abigail, whose form
was writhing under her mental anguish. Crouching more like- a tiger than a man, he sprang upon
her, with a cry so sudden, so wild, and so horrid.
that it caused all within its hearing to shudder with
instant dread.
SBeldame!" he shouted, " I have thee nowt
Bring hither the book! the blessed, holy word of
45





530


LIONEL LINCOLN.


God! Let her swear, let her swear! Let her damn
her perjured soul, in impious oaths!""C Monster! release the woman!" cried Lionel,
advancing to the assistance of the struggling penitent; " thou, too, hoary-headed wretch, hast deceived me!i
" Lincoln! Lincoln!" shrieked Cecil," stay that
unnatural hand! you raise it on thy father!"
Lionel staggered back to the wall, where he stood
motionless, and gasping for breath. Left to work
his own frantic will, the maniac would speedily
have terminated the sorrows of the wretched woman, had not the door been burst open with a
crash, and the stranger, who was left, by the cunning of the madman, in the custody of the Americans, rushed to the rescue.
" I know your yell, my gentle baronet!" cried
the aroused keeper, for such in truth he was, " and
I have a mark for your malice, which would have
gladly had me hung! But I have not followed you
from kingdom to kingdom-from Europe to America, to be cheated by a lunatic!"
It was apparent, by the lowering look of the fellow, how deeply he resented the danger he had
just escaped, as he sprang forward to seize his
prisoner. Ralph abandoned his hold the instant
this hated object appeared, and he darted upon the
breast of the other with the undaunted fury that a
lion, at bay, would turn upon its foe. The struggle was fierce and obstinate. Hoarse oaths, and
the most savage execrations burst from the incensed
keeper, and were blended with the wildest ravings
of madness from Ralph. The excited powers of
the maniac at length prevailed, and his antagonist
fell under their irresistible impulse. Quicker than
thought, Ralph was seen hovering on the chest of





LIONEL LINCOLN.


531


his victim, while he grasped his throat with fingers
of iron.
'" Vengeance is holy!" cried the maniac, bursting into a shout of horrid laughter, at his triumph,
and shaking his gray locks till they flowed in wild
confusion around his glowing eye-balls; " Urin
and Thummim are the words of glory! Liberty is
the shout! Die, damned dog! die like the fiends in
darkness, and leave freedom to the air!"
By a mighty effort the gasping man released his
throat a little from the gripe that nearly throttled
him, and cried, with difficulty" For the love of heavenly justice, come to my
aid!-will you see a man thus murdered?"
But he addressed himself to the sympathies of
the listeners in vain. The females had hid their
faces, in natural horror; the maimed Polwarth was
yet without his artificial limb; and Lionel still
looked upon the savage fray with a vacant eye. At
this moment of despair, the hand of the keeper
was seen plunging with violence into the side of
Ralph, who sprang upon his feet at the third blow,
laughing immoderately, but with sounds so wild
and deep, that they seemed to shake his inmost
soul. His antagonist profited by the occasion, and
darted from the room with the headlong precipitation of guilt.
The countenance of the maniac, as he now
stood, struggling between life and death, changed
with each fleeting impulse. The blood flowed
freely from the wounds in his side, and, as the fatal tide ebbed away, a ray of passing reason light.
ed his pallid and ghastly features. His inward
laugh entirely ceased. The glaring eye-balls became stationary; and his look, gradually softening,
settled on the appalled pair, who took the deepest
miterest in his welfare. A calm and decent ex
34





532           LIONEL LINCOLN.
pression possessed those lineaments, which had
just exhibited the deepest marks of the wrath of
God. His lips moved in a vain effort to speak;
and, stretching forth his arms in the attitude of
benediction, like the mysterious shadow of the
chapel, he fell backward on the body of the lifeless and long-neglected Job, himself perfectly
dead.





CHAPTER XXXIV.
" I saw an aged man upon his bier,
" His hair was thin and white, and on his brow
"A record of the cares of many a year;
"' Cares that were ended and forgotten now.
"And there was sadness round, and faces bow'd,
"And woman's tears fell fast, and children wail'd aloud."
Bryant.
As the day advanced, the garrison of Boston
was put in motion. The same bustle, the same
activity, the same gallant bearing in some, and
dread reluctance in others, were exhibited, as on
the morning of the fight of the preceding sumirer.  The haughty temper of the royal commander could ill brook the bold enterprise of the
colonists; and, at an early hour, orders were issued to prepare to dislodge them. Every gun that
could be brought to bear upon the hills, was employed to molest the Americans, who calmly continued their labours, while shot were whistling
around them on every side. Towards evPning a
large force was embarked, and conveyea to the
castle.  Washington appeared on the ieights, in
person, and every military evidence of the intention of a resolute attack on one part, and of a
stout resistance on the other, became apparent.
45*





531


LIONEL LINCOLN.


But the fatal experience of Breed's had taught
a lesson that was still remembered. The same
leaders were to be the principal actors in the
coming scene, and it was necessary tb use the remnants of many of the very regiments, which had bled
so freely on the former occasion. The haf-trained
husbandmen of the colonies were no longer despised; and the bold operations of the past winter
had taught the English generals that, as subordination increased among their foes, their movements
were conducted with a more vigorous direction of
their numbers. The day was accordingly wasted
in preparations. Thousands of men slept on their
arms that night, in either army, in the expectation
of rising, on the following morning, to be led to the
field of slaughter.
It is not improbable, from the tardiness of their
movements, that a large majority of the roya.
forces did not regret the providential interposition,
which certainly saved them torrents of blood, and,
not improbably, the ignominy of a defeat. One of
the sudden tempests of the climate arose in the
darkness, driving before it men and beasts, to seek
protection, in their imbeciity, from the more powerful warring of the elements. The golden moments were lost; and, after enduring so many privations, and expending so many lives, in vain,
Howe sullenly commenced his arrangements to
abandon a town, on which the English ministry
had, for years, lavished their indignation, with all
the acrimony, and, as it now seemed, with the impotency of a blind revenge.
To carry into effect this sudden and necessary
determination, was not the work of an hour. As
it was the desire of the Americans, however, to
receive their town back again as little injured as
possible, they forbore to push the advantage they





LIONEL LINCOLN.


535


possessed, by occupying those heights, which, in a
great measure, commanded the anchorage, as well
as a new and vulnerable face of the defences of
the king's army. While the semblance of hostilities was maintained by an irregular and impotent
cannonade, conducted with so little spirit as to
wear the appearance of being intended only to
amuse, one side was diligently occupied in preparing to depart, and the other was passively awaiting
the moment when they might peaceably repossess
their own. It is unnecessary to remind the reader,
that the entire command of the sea, by the British,
would have rendered any serious attempt to arrest
their movements, perfectly futile.
In this manner a week was passed, after the tempest had abated-the place exhibiting, throughout
this period, all the hurry and bustle, the joy and
distress, that such an unlooked-for event was likely
to create.
Toward the close of one of those busy and stir
ring days, a short funeral train was seen issuing
from a building, which had long been known as the
residence of one of the proudest families in the
province. Above the outer door of the mansion
was suspended a gloomy hatchment, charged witli
the ' courant' deer of Lincoln, encircled by the
usual mementos of mortality, and bearing the rare
symbol of the ' bloody-hand.'-This emblem of
heraldic grief, which was never adopted in the provinces, except at the death of one of high importance, a custom that has long since disappeared
with the usages of the monarchy, had caught the
eyes of a few idle boys, who alone were sufficiently unoccupied, at that pressing moment, to note ito
exhibition. With the addition of these truant urchins, the melancholy procession took its way to




536


LIONEL LINCOLN.


ward the neighbouring church-yard of the Kinges
Chapel.
The large bier was covered by a pall so ample,
that it swept the stones of the threshold, while
entering into the body of the church. Here.it
was met by the divine we have had occasion to
mention more than once, who gazed, with a look
of strange interest, at the solitary and youthfil
mourner, that closely followed in his dark weeds.
The ceremony, however, proceeded with the
usual solemnity, and the attendants slowly moved
deeper into the sacred edifice. Next to the young
man, came the well-known persons of the British
commander-in-chief, and of his quick-witted and
favourite lieutenant. Between them walked an
officer of inferior rank, who, notwithstanding his
maimed condition, had been able, by the deliberation of the march, to beguile the ears of his companions, to the very moment of meeting the clergyman, with some tale of no little interest, and great
apparent mystery. The remainder of the train,
which consisted only of the family of the two generals, and a few menials, came last, if we except
the idlers, who stole curiously in their footsteps.
When the service was ended, the same private
communication was resumed between the two
chieftains and their companion, and continued until they arrived at the open vault, in a distant corner of the enclosure. Here the low conversation
ended; and the eye of Howe, which had hitherto
been riveted in deep attention on the speaker, began to wander in the direction of the dangerous
hills occupied by his enemies. The interruption
seemed to have broken the charm of the secret
conversation; and the anxious countenances of both
the leaders betrayed how soon their thoughts had





LIONEL LINCOLN.


537


wandered from a tale of great private distress, to
their own heavier cares and duties.
The bier was placed before the opening, and the
assistants of the sexton advanced to perform their
office. When the pall was removed, to the evi.
dent amazement of most of the spectators, two coffins were exposed to view. One was clothed in
blai-k-velvet, studded with silver nails, and ornamented after the richest fashions of human pride,
while the other lay in the simple nakedness of the
clouded wood. On the breast of the first rose a
heavy silver plate, bearing a long inscription, and
decorated with the usual devices of heraldry; and
on the latter were simply carved on the lid the
two initial letters J. P.
The impatient looks of the English generals intimated to Dr. Liturgy the value of every moment,
and in less time than we consume in relating it,
the bodies of the high-descended man of wealth,
and of his nameless companion, were lowered into
the vault, and left to decay, in silent contact, with
that of the woman who, in life, had been so severe
a scourge to both. After a hesitation of a single
moment, in deference to the young mourner, the
gentlemen present, perceiving that he manifested a
wish to remain, quitted the place in a body, with the
exception of the maimed officer, already mentioned,
whom the reader has at once recognised to be
Polivrth. When the men had replaced the stone
above the mouth of the vault, securing it by a
stout bar of iron, and a heavy lock, they delivered
the key to the principal actor in the scene. He
received it in silence, and, dropping gold into their
hands, motioned to them to depart.
Ir another instant, a careless observer would
have thought, that Lionel and his friend were the
only living possessors of the church-yard. But





538


LIONEL LINCOLN.


under the adjoining wall, partly hid from observa*tion by the numerous head-stones, was the foirm
of a woman, bowed to the earth, while her figure
was concealed by the cloak she had gathered shapelessly about her. As soon as the gentlemen perceived they were alone, they slowly advanced to,he side of this desolate being.
Their approaching footsteps were not unheeded,
though, instead of facing those who so evidently
wished to address her, she turned to the wall, and
began to trace, with unconscious fingers, the letters of a tablet in slate, which was let into the
brick-work, to mark the position of the tomb of
the Lechmeres.
"We can do no more," said the young mourner
-" all now rests with a mightier hand than any
of earth."
The squalid limb, that was thrust from beneath
the red garment, trembled, but it still continued its
unmeaning employment.
" Sir Lionel Lincoln speaks to you," said Polwarth, on whose arm the youthful baronet leaned.
" Who!" shrieked Abigail Pray, casting aside
her covering, and baring those sunken features, on
which misery had made terrible additional inroads,
within a few days-" I had forgotten-I had forgotten! the son succeeds the father; but the mother must follow her child to the grave!"
" He is honourably interred with those of his
blood, and by the side of one who loved his simple integrity P
"c Yes, he is better lodged in death, than he was
in life! Thank God! he can never know cold nor
hunger more!"
" You will find that I have made a provision for
your future comfort; and I trust that the close of
your life will be happier than its prime."





LIONEL LINCOLN


539


" I am alone," said the woman, hoarsely. " The
old will avoid me, and the young will look upon
me in scorn! Perjury and revenge lie heavy on
my soul!"
The young baronet was silent, but Polwarth assumed the right to reply" I will not pretend to assert," said the worthy
captain, " that these are not both wicked companions; out I have no doubt you will find, somewhere in the Bible, a suitable consolation for each
particular offence. Let me recommend to you a
hearty diet, and I'll answer for an easy conscience.
I never knew the prescription fail. Look about
you in the world-does your well-fed villain feel
remorse! No; it's only when his stomach is
empty, that he begins to think of his errors! I
would also suggest the expediency of commencing soon, with something substantial, as you show,
altogether, too much bone, at present, for a thriving condition. I would rot wish to say any thing
distressing, but we both of us may remember a
case, where the nourishment came too late."
" Yes, yes, it came too late!" murmured thc
conscience-stricken woman-" all comes too late'
even the penitence, I fear!"
" Say not so," observed Lionel; "you do outrage to the promises of one who never spoke false."
Abigail stole a fearful glance at him, which expressed all the secret terror of her soul, as she
half whispered" Who witnessed the end of Madam Lechmere!
did her spirit pass in peace?"
Sir Lionel again remained profoundly silent.
" I thought it," she continued-" 'tis not a sin
to be forgotten on a death-bed! To plot evil, and
call on God, aloud, to look upon it! Ay I and to





540


LIONEL LINCOLN


madden a brain, and strip a soul like his to nakedness! Go," she added, beckoning them away
with earnestness-" ye are young and happy; why
should ye linger near the grave! Leave me, that
I may pray among the tombs! If any thing can
smooth the bitter moment, it is prayer."
Lionel dropped the key he held in his hand at
her feet, and said, before he left her" Yon vault is closed for ever, unless, at your
request, it should be opened, at some future time,
to place you by the side of your son. The children of those who built it are already gathered
there, with the exception of two, who go to the
other hemisphere to leave their bones. Take it,
and may heaven forgive you, as I do."
He let fall a heavy purse by the side of the
key, and, without uttering more, he again took the
arm of Polwarth, and together they left the place.
As they turned through the gate-way, into the
street, each stole a glance at the distant woman.
She had risen to her knees; her hands had grasped
a head-stone, and her face was bowed nearly to
the earth, while, by the writhing of her form, and
the humility of her attitude, it was apparent that
her spirit struggled powerfully with the Lord for
mercy.
Three days afterwards, the Americans entered,
triumphantly, on the retiring footsteps of the royal
army. The first among them, who hastened to
visit the graves of their fathers, found the body of
a woman, who had, seemingly, died under the severity of the season. She had unlocked the vault,
in a vain effort to reach her child, and there her
strength had failed her. Her limbs were decently
stretched on the faded grass, while her features
were composed, exhibiting in death the bland





LIONEL LINCOLN.


541


traces of that remarkable beauty, which had distinguished and betrayed her youth. The gold
still lay neglected, where it had fallen.
The amazed townsmen avoided this spectacle
with horror, rushing into other places to gaze at
the changes and the destruction of their beloved
birth-place. But a follower of the royal army,
who had lingered to plunder, and who had witnessed the interview between the officers and Abigail, shortly succeeded them. He lifted the flag,
and, lowering the body, closed the vault; then
hurling away the key, he seized the money, and
departed.
The slate has long since mouldered from the
wall; the sod has covered the stone, and few are
left who can designate the spot where the proud
families of Lechmere and Lincoln were wont to
inter their dead.
Sir Lionel and Polwarth proceeded, in the deepest silence, to the Long-wharf, where a boat received them. They were rowed to the much admired frigate, that was standing off-and-on, under
easy sail, waiting their arrival. On her decks
they met Agnes Danforth, with her eyes softened
by tears, though a rich flush mantled on her cheeks,
at witnessing the compelled departure of those invaders she had never loved.
"I have only remained to give you a parting
kiss, cousin Lionel," said the frank girl, affectionately saluting him, " and now shall take my
leave, without repeating those wishes that you
know are so often conveyed in my prayers."
" You will then leave us?" said the young I:aronet, smiling for the first time in many a day.
'C You know that this cruelty-"
He was interrupted by a loud hem from Polwarth, who advanced, and, taking the hand of the
46





542


LIONEL LINCOLN.


lady, repeated his wish to retain it for ever, for at
least the fiftieth time. She heard him, in silence,
and with much apparent respect, though an arch
smile stole upon her gravity, before he had ended.
She then thanked him with suitable grace, and gave
a final and decided refusal. The captain sustained
the repulse like one who had seen much similar
service, and politely lent his assistance to help the
obdurate girl into her boat. Here she was received
by a young man, who was appareled like an American officer. Sir Lionel thought the bloom on her
cheek deepened, as her companion assiduously
drew a cloak around her form to protect her from
the chill of the water. Instead of returning to the
town, the boat, which bore a flag, pulled directly
for the shore occupied by the Americans. The
following week, Agnes was united to this gentleman, in the bosom of her own fanily. They soon
after took quiet possession of the house in Tremont-street, and of all the large real estate left by
Mrs. Lechmere, which had been previously bestowed on her, by Cecil, as a dowry.
As soon as his passengers appeared, the captain
of the frigate communicated with his admiral, by
signal, and received, in return, the expected order
to proceed in the execution of his trust. In a few
minutes the swift vessel was gliding by the heights
of Dorchester, training her guns on the adverse
hills, and hurriedly spreading her canvass as she
passed. The Americans, however, looked on in
sullen silence, and she was suffered to gain the
open ocean, unmolested, when she made the best
of her way to England, with the important intelligence of the intended evacuation.
She was speedily followed by the fleet, since
which period, the long-oppressed and devoted





LIONEL LINCOLN.


543


town of Boston has never been visited by an armed enemy.
During their passage to England, sufficient time
was allowed Lionel and his gentle companion, to
reflect on all that had occurred. Together, and in
the fullest confidence, they traced the wanderings
of intellect, wliich had so closely and mysteriously
connected the deranged father with his impotent
child; and, as they reasoned, by descending to the
secret springs of his disordered impulses, they
were easily enabled to divest the incidents we have
endeavoured to relate, of all their obscurity and
doubt.
The keeper, who had been sent in quest of the
fugitive madman, never returned to his native
land. No offers of forgiveness could induce the
unwilling agent in the death of the baronet to
trust his person, again, within the influence of the
British laws. Perhaps he was conscious of a motive, that none but an inward monitor migat detect.
Lionel, tired at length with importuning without
success, commissioned the husband of Agnes to
place him in a situation, where, by industry, his
future comfort was amply secured.
Polwarth died quite lately. Notwithstanding his
maimed limb, he contrived, by the assistance of
his friend, to ascend the ladder of promotion, by
regular gradation*, nearly to its summit. At the
close of his long life, he wrote Gen., Bart., and M.
P. after his name. When England was threatened with the French invasion, the garrison he coinmmanded was distinguished for being better provisioned than any other in the realm, and no doubt
it would have made a resistance equal to its resources. In Parliament, where he sat for one of
the Lincoln boroughs, he was chiefly distinguished





544


LIONEL LINCOLN.


for the patience with which he listened to the debates, and for the remarkable cordiality of the 'ay
that he pronounced on every vote for supplies.
To the day of his death, he was a strenuous advocate for the virtues of a rich diet, in all cases of
physical suffering, especially," as he would add,
with an obstinacy that fed itself, " in instances of
debility from febrile symptoms."
Within a year of their arrival, the uncle of Cecil
died, having shortly before followed an only son
to the grave. By this unlooked-for event, Lady
Lincoln became the possessor of his large estates,
as well as of an ancient barony, that descended to
the heirs general. From this time until the eruption of the French revolution, Sir Lionel Lincoln,
and Lady Cardonnell, as Cecil was now styled,
lived together in sweetest concord; the gentle influence of her affection moulding and bending the
feverish temperament of her husband, at will. The
heir-loom of the family, that distempered feeling
so often mentioned, was forgotten, in the ever
tenor of their happiness.  When the heaviest
pressure on the British constitution was apprehended, and it became the policy of the minister
to enlist the wealth and talent of his nation in its
support, by propping the existing administration,
the rich baronet received a peerage in his own
person. Before the end of the century, he was
further advanced to a dormant earldom, that had,
in former ages, been one of the honours of an elder
branch of his family.
Of all the principal actors in the foregoing tale,
not one is now living. Even the roses of Cecil
and Agnes have long since ceased to bloom, and
Death has gathered them, in peace and innocence,
with all that had gone before. The historical facts





LIONEL LINCOLN.          545
ot our legend are beginning to be obscured by
time; and it is more than probable, that the
prosperous and affluent English peer, who now enjoys the honours of the house of Lincoln, never
knew the secret history of his family, while it
sojourned in a remote province of the British
empire.
FINIS.