AFTER THE KINGS of Great Britain had assumed the right ofappointing the colonial governors, the measures of the latter seldommet with the ready and general approbation which had been paid tothose of their predecessors, under the original charters. The peoplelooked with most jealous scrutiny to the exercise of power which didnot emanate from themselves, and they usually rewarded their rulerswith slender gratitude for the compliances by which, in softeningtheir instructions from beyond the sea, they had incurred thereprehension of those who gave them. The annals of Massachusetts Baywill inform us, that of six governors in the space of about fortyyears from the surrender of the old charter, under James II, twowere imprisoned by a popular insurrection; a third, as Hutchinsoninclines to believe, was driven from the province by the whizzing of amusketball; a fourth, in the opinion of the same historian, washastened to his grave by continual bickerings with the House ofRepresentatives; and the remaining two, as well as their successors,till the Revolution, were favored with few and brief intervals ofpeaceful sway. The inferior members of the court party, in times ofhigh political excitement, led scarcely a more desirable life. Theseremarks may serve as a preface to the following adventures, whichchanced upon a summer night, not far from a hundred years ago. Thereader, in order to avoid a long and dry detail of colonial affairs,is requested to dispense with an account of the train of circumstancesthat had caused much temporary inflammation of the popular mind.
It was near nine o'clock of a moonlight evening, when a boatcrossed the ferry with a single passenger, who had obtained hisconveyance at that unusual hour by the promise of an extra fare. Whilehe stood on the landing place, searching in either pocket for themeans of fulfilling his agreement, the ferryman lifted a lantern, bythe aid of which, and the newly-risen moon, he took a very accuratesurvey of the stranger's figure. He was a youth of barely eighteenyears, evidently country-bred, and now, as it should seem, upon hisfirst visit to town. He was clad in a coarse gray coat, well worn, butin excellent repair; his under-garments were durably constructed ofleather, and fitted tight to a pair of serviceable and well-shapedlimbs; his stockings of blue yarn were the incontrovertible work ofa mother or a sister; and on his head was a three-cornered hat,which in its better days had perhaps sheltered the graver brow ofthe lad's father. Under his left arm was a heavy cudgel, formed ofan oak sapling, and retaining a part of the hardened root; and hisequipment was completed by a wallet, not so abundantly stocked as toincommode the vigorous shoulders on which it hung. Brown, curlyhair, well-shaped features, and bright, cheerful eyes, were nature'sgifts, and worth all that art could have done for his adornment.
The youth, one of whose names was Robin, finally drew from hispocket the half of a little province bill of five shillings, which, inthe depreciation of that sort of currency, did but satisfy theferryman's demand, with the surplus of a sexangular piece ofparchment, valued at three pence. He then walked forward into thetown, with as light a step as if his day's journey had not alreadyexceeded thirty miles, and with as eager an eye as if he were enteringLondon city, instead of the little metropolis of a New England colony.
Before Robin had proceeded far, however, it occurred to him that heknew not whither to direct his steps; so he paused, and looked upand down the narrow street, scrutinizing the small and mean woodenbuildings that were scattered on either side.
"This low hovel cannot be my kinsman's dwelling," thought he,"nor yonder old house, where the moonlight enters at the brokencasement; and truly I see none hereabouts that might be worthy of him.
It would have been wise to inquire my way of the ferryman, anddoubtless he would have gone with me, and earned a shilling from themajor for his pains. But the next man I meet will do as well."He resumed his walk, and was glad to perceive that the street nowbecame wider, and the houses more respectable in their appearance.
He soon discerned a figure moving on moderately in advance, andhastened his steps to overtake it. As Robin drew nigh, he saw that thepassenger was a man in years, with a full periwig of gray hair, awide-skirted coat of dark cloth, and silk stockings rolled above hisknees. He carried a long and polished cane, which he struck downperpendicularly before him, at every step; and at regular intervals heuttered two successive hems, of a peculiarly solemn and sepulchralintonation. Having made these observations, Robin laid hold of theskirt of the old man's coat, just when the light from the open doorand windows of a barber's shop fell upon both their figures. "Goodevening to you, honored sir," said he, making a low bow, and stillretaining his hold of the skirt. "I pray you tell me whereabouts isthe dwelling of my kinsman, Major Molineux."The youth's question was uttered very loudly; and one of thebarbers, whose razor was descending on a well-soaped chin, and anotherwho was dressing a Ramillies wig, left their occupations, and cameto the door. The citizen, in the meantime, turned a long-favoredcountenance upon Robin, and answered him in a tone of excessiveanger and annoyance. His two sepulchral hems, however, broke intothe very centre of his rebuke, with most singular effect, like athought of the cold grave obtruding among wrathful passions.
