Daughters of the Revolution and Their Times Read online

  VI.

  CHRIST CHURCH CHIMES.

  Calm and peaceful was the Sabbath morning in Rumford, where thestillness was broken only by lowing cattle and singing birds, but inBoston Robert heard the rattling of drums,--a prolonged roll, as ifthe drummers found special pleasure in disturbing the slumbers of thepeople. It was the reveille arousing the troops. Mr. Brandon said theofficers of the king's regiments seemed to take delight in havingextra drills on Sunday for the purpose of annoying the people. A fewof the officers, he said, were gentlemen, but others were vile, andnot to be admitted into decent society.

  The drums ceased and there was a period of quiet; then suddenly theair was melodious with the music of bells. Berinthia saw the wonder onRobert's face.

  "It is Christ Church chimes," she said.

  He heard "Old Hundred," sweet and enchanting.

  "If you would like, we will go to Christ Church this morning."

  Robert replied he would gladly go with her.

  "The sexton is a Son of Liberty, Robert Newman; you saw him the othernight at the Green Dragon; his brother plays the organ," said Tom.

  The sexton welcomed them and gave them seats. Robert gazed in wonderat the fluted columns, the high arched ceiling, the pillarssupporting the galleries, the great windows, the recess behind thepulpit, the painting of the Last Supper. He read the words, "This isnone other than the House of God; this is the Gate of Heaven."

  The bells ceased their pealing, but suddenly delightful music filledthe church.

  Christ Church.]

  "That is John Newman at the organ," Berinthia whispered.

  It began soft and faint, as if far away--a flute, then a clarinet, atrumpet, growing louder, nearer, deeper, heavier, the loud notesrolling like far-off thunder, then dying into melody as sweet as thesong of a bird. Never had Robert heard any music so delightful.Looking towards the loft, he saw the gilded pipes of the instrument.Upon the railing around it were figures of angels with trumpets.

  "They were captured from a French ship in 1746 by Captain Grushea ofthe Queen of Hungary privateer," Tom whispered. "They were designedfor a Romish church in Canada, but the captain brought them to Bostonand presented them to the wardens of this church."

  Berinthia said the Bible and prayer-book were given by King George II.at the request of Governor Belcher. She found the places in theprayer-book for him. He thought the prayers very beautiful, but couldnot quite see the need of getting up and sitting down so often. Henever had taken part in meeting before, but when all the others readfelt he too must let his voice be heard, otherwise the people wouldthink he did not know how to read. He was startled at the sound of hisown voice, but soon got over it, and rather liked the idea of thepeople taking some part in the service instead of having it all doneby the minister. It was very delightful when the choir came in withthe organ, in contrast to the singing in Rumford meetinghouse wherethe deacon lined the Psalms, two lines at a time, and set the tunewith his pitch-pipe.

  When the service was over and the people were going out, the organbegan to play. The sexton took them upstairs to see his brother Johnhandle it. Robert was surprised to see him using his feet as well ashis hands, fingering two sets of keys, pushing in and pulling out whatTom said were "stops." When through with the piece, the organistexplained the mechanism of the instrument, playing softly and thenmaking the windows rattle.

  An hour at noon, and then the meetinghouse bells were tolling for theafternoon service.

  "We will go to our own meeting; I want you to hear Reverend DoctorCooper,"[30] said Berinthia. The meetinghouse was in Brattle Street,close by the barracks. The soldiers were lounging around the buildingstaring at the people, laughing, smoking their pipes, and making ruderemarks. When meeting was over the soldiers gathered around the doorand leered at the girls. Robert clenched his fist and felt his bloodgrow hot. A lieutenant started to walk beside Berinthia.

  [Footnote 30: The meetinghouse in Brattle Street at the time of theopening of this story was a large unpainted wooden structure which wastorn down in 1772 and replaced by an elegant edifice of brick withquoins of freestone. John Hancock gave one thousand pounds and a bell.The pastor, Reverend Samuel Cooper, was an earnest advocate for therights of the Colonies, and without doubt his influence, combined withthat of Samuel Adams, had much to do in attaching Hancock to thepatriots' side.]

  "My cousin will not need your escort, sir," said Robert touching hiselbow.

  The officer grew red in the face and disappeared in the barracks.

  On Monday morning Robert bade his friends good-by. Peter Augustus hadsomething for him at the Green Dragon: a basket filled withfruit--melocotoons, pears, and plums--and a neatly written note.

  "Will Mr. Walden kindly take a basket of fruit to his sister, MissRachel, from Ruth Newville."

  That was all. What a surprise it would be to Rachel! Why was MissNewville sending it? She never had met Rachel; knew nothing of her,except what little he had said, yet the gift!

  The sun was going down the following evening when he reached the turnof the road bringing him in sight of home. He was yet half a mileaway, but Rachel was standing in the doorway waving her apron. Shecould not wait for Jenny to trot home, but came down the roadbareheaded, climbed into the wagon, put her arms around his neck, andgave him a hug and a kiss. There was a look of wonder on her face whenhe uncovered the basket of fruit and told her who had sent it,--abeautiful girl, one of Berinthia's friends, whom he had rescued fromthe king's soldiers. There were tears in Rachel's eyes when he put thebeads around her neck.

  "Oh, Rob! how good you are!"

  It was all she could say.

  * * * * *

  November came, and Berinthia Brandon was sitting in her chamber. Fromits eastern window she looked across the burial ground with its rowsof headstones. The leafless trees were swaying in the breeze. She wasthinking of what Samuel Adams had said to her, that life is worthliving just in proportion to the service we can render to others. Whathad she ever done for anybody? Not much. A feeling of sadness cameover her. The afternoon sun was lengthening the shadows of theheadstones across the grass-grown mounds. The first snow ofapproaching winter was lying white and pure above the sleeping formsof those who had finished their earthly work. Beyond the burial groundshe beheld the harbor. The tide had been at its flood, and wassweeping towards the sea. A ship was sailing down the roadstead tobegin its adventurous voyage to a distant land.

  "Why can I not do something for somebody instead of idling my timeaway?" she said to herself, recalling what Mr. Adams had said--that itwas the duty of every woman to forego personal comfort and pleasurefor the promotion of the public good; that everybody should leave offusing tea to let the king, the ministry, and the people of Englandknow that the men and women of the Colonies could stand resolutely andunflinchingly for a great principle. With her father, mother, and Tomshe had quit drinking tea; why should she not persuade others tobanish it from their tables? A thought came to her, and she opened herwriting-desk, a gift from her father, beautifully inlaid with ivory,which he had obtained in a foreign country. She dipped her pen intothe ink, reflected a moment, and then wrote her thought: "_We, thedaughters of patriots, who have stood and do now stand for the publicinterest, with pleasure engage with them in denying ourselves thedrinking of foreign tea, in hope to frustrate a plan that tends todeprive the community of its rights._"[31]

  [Footnote 31: The agreement signed by the mothers and daughters may befound in the _Boston News-Letter_, February 15, 1770.]

  In her enthusiasm she walked the floor, thinking of those whom shewould ask to sign it. She would not subject herself to ridicule bycalling upon those who sided with the king, but upon those who sheknew were ready to make sacrifices for justice and right.

  "I am glad you have written it, daughter," Mr. Brandon said when sheinformed him of what she had done and was intending to do; "I see noreason, wife, why you should not do what you can in the same way amongthe women, to let people on
the other side of the sea understand theColonies are in earnest. Already there has been a great falling off intrade between the Colonies and England, and if we can stop this teatrade it will not be long before the merchants will be swarming aroundParliament demanding something to be done. We must arouse publicsentiment on this question, and you, daughter, are just the girl tobegin it."

  Mr. Brandon reached out his hand and took Berinthia's and gave it asqueeze to let her know he had faith in her.

  "I will do what I can to persuade others," she said, returning thepressure.

  Through the night Berinthia was thinking over what she had started toaccomplish, and what arguments she should use to influence those whomshe would ask to sign the agreement. The great idea, with a moralprinciple behind it, took possession of her mind and drove sleep fromher eyes and aroused the energies of the soul. Why undertake thearduous task alone? Why not ask Doctor Cooper to preach about it? Ifshe could but get the ministers enlisted, they could awaken publicsentiment.

  "Ah! I have it. Week after next is Thanksgiving, and I will get themto preach sermons that will stir up the people," she said to herself.

  Thanksgiving Day came. Very eloquent were the words spoken forJustice, Right, and Liberty by Reverend Doctor Cooper, Reverend DoctorEliot, Reverend Doctor Checkley, and nearly all the other ministers,excepting Reverend Mr. Coner, rector of King's Chapel, and ReverendMather Byles of Christ Church, whose sympathies were with theking.[32]

  [Footnote 32: Reverend Andrew Eliot was pastor of the New NorthChurch, an edifice still standing at the corner of Hanover and Clarkstreets, and used by the Roman Catholics. Reverend Samuel Checkley waspastor of the New South Church, and Reverend Samuel Blair of the OldSouth. These pastors were outspoken in denunciation of the offensivemeasures of the king and his ministers.]

  In every household fathers and mothers, sons and daughters andgrandchildren, gathered in the old home, and had a great deal to say,while partaking of the roast turkey and plum-pudding, of the sermonsthey had heard in the different meetinghouses. All the ministerspreached about the proposal of Parliament to levy a tax upon tea, andthat if it could not be defeated in any other way it was the patrioticduty of the people to quit using the herb. They must deny themselvesthe luxury, that they might maintain their freedom. Little did theyknow that a blue-eyed girl had called upon Doctor Cooper and read tohim what she had written, an agreement to drink no more tea; how hissoul had been set on fire and he had gone with her to the houses ofother ministers, that they might look into her eyes and see theflashing of a resolute spirit in behalf of justice, righteousness, andliberty.

  Although the snow was deep in the streets, the drifts did not deterBerinthia from calling upon her friends. Many of the good ladies wereready to sign an agreement to drink no more tea; others hesitated. Shewas warmly welcomed by Mrs. Abigail Adams, who at once saw how greatwould be the influence of the women upon their husbands.

  "But what shall we drink instead of tea?" asked Dorothy Quincy.

  "When summer comes, we will go out into the fields and gatherstrawberry leaves, and call them Hyperion, or some other elegant name.I think it quite as pretty a name as Old Hyson, and I am not sure thatthey will not be more healthful," Berinthia replied.

  Miss Dorothy laughed heartily. "Yes, and we can, upon a pinch, drinkcold water from the town pump and flavor it with peppermint," shesaid, as she wrote her name.

  After leaving Miss Quincy, Berinthia lifted the knocker of theNewville mansion, not to ask Ruth to sign the agreement; she could notdo that, for Mr. Newville was a Tory, and the signers were daughtersof patriots.

  "How good it is to see you once more. It is a very long time since Ihave looked upon your face," Ruth exclaimed, embracing her.

  "The snow has been so deep and I have had so much to do, I have notfound time to call till now, and I don't know as I should be hereto-day only I am spinning street-yarn for a particular purpose."

  Ruth was at a loss to understand her.

  "I am calling on my acquaintances, and I was not quite sure whether Iought to skip you or not."

  "Skip me! What have I done that you should think of dropping me fromyour acquaintance?"

  Berinthia saw a wondering and injured look in the loving eyes.

  "Oh, you haven't done anything; it is what the king, Lord North, andParliament are doing. They intend to make us pay taxes against ourwill, and we girls are signing an agreement not to drink any more tea,and I am calling on my friends for that purpose."

  The look of wonder and grief disappeared, and Ruth's face brightenedonce more. She read the agreement and the list of names.

  "I didn't call, dear Ruth, to ask you to sign it. I have no right todo so. It is an agreement to be signed by the daughters of those whoare opposed to being taxed in this way. Your father, doubtless, may bewilling to pay the tax; my father is not. You may not think as we do,but that shall not disturb our friendship. I shall love you just as Ihave ever since we were children."

  "How good you are! I appreciate your kindness. My father and motherstand for the king, but I have my own opinion. Under the terms of theagreement, I cannot sign it, but I am with you in spirit. I can seethe course taken by the king is not right or just, and it will fail.Nothing can succeed in the end that is not right."

  "Oh, Ruth, how you shame me. Here I have been fidgeting over thecutting things some of the girls and their mothers have been saying.One asked if I expected to bankrupt the East India Company. Anotherwanted to know if I was going to wear trousers and vote in townmeeting."

  "So mother's afternoon tea-party stands a chance of being the last,for the present, at least. By the way, do you ever hear from yourcousin, Mr. Walden?"

  "No, I have not heard a word since he left us. I should not besurprised, however, if he were to drop in upon us any day, for I havewritten him that the ship is to be launched soon. Father intends tomake it a grand occasion when the Berinthia Brandon glides into thewater. I shall have all my friends present, Ruth Newville chief amongthem."

  "Count upon me to do whatever I can to make it a happy day," saidRuth.