Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 30.

Nancy. And such monstrous hungry ones, too! 'Twas fortunate indeed that kind Aunt Abigail had treasured that chocolate for all these years. Naught could be too good for our brave patriots.

Mrs. Putnam. Poor fellows! Sorry I can't stay to help ye red up the clutter, but husband, he oughter be gittina back 'most any minute now. Started off stroke oa noon, he did, ana my nice biled dinner jest dished up, ready on tha table! Men is sartingly set, once they take a notion, Miss Nancy, ana he'd took a notion they's goina to be fightina today! Sez I ‘'Taint nothina but another oa them false alarms, ana if you let my nice dumplin's get all sogged up for tha want of eatina you won't get no more in a hurry,’ sez I. ‘I'm goina ta eat powder 'n balls fer my dinner today, or else give them some,’ sez he, jest like that, and gave me a strange look, ana off lie legged it, carryina tha ole flintlock he'd used in the Cannedy campaign. Sixty-three year old if a day, ana yet he must be mixina in! We're all strong for libbity, Mistress Nancy, you ana your folks ana me ana my folks.

Nancy. Yes, Mrs. Putnam, we're all High Liberty Men together, come what may.

Mrs. Putnam (really going). Tha ain't no one more willina to give fer the cause 'n what I be, but when it comes to wastina extry good dumplin's—ana anybuddy knows they don't reheat nohow—（Her last words heard off stage after her exit. Nancy comes to table.)

Nancy (with a disapproving glance). Indeed, my lad, 'twould be rude to hurry you, but—

lad. Yes, ma'am, I know I'd orter be movina long, but this yere choc'late sartingly do warm up the gizzard! Never tasted none before. Must be scurse!

Mercy. Didn't I tell you so, forsooth?

Nancy. Naught can be too good for those who hurry to their country's call today.

lad. That's so, ma'am, ana I'd orter be hurryina too. (Rises, grasping his gun.) Come on, ole bullet-eater. This here ole piece oa mine, marm, she's been in the Cannedy campaign—twenty year ago it wor, 'fore ever I wuz born. Dad carried 'er, ana he said she wor the prime kicker in tha hull reg'ment. Said she'd knock a man clean down quicker'n ere a baulky mule could. Fact! Nary man in tha hull reg'ment could handle 'er but th' ole sir. (Seats himself.)

Mercy (politely). And belike you can shoot it as well as your sire?

lad. Wall, ye see it's this way, young miss, tha ole gun would work's good's ever she did if she only hadn't lost'er hammer. Gol durn it! I had one promised, a surenuff dandy, off one oa the regulars to Boston town. But whaa do ye 'spose I seen when I went to fetch it?

Mercy. Prithee, what?

lad. Seed a young lad a-ridina on a rail—tar'n feathers, I did! Sed he'd been caught buying a gun off tha red coats. Ana so, by hickory, I made meself scurse! (Gloomily.) But how tha nation can we git 'um? Ana we're 'bleeged by law to have 'um. We are!

Mercy. Will it go off without a hammer?

lad. Wall, no— “t won't go off exactly, but 't might scare a redcoat. Well, ladies, my respex to ye. I'll e'en hurry along. (Lounges out.) Nancy. Every other man in the province, I warrant, is already there. He must be the last.

Mercy. The last and the laziest. And now, belike, our task is ended. (Sinks upon settle.)

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