chair to greet them j what were their names asked there was general ward replied by ic s chair grandfather a lawyer by profession he had commanded the troops before s arrival another was general charles lee who had been a colonel in the english army and was thought to possess vast military science he came to the council followed by two or three dogs who were always at his heels there was general too who was known all over new england by the name of old put was it he who killed the wolf inquired the same said grandfather and he had done good service in the old french war his occupation was that of a farmer but he left his plough in the at the news of battle then there was general gates who afterward gained great renown at and lost it again at of island was likewise at the council washington soon discovered him to be one of the best officers in the army when the were all assembled washington consulted them about a plan for the english but it was their opinion that so perilous an enterprise ought not to be attempted the army therefore continued to boston preventing the enemy from obtaining supplies of provisions but without taking any immediate measures to get possession of the town in this manner the summer autumn and winter passed away by ic s chair many a night doubtless said grandfather after washington had been all day on horse back galloping from one post of the army to another he used to sit in great chair in earnest thought had you seen him you might have supposed that his whole mind was fixed on the blue china which adorned the old fashioned fireplace but in reality he was meditating how to capture the british army or drive it out of boston once when there was a hard frost he formed a scheme to cross the charles river on the ice but the other could not be persuaded that there was any prospect of success what were the british doing all this time inquired they lay idle in the town replied grandfather general had been recalled to england and was succeeded by sir william the british army and the inhabitants of boston were now in great distress being shut up in the town so long they had consumed almost all their provisions and burnt up all their fuel the soldiers tore down the old north church and used its rotten boards and for to their distress the small broke out they probably lost far more men by cold hunger and sickness than had been slain at and hill what a dismal time for the poor women and children exclaimed by ic grandfather s chair at length continued grandfather in march general washington who had now a good supply of powder began a terrible and from heights one of the cannon balls which he fired into the town struck the tower of the street church where it may still be seen sir william made preparations to cross over in boats and drive the americans from their but was prevented by a violent gale and storm general washington next erected a battery on nook s hill so near the enemy that it was impossible for them to remain in boston any longer cried clapping his hands triumphantly i wish i had been there to see how the englishmen looked and as grandfather thought that boston had never witnessed a more interesting period than this when the royal power was in its death agony he determined to take a peep into the town and imagine the of those who were it for ever d by chapter ix alas for the poor said grandfather until the very last morning after washington s troops had shown themselves on nook s hill these unfortunate persons could not believe that the audacious as they called the americans would ever prevail against king george s army but when they saw the british soldiers preparing to on board of the ships of war then they knew that they had lost their country could the have known how bitter were their regrets they would have forgiven them all their il deeds and sent a blessing after them as they sailed away from their native shore in order to make the children sensible of the pitiable condition of these men grandfather out peter chief justice of under the crown and imagined him walking through the streets of boston on the morning before he left it for ever this of grandfather s fancy may be called � the tory s farewell old chief justice threw on his red cloak and placed his three hat on the top of his white wig in this garb he intended to go forth and take a parting look at objects that had been familiar to him from his youth accordingly he d by grandfather s chair began his walk in the north part of the town and soon came to this edifice the cradle of liberty had been used by the british officers as a play house would that i could see its walls to dust thought the chief justice and in the bitterness of his heart he shook his fist at the famous hall there began the mischief which now to asunder the british empire the of in hall have made of a loyal people and deprived me of my country he then passed through a narrow avenue and found himself in king street almost in the very spot which six years before had been by the blood of the boston the chief justice cautiously and shuddered as if he were afraid that even now the of his countrymen might stain his feet before him rose the town house on the front of which were still displayed the royal arms within that edifice he had justice to the people in the days when his name 