New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-28
R cencss of olden Time.

After the destruction of tea in Boston harbor,
the use of it was interdicted by the common con-
sent of the country; this was severe trial for
the daughters OF Eve, for they delighted to sip |
OF the delicious beverage, but it must be done /
in secret. When good Bohea could not be used |
openly, vegetable was used as substitute |
gathered and sold in Springfield at 81 SO per |
pound. My father had erected spacious house
with a basement story, in which was a suitable
fireplace, where the tea kettle could be boiled.
and here the good matrons thought they might
take their real Bohea when the men were absent,
Like other children, fond of sweet things, after
our mothers had regaled themselves, we, the
children, were permitted to come around the
table for share of the good things, and in order
to secure the sugar, in simplicity asked for tea,
but were instantly reminded to ask for coffee
A neighbor, full Of love of country, was to
be from home; and his wife invited a party of
matrons to spend the afternoon, and -, as
the good man would be absent; but hereturned
while the table was setting and loading with
the good things of the house, having no doubt
that the tea. pots contained the forbidden bever-
age. In the ardor of his patriotic feelings, he
placed his foot beneath the table, and upset the
whole upon the floor. In those days fioor-rags
or carpets were not used, and would be called
tory extravaganza" He passed out at another
door without saying word, nor giving his bet
| ter-half time to say: Husband, how could you
do so?" The visitors were left staring at each
| other for moment, and gathering up their
knitting apparatus, made tracks for home, and
left the good woman to settle the difficulty with
her husband, with or without certain lectures
| as she might think best.
When Arnold was selected to march upon
Canada, through dense forest in mid winter,
| it became necessary to procure specie, which
was of all things the most scarce and difficult to
get in exchange for our paper money However,
it must be had; among other places, Springfield
was visited, and there was found one, my grand
| father, who had too much patriotism to resist
the application He and my father were large
dealers In beef cattle, and in their stable was
fatted the s' big OK which was roasted whole
on Boston Common, after having passed through
| the principal streets, decorated in the most fam
| citul manner with ribbons, etc, and after being
| roasted and carved, was distributed among the
poor and spectators; but the Hancocks. and
other choice spirits, might be served with the
| choice bits first, or in common with their fellow
| citizens.
My father was the principal operative on the
farm, and my grandfather was purser, and kept
the precious metals in an oaken chest at the
foot OF his bed, which served his safety chest
At the time alluded to he was in cash, and
counted out one thousand siiper dollars, or its
equivalent in British gold, and replaced it with
the same number of paper dollars, which prom
ised on the face thereof to be redeemed in gold
and silver, printed in large capitals! With this
money the stalls were to be replenished, but this
currency began to depreciate, and my parents
had been taught from their youth up, to con-
slider % dollar to be worth neither more nor less
than six shillings. lawful money; and, not will
ing to suffer any discount thereon, permitted
the whole to die in the old chest.
Previous to shays' rebellion, one Samuel Ely
| preacher, for some offence against the peace Q,
good name of the Commonwealth, was sentenced
and confined in Springfield Jail 1t SO happened
on day, that the Rev. Mr.. Williams, of Long
Meadow, four miles from Springfield, was buried
thus the town was almost emptied of men On
this day large number of mounted partisans
came to Springfield to effect "jail delivery
Intelligence of this visit having been received
a number of young men, schoolboys and clerks
were hastily collected under Capt. Thos. Dwight
and paraded on the opposite side of the street