The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-04
MERRIDEW'S SLIPPER.
Tale of the American Revolution Which Tells of
a Woman's Ingenuity

When Sir William Howe succeeded Gen.
eral Gage as Governor and military COM
mander of the New England province. he
at once set 10 work to make himself and
the Kings cause popular in social way,
by giving series of fine entertainments
in the stately Province House.
To these entertainments were hidden all
the Boston townsfolk who we're loyal to
the British crown. Among srch none were
prominent or made more welcome than
Mir. Jeffrey Merridew and his pretty young
niece, Sibvl.
Mr.. Merridew was stanch royallst.
though he was by no means violent mater
of the rebels Many Of them were MS old
friends and neighb0rs, and his only
brother, DR.. Ephraim Merridew, Sl0yFs
father. was rebel at heart, though in
far-away Barbados. where he was at that
time engaged in business, he could not
serve the rebel cause in person. as he
would gladly have done. But he left be-
hind him son who, in full sympathy with
his fathers views, ranged himself boldly
on the rebel side as part and parcel of the
American army.
A rebel relative in Barbados was not q
matter to trouble oneself about greatly,
but a rebel relative on the spot, so to
speak-for young Ephraim was only six
miles away at the Cambridge rallying
ground-waS different thing, and amia-
BILE and easy-gOing as Jeffrey Merridew
was disposed to be. his nephew's close
proximity could not under the peculiar
circumstances but be en- EMBARRASSING and
disturbing on occasions; for the young
man, besides being his nephew, was
Sibyl's brother, and Sibyl. as member of
the royalists family-for her father on his
departure for Barbados had left his
motherless girl in her uncle's charge
could not, Of course, be allowed free inter-
course with one who had placed himself in
an attitude of active hostility to the royal
cause.
When Sibyl was apprised of this dictum
she at once made passionate protest
against il. what harm do the Kings
soldiers think poor Epb can 90 them by
now and then paying a visit 10 his sister Y'
she asked her uncle scornfully.
Harm? You are very yOung G, Sibyl, and
don't understand these things. Your
brother has chosen very foolishly 10 join
the rebel forces. and so has made himself
one of our acknowledged enemies. and
never heard of declared enemies in time
of war walking in and out Of each Others
houses like tame cats, answered Mr..
MPrrdew Sarcastically.
But Eph. such a boy as Eph-only 10,
only two years older than II What harm
could he do now, more than he has ever
done, by coming out to his uncle's house
as visitor?" still persisted Sibyl. rather
fOolishly.
what harmW exclaimed Mr.. Merridew
impatien tly. what child you are. Shy
Why, his coming here would compromise
me fatally with the royal Government.
should be suspected of dislovalty, and do
you think that he. your brother, could be
in any such Communication with US and
fail to see and hear things that might
bring US disaster il reported to his
officers ?'
Do you think Eph would be so mean as
to tell tales?" exca aimed SIbyl in high in
dignation.
"Tell talesr' repeated Mr.. Merridew.
fInging back his head with irrepressible
laughter at SibvPs Ignorance. "Why, my
dear, the reporting of important fac 8,
however gained, in times of war; is part
/ of war tactics-it is net called telling
tales"
And would you-would you, If you were
in Ephraim's camp as visitor. would
you"
''Tell tales?" laughed Mr.. Mprridew,
Indeed l would, If / heard anything worth
telling thing that l thought would
save ms Ca use Dell6Ntu 10 DC righteous
cause" Then more seriously, why,
Sibyl, it would be my duty TO do it,"
''OhI OH" cried Sibyl, SIT is odious, all
this war business"
Yes, grant sou that; but who is to
blame for b inging all this odous business
upon us? Who but these foolish malcon-
tents, these rebels. like"
Like my father and my brother" broke
in S byl hotly, as Mr.. Merridew hesitated
'Yes, like your father and your brother
am sorry to say" concluded her uncle
gravely.
''No, no, no." cried Sibyl excitedly. ~
is not they who are TO blame. They are
too good and brave and wise. They only
want justice and fair play. 1t is the
Kings folk who are to bIsme-the Kings
folk who want to Cypress the ople with
unjust taxes. that they may live in greater
grandeur"
Mr.. Merridew stared in silent aston ish-
ment at this unexpected outburst Then
in severer tone than his niece had ever
heard from his lips he said:
$50 this is the reasonable talk you have