CHAPTER X. THOMAS HUTCHINSON.

NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.

"In 1757," said Grandfather, "after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America. The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets. But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents."

"Did the people like Pownall?" asked Charley.

"They found no fault with him," replied Grandfather. "It was no time to quarrel with the governor when the utmost harmony was required in order to defend the country against the French. But Pownall did not remain long in Massachusetts. In 1759 he was sent to be governor of South Carolina. In thus exchanging one government for another, I suppose he felt no regret, except at the necessity of leaving Grandfather's chair behind him."

"He might have taken it to South Carolina," observed Clara.

"It appears to me," said Laurence, giving the rein to his fancy, "that the fate of this ancient chair was, somehow or other, mysteriously connected with the fortunes of old Massachusetts. If Governor Pownall had put it aboard the vessel in which he sailed for South Carolina, she would probably have lain wind-bound in Boston Harbor. It was ordained that the chair should not be taken away. Don't you think so, Grandfather?"

Answer this series of questions:

1. What war did the grandpa serve in?
2. What piece of furniture is important?
3. Who was he going to tell about the chair?
4. What year did the story take place in?
5. Who was requested to England?
6. Who was then governor of Mass.?
7. Where had Thomas been for most of his existence?
8. Did he know America well?
9. Did the grandfather think the governor should talk about the war?
10. What should he be doing instead?
11. What else?
12. Did the public like him?
13. Who were they defending the country against?
14. Did he stay in Massachusetts for a long time?
15. Where did he go next?
16. What was his title?
17. Did he take the chair with him?
18. What child is asking a question about Pownall?
19. Who made an observation?
20. What is the grandfather's name?

Numbered answers:
1. old French War
2. chair
3. children
4. 1757
5. Shirley
6. Thomas Pownall
7. London
8. Yes
9. No
10. reading the newspapers
11. official documents
12. Yes
13. French
14. No
15. South Carolina
16. governor
17. No
18. Charley
19. Clara
20. Laurence