My dear Ben

“I know this will astonish you. I’ve come south with Mr. Samuel Adams and his brother John, of both of whom you’ve no doubt heard. They are here to attend the Congress which is soon to meet at the Carpenter’s[24] Hall. As you might guess, they were in a great hurry as they came into the town and I had no chance to call upon you. We will be staying in the City Tavern; come in if you can. In any event I will come to Germantown in a few days.

[24]

“Sincerely, your friend,  “Ezra Prentiss.”

“Sincerely, your friend,

Ezra Prentiss

“Mr. John and Samuel Adams!” said Nat when his cousin had finished. “They are the brothers who have spoken so boldly and openly against the king. It seems to me, Ben, that your friend keeps very famous company.”

“He’s a great patriot, you see,” explained Ben. “Even while he was at school here several years ago, he used to tell us of the happenings at Boston and how the citizens defied the government.”

“But I think you said his father was an Englishman.”

“His grandfather. His father is dead. He never seemed to care to go deeply into his family history; but he told me this: Some years before his father’s death, there was some sort of an outbreak—against the Stamp Act, I[25] think. Ezra’s father sided with the townspeople. But the grandfather was a Tory. A bitter quarrel was the result and they afterward no longer saw or spoke to each other.”

[25]

“I suppose there is a great deal of that,” said Nat. “And if it comes to war, it will be worse.”

They had now risen and walked toward the house. Down the path along which Ben had ridden in entering they saw Mr. Cooper pacing to and fro, with bent head.

“That talk he had with old Stephen Comegies has upset his nerves,” said Ben. “Politics always has that effect upon him.”

As they walked up the step and into the wide hall he related to his cousin what had happened.

“I see,” said Nat, thoughtfully. “That is what has fixed your impression of war.” He looked at Ben steadfastly for a moment. “Tell me again: What was it he said before he left?”

“As near as I can 

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