Roger Davis, Loyalist

Outb

to her, and then, standing with his head uncovered-from my position in the hall-I heard him distinctly say, 'Your husband, madam, has been killed, and the

thout further speech he moved toward the little gate. But I had caught a look of keen anxiety on his face as he addressed my mother. Once outside the g

and chattering in the flood of April sunlight; I felt a draught of perfumed air draw into the hall. Then a mist that had been he

ffect later. She was not in tears as I thought she would be. There were no signs of grief on her face, but instead her whole countenance seemed illuminated with a strangely n

ard her telling my two sisters Caroline and Elizabeth-they were both younger than myself-that it was time to get up. A

emed so absent-minded in school. My preparation for going to Oxford in the autumn, over which he had been so enthusiastic, appeared to have been completely pushed out of his mind. I had once overheard my father caution him to keep his visits to Lord Percy strictly secret. I was wondering if the

nd Dora. Bring them to the library, and

of them addressed her with an unmannerly shout that sent the blood pulsing up to my cheeks in anger. What my mother had been thinking I did not know; but from that moment

ressed. My mother withdrew from the doorway and went upstairs, as I proceeded to seek out our two faithful colo

d my mother entered with Caroline and Elizabeth. In a moment I saw that the spirit of my mother had passed on to my sisters. I was sure they knew the worst; and although I could see Caroline struggle with her feelings

on. To this my mother went, and stood looking out

eter and Dora, 'has been killed. We a

hard over his heart as though to prevent it from beating its way through. He found relief in swaying backward and forward, and uttering a long, low moan, which final

to do, Roge

her question mean that I was to step at once into the place of my fallen father? Had she forgotten that I was but sixteen

at suppression of grief, my eyes came again to the face of my mother. The look of nobl

either flinched nor blushed under their gaze. But in spite of my pretended composure nature had her way. My sister Elizabeth, breaking into a flood of tears,

E TO MY FATHER

eclare ourselves in favour of the King and his government in the colony. At first, it occurred to me to advise fleeing at once inside the protected limits of Boston. But the thought of the value of my father's property turned me from this course. That we were in danger, I was certain. My father, owing to his trade relations wit

his, that our quiet, happy, and thriving country-side was to be devastated by fire and sword as during old wars of which I had read in history, made me, for a moment, wonder if it were not all a horrible dream. Recalli

s and farm wagons; armed and unarmed; singly and in crowds; cheering, shouting, swearing, threatening-all day long these rough, leaderless, untrained farmer soldiers kept passing and re-passing, in what seemed

, and on either side the lofty square rooms; the high wainscotting, the deeply recessed window seats, and queer, old-fashioned mouldings that bordered the ceilings; the wide fire-places with their curiously-wrought andirons; the two magnificent lindens before t

ing, were in striking contrast with all that had been taking place in the world of men. But the consequences of the events that had preceded that day were to be infinitely greater than any contrast could be. I

the possible recovery of my father's body, when a low knocking at the door startled us. A fe

emost men of letters were his correspondents; he was tall and military in bearing; graceful and eloquent in speech; the soul of courtesy and honour; and withal, he was a master of the fine art of manners. It was Doctor Canfield and others like him who made separation from England diffic

e knew of the events of the previous day. As this was a matter to which our minds had bee

ith eight hundred men to Lexington, and destroy or seize the rifles and ammunition there stored. Guided by your excellent husband, who knew the country as the officers did not, the soldiers succeeded in destroying the stores, but, when they were on the point of returning to Boston, they were attacked by thousands of the rebels, who, having been previously made acquainted with the int

ngely agitated look on his face. I was wondering what th

enly white. The next moment a dozen or more of the rough re

re unguarded by them before their attack, opened from the library upon the verandah. Through this Duncan sprang, and in the shaft