Roger Davis, Loyalist
Nova
ucceeded in drawing his lines uncomfortably close about the city. We, with thousands of others, had been forcibly driven from our beautiful homes in the country, to make quarters for Washington's soldiers. We had been allowed to take nothing away. From all that was most dear to us-from the luxury of a quiet life of culture; from rooms where hung portrai
ead a few lines, then, tearing the paper into bits, she threw these in the face of the soldier who stood before her. After this, without a single look backward upon our home-on foot, under the blazing June sun-we had hu
tion in the mind of each of us that day in Lord Percy's wait
youthful; his manners were polished, and his language bore all the marks of the utmost culture. He first addressed himself to my mother. After maki
t that I feel myself obliged to say that it is quite beyond my power to offer compensation to you in any degree commensurate with your loss. As to the future of the rebellion, nothing definite can be said; for myself, I believe that the arms of the King will finally triumph; but this cannot be hoped for in th
said: 'I like America; I was born here; I have n
Hale's face brighten; but he did not speak
of Nova Scotia in the geographie
bowed v
it, I have learned from traders that the soil is rich, that it is a land of delightful summers, of mighty rivers, and of boundless forests.
show that Duncan Hale was not one of those who had
little, rose and walked to a large ma
ting to a large, irregular peninsula
TIA.' HE SAID, PO
culiar interest attaching to it, owing
y explained later to my mother, 'is known as the Province of Quebec. There are many French there,' he said; 'but in Nova Scotia most of the people are English or Scotch. In Halifax they have had a Parliament for some ye
, we discussed with Lord Percy more fully the relativ
n from the surrounding towns and country for protection from the rebels who were daily becoming more insolent and offensive. We had come almost to the quarters kindly put at our disposal by Lord Pe
convinced that I had hit upon my old fellow-prisoner of the mine at Lexington, David Elto
ide of the people; some had enlisted with the King's men. I and several others could not think it was right t
plans for the f
nest-looking farmers-'have been talkin' o' goin' to-what's the na
,' several s
an' plenty o' better lan' than what we've had here on the hil
her be there on two meals a day under the flag of the King tha
came to me that it was not the cultured and refined only who were with the King. The bone and sinew of the country, as well as the brain and learning of it, were united in their loyalty to the cause that was growing dearer to me every day. The siege of Boston dragged slowly and painfully on. Weeks slid into months, and still no decided advantage was gained by either
e besiegers had left the city, but it was still much overcrowded. The fleet lay in the harbour, but the supply ships from England came less and less regularly. Food began to be scarce and dear. The trade of busy
d to be cheerful, and when I was feeling particularly depressed, that a new hope suddenly entered my life. For some time my sister Caro
ger from the enemy. Several shells thrown by the besiegers had b
day for my usual walk about the city: 'How dreadful it would
g the words, 'How dreadful for yourse
the danger about us she said little of these things. For the future she seemed to have no fear, except her fear for me. Why was this? I was not openly
man who had been walking but a few yards in front of me. Through the great cloud of dust raised I saw him
suddenly taken off; and yet my own need of preparation never came home to me as at that moment. Had I been a f
de up my mind that whether we finally resolved upon going to England, to Canada, or to Nova Scotia, I
strongly fortified themselves on the heights much nearer the city than ever before. Seeing this, a co
ied on board the King's ships that lay in the harbour, and by the time the sun rose we were