"I think I should, Papa. Wasn't it something 'bout a tea-party?" she asked coaxingly.
"Yes, Papa, please do tell the story; we'd all like to hear it over again now when we're just at the place where it happened," added Gracie.
"Well, my darlings, to please you," he said; "also because I want you to be thoroughly grounded in the history of your own country.
"You must remember that these States,--or rather the original thirteen, there were only so many at that time,--were then called colonies, and were ruled by England. The English Government claimed the right to tax the colonies just as they pleased. That right the people of the colonies denied.
"They were not allowed to send any members to Parliament to help decide who in America should be taxed and how much; so they determined that rather than pay a tax put upon the article without their knowledge and consent, they would do without tea.
"Then the English Government tried to force it on them; and these ships came into their harbour loaded with the tea, which they intended to land.
"One of those tea-laden ships, called the 'Dartmouth,'--Captain Hall in command,--came to anchor yonder, near the Castle, as it was then called. It was on Sunday the 'Dartmouth' came in; and as you may suppose, the sight of her caused a great excitement in Boston.
"Early on Monday morning a placard was posted all over the town. I committed it to memory when a school-boy. It said:--
"'Friends! Brethren! Countrymen! That worst of plagues, the detested tea shipped for this port by the East India Company, is now arrived in the harbor; the Hour of Destruction, or manly opposition to the Machinations of Tyranny, stares you in the face; every Friend to his Country, to himself, and to Posterity, is now called upon to meet at Faneuil Hall, at nine o'clock This Day (at which time the bells will ring), to make united and successful resistance to this last, worst, and most destructive measure of administration.'
"That was the handbill; its date was November 29, 1773."
"Was that the 'vite to the tea-party?" asked little Elsie.
"Not to what proved to be the principal one," he answered.
"In response to the call they met that day at Faneuil Hall, but the excitement was so great and brought so many people together that they adjourned to the Old South Meeting-house which was larger.