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Page 10
"Pray do imagine it, Grandfather," said Laurence.
"With Charley's permission, I will," replied Grandfather, smiling. "Let
us consider it settled, therefore, that Winthrop, Bellingham, Dudley,
and Endicott, each of them, when chosen governor, took his seat in our
great chair on election day. In this chair, likewise, did those
excellent governors preside, while holding consultations with the chief
counsellors of the province, who were styled Assistants. The governor
sat in this chair, too, whenever messages were brought to him from the
chamber of Representatives."
And here Grandfather took occasion to talk, rather tediously, about the
nature and forms of government that established themselves, almost
spontaneously, in Massachusetts and the other New England colonies.
Democracies were the natural growth of the new world. As to
Massachusetts, it was at first intended that the colony should be
governed by a council in London. But, in a little while, the people had
the whole power in their own hands, and chose annually the governor, the
counsellors, and the representatives. The people of old England had
never enjoyed any thing like the liberties and privileges, which the
settlers of New England now possessed. And they did not adopt these
modes of government after long study, but in simplicity, as if there
were no other way for people to be ruled.
"But, Laurence," continued Grandfather, "when you want instruction on
these points, you must seek it in Mr. Bancroft's History. I am merely
telling the history of a chair. To proceed. The period during which the
governors sat in our chair, was not very full of striking incidents. The
province was now established on a secure foundation; but it did not
increase so rapidly as at first, because the Puritans were no longer
driven from England by persecution. However, there was still a quiet and
natural growth. The legislature incorporated towns, and made new
purchases of lands from the Indians. A very memorable event took place
in 1643. The colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New
Haven, formed a union, for the purpose of assisting each other in
difficulties, and for mutual defence against their enemies. They called
themselves the United Colonies of New England."
"Were they under a government like that of the United States?" inquired
Laurence.
"No," replied Grandfather, "the different colonies did not compose one
nation together; it was merely a confederacy among the governments. It
somewhat resembled the league of the Amphictyons, which you remember in
Grecian history. But to return to our chair. In 1644 it was highly
honored; for Governor Endicott sat in it, when he gave audience to an
ambassador from the French governor of Acadie, or Nova Scotia. A treaty
of peace, between Massachusetts and the French colony, was then signed."
"Did England allow Massachusetts to make war and peace with foreign
countries?" asked Laurence.
"Massachusetts, and the whole of New England, was then almost
independent of the mother country," said Grandfather. "There was now a
civil war in England; and the king, as you may well suppose, had his
hands full at home, and could pay but little attention to these remote
colonies. When the Parliament got the power into their hands, they
likewise had enough to do in keeping down the Cavaliers. Thus New
England, like a young and hardy lad, whose father and mother neglect it,
was left to take care of itself. In 1649, King Charles was beheaded.
Oliver Cromwell then became Protector of England; and as he was a
Puritan himself, and had risen by the valor of the English Puritans, he
showed himself a loving and indulgent father to the Puritan colonies in
America."
Grandfather might have continued to talk in this dull manner, nobody
knows how long; but, suspecting that Charley would find the subject
rather dry, he looked sideways at that vivacious little fellow, and saw
him give an involuntary yawn. Whereupon, Grandfather proceeded with the
history of the chair, and related a very entertaining incident, which
will be found in the next chapter.
CHAPTER VI.
"According to the most authentic records, my dear children," said
Grandfather, "the chair, about this time, had the misfortune to break
its leg. It was probably on account of this accident, that it ceased to
be the seat of the governors of Massachusetts; for, assuredly, it would
have been ominous of evil to the commonwealth, if the Chair of State had
tottered upon three legs. Being therefore sold at auction,--alas! what a
vicissitude for a chair that had figured in such high company, our
venerable friend was knocked down to a certain Captain John Hull. This
old gentleman, on carefully examining the maimed chair, discovered that
its broken leg might be clamped with iron and made as serviceable as
ever."
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