WH

CONCORD AND LEXINGTON

From "The American Revolution"

JOHN FISKE

HEN Pitcairn reached Lexington, just as the rising sun was casting long shadows across the village green, he found himself confronted by some fifty minutemen under command of Captain John Parker, -grandfather of Theodore

Parker, a hardy veteran, who, fifteen years before, had climbed the Heights of Abraham by the side of Wolfe. "Stand your ground," said Parker. "Don't fire unless fired upon; but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

66

NORTH BRIDGE, CONCORD

Disperse, ye villains!" shouted Pitcairn.

"Damn you,

why don't you disperse?" And as they stood motionless, he gave the order to fire. As the soldiers hesitated to obey, he discharged his own pistol and repeated the order, whereupon a deadly volley slew eight of the minutemen and wounded ten. One of the victims, Jonathan Harrington, was just able to stagger across the green to his own house (which is still there,) and to die in the arms of his wife, who was standing at the door.

At this moment the head of Smith's own to have come into sight, far down the road.

column seems

The minute

men had begun to return the fire when Parker, seeing the folly of resistance, ordered them to retire. While this was going on, Adams and Hancock were walking across the fields toward Woburn; and as the crackle of distant musketry reached their ears, the eager Adams - his soul aglow with the prophecy of the coming deliverance of his country —exclaimed, “Oh, what a glorious morning is this! From Woburn the two friends went on their way to Philadelphia, where the second Continental Congress was about to assemble.

Some precious minutes had been lost by the British at Lexington, and it soon became clear that the day was to be one in which minutes could ill be spared. By the time they reached Concord, about seven o'clock, the greater part of the stores had been effectually hidden, and minutemen were rapidly gathering from all quarters. After posting small forces to guard the bridges, the troops set fire to the courthouse, cut down the libertypole, disabled a few cannon, staved in a few barrels of flour, and hunted unsuccessfully for arms and ammunition, until an unexpected incident put a stop to their proceedings. When the force of minutemen, watching events from the hill beyond the river, had become increased to more than 400, they suddenly advanced upon the North Bridge, which was held by 200 regulars. After receiving and returning the British fire, the militia, led by Major Buttrick, charged across the narrow bridge, overcame the regulars by dint of weight and numbers, and drove them back past the Old Manse into the village. They did not follow up the attack, but rested on their arms, wondering, perhaps, at what they had already ac

tle before noon, though none of the objects of the tion had been accomplished, Colonel Smith began ize the danger of his position, and started on his to Boston. His men were in no mood for fight. ad marched eighteen miles, and had eaten little or g for fourteen hours. But now, while companies itia hovered upon both their flanks, every clump es and every bit of rising ground by the roadside helter to hostile yeomen, whose aim was true and . Straggling combats ensued from time to time, he retreating British left nothing undone which men could do; but the incessant, galling fire at threw them into confusion. Leaving their wounded red along the road, they had already passed the vilreen of Lexington in disorderly flight, when they saved by Lord Percy, who had marched out over

Neck and through Cambridge to their assistance, 1200 men and two field pieces. Forming his men hollow square, Percy inclosed the fugitives, who, e exhaustion, threw themselves upon the ground, tongues hanging out of their mouths," says Colonel an, "like those of dogs after a chase." Many had n away their muskets, and Pitcairn had lost his with the elegant pistols which fired the first shots War of Independence, and which may be seen toalong with other trophies, in the town library of gton.

cy's timely arrival checked the pursuit for an hour,

and gave the starved and weary men a chance for food and rest. A few houses were pillaged and set on fire, but at three o'clock General Heath and Dr. Warren arrived on the scene and took command of the militia, and the irregular fight was renewed. When Percy reached Menotomy (now Arlington,) seven miles from Boston, his passage was disputed by a fresh force of militia, while pursuers pressed hard on his rear, and it was only after an obstinate fight that he succeeded in forcing his way. The roadside now fairly swarmed with marksmen, insomuch that, as one of the British officers observed, "they seemed to have dropped from the clouds."

It became impossible to keep order or to carry away the wounded; and when, at sunset, the troops entered Charlestown, under the welcome shelter of the fleet, it was upon the full run. They were not a moment too soon, for Colonel Timothy Pickering, with 700 Essex militia, on the way to intercept them, had already reached Winter Hill; and had their road been blocked by this fresh force, they must in all probability have surrendered.

On this eventful day the British lost 273 of their number, while the Americans lost 93. The expedition had been a failure, the whole British force had barely escaped capture, and it had been shown that the people could not be frightened into submission.

DAYBREAK

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

AY had awakened all things that be,

DA

The lark, and the thrush, and the swallow free,

And the milkmaid's song, and the mower's scythe,

And the matin bell, and the mountain bee:
Fireflies were quenched on the dewy corn,
Glowworms went out, on the river's brim,
Like lamps which a student forgets to trim:
The beetle forgot to wind his horn,

The crickets were still in the meadow and hill:
Like a flock of rooks at a farmer's gun,
Night's dreams and terrors, every one,
Fled from the brains which are its prey,
From the lamp's death to the morning ray.

TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS

THOMAS HUGHES

Thomas Hughes was born in England in 1823, and died in 1896. His "Tom Brown at Rugby" and "Tom Brown at Oxford" made him immensely popular. Aside from these books, he wrote a great deal, largely in favor of a form of socialism. Among his most popular books, beside those already mentioned, are “Our Old Church — What shall we do with it?" and "Rugby," an account of a coöperative colony, attempted in this country, in Tennessee. He also wrote "The Manliness of Christ," a strong and very original work. The following extracts from "Tom Brown's School Days," though very far from giving you a complete story, will give you an excellent idea of the character of the work. You will certainly read it in a complete form. While it may not rank high as literature, it is a book that will do you good to read