A very short story, showing a British general’s admiration for
American boys who were not afraid to stand up for their rights.
Perhaps you have heard that even in these old times the Boston boys
were in the habit of coasting on the Common. They would build hills
of snow and slide swiftly down to the Frog Pond. Well, the English
soldiers had their camps on the Common, and from mere love of mischief
would, when the boys had gone to school, destroy their coasting-ground.
Incensed at having their sport thus meanly prevented, a delegation of
boys went to General Gage about it. When shown into his presence he
asked, with surprise, why so many children had come to see him.
“We come, sir,” said the young spokesman, with a flushed face, “to ask
a redress of our grievances.”
“What!” said the general, “have your fathers been teaching you
rebellion, and sent you here to utter it?”
“Nobody sent us, sir,” replied the brave little fellow. “We have never
injured or insulted your soldiers, but they have trodden down our
snow-hills, and broken the ice on our skating-ground. We complained,
and they called us young rebels, and told us to help ourselves if we
could. Yesterday our works were destroyed for the third time, and now,”
said the lad, with flashing eyes, “we will bear it no longer.”
General Gage looked at the boys with undisguised admiration. Then,
turning to an officer who stood near, he exclaimed:
“Good heavens, the very children draw in a love of liberty with the air
they breathe.” To the lads he then said:
“You may go, my brave boys; and be assured that if any of my troops
hereafter molest you, they shall be severely punished.”