This was in a large building
somewhere in England. I, like the curling tongs, was at last packed
up in a box, and brought to America, but it took a rather larger box
to take me and my friends, than it took to pack up him and his
friends, with all their thin straddle legs."
Creak went the curling tongs at this personal attack.
"We were brought to this country," continued the old musket, "by an
Englishman. Little did he think how soon we should take part against
our Fatherland, or he would have kept us at home.
One day, the elder brother of the gentleman who owned our little
friend curling tongs came into the shop where I then was, and, after
looking at all the muskets, selected me as one that he might trust.
As he paid for me, he said to the man, "This is an argument which we
shall soon have to use in defence of our liberties."
"I fear we shall," said the shopman, "and if many men are of your
mind, I hope, sir, you will recommend my shop to them. I shall be
happy to supply all true patriots with the very best English
muskets."
My new master smiled, and took me home to his house in the country.
The family consisted of himself, his wife, and three children--two
sons and a daughter. The eldest son was eighteen, the second
sixteen, and the daughter fourteen. The mistress of the house turned
pale when she saw my master bring me in and quietly set me down in a
corner of the room behind the old clock.
Presently the two young men entered.
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