GEN. P. TELLS ABOUT THE EARLY LIFE OF ENOCH CROSBY.
Gen. P. "Enoch Crosby was born in Massachusetts, in 1750. When he was only three years old, his father took him, and the rest of his family, into the state of New-York to live. He was a farmer, and had bought a farm in Southeast, a town which borders on the state of Connecticut.
"Southeast is a wild, rough, and romantic place. Its hills are high and steep. Several cataracts tumble over precipices, and fall upon the ear with deafening noise. Two rivers, called the Croton and the Mill river, wind through the place. Several large ponds enrich the scenery.
"In this rude, but yet delightful country, Enoch Crosby lived, till he was sixteen years old. He was a strong and active boy. He could climb the highest hills without fatigue, and walk on the brink of frightful precipices without fear. His playmates admired him for his courage. He always took the lead because they wished it--they loved him, because he was generous and noble.
"When Enoch was, sixteen years of age, misfortune came upon his father. The family had lived comfortably. They were prosperous farmers--but now, a blast came--I know not the cause--but it came, and they were poor.
"Enoch's father decided that his son must learn a trade. It was no hardship for him to work--this he had been accustomed to. In those times, people laboured harder than now-a-days. Industry was a virtue-- idleness a shame. And it was hard labour, and solid fare, that made the men of those times so much stronger, than those of the present generation.
"Enoch loved labour, and was willing to learn a trade. But it was hard parting with friends, when the day arrived, that he was to go from home. It was settled that he should be a shoemaker, and should learn the trade of a man in a neighbouring town.
"The morning, at length, came, when he was to go. His bundle of clothes was nicely put up by his mother; and his father added a few shillings to his pocket--and then came the blessing of his worthy parents, with their good advice, that he should behave well, and attend to the duties of his place.
"And, said his tender mother--a tear starting from her eye, which she wiped away with the corner of her lindsey-woolsey, while she spake-- 'your Bible, Enoch, you will find in your bundle--don't forget _that_--and you must pray for us--my son--'
"She could say no more--and Enoch could hear no more. Without even bidding them 'farewell'--for his heart was too full for that--he shouldered his little pack, and took his way down the lane, which led to the road he was to take.
"At a few rods distance, he stopped to take one more look of the old place, so dear to him. His mother was standing at the window. She had felt the full tenderness of a mother for him before--but his love of home--his pause--his gaze--his tears--now almost overwhelmed her.
"Enoch caught a glimpse of his mother, and saw her agony. He could trust himself no longer--and summoning his energies, hurried over the hills, which soon hid the scenes of his youth from his view.
"In after years--many years after--even when he became an old man, he would speak of this scene, with deep feeling. He could never forget it. He said he felt for a time alone in the world--cut off from all he held dear. I do not wonder," said Gen. P. "that he felt much, for well do I remember the pain I felt, the first time leaving home."
Gen. P. "Before night, Enoch reached his new home. His countenance had somewhat brightened; yet his heart felt sad, for some days.
"On the following morning, his master introduced him into the shop. He had a seat assigned him provided with awls, thread, wax, and the more solid, but equally needful companion, a lapstone.
"Enoch proved a good apprentice. At first, the confinement was irksome. He had been used to the open air--to the active exercise of the field--to the free, healthful breeze of the mountain. It was tiresome to sit all day, in a confined shop. But he made himself contented, and, in a little time, found his employment quite pleasant."
John. "Didn't he want to see his mother?"
Gen. P. "Doubtless he did. He would not be likely to forget her; and I hope he did not neglect her good advice. And, when permission was given him, he went home to visit his friends, and always with delight.
"In 1771, the apprenticeship of Enoch ended. He was now twenty-one years old--a man grown--industrious--honest--and ready to begin business for himself.
"Old Mr. Crosby was a strong whig--a man of reading and information-- one who took a deep interest in the welfare of his country.
"About the time that Enoch first left home to learn his trade, the troubles of America began with England. The king and his ministers became jealous of the Americans. They thought them growing too fast-- 'They will soon,' said they, 'become proud, and wish to be free and independent--we must tax them--we must take away their money. This will keep them poor and humble.'
"Those things used often to be talked over, at old Mr. Crosby's. The neighbours would sometimes happen in there of a winter's evening to spend an hour, or two--the minister--the schoolmaster--and others--and although Southeast was a retired place, the conduct of the 'mother country,' as England was called, was pretty well understood there, and justly censured.
"Old Mr. Crosby, especially, condemned the conduct of England. He said, for one, he did not wish to be trampled on. 'They have no right to tax us,' said he,--'it is unjust--it is cruel--and, for myself, I am ready to say, I will not submit to it. And, mark my word, the time will come, when the people will defend themselves, and when that time comes, I hope,' said he--looking round upon his sons, especially upon Enoch--'I hope my boys will not shame their father--no, not they.'
"Enoch thought much of his father. He was a grave man--one who sat steady in his chair when he talked--and talked so slowly, and so emphatic, as always to be heard. Enoch, though a boy, listened--he was then interested--and as he grew older and was at home occasionally, on a visit, and these subjects were discussed--he took a still deeper interest, and would sometimes even mingle in the animated talk, round the fire side of his father.
"And, then, there were times, too, when he was seated on his bench, thinking over what he had heard; or sat listening to some customer of his master, who happened in, on a rainy day--and who had seen the last paper which gave an account of some new attempt to oppress the colonies--at such times, he would almost wish himself a soldier, and in the field fighting for his country. And then the hammer, it was observed, would come down upon his lapstone with double force, as if he were splitting the head of one of the enemy open, or his awl would go through the leather, as if he were plunging a bayonet into the belt of a soldier."
"Such were the workings of Enoch Crosby's mind--the work of preparation was going on there--the steam was gradually rising--and though he realized it not--he was fitting to become a zealous and active soldier, in his country's service.
"On the 5th of March, 1770, nearly a year before Enoch's time was out, the 'Boston Massacre' happened."
Henry. "The 'Boston Massacre!' father--pray, what was that?"
Gen. P. "William! you know the story, I trust--can you tell it to your brother?"
William. "I have read about it; but I don't know well how to tell it. Will you tell it, father?"
Gen. P. "Tell it as well as you are able, my son. It is by practice that we learn to do things well."
William. "One evening some British soldiers were near a ropewalk in Boston. A man, who worked in the ropewalk, said something to them which they did not like, and they beat him.
"Three days after, on the 5th of March, while the soldiers were under arms, some of them were insulted by the citizens, and one, it is said, was struck. This soldier was so angry, that he fired. Then, six others fired. Three citizens were killed, and five were wounded.
"All Boston was soon roused. The bells were rung. Many thousand people assembled, and they said that they would tear the soldiers to pieces, and I don't know but that they would have done so, if Gov. Hutchinson had not come out, and told the people, that he would inquire into the matter, and have the guilty punished. This pacified them."
Gen. P. "Well done--quite well done, master William. You now know, Henry, what is meant by the 'Boston Massacre.'"
Henry. "It was a bloody affair, I think."
Gen. P. "Bloody indeed!--inhuman and highly provoking. The news of it spread--spread rapidly, in every direction. The country was filled with alarm. War was seen to be almost certain; such an insult--such a crime could not be forgotten. Even at Phillipstown, where Crosby was at his trade, the story was told. It roused his spirit. He thought of what his father had said. And he was even now desirous to enlist as a soldier, to avenge the slaughtered Americans.
"The next year--in January, I think it was--Enoch's time being out, he left his master, and went to live at Danbury, Connecticut, where he worked at his trade, as a journeyman, and here he continued for several years.
"During this time, the difficulties between England and America increased. The king and his ministers grew more haughty and oppressive. The Americans waxed more firm and confident. Several events tended to make the breach wider and wider. The British parliament taxed the Americans--next the people of Boston threw into the sea a large quantity of tea, belonging to people in England, because a tax was laid upon it. Then, by way of revenge for this, the parliament ordered that no vessel should enter Boston harbour, or leave it. And, finally, the king sent a large body of English soldiers to America, to watch the people here, and force them to submission.
"Things now became quite unsettled. The Americans felt injured--they were provoked--nothing was before them but war or slavery. This latter they could not bear. They scorned to be slaves. Besides, they saw no reason why they should be slaves. They knew war was a great evil. But it was better than slavery. And now they began to talk about it; and to act in view of it. In almost every town--especially in New England--the young men were enrolled; that is, were formed into companies, and were daily exercised, in order to make them good soldiers. These were called '_minute men_'."
