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American History Stories, Volume II |
by Mara L. Pratt |
Tales of Revolutionary times, including the causes of the American Revolution, the daring exploits of those defending liberty, the early battles, the struggles of the army, and the heroes who led the colonists to victory. Ages 8-12 | 169 pages |
$9.95 |
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THE PATRIOTIC BARBER
[35] There were some of the colonists who did not approve of this
rebellion of the people against the king. Although
they knew England had no right to do what she had done,
still they dreaded a quarrel; and, since they were
pretty comfortable, didn't care much whether England
treated them as equals or as slaves. There were some,
too, who had such great reverence for England and the
king, that they would have considered it an honor to
have their ears pulled or their faces slapped, if only
it were done by a king's hand.
These colonists who believed in obeying the king, no
matter what he demanded, were called Tories, while
those colonists who were so ready to fight for freedom
were called Whigs.
I am afraid a great many of the Tories were persecuted
in those days by the excited Whigs.
There is a story told of a Boston barber, which will
show you how bitterly the Whigs hated the Tories.
A barber was shaving a customer one day, and, at the
same time, earnestly talking politics with him. One
side of the customer's face was nicely shaved, when, by
something he said, the barber learned that the man was
a Tory.
Quick as a flash the barber threw down his razor,
clutched the man by the collar and dragged him to the
door.
[36] "A Tory! a Tory!" shouted the barber at the top of
his voice. In less than a minute a crowd had gathered.
A roar of laughter went up at sight of the unhappy
Tory, his eyes glaring with rage and fright, his face
all lathered, one side cleanly shaven, the other all
rough with his bristling beard.
STREET SCENES
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Away ran the man, and after him ran the crowd, hooting
and laughing, and shouting "A Tory! a Tory!" The crowd
followed him from shop to shop, until at last he found
a barber who was himself a Tory, and who willingly
rescued him from the mob and finished the shaving for
the unfortunate man. This was a very mean act in the
Whig barber, but, it will show you very well the spirit
of the times.
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