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_'."