Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
Longfellow.


The midnight ride of Paul Revere happened a long time ago when this
country was ruled by the king of England.

There were thousands of English soldiers in Boston. The king had sent
them there to make the people obey his unjust laws. These soldiers
guarded the streets of the town; they would not let any one go out or
come in without their leave.

The people did not like this. They said, "We have a right to be free
men, but the king treats us as slaves. He makes us pay taxes and gives
us nothing in return. He sends soldiers among us to take away our
liberty."

The whole country was stirred up. Brave men left their homes and
hurried toward Boston.

They said, "We do not wish to fight against the king, but we are free
men, and he must not send soldiers to oppress us. If the people of
Boston must fight for their liberty, we will help them."
These men were not afraid of the king's soldiers. Some of them camped
in Charlestown, [Footnote: Charles'town.] a village near Boston. From
the hills of Charlestown they could watch and see what the king's
soldiers were doing.

They wished to be ready to defend themselves, if the soldiers should