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MY KINSMAN； MAJOR MOLINEUX
After the kings of Great Britain had assumed the right of
appointing the colonial governors； the measures of the latter
seldom met with the ready and generous approbation which had been
paid to those of their predecessors； under the original charters。
The people looked with most jealous scrutiny to the exercise of
power which did not emanate from themselves； and they usually
rewarded their rulers with slender gratitude for the compliances
by which； in softening their instructions from beyond the sea；
they had incurred the reprehension of those who gave them。 The
annals of Massachusetts Bay will inform us； that of six governors
in the space of about forty years from the surrender of the old
charter； under James II； two were imprisoned by a popular
insurrection； a third； as Hutchinson inclines to believe； was
driven from the province by the whizzing of a musket…ball； a
fourth； in the opinion of the same historian； was hastened to his
grave by continual bickerings with the House of Representatives；
and the remaining two； as well as their successors； till the
Revolution； were favored with few and brief intervals of peaceful
sway。 The inferior members of the court party； in times of high
political excitement； led scarcely a more desirable life。 These
remarks may serve as a preface to the following adventures； which
chanced upon a summer night； not far from a hundred years ago。
The reader； in order to avoid a long and dry detail of colonial
affairs； is requested to dispense with an account of the train of
circumstances that had caused much temporary inflammation of the
popular mind。
It was near nine o'clock of a moonlight evening； when a boat
crossed the ferry with a single passenger； who had obtained his
conveyance at that unusual hour by the promise of an extra fare。
While he stood on the landing…place； searching in either pocket
for the means of fulfilling his agreement； the ferryman lifted a
lantern； by the aid of which； and the newly risen moon； he took a
very accurate survey of the stranger's figure。 He was a youth of
barely eighteen years； evidently country…bred； and now； as it
should seem； upon his first visit to town。 He was clad in a
coarse gray coat； well worn； but in excellent repair； his under
garments were durably constructed of leather； and fitted tight to
a pair of serviceable and well…shaped limbs； his stockings of
blue yarn were the incontrovertible work of a mother or a sister；
and on his head was a three…cornered hat； which in its better
days had perhaps sheltered the graver brow of the lad's father。
Under his left arm was a heavy cudgel formed of an oak sapling；
and retaining a part of the hardened root； and his equipment was
completed by a wallet； not so abundantly stocked as to incommode
the vigorous shoulders on which it hung。 Brown； curly hair；
well…shaped features； and bright； cheerful eyes were nature's
gifts； and worth all that art could have done for his adornment。
The youth； one of whose names was Robin； finally drew from his
pocket the half of a little province bill of five shillings；
which； in the depreciation in that sort of currency； did but
satisfy the ferryman's demand； with the surplus of a sexangular
piece of parchment； valued at three pence。 He then walked forward
into the town； with as light a step as if his day's journey had
not already exceeded thirty miles； and with as eager an eye as if
he were entering London city； instead of the little metropolis of
a New England colony。 Before Robin had proceeded far； however； it
occurred to him that he knew not whither to direct his steps； so
he paused； and looked up and down the narrow street； scrutinizing
the small and mean wooden buildings that were scattered on either
side。
〃This low hovel cannot be my kinsman's dwelling；〃 thought he；
〃nor yonder old house； where the moonlight enters at the broken
casement； and truly I see none hereabouts that might be worthy of
him。 It would have been wise to inquire my way of the ferryman；
and doubtless he would have gone with me； and earned a shilling
from the Major for his pains。 But the next man I meet will do as
well。〃
He resumed his walk； and was glad to perceive that the street now
became wider； and the houses more respectable in their
appearance。 He soon discerned a figure moving on moderately in
advance； and hastened his steps to overtake it。 As Robin drew
nigh； he saw that the passenger was a man in years； with a full
periwig of gray hair； a wide…skirted coat of dark cloth； and silk
stockings rolled above his knees。 He carried a long and polished
cane； which he struck down perpendicularly before him at every
step； and at regular intervals he uttered two successive hems； of
a peculiarly solemn and sepulchral intonation。 Having made these
observations； Robin laid hold of the skirt of the old man's coat
just when the light from the open door and windows of a barber's
shop fell upon both their figures。
〃Good evening to you； honored sir；〃 said he； making a low bow；
and still retaining his hold of the skirt。 〃I pray you tell me
whereabouts is the dwelling of my kinsman； Major Molineux。〃
The youth's question was uttered very loudly； and one of the
barbers； whose razor was descending on a well…soaped chin； and
another who was dressing a Ramillies wig； left their occupations；
and came to the door。 The citizen； in the mean time； turned a
long…favored countenance upon Robin； and answered him in a tone
of excessive anger and annoyance。 His two sepulchral hems；
however； broke into the very centre of his rebuke； with most
singular effect； like a thought of the cold grave obtruding among
wrathful passions。
〃Let go my garment； fellow！ I tell you； I know not the man you
speak of。 What！ I have authority； I havehem； hemauthority；
and if this be the respect you show for your betters； your feet
shall be brought acquainted with the stocks by daylight； tomorrow
morning！〃
Robin released the old man's skirt； and hastened away； pursued by
an ill…mannered roar of laughter from the barber's shop。 He was
at first considerably surprised by the result of his question；
but； being a shrewd youth； soon thought himself able to account
for the mystery。
〃This is some country representative；〃 was his conclusion； 〃who
has never seen the inside of my kinsman's door； and lacks the
breeding to answer a stranger civilly。 The man is old； or
verilyI might be tempted to turn back and smite him on the
nose。 Ah； Robin； Robin！ even the barber's boys laugh at you for
choosing such a guide！ You will be wiser in time； friend Robin。〃
He now became entangled in a succession of crooked and narrow
streets； which crossed each other； and meandered at no great
distance from the water…side。 The smell of tar was obvious to his
nostrils； the masts of vessels pierced the moonlight above the
tops of the buildings； and the numerous signs； which Robin paused
to read； informed him that he was near the centre of business。
But the streets were empty； the shops were closed； and lights
were visible only in the second stories of a few dwelling…houses。
At length； on the corner of a narrow lane； through which he was
passing； he beheld the broad countenance of a British hero
swinging before the door of an inn； whence proceeded the voices
of many guests。 The casement of one of the lower windows was
thrown back； and a very thin curtain permitted Robin to
distinguish a party at supper； round a well…furnished table。 The
fragrance of the good cheer steamed forth into the outer air； and
the youth could not fail to recollect that the last remnant of
his travelling stock of provision had yielded to his morning
appetite； and that noon had found and left him dinnerless。
〃Oh； that a parchment three…penny might give me a right to sit
down at yonder table！〃 said Robin； with a sigh。 〃But the Major
will make me welcome to the best of his victuals； so I will even
step boldly in； and inquire my way to his dwelling。〃
He entered the tavern； and was guided by the murmur of voices and
the fumes of tobacco to the public…room。 It was a long and low
apartment； with oaken walls； grown dark in the continual smoke；
and a floor which was thickly sanded； but of no immaculate
purity。 A number of personsthe larger part of whom appeared to
be mariners； or in some way connected with the seaoccupied the
wooden benches； or leatherbottomed chairs； conversing on various
matters； and occasionally lending their attention to some topic
of general interest。 Three or four little groups were draining as
many bowls of punch； which the West India trade had long since
made a familiar drink in the colony。 Others； who had the
appearance of men who lived by regular and laborious handicraft；
preferred the insulated bliss of an unshared potation； and became
more taciturn under its influence。 Nearly all； in short； evinced
a pred