Contents Preface THE WHOLE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER’S CHAIR Part I Chapter I Chapter II THE LADY ARBELLA Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI THE PINE-TREE SHILLINGS Chapter VII Chapter VIII THE INDIAN BIBLE Chapter IX Chapter X THE SUNKEN TREASURE Chapter XI Part II Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III THE OLD-FASHIONED SCHOOL Chapter IV Chapter VI THE REJECTED BLESSING Chapter VII Chapter VIII THE PROVINCIAL MUSTER Chapter IX THE ACADIAN EXILES Chapter X Chapter XI Part III Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III THE HUTCHINSON MOB Chapter IV Chapter V THE BOSTON MASSACRE Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX THE TORY’S FAREWELL Chapter X Chapter XI GRANDFATHER’S DREAM Biographical Stories Chapter I Chapter II BENJAMIN WEST Chapter III SIR ISAAC NEWTON Chapter IV SAMUEL JOHNSON Chapter V SAMUEL JOHNSON—­continued.  Chapter VI OLIVER CROMWELL Chapter VII BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Chapter VIII BENJAMIN FRANKLIN—­continued Chapter IX QUEEN CHRISTINA Credits A Word from Project Gutenberg The Full Project Gutenberg License

Preface

In writing this ponderous tome, the author’s desire has been to describe the eminent characters and remarkable events of our annals, in such a form and style, that the young might make acquaintance with them of their own accord.  For this purpose, while ostensibly relating the adventures of a Chair, he has endeavored to keep a distinct and unbroken thread of authentic history.  The Chair is made to pass from one to another of those personages, of whom he thought it most desirable for the young reader to have vivid and familiar ideas, and whose lives and actions would best enable him to give picturesque sketches of the times.  On its sturdy oaken legs, it trudges diligently from one scene to another, and seems always to thrust itself in the way, with most benign complacency, whenever a historical personage happens to be looking round for a seat.

There is certainly no method, by which the shadowy outlines of departed men and women can he made to assume the hues of life more effectually, than by connecting their images with the substantial and homely reality of a fireside chair.  It causes us to feel at once, that these characters of history had a private and familiar existence, and were not wholly contained within that cold array of outward action, which we are compelled to receive as the adequate representation of their lives.  If this impression can be given, much is accomplished.

Setting aside Grandfather and his auditors, and excepting the adventures of the Chair, which form the machinery of the work, nothing in the ensuing pages can be termed fictitious.  The author, it is true, has sometimes assumed the license of filling up the outline of history with details, for which he has none but imaginative authority, but which, he hopes, do not violate nor give a false coloring to the truth.  He believes that, in this respect, his narrative will not be found to convey ideas and impressions, of which the reader may hereafter find it necessary to purge his mind.