“The country must have been sick of war,” observed Laurence.

“One would have thought so,” said Grandfather.  “Yet only two or three years elapsed, before the folly of some misguided men caused another mustering of soldiers.  This affair was called Shays’ War, because a Captain Shays was the chief leader of the insurgents.”

“O Grandfather, don’t let there be another war!” cried little Alice, piteously.

Grandfather comforted his dear little girl, by assuring her that there was no great mischief done.  Shays’s War happened in the latter part of 1786, and the beginning of the following year.  Its principal cause was the badness of the times.  The State of Massachusetts, in its public capacity, was very much in debt.  So, likewise, were many of the people.  An insurrection took place, the object of which seems to have been, to interrupt the course of law, and get rid of debts and taxes.

James Bowdoin, a good and able man, was now governor of Massachusetts.  He sent General Lincoln, at the head of four thousand men, to put down the insurrection.  This general, who had fought through several hard campaigns in the Revolution, managed matters like an old soldier, and totally defeated the rebels, at the expense of very little blood.

“There is but one more public event to be recorded in the history of our chair,” proceeded Grandfather.  “In the year 1794, Samuel Adams was elected governor of Massachusetts.  I have told you what a distinguished patriot he was, and how much he resembled the stern old Puritans.  Could the ancient freemen of Massachusetts, who lived in the days of the first charter, have arisen from their graves, they would probably have voted for Samuel Adams to be governor.”

“Well, Grandfather, I hope he sat in our chair!” said Clara.

“He did,” replied Grandfather.  “He had long been in the habit of visiting the barber’s shop, where our venerable chair, philosophically forgetful of its former dignities, had now spent nearly eighteen not uncomfortable years.  Such a remarkable piece of furniture, so evidently a relic of long-departed times, could not escape the notice of Samuel Adams.  He made minute researches into its history, and ascertained what a succession of excellent and famous people had occupied it.”

“How did he find it out?” asked Charley.  “For I suppose the chair could not tell its own history.”

“There used to be a vast collection of ancient letters and other documents, in the tower of the old South Church,” answered Grandfather.  “Perhaps the history of our chair was contained among these.  At all events, Samuel Adams appears to have been well acquainted with it.  When he became governor, he felt that he could have no more honorable seat, than that which had been the ancient Chair of State.  He therefore purchased it for a trifle, and filled it worthily for three years, as governor of Massachusetts.”

“And what next?” asked Charley.