“Did England allow Massachusetts to make war and peace with foreign countries?” asked Laurence.

“Massachusetts, and the whole of New England, was then almost independent of the mother country,” said Grandfather.  “There was now a civil war in England; and the king, as you may well suppose, had his hands full at home, and could pay but little attention to these remote colonies.  When the Parliament got the power into their hands, they likewise had enough to do in keeping down the Cavaliers.  Thus New England, like a young and hardy lad, whose father and mother neglect it, was left to take care of itself.  In 1649, King Charles was beheaded.  Oliver Cromwell then became Protector of England; and as he was a Puritan himself, and had risen by the valor of the English Puritans, he showed himself a loving and indulgent father to the Puritan colonies in America.”

Grandfather might have continued to talk in this dull manner, nobody knows how long; but, suspecting that Charley would find the subject rather dry, he looked sideways at that vivacious little fellow, and saw him give an involuntary yawn.  Whereupon, Grandfather proceeded with the history of the chair, and related a very entertaining incident, which will be found in the next chapter.

Chapter VI

“According to the most authentic records, my dear children,” said Grandfather, “the chair, about this time, had the misfortune to break its leg.  It was probably on account of this accident, that it ceased to be the seat of the governors of Massachusetts; for, assuredly, it would have been ominous of evil to the commonwealth, if the Chair of State had tottered upon three legs.  Being therefore sold at auction,—­alas! what a vicissitude for a chair that had figured in such high company, our venerable friend was knocked down to a certain Captain John Hull.  This old gentleman, on carefully examining the maimed chair, discovered that its broken leg might be clamped with iron and made as serviceable as ever.”

“Here is the very leg that was broken!” exclaimed Charley, throwing himself down on the floor to look at it.  “And here are the iron clamps.  How well it was mended!”

When they had all sufficiently examined the broken leg, Grandfather told them a story about Captain John Hull and

THE PINE-TREE SHILLINGS

The Captain John Hull, aforesaid, was the mint-master of Massachusetts, and coined all the money that was made there.  This was a new line of business:  for, in the earlier days of the colony, the current coinage consisted of gold and silver money of England, Portugal, and Spain.  These coins being scarce, the people were often forced to barter their commodities, instead of selling them.