Something About The War

Will you tell me a story this evening, father? asked William P. a fine lad of twelve years of age, the son of General William P. who had been a gallant officer in the revolutionary war.

“And what story shall I tell you, my son?” said the general.

“Something about the war, father.”

“You are always for hearing about the war, William.” said General P: “I have told you almost all the stories I recollect. And besides, William, if you love to hear about the war so well, when you are young, you will wish to be a soldier, when you become a man.”

“And would you not wish to have me a soldier, father, if war should come? You were once a soldier, and I have heard people say, that you were very brave, and fought like a hero!”

“Well, well, William,” said the general, “I must tell you one story more. Where are Henry and John? You may call them. They will like to hear the story too.”

William, Henry and John enter.

Henry: “Father! William says you are going to tell us a story about the war! What-”

John: “Shall you tell us about some battle, where you fought?

General P: “Sit down, my children, sit down. Did I ever tell you about Enoch Crosby?”

William: “Enoch Crosby? why, I never heard of such a man.”

Henry: “Nor did I.”

General P: “I suppose not. But he was a brave man, and did that for his country, which is worthy to be told.”

John: “Was he a general, father?”

General P: “No. He was a spy.”

William: “A spy! a spy! father, I thought a spy was an odious character?”

General P: “Well, a real spy is generally so considered. I think it would be more appropriate to say, that he was an informer. During the war, many Americans were employed to obtain information about the enemy. They were often soldiers. They received pay, as did the soldiers. Sometimes they obtained information, which was very important, especially about the tories, or such Americans as favoured the British cause.”

Henry: “Is that the meaning of word tory?”

General P: “Yes. Tories were Americans, who wished that the British aims might succeed, and the king of England might still be king of the colonies. Those who wished differently, and who fought aganist the British, were called whigs.”

John: “Was Crosby a whig?”

General P: “Yes. No man could be more devoted to the liberty of his country.”

William: “Whence were the names whig and tory derived?”

General P: “Do you wish to know the original meaning of the words, my son?”

William: “Yes, sir.”

General P: “The word tory, the learned Webster says, was derived from Irish, in which language it signifies a robber. Tor, in that language, means a bush. And hence tory , a robber, or bushman. Because robbers often secrete themselves in the bushes. The meaning of the word whig, I am unable to tell you. Its origin is uncertain. It was applied, as I told you, to those who fought for the liberty of America.”

William: “If the word tory means a robber, it was very properly applied to those, who wished to rob the people of America of their rights. Don’t you think so, father?”

General P: “Exactly so, William. A very just remark.”

John: “Father! I thought you was going to tell about Enoch Crosby?”

General P: “True, master John, we will begin.”

VOCABULARIES

Lad a boy or young man

Gallant brave, valiant

Revolutionary relating to or having the nature of a revolution “the revolutionary era”

To recollect to recall

Besides moreover, furthermore

Soldier a member of an army

Brave strong in the face of fear, courageous

Hero the main protagonist in a work of fiction

Battle war

To suppose to believe

General commander of an army

Spy a person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals

Odious hateful

Appropriate suitable

Informer someone who informs someone else about something

To obtain  to acquire

Enemy foe

Tory a member or supporter of the British Conservative Party

Whig a member of the Liberal Party

Devoted faithful, dedicated

Liberty the condition of being free from control or restrictions

To derive from to obtain from a source and from an older form of the name

To signify to show one’s intentions with a sign etc.

Robber a thief

Hence therefore

Bushman  a member of a distinct ethnic group of nomadic people

To secrete to conceal

Unable not able, incapable

Origin root

Remark personal opinion

To begin to start

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