Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH THE ROYAL GOVERNOR HAS A GREAT LAUGH. When we bad come to the Province House, there were people standing all about in little groups under the trees and on the large steps and there were chaise carts, and calashes and coaches about, and an air of much excitement. My father said that he had never seen the like of it before, and spoke to Mr. Mather, saying that when Sir Edmund Andros had come over to administer the colony, lines of soldiery guarded his house, and none of the good men were so much as permitted to go upon the grounds. "And much better so, methinks," said Mr. Mather, in a very low voice, as we came up the walk. "For, in sad earnest, this governor is no more than a seafaring man, an adventurer, withal." " Long live King William of Orange and his gracious queen!" called a voice. " God preserve our new charter ! " cried another. " And our new governor !" shouted still another. " And our godly Mr. Mather ! " called a fourth one, espying the famous minister coming up the walk. In truth, I tried not to notice his bow legs as he trudged along before me, nor to remember the jibe anent his having more learning than he could carry, but I heard a young runagate near me whisper to his companion that the reverend doctor should have a little cart to pull his wisdom in, and thereby relieve his limbs, which caused something of a laugh, until the tithing-man gave the causer of it a poke with his long staff which made him wince, I'll warrant you. The servants, seeing that the Reverend Mr. Mather was of our party, allowed usto go in without parleying, and one of them pointed to a door on the side of the wide hall, saying that we would find His Excellency within. Sir William Phipps, His Majesty's new governor of the Province of Massachusetts ...