Edward Bellamy

“ There will be fighting before hanging. At any rate, if I'm hung, it will be as long as it's short, for Reub would have died if I hadn't got him out of jail."
The doctor gathered up the reins.
"I want to thank you for coming," said Perez. "You know, I s'pose, that we are very poor, and can't promise much pay."
"If you'll see that your mob doesn't give me such a serenade as it did Squire Woodbridge last night, I'll call it square," said the doctor, and drove off. ”

“ These were the horse-fiddles, contrived for the purpose of promoting wakefulness by night, on the part of the silk stockings. Given plenty of rosin, and a dozen stout fellows to each fiddle, drawing the boards to and fro across the backs of the horses, pressing on hard, and the resulting shrieks were something only to be imagined with the fingers in the ears. The concert given to Squire Woodbridge the night previous, had been an extemporized affair, with only one horse-fiddle, and insufficient support from other instruments. ”

“ He was thinking that those red lips of hers had once kissed his, that August morning when he stood on the green, ready to march with the minute men.
"My Aunt Woodbridge is very sick. If your men make a noise again in front of my uncle's house, she will die. I came to--to ask"--she had to say it--"you to prevent it."
"I will prevent it," said Perez.
Desire dropped an almost imperceptible curtsey, raised the latch of the door and went out. ”

“ Partridge, regarding with astonishment the child's blazing eyes and panting bosom, while peering over her mistress's shoulders, the negro girl was turning up the whites of her eyes at the display. "There, there, child, I meant nothing. If he is sick, maybe they will leave him. I know naught of such things. But this Perez Hamlin will be hung of a surety, and the rest be put in the stocks and well whipt."
"He will not be hung. No one will dare to touch him," cried Prudence, becoming excited again. "He is the best man in the world. ”

“ He's one of them that were fetched from Barrington jail yesterday, and he's sick. He's at Mis Hamlin's, please marm."
"Surely, by that he must be one of the debtors. The sheriff is more like to come for them than the doctor. They will be back in jail in a few days, no doubt," said Mrs. Partridge, sharply.
"No one will be so cruel. Father is so sick. If you could see him, you would not say so. They shall not take him to jail again. If Mr. Seymour comes after him, I'll tear his eyes out. I'll kill him." ”

“ Women and girls were there in considerable numbers, the latter wearing their ribbons, and walking about in groups together, or listening to their sweethearts, as each explained to a credulous auditor, how yesterday's great events had hinged entirely on the narrator's individual presence and prowess.
Some of the youths, the preceding night, had cut a tall sapling and set it in the middle of the green, in front of the tavern. On the top of this had been fixed the cocked hat of Justice Goodrich, brought as a trophy from Great Barrington. ”

“ After a look and a few words, he said to Fennell:
"I can do you no good."
"Shall I die?" asked the sick man, faintly.
"You may live a few weeks, but not longer. The disease has taken too strong a hold." ”

“ After a series of heartrending groans and yawns, Meshech, who had tumbled on the bed in his clothes, got up and stood stretching and rubbing his eyes in the middle of the floor.
"By gosh, it's kinder tough," he said, "I wuz jess a dreamin ez I wuz latherin deakin. ”