James Otis Kaler

“ It was almost comfortable here with Scip, before the man ran into the square."
"I suppose they were chasing him, and he couldn't go anywhere else. You would run very fast, and never think you might be making trouble for two little girls, if men were close behind trying with all their might to hang you, Sarah Lamb!"
"I suppose I should," was the meek reply, and then, after a brief time of silence, Sarah added, "Why is Scip staying in the entry? Why don't he come in here?"
"He has no business to leave us alone so long!" Dorothy said indignantly. "He shall be made to know his duty toward us! ”

“ This last announcement was made in a very shaky voice; but, having thus declared her intentions, Dorothy believed it necessary to make some decided movement, and she emerged from the fireplace again as Sarah cried imploringly:
"Surely you'll never think of going into the entry alone! Don't leave me here, Dorothy dear!"
"We'll take the candle, and you shall come with me. Surely two girls who are over ten years old, should have more spirit; it is because we are so afraid that Scip dares to play his pranks. I'm going to get the candle." ”

“ There's a bad man in the best room who has come to kill us, and won't You smite him to save us who never did You nor him any harm? We—we—we—" Dorothy was at a loss to know how the petition should be brought to a close, for it was her first original prayer, and as she hesitated the words that had been read on that afternoon came to mind, therefore she added, "and we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. ”

“ I wonder if they would hang him in the square? Father said a spy must be killed for doing such work."
"The Britishers have no right to make trouble here, now that the Declaration has been read, and I don't know that I am very sorry for the man. Why didn't he stay at Staten Island, with the rest of my lord Howe's soldiers?"
"You are sorry for him, Sarah Lamb!" Dorothy cried sharply, raising her voice slightly. "He is a human person, even if he has come here to do harm to our people!" ”

“ Standing here, frantically embracing each other, the new costumes received yet further injury from the soot which was exposed to the touch once the green screen had been trampled down, and even the children's faces and hands were soon stained black in spots and streaks, which would have caused them great merriment but for the terror which had taken possession of both. ”

“ At this point it suddenly occurred to Scipio that by going into the front room it would be possible to see through the window all that was being done, and he darted swiftly forward, almost pulling the girls from their feet as they held fast to his coat. ”

“ The old man was burning with curiosity to know what was being done outside, for the pursuers were yet within the square, but at such a distance that no words could be distinguished amid the uproar, and he had no idea of being thus held in check by two small girls.
"Now look here, you chilluns," he said persuasively, "I'se got ter do sumfin' else I'se boun' to ketch it hot when Massa comes home. He's gwine to 'low dat I ought'er tell him all 'bout it, an' I'se 'bleeged fur ter snoop' roun 'a littly bit. Ef yer don' wan' dis yere shutter opened, I'se gwine ter slide out'er de door. ”