Joseph Warren

“ John Pierpont was a Unitarian clergyman of Connecticut, who published several volumes of poetry. General Joseph Warren was one of the generals in command of the patriot army at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was killed in the battle. He was counted one of the bravest and most unselfish patriots of the Revolutionary War. In this poem we have the poet's idea of how General Warren inspired his men. ”

“ Joseph Warren, early on the ground to act the good physician as well as the fearless patriot, gives the impression produced on himself and his co-laborers as they saw the first blood flowing that was shed for American liberty. "Language," he says, "is too feeble to paint the emotions of our souls, when our streets were stained with the blood of our brethren, when our ears were wounded by the groans of the dying, and our eyes were tormented by the sight of the mangled bodies of the dead." "Our hearts beat to arms ”

“ From this ancestor a large proportion of the persons bearing the name of Warren, in the United States, have descended. General Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill, was the descendant of a collateral line of the family. Abraham Warren, a descendant of Richard, born September 25, 1747, fought in the Revolutionary War, as did also his son, Stephen. Lyman Warren, son of Abraham, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, May 25, 1771, and was married in Berkshire, Massachusetts, to Mercy Whipple. ”

“ In about a month after Governor Bernard had solved the problem how such bankrupts in reputation as Joseph Warren, James Otis, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams ruled the town as with a rod of iron, there was (June 10, 1768) a real mob. The Board of Customs directed the revenue officers, for alleged violations of the revenue laws, to seize the sloop Liberty, owned by Hancock, which they did on a Friday, near the hour of sunset, as the men were going home from their day's work. ”

“ Now let us go back to Joseph. He was her eldest son. He was educated at the public school in Roxbury. Like Washington, he displayed in childhood the qualities which afterwards rendered him so celebrated as a man. He was manly, generous, fearless and independent. If one boy oppressed another, he would always take the part of the weakest, and generally succeeded in making the little tyrant ashamed of himself. ”

“ Firm, with our breast to the foe, victory's shout in our ear.
Long they our statues shall crown, in songs our memory cherish;
We shall look forth from our heaven, pleased the sweet music to hear."
The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts was immediately summoned, and met at Watertown, seven miles west of Boston, on the 22d of April. Dr. Joseph Warren was chosen president, and Messrs. Gerry, Church, and Cushing were appointed a commit 1775 tee to draw up a "narrative of the massacre." ** A committee on depositions was also formed, and many affidavits were taken at Lexington and Concord. ”

“ Caroline Warren, you listen to me: I’ll give you till two o’clock to make up your mind to take the money that belongs to you. If you don’t, I swear to the Lord A’mighty I’ll take the fust train, go straight to New York, hunt up Graves, make him go down to the office and get that note your father made out turnin’ all his property over to that Akrae Company. I’ll get that note and I’ll burn it up. Then—then you’ll have to take the money, because it’ll be yours. Every bit of evidence that’ll hold in law is gone, and nobody but you and Steve’ll have the shadow of a claim. ”

“ But his colleagues, some of them very young, were growing strong and experienced. John Adams, then six-and-thirty, and rapidly rising in public estimation, occupied the seat of Otis in the General Assembly. John Hancock, one of the wealthiest merchants of Boston; Samuel Adams, a Puritan of great experience and tried integrity; Joseph Warren, a young physician, full of energy and hope, who afterward fell on Breed's Hill; Josiah Quincy, a polished orator, though almost a stripling ”

“ Captain Warren, I think perhaps I ought to warn you that what my partners and I are about to say will shock and hurt you. I, personally, knew your brother well and respected him as an honorable business man. A lawyer learns not to put too much trust in human nature, but, I confess, this—this—”
He was evidently greatly disturbed. Captain Elisha, regarding him intently, nodded.
“I judge it’s sort of hard for you to go on, Mr. Sylvester,” he said. “I’ll help you all I can. You and Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Graves here have found out somethin’ that ain’t exactly straight in ’Bije’s doin’s? Am I right?” ”

“ Graves said—”
“Oh, yes, I know. You swallowed every word Graves said, Caro, as if he was the whole book of Proverbs. By George, I don’t; I’m from Missouri.”
Mr. Warren, being in the Sophomore class at Yale, was of the age when one is constitutionally “from Missouri.” Probably King Solomon, at sixty, had doubts concerning the scope and depth of his wisdom; at eighteen he would have admitted its all-embracing infallibility without a blush.
“I tell you,” continued Stephen, “there’s no sense in it, Sis. You and I know plenty of people whose incomes are no larger than ours. ”

“ Your brother, Captain Warren, evidently realized, although no one else seems to have done so, the precarious state of his health, and prepared, as every careful person should, for the great emergency.”
The attorney removed his eyeglasses and rubbed them with his handkerchief. Captain Elisha sat silent, staring at the fire. After an interval, Graves spoke again.
“Of course, Captain,” he went on, “my errand is now plain. I come to acquaint you with your brother’s last wishes and to ascertain whether or not you are willing to accept the trust and responsibility he has laid upon you. ”

“ Don’t you agree with me, Captain Warren?”
“Sartin!” was the prompt reply. “It’s always a comfort to me, when I go fishin’, to know that the fish ain’t got so much brains as I have. The hook hurts, I presume likely, but they ain’t got the sense to realize what a mean trick’s been played on ’em. The one that’s caught’s dead, and them that are left are too busy hustlin’ for the next meal to waste much time grievin’. That eases my conscience consider’ble.”
Caroline seemed to be the only one who appreciated the sarcasm in this observation. ”

“ They’re young and—and, well, I ain’t the kind they’ve been used to. Caroline’s a nice girl. She is, sure. All she needs is to grow a little older and have the right kind of advice and—and friends.”
“How about the boy?” Mr. Sylvester had met young Warren, and his eyes twinkled as he spoke.
“Steve? Well,” there was an answering twinkle in Captain Elisha’s eye; “well, Steve needs to grow, too; though I wouldn’t presume to tell him so. When a feller’s undertakin’ to give advice to one of the seven wise men, he has to be diplomatic, as you might say.” ”

“ There must be another Elisha Warren. Comforted by this thought, Mr. Graves opened his valise, extracted therefrom other and drier articles of wearing apparel, and proceeded to change his clothes.
Meanwhile, Miss Abigail had descended the stairs to the sitting room. Before a driftwood fire in a big brick fireplace sat Captain Warren in his shirt-sleeves, a pair of mammoth carpet slippers on his feet, and the said feet stretched luxuriously out toward the blaze.
“Abbie,” observed the captain, “this is solid comfort. Every time I go away from home I get into trouble, don’t I? ”

“ Am I a low down scamp, playin’ a dirty mean trick on a couple of orphans? What do you think, Sylvester?”
“You know what I think, Captain Warren,” replied the lawyer. “You’re handling the whole matter better than any other man could handle it. No one else would have thought of it, to begin with; and the results so far prove that you’re right.”
“Yup. Maybe. I wish you was around to say that to me when I wake up nights and get to thinkin’. However, as I said, Caroline believes New York is like a sailors’ dance hall, a place for decent folks to steer clear of. ”

“ Captain Warren, my brother has hinted—he has said—What does he mean by holding someone to a promise? Answer me truthfully.”
“I shouldn’t answer you any other way, Caroline. Steve seems to be worried about—now you mustn’t mind my speakin’ plain, Caroline; the time’s come when I’ve got to—Steve seems to be worried about the young man you’re engaged to. He seems to cal’late that Mr. Dunn may want to slip out of that engagement.” ”

“ Warren was a close-mouthed man, rather secretive, in fact.”
“Humph! that bein’ one of the p’ints where he was different from his nighest relation, hey?”
“I’m not so sure. Have you questioned the children?”
“Caroline and Steve? Yes, I’ve questioned ’em more than they think I have, maybe. And they know—well, leavin’ out about the price of oil paintin’s and the way to dress and that it’s more or less of a disgrace to economize on twenty thousand a year, their worldly knowledge ain’t too extensive.” ”

“ Dunn!” she cried. “I’m so glad I accepted your—Malcolm’s—invitation. We had a glorious ride! I—”
She stopped short. Captain Warren had risen from his chair and was facing her. Mrs. Dunn also rose.
“Caroline,” she said, nervously, “this”—pausing on the word—“gentleman is here to see you. He says he is—”
The captain interrupted her. Stepping forward he seized his niece’s hands in his. “Well, well!” he exclaimed admiringly. “’Bije’s girl, that I ain’t seen since you was a little mite of a baby! Caroline, I’m your Uncle Elisha.”
“Good Lord!” groaned Stephen Warren. ”

“ Just you and I together in the settin’ room; hey?”
Pearson did not seem so enthusiastic over this programme, although he admitted that it sounded tip-top.
“How is Miss Warren?” he asked, mentioning the name with a nonchalance remarkable, considering that he had not done so before for weeks. “She is well, I hope?”
“Yes, she’s fust-rate, thank you. Very well, everything considered. She keeps to herself a good deal. Don’t care to meet many folks, and you can’t hardly blame her.” ”

“ He sank into an armchair and looked curiously about him.
“So you are the late Mr. Warren’s brother?” asked the lady, making her first lead in the game.
“Yes, ma’am. His older brother. ’Bije was ten year younger’n I am, Mrs.—er—”
“Dunn. I am an old friend of the family.”
“That’s good. I’m glad to hear they’ve got friends. When you’re in sickness or trouble or sorrer, friendship counts for consider’ble. How are the young folks—Caroline and Stephen—pretty smart, hey?”
“Smart? Why, they are intelligent, naturally. ”

“ No wonder they talked about economi—Humph!”
“What were you about to say, Mr. Warren?”
“Oh, nothin’, nothin’! Talkin’ to myself is a habit I’ve got. Abbie—my second cousin; I guess I told you about her—says it’s a sure sign that a person’s rich or out of his head, one or t’other. I ain’t rich, so—” He chuckled once more.
“Mr. Graves came to see you at your home, did he?”
“Yes, ma’am. At South Denboro. And he certainly did have a rough passage. Ho! ho! Probably you heard about it, bein’ so friendly with the family.” ”

“ No. His name is Abijah Warren, [Pg 20] and—Wait! His middle name is Rodgers, though. Did ’Bije send you to me?”
“A moment, Captain. Was your brother a broker?”
“Yes. His office is—or used to be on Broad Street. What—”
“You have not heard from him for some time?”
“Not for eighteen years. He and I didn’t agree as well as we might. Maybe ’twas my fault, maybe ’twas his. I have my own ideas on that. If you’re lookin’ for ’Bije Warren’s brother, Mr. Graves, I guess you’ve come to the right place. ”

“ Malcolm whistled.
“But to think of that old Down-Easter being related to the Warren family!” he mused. “It seems impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible,” observed his mother. Then, with a shudder, “You never met your father’s relatives. I have.”
When Captain Elisha emerged from his room, after a wash and a change of linen, he found the library untenanted. He strolled about, his hands behind him, inspecting [Pg 56] the pictures with critical interest. Caroline, dressed for dinner, found him thus engaged. ”

“ Dunn, we will go into the drawing-room.”
She led the way toward the apartment. Captain Elisha was about to speak. Pearson, however, explained for him.
“Miss Warren,” he said, “if by a business call you mean one in the interest of the Planet, I assure you that you are mistaken. I am no longer connected with any paper. I met Captain Warren, under rather unusual circumstances. We discovered that we had mutual friends and mutual interests. He asked me to call on him, and I did so. I did not know, until five minutes ago, that he was your uncle or that you and your brother lived here. ”

“ She continued [Pg 169] to look him over, much as if she were taking a mental inventory of his character, or revising an old one.
“I hope,” she said, lightly, but with deliberation, “our little argument and—er—slight disagreement concerning—er—duty will not make us enemies, Captain Warren.”
“Enemies! Land sakes, no! I respect anybody’s havin’ opinions and not bein’ afraid to give ’em. And I think I can understand some of how you feel. Maybe if I was anchored here on Fifth Avenue, same as you are, instead of bein’ blown in by an unexpected no’theaster, I’d be feelin’ the same way. ”

“ And neither is Steve. He and I have planned it all. His salary at first will be [Pg 352] small, and so will mine. But together we can earn enough to live somehow and, later on, when he earns more, perhaps we may be able to repay a little of all that you have given us. We shall try. I shall insist upon it.”
“Caroline Warren, is that the reason you sent Jim away? Did you tell him that? Did you tell him you wouldn’t marry him on account of me?”
“No, of course I did not,” indignantly. “I told him—I said I must not think of marriage; it was impossible. And it is! You know it is, Uncle Elisha!” ”