One Daniel Shays, an army captain, is spoken
of as a leader."
Timothy Edwards, Esquire, a tall sharp featured man, with a wrinkled
forehead, had come to the door of his store while the doctor was
talking. I should vainly try to describe this stately merchant of the
olden time, if the reader were to confound him, ever so little in his
mind's eye, with the bustling, smiling, obsequious, modern storekeeper.
Even a royal customer would scarcely have presumed so far as to ask
this imposing gentleman, in powdered wig, snuff-colored coat, waistcoat
and short clothes, white silk stockings and silver-buckled shoes, to
cut off a piece of cloth or wrap up a bundle for him. It may be taken
for granted that commercial enterprise, as illustrated in Squire
Edwards' store, was entirely subservient to the maintenance of the
proprietor's personal dignity. He now addressed Dr. Partridge:
"Said your brother anything of the report that the Tories and British
emissaries are stirring up the popular discontent, to the end that
reproach may be brought on the new government of the States, by
revealing its weakness as compared with the King's?"
"Nay, of that he spoke not."
"For my part, I do fully believe it," resumed Edwards, "and, moreover,
that this is but a branch of the British policy, looking toward the
speedy reconquering of these States.
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