The great want of the people, for the most part, tongue-tied farmers,
seemed to be to hear talk, to have something said, and wherever a few
brisk words gave promise of a lively dialogue, the speakers were at
once surrounded by a dense throng of listeners. The thirsting
eagerness with which they turned their open mouths toward each one as
he began to speak, in the hope that he would express to themselves
some one of the ideas formlessly astir in their own stolid minds, was
pathetic testimony to the depth to which the iron of poverty, debt,
judicial and governmental oppression had entered their souls. They had
thought little and vaguely, but they had felt much and keenly, and it
was evident the man who could voice their feelings, however partially,
however perversely, and for his own ends, would be master of their
actions.
Abner was not present, having gone at an early hour over to Lenox
furnaces, where he was acquainted, to carry the news from Northampton,
if it should not have arrived there, and notify the workmen that there
would be goings-on at Barrington, Tuesday, and they were expected to
be on hand. Paul Hubbard, also, had not come down from West Stockbridge,
although the news had reached that place last night.
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