"I've tried both sides
on't. In the fust rebellion I wuz agin' the rebels, an the rebels
licked. This ere time I tuk sides agin' the govment, an the govment
hez licked. I'm like a feller ez is fust kicked behind an then in the
stummick. I be done on both sides, like a pancake."
Israel Goodrich and Ezra Phelps, being excepted from the amnesties as
members of the rebel committee, had only escaped jailing because, as
men of some substance they had been able to give large bonds to await
the further disposition of the Boston government.
"I didn' mind so much 'bout that," said Israel, "but what come kinder
tough on me wuz a seein them poor white-livered pulin chaps tew my
house tuk back ter jail."
For the debtors whom the mob had released from Great Barrington jail,
including those to whom Israel had given asylum, had now been
recaptured and returned to the charge of Cephas Bement and his pretty
wife. Reuben Hamlin had been taken with the rest, though his stay in
jail this time did not promise to be a long one, for he had overdone
his feeble strength in that night walk through the snow to Lee, and
since then had declined rapidly. He was so far gone that it would
scarcely have been thought worth while to take him to jail if he could
have remained at home.
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