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Subject: British Soldier, Boston falls in love with Concord girl. Rev. War Love Story
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:28:05 EDT

CUPID IN THE REVOLUTION.
Samuel Lee & Mary Piper
Concord, Mass.

Part 1 of 2 Parts.

Source: Beneath Old Roof Trees by Abram English Brown, Boston, 1896

Samuel Lee, 10th Regt., Royal Army, aged 30 years. - Boston.

In the Tenth Regiment of the royal army that constituted a part of the
participants in the April raid of 1775 was a sturdy young native of London.
Having attained the age of thirty years, he was too thoughtful to regard the
acts of General Gage as did many of his associates; but he was in the service
of the king, and must do his duty. He met with Provincials, both Tories and
patriots, during his stay in Boston, and enjoyed their society. In fact, the
dull routine of camp-life would have been much more monotonous had it not been

Page 91

for the New England people whom he frequently met. He noticed the struggles
of many families to exist during the severe weather of the winter of 1775, and
frequently expressed sympathy for them in their deprivations.

The tears of a faithful mother mourning over her situation did not call from
this thoughtful young man, as from many, the harsh words, "Give up your
rebellious ideas, and swear allegiance to our king; "but the careworn expression
of this woman reminded the soldier of his mother across the Atlantic, as she
bade her son farewell when he set out for America, and he could but give
expression to his sympathy for the sufferer.

The bright eyes of a young lady of the family riveted his attention; he
detected the youthful bloom of her cheeks growing pale through the weeks of
anxiety, and did not fail to cheer her by his smile.

He accompanied this young lady to the Old South Meeting-house on the last
anniversary of the Massacre before the beginning of hostilities. They both
noticed the thoughtfulness of Samuel Adams in giving the best seats to the
officials known to be his enemies. They listened to every word uttered by the
fearless Warren; and when the speaker dropped his silk handkerchief over the
uplifted hand, in which were the bullets intended to frighten him, the eyes of
these young people met in an expression of sympathetic admiration for the
graceful act of the orator.

Page 92

Had these young people given expression to their sentiments when
leaving the meeting-house that night, they would have found that they were not at
variance. Despite all his efforts to conceal his feelings, the young
soldier's comrades detected them, and were soon aware of the real situation. They
took pleasure in hurling at him their sharpest taunts, and placarded his barrack
as "The lodgings of the besieged heart," "Caught in Provincial meshes," and
annoyed the young man in many ways, while he vainly tried to present a
cheerful appearance.

After being detained some days by extra duties in the camp, the anxious
soldier stole out from his quarters, and made haste to the street and door where
he had last seen the object of his growing affections. To his surprise all
evidence of life had departed, the shutters were closed, the doors barred, and
no light flickered from any window. His shrill whistle only brought an
answering echo from the shed in the rear. He turned sorrowfully away, revolving in
his mind the thought, could it be that this family had been driven to such a
state of desperation as to leave their home and go into a country town, as so
many had done?
He then wished he had made bold to tell her his inmost feelings, but
believed that his silence had led her to the conclusion that he was in full sympathy
with the movements of the officials, and was only waiting for an opportunity
to kill her people.
To be continued Part 2 of 2 Parts.
Edited by Janice Farnsworth

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