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Authors: Jane Langton
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hurrying Rowena Goss across the street. He nodded distantly to Mary, and she smiled back her friendly smile, wishing he would go fly a kite.
The Independent Battery came first. Philip rode one of the two lead horses, carrying the Battery flag, his thoughtful forehead seamed, his body tense and erect. The horses that pulled the limbers were heavy old plugs, but they made a fine showing, with the clop-clop of their great hairy-ankled hooves and the unfamiliar noise of metal wheel-rims on the streets. Three members of the Battery sat on each limber, with linked arms. Mary remembered that in the good old days after a traditional whiskey breakfast the linked arms had been a necessary precaution. Now the Battery carefully discharged all its duties before toasting the military spirit of the forefathers. After the Battery there was a blur of marching units and noisy bands, the trombonists and trumpeters staring cross-eyed at the music clamped to their instruments. Freddy clapped his hands at the red chariots of the Fire Department and waved at Tom, who was stepping along with his parade staff, handsome in his let-out uniform. Gwen, struggling with morning sickness, walked beside her Girl Scouts, wearing a green uniform that matched her complexion. Grandmaw chuckled and pointed at The Spirit of â76. The bleeding, bandaged drummer boy was extremely small and obviously an amateur, but he was beating the tar out of his instrument. Next in line was the High School Band, with the controversial drum majorettes prancing sweetly to the fore, showing astonishing lengths of bare white leg. After the band there was a big open car containing the Governor of Massachusetts and his wife. The Governor nodded and waved his hat, but his lips were moving, distracted. He was trying to remember what in hell rhymed with Revere. (Hear, queer, beer, near, leer, fear ⦠oh, sure, fear. âA-cry-of-defiance-and-not-of-fear-a-voice-in-the-darkness-a-knock-at-the-door-and-a-word-that-shall-echo-forever-more.â)
âMy dear,â said his wife, beaming radiantly to right and left, âwhy in heavenâs name didnât you write it out? I know youâre trying to work up a reputation for old-fashioned eloquence, but youâll just make a fool of yourself, thatâs all youâll do.â
The parade was over. The watching crowds closed in behind the last band and followed them down Monument Street. Gwen hurried back and picked up Freddy and started walking against the stream toward her car. Homer and Rowena caught up with Mary and old Mrs. Hand. âThose noisome grails of yours,â he said. âIâve figured out what theyâre for. Black Masses.â
âWhat?â Well, at least he wasnât not speaking.
âNoisome grails. For witches to use at Black Masses.â
Oh, that was good. Mary chuckled.
âWhat happens now?â he said.
âNow everybody gathers in the field beside the bridge, there next to the Old Manse, and there are speeches and so on.â
âThese military demonstrations, all this nationalistic flag-waving. Honestly,â said Rowena.
âYou got something against parades?â said Homer.
He had changed his tie. This one was patriotic with red, white and blue ballerinas.
Chapter 13
What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot to-day?
HENRY THOREAU
Preliminary report of the Committee on Public Ceremonies and Celebrations â¦
19 April, 10 A.M .
Main ceremony at North Bridge. Prayer. Music by General Radio Glee Club. Address by His Excellency, the Governor.
10:30 A.M .
On appropriate bugle signal, Boy Scout contingent from Acton will march across the field to the west to the tune of âThe White Cockadeâ played by the Acton High School Band. Arrival of Dr. Samuel Prescott, impersonated by Charles Goss. Laying of wreaths; âThe Star-Spangled Banner,â Concord Band. Salute by Concord Independent Battery.
The amplified voices of the
The Independent Battery came first. Philip rode one of the two lead horses, carrying the Battery flag, his thoughtful forehead seamed, his body tense and erect. The horses that pulled the limbers were heavy old plugs, but they made a fine showing, with the clop-clop of their great hairy-ankled hooves and the unfamiliar noise of metal wheel-rims on the streets. Three members of the Battery sat on each limber, with linked arms. Mary remembered that in the good old days after a traditional whiskey breakfast the linked arms had been a necessary precaution. Now the Battery carefully discharged all its duties before toasting the military spirit of the forefathers. After the Battery there was a blur of marching units and noisy bands, the trombonists and trumpeters staring cross-eyed at the music clamped to their instruments. Freddy clapped his hands at the red chariots of the Fire Department and waved at Tom, who was stepping along with his parade staff, handsome in his let-out uniform. Gwen, struggling with morning sickness, walked beside her Girl Scouts, wearing a green uniform that matched her complexion. Grandmaw chuckled and pointed at The Spirit of â76. The bleeding, bandaged drummer boy was extremely small and obviously an amateur, but he was beating the tar out of his instrument. Next in line was the High School Band, with the controversial drum majorettes prancing sweetly to the fore, showing astonishing lengths of bare white leg. After the band there was a big open car containing the Governor of Massachusetts and his wife. The Governor nodded and waved his hat, but his lips were moving, distracted. He was trying to remember what in hell rhymed with Revere. (Hear, queer, beer, near, leer, fear ⦠oh, sure, fear. âA-cry-of-defiance-and-not-of-fear-a-voice-in-the-darkness-a-knock-at-the-door-and-a-word-that-shall-echo-forever-more.â)
âMy dear,â said his wife, beaming radiantly to right and left, âwhy in heavenâs name didnât you write it out? I know youâre trying to work up a reputation for old-fashioned eloquence, but youâll just make a fool of yourself, thatâs all youâll do.â
The parade was over. The watching crowds closed in behind the last band and followed them down Monument Street. Gwen hurried back and picked up Freddy and started walking against the stream toward her car. Homer and Rowena caught up with Mary and old Mrs. Hand. âThose noisome grails of yours,â he said. âIâve figured out what theyâre for. Black Masses.â
âWhat?â Well, at least he wasnât not speaking.
âNoisome grails. For witches to use at Black Masses.â
Oh, that was good. Mary chuckled.
âWhat happens now?â he said.
âNow everybody gathers in the field beside the bridge, there next to the Old Manse, and there are speeches and so on.â
âThese military demonstrations, all this nationalistic flag-waving. Honestly,â said Rowena.
âYou got something against parades?â said Homer.
He had changed his tie. This one was patriotic with red, white and blue ballerinas.
Chapter 13
What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot to-day?
HENRY THOREAU
Preliminary report of the Committee on Public Ceremonies and Celebrations â¦
19 April, 10 A.M .
Main ceremony at North Bridge. Prayer. Music by General Radio Glee Club. Address by His Excellency, the Governor.
10:30 A.M .
On appropriate bugle signal, Boy Scout contingent from Acton will march across the field to the west to the tune of âThe White Cockadeâ played by the Acton High School Band. Arrival of Dr. Samuel Prescott, impersonated by Charles Goss. Laying of wreaths; âThe Star-Spangled Banner,â Concord Band. Salute by Concord Independent Battery.
The amplified voices of the
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