with other brave men was at Cambridge on guard waiting for the
British, who were determined to make a stand in their flight from the
minutemen, and that on that very day her good friends, the Freemans, were
hurrying away toward Watertown to escape the dangers of war which now
centered about Boston, she would not have cared so much about the May-day
plans.

"It would be well to ask all the grown people as well as the children to
the May party," said Mrs. Cary, as the little party made its way toward
home that afternoon. "I do not think there has ever been a May-day party
before in the town, and it will be good for all of us to try and be
cheerful."

Anne and Amanda looked at her wonderingly. The world seemed a very
cheerful and happy place to both the little girls, and they could not know
how anxious the older people were that the trouble with England might soon
come to an end.

CHAPTER XVI

THE MAY PARTY

"A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of
the plan. "Why, I think it an excellent idea. It will surely be a pleasant
sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well
to come."

After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the
idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens
to wind about the pole.

Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a
long smooth pole. The other children soon followed them, and Mrs.
Starkweather came to show them how to fasten the wreath at the top and the
long strings covered with vines and blossoms which Anne and Amanda, with
the help of Mrs. Stoddard and the Starkweather boys, had made ready the
day before.

"We used often to dance about a May-pole when I was a girl in Barnstable,"
said Mrs. Starkweather. "To be sure it is an old English custom, and just
now England does not seem our friend, but 'Tis a pleasant custom that we
do well to follow. I know a little song that we all used to sing as we
took hold of the bright streamers."

"I know that song," said Dannie; "you call it 'May Song.'"

"Why, yes," said Mrs. Starkweather, "I'm sure all my boys know it. I've
sung them all to sleep by it; and 'Tis one I sing about my work, for 'Tis
a cheerful and a merry lilt."

"It goes this way," said Dannie, and began to sing:

"Birds in the tree;
Humming of bees,
Wind singing over