were
ready to sign an agreement to drink no more tea; others hesitated. She
was warmly welcomed by Mrs. Abigail Adams, who at once saw how great
would be the influence of the women upon their husbands.

"But what shall we drink instead of tea?" asked Dorothy Quincy.

"When summer comes, we will go out into the fields and gather
strawberry leaves, and call them Hyperion, or some other elegant name.
I think it quite as pretty a name as Old Hyson, and I am not sure that
they will not be more healthful," Berinthia replied.

Miss Dorothy laughed heartily. "Yes, and we can, upon a pinch, drink
cold water from the town pump and flavor it with peppermint," she
said, as she wrote her name.

After leaving Miss Quincy, Berinthia lifted the knocker of the
Newville mansion, not to ask Ruth to sign the agreement; she could not
do that, for Mr. Newville was a Tory, and the signers were daughters
of patriots.

"How good it is to see you once more. It is a very long time since I
have looked upon your face," Ruth exclaimed, embracing her.

"The snow has been so deep and I have had so much to do, I have not
found time to call till now, and I don't know as I should be here
to-day only I am spinning street-yarn for a particular purpose."

Ruth was at a loss to understand her.

"I am calling on my acquaintances, and I was not quite sure whether I
ought to skip you or not."

"Skip me! What have I done that you should think of dropping me from
your acquaintance?"

Berinthia saw a wondering and injured look in the loving eyes.

"Oh, you haven't done anything; it is what the king, Lord North, and
Parliament are doing. They intend to make us pay taxes against our
will, and we girls are signing an agreement not to drink any more tea,
and I am calling on my friends for that purpose."

The look of wonder and grief disappeared, and Ruth's face brightened
once more. She read the agreement and the list of names.

"I didn't call, dear Ruth, to ask you to sign it. I have no right to
do so. It is an agreement to be signed by the daughters of those who
are opposed to being taxed in this way. Your father, doubtless, may be
willing to pay the tax; my father is not. You may not think as we do,
but that shall not disturb our friendship. I shall love you just as I
have ever since we were children."

"How good you are! I appreciate your kindness. My father and mother
stand for the king, but I have my own opinion. Under the terms of the
agreemen