e with stairs outside leading up to a platform on
the roof; that's the house. Do you know Sam?"

[Footnote 12: Mackerel Lane is the present Kilby Street.]

"No, I never have seen Mr. Adams."

[Illustration: Samuel Adams.]

"Well, if you run across a tall, good-looking man between forty-five
and fifty, with blue eyes, who wears a red cloak and cocked hat, and
who looks as if he wasn't afeard of the king, the devil, or any of his
imps, that is Maltster Sam. We call him Maltster Sam because he once
made malt for a living, but didn't live by it because it didn't pay.
He's a master hand in town meetings. He made it red-hot for Bernard,
and he'll make it hotter for Sammy Hutchinson if he don't mind his
p's and q's. Sam is a buster, now, I tell you."

Robert drove through Cow Lane and came to the house. He rapped at the
front door, which was opened by a tall man, with a pleasant but
resolute countenance, whose clothes were plain and getting threadbare.
His hair was beginning to be gray about the temples, and he wore a
gray tie wig.

"This is Mr. Adams, is it not?" Robert asked.

"That is my name; what can I do for you?"

"I am Robert Walden from Rumford. I think you know my father."

"Yes, indeed. Please walk in. Son of my friend Joshua Walden? I am
glad to see you," said Mr. Adams with a hearty shake of the hand.

"I have brought you a cheese which my father wishes you to accept with
his compliments."

"That is just like him; he always brings us something. Please say to
him that Mrs. Adams and myself greatly appreciate his kind remembrance
of us."

A tall lady with a comely countenance was descending the hall stairs.

"Wife, this is Mr. Walden, son of our old friend; just see what he has
brought us."

Robert lifted his hat and was recognized by a gracious courtesy.

"How good everybody is to us. The ravens fed Elijah, but I don't
believe they brought cheese to him. We shall be reminded of your
kindness every time we sit down to a meal," said Mrs. Adams.

Robert thought he never had seen a smile more gracious than that upon
her pale, careworn countenance.[13] He noticed that everything about
the room was plain, but neat and tidy. Upon a shelf were the Bible,
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and a volume of Reverend Mr. South's
sermons. Robert remembered his father said Mrs. Adams was the daughter
of Reverend Mr. Checkley, minister of the New South Meetinghouse, and
that Mr. Adams went to meeting there. Upon the