Johnny Tremain

We give all we have, lives, property, safety, skill...we fight, we die, for a simple thing. Only that a man can stand up.

How old are you Johnny" she asked. Sixteen." And what's that-a boy or a man?" He laughed. "A boy in time of peace and a man in time of war.

If you can't do, you'd best shut up about it.

If you can't do, you had best shut up. He started to slam the door, thought better of it. If you can't do, you'd best not slam doors.

Just like the sun coming up yonder out of the sea, pushing rays of light ahead of it.

After that Johnny began to watch himself. For the first time he learned to think before he spoke.

saying. ‘I want it as a birthday present to my venerable

It was sink or swim for him—and happens he’s swimming.

down Cambridge road through the bushes on Charlestown Common a scurry of red ants. Had he really seen them or imagined them? But all about him people were exclaiming, ‘Look, there they are!’ Those red ants were British soldiers. To his left the last moment of sunset light was dying. The day had been amazingly warm, but with night a fresh breeze came up off the ocean. Lights began to glimmer in Charlestown and on warships. Seemingly there was nothing more to be seen from Beacon Hill. Silently people turned to go to their houses. ‘Look!’ Johnny cried. You could see the flash of musket fire, too far away to be heard. Fireflies swarming, hardly more than that. –4– Getting

The first of the tea ships, the Dartmouth,