Satanstoe | Page 7

home on such an occasion, but it happened in this wise: My excellent
mother thought I had come out of the small-pox with some symptoms
that might be benefited by a journey, and she prevailed on her
father-in-law to let me be of the party when he left home to visit Boston
in the winter of 1744-5. At that early day moving about was not always
convenient in these colonies, and my grandfather travelling in a sleigh
that was proceeding east with some private stores that had been
collected for the expedition, it presented a favourable opportunity to
send me along with my venerable progenitor, who very good-naturedly
consented to let me commence my travels under his own immediate
auspices.
The things I saw on this occasion have had a material influence on my
future life. I got a love of adventure, and particularly of military parade
and grandeur, that has since led me into more than one difficulty. Capt.
Hugh Littlepage, my grandfather, was delighted with all he saw until
after the expedition had sailed, when he began to grumble on the
subject of the religious observances that the piety of the Puritans
blended with most of their other movements. On the score of religion
there was a marked difference; I may say there is still a marked
difference between New England and New York. The people of New
England certainly did, and possibly may still, look upon us of New
York as little better than heathens; while we of New York assuredly did,
and for anything I know to the contrary may yet, regard them as canters,
and by necessary connection, hypocrites. I shall not take it on myself to
say which party is right; though it has often occurred to my mind that it
would be better had New England a little less self-righteousness, and
New York a little more righteousness, without the self. Still, in the way
of pounds, shillings and pence, we will not turn our backs upon them
any day, being on the whole rather the most trustworthy of the two as
respects money; more especially in all such cases in which our
neighbour's goods can be appropriated without having recourse to
absolutely direct means. Such, at any rate, is the New York opinion, let

them think as they please about it on the other side of Byram.
My grandfather met an old fellow-campaigner, at Boston, of the name
of Hight, Major Hight, as he was called, who had come to see the
preparations, too; and the old soldiers passed most of the time together.
The Major was a Jerseyman, and had been somewhat of a free-liver in
his time, retaining some of the propensities of his youth in old age, as is
apt to be the case with those who cultivate a vice as if it were a
hot-house plant. The Major was fond of his bottle, drinking heavily of
Madeira, of which there was then a good stock in Boston, for he
brought some on himself; and I can remember various scenes that
occurred between him and my grandfather, after dinner, as they sat
discoursing in the tavern on the progress of things, and the prospects
for the future. Had these two old soldiers been of the troops of the
province in which they were, it would have been "Major" and
"Captain" at every breath; for no part of the earth is fonder of titles than
our eastern brethren; [1] whereas, I must think we had some claims to
more true simplicity of character and habits, notwithstanding New
York has ever been thought the most aristocratical of all the northern
colonies. Having been intimate from early youth, my two old soldiers
familiarly called each other Joey and Hodge, the latter being the
abbreviation of one of my grandfather's names, Roger, when plain
Hugh was not used, as sometimes happened between them. Hugh
Roger Littlepage, I ought to have said, was my grandfather's name.
"I should like these Yankees better, if they prayed less, my old friend,"
said the Major, one day, after they had been discussing the appearances
of things, and speaking between the puffs of his pipe. "I can see no
great use in losing so much time, by making these halts to pray, when
the campaign is fairly opened."
"It was always their way, Joey," my grandfather answered, taking his
time, as is customary with smokers. "I remember when we were out
together, in the year '17, that the New England troops always had their
parsons, who acted as a sort of second colonels. They tell me His
Excellency has ordered a weekly fast, for public prayers, during the
whole of this campaign."

"Ay, Master Hodge, praying and plundering; so they go on," returned
the Major, knocking the ashes out of his