“But, Grandfather,” interposed Charley, who was a matter-of-fact little person, “what reason have you to imagine so?”

“Pray do imagine it, Grandfather,” said Laurence.

“With Charley’s permission, I will,” replied Grandfather, smiling.  “Let us consider it settled, therefore, that Winthrop, Bellingham, Dudley, and Endicott, each of them, when chosen governor, took his seat in our great chair on election day.  In this chair, likewise, did those excellent governors preside, while holding consultations with the chief counsellors of the province, who were styled Assistants.  The governor sat in this chair, too, whenever messages were brought to him from the chamber of Representatives.”

And here Grandfather took occasion to talk, rather tediously, about the nature and forms of government that established themselves, almost spontaneously, in Massachusetts and the other New England colonies.  Democracies were the natural growth of the new world.  As to Massachusetts, it was at first intended that the colony should be governed by a council in London.  But, in a little while, the people had the whole power in their own hands, and chose annually the governor, the counsellors, and the representatives.  The people of old England had never enjoyed any thing like the liberties and privileges, which the settlers of New England now possessed.  And they did not adopt these modes of government after long study, but in simplicity, as if there were no other way for people to be ruled.

“But, Laurence,” continued Grandfather, “when you want instruction on these points, you must seek it in Mr. Bancroft’s History.  I am merely telling the history of a chair.  To proceed.  The period during which the governors sat in our chair, was not very full of striking incidents.  The province was now established on a secure foundation; but it did not increase so rapidly as at first, because the Puritans were no longer driven from England by persecution.  However, there was still a quiet and natural growth.  The legislature incorporated towns, and made new purchases of lands from the Indians.  A very memorable event took place in 1643.  The colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven, formed a union, for the purpose of assisting each other in difficulties, and for mutual defence against their enemies.  They called themselves the United Colonies of New England.”

“Were they under a government like that of the United States?” inquired Laurence.

“No,” replied Grandfather, “the different colonies did not compose one nation together; it was merely a confederacy among the governments.  It somewhat resembled the league of the Amphictyons, which you remember in Grecian history.  But to return to our chair.  In 1644 it was highly honored; for Governor Endicott sat in it, when he gave audience to an ambassador from the French governor of Acadie, or Nova Scotia.  A treaty of peace, between Massachusetts and the French colony, was then signed.”