April Morning

A couple of family memories introduce this chapter. The first is a trip Moses takes to Rhode Island and his subsequent visit to a Jewish synagogue. Moses says “they didn’t seem any different from Presbyterians” (52) and expresses admiration for their intellect. The second memory is of Moses’s disputation with a local militia captain named Jonas Parker. Adam’s father, disliking all things martial, takes issue with Parker’s desire to be in charge of the community militia. Moses also dislikes the interpretation of dreams, considering it to be superstition. Parker, desiring to muster the militia on a certain day, claims that a dream showed him the weather would be fine. Moses believes the meteorological signs indicate otherwise. Moses’s prediction proves to be correct, vindicating his pragmatic approach over the interpretation of dreams.

Adam is similarly skeptical of prophetic dreams and is therefore not frightened when Levi comes into his bed that night, saying he dreamed of a red sky and that he (Levi) had died in the dream. To comfort Levi, Adam has him look out the window to see that the sky is not red. However, Levi hears racing hoofbeats in the darkness. Then they both hear a rider yelling, although the distance is such that they cannot make out his words.

The household rises. Levi sneaks out the window, and although Sarah tells Adam to stay home, Granny intervenes, and Adam is permitted to go to the common to hear what the rider has to say. Most of the men of the town are gathered there. The rider tells them that a British force has crossed the Charles River and is headed toward their town, on the way to Concord, presumably with the intent to destroy arms and supplies that the colonists have stored there.

The gathered men debate the proper response to the sudden presence of British soldiers. The reverend counsels a passive approach, as the local militia can only summon 79 men, and the rider estimated 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers on the march. Moses, although antimilitary in temperament, feels that the reverend is besmirching the honor of the Committeemen, and so argues for the militia to muster as a show of force to the British. His speech is compelling, and the reverend reluctantly agrees in the face of the populace’s rising fervor.

The church bells are then rung to gather the remaining men. Adam rings the bells with other local boys and runs into Levi on the way back. He tells Levi to go home and says he plans to sign the muster book at Buckman’s tavern and join the militia.

Moses is one of the recorders at the tavern, putting names of militia members in a book for a civil record of the night’s events. Joseph Simmons is there, and Adam confides in him that he is afraid his father will not let him sign, shaming him in front of the other men. Joseph says Moses is “all bark and no bite” (68), then asks Adam to find Ruth and take her home after signing the book.

Adam waits his turn, and Moses, looking at the ledger, does not realize it is his son who is signing up until Adam says his name aloud for the record. There is an extended silence while everyone waits to see what Moses will do. In Adam’s words, “what went through his mind I will never know, but I do know that time there became an eternity” (70). In the end Moses merely nods, permitting Adam to sign up as a militia member.

Adam heads home, where Ruth is waiting for him. She tells him that she saw him sign the muster book. She expresses anxiety about the possibility of war and her fear that he will be killed. She kisses him, and he walks her home, reassuring her.

When he returns to his house, he stands outside on the porch and listens to an argument between his parents. Moses is defending his decision to allow Adam to muster with the men. He says that if he had not agreed, he would “have lost a son” (75). Sarah feels that Adam is still only a boy.

When Adam enters the home, Moses asks Adam about his intentions with Ruth, telling him that since he is now a man, he will need to be more serious about everything, including romance. Adam does not answer but begins to load his gun. Moses tells him to add extra shot and powder since he is “not hunting” (77). They then leave to muster at the common.