April Morning

Adam falls asleep briefly, and when he awakes, there are British soldiers talking nearby. Another officer arrives and conveys orders that the regiment is continuing its march. After they leave, Adam sprints for the woods. He is spotted by two soldiers, one of whom fires at him, but his gun misfires. Adam outpaces them and leaps over a wall, where he finds an armed man named Solomon Chandler, who assures Adam that he is a friend.

Adam tells Chandler what the soldiers did in his town, and he cries when he remembers how his father died. Chandler tells him it is good to express grief, saying, “you’ve lost your youth and come to manhood, all in a few hours” (115).

Chandler and Adam walk for a while before stopping to eat some food that Chandler has. During the meal, Chandler tells Adam that it was better for Moses to die than Adam, as children should bury their parents. While God is eternal, human life is short, and Adam will need to “let the old go…and taste life” (117).

They continue their journey, and they hear the pipes and drums of the British soldiers, who are still marching toward Concord.