Sparks Journal

1773. December 13

Dearest Mother,

The snow is falling, the wind is blowing, and the breeze is getting colder. Such conditions make it hard to get the wood for the fireplace. Father and I have just finished making the advertisement for the store. Speaking of the store, you should see it, mother. I cleaned it until it was spotless. Father also put signs outside in front of the store. After we had lunch, father brought in a new shipment of tea, and he said we have to sell the tea with a little extra money called a tax.

When I was making some snacks, father and I were talking about you and little Mary coming to Boston on King Street. Please come to the colonies, when the doctor gives the medicine to help Mary get better from her cold, to the small shop father and I call home. While we were eating, a huge angry mob was outside of the store yelling at us about the tax on tea. They said because of the tax, the colonists are running out of money for their families. I felt vexed by all this fuss on the tax, and I also felt very scared at the people outside yelling. Soon the people refused to come and buy the items in our store anymore. So they boycotted us and the store.

After the mob was gone, tea ships arrived and they demanded we sell the tea. I was really scared and father was ready to sell the tea for the next day. A short while after the soldiers left, father and I started to get the store ready for the next day. So I worked until we saw the sun rise.

Soon that night father fell asleep after dinner, but I was still a wake. I was still working very hard putting the pile of tea on the the shelves above the counter, and putting the wood into the fireplace to keep us warm. I just want to rest, not work all day. So please write back to me soon, and tell us when you think you can come.

Your Dearest Daughter,
Sarah

1773. December 16

Dearest Mother,

Oh, if only you could have seen the day father and I went through. This morning I was doing my chores, making breakfast for father, and cleaning up the store. Then walking down King Street was Samuel Adams. He came into our shop with a group of men behind him. Samuel Adams told us about tonight and that he was leading a group of Patriots and the colonists to the wharf to board the tea ships that were coming so they could stop the taxes. He asked us to help make Indian costumes to do the job. So we took some fabric off of the shelves and sewed it into Indian costumes for them to wear while they dumped the tea. After they got their costumes they went to meet the other Patriots and colonists before they go board the ships.

Later that afternoon, father was sharing his memories as a Patriot when he was younger. So father asked Samuel Adams to join him as a Patriot, to help stop the tax, and to remember the good times he had. That is what father said and you should be proud of father, because I am.

That night I saw people heading to the wharf and I was wondering what was going on. So I followed them to see the ships being boarded by the Patriots, all dumping the tea in the harbor. As I squeezed my way through the huge group of people, father was beside Samuel Adams dumping the tea on the biggest boat I have ever seen. When I was watching father I felt really proud and I was terrified about his safety. I was thinking that father might get hurt by one of the British Soldiers on the boat he was on.

At the end of that magnificent night, I asked father as I was getting his dinner, how much tea he dumped and could you believe that father said more than 100 men were boarding the ship and dumped about 342 chests filled with tea. Father also told me Thomas Hutchinson refused to send the ships back when he heard about this. I hope you have enjoyed this letter and I was surprised to hear this from father myself, so write back to me soon.

Your Dearest Daughter,
Sarah

1773. December 17

Dearest Mother,

Things were almost back to normal in Boston, until today I heard that John Adams called last night a Magnificent Movement on tea and I also heard that the British were fighting with the Patriots while they were dumping the tea. The patriots were fine and everyone was feeling better after last night. When father went with the other colonist to vote, I was just trying to sell the tea that was still here and I also cleaned up the place as usual. Father came back and told me while we sat down with a snack and a cup of water, that there will be a tax on every item in every store.

Ever since last night, the destruction of the tea, things were a little quiet around here. I just want to tell you that the Patriots work very hard to help our colony when we need it. Now, the First Continental Congress is gathering up to represent 12 of the colonies and I thought father was pleased to have made money when we helped Samuel Adams with his costumes, sold it to him, and father helping to dump the tea.

Also I have done a good job at the store as an apprentice, that is what Samuel Adams said to me when he was leaving the store. I am really happy to serve and I can not wait to become a real merchant after I work a little harder and do all my work. I might just reach my goal of becoming a merchant. One more thing before I get back to cooking dinner for father when he gets back from gathering wood.

I want to say again that last night was the most wonderful thing I have ever attended. I am sure that King George was enraged to hear about last night with the tea. Remember I still have my duties to do and it is helping father with his work and helping you and Mary to come over for a visit. So write back soon.

Your Dearest Daughter,
Sarah

Historical References:

Boston Tea Party. April 2006. World Book encyclopedia.
<World Book>.

Collier, Christopher and Collier L,James.
The American Revolution. Tarrytown, New York:
Benchmark Books, 1998.

Colonial Trade Advertisements. 10 April 2006.
<back.acs.csulb.edu:8080>.

Hakim, Joy. From Colonies to Country.
New York City: Oxford University Press, Inc.,
2003.

Jansen, Cassandra. “Boston Tea Party.” April 2006.
<http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/E/teaparty/bostonxx.htm

“Merchant.” April 22, 2006. World Book Encyclopedia.
<World Book>.

Artist's Rendering

Historical Reenactment

Historical Terms
Tax	Boycott
Mob	Patriot
Apprentice	Merchant

About the Historian
Angela is a nice girl and she is smart. She plays tennis and she likes to go biking after school sometimes. Her hobbies are baking, singing, and drawing. She also speaks Chinese at home, sometimes she does it in public.