Identify the theme of the text. Use evidence from the text to explain how the author develops this idea. A Most Astonishing Evening at Boston Harbor

Dear Elizabeth,

The most astonishing thing happened this evening! I must tell you all about it. But let me not get ahead of myself—I shall start at the beginning.

I spent the day much as I spend most days—at my father’s shop, selling tonics and elixirs to cure our neighbors’ ailments. Being just down the road from the harbor, we are able to see many of the ships right from the shop.

I was in the shop after dinner, just getting ready to close for the evening, when Mr. Merriman suddenly came rushing in, looking for a remedy for a toothache. I assisted him and, just as I was writing out a receipt for a poultice, he and I heard a great shouting coming from the street. People were rushing toward the harbor like a stampede of horses! Mr. Merriman and I looked at each other, then at the commotion outside.

“What do you suppose is the matter?” I asked.

“I fear I do not know,” replied Mr. Merriman, “but I intend to find out.”

“Oh, Mr. Merriman, let me come with you!” I pleaded.

“No, no,” said Mr. Merriman, shaking his head. “Whatever is afoot, I am sure it is nothing for a respectable young lady such as yourself.” And with that, he left the shop and headed for the harbor.

I do not mind telling you, Elizabeth, I was quite angry. As Mother and Father were both out on errands, and my younger sister Constance was staying with my grandmother, I decided to venture out on my own. I put on my cloak, hung the “Closed” sign in the shop window, and dashed out into the street, where I followed the rush of people down to the harbor. The streets were positively filled with throngs of people, and I found Mr. Merriman standing near a docked ship. His eyes were completely alight. To my absolute astonishment, a group of men dressed as Mohawk Indians were dumping chests of tea into the harbor! I knew they were not really Mohawks, as I could recognize Mr. Goode, who lives down the road from us. I asked Mr. Merriman what in the world was happening.

He said, “As you know, for the last several years, we colonists have been quite unhappy with the state of affairs concerning Britain.”

“Yes,” I replied, “I have often heard my father complain of ‘taxation without representation’ and such things.”

He went on, “Well, they have now imposed a particularly unfair tax on tea, and they have made the East India Company the only importer of tea allowed in the colonies, which takes business away from us colonists. A group of men met this morning to determine what should be done, and they decided it was time to show Britain that we will no longer accept tea from the East India Company. They have dumped all the tea overboard into the harbor! Isn’t that marvelous?” With that, he gave a great laugh. How stirring to be so close to what I am sure will be a momentous event in our colonial history! My heart is still beating quite fast. I fear British retaliation, but I have utter faith that the colonists who organized this feat of bravery and action will find a way to deal justly with whatever comes next. We can only wait to see!

Your loving cousin,

Annabelle