Boston was an exciting place to live in just before the Revolutionary War. British redcoats drilled on the Common. Young John Quincy Adams could see them as he walked along the narrow street, but he paid no attention to the men in their gorgeous uniforms. Farther down the street another group of men were drilling, men in plain working clothes—Boston men. To these Johnny and his father waved. They were on their way to Mr. Paul Revere's shop to buy Mrs. Adams' birthday present.

Johnny played with the six little Revere children while his father and Mr. Revere went to another room to talk. Johnny caught a glimpse of the two men looking over a strange pile of Indian costumes, war bonnets and tomahawks. A little later he learned the secret of their whispering. One night the Boston patriots, dressed in Indian costumes, stormed aboard three British ships in the harbor, and dumped their cargo of unwanted tea into the ocean!

Mr. Adams was chosen to go to a meeting of the thirteen colonies in Philadelphia. Mrs. Adams and the children moved to Braintree, their farm about an hour's ride from Boston. The redcoats set fire to Charlestown, and many homes were burned. Braintree was always filled with strange people, and at night Yankee soldiers slept in the hayloft. Johnny, too young to join the army, persuaded General Warren that the redcoats would never suspect a little boy of carrying important papers, and so at ten he became a postrider.

How young John Quincy went abroad with his famous father once and again, studied in France and Holland, met Dr. Benjamin Franklin and other great men, and, still a boy, became the secretary and interpreter for our ambassador to Russia—all this makes a thrilling story, crowded with action.

Truly John Quincy Adams at fifteen had seen enough of the world and had enough adventures to last a lifetime. But he was only beginning a long career in the service of his country. He held more important offices than any man has ever held in America: Ambassador to Holland, Emissary to England, Ambassador to Prussia, State Senator, United States Senator, Ambassador to Russia, Ambassador to England, Secretary of State, Representative in Congress—and of course the son of our second President became our sixth President himself.

Always standing up vigorously for what he thought was right, the remarkable boy patriot and traveler lived to be called "Old Man Eloquent." The qualities that were to make him great are revealed in this story of his childhood.

From the dust jacket