Amanda Wetherby was nine years old in May of 1774, when the people of
Chester Town, Maryland, as a sign of their support of the people of
Boston, voted not to buy, sell, or use tea. At the supper table one
evening, talk turned to the unfair tax Britain had levied on the
colonists and what that had to do with the shipload of tea aboard the
Geddes in the harbor. Amanda was very unhappy not to have tea to drink
with meals. The next day, her brother, George, swaggered off to a "tea
party just for men." Hot, thirsty, and tired of pulling weeds in the
garden, Amanda decided she would go too, and get some of that tea to
wash down the dust. And if the party is for men only--why, she would
dress as a boy! So Amanda becomes part of an event that is still
celebrated each May in modern Chestertown. Early reader-ages 5-8.