Here's a short story:

Chapter XI 

Now that Grandfather had fought through the Old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture. 

"In 1757," said Grandfather, "after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America. The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy, at the head of his company of cadets. But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents." 

"Did the people like Pownall?" asked Charley. 

"They found no fault with him," replied Grandfather. "It was no time to quarrel with the governor, when the utmost harmony was required, in order to defend the country against the French. But Pownall did not remain long in Massachusetts. In 1759, he was sent to be governor of South Carolina. In thus exchanging one government for another, I suppose he felt no regret, except at the necessity of leaving Grandfather’s chair behind him." 

"He might have taken it to South Carolina," observed Clara. 

"It appears to me," said Laurence, giving the rein to his fancy, "that the fate of this ancient chair was, somehow or other, mysteriously connected with the fortunes of old Massachusetts. If Governor Pownall had put it aboard the vessel in which he sailed for South Carolina, she would probably have lain wind-bound in Boston harbor. It was ordained that the chair should not be taken away. Don’t you think so, Grandfather?"  (End of story)

Provide your best guess for the following question. Give ONLY the guess, no other words or explanation.

For example:

Guess: <most likely guess, as short as possible; not a complete sentence, just the guess!>

Here are a few examples of questions and answers:

Question: when did Pownall become governor?
Guess: In 1757

Question: where was Shirley then?
Guess: England

Question: did people like Pownall?
Guess: yes

Question: what happened in 1759?
Guess: he was sent to be governor of South Carolina

Question: what did he leave behind?
Guess: Grandfather’s chair

Question: what war did grandfather fight in?
Guess: the Old French War

Question: what did he decide to tell the kids?
Guess: some of the more private history of the old piece of furniture

Question: where did Pownall grow up?
Guess: London

Question: did he take part in the war?
Guess: no

Question: what did he think about doing against the enenemy?
Guess: marching against them

Now answer the following question in the same format.

Question: why didnt he?

it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair