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because he hath been trained up in literature; but if not he, then such other as you shall judge most fittest."

done by each member of the family might show for itself, and be a help to them, or a remembrance of good works to posterity.

It is to be regretted that none of these

John Hugeson became a minister, and not a "chirurgeon," and died in Salem, in 1780, aged ninety-two years, and hav-registers have been preserved-it would ing preached more than seventy years.

That "ill weeds might be nipt before they took too deep a head," Endicott was directed to take special care in the settling of families, that the head of each should be grounded in religion, and to have a watchful eye to the performance of morning and evening family duties. It was esteemed a business worthy of his best endeavors to look into this, and, if need were, make some an example to all the rest; else, say the advisers, our government will be esteemed a scarecrow." "Our desire," they continue, "is to use lenity all that may be, but, in case of necessity, not to neglect the other, knowing that correction is ordained for the fool's back."

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The necessity of labor, which should be the privilege, as well as duty of us all, but which has sadly fallen into disrepute in modern times, is enjoined thus urgently:

"And we heartily pray you that all be kept to labor, as the only means to reduce them to civil, yea, a godly life, and to keep youth from falling into many enormities, which by nature we are all too much inclined unto."

"And God, who alone is able and powerful, enable you to this great work, and grant that our chiefest aim be his glory."

So endeth the first Letter of Instruction from the loving friends of Endicott, "the Governor and Deputy of the New-England Company for a Plantation at Mattachusetts Bay."

In a subsequent letter of instructions from the London company to the planters, they are put in mind to be very circumspect in the beginning to settle some good orders, whereby all persons resident in the colony should apply themselves to some calling or other, and no idler be permitted to live among them; for if care was taken at the first, it was thought a world of disorders would be prevented, and many grievous sins and sinners kept out of the world.

Ay me, even with their severe regulations, they found it a hard task to keep drones and idlers out of their midst. The keeping of a daily register in every family was prescribed, so that what was

be curious to the fashionable ladies now-adays to note the daily employments of the women of the olden times. For all derelict in duty, severe punishments were proposed, and those to be inflicted at once and in public.

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Among other sins, say the advisers, we pray you make some good laws for the punishment of swearers." This was enjoined, if comfort or blessing from God was expected on the plantation. Many who sought of the company to come over were refused, even when they had been at "great charges" with them, on account of their pernicious practices. But over and beyond their temporal comfort, they looked steadily to the glory of God.

Some temperance measures appear to have been taken chiefly with regard to the salvages, as to the strong waters sent for sale. Public and exemplary punishment was recommended for him who exceeded in that inordinate kind of drinking, so much as to become drunk. As to the raising of tobacco, we find repeated instructions for its discouragement. Care was advised to be taken that none was

planted by new planters, unless in small quantities for mere necessity and for physic, and for preservation of health; and that the same were only taken privately by ancient men.

Notwithstanding all the hardships and trials which accompanied the new heritage, and all the sacrifice of accustomed comforts, the planters seem to have been more than satisfied. From Francis Higginson's account of "the earth of NewEngland, and all the appurtenances thereof," I transcribe the following:

about Massachusetts Bay, and at Charles River "It is a land of divers and sundry sorts all is as fat black earth as can be seen anywhere; and in other places you have clay-soil and sandy soil. The form of the earth here in the superficies of it is neither too flat in the plainness, nor too high in the hills, but partakes of both in a mediocrity, and is fit for pasture or for plow, or meadow ground, as men please to employ it. Though all the country be, as it were, a thick wood for the general, yet in divers places there is much ground cleared by the Indians; and I am told that about three miles from us, a man may stand on a little hilly place

and see divers thousands of acres of as good ground as need to be, and not a tree in the same. It is thought here is good clay to make brick, and tiles, and earthen pots, as need be."

The author goes on to say there was plenty of slate in the Isle of Slate, and lime-stone, free-stone, and smooth stone, and iron stone, and marble stone, in such store that they had great rocks of it. He expresses great hope too of minerals, though no trial had been made in the soil, the fertility of which, he says, "is to be admired at in the abundance of grass that groweth everywhere, both very thick, very long, and very high, in divers places." "It is scarce to be believed," he continues, "how our kine and goats, horses and hogs, do thrive and prosper here, and like this country." It is strange that we find no despondency for the hard portion they found-no regret for all they had left-all they saw was good, and they believed that greater blessings which they did not see awaited them. "Our plantation," writes the same author, "already yields us a quart of milk for a penny, and the abundant increase of corn proves the country to be a wonderment. Yea, Joseph's increase in Egypt is outstripped here with us.

The cheerful, the almost exultant spirit in the records of these devoted worthies affords a pleasing and faith-inspiring contemplation. We cannot read their history without having our belief in the efficacy of prayer increased, our religious trust strengthened and elevated. God seems everywhere to have met the measure of their faith-in the perils of the sea and the famines of the land; pledging us anew, as it were, in their faith, that he walks with us still, and answers those that call on him. But of these things presently. I quote further from Francis Higginson's New-England, and the appurtenances thereof. In one place he says:"Our governor hath store of green peas growing in his garden, as good as ever I eat in England."

And in another :

THE MAY-FLOWER.

"This country aboundeth naturally with store of roots of great variety, and good to eat. larger and sweeter than are ordinarily to be found Our turnips, parsnips, and carrots, are both in England. There are also store of pumpkins, cucumbers, and other things of that nature Also divers excellent potwhich I know not. berries in their time, and penny-royal, winterherbs grow abundantly among the grass. Strawsavory, sorrel, brooklime, liverwort, carvel, and water-cresses; also leeks and onions, and divers physical herbs. There are also abundance of sweet herbs, delightful to the smell, which I know not; plenty of single damask roses, very sweet, and two kinds of herbs that bear two kinds of flowers, very sweet, which they say are as good to make cordage and cloth as hemp and

flax.

Excellent vines are here up and down in the woods."

The accompanying cut is designed to illustrate the beautiful may-flower, the pioneer of the sisterhood of blossoms. It answers to the primrose in Old England, starting first to life, and being regarded with a similar affection—the securing of its earliest blossoms bringing, or being supposed to bring, good fortune. We can imagine the children about Plymouth, with a sort of pious superstition, gathering in subdued merriment armfuls of these pretty and fortunate flowers-doubtless

THE ALLYN HOUSE.

they fringe the grassy covering now of many a trusting and demure maiden, who believed in their marvelous virtues. And who shall say but that faith lends to its object something of the quality with which it believes it to be already endowed.

For myself, it seems to me that we are more indebted to the Puritans for the beautiful examples of faith and trust bequeathed to us, than for their noble independence and resistance of oppression. There was no questioning about chance, and fate, and free-will-they knew no will but God's will; and under the severest afflictions still prayed-"Thy will be done!" Speaking of a little daughter whom he had lost at sea, Mr. Higginson says:

"So it was God's will the child died about five of the clock at night, being the first of our ship that was buried in the bowels of the great Atlantic sea."

Writing of a great storm which befell them shortly after the burial, he says, with a simplicity which begets in us confidence in all his curious narrations, "This day Mr. Goff's great dog fell overboard, and could not be recovered."

As they came near the shore, (I speak now of the emigrants of 1630,) abundance of yellow flowers, which they supposed to have come from the low meadows, floated out to meet them, which made them the more anxious to see the New-England paradise.

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from Old England, we performed the same in six weeks and three days."

The governor went aboard ship to meet them, and himself and family were lodged in his house, which he describes as fair and newly built. Not one of the pilgrim houses is left standing now. The Allyn House, a cut of which we here give, is a specimen of the old style, but more spacious perhaps than that in which Higginson was lodged by the governor.

We can imagine psalms and thanksgivings going up from beneath that roof for preservation from "maledictions" and the divers perils of the sea, and for the delight which they had received in beholding the wonders of the Lord in the deep, which our author quaintly says, "those who dare not go to their town's end, shall never have the honor to see."

Of their habits during the voyage, he says: "That they constantly served God, morning and evening, by reading and expounding the Scripture-by singing and prayer-and the Sabbath was solemnly kept by adding to the former preaching twice and catechizing." And in great need they kept solemn fasts with gracious effect-and he desires all to take notice that fasting and prayer are as "prevailable" by sea as by land. The ship-master and his company, we are told, "set their watches with singing, and prayer that was not read in a book."

Higginson but exemplifies the general spirit of trust, of piety, of cheerfulness. "Experience doth manifest," he says, "that there is hardly a more healthful place to be found in the world that agreeth better with our English bodies." For himself, he says: "Whereas I did formerly require such drink as was both strong and stale, now I can, and oftentimes do, drink New-England water very well."

Throughout all the chronicles kept by the settlers of Massachusetts Bay, we find the same cheerful piety manifested as has already been exhibited in Master Higgin

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son's report.

No lamentings anywhere for the blessings they had foregone, but a constant setting forth of those that were left.

William Wood, in his description of Massachusetts, says: "In an ill sheep year, I have known mutton as dear in Old England, and dearer than goat's flesh is in New-England; which is altogether as good, if fancy be set aside."

Among their other afflictions came pestilence, insomuch that there was scarcely a house where there was not one dead; "but they who survived were not discouraged, but bore God's corrections with humility," remembering always that he had power to raise them up, as well as cast them down.

Of one it is said, "She was a godly virgin, making a comfortable end;" and that the like loss of her had not been sustained; and it is added, without murmur or complaint," she deserves to be remembered."

"There are graves in other places," writes one, 66 as well as with us." Of the death of Robert Welden, "a hopeful young gentleman," who had just been chosen captain of a hundred foot, the chronicle says: "he was buried as a soldier, with three vollies of shot;" and in the next sentence a thanksgiving is recorded. On every page of their records our pusillanimity is shamed by their great trust and steady perseverance-remembering always the primary object of their pilgrimage, they paused only to bury their dead,

never to mourn.

But to return to the Pilgrims of 1620, for I have been led away from them by the interest attaching to the narratives of their followers.

Early in the morning of the 9th of November, after the sufferings of a crowded passage of sixty-four days, these Pilgrims obtained their first view of the coast of America. Their rejoicing and praising of God we must leave to be imagined. Wonderfully refreshing must have been the sight of the sand-hills covered with scrubby woods and sloping toward the sea, leafless and snow-covered as they were. After being driven about by contrary winds and endangered by shoals, they were anchored safely in Cape Cod harbor.

Before making land, however, they had covenanted and combined themselves together into a civil body-politic for the hon

oring of their king and country, the advancement of the Christian faith, and the glory of God. This voluntary agreement has been defined by some American writers, "the birth of popular constitutional liberty;" and this has undoubtedly proved the fruit of the tree they planted, although they had no idea of the gigantic growth it was destined to, or of its fruit.

As soon as anchor was cast, parties went ashore to fetch wood and water, and a shallop was fitted for the exploring of the coast, and selecting a suitable place for settlement. This plan was shortly relinquished, in consequence of the shallop proving unworthy; and a party, under the leadership of Captain Miles Standish, volunteered to make an exploration on foot. This was esteemed a service of great peril, and rather permitted, we are informed, than approved. At length, however, sixteen men, armed with musket, sword, and corslet, were put ashore.

They spent the first day in tracking Indians, but were overtaken by night without having encountered any; and kindling a fire, appointed sentinels, and lay down to sleep. The following day they renewed the tracking, but became entangled in thickets, by reason of which their very armor is said to have been literally torn to pieces.

The annexed cut represents the armor of the period, though it is probable our pilgrims had only a corselet and headpiece.

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These explorers appear to have found nothing more worthy of note than some Indian traps, in one of which Captain Standish was caught accidentally, the site of a house, an old ship's kettle, and a basket of Indian corn, which they carried away, intending to reimburse the owners; also, they crossed some graves. Wearily they drew toward the seashore, and were glad to have their signal answered from the ship.

Subsequently, a larger party went out in the boat, which, owing to boisterous winds, could not keep the sea, and the men were forced to wade ashore through water above their knees, and after toilsome marching to encamp for the night in the open air, and exposed to a fall of snow, so that some who afterward died were supposed to have there "taken the original of their deaths." The following day the explorations were renewed, the snow through which they waded, and the wintry woods, making the scene doubly desolate. Their only good fortune seems to have been the finding of a supply of corn. By the third day several were too sick to proceed further, and were accordingly sent back; and shortly the whole party became worn out with the hard toil and discouragement, when ten of the staunchest volunteered to proceed alone; among these were Standish, Carver, Bradford, and Winslow. The cold was intense, and from their great suffering two of the ten were taken ill; the sleet froze over them, and, says the chronicle, they were speedily cased all over in coats of iron.

They met traces of Indians, but encountered none. One night a hideous cry surprised them, and the sentinel cried "To arms!" but having fired off a couple of muskets, nothing more was heard, and the shrieks were supposed to have been wild beasts. This supposition proved untrue, for on the morrow, having prayed, and being about to breakfast, a repetition of the yell burst upon them, followed by a storm of arrows. Standish was the first to fire, and his companions quickly followed with a general discharge of musketry. The sachem stood bravely, but was at length overcome, and wounded fled back into the woods. "The First Encounter" the place of this skirmish is called.

They now betook themselves to the boat, but the sea proved more inhospitable

than the shore. Heavy snow and rain came on, and with the prospect all obscured, “the gale increased, the sea got up, the rudder snapped," and a poor attempt at steering was made with a couple of oars, the waves threatening to swamp them, and the light of a winter day fading from a perilous shore-surely they needed then their great trust. The pilot having called them to be of good cheer, for he beheld the harbor, all sail was strained to get in, when the mast snapped in three places, and the pilot exclaimed, "The Lord be merciful! my eyes never saw this place before." Breakers were just before them, but with wonderful presence of mind the shallop was got about and carried into the harbor with flood tide. Safe from the danger of the sea, night came down upon them, wet, hungry, almost frozen. Fear of the savages kept them for some time in the boat, but so near perishing were they with cold that a few went ashore, and having kindled a fire, were joined by the rest. The place proved to be an uninhabited island, and having looked about they resolved to pass the day there, dry their baggage, and refix their muskets. The next day was Sunday, and sore pressed as they were to join their companions, they remained and observed it with customary solemnity. Monday, sounding the harbor, they found it eligible for shipping, and determined to explore the shores further, and making land, stepped on the rock which has since acquired such celebrity. Here their researches ended, as has been already recorded, and, weighing anchor, they carried back the good news to their friends.

During their exploration, Mistress White gave birth to a son, whom she called Peregrine-the first child born in the colonyand Dorothy, the wife of Bradford, was drowned.

On the 17th of December, the MayFlower set sail from Cape Cod Harbor, and the next day anchored in Plymouth Bay, and having called on God for direction, went ashore.

The spot where they resolved to settle was a ridge of high ground which had been cleared and planted with corn some years before. The place, we are told, abounded with "delicate springs" of water, and under the hillside ran "a very sweet brook."

A rude shelter was erected, where the

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