started the brethren that stayed at Ley-mapped and unfollowed. The Mayflower, den, with the brave Robinson at their possibly, might be the only vessel afloat head, after much praying and feasting, let at the time between the two continents. their compatriots go. There was much Fancy may well conjure up sleepless psalmody and more weeping as these com- nights and weary days passed by those panions in exile separated. They had al-storm-tost ready fasted, and with "strong strivings of the Spirit besought guidance from the Lord." Then came the farewell words of Robinson, words so full of lofty aspiration and independent thought, that we make no apology for giving them here: "I charge you before God and His blessed angels that you follow me no farther than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his Holy Word. I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed Churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go at present no further than the instruments of their reformation. Luther and Calvin were great and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrate not into the whole counsel of God. I be seech you remember it; 'tis an article of your Church covenant, that you be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written Word of God." voyagers. But their brave hearts welcomed the bitter trial as a test of their endurance and a new baptism of their faith. The prize they sought was worth far more than a few months of mere fleshly affliction. seem to their seaworn minds. The first glimpse of land after a long voyage is ever a kind of ecstasy; how peculiarly so to people who saw in it a spiritual asylum as well as an earthly home. At daybreak of the 9th November the hopes of the Pilgrims were gratified. The first English colonists, the first citizens of New England, they beheld for the first time the land of their choice. Bleak and cheerless as the sandy dunes of Cape Cod now seem to the visitor, they were to the strangers what the Judean heights were to the Israelites. They pronounced the country before them to be "a goodly land and wooded to the brink of the sea," and said "it caused us to rejoice together and praise God that had given us again to see land." Under all circumstances they never forgot their profession or their God. We can easily understand how fresh and Thus solemnly admonished, the Pil-pleasant even the bleakest shore would grims set their faces westward. Twice they have to put back. Both times it is the smaller vessel, the Speedwell, that causes the delay. At last the captain of that ship, far too small for the wintry navigation of those storm-swept seas, con- It had been the Pilgrims' purpose to fesses himself discouraged by the enter- settle in Virginia, and they desired to prise, asserts that his vessel is unfit for reach the Hudson, where New York now the work assigned her, and abandons the stands. But foul winds drove the Mayexpedition. Alone, therefore, the Mayflower northward, and the land they first flower, after a brief detention at Plymouth, made was on the coast of Massachusetts. ventures across the ocean. One hundred An attempt to beat south was foiled by passengers are aboard her, of whom forty adverse winds and perilous shoals, so putare men, the rest are women and children. ting back, the brig at last cast anchor in We have no ample record of the voyage, what is now called Provincetown harbour. or of the incidents which marked it. Im- They were enchanted with this haven, agination may picture as it likes the ex- compassed about to the very sea with periences of the Pilgrims while at sea. oaks, pines, juniper, sassafras, and other From the 6th of September to the 9th sweet wood," where a thousand sail of November, they were out of sight of land. ships might safely ride. God had willed The Atlantic is bad enough at all seasons, that not in the softer and more relaxing but during the early months of winter it regions of the south, but amidst the rocky is especially tempestuous. Familiarity, hills of New England, where land and in these days, deprives the sea of half climate alike vied to brace man's energies its terrors. The arts of modern naviga- and evoke his powers, the pioneers of tion, and the skill of naval architects, have religious liberty and the founders of a new made ocean travel far less perilous and state, should make their home. And no irksome than it used to be. But in the sooner had the anchor fallen and the sails year 1620 seamanship was yet in its in- been furled, then the whole company fell fancy. Barely a century had the magnet-down upon their knees and solemnly ic needle tempted mariners into mid- blessed Him whose providence had brought ocean. That great western ocean track them over the vast and furious ocean, and which now is thronged by racing steam- asked for light to guide them in the ships and flying clippers was then un- weighty questions now waiting to be decided. Before any of them landed the old. He could speak six languages, and following solemn compact was entered into, and it is the corner-stone of the American union : was altogether a first-class man, being described as the "Washington" of the colony. To his History and other written records we are indebted for much of the knowledge we have concerning the "plantation" over which he ruled by common consent for eighteen years. "In the name of God, Amen! We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., havEdward Winslow is another notable ing undertaken, for the glory of God and adcharacter. He was of gentle birth and an vancement of the Christian faith, and honour accomplished scholar; the second richest of our King and country, a voyage to plant the man of the party, and the happy husband first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, of a worthy wife, he had, though only do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, twenty-five, great influence over his comin the presence of God and of one another, cov-patriots. His sound judgment, pleasant enant and combine ourselves together into a address, and inflexible uprightness, fitted civil body politic, for our better ordering and him for the many diplomatic missions he preservation, and futherance of the ends afore successfully undertook. He died at sea said; and by virtue whereof to enact, consti- when in the service of Cromwell, at the tute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and officers, from age of sixty. His portrait, the only one time to time, as shall be thought most meet and extant of any Pilgrim, represents a polconvenient for the general good of the colony. ished Christian gentleman: no crop-haired Unto which we promise all due submission and Roundhead, or lean and sour-looking ascetic, but one who might well be what he was called, a man "whose life was obedience." This brief, simple, but remarkable docu-sweet and conversation just." ment was signed by the forty-one men who constituted the whole colony, and the time has now come when the names and positions of these fathers may be properly set forth. First stands John Carver, unanimously chosen governor, a man between fifty and sixty as to age, a pious and well approved gentleman as to character. This humbleminded and self-sacrificing leader only lived five months after landing. His wife Elizabeth died soon after. Then comes William Brewster, the ruling elder of this community, the friend and companion of Robinson, and the oldest man of the company. He had mixed in his earlier years amongst courts and cabinets, and suffered many trials for the truth's sake. He was not regarded as a pastor, although he preached "powerfully and profitably" twice every Sabbath. He is said to have had a singularly good gift in prayer, and like a wise man approved of short prayers in public, because, as he said, "the spirit and heart of all, especially the weak, could hardly continue and so long stand bent as it were toward God as they ought to do in that duty, without flagging and falling off." This wise teacher and learned man, who was moreover of a very cheerful nature withal, died in 1644 at the age of 80 years. William Bradford was foremost among the younger men. He joined the Pilgrims when eighteen, and was chosen governor in Carver's place when only thirty years Isaac Allerton was a middle-aged man and the father of a family; the merchant of the company, and an extensive speculator in after years. Then comes Miles Standish, the hero of Longfellow's hexameters. This stouthearted soldier was thirty-six years of age, and sprung from an old and distinguished family. There are stories of his having been heir to a large property wrongfully withheld from him. Though small of stature he was mighty in battle, and by no means the weak Christian that many of his compeers would have had him to be. Indeed he was never member of any Christian church. A sampler worked by his daughter is still one of the prized relics of Plymouth. He lived to be seventy-two, and was a tower of strength to the settlement. Samuel Fuller was a popular physician, as well as a godly man. Though he left his wife to follow him, he brought his cradle with him, and in it was rocked on board the Mayflower, Peregrine White, the first infant Pilgrim. John Alden's name and memory have also been celebrated by the Poet. Although engaged as a cooper, his strong sound sense and many sterling qualities, made him a man of mark, and he often acted as "assistant to successive governors. Twenty-two when he arrived in New England, he did not leave it until death took him at the age of eighty-four. He married Priscilla Mullins, whose name has also been immortalized by romance, and carve out for themselves anywhere a for she refused the hand of Captain Miles high career. Standish, preferring the humbler attractions and more solid qualities of her younger admirer. Of the Pilgrim Mothers, something may also be said, for there were amongst them many true and noble-hearted women. At least eighteen of the men had their wives with them. Many of them are pre-eminently mentioned in the public records of the colony. Mary Brewster, Rose Standish, and Elizabeth Winslow are familiar figures in the gallery of New England worthies. Some of the girls, too, are distinguished by tradition, and all of them have left descendants by whom their memories are revered. Several attained to great age, and length of years is still a peculiarity of life in these states. Elizabeth Howland died at eighty-one; Mary Cushman lived to be ninety, and resided seventy-nine years in the country; Mary Chilton was at least seventy when she died, and Constantia Hopkins was old. Brave creatures were these staunch women, who neither quailed before the tempest nor fled before the savage, nor shrunk from the wilderness. Worthy sharers were they of the Pilgrims' pains and toils. As Englishmen we ought to be proud of these mothers and daughters, so patient under privation, so enduring amidst bitter trial. They were the forerunners of that vast multitude of no less stout-hearted women, who ever since, and especially during these later days, have gone forth into the desert and the lonely places, with their husbands, their fathers, or their brothers, cheerfully casting aside so much that woman especially prizes-home comforts, sweet domestic enjoyments, freedom from fear or peril; and amidst discomforts, difficulties, and sacrifices, whereof home-living people have no adequate conception, have helped most potentially to build up on the firm basis of family relationships, our great Colonial empire. The Pilgrim Fathers who had thus bound themselves by solemn compact to advance God's faith in a new world, comprised forty-three men, seven young servant men, eighteen married women, four spinsters, twenty-three small boys and lads, and seven girls; making in all a company of 102 souls. It is a mistake to suppose that the self-exiled Puritans were men of a low order or an ascetic turn of mind. Many of them, as we have seen, were highly educated, of great ability, of good birth, and of cheerful temperament, such men as would be welcomed by any people, Now that they have fairly reached their destination, let us look at the prospect before them. In these days when men emigrate, they know where they are going to and in a general way what to expect. Emigration agents instruct them as to their movements; guide-books tell them all that print can tell concerning the land they are to inhabit; they find on their arrival men akin in colour and nationality already resident there. To some extent at least the ground is broken up. But in 1620 the first English colonist enjoyed none of these advantages. The land before them, for aught they knew, might never have been trodden by a white man. It might be stricken with disease, or barbarized by brutal men; its soil might be unfruitful and its climate fatal. Winter's bitterness was already being felt. Not an inn, nor a roof, nor any token of shelter could be seen there. Ignorant of the land, ignorant of its people, full of vague imaginative stories about the wildness and ferocity both of men and beasts there, weary and cold and cheerless, they began their work of colonization. The first day after the anchor fell was devoted to the compact. The following day was Sunday, and though the need for action was excessive, the sanctity of the Sabbath in their eyes was greater. Under all circumstances, even when beset by Indians and threatened with starvation, the Pilgrims observed the Lord's day to keep it holy. On Monday the shallop, a large boat intended for exploratory purposes, is drawn ashore. The people landed in order to refresh themselves, to snuff once more the pleasant fragrance of the woods and feel beneath them the solid earth, albeit of another world. The women, both young and old, dedicated the day to washing, and to this hour Monday is the favourite washing day in New England. All joined in this work, although the weather was severe and the toil was great; the woman of gentle nurture equally with her of humbler birth, took part in the household duties of a community in which rank had no place. Modern colonists who find so much in those far southern lands to surprise and interest them, can well conceive how full of novel experience and incident these early days were. The sea-birds which floated carelessly by in the smooth waters of the bay; the whales that came plunging in fearless ignorance of their 'new oppressor around the ship; the "great "ex mussels, very fat and full of sea-pearl," | drawing an arrow from the quiver. This which caused grievous sickness to all who supposed chief being wounded, an ate them; the strange foliage of the trees traordinary shriek arose from the rest, along the shore, that is of such of them as and they fled; Standish and his men in winter had not left leafless, all charmed hot pursuit. This was the first of the very by their novelty the strangers. Seven- few encounters the Pilgrims had with the teen days of precious time were lost in re-natives. pairing the shallop. Miles Standish, how- In the afternoon, while they were still ever, with a soldier's impatience of delay, sailing along the coast, a storm of snow and set forth with sixteen chosen men on an rain came on, and the gale lashed the sea exploring expedition. This party had an into breakers. At this moment the rudeventful and exciting time. They were der of the frail boat gets smashed, and well armed, and provisioned for two days they are obliged to steer her with two with biscuits and Holland cheese; nor was oars. Night was at hand, and they pressed "a little bottle of aqua vitæ " - a decent on all sail for the harbour. While making euphemism for brandy, forgotten, in order, for the bay the mast split in three places, as they simply said, that they might "give and shipwreek seemed certain. The pilot strong drink to him that is ready to per- to whom they trusted for guidance at this ish." They met a few Indians, who fled juncture cried out "Lord be merciful! I before the pale-faced intruders. At night never saw this place before," and was they built of stakes, a three-sided hut about to beach the shallop through a terwhere a fire was kept burning, with sen-rible surf when one of the steersmen calls tinels on the watch. On the following out, "About with you if you are men, or day when it snowed and blew severely we are all cast away!" Obedient to the they found nothing but some deserted call the rowers bend to their work with wigwams and baskets of corn, a quantity eager energy, and at last get under the lea of which they carried away for purposes of a small hill at the end of Clark's Island, of seed, and with the full intention of where wet, cold, and feeble, in momentary making the owners "large satisfaction" fear of savages, they all pass a miserable for what they took - a promise fulfilled night. The next day was Sunday, and about eight months afterwards. The again the boat was drawn up, all needless large size of the ears of maize astonished signs of secular toil were removed, and and pleased the Pilgrims, and the adven- the explorers rested from their labours, tures narrated by these explorers after worshipping God under the noble arches their return helped to beguile the time spent in repairing the shallop. On Dec. 4th, the first burial took place. Constant wading in the water, and free exposure to the weather, had bred many coughs and colds, from the effects of which several of the sufferers never recovered. Shortly after, the shallop leaves on its third exploring expedition. The water was smooth but intensely cold, so much so that the spray soon made their clothes "like coats of iron." Nothing noteworthy happened until midnight of the 7th of December, when a "great and hideous cry being heard, the sentinel called out "to arms," and two guns were fired off. The noise however was but the howling of wolves and foxes. "After prayers," next morning, "a great and strong cry was heard." One came running in shouting "Indians! Indians!" and a flight of arrows from thirty or forty of these people fell amongst them. The scattered explorers fly to their guns. Standish fires at one large Indian behind a tree, and his shot, being as they said "directed by the provident hand of the Most High God," hit him in the right arm, which was in the act of of the forest. The day after, they passed over to the mainland. The locality seemed suitable for settlement. Five days later the Mayflower was anchored in the harbour and all the Pilgrims had landed on the now famous rock of New Plymouth. A momentous incident was that in the history of the world. It was the birth of a great Republic. Painters have vied in representing the scene. Historians have striven eloquently to trace out the mighty and remote issues from it. Poets have celebrated the event in sweetest verse. Nor are the least beautiful of the many verses that have been inspired by the theme those of our own tuneful countrywoman, Mrs. Hemans, beginning — "The breaking waves dashed high On a stern and rock-bound coast; Their giant branches tost." During the eight days' absence of the explorers, death had been busy amongst the Pilgrims left behind in the Mayflower. Governor Carver lost a son. Mrs. Bradford fell overboard and was drowned. James Chilton and William Thompson, thus early in their career, rested from men and women had drunk beer in actheir labours. cordance with the common usage of those Space will not allow us to follow mi- times, but the supplies of that beverage nutely the subsequent doings of the colo- ran low, and water soon became their only nists. Once landed, their first solicitude drink. Eight died in January; seventeen was to provide shelter for themselves dur-in February; fourteen in March. Brading the rest of winter. Although the pros- ford says of this period of trial and bereavpect was drear enough they were very mentcheerful. From first to last we read of no repining. They look at all things happily. The harbonr seems to them "a most hopeful place," with "innumerable store of fowl," and most excellent good fish." They find many small running brooks of very sweet water. The soil is a spade's depth of fine black mould, and "fat in some places." In the forest are more trees than they can name. Many kinds of herbs are warmly welcomed by the housewives. Among other discovered resources 66 are great store of leeks and onions, an excellent strong kind of flax and hemp; great store of soft stone and pot clay." "In three months past die half our company - the greater part in the depth of winter wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases, which their long voyage and uncomfortable condition brought upon them. Of a hundred scarce fifty remain, the living scarce able to bury their dead; the well not sufficient to attend the sick, there being in time of greatest distress but six or seven, who spare no pains to help them. The like sickness fell among the sailors, so as almost half their number die before they sail." No wonder therefore that houses were not built, nor fields planted, while death thus unsparingly did its work. The wonder is that the strong hearts of the survivors bore up against such crushing trials, and that they did not turn their backs upon a shore where they had, it is true, found freedom, but found it at so terrible Recourse was had to the directing power of prayer before the site of the proposed town could be decided on. After this "appeal to Divine Providence" had been made, a spot was chosen on high ground where much land was already a cost. cleared, where a very sweet brook flowed down the hill-side, where a good harbour for the shallop existed at the bottom, and where they could plant their guns so as to command all the neighbourhood. Had the pilgrims been a party of pioneer Boer farmers, in South Africa, they would for just the same reasons have selected such a situation. To many English colonists in these modern days the earlier experiences of the Pilgrims would seem lifelike and familiar. Those first years were a time of toil, privation, and struggle, of such struggles as happily can rarely fall to the lot of English immigrants in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Provisions fast got scarce, and at last were all exhausted. More than a month elapsed before a Not long before their advent a pestilenee building was fit to be occupied on shore. had swept the country occupied by the The first erected was the "common house," Pilgrims, and left it shorn of aboriginal where all met for worship, and where the inhabitants. Prevented by sickness from men met for business. Like all the build- sowing at the proper seedtime, when the ings erected there for several years this next winter came the stocks of food edifice was built of hewn logs, the inter- brought from Europe were consumed, and stices being filled with clay. The town- few fresh supplies were forth-coming. Not ship was to consist in the main of a street. that the surviving immigrants had been Nineteen family lots, each being reckoned idle. Instructed by the Indians they had to represent five souls, were to be laid out planted their fields with the strange seeds on either side. In the centre a fort was of the maize plant. Savage agriculturists constructed, and the whole was surround-consult the laws of nature even more exed by a palisading. But months elapsed actly than do our own farmers. In South before any of the dwelling houses were Africa the natives know it is time to sow ready, and only seven were finished during when the scarlet blossoms of the Kafir the first year. Sickness paralyzed the Boom tree exhibit their vermilion splenstrong arms, and subverted the stronger dour. In North America the Indians wills of many of the colonists. Their con- planted their corn "when the leaves of stant exposure to all the rigours of an in- the white oak were as big as the ears of clement season produced violent coughs, a mouse." Thus in both hemispheres we consumptive and rheumatic complaints. find barbarous races, ignorant of books, Insufficient food did not help to mend scholarship, and science, guided in their matters. Up to the end of the year the agrarian avocations by the infallible teach |