Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-02
b orirtp.

Puritan Courtship.

The following pleasant anecdote, indica-
tive of the habits of our Puritan forefathers,
is from work now in press, entitled "Ply-
mouth and the Pilgrims" &c. The val
liant Captain StandIsh, having lost his wife,
is DESTROYS of obtaining another:
CA short time after the death of Mrs.
Standish, the bereaved Captain found his
heart filled with tender interest for Mrs.
Priscilla Mullins, daughter of Mr. William
Mullins. He cherished the impression that
if she could be persuaded to unite her
fortunes with his, the loss which he had ex-
perienced would be repaired. He, there
fore, according to Puritan custom, made
his wishes known to the father, thorugh Mr.
John Alden, as his messenger, Mr.. Null
Inns made no objection, although he might
reasonably have done so, the decease of
Mrs. Standish having been so recent. He
rave his consent, but informed Alden that
the young lady must be consulted. Pris'
ella was called into the room, not knowing
for what purpose she was wanted Alden,
a man of noble form, of fair and somewhat
ford complexion, and engaging manners,
arose and delivered his message for STAN
dish, in BETTING laguage, and in prepos.
sessing, courteous style, Priscilla listened
attentWely, heard every word, and then, af-
ter a short pause, as if gathering strength
to reply, she fixed her eyes upon the mes
senger and said, with frank and pleasant
countenance, full of meaning "Prithee,
John, why do you not speak for yourself?
Johns ruddy countenance became red he
took the hint, made polite bow, babe her
farewell for the present, and returned to
StandiGh to communicate the result of his
negotiation. Henceforward he visited for
himself, and ere long their nuptials were
solemnized in due form, and Miss Priscilla
Mullins became Mrs. John Alden. Ira
dition reports further that when Alden Wis
tied Cape Cod, for the purpose of entering
into the coniugal relation with Priscilla, as
the colony had then no horses, he went
mounted on the back of bull, which he
had covered with a piece of handsome
broadcloth. After the marriage ceremo-
MES were performed, he reinquished this
seat to his new bride. Placing her on the
back of the bull, he returned home in Joy
GUS triumph, leading the ungainIy animal
with rope fastened to ring in his nose,
In relation to this event, Thatcher says
This sample of primitive galantry, would
i'll compare with that of Abraham's servant
when, by proxy, he gallanted Rebecca on
her journey, with splendid retlnue of dam
sells and servants seated on camels, Isaac
going out to meet her. Had the servant
employed bulls rather than camels, ii may
be doubted whether kebecca would have
been quite so prompt in accepting his pro-
posals. AS soon as the question was put
Rebecca said, 81 will go." With equa
propriety he might have said, had Mr.. AL
den taken a camel instead of bull, Pris
ella Mullins might have declined. They
both employed the creatures in use among
their own people, We are somewhat in
clined to the belief, that in each case, the
lady was influenced more by the man than
the animal more by the home that was Of
iered her than the conveyance thither."