The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-03-02
Aoett.rg,


The story of the courtship of Miles Standish -ws
not for the first time versi6ed by Longfellow. III
following ballad was published in a newspaper cal
ed ''Zhe Net0 RoUer,'' in 1852 We copy it with th
4 introduction of the editor. Can any of our reader
throw light upon the authorship, or inform whe
it was originally published?
CourtshiP OF Capt. Miles standish.
A TRUE HISTORICAL ROMANCE,
ss.q BY MOSES BULLINs, 1892.
About this rather singular production word o
two seems necessary. Whether it be really genu
for critics to discuss We only throw such lgh
upon it as we happen to passes, and such as. tn
document bears on the face of it. -..... H. : e
In order to ascertain whether the ballad wa
founded in truth, we have turned to some old NeI
England Chronicles, and find that the whole story
true to the letter. -
Capt. Miles Standfsh came over in the Mayfower
and his wife's name was Rose. Mr.. John Alder
and Mr.. William Mullins were among the numbe
that came over in the same vessel Mr.. William
Mullins had daughter whose name was Ariscilla
and the main incident, according the chronicles,
tually occurred precisely related in the poem.
BALLAD
Miles standish in the Mayaower came
Across the stormy wave,
And in that little band none
More generous or brave
Midst cold Decembers sleet and snow
On Plymouth rock they land;
Weak were their hands but strong their hearts,
That pious pilgrim band.
oh, sad it was in their poor huts,
To hear the storm wind blow;
And terrible at midnight hour
When yell d the savage foe
And when the savage grim and dire,
His bloody work began
For champion brave have been told,
Miles Standish was the man.
But oh, his heart was made to bow
With grief and pain full low,
For sickness on the pilgrim band
Now dealt dreadful blow.
In arms of death so fast they FELL
They scarce were buried,
And his dear wife, whose name Rose,
Was laid among the dead.
His sorrow was not loud but deep
Fer her he did bemoan;
And such keen anguish wrung his heart,
He could not live alone
Then to John Alden he did speak;
For John Alden was his friend
And said 'tFriend John, unto my wish
pray thee now>attend.
Ny heart is sad, It's very sad,
My poor wife Rose has gone;
And in this wild and savage land
--4 ee+t4se.-li -s4e-e=
To Mr.. William Mullins, then,
/ wish you would repair,
And see if he will give me leave
To wed his daughter fair
Priscilla was this daughters name,
Comely and fair she,
And kind of heart she withal,
As any maid could be.
John Alden, to oblige his friend,
Straightway to Mullins went,
And told his errand like man,
And asked for kis consent
Now Mr.. Mullins was sire
Quite rational and kind,
And such consent would never give,
Against his daughters mind.
He told John Alden if his child
Should be inclined that way,
And Captain Standish was her choice
He had no more to say.
He then called in his daughter dear,
Aud straightway did retire, .-
That she might with more4reedom speak
In absence of her sire.
John Alden had bright blue eye,
And was handsome man,
And when he spoke pleasant look
Ger all his features /
He rose, and in courteous way,
His errand did declare,
And said, ..fair maid what words shallI
To Captain Standish bear?"
Warm bushes gfowed upon tie checks
that fair maiden then:
At first she turned away her eyes,
Then looked at Jonn again;
And then with downcast modest mien,
She said with trembling tone,
'Now pritiee John, why dost thou not
Speak for thyself alone?"
Deep red then grew John Alden's face,
He bade the maid good bye
But well she read before he went,
The language of his eye.
No matter what the language said,
Which in that eye was rife
In one short month Priscilla was
John Alden's loving wife.