Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-01
0Nureestrr Daily Spg,
THE DIARY OF MARGARET READE;
AFTERWARDS MRS. LAKE, OF NEW LONDON. IN
HIS MAJ'TY'S COLONY OF CONNECTICUT
EDITED BY MARTHA RUSSEJT
EDITED BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

and straighten up all that has gone amss in
her absence. He babe me tell him the News.
and SO l told him of Daisy's lame foot and
about Hector, for SO Guy hath named Jenny's
foal, and the pied heifer and her calf, at which
he said eyes" and ".Soe" and "Aye," but it
seemed to me without needing my words or
his own, and began to be greatly troubled.
But at last, he spoke suddenly, saying =
"Mey, dear child, will you tell me truly what
liking there is on your part towards cousin
Richard Knyvett?"
could not help laughing at his grave face,
albeit l made quick reply =
None, uncle, do assure you-none farther
than the good wishes due to all men and the
respect | owe aunt's kinsmanp
But the grave look never left his face,
though he sad kindly q thought SO, Child
that is, have thought SO since the matter
has come to my mind at all-it seemeth but
such little time since you were child on
my knee, Megp
can l would were one still p l cried, al
most weeping, for l thought of the Liveen's
scandal and that aunt had told him. he looked
SO sober and thoughtful.
eyes they were pleasant days, Peggy" he
answered, without noting my weakness ''and
l hope, for you, at least, there are many pleas
ant ones to come. But the coming time is
hidden with God yet, whatever it bringeth, l
trust you will bear it like a good, true lass,
as you are" "Then, after brief silence, he
said, 81 saw Master Philip Lake in Cambridge
the other day" He looked right in my face
as he spoke, and it was that l suppose that did
make me blush SO, as | cried, "Thon he told
you of the Mad Dog and the wound !"
eve had a long talk" he answered, smil-
ing: che said nothing of Dogs, but, certes,
much of wound made by the eyes of certain
damsel. In brief dear child, he hath conceiv-
ed high esteem for you and begged permits
sion to win your favor. What should / have
said to him, Meg 2?
| could find do words to answer if the blood
had rushed to my face BEFORE it came now,
with double force, and then it went back and
seemed suddenly to stop and stand quite still,
and l shook so that uncle took hold of my
hands and held them tightly, saying, gently
There is no need to fear, Meg, for no child
OF mlne-and you are close to my Heart as
Guy or Moll-shall be driven to take up with
any one against their liking We know little
about Mr.. Lake. but every one speaketh in his
praise, and l must say he spoke in modest
but right manly way of his fancy for you, and
OF his hopes and wishes But | would fan
know more of him. So l told him he was
welcome to come to Ryalside and speak for
himself. Later, my mind did misgive me for
saying so much, for, from some words of your
aunt thought cousin Dick stood before
him, an like not to make mischief between
young blood. Did tell him too much, Meg ~
81 don't know 1t is so sudden,-so strange
uncle Il cannot think" l said. Then the
memory of what he said about returning to
the Plantations coming to me, l cried quickly
20, no; it never can be, uncle, even if we
had known him for years, for his mind is to go
back to the New England Plantations,-to
cross the terrible Sea!
els it SO, dear Meg? He spoke of no such
intent to me. Truly, an were you so minded,
I should be 10th to let you go so far away
though, sometimes, when | think of the trou-
bes that so thickly beset this unhappy Realm
and the fearful harvest of strife and bood-shed
they threaten to bring, the more wisdom do |
see in the course of my old friend, Winthrope
of Groton, who was minded to face famine
and peril in the wilderness rather than the
cruel strife between brethren and kinsmen,
which he felt must come, soon or late"
"Uncle, whispered 81 do feel that Mas
ter Philip is a Puritan"
"And l do know him to be strongly affected
in this matter, also, the lad spoke openly and
honestly. He hath consorted much with Win
thrope, he tells me, and hath caught many of
his notions about Liberty of Conscience, the
right of Private Judgment and the like, but,
after tarrying at OXon week and listening to
the thoughtless jests and ribald oaths of the
young Gallants there, was the more ready to
absolve him. No one can deny" he went on
more and more sadly, 'that many grievous
Errors have crept into Church and State,-but
the remedy-when will men agree upon that!
With folly and evil counsel on one side and the
fierce sense of wrong on the other who shall
say where this unhappy strife will end But
do ill to cloud your bright face with these
evil bodings, Meg. Be thankful you are
woman and have no need to vex yourself with
such things !"
Aunt was coming along the Hall and he
added quckly-"Remember there is no haste
about this affair, child Take time to know
your own mind thoroughly, for haste breeds
mistakes !!
Aunt came in and slip't out and ran up
here to think, but the quick blood will not let
me think or do any thing else but cry like
silly fool But after all, there is no call to
think-I can never cross the Sea-besides, l
am too young to marry.
But the knowledge that l have found favour
with one so grave and wise as Mr.. Lakeland
good too, for uncle deemeth him SO, is very
pleasant; the more So now, that my heart is
so sore from the false speech of false friends.
If he had known how silly and unlearned l
am, he never would have thought of me again,
SO it is well did not seek more of his CONVEX
saton when he was here, for the mistake can
not be to his hurt, while do think the knowl-
edge of his favour will help me to deserve it.
July 9Th. Divers gentlemen came here to
see Uncle. l fear he will be the worse for it
tomorrow for they talked much Of the dis
content in the North and West and even
Squire Haughton deemeth it unmeet for his
Majesty to Withhold longer the calling of a Par
lament
July Ill., Uncle's fever hath returned and
to-day we sent for the Leech | listened with
open ears to hear what he said, but his speech
was too learned for my understanding. Aunt
says he apprehendeth no danger
Coming in from short little walk with Mol
tonight, | was sorely abashed to find MIR.
Lake in the parlor talking with aunt The
child's gladness at seeing him hid my shame
facedness and, when aunt did go out Tor
short space he asked SO kindly and quietly
about Uncle's sickness, and about Guy and his
school, that was quite at mine ease Still,
| was not sorry when aunt ciime back and said
uncle did desire to see him III his room, with
err he went and remained until the hour of rest.
JULY 8M. Truly we Know not ourselves
what day may bring forth Two days ago,
was SO certain of :ny own mind and, now
/ have spoken words right to the contrary,
which / cannot take back if could And
would al know not every thing is so
strange to mel am SO filled with trembling
and wonder and happiness--if, indeed, these
tears do mean happiness,-thcy are truly,
unlike any | have shed before can only
prav that the Lord will guide my weak foot.