Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-05
0dmctstrr Daily Spg.
WRITTEN FOR THE WORCESTER SPY.
THE DIARY OF MARGARET READE
EDITED BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

AFTERWARDS MRS. LAKE, OF NEW LONDON. IN
HIS MAJ'TY'S COLONY OF CONNECTICUT

[Concludedl
The EVE OF ST.. THOMAS, Say Brooke, in
His Majesg's Plantation Of Ne,c EnqIaad.-One
Year ago to Night! Alas l dare not think of
it am like Wretch snatched from drown
ing, who standeth on the farther bank, and
looketh shudderingly back over tile terrible
waste of Waters which he hath passed Yet
the dark saying of the good King, which
Mother Lake did whisper in mine evrs, has be-
come an open Truth with me; for, verify,
amid the Discipline of the past year, have l
found for the first time, the Life of the Spirit,
the only true Life. My careless maiden
Days at Ryal-side, which did stand out so full
ly in the first six months of my Welded Life,
making me blind to the great change God
doth require in such as take upon them the
Holy Estate of Marriage, have sloped back
ward like the long shadows of Morning, and,
like some picture, look fair and pleasant
enough, but no more to be desired, than is the
life of the Bird among the trees. All that did
make it of real worth, L still have, even here :;
for, thank God, many ooaters cannot guench Lore
and His Heaven, where dear Guy dwelleth, is
as near to these wilds, as to the green holms
of Ryalside Nearer, cannot but think
for l, who lay there one year ago, wild with
passion, rebellious toward God and man, do
now sit here, clothed in my right mind, with
my darling Child, my little Hannah flor Phil
ip hath claimed the privilege | kept for him,
and hath named her for my own Mother),
sleeping sweetly by my side, while my Hus.
bands voice, which | did so oft despair of
hearing again, reacheth mine ear from the
apartment without, where he holdeth converse
with Mr. Fenwicke and others, sweeter, dear
er, as | do feel with tears, than any other
sound on earth and, sometimes, | do fear me,
than any could be in Heavenl l find plenty
of work here; for even the high born Lady
Alice shameth not to labor with her hands,
for the Necessities of the people. Naethless,
as | have written down the Evil, will not
Withhold the Good in this my old Diary, the
dumb Witness of all my Faults.
The Honorable Governor Winthrope did
show me much kindness; and when he saw
how my heart was set on going, he did make
no farther remonstrance, but did set him
self to provide all things for my comfort, as
far as in him lay The voyage was truly one
OF much discomfort and no small peril, the
Coast being dangerous from sunken rocks and
the terrible easterly storms that prevail at this
season. We did suffer much from the cold,
and, once, we did well nigh suffer shipwreck
on an island, of which Winthrope the younger
hath the grant, which lyeth off Pequott Har-
Dor, few miles east of the fort at Saybrooke
But, by the mercy of God we safely reached
the fort, which overlooketh the mouth of
wide river, and then, when the anchor was
cast and the jewellers there FASTENED to the
waters edge with tears and shouts Of welcome,
oil af n cnl1nu m baad GRO 1izzV and NV
strength tailed me. l could not see the faces
on the Shore, and the kind sailors were forced
to bear me in their arms to the land. And,
when ! did come to myself again, woes
mel of all the eyes bent on me in the
Lady Alice's own room, there was not
one that | had ever looked into before. |
almost wished had never opened mine own
again, for not doubling that Mr.. Winthrope
had torewarned Philip of my coming, as he
promise before left Home, could not but
feel that he was either dead or that my pres
ence was unwelcome. But the first words Of
the Lady Alice, who already had my Child in
her arms, did bring back Hope. My Husband
was away with Mr. Peters and one Mr.. Thomas
Stanton, to settle some trouble with the Savages
at Pautapaug, one of the gathering places of
these people, not far distant. They knew not
if the night would behold their return OF all
the weary Hours of the past year, do think
none did pass more slowly and heavily than
these, in which awaited-beset with greater
misglvings than ever, at that late moment
my Sentence. Great as was the longing OF
the Lady Alice and the others, to hear from
Home, they took pity on my condition, and
sent me early to this rude chamber. But l
could not sleep | could only cling to the
hand of my sleeping Child as an anchor, and
cry again, "lf perish, perish" | know not
how long waited, but finally, heard chal-
lenge from the Sentinel, and soon there was
rafting of bars, and the new corners entored
the fort. My heart seemed to stand still while
/ listened to the voices; and, when Il heard
my Husbands, it gave a great leap within me,
and forgetting all my plans, the unftness of
the hour, even my Child, on which had so
much counted, | ran toward the apartment,
and pressed open the door. Some one was
passing out by the opposite side, to whom Mr..
Fenwicke was speaking. But had eyes for
nothing but my Husband, my Philip, stand
ing by the fire with dropping head and arms
and, the next instant, was at his feet; but,
woes me no word Of my studied Speech
would stead me then-even my sense did
betray me, and | could only moan out, 'For-
giveP
He gave great start, in his old quick way,
lifted me to my feet, and, holding me of, took
a long searching look into my face, and all my
great tears fell on my face when he drew me