Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-11-19

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The smaller cannon-bases carrying five
or six ounce balls--were placed before
the houses of the Governor and Captain.
"Now," said the Captain, eve are ready
for the rascals." The work was scarcely
done when reports came in of the ap-
proach of the savages For days they
hung around, and one or two ventured
in. At last, one fair warm morning in
March, there was q great stir in the set
tlement The Indians had appeared in
force on neighboring hill,-sixty war
riors headed by their king, Massasoit.
There was hasty buckling on of armor
and gathering up of swords and muskets.
With trumpet and drum the troops of
Captain Miles Standish were ordered in
to rank The women and children hid
themselves in the houses. But the alarm
was unfounded. In accordance with the
advice of the medicine-men and the de-
termination of the council, King Massa-
soft and his warriors had come to make
treaty of peace. So the warlike prepar-
ations were converted into a military
display in honor of the distinguished Wis
itor.
Captain Standish with six musketeers
in their breastplates, and shouldering
their heavy pieces, escorted the Indian
king and twenty of his warriors, some
of whom were clad in skins and others
naked, but all painted and oiled, the
king being distinguished from the others
by q heavy necklace Of bone beads.
They were marched into an empty house,
} just completed, and Massasoit was seated
on a green rug, reserved for state occa-
sious. Some of the other Indians were
placed on cushions.
With trumpet blowing and drum beat
ing, and followed by few musketeers,
entered Governor Carver, wan and fee
ble,--for deadly sickness had already
laid hold on him,-but keeping stately
department. He seated himself by the
Indian king, upon the rug, kissing his
hand to him by way of salute and being
in return embraced and kissed. Captain
Miles Standish ran his eye anxiously
along his men, some of whom wero SC
feeble that the heavy breastplate ant
musket severely taxed their strength t.
carry.
After drinking and eating together,
treaty of friendship and alliance wa
made, which lasted while those who mad
it lived. With ceremonies like thos
now ended, and the Indians took thei
departure, glad enough to get out of tn
: company of the fearful weapons tina
sent invisible death to any distance, an
which they eyed with trembling fear dr
ring the whole conference.
] Towards the middle of March tn
> birds sang sweetly in the woods,--a JOY
, full sound, for it told of the coming sprins
! At noon came their first experience {
an American thunder storm, -" stron
and great claps, but short, but after a
E hour it rained very sadly till midnight,
b A few days later every man that coul
/. handle spade was breaking ground
j. prepare for the first crop.
i From the Indians they had obtaine
t some corn, and, under the guidance
o an Indian, twenty acres were set wit
s this; six acres more were sown with ba
It ley and psas,-the whole being manure
n with fish scooped up from the strear
l. The seed was sown with many prayer
IS for on the success of that crop depend'
p the fate of the colony. The supp
/. brought with them from England wou
" have soon been exhausted, but for t
t reduction of their numbers by the pes
d lence The game which they expect
es to kill proved at first very shy, and tn
8, were but Indifferent hunters. Owing
* an unfortunate omission to bring SIN;
d. hooks their success in fishing was equal
n poor. A failure of the crop, in the p
r. sible event of inability to get supplies
d. time from England, would result in st
On vation.
tn With the coming of spring the si'
,s- ness decreased OF the hundred a
or one Pilgrims who arrived in Cape {
to- harbor in November about half W
M dead by April. The Mayfower lay
rk port with but half her crew, the pc
,rs lence having treated crew and passeng
to alike. But now the mortality ceas
hut The sick and lame recovered, and q
to- pondency gave way to hope. Whate
he thoughts of returning were INDUCED
rit during the height of sickness were 4
lite banished. The sails of the Mayho
were hoisted once more, and from
led battery on the hilltop Captain M
ess Standish gave her parting salute
sti- she sailed away with cheering letters
lis England, but with not single pas