Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-10-27
reside with q relative. This was a
very sad announcement to him.


but they were comparatively poor,
and William determined to know his
fate and ask Alice of her naughty old
father, hoping his own worth and
broad lands might induce the father
to accept him as a suitable match for
his potioness daughter. But he was
mistaken. lie had never before had
occasion to fathom the pride Of the
strange old man. His religious be-
lief alone would have been q sufficient
barrier had there been no other, and
he was haughtily dismissed. There
was last sad meeting of the lovers
across the hedge that night, and the
moon looked down on two heavy
hearts and two fearful faces rs they
both turned to their homes. the one to
wet the pillow with her tears, the 9th
er to walk his room in bitter repinings
at the fate which seemed to be setting
on his life in clouds and thick dark.
ness, forgetting for the time to listen
TO the ptll, small voice which was
whispering, "Come unto me, all ye
that are heavy laden, and | will give
you rest"
Alice was hurried off to London,
and after a few years was married to
Mr.. Southworth, a man of wealth and
honor. Mr.. Bradford sought allevia-
ton from his disappointment in his
books and farm, and subsequently,
married Dorothy May, a woman of
his own rank and persuasion, who
proved a genial and faithful compan-
ION. After a few years we find them
abandoning their pleasant homes, for
he was one of the first advocates for
the removal of the little band Of Puri
tans to America and next we See
them upon the tempestuous ocean, IN
the cabin of the Mayhower. After
arriving in Cape Cod harbor, MIR.
Bradford set out with a small party to
explore the coast, and on returning
was panied and afflicted to find that
his wife, DoroUny, lad rall." f."e, tho
ship and was drowned. He deeply
mouned her loss, for she had proven
II good wife, and they were mutually
attached. He bore this second disap'
pointment of his life with Christian
fortitude. He had no leisure to sit
and brood over his grief, for life with
him was now warfare with cold and
hunger, for he shared in all that the
colonists suffered. 1t is we'll known
to any child of history how they
struggled with disease and savage
enemies.
Mr.. Bradford was now over thirty
years of age, q man Of rare piety and
dignity ofmanner; and few months
after their arrival, Governor Carver
dying, he was elected governor OF the
little colony, Il position which he ably
filled for more than thirty years. And
while with fatherly care he tenderly
watched all the interests of the little
colony, there was blank in his house
hold, and none knew better than HIM
self how he realized the need of wo-
mans ready sympathy, and he was
often annoyed at his inability to keep
his thoughts from wandering across
the "deep blue sea-" The love he
had cherished for Alice had never died
out of his heart. True, it had been
sleeping, and while the husband OF
another had never wished himself
other than he was but now they
were both free-for Alice, too, was
left alone-he often said to himself,
81 wonder if she remembers the love
of her youth; and even if she did,
would she not think it too great sac
rifce to share his fortunes in the vii
derness."
Men are not like women, and vii
not wait lifetime without knowing
their fate when it can be decided by 6
single word. So he resolved to write
and ask Alice, and in the sping O.
1923 the letter was sent across the At
lantic. He faithfully set before her al
the privations and sacrifices she would
be called upon to endure, saying as al
equivalent for this that he had onl,
the love of an honest heart to offe
her, and requested her, if she though
favorably of his proposal, to take pas
sage in the first ship that would sal
for America, as he was too occupied
to come over to England for her, fear
ing the colony might suffer during his
absence.
Time, always 50 heavy-footed t'
the waiting. passed slowly to the gov