River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-08
MISCELLANY.
A CENTENNIAL ROMANCE.

1t may not be Opportune just now,
when patriotism is so rife in the hearts
of our enthusiastic countrymen, 10 sub.
init a little sketch Of Centennial romance
which found room, budded and blossomed
In the heart of one of Massachusetts,
earliest Governors, proving that no mat
ter how full and earnest may be the pur.
pose that inspires the heart and life of
the most Jealous the "tiny god" can
ever find room to set up his banner, on
which is Transcribed in letters of light,
"peHi, uidi. Uici,"
William Bradford, who become second
governor OF Massachusetts, after the mel.
anchoiy death of Governor Carver (who
soon slept by the side of his wife and
only child), was born at Austerfeld,
Yorkshire, England, March 1883. His
father and mother died when he was
quite young. lie was tenderly cared for
by his grandparents, and subsequently
by an uncle. His family were among the
yeOmanry of England, and very respect
able. He was reared to agriculture.
When quite young he assumed the care
of his own landed estates, and enjoyed his
them; and, though much of his time he
was busy with his men in the field he
still found opportunity to be quite stu.
dent. He became proficient in the Latin,
Greek and Hebrew languages, and was
familiar with the German and French,
which he spoke lluently. He had en-
brSced the faith of the Puritans, and at
seventeen years Of age was one of the
company who made an effort to escape to
Holland in search Of religious liberty,
bnt was unsuccessful, having been be-
trayed and was for season imprisoned
in Boston, Lincolnshire from which
the city of Boston received its name).
But though religious and other momen.
tous subjects claimed his attention and
seemed TO engross all his mind, there was
one less grave, but not less potent, that
permeated his whole being, and gave to
his life a halo of brightness. Love had
taken possession of the heart Of young
Bradford and often when he seemed
most engrossed in his books, the golden
curls and soft blue eyes Of Alice Carpen-
ter were all he saw. His lands joined to
her fathers, and they had been play.
mates and companions in childhood, he
being only few years her senior. As
time passed rapidly away and she grew
into womanhood, her sunny curls turning
into soft chestnut brown, she only be-
came to the earnest, honest heart OF
William Bradford more dear and more
beautiful; and yet lac said nothing to her
of the deep and earnest passion which he
never forgot, even in his sleep, till one
evening in autumn they had been enjoy
ing n long and pleasant conversation,
leaning over the hedge that divided their
lands, when Alice told him she was soon
60 60 to London TO reside with a relative.
This was n very sad announcement TO
him.
The Carpenter family had in former
times received the title OF knighthood
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 land,
might induce the father to accept him az 4
suitable match for his portionless daught
or. But he was mistaken. He had never
before had occasion to fathom the pride
Of the strange old man. Ills religion.
belief alone would have been n sufficient
barrier had there been no other, and hC
was haughtily dismissed. There was a last
So \. meeting Of the lovers across the hedge
that night, and the moon looked on two
heavy hearts and two fearful faces a.
they both turned TO their homes, the on,
to wet the pillow with her tears, tn,
other 70 walk his room in bitter repning
at the fate which seemed to be settln.