Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-03-24
First Love and Second Marriage.

had they been living men.
First Love and Second Marriage.
William Bradford, whose name stands
second on the list of signatures to the
celebrated compact made in the little
cabin of the Mayfiower, and who be-
came the second Governor OF Plymouth
Colony, was born at Ansterfield. York
shire, England, in the month of March,
1888. His parents dying in his youth,
he was left to the care of his grand
parents and after them to his uncles.
His family was respectable, but was
among the yeomaDry of England, and
he was bred to agriculture. AT an
early period he took upon himself the
care of his large estates, and to improve
and beautify them was his occupation
and pleasure. But while each day
found him busy with the men in the
fields, night found him busy with his
books. He became a proficient in the
and French and German he both read
and spoke with ease. While still n
mere youth he identified himself with
the Puritans, and at seventeen years OF
age was one of company who at
tempted to escape to Holland in quest
of liberty to worship as their con-
sciences counseled. But they were be-
trayed, and cast into prison at Boston,
Lincolnshire. While religion, and
numerous other grave and earnest OBJ
iects, had their place in his mind, there
was one corner where n more beautiful,
less grave, but as earnest passion
held sway. Love had entered the heart
of the young Puritan, and often, while
his head was bowed over his book, the
graceful figure of her he loved would
charm his eyes, making his heart throb
with delight. When as a child he had
played with little Alice Carpenter, he
knew that she was lovelier and sweeter
to him than any other golden haired,
rosy Tipped little fairy. She was Just
two years younger than himself.
As years passed, and her form be-
came taller and fuller, the golden curls
deepening in shade to sunny brown,
she grew more beautiful to him. Many
were the walks they had together. His
lands joined her fathers, and of a
Summer evening, leaning over the
hedge that divided them, long and
sweet were the conversations they en-.
joyed. One evening in Autumn, Alice
announced to him that in two days
more she was to &C to London with an
aunt, to stay some months. The news
came like deathblow upon William.
The Carpenter family had been highly
distinguished in former times, and one
of its members had received from the
king the honor of knighthood, but they
were now INDECENT, and William deter
mined to risk his fate, and ask Alice of
her stern and proud father. He hoped
that his own broad lands and fair name
might influence the father to accept
him as suitable match for this lovely
but portionless girl. But he did not
know the pride of the stern old man.
He was dismissed with naughty and
severe reproofs for his presumption.
His religious belief would have raised
barrier had there been no other, and
sad was the interview of the young low
ers that evening at the trysting place
where they hsd spent so many happy
hours. 1t was to be their last meeting.
William was too proud and high
minded, and Alice too dutiful, to act
in opposition to a parents wishes.
Alice went to London. and in course
of time was married to Constant South
worth, wealthy and honorable man.
William devoted himself to his farm
and books.
By-and-by he felt that a wife was
needful to him, and his eye fell on
Dorothy May, q sensible, discreet .wo-
man of his own rank in life He did
not love her as he had loved Alice. but
he felt an honest Bnd true affection for
her, and she proved an estimable,
faithful wife. The number of those
protesting the Puritan faith increased,
and trial and persecution were their
lot. William was one of the earliest
advocates for their removal to America.
where they might enjoy their religion
undisturbed. He was with the little
band in their hasty flight, in their SO
journ in London, and upon the stormy
and perilous ocean in the cabin of the
Mayfiower. While in Cape Cod harbor
and during his absence with a party
sent to explore the coast, his faithful
wife Dorothy fell from the ship and
was drowned. He sincerely mourned
for her, for she had been an affection
ate wife; but with the submission of a
Christian he calmly turned to the du-
ties of life. Life for him was a warfare
with hunger and cold, disease and saw
age enemies. What the colonists suf
fered is well known.
Mr.. Bradford was now a mature mar
of thirty two, and when Governor Car
yer died few months after their arri-
val he was elected his successor. and
for a period of more than thirty-ont
years he directed the affairs of the col
ony. But while with fatherly care Ia,
watched over the little colony he Otter
felt the want of woman's ready sympa
thy and soothing tenderness. III,
thought of Alice. The love he had fell
for her had never died ont in his heart
While the husband of another it hat
slumbered, but now Alice and himsel
were both free-for her husband haf
died a year since. Did she remembe
the love of her youth? And if she ye
cherished that memory, would she con
sent to leave happy home and troops
of loving friends to share the fortune
of one in q wilderness ? At last he de
cided to write to her and propose tina
she should share his fortunes. Earl,