Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-28


; vines, some ash and walnut; the wood IA
the most part open and free from uude,
wood, hit either to walk or ride in. A
night our people returned and found nc
any people or inhabitants, and laded thei
boat with juniper. which smelled yer
sweet and strong, and of which we burne
Tor the most part while we were there
See there said little Love Winslov
what tine red berries Captain Miles Stand
ish hath brought
Yea, my little maid, there is a bray,
lot of holly berries for thee to dress tn
cabin withal. We shall not want 70
christmas greens here, though the house
and churches are vet to come
Yea, Brother Miles, said Elder Brew
Ter, the trees of the Lord are full of sap |,
this land even the cedars of Lebanon
which ne hath planted. 1t hath the lool
to me of land which the Lord our Goo
hath blessed
'Ihere is most excellent depth o
black. rich earth, said Carver, and a grea
tangle OF grape vines, whereupon the
leaves in many places yet hung and we
picked up stores of walnuts under tree
not so big as our English ones-but sweet
and well favored
Know ye, brethren, what in this land
smelleth sweetest to mep' said Elder
Brewster. 1T is the smell of liberty. The
soil is free-no man hath claim thereon.
In old England poor man may starye
right on his mothers bosom; there NAV
DC stores OF fish in the river. and bird and
lowl living, and deer running by, and yet,
though mans children be crying for
bread, and he catch fish or snare a ird,
ne shall be snatched up and hanged. This
Is sore evil in old ENglanl; but we will
make country here for the poor to dwell
IN, where the wild fruits and fish and fowl
snail be the Inheritance of whosoever will
nave them; and every man shall have his
portion of our good mother earth with no
lords and no bishops to harry and distrain.
and worry with taxes and tythes.'
Amen, BROTHER said Miles Standish,
and thereto | give my best endeavors
with sword and buckler.'
For the rest of that month of November
the Mayiower lay at anchor in Cape Cod
harbor and formed floating home for the
women and children, while the men were
out exploring the country, with careful
ana steady shrewdness and good sense, to
determine where should be the site of the
future colony. The record of their adven-
lures is given in their journal with that
sweet homeliness of phrase which hangs
about the old English of that period like
TIE smell OF rosemary in an ancient cabin.
Expeditions. through the country, with
AL sorts OF haps and mishaps and adven-
tu'es t"k up the time until near the 18th
o D'eember. when, having selected a
sh1t t"r their colony, they weighed anchor
to 90 to their fu ure home-Plymouth.
On Snnd,y morning of the 23i of De-
cenber the little May yfower lies swimming
Al her t.oprings in the harbor while every
man and boy who could use tool had
gone on shore to cut down and prepare
timber for fnture homes.
Through the still autumnal air NAV
now an then be heard the voices of men
calling to one another on shore, the quick,
shafp ring OF axes, and anon the crash of
Ia ing trees, with shouts from juveniles as
the great forest monarchs are laid low.
some OF the women are busy below sorting
over and arranging their little household
stores and stuff, with view to moving on
shore, and holding domestic consultations
with each other.
There goes great tree on Shore quotb
little Love Winslow. clapping her hands.
'Dost hear, mother" I've been counting
the -hfteen-and then cracklei |
cracklel and down it comesr
why do you cry, motherP said the |
little one' climbing on her lap and wiping
her tears.
4 was thinking of dear aunty who is
gone from US
She is not gone from us, mother
My darling she is with Jesus
Well, mother, Jesus is ever with US
you tell me that and if she is with Him
she is with us, tool know she is-for
sometimes [ see her. She sat by me last
night and stroked my head when the ugly,
stormy wind walked me-she looked so
sweet, oh, ever so beautiful-and she made
ne 60 to sleep so quiet-it is sweet to be
IS as she is, mother-not away from us,
out with Jesus
These little ones see farther into the
singdom than we,' said Rose Standish.
If we would be like them, we should
AXE things easier. When the Lord would
how who was the greatest in his king
tom, He took a child on His lap
Ah me, Rose! said Mary Winslow,
| am aweary in spirit with this tossing
ea life. long to have home on dry
and once more, be it ever so poor. The
ea wearies me. Only think, it is almost
christmas tlmei only two days to Christ t
mas How shall we keep it in these
voodsp'
Aye, aye said old Margery. coming
Up at the moment, a brave muster and :
o-do is there now in Old England; and
nen and boys going forth singing and
earring home branches of holly, and pine, ,
nd mistletoe for Christmas greens. Oh, a
remember used to go forth and help ,
0 dress the churches. God help the poor, I
oor children; they will grow up in the I
1ilderness and never see such brave sights 6
s have G
'Oh. but, Margery,' said Mary Wins. |
wv, we have better country than Old /
'ngland. whore the saints and angels are t
coping Christmas; we confess that We G
re strangers and pilgrims on earth t
And Rose Standlsh Immediately added q
le familiar quotation from the Geneva v
ible: =. v
For they that say such things declare Il
lainly that they seek II country. For if
ley had been mindful of that country from b
hich they came out they had leisure to t
ave returned. But now they desire a j
better-that is, an heavenly; wherefore
cd is not ashamed of them to be called
leir Cod ,
The fair young face glowed as she re- is
Gated The heroic words, for already, II
cough she knew it not, Rose Standish T
Is feeling the approaching sphere of the tr
lgel life Strong in spirit as delicate in D
ave, she had given herself and drawn "
81 mater lal h sband to the support of a tr
eat and noble cause; but while the spirit re
as ready, the flesh was weak, and even IN
that moment her name was written in XII
( Lambs book to enter the higher life W
one short months time from that es
hristmas. ri
Sunday morning found the little com. th
my gathered once more on the ship with 70
thing to do but rest and remember er
cir homes temporal and spiritual-ho1e dc
in Old England, and forward fp
heaven. They were, every man and bg
omen of them, English to the back bone. in
Christmas carols had been sung to them to
nurses and mothers and grandmothers II
9 Christmas holly spoke to them from ai
cry berry and prickly leaf, full of dearest an