Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-28
First Christmas 10 New England

WIS lucy present an lneXOrable wall
d against which forbidding and angry wave
necessarily dtsh, and around which shift
q ing winds continually rave. The ap
:, proaches to safe harbors are few in mum
per; intricate and difficult, requiring tn,
Q skill of practical pilots.
T. But, as If with pitying spirit of hospi
I tality, Old Cape Cod. breaking from tn,
, IRON line OF the coast. like generou.
hearted sailor intent upon helpfuness
stretches AN hundred miles outward, and
5 curVlng MS sneltering arms in protectiv,
f circle gives Il noble harborage.
Let us look into the magic mirror of tn,
past, and see this harbor of Cane Goa or
tue morning OF the llth of November, il
the year of our Lord 1920, a.. described Il
US IN the simple words of the PILGRIMS
, "A pleasant bay circled round, except the
entrance. which is about four miles over
] from land TO land, compassed about to the
very sea with oaks, pines, jumpers, sassa.
, fras and other sweet weeds. 1t is barbor
wherein thousand sail ofship may safely
ride
Such are the woody shores of Cape Cod
as we look back upon them in that distant
November day and the harbor lies like a
great crystal gem on the bosom OF virgin
wilderness. The fir trees. the pine trees.
and the bay rejoice together in their free
dom, for as yet the axe has spared them
IN the noble bay no shipping has found
shelter; no voice or sound of civilization
has broken the sweet calm of the forest
The oak leaves, now turned to crimson
and maroon by the autumn frosts, reflect
themselves in fushes of color on the still
waters. The golden leaves of the sassafras
n "a hran
has passed, and every brushing wind bear.
showers of them down to the water.
No voice or sound from earth or sky
proclaims that anything unwonted is com
ing or doing on these shores to-day. And
yet alike to Indian, panther and wildcat,
TO every oak OF the forest, every foot of
land in America, that day was day of
days. The sky above was blue and fair.
and the waters of the bay magical un
der world, wherein the crimson oak, the
dusky pumage of the pines, the red holly
berries and yellow sassafras leaves flicher-
ed in waves of color as the soft November
breeze ripped the waters.
In a moment there is heard in the silent
bay sound and ripple, different from the
lnp of the waves on the shore, and silently
As IA cloud, with white wings spread, little
vessel glides into the harb,r
That small, unknown ship was The Nav
flower; those men and women who crowd
ed her decks were that little handful of
Gods own wheat which had been fl ulpd
by adversity, tossed and winnowed ill
every hu>k of earthly srltishness and 5 y
will had b en- beaten away from them, al
'ei onl" the pure seed. ii for the planting
ola new world With plash and cheer
he anc nr g0es Iown, just in e deep
water in ,d9 Long Pmnl; and then the,
tell iowa and blessed God who had
br'ught tlem safe over the dangerous
wat,rs.
The >Nund Of prayer died away on the
>horr and h, little band, rising from their
knees s,luted ench other in that GENIAL
hnDtr which always possesses n snip
company when they have weathered the
ocean and come IL land together
We'll, Master Jones here we are said
E der Brewster cheerily to the ship mas
Aye, aye. sir, here we be, sure enough
tn, I've had many shrewd doubt of this |
up-hot | tell you, srs. when that beam
tnlldships sprung and cracked, Master
CoppIn here said we must give over
hands couldn't bring through. Thou re-
mcmberpst, Master Copplnp'
That | do replied Master Coppin, the
first mate, a CHEEKY sailor, with face red
and shining as a glazed bun. i said then
that praying might save her, perhaps, but
nothing else would
Father, may go ashorep I want to see
the country said Wrestling Brewster. a
bright, sturdy boy, creeping up to Elder
Brewster and touching his fathers elbow.
For my part said old Margery, the
serving maid, to Elder Brewster. I want
to go ashore to wash up and be decent, for
there isn't a soul of us hath ANYTHING fiji
for Christians. There be springs of water
trow.'
And counsel that all 90 we'll armed,
quoth Captain Miles Standish, for these
men of the forest are sharper than thorn
hedge. What! whatr he said, looking
over to the eager group of girls and boys,
'ye would go ashore. would YEP Why, the
lions and bears will make one mouthful of
ye.'
I'm not afraid of lions,' said young
Wrestling Brewster in an aside to little
Love Winslow, a golden haired. pale
checked child, of tender and spiritual
beauty of face. I'D ike to meet lion he
added, and serve him as Samson did. I'd
get honey out of him, / promise
oh, there you are, young master boast
fulr said old Margery. Mind the old say.
ing, 'Brag is good dog, but Holdfast is
better
Dear husband said Rose Standish,
: wilt thou go ashore in this company" l
why, aye. sweetheart, what else am |
come for-and who should 90 if not I?' .
And as he spoke, he buried his frank, !!
good-natured countenance in an iron head I
piece, and Rose fastened to help him to I
adjust his corselet.
The clang of armor, the hustle and mo. d
ton of men and children, the barking of
dogs. and CHEEKY Heave ohI of the sail !
ors, marked the setting off of the party, I
which comprised some of the gravest and K
wlsest, as well as the youngest and most Il
able bodied OF the ships company. The i,
impatient children ran in group and =
clustered on the side of the ship to see L
hem go, Ola Deb. with her two half.
grown pups, barked and yelped after her p
master in the boat, running up and down Il
he vessel deck with piteous cries of i'm. "
patience. b
Come hither, dear old Deb, said little II
Love Winslow. running up and throwing 6
Ter arms around the dog 8 rough neck u
will be back again; so be good dog nov p
md lie down The great rough mastiff Il
luieted down under her caresses, and sit "
ing down bv her she pa ted and played ~
With her. with her little thin hands. fr
Sse the dtrIing,' said Rose Standish, h.
what way that baby hath! In all the q
oughness and err us of the sea she hath W
,een like ...ttle Sunbeam 10 us-yet she II,
s 30 frall! th
why loo at her beside of Wrestling in
srews er, or faltn Carver. They are flesh C
nd blood and she looks as if she had been
made oH Of sunshine. IT is as sweet ~,
,abe as ever was; but filter for the king n, n,
ON of Heaven than our rough Iife-deary IN
ne! nard time we have ha, of it. h,
in
81 oventde the boat came back ladened W
o the waters edge with the first gettings
nj givings from the new soil of America. by
here il a richness and sweetness gleam- tn
ng through the brief records of these men ey