Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-12-21
THE FIRST CHRLSTMAS IN NEW
ENGLAND.

The shores of the Atlantic coast of Amer
lea may well be a terror to navgators. They
present an inexorAble wall against which for
bidding and angry waves necessarily dash,
and around which shifting winds continually
rave. The approaches TO safe harbors are
few in number, intricate and difficult, Tequir-
ing the skill of practical pilots.
But as if with plying spirit Of hospital
ity, old Cape Cod, breaking from the iron
line of the coast, like a generous. hearted
sailor intent upon helpfulness. stretches an
hundred miles outward, and, curving his
sheltering arms in a protective circle, gives a
noble harborage.
Let US look into the magic mirror of the
past and see this harbor Of Cape Cod ON the
morning of the llth Of November, in the
year of our Lord 1920, as described to us in
the simple words of the pilgrims "A pleas
ant bay circled round. except the entrance,
which is about four miles from land to land,
compassed about to the very sea with oaks,
pines, jumpers, sassafras and other sweet
weeds. 1t is a harbor wherein thousand
sail Of ship may safely ride"
Such are the woody shores of Cape Cod as
we look back upon them in that distant No.
vember day, and all the harbor lies like a
great gem on the bosom of a virgin wilder
ness. The "fr trees, the pine trees, and the
bay rejoice together in freedom, 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 hushes of color
on the still waters. The golden leaves OF the
sassafras yet cling to the branches, though
their life has passed, and every brushing
wind bears showers of them down to the wa
ter
No voice or sound from earth or sky pro-
claims that anything unwonted is coming 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 a day of days. The sky above
was blue and fair, and the waters of the bay
a magical underworld, wherein the crimson
oak, the dusky plumage of the pine, the red
holly berries and yellow sassafrss leaves flick
cred in waves Of color as the soft November
breeze rppled the waters.
In a moment there is heard in the silent
bay a sound and RIPPLE different from the
lap of the waves on the shore, and silently as
a cloud, with wings spread, little vessel
glided into the harbor.
That small unknown ship was the May
flower; those men and women who crowded
her decks were that little handful of Gods
own wheat which had been failed by adversi-
W, lObseN anu WluuOMbu llll every nuhh VI
earthly sel6shness and self-will had been
beaten away from them and left only the
pure seed, fit for the planting of new
world. With plash and cheer the anchor
goes down, just in the deep water inside of
Long Point; and then they fell down and
blessed the God who had brought them safe
over the dangerous waters.
The sound of prayer died away on the
shore, and the little band, rising from their
knees, saluted each other in that genial hu-
NOR which always possesses ships company
when they have weathered the ocean and
come TO land together.
"Well, Master Jones, here we are, said
Elder Brewster cheerily to the shipmaster.
"Aye, aye, sir, here we be, sure enough /;
but I've had many shrewd doubt Of this up
shot. tell you, sirs, when that beam amid
ships sprung and cracked, Master Coppin
here said we must give over-hands couldn't
bring through. Thou rememberest, Master
Coppin?"
''That do" replied Master Coppin, tue
first mate, a stocky, CHEEKY sailor, with a
face red and shining as a glazed bun. 81
said then that praying might save her, per
haps, but nothing else would"
Father, may go ashore want to see
| the country" said Wrestling Brewster, q
bright, sturdy boy, creeping up to Elder
| brewster, ana lOuCnluB MS lhlueI tlpO"s
For my part, said old Margery, the serv
ing. maid to Elder Brewster, 81 want to &C
ashore to wash aud be decent, for there isn't
a soul of us hath anything fit for Christians
There be springs of water, trow."
"And l counsel that all go we'll armed,
quoth Captain Miles Standish, "for these
men of the forest are sharper than tn orr
hedge What what he said, looking ovel
to the eager group of girls and boys. ''y'
would go ashore, would ye? Why, the lion
and bears will make one mouthful of ye."
"Pm not afraid of lions" said young
Wrestling Brewster in an aside to little Low,
Winslow, golden-haired, pale-eheeked child
of tender and spiritual beauty of face
''Id like to meet a lion," he added, ''ant
serve him as Samson did. I'd get honey Ou
of him, Ipromise."
"Oh, there you are young Master Boast
full !" said old Margery. mind the old say
ing, 'Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is bet
ter"
'Dear husband, " said Rose Standish, "wil
thou go ashore in this company 7"
"Why, aye, sweetheart, what else am
come for-and who should go if not 1 ?" An
as he spoke he buried his frank, good-nH
tured countenance in an iron headpiece, an
Ross hastened to help him to adjust his cors'
let.