Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-12-21

en- than our rough lfe-deary me hard
time we have had Of it,
At eventde the boat came back laden to
the waters edge with the first gettings and
givings from the new soil of America There
Is a richness and sweetness cleaning through
the brief records of these men in their jour
mails which shows how the new land was seen
through fond and tender medium, half po-
etic and its new products lend a SAVIOR to
them of somewhat foreign and rare. OF this
dry's expedition the record is thus
That day, so soon as we could, we set
ashore some fifteen or sixteen men well
armed, with some to fetch wood, for we had
none left as also to see what the land was
and what inhabitants they could meet with.
They found it to be small neck of land on
this side where we lay in the bay, and on the
farther side the sea- the ground or earth,
sand hills much like the downs in Holland,
but much better the crust of the earth a
spit's depth of excellent black earth; all
wooded with oaks, pines, sassafras, juniper,
birch, holly, vines, some ash and walnut
the wood for the most part open and free
from underwood fit either to walk or ride in.
At night our people returned and found not
any people or inhabitants, and laded their
boat with juniper, which smeled very sweet
and strong, and Of which we burned for the
most part while we were there.
"See there" said little Love Wnslow,
'wbat fine red berries Captain Miles Stand
ish hath brought"
"Yea, my little maid there is a brave LOT
of holly berries for thee to dress the cabin
withal We shall not want for Christina.
green's here, though the houses and churches
are yet to come
"Yea, Brother Miles, " said Elder Brewster,
ba of "A .prI ar full nf in This
land, even the cedars Of Lebanon, which be
hath planted. 1t hath the look to me of a
land which the Lord our God hath blessed. %
There is a most excellent depth Of black,
rich earth said Carver, land great tangle
OF grapeyines, whereon the leaves in many
places yet hang, and we picked up stores OF
wanuts under a tree-not so big AS our Eug-
lish ones-but sweet and well favored"
know ye, brethren, what in this land
smeleth sweetest to me - said Elder Brew
ster. 1T is the smell of liberty. The soil
is free-no man hath claim thereon. In Old
England poor man may starve right on his
mothers bosom there may be stores of fish
in the river, and bird and fowl flying and
deer running by, and yet though a mans
children be crying for bread an he catch
fish or snare a bird he shall be snatched up
and hanged. This is sore evil in Old Eng
land but we will make a country here for
the poor to dwell in, where the wild fruits
and fish and fowl shall be the inheritance of
whosoever will have 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 the month of November
the May flower 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 a careful and
steady shrewdness and good sense, to deter
mine where should be the site Of the future
colony The record of their adventures is
given in their journal with that sweet home
illness Of phrase which hangs about the old
English of that period like the smell Of rose
mary in an ancient cabinet.
Expeditions through the country, with all
sorts of haps and mishaps and adventures
took up the time until near the 18th Of De-
cember, when, having selected a spot for
their colony, they weighed anchor to go to
their future homs-Plymouth.
On Sunday morning of the 23d of Decem-
Der the little Mayfower lies swimming at her
moorings in the harbOr, while every man and
boy who could use a tool had gone on shore
to cut down and prepare timber for future
houses.
Through the still autumnal air may now
and then be heard the voices of men calling
TO one another on shore, the quick. sharp
ring of axes, and anon the crash of falling
trees, with shouts from juveniles as the great
forest monarch is laid low. Some of the
women are busy below, sorting over and ar
ranging 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" quoth
little Love Winslow, clapping her hands.
"Dost hear, mother2 I've been counting
the strokes fifteen and then crscke crack
le and down it comes :"
"Why do yod cry, mother p said the little
one, climbing on her lap and wiping her
tears.
81 was thinking of dear aunty, who is gone
from u.s."
"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 l
see her She sat by me last night and stroked
my head when that ugly, stormy wind walked
me-she looked 80 sweet, oh, never so beau
tiful-and she made me go to sleep so quiet
it is sweet to be as she is, mother-not away
from us, but with Jesus"
These little ones see farther into the king
dom than we, said Rose Standish. IF We
would be like them, We should take things
easier. When the Lord would show who
was greatest in his kingdom, he took child
on his lap.
''Ah me, Rose :" said Mary winslow, II
am aweary in spirit with this tossing sea life.
long to have a home on dry land once
more. Only think, it is almost Christmas
time, only two days now to Christmas. How
shall we keep it in these woods !"
"Aye, aye, said old Margery, coming up at
the moment, "a brave muster and to do is
there now in Old England and men and
boys going forth singing and bearing home
branches of holly, and pine, and mistletoe
for Christmas greens. Oh, remember
used to go forth and help to dress the church
es. God help the poor, poor children they
will grow up in the wilderness and never see
such brave sights as have"
"Oh, but Margery," said Mary Winsow,
1--WE have better country than Old Eng
land, where the saints and angels are keeping
| Christmas we confess that we are strangers
and pilgrims on earth"
And Rose Standish Immediately added the
| familiar quotation from the Geneva Bible
"For they that say such things declare
plainly that they seek country. For if they
| had been mindful of that country from which
| lut1 Chule Out AhS9 hhu lolnuAo W hoNo 10
! turned. But now they desire better-that
| is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not
ashamed of them TO be called their God"
The fair young face gowed as she repeated
the heroic words, for already, though she
knew it not, Rose Standish was feeling the
approaching sphere of the angel life, Strong
in spirit, as delicate in frame, she had given
herself and drawn her material husband to
the support Of great and noble cause but
while the spirit was ready, the flesh was
weak, and even at that moment her name was
written in the Lambs book to enter the high
er life in one short months time from thai
Christmas.
Sunday morning found the little company
gathered once more on the ship, with nothing
to do but rest and remember their homes
temporal and spiritual-homes backward IL
Old England, and forward, in heaven. They
were, every man and woman of them, Eng
| liah To the backbone