Betty's Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin's Farm; and the First Christmas of New England

exploring the country, with a careful and steady shrewdness and good sense, to determine where should be the site of the future colony. The record of their adventu

and with many cautions against the wolves and wild cubs, once more had liberty to play in the green wood. For it appears in these journals how, in one case, the little spaniel of John Goodman was chased by two wolves, and was fain to take refuge between his master's legs for shelter.

ave been in the woodland picnics, and why the ship was, o

ly stood in need of, for we brought neither beer nor water with us, and our victual was only biscuit and Holland cheese, and a little bottle of aqua vitae. So we were sore athirst. About ten o'clock we came into a deep valley full of brush, sweet gaile and l

and adventures, took up the time until near the 15th of December, when, having

as they found it,

, beeches, sassafras, vines, and other trees which we know not. The bay is a most hopeful place, innumerable stores of fowl, and excellent good; and it cannot but be of fi

in land t

ras in abundance, and vines everywhere, with cherry-trees, plum-trees, and others which we know not. Many kind of herbs we found here in winter, as strawberry leav

cember, that there was still sufficient foliage hanging upon the trees to determine the s

s at them once more, on Saturda

arbor, while every man and boy who could use a tool has gon

feet with such toys as the new world afforded her-strings of acorns and scarlet holly-berries and some bird-claws and arrowhea

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, sortin

l the stroke of death has more than once fallen; we find in Bra

side of the vessel and sunk in the deep waters. What this loss was to the husband and the little company of brothers and sisters appears by no note or word of wailing,

joiced as though they rejoiced not," and they "wept as though they wept not," and they "had wives and children as though they had them not," or, as one of themselves expressed it, "We are in all places stranger

forced to do as soldiers in the stress o

g-tried friend. From the lower part of the ship floated up, at intervals, snatches of an old English ditty that Margery was singing while s

re the heat

urious wi

orldly tas

ne and ta'e

inslow, dropping her work in her

e the frown

st the tyra

re to clot

e reed is

pping her hands. "Dost hear, mother? I've been counting the stroke

ry Winslow; "hear what ol

e the lightn

-dreaded th

lander, ce

finished j

young-all

thee, and c

d the little one, climbing on

f dear Auntie, wh

gone from

g, she is

s I see her. She sat by me last night and stroked my head when that ugly, stormy wind waked me-she looked so sweet, oh, ev

"If we would be like them, we should take things easier. When the Lord wou

o have a home on dry land once more, be it ever so poor. The sea wearies me. Only think, it i

hem and help dress the churches. God help the poor children, they will grow up in the wilderness and never see such brave sights as I have. They will never know what a church is, such as they are in old England, with fine old windows like the clouds, and rainbows, and

y' than old England, where the saints and angels are keeping Chr

ly added the familiar quota

dful of that country from whence they came out they had leisure to have returned. But now they de

e. Strong in spirit, as delicate in frame, she had given herself and drawn her martial husband to the support of a great and noble cause; but while the spirit was

ay gently untying mortal bands to draw her to themselves. Yet was there nothing about her of mournfulness; on the contrary, she was ever alert and bright, with a ready tongue t

Rose will sing thee a brave ca

hat the minstrels used to sing under

e ships com

s day, on C

ships come

as day in

s in those s

s day, on C

in those sh

as day in

r Christ an

s day, on C

Christ and

as day in

sailed those

s day, on C

ailed into

as day in

bells on ea

s day, on C

ngels in heav

as day in

us all rej

s day, on C

us all re

s day in th

a, and thou singest like a real English robin,"