196

 

explore the surrounding country, the rest
set about building a common house where
their goods will be safe. Then they fell
trees and build houses of logs, covering
them with thatch. The long boat carries
many loads of boxes, bundles and bales,
chests and chairs, pots and kettles from
the ship to theshore. Meanwhile Captain
Standish and his men find wigwams and
corn but no Indians, and they almost hope
to see none till spring comes.

On New Year’s Day, 1621, occurs the
first death. Degory Priest isthe man, and
the Pilgrims lay him to rest with great
sorrow. Death seems near when one is
taken from so small a number. On Jan-
uary 29, Rose Standish, wife of the the cap-
tain, worn with hardship and weakened
from exposure, is called to her last home.
With aching hearts and swimming eyes,
they lay her away on top of the hill.
Their journal records this solemn entry:
“January 29th Dies Rose, wife of Capt.
Standish.”
When spring comes with its birds and

But death does not stop here.

flowers, and cheerful sun, forty-six of the
one hundred and one lie beneath the hill,
with leveled mounds, that the Indians may
Though
their hearts are torn they toil bravely on.

not k now how few are left.

William Brewster preaches to them, ex-
horts them, prays with them. He is their
religious teacher, using the gifts God has

given him. No bishop has licensed him

 

 

THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS.

 

to preach. He has no authority over his
people save such as comes from their
The members decide
Old England has

Here

respect and love.
all questions by vote.
never seen such a church before.
all men are equal.

At last comes the day when the May-
flower sails for England, rending the last
tie that bound them to the motherland.
They watch her as she fades in the dis-

tance, and now realize that they are
indeed in a strange land. - All winter the

Mayflower has ridden at anchor in the

- bay and every morning has seemed to say,

“despair not, I’ll carry you back to the
old home.” But now that hope is gone.
The die is cast; they must remain—they
cannot get away.

Then comes a sad blow; Governor Car-
ver, wise, prudent, courageous, righteous
dies. The loss is great. He is laid away
without pomp and mockery, as are the
rulers of the Old World, but with simple
ceremony and sincere grief.

Though the governor is dead, shall ‘he
state die?

long as there is one man left, the state

The people are the state. So

shall live: The people elected John Car-
ver and now they elect William Bradford.
No throngs witness his advent to power;
he assumes his duties without ceremony.
Again the Old World wonders.
from the people, elected by the people.

A ruler

This is a hard blow for kings and emper-