diff options
Diffstat (limited to '20385-h/20385-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 20385-h/20385-h.htm | 4533 |
1 files changed, 4533 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/20385-h/20385-h.htm b/20385-h/20385-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdc4a8c --- /dev/null +++ b/20385-h/20385-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4533 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Some Three Hundred Years Ago, + by Edith Gilman Brewster. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + img {border: 0;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .txtright {text-align: right;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Some Three Hundred Years Ago, by Edith Gilman Brewster + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Some Three Hundred Years Ago + +Author: Edith Gilman Brewster + +Release Date: January 16, 2007 [EBook #20385] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Chris Curnow, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;"> +<a href="images/i001.jpg"> +<img src="images/i001-th.jpg" width="314" height="400" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>Some Three Hundred</h1> +<p><br /></p> +<h1>Years Ago</h1> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="70" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> +<h3>BY EDITH GILMAN BREWSTER</h3> +<p><br /></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> +<h5>The W. B. Ranney Company,<br /> +Printers,<br /> +Concord, New Hampshire<br /><br /> +Copyright 1922, by Edith Gilman Brewster</h5> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> +<h4>To the children of Portsmouth this book is dedicated.</h4> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Boys and Girls</span>:</p> + +<p>Because so little is told of the children who lived on our shores +when forests were cleared for home-making, I have tried to +picture here what they might have done in the midst of the true +and thrilling happenings you will some day read of in our history.</p> + +<p>I hope these tales will help you to love the more our Granite +State.</p> + +<p class="center">Yours with much affection,</p> + +<p class="txtright"><span class="smcap">Edith Gilman Brewster</span>.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='center'><span class="smcap">Stories</span></td><td align='center'> </td><td align='center'>Period</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#NONOWITS_HOME">1</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Nonowit's Home</span></td><td align='right'>1603</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_NEW_WORLD">2</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The New World</span></td><td align='right'>1605</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#VISITORS_FROM_ENGLAND">3</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Visitors From England</span></td><td align='right'>1614</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_SETTLEMENT">4</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Settlement</span></td><td align='right'>1623</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#DANGER_FOR_THE_COLONISTS">5</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Danger for the Colonists</span></td><td align='right'>1628</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#STRAWBERRY_BANK">6</a></td><td align='left'><a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a><span class="smcap">Strawberry Bank</span></td><td align='right'>1631</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_BOYS_CATCH">7</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Boys' Catch</span></td><td align='right'>1632</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_FOREST_GARDEN">8</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Forest Garden</span></td><td align='right'>1633</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_FUR_TRADE">9</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Fur Trade</span></td><td align='right'>1634</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#COATS_SHIRTS_AND_KETTLES">10</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Coats, Shirts, and Kettles</span></td><td align='right'>1638</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#WINNICUNNET">11</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Winnicunnet</span></td><td align='right'>1638</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_CRYSTAL_HILLS">12</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Crystal Hills</span></td><td align='right'>1642</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_DENMARK_CATTLE">13</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Denmark Cattle</span></td><td align='right'>1643</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_CUT_OF_THE_HAIR">14</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cut of the Hair</span></td><td align='right'>1649</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CYNTHIAS_BEAR">15</a></td><td align='left'><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a><span class="smcap">Cynthia's Bear</span></td><td align='right'>1653</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_WITCHES_OF_1656">16</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Witches of 1656</span></td><td align='right'>1656</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_WOLVES_OF_PORTSMOUTH">17</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wolves of Portsmouth</span></td><td align='right'>1662</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_KINGS_FORT">18</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The King's Fort</span></td><td align='right'>1666</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#LITTLE_JANES_GENTIANS">19</a></td><td align='left'><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a><span class="smcap">Little Jane's Gentians</span></td><td align='right'>1671</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_CHURCH_LAW">20</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Church Law</span></td><td align='right'>1675</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#PEACE_OR_WARFARE">21</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Peace or Warfare</span></td><td align='right'>1675</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#SUSANNAS_RESCUE">22</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Susanna's Rescue</span></td><td align='right'>1675</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#TO_THE_GARRISON_HOUSE">23</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">To the Garrison House</span>!</td><td align='right'>1675</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#MY_NEW_HAMPSHIRE">24</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">My New Hampshire</span></td><td align='right'>1680</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_BOWL_OF_BROTH">25</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bowl of Broth</span></td><td align='right'>1689</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THOMAS_TOOGOOD_OUTWITS_AN_INDIAN">26</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Thomas Toogood Outwits an Indian</span></td><td align='right'>1690</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_ESCAPE">27</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Escape</span></td><td align='right'>1694</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_DEFENSE_AT_OYSTER_RIVER">28</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Defense at Oyster River</span></td><td align='right'>1694</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_ATTACK_AT_THE_PLAINS">29</a></td><td align='left'><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a><span class="smcap">The Attack at the Plains</span></td><td align='right'>1696</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#THE_STRAWBERRY_FIELDS_OF_EXETER">30</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Strawberry Fields of Exeter</span></td><td align='right'>1697</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Courtesy of W. A. Wilde Company</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="NONOWITS_HOME" id="NONOWITS_HOME"></a>NONOWIT'S HOME</h2> + +<p>Long before New Hampshire found its name, the +deep river at its southeast was known as the Piscataqua +by the Indians who could stem its strong currents, +even in bark canoes.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was because of the fresh spring close +to its salty shores, some three miles from the sea, +that the red men made their encampment on the +spot that was later equally attractive to men of +white skins.</p> + +<p>Nonowit, like his people, was glad to see the +snows melt away during that spring of 1603. The +bare branches of the oak and maple showed tufts of +browns, reds, and greens. The fish stirred in the +streams, and by the time that Nonowit's forest +home had its roof of thick green foliage the Indians +themselves were astir. For far up the river at the +falls fish could be found in plenty, and that was a +welcome change from the game of the winter food.</p> + +<p>The men of the tribe were the first to start afoot +for the fishing spot, while the squaws broke camp, +gathered their belongings, and herded the children.</p> + +<p>Nonowit suddenly recalled some sturdy reeds +growing by the salt marsh which he thought would +make fine arrow shafts. It had occurred to the +boy that he might stand by the falls and shoot his +fish as they bounded over. That is why he was not +on the spot when the children were started on the +march, and the last camp fire had been covered.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> +<p>Even though he was an Indian boy, his heart +thumped with fear, when at the end of the day he +returned from his hunt on the marsh to a deserted +camp. No answer came to his long shrill +call. The sun was setting, and it was of no use to +follow the trail that night, even though he had +known just where his people were to go.</p> + +<p>He munched some scraps that had been left behind +and sought the shelter of a hollow oak which +had been the playhouse of the Indian girls and boys. +An old owl hooted and flew from a hole above, but +Nonowit had no fear of him, though he was glad +the hole by which he had crawled into the oak was +far above the ground. This was some protection +from the wolves, which he could even then hear +howling in the distance.</p> + +<p>All night there was a beating rain, which washed +away the last trace of the carefully hidden trail of +the Indian travelers. When Nonowit crawled out +into the sunshine the following morning, he could +learn nothing of their direction. To get a wider +view, he wandered through the thick forest to the +river's edge, but there discovered no signs of his +people. "There are so many children in the camp +I might not be missed," he thought and dropped upon +a rock in one little heap of loneliness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he sat very straight, for there beyond +the Narrows he saw a monstrous thing. Could it +be a huge bird with white wings spread? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>Over the +water it seemed to be coming nearer. Instinctively +he slid into a crevice between the rocks, yet without +moving his gaze. Through the Narrows, under full +sail, came the first ship. Nonowit seemed to become +a part of the brown earth as he wriggled back +into the undergrowth, never moving his wide-open +eyes from this strange sight.</p> + +<p>Then came the rattle of chains and the voices of +men. A boat was lowered, and Nonowit, safe under +the cover of the low branches, saw it headed +for his shore. Men with white skin and hair growing +on their faces landed on the very rock on which +he had been sitting. Their clothes were unlike any +he had ever seen before, and their speech could not +be understood. Cautiously he backed into the forest +until he gained the branches of the oak in which +he had slept. Yet that was unsafe, for the white +men looked up into every tree, breaking the +branches and tasting the sap.</p> + +<p>In his fright, Nonowit wriggled for safety +through the very hole from which the owl had flown +the night before. There from the dark hollows he +watched the white men as they studied each tree. +They came at last to the old oak and shook its +branches. When one man even climbed far enough +to look deep into the trunk, Nonowit crouched to the +very ground, holding his breath. The shadows protected +him and the men passed on. "Worse than +wolves," thought the boy as he ventured again to +his peep-hole. The white men lingered about for an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +hour or more, until the imprisoned little Indian felt +that he might never see his people again. He would +starve rather than face such creatures.</p> + +<p>At last, there came the sound of oars on the +water. Creeping from the tree, Nonowit pushed +aside the low branches to see the boatful of +strangers depart. Suddenly a strong hand was +clapped on his shoulder. He jumped with fear only +to find himself in the grasp of his own father. +Nonowit pointed hastily through the thick growth +to the river, and the two watched the English vessel +sail up the stream, but history reports that Martin +Pring saw no Indians when he searched the Piscataqua +shores for a sassafras tree, which, he believed, +held the "Elixir of Life."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i012.jpg"> +<img src="images/i012-th.jpg" width="400" height="509" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_NEW_WORLD" id="THE_NEW_WORLD"></a>THE NEW WORLD</h2> + +<p>Far away on the shores of France, in a little cobbled +lane by the water front, Jacques swung into +the rhythm of the Sailor's Hornpipe. Raoul stood +in the doorway of his low-roofed house, with his +violin, directing the tune and swings until he pronounced +the dance correctly learned.</p> + +<p>Just then three well-dressed gentlemen turned +into the narrow way and passed on to the vessel +at the wharf below. The raising of sails and shouting +of orders suggested an immediate start.</p> + +<p>Jacques' father hurried around the corner and +motioned to his boy. As Jacques followed, he called +back to Raoul, "I'll bring you an Indian scalp +when I come home!"</p> + +<p>The father and son then crossed the narrow plank +to the deck and went below, for their business was +to cook for the crew.</p> + +<p>The distinguished-looking gentlemen, however, +talked earnestly on the shore until the last sail was +spread. Then one of them, no other than Monsieur +Champlain, stepped aboard, and, as the gang-plank +was drawn, called to his friends, "We will also mark +the rivers."</p> + +<p>And so, long ago in 1605, the French sailed to +the Northwest with new hopes. The Spanish and +Portuguese had returned with wonderful tales of +the mines of South America. Perhaps even greater +things might be found on the Northern shores.</p> + +<p>It happened one day when the sea was smooth +and the well-fed sailors had little to do, th<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>at a group +of them gathered on deck with tales of the Americas: +the shining gold to be found there, the wild +beasts, and the wilder Indians. Jacques felt that if +he had but a knife, he could conquer the whole +country. In the meantime his eye rested on a sharp +and ugly-looking one thrust into the belt of a rough +old salt who sat astride the deck rail.</p> + +<p>Just then there came a lull in the tales and the +old fellow, to urge on the flagging spirits, brandished +his dirk and pledged it to "The best fellow yet!"</p> + +<p>Fierce and impossible yarns followed until Jacques, +as if to work off his excitement, jumped into +the circle with the swing and the stamp of his newly-learned +hornpipe. He danced it well and responded +repeatedly to the sailors' applause. It pleased them +better than any tale told, and they voted Jacques, +"The best fellow yet!" True to his pledge, the old +salt presented the knife with a sweeping bow. Jacques, +overjoyed, at once cut his mark on the handle, +and he dreamed that night of his attack on the New +World. He awoke to make plans for the Indian +scalps he should take to Raoul, for Indians seemed +only as beasts to be slaughtered.</p> + +<p>Days and nights of sailing passed, as well as +storms and fogs. When the sun at last brought clear +horizons, the shout of "Land head!" thrilled captain, +mates, and crew. No one knew just where they +were, but shining peaks could be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>seen in the distance. +At last they came to anchor, and small boats +carried the men ashore. Jacques, too, was allowed +to go. He clutched his knife, expecting to plunge +it into the head of the first red-skin.</p> + +<p>A group of Indians stood on the rocks. Monsieur +Champlain, the first to step ashore, greeted them +with friendly signs. Jacques caught sight of an +Indian boy of his own size, lurking behind. He held +a bow in his hand, and a quiver of arrows was slung +across his back. It was Nonowit, for they had landed +on the Piscataqua shores.</p> + +<p>The Indian boy gathered wood for the fire, and +Jacques eagerly joined in the search. Soon the older +folk sat about the blaze. The white men tried to +ask where they had landed and what was the nature +of the coast. Jacques, in his desire to learn, drew +in the sand for Nonowit the picture of the ship, the +point of rocks, and the coast. The Indian boy understood +and added the river to the map. That aroused +Monsieur Champlain, who sent an order to the ship +and soon received brilliant beads and various knives +from the stores on board. These he laid at the feet +of the Indians and pointed to the boy's map on the +sand. The red men pulled charred sticks from the +fire and drew on the paper offered the full coast line, +so far as they knew, even to the Merrimac River +with its impeding sandbars, then not even heard of +by white men.</p> + +<p>By the time the French had started for their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +vessel Jacques had become sure that the many +stories he had heard of the fierceness of the Indians +were not entirely true, for already he had found +an Indian boy a good companion. Instead of thrusting +his knife into his scalp, he followed the example +of his leaders and laid it at Nonowit's feet. The +little red-skin, pleased with his gift, instinctively +offered to Jacques his bow and arrows. These the +French lad safely tucked away for Raoul, now +thinking it a much finer gift than many scalps.</p> + +<p>Monsieur Champlain was even more pleased than +Jacques to carry to his countrymen so true a map of +the coast of the New World, though at that time he +did not know it was to be the map of New England, +nor that he had landed on the New Hampshire +shore.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VISITORS_FROM_ENGLAND" id="VISITORS_FROM_ENGLAND"></a>VISITORS FROM ENGLAND.</h2> + +<p>Eleven years passed and Nonowit was a grown +Indian who knew the forest lands along the Piscataqua +and the rocky turns of the coast. But in all this +time he had not forgotten the two strange experiences +of his boyhood: a sailing vessel, seen in the +river, and later the meeting of white men face to +face. Never did his eye run along the ocean horizon +without thought of those white-winged sails.</p> + +<p>One morning in May, 1614, Nonowit paddled miles +from the shore and pulled his canoe upon the +rocks of a small island, the largest of a group that +could be seen from the coast. Leaving his bark in +safety, he crossed to the opposite shore of the island, +where he first laid sticks for a fire and then threw +out his line for a fish. A full catch held his attention +until the tide had risen to an unusual height. +Suddenly he thought of his canoe. He hastened +over the rocks to find it far afloat. There he was +left alone on the island with only the fish of the +ocean for food and the sky to cover his head. That +day and the next he watched for a stray canoe. On +the morning of the third day, as he scanned the +ocean to the East, he discerned a distant white +speck.</p> + +<p>Slowly it shaped itself, and he realized that once +again he was watching the approach of a white +man's vessel. It seemed to be heading for his very +island. Nonowit watched cautiously, ready to find +safety<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> in the rocky caves in case these proved unfriendly +people.</p> + +<p>The vessel dropped anchor and a small boat +brought eight men ashore. The leader was Capt. +John Smith, who had sailed from England to learn +what he could of the New World, and whether it +was a desirable place for colonists. As this group +of small islands attracted him, he had landed to see +what could be found.</p> + +<p>Nonowit, from his hiding place, watched the astonishment +of the white men when they came upon +the burning coals of his fire. Then his turn of surprise +came, for one face of that group was familiar +to him. The features of Jacques had been stamped +upon his boyhood mind, never to be erased. He now +recognized the French boy who, since that first trip +across the ocean, had learned his father's art of +cooking and had hired out as steward to this English +captain.</p> + +<p>Springing from his cave, Nonowit appeared before +the wondering men, who drew back, fearing +him one of a band of hidden Indians. Suddenly, +Jacques caught a glimpse of the knife, cut with his +own mark, thrust into the Indian's belt. It was +the very dirk he had won by his well-danced hornpipe +on his voyage with M. Champlain.</p> + +<p>After an exchange of friendly greetings, the Indian +led the English party about and visited with +them the smaller islands of the group. The low<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +green bushes and bold rocky shores surrounded by +the sparkling ocean so pleased Captain Smith that +he gave the group his own name, calling Smith's +Isles what later have been known as the Isles of +Shoals.</p> + +<p>The seamen learned of Nonowit's lost canoe and +offered to take him ashore. As they approached +the mainland, the wooded coast with its lone mountain +and later the safe harbor and rocky shores were +most attractive to these Englishmen.</p> + +<p>On through the Narrows they sailed, as did Martin +Pring many years before. This time, Nonowit +was aboard the vessel that his people watched from +the bank by the fresh spring where they had made +their encampment. It is near the spot where +Portsmouth markets now stand. Perhaps the first +marketing was done that day, for Captain Smith +was ready to trade knives, beads, fish lines, and +hooks for the furs the Indians offered. Jacques prepared +stews and porridge for these new friends, +and in turn the Indians feasted the sailors upon +maize and bear meat.</p> + +<p>After Nonowit had well described the coast lines +to Captain Smith, he presented dried fish and deer +meat for the journey, and to Jacques, for his own +use, the skin of a bear. Although Nonowit was +urged to sail with the party, he refused.</p> + +<p>Captain Smith continued along the coast to the +point now known as Cape Cod and then, returning,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +found others of his party whom he had left fishing +at the mouth of the Penobscot River.</p> + +<p>With salted fish and furs from Indian trading, +Captain Smith returned to England, elated with +the charm of the New Land. He published a map +of the seacoast with a vivid description of the country +and presented it to Prince Charles who named +the region New England, and so, ever since, it has +been called.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SETTLEMENT" id="THE_SETTLEMENT"></a>THE SETTLEMENT</h2> + +<p>In a little thatched cottage in old Portsmouth of +Hampshire, England, Roger Low sat on a stool by +his father's knee, while the light of the fire flickered +over the heavy settles and on the rafters above. +The man was still in his working clothes, with his +hammer and saw at his side.</p> + +<p>"This new world they tell me of, my boy, must +be a wonderful place. Those Puritan leaders, +Bradford and Standish three years ago, in 1620, +took their followers to New England to worship as +they pleased. And now the Laconia Company, of +which our own Governor, John Mason, is a member, +has been given a grant of land there."</p> + +<p>"What can he do with it, father?" Roger asked.</p> + +<p>"They say, lad, the furs of those forests and the +fish of those waters would make a big business for +England."</p> + +<p>A knock at the door brought the man to his feet. +On opening it, he bowed low to the gentleman waiting.</p> + +<p>"Come in, sir, and be seated."</p> + +<p>David Thompson took the opposite settle, quite +ignoring Roger, who had risen in respect. Absorbed +in his own plans this Scotchman, Thompson, +broke out at once, "Low, I want you to pick up your +tools and come to America with me this spring. +Governor Mason wishes to make a settlement and +proposes to establish a Manor on his new grant. We +will pursue fur trade and fishing, and even hope to +cultivate vines and discover mines."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<p>It was an astonishing thought to this carpenter, +whose son was his only companion.</p> + +<p>"I should have to take the boy with me," was his +first remark, after some thoughtful moments.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied David Thompson, who knew +that the good workmanship of this man was worth +an extra passenger. "We shall need the boys in a +year or two," he added.</p> + +<p>Final arrangements were completed, and in the +spring of 1623, Roger and his father sailed with +the party for New England.</p> + +<p>Edward Hilton and his brother William, who had +been fish dealers in London, were on board with +equipment for one settlement, while David Thompson +had charge of the other.</p> + +<p>From the map which Captain John Smith had +made, the Piscataqua River was found. Here the +coast was thoroughly studied. Thompson selected +for building the very point at which Monsieur +Champlain once stopped. But the Hilton brothers +preferred river fishing and continued some eight +miles up stream to a point of land called by the Indians, +Winnichannat. It later became a part of +Dover.</p> + +<p>Thompson's location was at the mouth of a small +stream, which led to the main river. He called it +Little Harbor. The hillock on which he planned to +build gave a commanding view of the ocean. At +the we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>st stretched a salt marsh, of great value to +a plantation.</p> + +<p>Small log cabins were quickly constructed, and +also a secure building for the abundant provisions. +Roger worked with the men in landing barrels of +pork, kegs of molasses, sacks of oats, and boxes of +candles. A securely fastened door not only protected +these supplies from the weather, but also +kept off the prowling beasts that might find comfortable +living on such food.</p> + +<p>When the excitement of landing and the newness +of this life began to wear away, the days seemed +much alike. Roger asked one morning, "Father, +shall we see no one but each other again today?"</p> + +<p>"That is all, my boy, for the Plymouth Colony is +many miles to the south, and there are only a few +people between that settlement and our own. The +Indians are probably up river now for their +spring fishing."</p> + +<p>Roger had been eager to see an Indian, though +he had hoped he might not be alone, for he rather +feared them.</p> + +<p>The days wore on with much monotony. The +carpenters were busy building the Manor-house. A +few men were planting only the most necessary +crops. Others were making arrangements for the +manufacture of salt, which was of first importance. +Otherwise fish could not be preserved for the markets +of England.</p> + +<p>One day something did happen. At dusk Roger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +passed the cabin where provisions were stored and +found the door wide open. It was a law of the settlement +that that door be kept closed and barred.</p> + +<p>The boy darted in to see if any one was there. +Peering about the kegs and boxes he met a pair of +glaring, fiery eyes that glowed through the gloom +between himself and the doorway. He screamed. +The creature crouched. An added horror came +when Roger glanced at the door and saw there the +dark, stern face of a tall Indian with arrow poised. +It was aimed not at Roger, but at the springing +lynx. The whirr of that arrow lived in Roger's +mind the rest of his days. The boy himself was +almost as limp with fright as the creature that was +carried by Nonowit to the main cabin. For this +Indian had heard of the new settlement and had +travelled miles through the forest to make friends +with the white men. He was close behind Roger +and heard his scream of fright when he ran into the +store-house.</p> + +<p>The settlers, resting from the day's work, were +surprised at the appearance of the Indian, but still +more astonished by Roger's story. John, the cook, +then confessed that he had come out of the store-house +with his arms full, and had forgotten to go +back and close the door.</p> + +<p>The day's excitement was not over, for that night +David Thompson led into camp Captain Miles +Standish of the Plymouth colony. He had a hard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +story to tell of the starving condition of his people. +They had compared themselves with the Israelites +during the famine of Egypt, yet the Hebrews had +their flocks and herds left to them. "However," +continued the captain, "the Lord has been good to +give us the abundant fish of the sea and the spring +water, which is all we have, save a few dried peas." +He then added that Governor Bradford had urged +him to go even as far as Piscataqua to search for +food.</p> + +<p>"And little could we have offered him," spoke up +the cook, "if the old lynx and his friends had had a +night in our store-house!"</p> + +<p>Much was then given from the ample supply of +the settlement, and Captain Standish returned to +Plymouth well repaid for his journey.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="DANGER_FOR_THE_COLONISTS" id="DANGER_FOR_THE_COLONISTS"></a>DANGER FOR THE COLONISTS.</h2> + +<p>Five years had passed since Roger Low and his +father had come to America to help establish the +Mason Manor. Although David Thompson, the leader, +had found an island in Massachusetts Bay more +to his liking, still enough settlers remained at Piscataqua +to make the Lower Plantation one of importance. +Edward Hilton yet held what was called +the Upper Plantation at Dover.</p> + +<p>One morning, early in the summer of 1628, the +Mason settlers were disturbed to find that John, +the cook, had disappeared. Whether the days had +become too monotonous for him and he had gone +in search of adventure, or had been lost by wandering +too far into the woods, no one knew. Finally +Nonowit, who had become fond of Roger and had +spent much time in teaching him the ways of the +woods, was sent with the boy in search of the lost +cook.</p> + +<p>The two started in the direction of the Upper +Plantation. Not far from the Hilton Settlement, +the sound of a shot in the woods brought them to +a standstill and then to the ground, where they hid +in the underbrush. Through the clearing they saw +a deer fall. They waited breathlessly, expecting +next to see the bulky form of John shoulder his +game. To their surprise, a Tarateen Indian glided +over the ground to the fallen deer. As he was an +enemy, Nonowit and Roger remained in hiding until +they could safely continue their journey. They then +carried to the plantation not only news of a lost +man, but also the astonishing word that Indians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +were using guns in the woods.</p> + +<p>Such a thing was unheard of. It was against the +law of the settlers to trade firearms or ammunition +with the Indians. How it had been done, or by +whom, was a matter that must be looked into at +once. The people of the Upper Plantation had +seen nothing of the cook, though that was of small +moment now.</p> + +<p>Edward Hilton felt it was of utmost importance +to return at once with Roger and Nonowit to the +Lower Plantation.</p> + +<p>On arriving there, a leader from Naumkeag was +found who had brought the same disastrous word +that the Indians were armed. He had received a +message to the same effect from Weesagascusatt. +It threatened serious danger for the colonists. +Just at dusk a messenger from Winnisimmet arrived +at Piscataqua with the same rumor. By +candle light that night a conference of grave importance +was held. The Naumkeag leader reported +that a man named Morton had opened his +settlement at Mount Wollaston, Mass. to all discontented +servants and lawless people. He had +changed the name to Merrie Mount and there he +allowed reckless, dissolute living. Upon hearing of +the loss of the cook, he suggested that he might be +found among the merrymakers.</p> + +<p>Worst of all, Morton had establishe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>d a trade of +firearms with the Indians in order to obtain a greater +number of furs. With guns in such skilled and +treacherous hands, the white settlers stood in great +danger.</p> + +<p>The discussion that night resulted in an agreement +to send letters, pleading for help, to Plymouth, +which, though it stood in less danger, was a colony +stronger than all the rest together. It was also near +enough for an approach to Morton at Merrie Mount.</p> + +<p>Roger was asked to carry the letters. With +Nonowit as his guide, he started out on the following +day. It was an adventurous trip, partly by land +and partly by sea, for the man from Naumkeag was +returning by water and carried the two along with +him.</p> + +<p>When well underway by boat, a darkened sky and +wild wind drove the small vessel to the Isle of Shoals +for shelter, where they found at anchor "The +Whale," an English ship soon to cross the ocean. +The hurricane was of short duration, and the messengers +continued their journey.</p> + +<p>Traveling afoot from Naumkeag, they soon +noticed fresh footprints on the path, which suggested +that someone was not far ahead of them. +They continued with increased haste and added +caution. Nonowit suddenly gave the signal for +silence when, not far from the path, they saw +through the thicket the broad shoulders of a white +man eating by his camp fire. They remained silent +until he turned and the jolly face of J<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>ohn was visible. +He was doubtless on his way to Merrie Mount +but allowed them to think he was merely off for +a change. On learning what had happened and the +message they carried, John allied himself to the +two and begged to continue with them.</p> + +<p>After a rough journey, the three arrived at Plymouth +and delivered the letters, which were most +carefully considered by the men of that colony. +Realizing the serious danger such a center as Merrie +Mount could be to all the settlements, it was decided +to send a note of warning to Morton. He, however, +treated it with scorn and in the same spirit rejected +a second appeal. Then, with stern determination +to take the man by force, Captain Miles +Standish started with his company of soldiers. He +returned with Morton, who was sent as a prisoner to +England on "The Whale," the very ship the travelers +had found about to sail from the Isles of Shoals. +The various colonies shared the expense.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>Roger, Nonowit, and John finally arrived home, +triumphant with the news of success. But the +wrong Morton had already done the settlers was +never rectified, for the Indians had learned the value +and power of a gun and never again were content +without firearms.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="STRAWBERRY_BANK" id="STRAWBERRY_BANK"></a>STRAWBERRY BANK.</h2> + +<p>"Couldn't he find one anywhere, Mother?" asked +Samuel.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't he keep on looking?" persisted +Richard, as the two boys braced themselves for the +lurch of the vessel which was tossing on a choppy +sea. Mrs. Chadborn steadied herself and continued +the story they so loved.</p> + +<p>"It was almost thirty years ago that Martin +Pring sailed up the river to which we are now +going. He searched the forests on either bank for +a certain tree which he believed had the power to +give people health and happiness. He found the +deserted camp fires of the Indians, but, even though +no savages disturbed his hunt, he sailed away disappointed +because he could not find a sassafras +tree."</p> + +<p>"I believe I could find one there," boasted Richard, +with a secret determination to do so, "for I know +how they look."</p> + +<p>This was in the early summer of 1631. It was +a happy day when they landed on the New England +shore close by the Mason Manor House, which had +been built eight years before. Then it was the only +one for many miles. Now some eighty men and +women of many trades had come to settle about +it and to build another which they would call the +Great House.</p> + +<p>There was much to interest Samuel and Richard +in the salt works and the flakes where fish were +dried, and in the fort which was built on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> hillock +between the Manor-house and the ocean.</p> + +<p>But a few days after landing, Richard, much +troubled, hunted for Samuel, whom he found fishing +from the rocks.</p> + +<p>"Sam, Mother's almost sick. Father says the +voyage has tired her. He thinks she's homesick, +too. What can we do about it?"</p> + +<p>Samuel dropped his pole and sighed, "I wish we +could find a sassafras tree."</p> + +<p>"We will," cried Richard, jumping to his feet. +"Father will let us go with him to the place where +they are working on the Great House. It is several +miles away, but we can hunt the woods there and +camp with the men until they come back."</p> + +<p>Mr. Chadborn readily consented, not knowing +what plan the boys had in mind. But he warned +them not to stray far, for, once lost, they were at +the mercy of the Indians and the wild beasts.</p> + +<p>They made a long search always keeping within +the sound of hammers.</p> + +<p>"I'll keep the path while you examine that tree +off there," they constantly agreed, but never did they +find one of the right kind. For two days they +searched diligently, glad to get back to the cornmeal +cakes and pea-porridge, and at night, quite +as disappointed as Pring and doubtless more tired, +they fell upon the bed of boughs their father had +laid for them.</p> + +<p>On the third morning Mr. Chadborn told them to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +keep within call, for they were to return to the +Manor that day.</p> + +<p>Samuel thought quite seriously, while Richard +lay on the ground discouraged.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Sam?" cried Richard, catching a +gleam in his brother's eye, and ready always to grasp +at a suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Let's make baskets out of bark from a birch tree +and fill them with these strawberries for Mother."</p> + +<p>They went to work with much energy, surprised +to find how abundantly the berries grew along the +banks, and returned to the Manor so full of the account +of that strawberry patch that their disappointment +was almost forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, see what we have found! The bank +was covered with berries, even after we had picked +all these!"</p> + +<p>"Why, boys, it is just like the home-land! Surely +Captain John Smith had described this Place well +for Prince Charles to name it New England. Already +I feel better, for this land is not so strange +since home things grow here."</p> + +<p>The boys found that even the sassafras could not +have given her more pleasure. They went to bed +that night before dark, contented with their search +and anxious to return to the strawberry field.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>For twenty years the land about the Great House +was called Strawberry Bank. Though that was almost +three hundred years ago and the name was +afterward changed to Portsmouth, there are now +many people in New England, and some outside, who +know just what spot is meant when they hear of +Strawberry Bank.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_BOYS_CATCH" id="THE_BOYS_CATCH"></a>THE BOYS' CATCH.</h2> + +<p>"Get off that boat! We can't be bothered by boys +on this trip!"</p> + +<p>Edward Godfrie, who had charge of the fisheries +at Mason Manor, shouted with stern authority.</p> + +<p>It was scarcely daybreak on a May morning in +1632. Six great shallops lay at anchor off the rocks. +Five fishing boats were in readiness, while several +skiffs were conveying fishermen and equipment for +the day's work.</p> + +<p>Godfrie's own boy, Hugh, and James Williams, +regretfully climbed ashore.</p> + +<p>"Leave that seine behind!" was the next order to +the boatmen. The stretch of net was pitched out +upon the rocks.</p> + +<p>Every available worker at the Manor was ready +to cast a line or haul a net on this trip, for the biggest +catch possible was to be made that day. The Warwick, +an English trading vessel of the Laconia Company, +had already gone up the Piscataqua River and +on her return would take a cargo of fish back to +England. No later catch could be sufficiently salted +and dried.</p> + +<p>"To feed eighty people every day," grumbled +Godfrie, "and keep a cargo on hand, can't be done +even in these waters."</p> + +<p>There had been little planting on this shore; so +the fish already prepared for market had been eaten +by the hungry settlers because of the delayed arrival +of the Warwick with food supplies. Perhaps this +accounts for Godfrie's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> irritation and anxiety for a +good catch. When the last boat had started, he +stepped into a skiff, picked up the oars, and pulled +for the fishing fleet.</p> + +<p>Four forlorn boys, for Samuel and Richard Chadborn +had joined the others, stood on the shore and +watched the sails against the pink of the morning +sky. The glorious air and strong salt breeze made +the land seem unbearable to them. They wandered +to the flakes and on to the salt works. Francis +Williams, James's father, manufactured the salt.</p> + +<p>"Get away from there, boys," he shouted, as they +appeared. "A big catch comes in tonight, and we +need every grain!"</p> + +<p>Log cabins were scattered about the estate for +those who did not live in the Hall. Horses, cows, +pigs, sheep, and goats had their sheds or wandered +about at will. However, there was no interest in +them for the boys, who sauntered back to the shore +from which the boats had started.</p> + +<p>"There are two skiffs left," suggested Hugh. +"Let's go fishing for ourselves!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" exclaimed Sam, with a new idea. "And +why not take that net and stretch it across the +narrows in the little harbor? I saw the men do +that one day."</p> + +<p>It was a thought that aroused them all, perhaps +because it required both daring and pluck. The net +was a weighty one for their muscles, although t<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>hey +were stout, strong fellows for their years.</p> + +<p>James's father felt relieved as he saw them start. +At least the flakes and the salt would be unmolested. +However, his attitude changed at sundown when the +boys had not returned.</p> + +<p>The fishing fleet brought back a set of disappointed +men, for the catch had not been what was hoped +for by many pounds. Godfrie's grumbling could +be heard before he landed, nor was it lessened when +he reached shore to find that his boy, with the +others, was missing.</p> + +<p>The sun set and the moon rose, yet nothing had +been seen of the boys. An hour later the distant +splash of oars on the quiet waters and excited boy +voices brought all the Manor folk to the shore. The +approach was so slow that there was great fear that +some one had been hurt. Yet there was an elated +tone as the voices came nearer. When they were +within shouting distance there came a call for help.</p> + +<p>A half-dozen strong men jumped into their skiffs +and pulled with speed. In a half-hour's time two +great boat-loads of fish were pulled ashore. The +boys had stretched their net at low water across a +narrow part of the stream. As the tide rushed in, +it brought fish in a school of unusual size, which, +caught by the current, had entered the little harbor +instead of the main river.</p> + +<p>This catch made up for the loss in the day's fishing. +Men and boys set to work in the moonlight to clea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>n +the fish. They then spread them on the flakes for +salting and drying.</p> + +<p>Godfrie started a good cargo to the English markets, +and each of the four boys carried the title +of Captain for weeks to come.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FOREST_GARDEN" id="THE_FOREST_GARDEN"></a>THE FOREST GARDEN.</h2> + +<p>It was the spring of 1633. Richard and Samuel +had watched the distant horizon for many days. +At last came the shout, "A sail! A sail!"</p> + +<p>Later, the Warwick dropped anchor. The boys +soon climbed aboard, and there they found Rebecca +Gibbons, an English girl, who had started with her +mother to join her father, Ambrose Gibbons, who +was helping establish the New Hampshire Colony +for the Mason grant. John Mason had given the +name because of his home in Hampshire, England.</p> + +<p>"Then you are going on to Newichewannock," +explained Richard. "Your father has built a house +there for you. At the falls they have a saw-mill. +It is the only one in New England."</p> + +<p>Samuel, who had gone ashore, then returned with +a package, which he tucked into Rebecca's hands +with a whisper. She secretly hid this strange parcel +as the vessel started.</p> + +<p>The Warwick left its passengers and supplies at +the Great House on Strawberry Bank, and continued +up the winding Piscataqua, which seemed +endlessly long to Rebecca. At last a final turn +brought to sight the new home, and, best of all, her +father, followed by his four helpers, hurrying down +to the shore.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i040.jpg"> +<img src="images/i040-th.jpg" width="400" height="486" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>The house was a substantial one. There were +also a barn, other small buildings, and a fine well, +all surrounded by a palisade which protected the +family from wild animals and hostile Indians.</p> + +<p>The saw-mill kept a busy hum on the logs, making +boards for immediate use. Many were also to be +shipped to England on the returning vessel. Ambrose +Gibbons and his men spent their time otherwise: +in search for useful ores or minerals, or +trading for furs to be sent back to the Laconia Company, +who, in turn, kept the colonists supplied from +English stores. Perhaps for these reasons the gardens +were quite neglected, and so Rebecca's strange +little parcel proved a double treasure.</p> + +<p>Her spinning done with the spirit of a true pioneer, +Rebecca explored the surrounding woods and +soon knew them quite as well as the nooks and +corners of her own dooryard. In one spot there +grew a thick undergrowth, through which she crept +and discovered a small clearing so closely shut in +that it would never have been suspected.</p> + +<p>"This is the spot for my secret," she declared and +began to pull the grass by the roots. The next day +she returned with spade and rake, and her mysterious +package. It was to be a buried treasure, for +here she opened her bundle and planted in various +holes the kernels of yellow Indian corn which +Samuel had given her.</p> + +<p>"There!" she exclaimed, as she patted the loose +earth. "This is to be my own secret, till I am quite +ready to tell. Then I will surprise them."</p> + +<p>The home people were too much occupied with +their own interests to give attention to Rebecca's +play-time. The Newich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>ewannock Indians, whose +settlement was near by, were camping elsewhere +for the summer, so that no one even guessed the +garden, or knew how well it was growing.</p> + +<p>Some struggling grape vines and a few vegetables +had been planted within the palisade, but small attention +had been given to them. In fact, so little +gardening had been done that the Autumn brought +anxious days. No English vessel had come in, nor +had the grain from Virginia arrived in Boston, +where it was to be ground at the wind-mill and sent +on to Strawberry Bank.</p> + +<p>The meal-chest at the Newichewannock home was +almost empty, and except for fish and game the +food supply was low. The situation became serious. +Ambrose Gibbons started, one crisp fall morning, +for the Bank, hoping to obtain food of some sort. +He took one man with him, while the other three +with their axes started for a distant point to fell +trees, not returning until night.</p> + +<p>Rebecca ran off for awhile that afternoon to inspect +her garden, which was now filled with a surprising +growth of ripening corn.</p> + +<p>"It might be picked at once," she whispered to +herself. "But I think I will leave it for a big surprise. +Father may not be able to get us food."</p> + +<p>Quite elated over her splendid crop, she hastened +back to the house. She was surprised to find the +gate of the palisade ope<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>n and still more astonished +to see a tall figure in the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Her frightened mother was showing the empty +meal-chest to a fierce looking Indian. Rebecca +did not then know it was Rowls, the Sagamore of +the Newichewannock Camp. He had returned +ahead of his people with a small but hungry band +of Indians.</p> + +<p>"He has come for food, dearie, but I cannot make +him understand that we have nothing."</p> + +<p>Rowls straightened himself and by motions again +ordered Mrs. Gibbons to get him food. At the same +time he showed a fine beaver skin for exchange. +Empty cupboards and barrels were opened, but the +fierce creature believed the food was hidden and +raised his knife as a threat. At this a sudden +thought struck Rebecca. With energy she motioned +for him to wait. Then she darted to her secret +garden, where she tore the precious ears from the +stalks until her arms were full. Fearing for her +mother in the meantime, she flew back to the house +to find that Rowls had patiently waited.</p> + +<p>It was what he wanted. With a satisfied grunt, +he took the corn and presented Rebecca with the +most beautiful beaver skin she had ever seen. After +the Sagamore had gone and the palisade gate +was bolted, Rebecca explained her secret garden to +her surprised mother.</p> + +<p>She then for the first time realized the disappointment +of not bringing in her own crop, should her +father return without food. But just then a whi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>stle +was heard outside the gate, and Ambrose Gibbons +was admitted, bowed over with a heavy sack of +grain, for the Virginia supply had that morning +reached Strawberry Bank.</p> + +<p>Soon after these events a grist-mill was established +at Newichewannock, and gardens became a matter +of more careful consideration.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FUR_TRADE" id="THE_FUR_TRADE"></a>THE FUR TRADE</h2> + +<p>The winter had passed since Rebecca Gibbons had +traded her corn crop for a beaver skin. That piece +of fur had become a much-beloved treasure to +Becky. It covered her rag dolls in the daytime and +served her as a blanket many a cold night.</p> + +<p>The winter had been a rough one, filled with severe +hardships. In spite of their knowledge of New +England winters, even the Indians in their encampment +close at hand suffered. Hostile tribes had +at times surrounded the house a hundred strong. +Added to these troubles there was a great +scarcity of provisions, so that a longing for warmer +days was coupled with an anxious hope for the returning +English vessel. Supplies of all kinds were +sadly needed.</p> + +<p>One cold raw day in May, Rebecca wandered into +the woods to gather early spring flowers. She suddenly +realized that, in spite of her usual care, she +had strayed beyond the sound of the buzzing mill. +Searching in vain for a familiar spot, she at last +shouted for help. No sound was heard in reply. +She dropped to the ground, frightened by the +thought of the many awful things that might happen. +Was that a shadow at her feet? She started +suddenly to find standing behind her a silent Indian +squaw, with a pappoose strapped to her back. +Without a word the woman turned and Rebecca +followed, for she had recognized a squaw of the +neighboring camp. It was a long walk home. As +they passed the Newichewannock Camp, four forlorn +shivering little Indians who had been huddling +over the dying coals caught her attention.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> +<p>Rebecca was stirred by the misery of their cold +and hunger, quite forgetting how near her own +household were to this same misery. On reaching +home, determined to show her thanks for this safe +return, the little girl hunted out her fishing pole +and started for the river. She hoped to make a +catch for these hungry people. She reached the +rocks and cast her line like a true fisherman.</p> + +<p>"Captain Neal will feel mean enough when he gets +here and finds us all starved to death," she murmured +as she jerked her pole only to find her line had +caught and broken. Finally, with the disappointment +of no fish, she was turning toward the house +when a white gleam on the water caught her eye. +It was from the sail of the Pide-Cowe, the English +vessel just rounding the bend.</p> + +<p>Rebecca dashed home with the news. That afternoon +cornmeal, salt, beef, butter, sweet oil, oatmeal, +and candles were landed within the palisade. +There were men's coats, waistcoats, and children's +coats, stockings, blankets, rugs, flannel and cotton +cloth, as well as fish hooks and lines, lead, hammers, +pewter dishes, and iron kettles.</p> + +<p>Indians, gay in fringes and beads, arrived on the +scene with loads of fur: otter, mink, fox, and beaver +for trade. Ragged squaws and shivering pappooses +followed. Captain Neal and his sailors mingled +with hearty good cheer among them, while the white<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +settlers acted as tradesmen, happy in the relief +which this vessel had brought them.</p> + +<p>Rebecca was wild with excitement. She knew +this meant food for everybody. Each box and barrel +was turned and inspected by Miss Becky. She +poked over the piles of clothing and tried on the +children's coats and even the men's coats, anything +in fact that struck her fancy. Some bright beaded +things caught her eye. Pulling at the English +shag, she drew from the bottom of a pile a queer +little garment labeled "Pappoose coat." After +searching and tugging, she produced five of different +sizes. Then her eye fell on the group of timid +little creatures still clinging to their mother.</p> + +<p>Rebecca knew that at this trading all the furs +would go to buy food. Her wise little head thought, +"These coats would make them so comfortable!" +Perched on a salt-cask close to the pile she was soon +absorbed in her own plans, which were quickly completed. +Jumping down she excitedly ran to explain +them to her mother, who had been watching the +trading from the doorway of their home. Becky +stood on tip-toe, awaiting her mother's decision. +After a moment's thought, it came. The child rushed +indoors and soon returned with her still beautiful +beaver-skin.</p> + +<p>"Captain Neal," she cried, before she had fairly +reached him. "How many of these pappoose coats +will you trade for this beaver?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You may have all for such a skin as that," he +exclaimed as he stroked the soft fur.</p> + +<p>With the five coats in her own possession, proud +little Becky begged her mother's help. Together +they fitted them to the five smallest Indian children. +Trading ceased for a moment, while all eyes turned +to the funny sight of these wild little creatures in +English clothing. The settlers and seamen laughed +aloud, while even the stolid faces of the old warriors +looked pleased.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="COATS_SHIRTS_AND_KETTLES" id="COATS_SHIRTS_AND_KETTLES"></a>COATS, SHIRTS, AND KETTLES.</h2> + +<p>During the winter of 1637-8, at least three feet of +snow remained on the ground from November 4th +until March 5th. Broken ice was still in the rivers, +when in March a coaster started from Boston with +Mrs. Wheelwright and her five children and also +friends of hers with their children.</p> + +<p>Little Thomas, quite as round as the small iron +kettle which he carried under his plump arm, +trudged up the plank to the deck.</p> + +<p>"Mother, see what Tom has!" exclaimed Susan +with some disgust.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, child," came the tired reply. "That +kettle was forgotten in packing, and, if it pleases +him, do let him keep it."</p> + +<p>There were children enough on board to make +the party a merry one in spite of the sharp cold +winds. The vessel turned northward, rounded the +coast to the Piscataqua River, and pushed its way +among the ice chunks even into Great Bay, not +stopping until it came to the foot of the falls in +Squamscot River.</p> + +<p>The Rev. John Wheelwright and several of his +followers had already spent the winter about Piscataqua. +The rough cabins, now built for their +families, were not so comfortable nor so well furnished +as the home Rebecca Gibbons had found at +Newichewannock.</p> + +<p>The children were delighted with the wild woods. +The month gave them some warm spring-like days, +and they soon established a play camp for themselves +not far from the cabins. Edward and J<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>oseph +built a wigwam pointed at the top like those of the +Squamscot Indians who camped along the river.</p> + +<p>"Look," cried Susan with delight as she rested +three poles together at the top, "this will stand over +our fire, and we can swing Tom's kettle from it."</p> + +<p>But Tom and the kettle were missing. At last he +was found in the curled roots of an old oak, scratching +the picture of an Indian on the rough surface +of his treasured kettle, which he was persuaded to +use for the new play. The fun went with zest until +Susan was called into the house.</p> + +<p>"There, dear," explained her mother, passing her +an armful of woolen stuff, "you must take my needle +and finish this seam, while I prepare these birds for +a stew. This is the last of six shirts your father +wished completed soon."</p> + +<p>Susan seated herself by the fireside on a stool, +which was merely a tree stump, for their furniture +was of the roughest kind. Her mother quickly +plucked the feathers from the wild fowl that had +just been brought in and prepared them for the +kettle that hung on the crane over the hearth fire.</p> + +<p>"Oh, may we have that little one, Mother, for our +camp?" begged Susan. "We want to make a stew +out there in Tom's kettle."</p> + +<p>Her mother consented and laid the bird aside, +while Susan watched carefully to see just how the +stew was made. When it began to boil, her mother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +picked up the sewing and told her to run and play +again.</p> + +<p>The children soon had a fire crackling and the +fowl stewing. They sat delightedly about it, planning +many fine uses for the little black kettle with +its three short legs. Then Edward and Joseph +started on a scouting trip, but returned later with +eyes that told of something more real than play.</p> + +<p>"We've found an Indian boy, a real one, Susan, +lying on the ground as if he were sick."</p> + +<p>"Then," replied Susan quickly, "take him some of +our broth. I am sure it will help him. There it is, +just as good as mother's," she exclaimed, as she gave +a final taste and poured out a bowlful.</p> + +<p>Some half dozen children followed the boys and +soon circled about a frightened Indian lad stretched +on the ground. In a trice, Susan had propped him +up and was feeding him with the stew, which seemed +to revive him. Soon he allowed the children to +lead him back to their wigwam, where he dropped +again to the ground. They brought him food from +the house, and then to amuse him they showed their +black kettle and pointed out the Indian Tom had +scratched on its side. Though the lad said nothing, +his fear was gone, and his eyes were wide with +interest. Suddenly a shadow fell across the path, +and the little Indian's face brightened. There stood +a full-grown Indian of the Piscataqua tribe. It was +Nonowit, though these children did not know him. +The little fellow was his son, Assacon, who had lost +his father on this hunting trip and had become <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>exhausted +for want of food.</p> + +<p>Not only Nonowit, but other Indians began to arrive +at the new settlement. White men landed on +the shore with loads of woolen shirts and heavy +coats like those sent on the English vessels; even +iron kettles were lifted from their boats.</p> + +<p>The next day, which was April 3rd, 1638, Wehanownowit, +Sagamore of the Piscataquas, Pummadockyon, +his son, and Aspamabough arrived with +many of their tribe. The Squamscot Indians and +others gathered together with the white men in +their clearing by the river.</p> + +<p>The questioning children begged of their fathers +to know what it all meant. They were told that, as +the men of the Plymouth colony had thought it just +and kind to pay the Indians for the use of their +lands, so Mr. Wheelright had urged the men of the +New Hampshire settlement to do the same.</p> + +<p>A deed was made out to the Indians, promising +the land of a certain district for settlement by the +white men, but reserving the privilege for the +Indians to hunt and fish there. Payment was to be +made in money as well as coats, shirts, and kettles. +The white men signed their names, but the Indians +could not write. The children then saw Wehanownowit +with the point of a wild goose quill make his +mark of a man holding a tomahawk. Pummadockyon +drew a man with a bow and arrow, and Aspamabough, +who also signed the deed, drew for his mark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +an arrow and bow. And thus a friendly feeling +was established between the natives and the colonists +at the time of this settlement, which grew to be +the town of Exeter, named for the one in England.</p> + +<p>When the coats, the shirts, and the kettles of +varying sizes were shouldered, the Indians started +homeward. The children then hurried back to their +camp and soon found that their own play-kettle +was gone. After many inquiries it was learned that +in the confusion of things someone had caught it +up and tossed it upon the pile of kettles offered to +the Indians. The children were bitterly disappointed +and sorely missed the loved plaything. Nor could +another be spared from the limited home supply.</p> + +<p>Weeks went by, and the children still played in +their camp. One day, while all were gone on a play-search +for food, Joseph was left on guard in a hollow +tree with merely a peep-hole through which to +watch. He heard the cracking of a twig; to his surprise, +something moved cautiously through the +bushes. It was a real Indian boy. He crept to the +wigwam door, peeped in, and then thrust in his arm. +Joseph could not tell whether it was to take or to +leave something. As the lad turned, he proved to be +Assacon. Before Joseph could scramble from the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +tree, the Indian was gone, frightened perhaps by +the voices of the returning children. Together they +hurried to the wigwam, and there in the center stood +the little black kettle with the same picture that Tom +had scratched upon it. Assacon had found it in his +own camp. In some way he had secured it and, in +appreciation of their goodness to him, had traveled +some ten miles to return it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="WINNICUNNET" id="WINNICUNNET"></a>WINNICUNNET.</h2> + +<p>In the days when no lines were drawn between +Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the General +Court of Massachusetts had an eye open for a +stretch of salt-marsh a few miles north of the Merrimac +River, near the sea. The forests were so thick +that feeding places for the cattle were difficult to +find. Here on these marshes salt was added to the +food, which in those days was considered a most +valuable possession. For that reason it was agreed +that three men from Newbury and Ipswich should +build a house on the edge of the marsh.</p> + +<p>So on an October day in 1638 they went in a shallop +up the winding Winnicunnet River. Where Hampton +now stands, they built of logs the Bound House, +to make good the claim of Massachusetts to the +marsh.</p> + +<p>Soon others followed, and the little settlement +of Winnicunnet grew up in the wilderness, miles +from other neighbors, except the Indians who had +pitched their wigwams in the vicinity. Their trails +along the river and over the marshes to the sea were +used by the white men in hunting and fishing.</p> + +<p>In this same wilderness Elizabeth dwelt in a cabin +of logs, yet not without playmates or playthings. +Chewannick, an Indian boy who lived in a wigwam, +came often to play with her, and the little black lamb +that was born in the spring was given to Elizabeth +for her very own. As soon as she found it was hers, +she called Chewannick within the palisade to see the +little black thing with legs like sticks.</p> + +<p>"When it is old enough to be sheared," she explained, +"I shall help to do that myself. Then my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +mother will help me to card its nice black wool, and +we will spin it into long threads. I shall then weave +a thick cloth, which will make me a warm winter +cloak."</p> + +<p>Chewannick stood with wide-open eyes understanding +by Elizabeth's motions much of what she +was telling him. Together they made the little creature +a comfortable bed in the big yard outside the +cabin.</p> + +<p>It was most necessary to have the high fence built +about the house to protect the garden from foxes +and other prowling creatures, and to keep the wolves +and the bears away from the cattle and sheep at +night. Through the day, the gate stood open. The +cows and sheep wandered off to the marsh grass, +and the children came and went as they wished, but +before the sun went down, every creature was driven +home, and the children were safely inside when +the gate was barred. When Elizabeth petted her +little black lamb at night, she could hear the howl +of the wolves through the woods and often the growl +of a bear just outside the enclosure.</p> + +<p>One day when the children were outside the palisade, +Chewannick attempted to climb it. Elizabeth +laughed and declared he could not do it. He then +fastened a prop between the closely planted posts +and tried again, but he could not spring with enough +force to get over. Again and again on succeeding +days he tried, determined at every fa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>ilure to reach +the top some day.</p> + +<p>Late one afternoon as the cows came wandering +in at their usual hour, the children watched the +sheep huddle together. Elizabeth noticed that the +little black lamb was not with them.</p> + +<p>"And the sheep came from the woods, not the +marsh," she added after her first word of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Come, Chewannick, we must find my lamb!"</p> + +<p>Unnoticed by her mother, who was busy in the +yard, Elizabeth led the Indian boy over the well +trodden path to the woods. Already the sun had +dropped, but on and on the children went until they +paused to listen. From the far-distance came a +faint cry like that of a child.</p> + +<p>"It is my precious, black woolly lamb!" cried +Elizabeth, frantically. "It is in the thorn bushes!"</p> + +<p>Farther still they pushed into the woods, hardly +noticing how dark the shadows were growing. +The cry seemed close at hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes, here's my darling lamb!" Elizabeth tugged +at the poor little thing, caught by its woolly +fleece in the long sharp thorns of a bush.</p> + +<p>"Help, Chewannick, pull hard!"</p> + +<p>Great tufts of black wool were left on the bush, +but the frightened little creature was freed at last.</p> + +<p>The woods seemed very dark by that time, as +they half pulled, half carried the lamb ho<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>meward. +Darker still it grew. Howls could be heard in the +distance. The children hurried on. Suddenly a +wolf barked on their very trail. They were then +within sight of the house, but with horror they saw +that the gate was closed. The hastening wolf had +caught the scent of the lamb. The children tried to +shout, but they could make no sound.</p> + +<p>Chewannick bounded ahead. With desperate +force he sprang upon the fence, grasped the top, and +fairly fell over the other side. He had the door unbarred +for Elizabeth and the lamb, as the fiery eyes +of the wolf could be seen but a few rods up the +path. The gate was closed in time to shut the +creature out, while Elizabeth's surprised mother +caught up her little girl as if she feared the wolf +might even then spring through the bolted door.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_CRYSTAL_HILLS" id="THE_CRYSTAL_HILLS"></a>THE CRYSTAL HILLS.</h2> + +<p>Those who sailed the sea came always to these +shores with accounts of the white and shining hills +seen far back over the land. From other travelers +were gathered wonderful tales of lakes stocked with +delicate fish, fine forests rich in game, and fair valleys +abounding in fruits, nuts, and vines.</p> + +<p>The immediate needs of the settlements held most +of the colonists close to their homes, but the spirit +of adventure was too strong for Darby Field. It +was soon reported among the few households of +Exeter that he was going to explore the country to +the North, an enterprise which was of great interest +to them all. He hoped to find gold and precious +stones added to all the other wonders. It was +thought that a trip of a hundred miles might take +him to the river of Canada, or perhaps to the Great +Lakes.</p> + +<p>Susan, Edward, Joseph, and all the other children +stood about with wide-eyed wonder at the courage +and daring that could carry one so far into an unknown +wilderness. With two Indians as companions, +and a pack strapped to his back, Darby +Field waved his good-bye to the group of settlers and +started off.</p> + +<p>For some forty miles they traveled past lakes +large and small, over Indian trails, and through +pathless forests. From this time on they seemed to +be tramping upward. Field felt sure that they had +reached the lower slopes of the shining hills so often +seen from the sea.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i060.jpg"> +<img src="images/i060-th.jpg" width="400" height="556" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>At last they climbed to a moss-grown level. Here +they found an encampment of some two hundred +Indians, who proved to be friendly. The travelers +rested and looked about. Not far away appeared +<a name="FNanchor_A_2" id="FNanchor_A_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_2" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> +"a rude heap of massive stones, piled upon one +another a mile high, on which one might ascend +from stone to stone, like a pair of winding stairs."</p> + +<p>Darby Field was moved by the charm of that peak +which seemed to be the highest of all. When he expressed +a determination to climb to the top, the Indians, +horrified at the thought, begged him for his +life to refrain. It was, they assured him, Agiochook, +the abode of the Great Spirit whom they +could see in the clouds about the summit. His voice +could be heard in the thunder of the storms from +cliff to cliff. The winds were manifestations of His +power. His gentleness was revealed through the sunset +colors that lingered on the slopes. This sacred +mountain had never been climbed by an Indian. +Now they begged the white man not to risk his life.</p> + +<p>In spite of this warning, Darby Field persisted in +his plan. A group of Indians accompanied him to +within eight miles of the top. There they waited +for his return, for this daring act was of great concern +to them. The two Indians who had followed +Field from home took courage by his example and +held to the party, which was undoubtedly the first +that ever climbed our Mount Washington.</p> + +<p>From the summit they saw waters to the westward, +which they thought to be the great lake from +which the Canada river flows. To the North, the +country was said to be <a href="#Footnote_A_2" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> +"daunting terrible, full +of rocky hills as thick as mole hills in a meadow, and +clothed with infinite thick woods." Perhaps the +outlook was too terrible for adventure, for aft<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>er +they had picked up clear shining stones which +proved to be crystals, they descended the mountain +and presented themselves safe to the waiting Indians. +Then instead of continuing their explorations, +they decided to return home.</p> + +<p>After an absence of eighteen days, they reached +home. On a cold night in June of 1642, the grown +folk and children gathered about a blazing hearth +to hear of the country that lay to the North.</p> + +<p>The travelers reported a wonderful trip of at +least a hundred miles from home. They felt sure +that their discovery of the Great Lakes +<a href="#Footnote_A_2" class="fnanchor">[A]</a>"wanted +but one day's journey of being finished," but for lack +of sufficient provisions they had been obliged to return. +The glistening stones were passed on to the +wondering children, and Field announced that he +had gone as far as the Crystal Hills,—the name at +one time of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_2" id="Footnote_A_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_2"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Quoted from Jeremy Belknap's History of New Hampshire, +Chapter I.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_DENMARK_CATTLE" id="THE_DENMARK_CATTLE"></a>THE DENMARK CATTLE.</h2> + +<p>The thread dropped from the spinning wheel as +Elizabeth earnestly leaned forward in the firelight, +that late afternoon of May in 1643.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Richard, is there any school for boys—"</p> + +<p>"Sh! here comes your father!" whispered her +uncle.</p> + +<p>Francis Norton, absorbed in thought, entered the +large east room of Mason Manor house and wandered +to the window, where he scanned the ocean distance +for a sail. Elizabeth silently picked up her +thread.</p> + +<p>"Things have become serious, Richard," exclaimed +Norton. "Since Mason's death, few supplies +have come from England, as you know, and the +amounts due the workers here have long been unpaid. +I am here to manage the Mason affairs and +consequently get the blame, yet my own interests +are at stake. My boy must be educated—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say, Father, six cows are missing!" It +was a rugged, healthy boy who burst into the room. +"They have wandered off somewhere, and now it's +milking time. Shall I hunt them up?"</p> + +<p>Norton continued his conversation, quite ignoring +his son, who respectfully awaited his father's +reply.</p> + +<p>"There is a school at Cambridge, near Boston. +The only one I know of in New England. A +Charlestown minister, John Harvard, left eight +hundred pounds for it a few years ago—"</p> + +<p>"Don't lose those cows, Francis," interrupted his +brother-in-law. "They are a valuable lot, a Denmark +breed sent over by Mason, while I was a boy."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> +<p>Jacob then caught a nod of assent from his father +and cast a quick glance at his sister, Elizabeth, whose +wheel was again whirring busily. She jumped to +her feet.</p> + +<p>"May I go too, father?" she cried.</p> + +<p>He gave his consent absent-mindedly and then +turned to the subject in question.</p> + +<p>Meantime the girl and boy chased off together.</p> + +<p>"I believe the cows have wandered through the +woods to the salt-marsh," declared Elizabeth; so +they turned in that direction, following a crooked +path for a long time. At last a breaking of the +bushes opened a way to the discovery of five of the +cows. The children were pushing on for the sixth, +when a distant shout was heard on the opposite +shore of the marshy stream. There in the mud and +mire stood a horse and rider. Each step plunged +them deeper and brought them nearer to the stream.</p> + +<p>"Is this the ford?" the stranger called.</p> + +<p>Jacob at once saw he had mistaken a cow-path for +a trail.</p> + +<p>"Back, quick!" cried the frightened children. +"You cannot cross there!"</p> + +<p>The horse, about to plunge again, turned suddenly, +while the children shouted the direction to the ford, +much farther up the stream.</p> + +<p>The last cow had by that time appeared. Driving +the six <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>ahead, Jacob and Elizabeth wondered +together who the strange rider might be, and then +turned their discussion to family affairs which kept +the home atmosphere constantly clouded.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, I must find some way to go to school," +declared Jacob, "but I know father cannot send me +now. They say all the furs, lumber, and fish that +have been sent from here to England cannot cover +the expense of these people. What can be done?"</p> + +<p>"We must find a way, Jacob," replied Elizabeth +thoughtfully, "for you to go to that Cambridge +school called Harvard College. All boys ought to be +educated." She gave no thought to herself, for in +those days girls were taught only home interests.</p> + +<p>Still deep in conversation, the children reached +home to find that the same stranger, caught so dangerously +on the marshes, had arrived at the Manor. +He brought Francis Norton a written message, +which had come by way of Boston from a newly-arrived +English ship.</p> + +<p>Norton, standing at the door while the rider +waited, read the word and exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"So we're to shift for ourselves! The owners of +the Mason property can no longer be responsible +for their New Hampshire estate."</p> + +<p>Many settlers who had come for the purpose of +furthering the interests of this estate were involved +in this crisis. With no returns from England and +back dues long unpaid, the situation seemed hard +and serious. Some of the occupants cl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>aimed the +land they lived upon; some the creatures they cared +for; but the most daring of all was the plan of +Francis Norton.</p> + +<p>Jacob heard it first and hurried the astonishing +news to Elizabeth, whom he found at the well.</p> + +<p>"Beth, father is going to drive a hundred oxen to +Boston, almost sixty miles! He is to sell them there! +What is more, we are all to go with him!"</p> + +<p>This crafty plan was actually carried out. It was +a long, slow journey, but successfully made. The +cattle sold in Boston at twenty pounds sterling a +head, the current price of that day, which brought +Norton a snug little sum. He did not return to +Strawberry Bank, but established a home in Charlestown. +He was then able to give Jacob an education.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_CUT_OF_THE_HAIR" id="THE_CUT_OF_THE_HAIR"></a>THE CUT OF THE HAIR.</h2> + +<p>So many settlers had come to New Hampshire +that, as early as 1641, the need of a government was +felt, and therefore Massachusetts was asked to extend +her law to this colony. It was then arranged +for two deputies to represent New Hampshire life +in the General Court of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>On a summer's day in 1649, at the boat-landing not +far from the Great House, the power of this General +Court was under discussion by Jonathan Low and +Thomas Berry, as they threw their lines into the +river and waited for the fish to bite.</p> + +<p>"The Court can make a man do anything!" remarked +Jonathan. Thomas seemed to doubt it.</p> + +<p>"My father has told me," continued Jonathan, +"that not more than four years ago Mr. Williams +bought an African slave from Captain Smith. The +General Court considered it wrong for a man to own +a slave and made Mr. Williams give him up. Then +they sent the black man home to Africa."</p> + +<p>"Hush, here comes Mr. Williams now! Who is +that with him?"</p> + +<p>"That," replied Jonathan, "is Ambrose Gibbons. +They are both magistrates."</p> + +<p>Evidently the men were talking on the same subject +that was interesting the boys, for, as Ambrose +Gibbons stepped into his boat, he remarked emphatically, +"The Court has the power to control this +evil. Hugh Peters returned to England a few years +ago and announced before Parliament that he had +not seen a drunken man, nor heard a profane oath +during the six years he had spent in the colonies. We +can surely then control this ungodly habit that +is threatening to corrupt us."</p> + +<p>The boys were alert to find out what the evil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +might be.</p> + +<p>"As magistrates," replied Williams, "we control +undue pride and levity of behavior. We oblige the +women to wear their sleeves to their wrists and +close their gowns about their throats. Our men +must now overcome this sinful habit of wearing the +hair long."</p> + +<p>Gibbons picked up his oars, remarking, "We will +enforce the law after we have met the governor and +deputies, as is planned." He pushed off his boat, and +Williams walked thoughtfully away, while the boys +agreed that the Court was a power.</p> + +<p>For several days the matter remained in Jonathan's +mind. He noticed as never before the trig +little cuffs about his mother's wrists, and the narrow +collar that enclosed her throat. He was so troubled +by the long hair that swept his father's shoulders +that, at last, one afternoon he talked the matter over +with his mother as she sat by the open door. They +both knew Roger Low to be a determined man and +slow to accept new customs.</p> + +<p>Little Mary was playing with her dolls under +the spreading lilac bushes. She glanced at the two +as they talked earnestly together and caught bits of +the conversation, but continued with her play. +After an early tea Jonathan and his mother wandered +down by the river, while Roger Low, the father, +weary with a hard day's work, settled himself in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>his +big chair and soon dropped to sleep.</p> + +<p>Little Mary had put her dolls to bed and, feeling +much alone, snuggled close to her sleeping father. +Looking at the long locks as they hung from his +bent head, she recalled the afternoon's conversation.</p> + +<p>"His hair is too long," she thought. "Jonathan +says it is not right to wear long hair."</p> + +<p>Stepping to the shelf she took down the scissors +and quickly gave a delicious snip to her father's thick +locks. Another snip-snap and more hair fell. The +sleeping man roused a little, but finding only his +little Mary playing about him, nodded off again. +His head this time fell in a more favorable position +for Mary to continue the clipping, which she did +most thoroughly.</p> + +<p>It was dark when her mother returned and passed +her sleeping husband to put Mary to bed.</p> + +<p>Just what happened in that home the next day I +cannot tell you, but Roger Low appeared to the +towns-people with closely cut hair, an astonishing +example, just as the proclamation of the magistrates +was announced.</p> + +<p>It read as follows:</p> + +<p><a name="FNanchor_A_3" id="FNanchor_A_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_3" class="fnanchor">[A]</a>"For as much as the wearing of long hair, +after the manner of ruffians and barbarous Indians, +has begun to invade New England, we, the magistrates +do declare and manifest our dislike and detestation +against the wearing of such long hair, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +against a thing uncivil, and unmanly, whereby men +do deform themselves and do corrupt good manners. +We do, therefore, earnestly entreat all elders of this +jurisdiction to manifest their zeal against it, that +such as shall prove obstinate and will not reform +themselves, may have God and man to witness +against them."</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_3" id="Footnote_A_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_3"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Adams, Annals of Portsmouth. Page 34.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CYNTHIAS_BEAR" id="CYNTHIAS_BEAR"></a>CYNTHIA'S BEAR</h2> + +<p>"Yes, we have given up the name of Strawberry +Bank," exclaimed Richard Chadborn, as he settled +back before the bright firelight on a sharp October +evening in 1653. His brother Samuel had just returned +from his clearing in Rhode Island, and was +eager to know all that had happened in the years +of absence.</p> + +<p>"The townsmen petitioned the General Court of +Massachusetts," Richard continued, "to change the +name to Portsmouth, 'it being the river's mouth and +good as any in the land'."</p> + +<p>But the name of Strawberry Bank had caught the +ears of Hannah and small Sam, who rushed to the +spot begging for the story of the first berries picked +there by these very men when they were boys.</p> + +<p>Uncle Samuel pulled the two children to his knees, +offering instead a true bear story.</p> + +<p>"Now, all this happened," he explained, "to my +Cynthia and John, your cousins, way down in Rhode +Island. They had been to the edge of the clearing +and had gathered a basket of fine blackberries for +their mother.</p> + +<p>"'Just what I want for a pasty,' she told them, +'and so well picked that I will make you a gingerbread +man for dinner.'</p> + +<p>"Their eyes shone like the berries, as their +mother pulled the molasses pitcher from the shelf. +But there was not a drop in it.</p> + +<p>"'Our very last,' she reported, as she looked into +the keg in the corner.</p> + +<p>"The shine went out of their eyes until Cynthia +suggested that s<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>he and John go to the neighbors +and borrow some. Their mother hesitated, for the +children had never been there alone, but those little +things looked so disappointed that she let them go.</p> + +<p>"Well, they got there all right, I suppose, and had +the pitcher filled. They started home, probably +talking about their gingerbread dolls, when little +John called out eagerly, 'See the big dog, sister; +he is coming right to us!'</p> + +<p>"Cynthia knew that the creature was a bear. +The sight of him so startled her that she jerked +the pitcher and spilled a great spot of molasses on +the ground.</p> + +<p>"The bear was very near by that time and ran for +the molasses.</p> + +<p>"'Run, Johnny, run!' Cynthia cried, pulling him +on. She stopped a moment later to pour out more +molasses for the hungry bear, who was already +chasing after them.</p> + +<p>"'Run, Johnny, run!' she cried again, anxious not +to lose a moment for those little short legs, and so +the two kept on. When the last drop of molasses +was poured out, and Cynthia had dropped the +pitcher for the bear, little John stubbed his toe and +fell just before the turn of the path to the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Now it happened," explained Uncle Samuel, +"that a few minutes before this accident word had +reached me that two bears had been seen in the +woods that morning, and I had rushed home to say +that the children must not go out. Before I had +finished speaking, their mother had grabbed the gun +from the wall and had dashed down the path.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I tore ahead with my musket. We made the +turn as the bear was bounding away from the well-licked +pitcher after the children.</p> + +<p>"They had no gingerbread dolls that day, but +later I brought them home a fine bearskin rug, on +which they now sit for their bedtime stories."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_WITCHES_OF_1656" id="THE_WITCHES_OF_1656"></a>THE WITCHES OF 1656.</h2> + +<p>Strawberry Bank had not only taken the name +of Portsmouth, but other changes had also crept in. +In place of logs, houses were built of bricks burned +in the dooryard; or else were constructed of frames +of oak, often with pitched roofs that sloped to the +ground.</p> + +<p>It was in such a house as this that Hannah Puddington +lived. Old Buff, her large, yellow cat, +would sometimes run to the ridgepole and from +there watch for the river boats as they returned +with fresh fish.</p> + +<p>One April morning Old Buff hungrily followed +little Hannah to the landing, where she went with +her mother to secure a fresh supply of fish to salt +and dry, as well as some to cook at once.</p> + +<p>As they returned, Goodman Trimmings stopped +them to tell of the sad condition of his wife. "She +has surely been bewitched by Goody Walford, whom +she met in the woods. When she first came home, +she could not speak. Her breathing troubled her, +but later she complained that her back was as a +flame of fire and her limbs numb with cold. Goody +Walford told her that she would take a long journey +but would never return, and then the witch seemed +to vanish in the shape of a cat. My wife has since +been very ill."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i075.jpg"> +<img src="images/i075-th.jpg" width="400" height="484" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +Goodwife Puddington listened with alarm. "How +frightful to find witchcraft on our own shores! +Charlestown and Salem have been so invaded by it. +There even children have been accused." Fearfully +she grasped little Hannah by the hand and +hurried home.</p> + +<p>When the fish were well cooked, Mrs. Puddington +laid one temptingly on a hot pewter plate and covered +it.</p> + +<p>"There, Hannah, take this to Goodwife Trimmings. +It may tempt her appetite. Yes, little +Jacob may go with you."</p> + +<p>Old Buff followed the two children down the +grassy path and through a short stretch of woods +to the neighbor's. As they returned, Hannah saw +a queer looking figure digging roots in the woods. +Her waistcoat and petticoat were red; her old +apron green. She wore a black hat over a white +linen hood tied under her chin. It was Goody Walford. +Friendly Old Bluff darted to her side, while +Hannah seized Jacob's hand and ran for home. Her +haste and fright moved the little fellow to howls and +tears.</p> + +<p>"Stop," commanded Hannah, "you must not cry, +for then they will say that I have bewitched you, +and may be they will hang me as they do the Salem +witches."</p> + +<p>He caught her meaning, though he did not fully +understand, and manfully gulped back his sobs.</p> + +<p>Another fear came. Hannah had seen the old +witch stretch out her hand and stroke the soft, +yellow fur of Old Buff.</p> + +<p>"She might have bewitched him," thought the +little girl, "but I'll tell no one."</p> + +<p>At noon Hannah's father came in with more +trouble to tell of Goody Walford. Her husband +would not let her feed his cattle for fear she would +bewitch them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>After sunset Goodwife Evans, frightened by the +reports, came to the Puddington house and begged +that she might stay for the night.</p> + +<p>"I am followed by a yellowish cat wherever I go. +I am sure 'tis the witch work of Goody Walford. +Oh, don't open that door!" she cried. "It will come +in." She dropped trembling to the settle.</p> + +<p>Little Hannah's fright was quite as great in her +secret fear that Old Buff might be the witch-cat. +She gasped when she saw her father take his gun +from the wall.</p> + +<p>"We'll put an end to these witch-cats," he declared, +and stalked out.</p> + +<p>Hannah held her breath in fear. She heard no +shot, however. At last her father came in and looked +over his gun.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't work," he muttered.</p> + +<p>"There is more witchwork going on inside this +house," his wife remarked as she looked over his +shoulder at the gun. "Your new stockings that I +finished last week have holes in them already."</p> + +<p>When on the following morning a large hole was +found under the door that led to the shed, the +family blame was directed to Old Buff. He was +without doubt the yellowish cat that had followed +Goodwife Evans. Hannah had not seen her dearly +loved pet since she had left him in the woods the +day before. She feared to have him come home, yet +her heart yearned for Old Buff.</p> + +<p>That day it was discovered that much of the homemade +soap stored under the pitch of the roof had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Cat-witchery it surely is!" declared Mrs. Puddington.</p> + +<p>Little Hannah, miserably unhappy, tossed in her +bed that night. Perhaps she slept a little. She +was, however, quick to awake upon hearing a cry +at her window. Like a flash she bounded out of bed, +pushed up the sash, and pulled in her own dear Buff.</p> + +<p>"You're not bewitched, I know you're not, my +dear Old Buff. You wouldn't cry in that same old +way if you were! Come quick and let me hide you +so you won't get shot!"</p> + +<p>She pushed the cat under the bedclothes and in +her happy relief dropped to sleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning Old Buff, proud and dignified, +sat like a king before the kitchen fire, while at his +feet lay the body of the huge rat he had killed. It +was the rat that had eaten the stockings, had gnawed +the door, and had carried off the soap, afterward +found in the walls. Old Buff was the hero of the +house.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<p>This strange experience of the Puddington household +was told throughout the village. Some were +satisfied that witchery was no longer to be feared, +but others still held their belief. In course of time, +however, the witch acts believed of Jane Walford +were forgotten.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_WOLVES_OF_PORTSMOUTH" id="THE_WOLVES_OF_PORTSMOUTH"></a>THE WOLVES OF PORTSMOUTH.</h2> + +<p>John Hinkson led his saddled horse from the +stable one September morning in 1662. Things had +gone hard with John, for taxes were due, and bills +were demanding immediate payment. As he needed +money at once, he was now starting for Exeter +to borrow, if possible, from his brother Peter, until +his grist-mill should bring him the fall returns.</p> + +<p>As he mounted the horse, his wife opened the +door.</p> + +<p>"John," she asked, "if you go to Peter's home, do +not fail to ask Miranda for a bottle of her pine +syrup. I ought not to be without it, for already +little Anthony has a heavy cold. When shall you +be back?"</p> + +<p>"I must return on Wednesday," John replied, +"for there is to be a town-meeting that afternoon." +Then, adjusting his gun, he called, "Good-bye," and +was off.</p> + +<p>When Wednesday came, and the townsmen had +gathered at their meeting, John Hinkson was not +there. Thomas Keats, whose home was on the outskirts +of Portsmouth, reported that Hinkson had +passed his house on the way to Exeter a day or two +before, but had not yet returned. Richard Webster +remarked that he had just spoken with Mrs. +Hinkson at her gate. She was looking anxiously +for John. Their boy was seriously ill, and she needed +the medicine John would bring. She was equally +worried lest in his delay night should overtake +him, when there was grave danger of attack by +wolves. Another townsman emphatically declared:</p> + +<p>"It seems as if measures should be taken immediately +to overcome this pest of wolves. There is no +safety in the woods after dark, and even our door-yards +are in danger from straggling beasts. Since +Portsmouth has grown to be a town of a hundred +inhabitants, though we are widely scattered, w<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>e +ought to be able to make some headway against +them."</p> + +<p>The meeting was then called to order, and that +very question was placed under formal discussion.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, John Hinkson had reached Exeter, +only to find that his brother was crippled for funds +and could give him no help. He obtained the syrup +that his sister-in-law had made from the pine sap +and, after indulging in a short visit, made an early +start for home.</p> + +<p>The roads were very rough, and the horse loosened +a shoe on the way. His progress was so slow that +darkness had overtaken Hinkson by the time he had +reached the isolated home of Thomas Keats on the +edge of Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>The rider kept on his way, hoping that the distant +cries he heard might not come nearer. He +was less than half a mile from Keats' home when +the howl of the wolves became more distinct. +Soon he knew that a pack was on his trail. The +horse seemed to sense his master's fear and dashed +forward. At a bend in the path Hinkson turned +and caught the gleam of the fiery eyes in full speed +behind him. He fired, and the pack stopped to devour +the fallen leader, while the horse plunged on. +Again Hinkson's good aim brought another wolf to +the ground, but a few of the pack, mad with the +taste of blood, kept on in hot pursuit. Hinkson +brought down a third and dodged a fourth that +sprang at the horse's flanks. Again the wolf ju<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>mped +and would have crippled horse and rider had not +the crack of another gun sounded upon the frosty +air. It belonged to Thomas Keats, then on his way +home from town meeting. The wolves, frightened +by the double-attack and weakened in numbers, +slunk away into the woods.</p> + +<p>"This is a lucky shot for you, Hinkson," called +Keats. "The town today voted a bounty of five +pounds for every head, provided the nearest neighbor +would stand witness that they were shot within +the town's boundaries. I'm that neighbor, and +I'll stand witness for you." Then, as John Hinkson +fastened his bloody trophies to the saddle, +Keats added, "The heads must be nailed to the +meeting-house door."</p> + +<p>The two men parted and later Hinkson rode into +his own dooryard, where he found an anxious little +wife.</p> + +<p>She begged for the pine syrup, for her little Anthony +was choking with croup. One glance at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +saddle told of the story yet to be heard, but not until +an hour of troubled watching had passed could +she listen. The little boy then rested in comfortable +sleep, and John related to his wife his exciting +adventure with the wolves, adding, "I have brought +home four heads, which give me twenty pounds +bounty. With my good eye and my steady gun, I +can yet relieve the town of an even greater number, +and taxes at least will be paid."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_KINGS_FORT" id="THE_KINGS_FORT"></a>THE KING'S FORT.</h2> + +<p>Little Peter White was so filled with the pride he +took in his older brother Thomas that he had no +thought for himself.</p> + +<p>Thomas was just sixteen years old, which was a +very important matter that June of 1666, when King +Charles the Second of England ordered the harbors +of the New England colonies fortified.</p> + +<p>Although the King's Commissioners had had some +trouble with the General Court, nevertheless, the +Governor and Council of Massachusetts had appointed +a committee to visit the New Hampshire settlements +and determine upon the most suitable +place for a fort. The eastern point of Great Island, +now known as New Castle, had been the spot selected. +The matter of building had been left to the +decision of the townsmen of Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that little Peter was feeding his +pet rabbits with plantain just outside the doors of +the town-meeting that afternoon of June 19th. As +the dignified men adjourned from the gathering, +they still discussed the measures adopted for the +erection of the fort. Peter's sharp ears overheard +the mystic words "sixteen years." Had not his +Thomas reached that wonderful age? They must +be speaking of him. Peter caught every word that +followed, and although the conversation was not +about his Thomas, it was of utmost interest to Peter.</p> + +<p>With a white rabbit under one arm and a brown +bunny bulging from the other, Peter ran full tilt +down the beaten path to his snug home on the river +bank, where Thomas was weeding the garden.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom," cried the little fellow excitedly, "you +are to help build the King's Fort at Great Island, because +you are sixteen years old." This surprising +news was explained a few minutes later when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +boys' father returned from the meeting.</p> + +<p>Eager to learn what was meant, Tom rested on his +rake with an inquiring look in his eyes. Mrs. White, +who from within the house had caught Peter's +words, had come to the rose-arbored doorway, while +Peter, still hugging his rabbits, called, "Tell them, +father."</p> + +<p>"It has been voted," explained Abram White, +"that every dweller in this town, above the age of +sixteen years, shall promise a week's work on the +new fort before next October. He must be there +from seven in the morning until six at night and +will be paid three shillings a day. The King has +sent eleven guns, six pounders, to defend the fort."</p> + +<p>"Just think, Tom, you're to work on the King's +fort!" exclaimed little Peter, fairly bursting with +brotherly pride, for a direct order from the King +seemed to the little boy a great honor.</p> + +<p>"That will mean another pound for Harvard," +replied practical Tom as he bent again to the rake.</p> + +<p>Harvard College, the only institution of learning +in the country at that time, was the ambition of +many a growing lad in the remote districts.</p> + +<p>When the call actually came for Tom to work on +the fort, Peter announced, "I'll do the home work +while Tom's away. I'll weed the gardens and drive +the cows to pasture."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You'll be my right-hand man," declared his +father with a gentle slap on the little fellow's back.</p> + +<p>For six days Tom had taken the early start, rowing +down the river to Great Island and then at a +brisk pace crossing it to the ocean side, where fortifications +were being erected for protection from +attack by sea. On the last morning his father, +whose week was just beginning, accompanied him.</p> + +<p>Peter in consequence felt himself doubly important +as the only man at home. In the forenoon as +he was passing the boat-landing, he chanced to see +the basket containing the dinners which had been +forgotten.</p> + +<p>"They must have it," thought Peter and stepped +into the one remaining boat, which he pushed into +the stream.</p> + +<p>Peter had had little experience alone on the water. +So interested was he in watching the boat swing into +the current of the outgoing tide, that he did not +notice the darkening clouds above. Soon there +came a flash followed by the deep roll of thunder. +The swift Piscataqua tide held the boat amid +stream, and the small arms could turn it neither to +the right nor the left. Flash and roar repeatedly +followed each other. The boat swung past the usual +landing on Great Island and on down the river. As +the wind tossed the water into white-caps, Peter, +who had long before pulled in the oars, clung frightened +to the sides. On sped the small craft until it +had rounded the curve to the great ocean beyond.</p> + +<p>Dinner time had come for the men at the fort,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> but +Tom and his father, with nothing to eat, stood on the +rocks, watching the ocean toss in this yet rainless +storm.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a little boat swept into sight from the +river. Above its side was seen a small head too +far away to be recognized. Instantly the two +watchers, with the same thought, dashed for a boat +drawn up on the shore. Pushing it off, they jumped +in and grasped the oars. With strong, even strokes +they made steady headway, while the stray boat +plunged on and out into the sea. It was a mighty +pull even for sturdy arms, but nearer and nearer +they came until they saw the pale, frightened face +of their own little Peter. With redoubled energy, +they overtook the little fellow and held his boat +while he scrambled into theirs, announcing, as he +lifted the lunch basket over, "I was bringing your +dinner to you."</p> + +<p>Thankfully they carried him safe to shore, where +together they ate with relish the rescued dinner.</p> + +<p>Early that afternoon Peter's father took him +home to relieve the anxiety he knew the boy's +mother must be feeling.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<p>When Tom returned that night with his newly-earned +shillings, he passed half of them over to +Peter.</p> + +<p>"There, Pete, put them aside for college. Harvard +will want such a man as you will make."</p> + +<p>Peter went to bed that night, happy with the new +thought that he, himself, might some day go to +college.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="LITTLE_JANES_GENTIANS" id="LITTLE_JANES_GENTIANS"></a>LITTLE JANE'S GENTIANS.</h2> + +<p>"Have you never seen a fringed gentian?" asked +little blue-eyed Jane. "If you will go down that +path with me, I'll show you where they grow."</p> + +<p>Benjamin was about to follow, when his father +reined in his horse at the gate and called, "Come, +Ben, we must start for home!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," whispered little Jane, "I'll bring +one to you at the meeting-house on the Sabbath."</p> + +<p>John Cutts lifted his boy to the horse's back, and +with the bag of meal behind the saddle they started +homeward over beaten paths through the woods to +the clearing, some two miles from the settlement. +This happened as long ago as 1671, when the fire on +the hearth was the only kind used. Benjamin was +glad to get close to it this cold fall night, as he listened +to his father's account of the many wolves shot +that week, whose heads, Benjamin knew, would be +hung on the meeting-house door until the captors +received their bounty.</p> + +<p>On Sunday morning John Cutts examined his +musket closely, for he dared not start to meeting +without it. Indians as well as wolves were feared. +His wife sat on the horse behind him, and Benjamin +rode before. Traveling over the narrow paths, they +passed but few people on their way.</p> + +<p>Sunday was a day of fear for Benjamin, for outside +the church door was built a large wooden cage +which held the stocks, while a pillory was constructed +on top, both of which were to hold in most uncomfortable +positions those who disturbed the meeting.</p> + +<p>Inside the church his mother sat on one side, his +father on the other. Benjamin was always left at +the back with a row of boys under the piercing eye +of Nicholas Bond, the tything man, who kept strict +order with his rod and an occasiona<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>l nod to the cage +outside.</p> + +<p>On this particular morning when Benjamin dropped +into his seat at the end of the row and near the +door, he thought seriously of the whispered word he +had overheard outside.</p> + +<p>"Little Jane is lost. There are several searching +parties out!"</p> + +<p>"This is the morning," thought Benjamin, "that +little Jane was going to bring me the gentians. I +wonder if anyone would think of searching that path +for her!"</p> + +<p>He glanced at the unusual number of wolves' +heads hung on the door and thought of those still +living in the woods. The guns stacked by the doorway +suggested lurking Indians. His fear for little +Jane's safety so increased that he became restless +and soon received a sharp rap on the shins from +the tything man.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was during the long prayer when all heads +were bowed that his fear for Jane became greater +than his fear of the cage. Could it be that Nicholas +Bond was nodding? Benjamin slipped from his +seat, crept out the door, and flew down the road +outside. The risk was great, for if he should be +caught, the horror of the cage awaited him.</p> + +<p>He was soon out of sight of the church and had +turned down the gentian path without meeting +any one. He knew enough of woodcraft to break +a branch here and turn a stone there to mark his +way. The gentians were found, and some had been +picked, but Jane answered none of his shouts. He +returned the same way until he found a branching +path.</p> + +<p>"She might have taken that by mistake," he +thought.</p> + +<p>It was a long search before Benjamin came upon +the little girl asleep on the ground, with her hands +full of gentians. "Oh, Jane, Jane, wake up and +come quickly! The wolves or the Indians might +find us!"</p> + +<p>Together they ran down the path to the turn and +up the right one to the church, which they reached +just as the people came out, troubled by the disappearance +of Benjamin. A searching party came from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +the opposite direction, and Jane's father caught his +little girl up in his arms, while Benjamin told his +part of the story. His father proudly patted him on +the back and swung him up on the saddle, but little +Jane scrambled to her feet and darting to his side +reached up her plump little hand, exclaiming, "I +picked these gentians for you, Benjamin!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_CHURCH_LAW" id="THE_CHURCH_LAW"></a>THE CHURCH LAW</h2> + +<p>It was now 1675. Four years had passed since +Jane Fryer gathered the gentians for Benjamin. +Her father, Jonathan Fryer, had moved from the +neighborhood of the meeting-house far up the river-side, +where he found better land for cultivation. +He still held a strong church interest and built for +his family a small shed at the rear of the meeting-house. +Here they could warm themselves by a +hearth fire before the service in the unheated building +and take a hot dinner before the long walk +home.</p> + +<p>Jane was now an energetic girl of ten. One February +afternoon she rested her bucket of water on +the icy edge of the well as she watched her father +striding homeward down the hill slope. As he +reached her, he picked up the heavy bucket and entered +the house, where his boy Tom was placing a +huge log on the fire, and his wife stood ready to fill +the kettle with water and hang it on the crane. +Jane had followed her father and waited with expectant +silence until Jonathan Fryer announced—</p> + +<p>"I am going to Boston!"</p> + +<p>"Father!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"This winter?" asked his wife, while Jane embraced +her dearly loved father as if he were off +for the moon. Boston was fifty-eight miles away.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i094.jpg"> +<img src="images/i094-th.jpg" width="400" height="527" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> +<p>"I have just attended town-meeting," he explained. +"The sixty pounds which we have pledged +to Harvard College annually must be paid. There +are also town matters for consultation."</p> + +<p>As it was February, Jonathan Fryer decided to +travel on horseback by an inland route to Boston.</p> + +<p>During his absence, the family had cause for anxiety +in the weather. Storms and a moderating temperature +were bad, for Jonathan Fryer had frozen +rivers to cross.</p> + +<p>On the night of the second Saturday after his +departure, he returned weary and exhausted from +a hard and perilous trip. Jane had spent many +hours watching for her father and was eager to +make him comfortable. She hung about him with +every attention, and laughed when he nodded with +sleep.</p> + +<p>"Father, you must go to bed, for if your head +should tip like that in the meeting-house, the cage +would await you."</p> + +<p>It had been decreed that the old wooden cage +before the church door should punish—"those who +use tobacco or sleep during public exercise."</p> + +<p>The next morning Jonathan Fryer arose aching in +every limb. His family begged him to break his +custom of attending meeting, but his strong spirit +asserted itself, and he was ready at the usual time. +With a basket of dinner, the four started afoot at +an early hour that they might be well warmed before +meeting.</p> + +<p>Mr. Moody, famous for his long sermons, had +preached some forty minutes when a lusty snore +brought the already straight listeners to an alert +posture. It awoke the sleeper himself, no other +than Jonathan Fryer. The preaching continued +to its customary length of an hour or more. Then +silently, shamed beyond endurance, Jonathan, his +goodwife, his Tom, and his Jane, sought shelter in +their small house. Words were useless. They +knew what would follow.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> +<p>The tramp of four tything men was soon heard +crunching the ice. Some eight or ten men with that +title had been chosen to "look after the good morals" +of the neighbors of their home district.</p> + +<p>Tything-man Eliot was the spokesman as the four +stood to administer justice.</p> + +<p>"We regret, Goodman Fryer, that since you have +disobeyed the strict orders of the Church, not only +by sleeping, but also by disturbing the meeting +with an audible snort, we must comply with our +laws and place you in the stocks, within the cage +built for that purpose."</p> + +<p>There was no chance for reply, for like a tiger +Jane pounced before these men of dignity and burst +forth, "It is not right. My father, in service for the +town, has faced great hardships and almost lost his +life. That he came to meeting at all, he should be +thanked. If you place him in the stocks, you shall +place me there too!"</p> + +<p>Her flashing eyes and angered face seemed to +burn themselves into the stolid four as she stamped +her foot for emphasis. The spokesman turned and +quietly remarked to his companions, "There is need +for further council!" They left. Jane threw herself +into her father's arms. He dropped his head.</p> + +<p>"My daughter, this conduct doubles the insult to +the Church. Your action is unrighteous, though +well meant. Your father's disgrace was great +enough, but this from a child to our worthy tythin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>g +men cannot be overlooked. There was need for +further council."</p> + +<p>No greater punishment could have been given +Jane than these words from her father. The barley-cakes, +porridge, and cheese were left untouched by +the shame-faced group.</p> + +<p>Soon the heavy steps were again heard. The moment +of suspense was stinging. The door opened +and the tything men entered. The same spokesman, +perhaps the gentlest of the four, began:</p> + +<p>"Goodman Fryer, it is deemed best that the punishment +to be administered to your untamed daughter +for her unruly tongue shall be determined by her +parents. It is left to their discretion. Yet there is +truth in her words. The council of the Church +commends you for your recent service to the town +and grants you pardon for your unseemly conduct +in the meeting."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PEACE_OR_WARFARE" id="PEACE_OR_WARFARE"></a>PEACE OR WARFARE</h2> + +<p>Since the days when Nonowit had welcomed the +English to his shores and had taught Roger Low the +ways of the wood, there had been little serious +trouble between the white man and the red.</p> + +<p>The New Hampshire coast was at this time fortified +against an enemy from over the seas, but the +homes were rarely protected by palisades, save the +larger ones used as garrison houses, where the +neighbors gathered in case of an attack by Indians. +Up to this time, however, there had been but little +need of the garrisons.</p> + +<p>Roger Low had become the father of Jonathan, +and even Jonathan now had a boy Robert, for some +fifty years had passed since Robert's grandfather +had crossed the ocean to this land. The Portsmouth +house in which the three lived had been the scene +of Jonathan's boyhood and recalls the time when his +little sister, Mary, cut off her father's hair.</p> + +<p>The winter months of 1675 had passed. Frightful +stories of Indian troubles were coming to the ears +of the colonists. Robert Low had loved to sit on +his grandfather's knee and in the warm light of +the hearth fire to listen to stories of Indian life and +of Nonowit, of whom nothing had been heard for +many years.</p> + +<p>The two were sitting by the fire one evening, when +Jonathan Low, leaving them alone, had gone to +Exeter for the night. A neighbor happened in. +His face was grave, and he shook his head in doubt +as he seated himself on the opposite settle.</p> + +<p>"Philip, that chief in Massachusetts, the son of +Massasoit, is a dangerous fellow. He is turning +his Indians against the white men. And have you +heard what has happened on the Saco River, at +our east?"</p> + +<p>Robert was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>alert for a new story, though his interest +was now mingled with a sense of fear.</p> + +<p>"The squaw of the sachem Squando," continued +the caller, "was crossing the river in a canoe with +her pappoose, when two sailors upset the craft just +for the sport of it. The child sank, but the mother +dived to the bottom and brought it up alive. Later +the child died, and Squando is now rousing the +Indians of the east against the colonists. With +Philip south of us and Squando, a chief of wide influence, +at the east, we stand in great danger."</p> + +<p>"Yet peace must exist between the white man and +the red," confidently replied the grandfather, "for +Passaconaway, the great sachem of the Penacooks, +that wonderful chieftain, fifteen years ago urged +peace when he called the river and the mountain +Indians together at Pawtucket Falls. At a great +dance and a feast held there Passaconaway spoke to +his people and bade them live in peace, for it was the +only hope for the race. They might do some harm +to the English, but it would end in their own destruction. +This the Great Spirit had said to him. +Then," continued Roger Low, "he gave up his chieftainship +to his son Wonolancet, who has heeded his +father's warning, as have other tribes about us. +They had faith in old Passaconaway, who had the +power to make water burn and trees to dance. He +could even turn himself into a flame. Yet he accepted +our Christianity as preached by John Eliot and +finally, the Indians say, he was carried in a sleigh +drawn by wolves up the slope of our highest mountain, +whence he rose toward the heaven of the white +man in a chariot of fire."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>The neighbor again shook his head doubtfully and +bade them good-night. Little Robert, torn by the +fears of the Indian raids, and his grandfather's assurance +of peace, lay awake many hours. His +grandfather was breathing heavily in his sleep, +when Robert distinctly heard a footstep outside. +Thinking his father might have returned, he hurried +to the window in time to see the figure of an Indian. +The little boy threw himself upon his sleeping grandfather +in fright. As the old gentleman awoke, a +heavy knock was heard at the door.</p> + +<p>"'Tis an Indian, grandfather," shrieked the boy.</p> + +<p>At that moment the outline of the Indian's face +was seen at the window which he was trying to open. +Roger Low jumped from his bed, seized his gun, and +stood ready for an attack. The Indian spoke. +Low dropped his gun and listened. Something more +was said outside, Grandfather hastily unbolted the +door. "Was he mad?" He seemed eager to meet +the Indian. Then Robert heard his grandfather cry, +"Nonowit!" for the old-time friend had at last come +back.</p> + +<p>They stirred the fire and seated themselves to hear +Nonowit's story of peace and trouble between whitemen +and Indians. Robert gained no promise of +peace. However, the friendliness of such a powerful +Indian as Nonowit was reassuring, and he dropped +to sleep in his grandfather's arms.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="SUSANNAS_RESCUE" id="SUSANNAS_RESCUE"></a>SUSANNA'S RESCUE</h2> + +<h3>A Tale of 1675</h3> + +<p>Toby Tozer dropped the rock which would have +completed his house of stones, as he saw a sail +tacking across the river straight to his point at +Newichewannock.</p> + +<p>"Look, Susanna! Here comes Mistress Lear, and +she has brought Henry with her," he cried excitedly.</p> + +<p>Susanna hurried up the bank to carry the news. +She was a sturdy girl of eighteen, with neither home +nor people. The little group at the settlement took +care of her, and she gratefully served them all.</p> + +<p>Hearing of the arrival, Mistress Tozer hurried to +the shore, bidding Susanna notify the few neighbors +and invite them all to her home for the day. Spinning, +weaving, and other household cares were always +pushed aside for such an occasion as a visit.</p> + +<p>"And may we keep her for days, Jacob?" Mrs. +Tozer asked anxiously of Mr. Lear, who was then +pushing off his boat.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> +<p>"Just an over-night trip," he called. "I'm on my +way to Dover and will come around for her on my +return."</p> + +<p>Already the good-wives, with knitting in hand, +were gathering to greet Mistress Lear. Some fifteen +or more, including the children, were soon settled +about the Tozer fireplace, eager to learn of the +happenings in Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>"How dared you come so far, Mistress Lear, when +the Indians are committing such terrible deeds? +Since King Philip has stirred up the creatures in +Massachusetts, even the settlements of Maine have +felt their treachery."</p> + +<p>By this time Susanna had caught the winks and +nods of Toby and Henry, who were tired of sitting +primly on the settle.</p> + +<p>"Shall I draw you a bucket of water, Mistress +Tozer?" asked Susanna, as eager as the boys for an +excuse to get out to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>open. She glanced at the +boys, who followed to help her. Secretly she held +the fear of an Indian attack and, for days, had +been keeping watch over the river.</p> + +<p>"My great-grandfather, Ambrose Gibbons, dug +this well!" exclaimed Henry, knowingly, as Susanna +let down the bucket. "His little girl, Becky Gibbons, +was my grandmother, and she traded some +corn for a beaver skin with the Indians."</p> + +<p>Since Susanna and Toby seemed interested, Henry +continued his story as they turned to the shore. +"Almost all the Indians were friendly in those days," +he added.</p> + +<p>"But they are not now," replied Susanna. Her +alert eye, at that moment, had caught a distant +movement of paddles on the water. As a nearer +view brought the dreaded Indians to sight, she cried, +"Run for your lives, boys!"</p> + +<p>The frightful feathered savages were gliding +straight toward the point.</p> + +<p>The two children made a mad dash for the house. +Susanna, ahead, broke into the peaceful group +gathered there.</p> + +<p>"Indians! Run! Out the back door, over the +fence to the Knight's house! Don't let them see +you!"</p> + +<p>Susanna slammed the front door and threw her +full weight against it, whi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>le the women in mad haste +rushed through the narrow doorway and scrambled +over the fence to the more secure protection of the +neighboring house. A moment later the howling +Indians slashed their tomahawks into the door +which Susanna, to gain time for the others, still +held. The savages now forced the door open. The +girl was thrown to the floor by the blow, and the +Indians, thinking her dead, rushed through the +house. Finding it deserted, they dashed through +the back door on toward the neighboring house. +Shot after shot from this direction startled the +pursuing Indians and made them realize that their +party was too small to face such fire. They then +wheeled about and struck for the canoe.</p> + +<p>After a long and fearful waiting, Mrs. Tozer +crept cautiously back to her home, sure that Susanna +had been carried off captive. No, there she +lay on the floor by the door. Could it be that she +moved? Her eyes opened. Mrs. Tozer dropped to +her side and, with the assistance of those who had +followed, brought her quick relief. The girl was +tenderly cared for, and in time she entirely recovered +her strength.</p> + +<p>When Henry Lear returned to Portsmouth, he +told a tale of Newichewannock life wilder than the +stories of his grandmother's day.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="TO_THE_GARRISON_HOUSE" id="TO_THE_GARRISON_HOUSE"></a>TO THE GARRISON HOUSE!</h2> + +<p>One September day in 1675, near their home on +the Upper Plantation, now known as Dover, Betty +Haines, a girl of ten, stood in the cornfield with her +little apron outstretched to hold the ears of ripe corn +her father was plucking. Suddenly her brother +Joseph, twice her age, bounded over the meadow and +into the field.</p> + +<p>"Father," he cried excitedly, "the Indians have +made an attack at Newichewannock. They are +likely to be down upon us at any moment. The garrison +house is our only safety."</p> + +<p>His mother, at the door of their home, caught +Joseph's alarming words and took immediate command +of the situation. The rest of the family hurried +in from the cornfield and followed her directions. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Get your heavy coat, Joseph! Betty, pack the +bread into that basket and ask your father to bring +down our heaviest blankets!"</p> + +<p>"I hope nothing will happen to this nice home of +ours," sighed Betty as her father on their departure +locked the door.</p> + +<p>"Nor to our corn either," he added, with a thought +of the winter's food.</p> + +<p>Soon they established themselves in the largest +home of the neighborhood, which stood open in such +a moment of need. Mrs. Haines, ready and capable, +did her part for the neighboring families assembled +there, while Mr. Haines and Joseph lent +their aid to strengthen the fortifications of timber +outside and to erect a sentry box on the roof, where +guard was to be kept night and day.</p> + +<p>As Joseph Haines took his turn to guard, the first +night of alarm, Betty crept up to the roof after +him and immediately cried, pointing across the +river, "Look there, Joe!"</p> + +<p>A small glow of fire, seen in the distance, soon +brightened the whole sky with flames.</p> + +<p>"Work of the Indians!" muttered Joe. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +word was brought the next day that two houses +and three barns with a large quantity of grain had +been burned that night by the Indians, Betty implored +her brother, "Oh, don't let them burn our +house, Joe!"</p> + +<p>"No, little Betty, I'll see that they do not," he declared +with determination.</p> + +<p>Later the report reached Dover of six houses +burned at Oyster River (a neighboring village) and +two men killed. The young men of Dover rose with +indignation at the insults of the Indians and begged +Major Waldron, commander of the militia, to grant +them permission to protect the town in their own +way. This request granted, some twenty of them, +Joseph Haines in the number, armed themselves and +scattered through the woods, hoping in that way +to find the lurking savages who were doing their +mischief in small groups.</p> + +<p>Just at dusk Joseph, with one companion, took +his position in the woods near his own home.</p> + +<p>"Hist!" came from his friend after long, patient +watching. The two were alert, for five stealthy +figures were seen to cross the meadow and linger +in the cornfield. Three of them began to pick the +corn, while two, approaching the house, gathered +sticks for a fire which they lighted. Their purpose +seemed to be to roast the corn, but the fire was +built dangerously near the house.</p> + +<p>Joseph and his friend had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> become separated +from their companions. No signal could be given +without arousing the suspicion of their enemies. +After a whispered consultation, they cautiously +crept out of the woods and into the shadow of the +house. From there they suddenly rushed upon the +two Indians by the fire, striking them down with +the butts of their guns. Those in the cornfield, +hearing the commotion, ran for the woods and +escaped.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haines, seeing the firelight in the direction +of his house, started at once from the garrison, +not knowing that Betty quietly followed him +through the darkness, even slipping through the +big gateway without being seen.</p> + +<p>The fire had already caught the house, while the +young men were occupied in binding the prisoners. +Mr. Haines dashed to the well for water and returned +to find his Betty beating the flames with a +broom.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Haines, missing Betty and suspecting that +she had followed her father, was on the spot by +the time Joseph had turned his attention from the +prisoners to find that the house had been saved +from the flames.</p> + +<p>Word of the efficient guard at Dover was reported +by the escaping Indians, and no further attack +was made at that time.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="MY_NEW_HAMPSHIRE" id="MY_NEW_HAMPSHIRE"></a>MY NEW HAMPSHIRE</h2> + +<p>The Indian raids had told heavily upon the colonists +in the region of the Piscataqua. Scattered +gardens had been devastated; homes built by great +effort had been destroyed in a night; family circles +had been broken by death, or by capture, and the +colony had suffered the loss of strong young men +who were its mainstay.</p> + +<p>John Stevens had been crippled by the tomahawk +of an Indian; his whole family and that of his +brother had been swept out of existence by the +same cruel hands, and all that was left was his +home and one little nephew, David.</p> + +<p>"This country is ours now, David, and we must +hold it," he would say to the manly little fellow, +who was already facing the responsibilities of life, +though with arms too young to swing the axe or to +steady the plough.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>Glancing at the sturdy little boy, John Stevens, +unable to leave his chair, looked through the open +doorway to his cleared land and his forests, and +wondered how, to say nothing of protecting the +country, he could keep the boy and himself alive. +"David," he cried on sudden thought, "the garden +shall be yours and the forest mine. We will each +do what we can. I still have a strong arm left to +me and a sharp knife. The red oaks can be felled +and sawed at the mill. Here in my chair with my +knife I can shape the short boards into hogshead +staves. The town accepts them for taxes at twenty-five +shillings a thousand."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," added David, "Mr. Cutt, the merchant, +will have use for some."</p> + +<p>Together the man and the boy, before the open +door, planned for the coming days until the twilight +had settled into night.</p> + +<p>The simple home was remote, and neighbors rarely +dropped in. David took the necessary trips to the +Bank, as the upper end of the town by the river<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +was still called, or to the South End, where the +Great House stood with many smaller homes of the +town to the south of it. Always the little boy +started with this injunction:</p> + +<p>"Learn all you can, David, of town affairs. Inquire +about the doings of the General Court. This +is our country, David, and we must know what +happens."</p> + +<p>The cutting of staves proved to be a means of +meeting their simple daily needs. The abundant +forests everywhere prevented a demand for the +shipment of staves to other ports; so it was an exultant +David who came home one fall day with the +word that Mr. John Cutt, the wealthy merchant of +Portsmouth, wanted all the staves John Stevens +could make. They had proved the best of the kind +that Mr. Cutt had yet found. With the little that +David could do on the garden the two managed to +make a living. Yet all this effort to live was held +before David as a small matter compared with the +life of the country.</p> + +<p>"You must remember, David," his uncle impressed +upon him, "that the country must live +whether we are here or not, and its life, lad, depends +upon what we can do for it while we are +here."</p> + +<p>With this quickened interest in the big country, +of which he could see so small a part, David returned +from town early in January of 1680, with +stirring news for his uncle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Listen to this, Uncle John," he cried, excitedly, +"Our King in England has seen fit to separate New +Hampshire from the government of Massachusetts, +and he has appointed our Mr. John Cutt as President. +The Royal Charter is already here!"</p> + +<p>John Stevens leaned forward, as if to grasp the +thought.</p> + +<p>"Say it again, David, every word." Then, after +the boy had repeated the news, his uncle slowly +shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It is a heavy responsibility for us, lad. We +have but four small towns in New Hampshire. Yet +I have confidence in the honored gentleman appointed +to lead us."</p> + +<p>Actually to withdraw from the rule of Massachusetts +required time, during which period David +never returned home without bringing some interesting +news. One day it was, "Uncle John, Portsmouth +has seventy-one men who can vote; Dover +has sixty-one; Hampton, fifty-seven; and Exeter, +twenty." At another time he announced, "There is +to be an important meeting in March, to which +every town of New Hampshire is to send three representatives +except Exeter, which sends two."</p> + +<p>On the 16th of March, the day of the General Assembly, +John Stevens sent the boy off to town for +the whole day.</p> + +<p>"Learn everything for me, David," was his parting +command. "Do not miss a thing. And David,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +he added, impressively, placing his hand on the +boy's shoulder, "Remember always that this is your +New Hampshire." Then he counted the hours for +the boy's return.</p> + +<p>When David reached the town he found three +other boys of his own age eagerly watching for a +sight of the gentlemen attending the Assembly. +Choosing an advantageous spot on the roadside, +David and his companions swung themselves to the +low, spreading branches of an oak, where they +patiently waited.</p> + +<p>"Here they come," called Sam Cutt, who had +already seen these gentlemen arrive at his father's +house.</p> + +<p>As the solemn procession of representatives from +New Hampshire's four small towns passed on their +way to the meeting-house, David slid from his +branch to the ground and in an erect position bared +his head and held his hat to his heart until they had +passed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see the sissy!" cried one boy from the tree, +pointing to David, when the riders had moved +along. David's face flushed, but with unusual self-command +he replied.</p> + +<p>"Did you not know that those men are taking +care of our province, which is yet very small, and +that this is for us all a very serious and important +meeting that they are attending?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> +<p>The surprised boys who had expected to see +David slink away, slid down from the branches, +caught with interest in what he continued to tell +them of town and even state affairs. They asked +questions which he could answer. "Now I tell you," +he added with authority, "you must remember always +that this is your New Hampshire." David's +knowledge of his country had so deeply impressed +and interested the boys that, when the General +Assembly adjourned, four hatless lads stood in respect +as the members passed, who honored them +with a salute.</p> + +<p>When, at the close of the day, David reached +home he threw off his coat and warmed his hands +by the fire exclaiming.</p> + +<p>"You should have seen the dignified gentlemen, +uncle. There were a dozen or more of them who +rode from Mr. Cutt's estate to the meeting-house. +They wore fine clothes, and swords at their sides, +and shining buckles on their shoes and knee bands. +The Rev. Mr. Moody preached a sermon to them +after he had offered a long prayer. Then the gentlemen +voted to write a letter to the General Court +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +of Massachusetts. Sam Cutt told me all about it. +He had asked his father what had happened there. +And, uncle, in this letter they thanked the Court +for the care and kindness given us while we were +under its rule. They explained that we did not seek +this change. It was only because it was the King's +wish that we were willing to accept the plan. Then +they begged the Court for the benefit of its prayers +and blessing in this separation. Sam said that it +was all very solemn. Uncle," David continued, +after a pause, "I kept feeling all day long, 'This is +my New Hampshire!'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_BOWL_OF_BROTH" id="THE_BOWL_OF_BROTH"></a>THE BOWL OF BROTH</h2> + +<p>One September day Mrs. Elizabeth Heard opened +the door of her house on the Cocheco River, in +Dover, and first looking cautiously about, a habit +bred by fear of lurking Indians, stepped out +with a bowl of hot broth, which she was about to +carry to a neighbor who was ill.</p> + +<p>The Heard house was a garrison with a protecting +wall built about it, the gate of which, Mrs. +Heard at this moment noticed had been carelessly +left open. A few months of peaceful living had +caused the younger members of the family to grow +careless of the once needed caution. Now about to +pass through this gateway the quick movement of a +shadow beyond the well, caught her eye. Bravely +approaching the spot, she discovered, crouching +there, a young Indian whose face instantly told more +of fear than of daring. Instinctively her mother-heart +felt sorry for him, and she offered him the +bowl of hot broth. He drank it eagerly and then +begged her to hide him. Without a moment's hesitation, +she led him to the garret of her house and +there in a corner concealed him under a pile of +blankets. It was fortunate for her scheme that her +family of ten, five boys and five girls, was off on a +fishing trip.</p> + +<p>Later, on their return, they brought the news of +a large capture of Indians made in the town that +day. Mrs. Heard said nothing of the one then hidden +under their own roof.</p> + +<p>After the children had been tucked into bed, +and she had made the rounds of the rooms to be +sure that all were sleeping, she crept to the garret +and signaled to the Indian that his moment of escape +had come. Noiselessly and swiftly he made +his way out.</p> + +<p>Some thirteen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> years passed, and the children of +the Heard family were well grown. One June day +in 1689, Mrs. Heard, three of her sons, a daughter +and some friends, had taken a river trip to Portsmouth +and were returning by night. As they approached +Dover, where their home still stood, they +heard many unusual sounds.</p> + +<p>"I fear the Indians may be in the town, Benjamin," +remarked Mrs. Heard to her oldest son, with +some alarm.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," replied Benjamin, "we had better go +right to the Waldron's garrison, since it is so near. +I see lights there."</p> + +<p>The party, filled with fear, hastened to the house +suggested and knocked at the outer gate.</p> + +<p>"Let us in!" they pleaded. No answer, however, +came from the home within. Benjamin then +climbed the wall and looked over the top. To his +horror, he saw an Indian, armed with a gun, standing +in the open doorway of the house. Benjamin +had not been seen, and the confusion within had +drowned the cries outside. Jumping down, he +started his party with utmost speed to their own +garrison house. They had not gone far, before, to +his dismay, he realized that his mother was not with +them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i118.jpg"> +<img src="images/i118-th.jpg" width="400" height="486" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>He returned to the scene of their peril to find his +mother, exhausted by fright, still at the gate. She +was lying there unable to move.</p> + +<p>"Go," she implored him in a whisper, "and help +the others to safety! I will come as soon as my +strength returns." At that moment a cry of fear +from the others, and his mother's last urgent appeal +drove Benjamin to their rescue while his brave +mother was left to her fate.</p> + +<p>Recovering a little, Mrs. Heard crept to some protecting +bushes where she lay until daylight, when +the gate opened, and an Indian with a pistol approached +her. He paused and looked at her very +hard. Silently he left but returned immediately, +for another keen look. This time, his grim savage +face still unmoved, he grunted—</p> + +<p>"Good squaw kept Indian boy safe! Indian no +forget!" Then he ran yelling to the house, with +some word for his friends who seemed to be there +in numbers.</p> + +<p>Soon after the Waldron house burst into flames. +Not until the house had burned to the ground, and +the Indians had gone, could Mrs. Heard gather +strength enough to move. She feared the same sad +end for her own home, but, to her surprise, she found +it standing unharmed. Surely she had received her +blessing for the bowl of broth and aid to the Indian +lad, for her family and the friends, who had succeeded +in reaching the house, reported that they had +been free from attack through the horrors of that +night, which were long remembered by the people +of Dover.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THOMAS_TOOGOOD_OUTWITS_AN_INDIAN" id="THOMAS_TOOGOOD_OUTWITS_AN_INDIAN"></a>THOMAS TOOGOOD OUTWITS AN INDIAN</h2> + +<h3>An Incident of 1690.</h3> + +<p>"There, you clumsy thing, you've stepped in the +cat's saucer and spilled the milk. Be gone from +here," and the crabbed old aunt, who kept house +for the Toogoods, switched her broom after Tom as +he moved good-naturedly out the back door.</p> + +<p>Thomas Toogood was overgrown, and awkward, +and seemed always to be doing the wrong thing. +He now sauntered out to the shed, where his father +was feeding the cows and his sister tossing grain to +the hens.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said his father, pointing to a gun in the +corner, "I traded some corn for a gun for you, in +Dover yesterday. They say that wild ducks are +now found on the Cocheco. Thought you might like +to try for them."</p> + +<p>Tom picked up the gun, looked it over, and said, +"All right," but the look of pleasure on his face told +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +that it was the first gun he had ever owned.</p> + +<p>"Now that you have a gun," spoke up his sister +joyfully, "you can take me to the quilting party in +Dover, next week. All our friends are to be there."</p> + +<p>Tom had reasons of his own for wishing to attend +that gathering, but he was especially pleased +to be considered manly enough to play the part of +escort. Though Dover was but a few miles away, +it was never safe to take even that trip without a +gun for protection.</p> + +<p>With his father's suggestion of ducks in mind, +Thomas picked up his new gun and whistled his way +along the path to the river, where he kept his canoe. +As he pushed his bark into the stream, he thought +that he might now appease his aunt's anger by a +brace of fine ducks for dinner.</p> + +<p>Two hours later poor Tom, dripping wet, with +one small bird in his hand, faced the assembled family +in the home kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Where is your gun?" asked his father immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>.</p> + +<p>"At the bottom of the river," replied the boy. "I +was reaching for my duck, and the canoe upset."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, you'd upset a sailing vessel if you +stepped on it!" came from his sister. "Now you +can't take me to the quilting party. It is just too +bad!"</p> + +<p>"You go over to neighbor Roger's and chop his +wood," ordered Tom's father with disgust in his +tone. "I told him one of us would do it, for he is +bad in his limbs."</p> + +<p>After changing his clothes, Tom started off to the +Roger's home, a good two miles through the woods. +The family attitude had dampened his usual good +spirits, and his sister's words had stung. An +afternoon's work of wood splitting brought cheer, +at least to the forlorn neighbors, and Tom started +home again whistling.</p> + +<p>It was a bad habit, in those days, to make one's +presence known in the woods, and in this case Tom's +whistling proved most serious, for suddenly, he realized +that three dusky figures were creeping up the +hill slope behind him. Quick as could be, he bounded +up the crest of the hill and over the other side; +but quite as quickly came one of the three Indians in +hot pursuit. The other two, confident of their +companion's speed, waited below for him to return +with his prisoner.</p> + +<p>Tom was too heavy to run far, and soon the Indian +had him in his ugly clutch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Name?" asked the Indian, taking Tom by the +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Thomas Toogood," was the boy's frightened +reply.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" grunted the Indian. Then, appreciating +Tom's clumsiness, the Indian loosened his grasp for +a moment to straighten some cords with which to +bind his captive. As the red man stooped with gun +under his arm, for an instant he turned his back. +Tom, for once in his life not slow, in a flash +seized the gun and aimed it at the Indian.</p> + +<p>"You shout for help, and I'll shoot," he cried, +backing away, and then with more dexterity than +hitherto seemed possible, Tom continued to back +with gun still pointed at the Indian, who muttered, +"Tom no good, no good!"</p> + +<p>Once out of momentary danger, before the Indian +could signal to the others, Tom had plunged into +the thicket and taken a short cut home. He was +again in possession of a gun, and he had met an +adventure which must command the respect of the +family and prove to his sister his worth as an escort.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_ESCAPE" id="THE_ESCAPE"></a>THE ESCAPE</h2> + +<p>"This, my little Dick, is a fine holiday for us," +exclaimed Mrs. Waldron as she lifted her baby +from his hooded crib. "Your father has promised +an outing, and you shall go with us to the farm far +up the river. Some day, my little boy, you shall +gather the strawberries there yourself, and play in +the hay, and hunt for eggs."</p> + +<p>As she tossed her baby while she chatted, he +seemed to be caught in mid-air by the tall soldierly +gentleman who had entered. After a moment of +play, Mrs. Waldron turned soberly to her husband.</p> + +<p>"Now, Richard, will you use every argument +possible to persuade Madam Ursula Cutt to return +with us to Portsmouth? The French have so +stirred the Indians in the East that it is not safe +for her to remain on that remote farm."</p> + +<p>"She has insisted," protested Col. Waldron, "that +the haying must be done first. Until the crop is +safely stored, it will be hard to start her. However, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +the weather has been warm and dry, so it may even +now be done. Our boat is ready, can you go soon?"</p> + +<p>It was a wonderful July day in 1694. Mrs. Waldron +followed her husband down the garden slope to +the sparkling river and had already passed little +Dick into his arms while she stepped into the boat. +A servant, hurrying over the arbored path, announced—</p> + +<p>"Your friends from the Manor have arrived and +are waiting to see you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Richard," came in disappointed tones from +Mrs. Waldron, "we cannot take our trip. They have +come so far we must offer them at least a day's hospitality."</p> + +<p>Regretfully they turned and cordially received +their guests. The plans for entertainment crowded +out all thought of the river trip and a day on the +farm.</p> + +<p>The farm two miles up the river belonged to +Madam Ursula Cutt. It was a busy place, while +the Waldrons were detained at home that July<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +morning. Madam Cutt was over-seeing her household +affairs as well as keeping a watchful eye on +the hay-makers at work in the field. The maid at +the washtub remarked, as her mistress stepped to +the door with basket and scissors to gather flowers.</p> + +<p>"Dover has felt the fury of the Indians. They +may yet come down the river!"</p> + +<p>"It may be well for us to move into town as soon +as the haying is done," Madam Cutt replied, and +passed on to the garden.</p> + +<p>The maid rinsed the white linen and lifting a +basketful stepped out to spread it on the grass to +dry. With the awful fear of Indians still on her +mind, she peered through the trees to the river, +half expecting to see the dreaded creatures bounding +up the bank.</p> + +<p>The clothes were spread on the green when her +piercing gaze caught a strange movement of the +water. A second look discerned the curve of a +canoe. Madam Cutt was off in the flower garden. +The hay-makers were in the fields. There was +scarcely a moment in which to find shelter. Darting +into the grape arbor, the maid then crept behind +bushes and through uncut grass to the river slope +around the bend. At last she was hidden from +the farm-site. On she sped with all haste toward +the town. There was a gap of water to be crossed. +She found a boat and pulled at the oars in the direction +of Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>While the Wa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>ldrons and their guests in the Portsmouth +home were gaily chatting at the table, cries +of "The Indians! The Indians!" were shrieked +through the hall, and the terrified girl in working +clothes rushed in exhausted.</p> + +<p>As soon as she recovered her voice, she poured +forth brokenly, "The Indians—I ran—They didn't +see me!"</p> + +<p>"But Madam Cutt, where is she?" asked Col. +Waldron.</p> + +<p>"She was in the garden! She must be killed! +There was no time! I hid in the bushes, crept over +the meadow, and ran to the point, where I found a +boat!"</p> + +<p>Col. Waldron ordered his horse and in a short +time had gathered a force and hastened to the farm. +It was all too true. The Indians had made their attack. +Madam Ursula Cutt had been killed and +robbed of her jewels. The three hay-makers had +been shot, and their scalps taken for trophies.</p> + +<p>But little Dick, who might have been there, was +safely rocked in his own cradle that night and saved +to become Secretary Waldron, an important man in +New Hampshire history.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_DEFENSE_AT_OYSTER_RIVER" id="THE_DEFENSE_AT_OYSTER_RIVER"></a>THE DEFENSE AT OYSTER RIVER</h2> + +<p>Thomas Bickford viewed with satisfaction his +house and fortress now complete. Building in 1694 +was attended with many difficulties, as John and +William, his sons, well knew, for they had helped.</p> + +<p>"Boys, you've worked well. A holiday for you +tomorrow," promised their father.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning the boys started off +on an exploring tour, for they had but recently +come to the Oyster River shores, several miles north +of Portsmouth where they had lived with their +grandmother.</p> + +<p>The river had much to interest the boys. At +night they returned home filled with excitement +over the large hollow oak they had found almost a +mile below.</p> + +<p>"It was just like a house, father. We planned +the rooms and played there all day."</p> + +<p>"And saw no Indians?" their father inquired with +some anxiety. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, on the opposite bank we saw several creeping +up the river, but we had a fine hiding place."</p> + +<p>The boys little knew that on that 17th day of +July, some two hundred Indians were stealing cautiously +up the Oyster River, on both sides, to the +Upper Settlement. Their plan was to divide into +small groups and attack each house at sunrise, the +next morning. A single shot was to be the signal.</p> + +<p>On the following day by some mistake the shot +was given before the Indians were ready.</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" exclaimed Thomas +Bickford, who from his home had heard the crack +of a gun far up the river on that early morning of +July 18th. Instantly he recalled the stealthy Indians +that the boys had seen the previous day, and +he sensed immediate danger.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" he called to his wife and boys. "Run to +the boat! I believe the Indians are afoot!"</p> + +<p>Hurrying into their clothes, they rushed to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +river and jumped into the boat. Bickford passed +them the oars.</p> + +<p>"Down the stream," he pointed, "and get around +the bend as soon as you can! The savages are up the +river!"</p> + +<p>"You are not coming?" they asked in alarm as he +remained on shore.</p> + +<p>"No, that house is not to be lost, if I can save it!"</p> + +<p>There was no time for argument. He pushed the +boat into the stream and darted back to the house, +bolting the gates of the palisade and then the door +as he entered. He grabbed his gun and placed his +bullets and powder-horn in readiness. He then +dashed upstairs quickly returning with an armful of +clothing, which he spread out upon chairs and tables. +At that moment the shots of the Indians struck the +house.</p> + +<p>A horrible fear for the safety of his family +brought a shudder to Thomas Bickford, yet, though +alone in the house, he bravely began its defense.</p> + +<p>"Steady there, shoot!" he shouted as if he had a +house full of men to command. He then pulled on +an old red soldier's coat and flashed past the window +in view of the Indians peering through the +chinks outside the palisade. With another loud +command and a remark in a different tone of voice, +Bickford tore off the coat, pulled on a fur hat, and +came again to view at the window. This he continued +to do with frequent changes of costume and +constant shooting and shouting until the Indians +lost c<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>ourage and fled for safety fearing an armed +band would soon rush out upon them.</p> + +<p>Their flight brought but a moment of relief. The +house, perhaps, was safe, but what of the family?</p> + +<p>Not until late in the day did Thomas Bickford +dare start forth in search of them. He crept along +the shore in the dusk, fearing each moment the shot +of some lurking Indian. On and on he went, yet +he found no trace of his people. At last he came +upon the hollow oak that the boys had described as +their playhouse. Here he paused, for a sound came +from within.</p> + +<p>"Can that be a hiding place of the savages?" he +asked himself in alarm and quickly turned his +course. Suddenly there came from the oak a +stifled whisper, "Father!"</p> + +<p>The family had but just escaped the sight of the +Indians that morning, and here in the hollow tree +they had crouched in fear all the long day. Now, +startled lest the sound they heard outside was the +tread of a redman, the boys peeped through a knothole +and saw their father.</p> + +<p>To find each other was joy enough for one moment. +The next brought the whisper:</p> + +<p>"Is the house saved?"</p> + +<p>After dark all crept cautiously out to the hidden +boat, and later in the shelter of their home they +listened breathlessly to the story of its wonderful +defense.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_ATTACK_AT_THE_PLAINS" id="THE_ATTACK_AT_THE_PLAINS"></a>THE ATTACK AT THE PLAINS</h2> + +<p>"Scamper! The raindrops will get there before +you!" Mrs. Jackson scattered her children like a +flock of chickens to the green to gather up the +whitened linen which had been spread to dry on that +long remembered June day of 1696.</p> + +<p>"There, Samuel, do stop that nonsense, for the +rain will soon be here!" she laughed in spite of herself, +as the round freckled face of her boy on hands +and knees appeared with a grin from beneath a +sheet.</p> + +<p>The laughter of all three children increased when +the cows and sheep, in mid-afternoon, came hurrying +to the barns, as if they, too, were afraid of a +sprinkle.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jackson gave a troubled glance skyward at +the on-coming storm and then at the trembling cattle, +which had doubtless been frightened by something +worse.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>Samuel, Betsey, and Peggy had glorious romp together +after supper, but neither father, nor mother, +nor even Uncle Jack, could be persuaded to tell them +a bedtime story, for something seemed to trouble +them all. The children went early to bed. Betsey +whispered, as they climbed to the feathers, "I +heard father say that we'd stay here one more +night. Do you suppose the Indians are coming?"</p> + +<p>However, not even the dreaded word, Indian +nor the booming of the thunder storm outside could +keep those sleepy eyes open.</p> + +<p>Downstairs the older members of the family and +several neighbors gathered about the wide fireplace, +glad of the warmth that chilly June night. With +sober faces they discussed the rumors of terrible +deeds the Indians had committed in Dover, a few +miles up the river.</p> + +<p>"Some are lurking about us," declared Mr. Jackson, +"for no storm would so frighten the cattle. 'Tis +not the first time they have come home bruised and +bleeding."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tomorrow night," added his brother, "the settlers +here at the Plains must go to the garrison house +for safety. An attack may come at any moment."</p> + +<p>Little Samuel was the first to open his eyes the +following morning, thinking it a glorious sunshine +that gave such a brilliant light outside. Suddenly +a snap and a crackle brought him to his feet. +He found the barn ablaze. A war-whoop from the +Indians then aroused the household.</p> + +<p>While father and Uncle Jack armed themselves +with such implements as they had at hand, mother +gathered the children together to go with her to the +garrison house. About to leave the house she +missed her wallet, which she had left, and ran upstairs +to get it. She came down to find the children +gone.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they have started ahead," she thought, +and hurried out.</p> + +<p>The children, left alone for a moment, frightened +and bewildered had run out the front door, for at +the back of the house were the Indians, yelling and +shrieking. Samuel had crawled into a familiar +hiding place under the cinnamon rose bushes, while +Betsey and Peggy had hidden beneath the low +branches of the lilac, so completely concealed that +they did not even see their mother come out of the +same door a moment later.</p> + +<p>Here the children remained until the barns were +smoul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>dering ashes, and the Indians had fled. Samuel +was the first to creep from his hiding-place and +dash to the side of his father, whom he saw at the +front door. Betsey and Peggy followed, calling, +"Where's mother?"</p> + +<p>"Is she not with you?" asked their surprised +father, grasping his children by the hands in his +thankfulness to find them alive, for the Indians +had left a desolated spot.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Uncle Jack from the garrison house. +He will tell us where mother is," cried Peggy hopefully. +They all hastened to meet him, only to learn +that their mother had not been seen since she left +home.</p> + +<p>"Did the Indians carry her off?" cried little Samuel, +choking back a sob.</p> + +<p>Betsey relieved that awful thought by exclaiming, +"Here comes Captain Shackford with his soldiers. +They will find her."</p> + +<p>The little group gathered about the sturdy Captain, +who had been summoned from the Bank, two +miles away. With his militia, he had reached the +Plains too late to meet the Indians. Seeing the +destruction they had caused, he inquired in which +direction they had fled and started in pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Bring back my mother!" pleaded little Samuel, +running after the captain, who nodded doubtfully.</p> + +<p>It was soon learned that four people were missing +from this little group of settlers; several were injured +and many had been killed. Nine barns and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +five dwellings had been burned.</p> + +<p>"We have a house left to us," sighed Peggy, "but +what is that without mother?"</p> + +<p>There was no time, however, for even the children +to mourn their loss; so many things were needed +from their home for those without homes, that they +were kept busy for several hours carrying pillows, +blankets, and other things of comfort to the injured +ones.</p> + +<p>Suddenly little Samuel cried, "Here comes Captain +Shackford back again," for the Captain was then +emerging from the woods across the clearing with +his militia carrying kettles, lanterns, blankets, and +other things the Indians had taken as plunder.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Betsey with joy, straining her gaze +for a moment. "Mother is with them!"</p> + +<p>The children dashed across the Plains, in wild delight +to escort their mother home. Her friends +gathered about and with the children still clinging to +her heard how the Captain had seen a feathery blue +smoke some four miles from the Plains and, approaching +it, had found that the Indians were cooking +their breakfast behind the protection of their +captives, who were tied to the trees. The soldiers +suddenly rushed upon the Indians, who escaped. +However, the plunder and, best of all, the four +prisoners were safely brought back.</p> + +<p>Since then many a bedtime story by the hearth-fire +has been told of that spot, which to this day is +known as Breakfast Hill.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_STRAWBERRY_FIELDS_OF_EXETER" id="THE_STRAWBERRY_FIELDS_OF_EXETER"></a>THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS OF EXETER</h2> + +<p>On a June afternoon in 1697, the silent forests +about the little village of Exeter felt an almost imperceptible +stir of life, for through it there stealthily +crept an Indian chief, followed by one and then +another of his frightful band. Each dressed in +tawny skins like the creatures of the wood and with +adornment of feathers from the very birds, they +seemed but a part of the forest life. No smoke of +the camp fire floated through the green boughs, +for in utmost secrecy these Indians took concealed +positions to spring, in the early morning, upon the +unguarded inhabitants of the town before they were +astir.</p> + +<p>Now it happened on that same afternoon while +the sun shone alluringly upon the open fields, Patience +Nutter dropped her wearisome patchwork +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +and looked out of the window. A speck of red in +the grass outside the house caught her attention. +Her stint was not finished by several squares, yet +the temptation of that strawberry was too great. +Laying aside her work, she stepped out and popped +the luscious red berry into her mouth. Beyond it +she found a cluster of berries ripe and juicy. Step +by step she was led into the open field fairly riotous +in its growth of nodding red strawberries. It +seemed as if she could not pick them fast enough.</p> + +<p>"Patience!" came a call from the house. The little +girl turned to see her mother in the doorway, holding +up the unfinished piece of patchwork. Reluctantly +she returned.</p> + +<p>"Mother," she cried, as she entered the house, +"will you go with me for some berries after I have +finished my sewing? The field is full of them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, child, we need some for supper. While you +are sewing, I will step into Mrs. Wiggin's, for she +will be glad to know that the berries are fully ripe."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Nutter's news of the berries was of interest +to Mrs. Wiggin and her daughters, who picked up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +their baskets to start for the field at once.</p> + +<p>Anthony Wiggin, who was sorting his papers at +his desk, shook his head with the warning:</p> + +<p>"It is a great risk you run to go into that open +field without a guard. Indians may even now be +prowling about the woods."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless the women started off for the strawberries. +Little Patience, with the strip of patchwork +dangling from her pocket, joined them so +quickly that one could almost believe some large +stitches had been taken on that last square.</p> + +<p>When Anthony Wiggin had finished his work and +each paper had been placed in its proper pigeon hole, +he closed his desk.</p> + +<p>"Hm," he muttered, glancing from the window at +the women and children in the field, "they do not +sense the danger we constantly live in, now that the +French have stirred up the Indians. I believe I will +frighten them with a shot, just as a warning."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/i140.jpg"> +<img src="images/i140-th.jpg" width="400" height="544" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>He picked up his gun from the corner where it +was kept in constant readiness and, stepping to the +door, sent a bullet over the heads of the strawberry +pickers, whizzing into the woods beyond.</p> + +<p>Baskets and berries were dropped by the pickers +in their fright and haste to get home, for their fears +had been aroused by the words of Anthony Wiggin +before they left the house. Patience, who had not +sensed a possible danger, had wandered near to +the woods where the berries were more abundant. + +Even after the sound of the gun, she lingered for +a few more strawberries.</p> + +<p>The shot acted like magic upon the inhabitants +of Exeter, who took it for an alarm of danger. +Men dropped plough or rein and seized their guns. +Women followed with powder-horns and bullets. +In less time than one could believe, an armed body +was in the village centre ready to protect their +homes.</p> + +<p>That gun-shot carried its force still farther, for +there in the woods beyond the strawberry field lay +the Indians in ambush. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are discovered," reported their leader. The +savages then bounded into the open to make their +attack, only to find themselves faced by an armed +body of men. Firing a few shots, the Indians then +made a hasty retreat. One, however, seeing Patience +running for home and yet not halfway across +the field, dashed after her, caught the child in his +arms, and followed the retreating band.</p> + +<p>"Patience! Patience!" shrieked her mother. "She +is captured! Oh, save her!" and the woman turned +imploringly to her townsmen.</p> + +<p>They started in an almost hopeless pursuit, for the +speed of an Indian in the woods is hard to cope with. +Some dropped out of the chase, but the swiftest and +more persistent men kept at it, Anthony Wiggin in +the lead.</p> + +<p>Hours of agonizing horror then passed for +Patience's mother as she pictured her own little girl +in the cruel clutches of the savages. She could feel +no possible hope of rescue.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +In the meantime the men continued a long and +wearying chase, when suddenly a distant glimpse +of an Indian was seen through the clearing. +Anthony Wiggin, still ahead, sent a shot and soon +after came upon little Patience alone in the woods.</p> + +<p>It seems the Indians had stopped to parley, and +when they renewed their flight, Patience had been +picked up by the last savage in the line. As he +roughly seized her, she caught at the patchwork +dropping from her pocket and found her needle still +in it. Her indignation had by this time risen beyond +her fear. Quickly she thrust the needle so +far into the Indian's neck that he instinctively dropped +the child to pull it out. She ran back over the +path they had followed, just as Wiggin's shot was +heard. The Indian ran for his life.</p> + +<p>As the full rising moon outlined the forest-tops to +the people of Exeter, a triumphant shout came from +the woods, and Patience, proudly shouldered by +Anthony Wiggin, was placed in her mother's arms.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Three Hundred Years Ago, by +Edith Gilman Brewster + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO *** + +***** This file should be named 20385-h.htm or 20385-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/8/20385/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Chris Curnow, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> |