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diff --git a/20385.txt b/20385.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1d831c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/20385.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3565 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + Some Three Hundred + Years Ago + + BY EDITH GILMAN BREWSTER + + + + + The W. B. Ranney Company, + Printers, + Concord, New Hampshire + Copyright 1922, by Edith Gilman Brewster + + + + +To the children of Portsmouth this book is dedicated. + + + + + DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS: + + 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. + + I hope these tales will help you to love the more our Granite State. + + Yours with much affection, + + EDITH GILMAN BREWSTER. + + + + + CONTENTS + + STORIES PERIOD + + 1 NONOWIT'S HOME 1603 + + 2 THE NEW WORLD 1605 + + 3 VISITORS FROM ENGLAND 1614 + + 4 THE SETTLEMENT 1623 + + 5 DANGER FOR THE COLONISTS 1628 + + 6 [A]STRAWBERRY BANK 1631 + + 7 THE BOYS' CATCH 1632 + + 8 THE FOREST GARDEN 1633 + + 9 THE FUR TRADE 1634 + + 10 COATS, SHIRTS, AND KETTLES 1638 + + 11 WINNICUNNET 1638 + + 12 THE CRYSTAL HILLS 1642 + + 13 THE DENMARK CATTLE 1643 + + 14 THE CUT OF THE HAIR 1649 + + 15 [A]CYNTHIA'S BEAR 1653 + + 16 THE WITCHES OF 1656 1656 + + 17 THE WOLVES OF PORTSMOUTH 1662 + + 18 THE KING'S FORT 1666 + + 19 [A]LITTLE JANE'S GENTIANS 1671 + + 20 THE CHURCH LAW 1675 + + 21 PEACE OR WARFARE 1675 + + 22 SUSANNA'S RESCUE 1675 + + 23 TO THE GARRISON HOUSE! 1675 + + 24 MY NEW HAMPSHIRE 1680 + + 25 THE BOWL OF BROTH 1689 + + 26 THOMAS TOOGOOD OUTWITS AN INDIAN 1690 + + 27 THE ESCAPE 1694 + + 28 THE DEFENSE AT OYSTER RIVER 1694 + + 29 [A]THE ATTACK AT THE PLAINS 1696 + + 30 THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS OF EXETER 1697 + + [Footnote A: Courtesy of W. A. Wilde Company] + + + + +NONOWIT'S HOME + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE NEW WORLD + + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +The father and son then crossed the narrow plank to the deck and went +below, for their business was to cook for the crew. + +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." + +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. + +It happened one day when the sea was smooth and the well-fed sailors had +little to do, that 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. + +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!" + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +By the time the French had started for their 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. + +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. + + + + +VISITORS FROM ENGLAND. + + +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. + +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. + +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 in the +rocky caves in case these proved unfriendly people. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Captain Smith continued along the coast to the point now known as Cape +Cod and then, returning, found others of his party whom he had left +fishing at the mouth of the Penobscot River. + +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. + + + + +THE SETTLEMENT + + +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. + +"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." + +"What can he do with it, father?" Roger asked. + +"They say, lad, the furs of those forests and the fish of those waters +would make a big business for England." + +A knock at the door brought the man to his feet. On opening it, he bowed +low to the gentleman waiting. + +"Come in, sir, and be seated." + +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." + +It was an astonishing thought to this carpenter, whose son was his only +companion. + +"I should have to take the boy with me," was his first remark, after some +thoughtful moments. + +"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. + +Final arrangements were completed, and in the spring of 1623, Roger and +his father sailed with the party for New England. + +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. + +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. + +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 west stretched a +salt marsh, of great value to a plantation. + +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. + +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?" + +"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." + +Roger had been eager to see an Indian, though he had hoped he might not +be alone, for he rather feared them. + +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. + +One day something did happen. At dusk Roger 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"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!" + +Much was then given from the ample supply of the settlement, and Captain +Standish returned to Plymouth well repaid for his journey. + + + + +DANGER FOR THE COLONISTS. + + +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. + +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. + +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 were +using guns in the woods. + +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. + +Edward Hilton felt it was of utmost importance to return at once with +Roger and Nonowit to the Lower Plantation. + +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. + +Worst of all, Morton had established 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 John 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +STRAWBERRY BANK. + + +"Couldn't he find one anywhere, Mother?" asked Samuel. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I believe I could find one there," boasted Richard, with a secret +determination to do so, "for I know how they look." + +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. + +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 +hillock between the Manor-house and the ocean. + +But a few days after landing, Richard, much troubled, hunted for Samuel, +whom he found fishing from the rocks. + +"Sam, Mother's almost sick. Father says the voyage has tired her. He +thinks she's homesick, too. What can we do about it?" + +Samuel dropped his pole and sighed, "I wish we could find a sassafras +tree." + +"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." + +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. + +They made a long search always keeping within the sound of hammers. + +"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. + +On the third morning Mr. Chadborn told them to keep within call, for they +were to return to the Manor that day. + +Samuel thought quite seriously, while Richard lay on the ground +discouraged. + +"What is it, Sam?" cried Richard, catching a gleam in his brother's eye, +and ready always to grasp at a suggestion. + +"Let's make baskets out of bark from a birch tree and fill them with +these strawberries for Mother." + +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. + +"Oh, Mother, see what we have found! The bank was covered with berries, +even after we had picked all these!" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + + + + +THE BOYS' CATCH. + + +"Get off that boat! We can't be bothered by boys on this trip!" + +Edward Godfrie, who had charge of the fisheries at Mason Manor, shouted +with stern authority. + +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. + +Godfrie's own boy, Hugh, and James Williams, regretfully climbed ashore. + +"Leave that seine behind!" was the next order to the boatmen. The stretch +of net was pitched out upon the rocks. + +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. + +"To feed eighty people every day," grumbled Godfrie, "and keep a cargo on +hand, can't be done even in these waters." + +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 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. + +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. + +"Get away from there, boys," he shouted, as they appeared. "A big catch +comes in tonight, and we need every grain!" + +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. + +"There are two skiffs left," suggested Hugh. "Let's go fishing for +ourselves!" + +"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." + +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 +they were stout, strong fellows for their years. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This catch made up for the loss in the day's fishing. Men and boys set to +work in the moonlight to clean the fish. They then spread them on the +flakes for salting and drying. + +Godfrie started a good cargo to the English markets, and each of the four +boys carried the title of Captain for weeks to come. + + + + +THE FOREST GARDEN. + + +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!" + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +The home people were too much occupied with their own interests to give +attention to Rebecca's play-time. The Newichewannock 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. + +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. + +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. + +Rebecca ran off for awhile that afternoon to inspect her garden, which +was now filled with a surprising growth of ripening corn. + +"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." + +Quite elated over her splendid crop, she hastened back to the house. She +was surprised to find the gate of the palisade open and still more +astonished to see a tall figure in the kitchen. + +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. + +"He has come for food, dearie, but I cannot make him understand that we +have nothing." + +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. + +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. + +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 +whistle 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. + +Soon after these events a grist-mill was established at Newichewannock, +and gardens became a matter of more careful consideration. + + + + +THE FUR TRADE + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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 settlers acted as tradesmen, happy in +the relief which this vessel had brought them. + +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. + +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. + +"Captain Neal," she cried, before she had fairly reached him. "How many +of these pappoose coats will you trade for this beaver?" + +"You may have all for such a skin as that," he exclaimed as he stroked +the soft fur. + +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. + + + + +COATS, SHIRTS, AND KETTLES. + + +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. + +Little Thomas, quite as round as the small iron kettle which he carried +under his plump arm, trudged up the plank to the deck. + +"Mother, see what Tom has!" exclaimed Susan with some disgust. + +"Never mind, child," came the tired reply. "That kettle was forgotten in +packing, and, if it pleases him, do let him keep it." + +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. + +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. + +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 Joseph built a wigwam +pointed at the top like those of the Squamscot Indians who camped along +the river. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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 picked up the sewing and told her to run and play again. + +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. + +"We've found an Indian boy, a real one, Susan, lying on the ground as if +he were sick." + +"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. + +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 exhausted for +want of food. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +WINNICUNNET. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"When it is old enough to be sheared," she explained, "I shall help to do +that myself. Then my 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 failure to reach the top +some day. + +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. + +"And the sheep came from the woods, not the marsh," she added after her +first word of surprise. + +"Come, Chewannick, we must find my lamb!" + +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. + +"It is my precious, black woolly lamb!" cried Elizabeth, frantically. "It +is in the thorn bushes!" + +Farther still they pushed into the woods, hardly noticing how dark the +shadows were growing. The cry seemed close at hand. + +"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. + +"Help, Chewannick, pull hard!" + +Great tufts of black wool were left on the bush, but the frightened +little creature was freed at last. + +The woods seemed very dark by that time, as they half pulled, half +carried the lamb homeward. 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. + +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. + + + + +THE CRYSTAL HILLS. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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]"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." + +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. + +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. + +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]"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 after 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. + +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. + +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]"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. + +[Footnote A: Quoted from Jeremy Belknap's History of New Hampshire, +Chapter I.] + + + + +THE DENMARK CATTLE. + + +The thread dropped from the spinning wheel as Elizabeth earnestly leaned +forward in the firelight, that late afternoon of May in 1643. + +"Uncle Richard, is there any school for boys--" + +"Sh! here comes your father!" whispered her uncle. + +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. + +"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--" + +"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?" + +Norton continued his conversation, quite ignoring his son, who +respectfully awaited his father's reply. + +"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--" + +"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." + +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. + +"May I go too, father?" she cried. + +He gave his consent absent-mindedly and then turned to the subject in +question. + +Meantime the girl and boy chased off together. + +"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. + +"Is this the ford?" the stranger called. + +Jacob at once saw he had mistaken a cow-path for a trail. + +"Back, quick!" cried the frightened children. "You cannot cross there!" + +The horse, about to plunge again, turned suddenly, while the children +shouted the direction to the ford, much farther up the stream. + +The last cow had by that time appeared. Driving the six 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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +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. + +Norton, standing at the door while the rider waited, read the word and +exclaimed-- + +"So we're to shift for ourselves! The owners of the Mason property can no +longer be responsible for their New Hampshire estate." + +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 claimed the land they lived upon; some the creatures they +cared for; but the most daring of all was the plan of Francis Norton. + +Jacob heard it first and hurried the astonishing news to Elizabeth, whom +he found at the well. + +"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!" + +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. + + + + +THE CUT OF THE HAIR. + + +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. + +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. + +"The Court can make a man do anything!" remarked Jonathan. Thomas seemed +to doubt it. + +"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." + +"Hush, here comes Mr. Williams now! Who is that with him?" + +"That," replied Jonathan, "is Ambrose Gibbons. They are both +magistrates." + +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." + +The boys were alert to find out what the evil might be. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 his big chair +and soon dropped to sleep. + +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. + +"His hair is too long," she thought. "Jonathan says it is not right to +wear long hair." + +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. + +It was dark when her mother returned and passed her sleeping husband to +put Mary to bed. + +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. + +It read as follows: + +[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 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." + +[Footnote A: Adams, Annals of Portsmouth. Page 34.] + + + + +CYNTHIA'S BEAR + + +"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. + +"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'." + +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. + +Uncle Samuel pulled the two children to his knees, offering instead a +true bear story. + +"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. + +"'Just what I want for a pasty,' she told them, 'and so well picked that +I will make you a gingerbread man for dinner.' + +"Their eyes shone like the berries, as their mother pulled the molasses +pitcher from the shelf. But there was not a drop in it. + +"'Our very last,' she reported, as she looked into the keg in the corner. + +"The shine went out of their eyes until Cynthia suggested that she 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. + +"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!' + +"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. + +"The bear was very near by that time and ran for the molasses. + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"I tore ahead with my musket. We made the turn as the bear was bounding +away from the well-licked pitcher after the children. + +"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." + + + + +THE WITCHES OF 1656. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +[Illustration] + +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. + +When the fish were well cooked, Mrs. Puddington laid one temptingly on a +hot pewter plate and covered it. + +"There, Hannah, take this to Goodwife Trimmings. It may tempt her +appetite. Yes, little Jacob may go with you." + +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. + +"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." + +He caught her meaning, though he did not fully understand, and manfully +gulped back his sobs. + +Another fear came. Hannah had seen the old witch stretch out her hand and +stroke the soft, yellow fur of Old Buff. + +"She might have bewitched him," thought the little girl, "but I'll tell +no one." + +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. + +After sunset Goodwife Evans, frightened by the reports, came to the +Puddington house and begged that she might stay for the night. + +"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. + +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. + +"We'll put an end to these witch-cats," he declared, and stalked out. + +Hannah held her breath in fear. She heard no shot, however. At last her +father came in and looked over his gun. + +"It wouldn't work," he muttered. + +"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." + +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. + +That day it was discovered that much of the homemade soap stored under +the pitch of the roof had disappeared. + +"Cat-witchery it surely is!" declared Mrs. Puddington. + +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. + +"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!" + +She pushed the cat under the bedclothes and in her happy relief dropped +to sleep. + +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. + +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. + + + + +THE WOLVES OF PORTSMOUTH. + + +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. + +As he mounted the horse, his wife opened the door. + +"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?" + +"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. + +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: + +"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, we ought to be able to make some headway against them." + +The meeting was then called to order, and that very question was placed +under formal discussion. + +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. + +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. + +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 jumped 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. + +"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." + +The two men parted and later Hinkson rode into his own dooryard, where +he found an anxious little wife. + +She begged for the pine syrup, for her little Anthony was choking with +croup. One glance at the 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." + + + + +THE KING'S FORT. + + +Little Peter White was so filled with the pride he took in his older +brother Thomas that he had no thought for himself. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 boys' father +returned from the meeting. + +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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"That will mean another pound for Harvard," replied practical Tom as he +bent again to the rake. + +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. + +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." + +"You'll be my right-hand man," declared his father with a gentle slap on +the little fellow's back. + +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. + +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. + +"They must have it," thought Peter and stepped into the one remaining +boat, which he pushed into the stream. + +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. + +Dinner time had come for the men at the fort, but Tom and his father, +with nothing to eat, stood on the rocks, watching the ocean toss in this +yet rainless storm. + +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." + +Thankfully they carried him safe to shore, where together they ate with +relish the rescued dinner. + +Early that afternoon Peter's father took him home to relieve the anxiety +he knew the boy's mother must be feeling. + +When Tom returned that night with his newly-earned shillings, he passed +half of them over to Peter. + +"There, Pete, put them aside for college. Harvard will want such a man as +you will make." + +Peter went to bed that night, happy with the new thought that he, +himself, might some day go to college. + + + + +LITTLE JANE'S GENTIANS. + + +"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." + +Benjamin was about to follow, when his father reined in his horse at the +gate and called, "Come, Ben, we must start for home!" + +"Never mind," whispered little Jane, "I'll bring one to you at the +meeting-house on the Sabbath." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 occasional nod to the cage outside. + +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. + +"Little Jane is lost. There are several searching parties out!" + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"She might have taken that by mistake," he thought. + +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!" + +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 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!" + + + + +THE CHURCH LAW + + +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. + +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-- + +"I am going to Boston!" + +"Father!" exclaimed Tom. + +"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. + +[Illustration] + +"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." + +As it was February, Jonathan Fryer decided to travel on horseback by an +inland route to Boston. + +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. + +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. + +"Father, you must go to bed, for if your head should tip like that in the +meeting-house, the cage would await you." + +It had been decreed that the old wooden cage before the church door +should punish--"those who use tobacco or sleep during public exercise." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Tything-man Eliot was the spokesman as the four stood to administer +justice. + +"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." + +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!" + +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. + +"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 tything men cannot be +overlooked. There was need for further council." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + + + + +PEACE OR WARFARE + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +Robert was alert for a new story, though his interest was now mingled +with a sense of fear. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"'Tis an Indian, grandfather," shrieked the boy. + +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. + +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. + + + + +SUSANNA'S RESCUE + +A Tale of 1675 + + +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. + +"Look, Susanna! Here comes Mistress Lear, and she has brought Henry with +her," he cried excitedly. + +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. + +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. + +"And may we keep her for days, Jacob?" Mrs. Tozer asked anxiously of Mr. +Lear, who was then pushing off his boat. + +"Just an over-night trip," he called. "I'm on my way to Dover and will +come around for her on my return." + +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. + +"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." + +By this time Susanna had caught the winks and nods of Toby and Henry, who +were tired of sitting primly on the settle. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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!" + +The frightful feathered savages were gliding straight toward the point. + +The two children made a mad dash for the house. Susanna, ahead, broke +into the peaceful group gathered there. + +"Indians! Run! Out the back door, over the fence to the Knight's house! +Don't let them see you!" + +Susanna slammed the front door and threw her full weight against it, +while 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. + +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. + +When Henry Lear returned to Portsmouth, he told a tale of Newichewannock +life wilder than the stories of his grandmother's day. + + + + +TO THE GARRISON HOUSE! + + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Get your heavy coat, Joseph! Betty, pack the bread into that basket and +ask your father to bring down our heaviest blankets!" + +"I hope nothing will happen to this nice home of ours," sighed Betty as +her father on their departure locked the door. + +"Nor to our corn either," he added, with a thought of the winter's food. + +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. + +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!" + +A small glow of fire, seen in the distance, soon brightened the whole sky +with flames. + +"Work of the Indians!" muttered Joe. When 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!" + +"No, little Betty, I'll see that they do not," he declared with +determination. + +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. + +Just at dusk Joseph, with one companion, took his position in the woods +near his own home. + +"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. + +Joseph and his friend had 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Word of the efficient guard at Dover was reported by the escaping +Indians, and no further attack was made at that time. + + + + +MY NEW HAMPSHIRE + + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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." + +"Perhaps," added David, "Mr. Cutt, the merchant, will have use for some." + +Together the man and the boy, before the open door, planned for the +coming days until the twilight had settled into night. + +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 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: + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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!" + +John Stevens leaned forward, as if to grasp the thought. + +"Say it again, David, every word." Then, after the boy had repeated the +news, his uncle slowly shook his head. + +"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." + +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." + +On the 16th of March, the day of the General Assembly, John Stevens sent +the boy off to town for the whole day. + +"Learn everything for me, David," was his parting command. "Do not miss a +thing. And David," 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. + +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. + +"Here they come," called Sam Cutt, who had already seen these gentlemen +arrive at his father's house. + +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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +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. + +When, at the close of the day, David reached home he threw off his coat +and warmed his hands by the fire exclaiming. + +"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 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!'" + + + + +THE BOWL OF BROTH + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Some thirteen 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. + +"I fear the Indians may be in the town, Benjamin," remarked Mrs. Heard to +her oldest son, with some alarm. + +"Perhaps," replied Benjamin, "we had better go right to the Waldron's +garrison, since it is so near. I see lights there." + +The party, filled with fear, hastened to the house suggested and knocked +at the outer gate. + +"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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +"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. + +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-- + +"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. + +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. + + + + +THOMAS TOOGOOD OUTWITS AN INDIAN + +An Incident of 1690. + + +"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. + +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. + +"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." + +Tom picked up the gun, looked it over, and said, "All right," but the +look of pleasure on his face told that it was the first gun he had ever +owned. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +Two hours later poor Tom, dripping wet, with one small bird in his hand, +faced the assembled family in the home kitchen. + +"Where is your gun?" asked his father immediately. + +"At the bottom of the river," replied the boy. "I was reaching for my +duck, and the canoe upset." + +"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!" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +Tom was too heavy to run far, and soon the Indian had him in his ugly +clutch. + +"Name?" asked the Indian, taking Tom by the shoulders. + +"Thomas Toogood," was the boy's frightened reply. + +"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. + +"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!" + +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. + + + + +THE ESCAPE + + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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, the weather has been warm and dry, so it may even now be done. +Our boat is ready, can you go soon?" + +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-- + +"Your friends from the Manor have arrived and are waiting to see you." + +"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." + +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. + +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 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. + +"Dover has felt the fury of the Indians. They may yet come down the +river!" + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +While the Waldrons 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. + +As soon as she recovered her voice, she poured forth brokenly, "The +Indians--I ran--They didn't see me!" + +"But Madam Cutt, where is she?" asked Col. Waldron. + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + + + + +THE DEFENSE AT OYSTER RIVER + + +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. + +"Boys, you've worked well. A holiday for you tomorrow," promised their +father. + +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. + +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. + +"It was just like a house, father. We planned the rooms and played there +all day." + +"And saw no Indians?" their father inquired with some anxiety. + +"Yes, on the opposite bank we saw several creeping up the river, but we +had a fine hiding place." + +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. + +On the following day by some mistake the shot was given before the +Indians were ready. + +"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. + +"Quick!" he called to his wife and boys. "Run to the boat! I believe the +Indians are afoot!" + +Hurrying into their clothes, they rushed to the river and jumped into the +boat. Bickford passed them the oars. + +"Down the stream," he pointed, "and get around the bend as soon as you +can! The savages are up the river!" + +"You are not coming?" they asked in alarm as he remained on shore. + +"No, that house is not to be lost, if I can save it!" + +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. + +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. + +"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 courage +and fled for safety fearing an armed band would soon rush out upon them. + +Their flight brought but a moment of relief. The house, perhaps, was +safe, but what of the family? + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +To find each other was joy enough for one moment. The next brought the +whisper: + +"Is the house saved?" + +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. + + + + +THE ATTACK AT THE PLAINS + + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +However, not even the dreaded word, Indian nor the booming of the thunder +storm outside could keep those sleepy eyes open. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Perhaps they have started ahead," she thought, and hurried out. + +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. + +Here the children remained until the barns were smouldering 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?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"Did the Indians carry her off?" cried little Samuel, choking back a sob. + +Betsey relieved that awful thought by exclaiming, "Here comes Captain +Shackford with his soldiers. They will find her." + +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. + +"Bring back my mother!" pleaded little Samuel, running after the captain, +who nodded doubtfully. + +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 five dwellings had been burned. + +"We have a house left to us," sighed Peggy, "but what is that without +mother?" + +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. + +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. + +"Oh!" cried Betsey with joy, straining her gaze for a moment. "Mother is +with them!" + +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. + +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. + + + + +THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS OF EXETER + + +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. + +Now it happened on that same afternoon while the sun shone alluringly +upon the open fields, Patience Nutter dropped her wearisome patchwork 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +Mrs. Nutter's news of the berries was of interest to Mrs. Wiggin and her +daughters, who picked up their baskets to start for the field at once. + +Anthony Wiggin, who was sorting his papers at his desk, shook his head +with the warning: + +"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." + +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. + +When Anthony Wiggin had finished his work and each paper had been placed +in its proper pigeon hole, he closed his desk. + +"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." + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +That gun-shot carried its force still farther, for there in the woods +beyond the strawberry field lay the Indians in ambush. + +"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. + +"Patience! Patience!" shrieked her mother. "She is captured! Oh, save +her!" and the woman turned imploringly to her townsmen. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + + +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.txt or 20385.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. 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