True Stories from History and Biography

umstances that caused the first settlement of New England. For it will soon be perceived that the sto

nt over to Holland, and lived ten or twelve years at Amsterdam and Leyden. But they feared that, if they continued there much longer, they should cease to be English, and should adopt all the manners and ideas and feelings of the Dutch. For this and other reasons, in the year 1620, they embar

hen their brethren had gone from Holland to America, they bethought themselves that they likewise might find refuge from persecution there. Several gentlemen among them purchased a tract of country on the coast of Massachusetts Bay, and obtained a charter from King Charles, which authorized them to make laws for the s

ncoln, between two and three centuries ago. In its younger days it used, probably, to stand in the hall of the earl's castle. Do not you see the coat of arms of the family o

Johnson?" i

belief was the same as theirs, he resolved that he would live and die with them. Accordingly, in the month of April, 1630, he le

visable to omit all such prattle as is not essential to the story. We have taken some pains to find out exac

ADY A

f people, who were discontented with the king's government and oppressed by the bishops, were flocking over to the new world. One of the vessels in the fleet was that same Mayflower which had carried the Puritan pilgrims to Plymouth. And now, my children, I would ha

a broad ruff around his neck and a peaked beard upon his chin. There was likewise a minister of the Gospel, whom the English bishops had forbidden to preach, but who knew that he should have liberty both to preach and pray in the forests of America. He wore a black cloak, called a Geneva cloak, and had a black velvet cap, fitting close to his head, a

iet parsonage, in a country town of England. Others had come from the universities of Oxford or Cambridge, where they had gained great fame for their learning. And here they all were, tossing upon the uncertain and dangerous sea, and bound

the Bible to his companions. And thus, with prayers and pious conversation, and frequent singing of hymns, which the breezes caught from t

h till they could provide themselves with better shelter. Many of them went to form a settlement at Charlestown. It was thought fit that the Lady Arbella should tarry in Salem for a time; she was probably received as a guest into the family of

ully of far-off England. She rises and goes to the window. There, amid patches of garden ground and cornfield, she sees the few wretched hovels of the settlers, with the still ruder wigwams and cloth tents of the

a hand. There goes a man to the sea-shore, with a spade and a bucket, to dig a mess of clams, which were a principal article of food with the first settlers. Scattered here and there are two or three dusky figures, clad in mantles of fur, with [pg 011] ornaments of bone hanging from their ears, and the feathers of wild birds in their coal black hair. They have belts of

beasts and wild men, and can toil in the heat or cold, and can keep their hearts firm against all difficulties and dangers. But she is not one of these. Her gentle and t

During her husband's absence, poor Lady Arbella felt herself growing ill, and was hardly able to stir from the great chair. Whenever John Endicott noticed her despondency, he doubtless addressed her with words [pg 012] of comfort. "Cheer

often to punish some idler or evil-doer, by ordering him to be set in the stocks or scourged at the whipping-post. Often, too, as was the custom of the times, he and Mr. Higginson, the minister of Salem, held long religious talks togeth

y Arbella, who was fading away, like a pale English flower, in the shadow of the forest! An

hollow cheek, and found how her strength was wasted, he must have known that her appointed home was in a better land. Happy for him then,-happy both for him and her,-if they remembered that there was a path to heaven, as well from this heathen wilderness as from the Christian land whence they had come. And so, in o

lara had listened attentively, and were affected by this true story of the gentle lady, who had come so far to die so soon. Grandfather had supposed that little Alice was asleep, but, towards the close of the story, happening to look down up

n so glad to get to heaven

became of Mr. Joh

nth after the death of his wife. He was buried in the very same tract of ground, where he had intended

y thing so melanc

they might be buried as near as possible to this good man's grave. And so the field became the first burial-ground in Boston. When you pass throu

he first things which the settlers had to do, when they

d of burial-grounds here, they would have [pg 015]

discover whether he knew how prof

g