True Stories from History and Biography

ther gave them a doleful history of the Quaker persecution, whic

men, and a pure desire to make known what they considered a revelation from Heaven. But the rulers looked upon them as plotting the downfall of all government and religion. They were banished from

erness, and left to the tender mercies of wild beasts and Indians. The children were amazed to hear, that, the more the Quakers were scourged, and imprisoned, and banished, the more did the sect increase, both by

Dyer. In the year 1660 she returned to Boston, although she knew death awaited her there; and, if Grandfather had been correctly informed, an incident had then taken place, which connects her with our story. This Mary Dyer had entered the mint-

executed?" as

" said Gr

nching his fist, "I would have fo

her," said Laurence, "it would have t

id the fact, that the poor, persecuted, wandering Quaker woman had rested in it for [pg 044] a moment. The child

it blood to be shed, under pretence of religion, in any part of his dominions. The Quakers in England told him what had been done to their brethren in Massachusetts; and he sent

ending to his pastoral duties there, he learned the language of the red men, and often went into the woods to preach to them. So earnestly did he labor for their conversion, that he has always been called th

at day were inclined to the opinion, that Providence had sent this mortality, in order to make room for the settlement of the English. But I know not why we should supp

ontaining bows and flint-headed spears and arrows; for the Indians buried the dead warrior's weapons along with him. In some spots, there were skulls and other human bones, lying unburied. In 1633, and the yea

1623, without any very evident necessity for so doing. In 1636, and the following year, there was the most dreadful war that had yet occurred between the Indians and the English. The Connecticut settlers, [pg 046] assisted by a celebrated Indian chief, named Uncas, bore the brunt of

oned hereafter, there was not much trouble with the Indians. But the colonis

efathers, who realized that an Indian possesses a mind and a heart, and an immortal soul. That single man was John Eliot. All the rest of the early settlers seemed to think t

ays never try to make Christi

ould have had [pg 047] almost as much expectation of civilizing a wild bear of the woods, and making him fit for paradise. They felt no faith in the success of any such attempts,

hem first, and then conve

ve off their idle and wandering habits, and to build houses, and cultivate the earth, as the English did. He established schools among them, and taught many of the Indians how to read. He taught them, like

that was!" cr

e Bible into the Indian tongue. It was while he was engaged in this pious work, t

d Laurence. "I have seen it in the library of the Athen?um; and the tear

g