A True Hero: A Story of the Days of William Penn

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  Bristol was in those days the chief commercial city of England next toLondon. It was the centre, too, of a district where large quantities ofwoollen cloths were manufactured, which were sent forth to foreign landsby the numerous vessels which traded to its port. In a large roombelonging to one of the principal merchants in the city, a number ofpersons were collected. At the head of a long table sat William Penn,while on either side of him were several friends,--Claypole, Moore,Philip Ford, and many others. They were engaged in organising amercantile company, to which was given the name of the "Free Society ofTraders" in Pennsylvania. William Penn, the governor of the new colony,was addressing them.

  "I have secured, friends, a number of persons skilful in the manufactureof wool, who have agreed to go forth to our new colony from the valleyof Stroud. From the banks of the Rhine, also, many persons conversantwith the best modes of cultivating the vine have promised to emigrate."

  "We need not fear, then, for the success of our holy enterprise,"observed Philip Ford; "and I am ready to embark all my worldlypossessions. I have already sent out my beloved son Jonas, a youth offair promise, and what thing more precious could I stake on the successof our undertaking."

  William Penn having made all his arrangements with the new company,giving them very great facilities, returned to London. Here he madepreparation for his own departure. It was grievous to him to leave hischildren and his beloved wife. He hoped, however, in a short time tocome back and return with them to the land of his adoption. There was agreat stir in the Quaker world, for not only farmers and artisans, butmany persons of wealth and education were preparing to take part in theenterprise.

  Among the first ships which sailed after the departure of the _Amity_,and those which have before been spoken of, was one, the _Concord_, onboard which William Mead and his family, with several friends, set sailfor the New World. William Penn saw his old friend off, his prayersgoing with him, and hoping himself to follow in a short time.

  In the autumn of the year 1683, a large vessel might have been seenfloating on the waters of the Thames. She was the _Welcome_.Surrounding her were a number of boats which had brought off passengers,while her decks were loaded with bales and packages of every possibledescription, which the crew were engaged in stowing below. On the deck,also, had been built up sheds for horses and pens for sheep, as also forgoats to afford milk, and pigs and poultry in large quantities forprovision. Already nearly a hundred persons were collected on board,besides the crew. The signal was given, and the _Welcome_ got underweigh to proceed down the Thames. Once more she brought up in theDowns, off Deal. The 1st of September broke bright and clear. Herflags were flying out gaily to the breeze, her white canvas hung to theyards, when a large boat, followed by several smaller ones, came offfrom the shore, and the young and energetic preacher of the gospel, thegovernor of a vast province, the originator of the grandest scheme ofcolonisation ever yet formed, ascended the side of the _Welcome_ whichwas to bear him to the shores of the New World. Prayers ascended fromthe deck of the proud ship as her anchor was once more lifted, and sheproceeded on her voyage to the west. All seemed fair and smiling, andall that forethought and care could arrange had been provided for thepassengers. Few who saw William Penn at that moment would havesupposed, however, that he was a man of indomitable energy and courage.Downcast and sad, he gazed on the shores of the land he was leaving,which, notwithstanding his general philanthropy, contained those heloved best on earth, where all his tender affections were centred. TheIsle of Wight was soon passed. The Land's End faded in the distance,and the stout ship stood across the Atlantic. William Penn soonrecovered his energy and spirits, and the captain promised a speedy andprosperous voyage. The governor was walking the deck, talking earnestlywith his friend Pearson, a man of large mind and generous heart, whenthe captain came to them.

  "I fear, friends," he said, "that one of our passengers is not long forthis world. She has been unwell since she came on board at Deal. Herlips are blue, and dark marks cover her countenance."

  The governor and his friend instantly went below; a young girl of sometwelve years old lay on her bed in one of the close cabins.

  "I fear me much it is the small-pox," said Pearson. "Yet it would bewell if we could avoid alarming the other passengers."

  The news, however, soon spread, and, alas! so did the disease. Beforethe next day closed in, the young girl had breathed her last, and herbody was committed to the sea. By that time signs of the fearfuldisorder had appeared on four other persons. The governor, Pearson, andothers went about the ship, urging the passengers to air and fumigatetheir cabins, beseeching them also not to lose courage, and fearlesslyvisiting those who were already attacked. The sun rose, and ere it sunkagain into the ocean, death had claimed two other victims. All thistime no sign of alarm was perceptible on the countenance of thegovernor. He set a noble example to his companions, as, indeed, did hisfriend Pearson. Perseveringly they went about at all hours of the nightand day, attending to the sick, speaking words of comfort to them, andpointing to a Saviour who died to save them; and urging them to puttheir trust in Him, so that they might not fear, even should they besummoned from the world. It was a time to try all. Some who hadappeared weak and nervous before, now exhibited courage and confidencein God's protecting mercy; while others, who had seemed bold andfearless, trembled lest they should be overtaken by the fell disease.Young and old, however, were attacked alike. Day after day one of theirnumber was summoned away, and before the shores of America appeared insight, thirty-one had fallen victims to the disease. With the change ofclimate its virulence appeared to cease, and when the _Welcome_ sailedup the Delaware, all were convalescent who had escaped its ravages.

  The tall ship came to an anchor before Newcastle, and numbers of boatscame on to welcome the passengers. Loud shouts arose from the shorewhen it was known that the long-looked-for governor had arrived. He hadlived too long in the world not to be well aware of the importance ofappearing to advantage among strangers. He, accompanied by Pearson andthe principal friends who had been companions in his voyage, landed inthe ship's barge, with flags flying and all the party dressed in theirbest. He himself appeared in a plain though becoming costume, beingdistinguished among his companions by his tall and graceful figure, andthe blue silk scarf which he wore across his shoulders. It was on the27th of October, a day memorable in the annals of the colony. As hestepped on shore, old and young of his motley colonists, habited in thecostumes of their different nations, crowded forth from their quaint oldDutch and Flemish houses to the shore to meet him. Swedes and Germans--the original settlers--Dutchmen with pipe in mouth, a scattering,albeit, of Scotch everywhere to be found, and English and Welsh ingreater numbers. As the party leaving the stately ship reached theland, the crowd on shore opened, and two persons, remarkable for theirappearance, with numerous attendants, advanced to the landing-place.One was Colonel Markham, known by his soldier-like bearing, and thehandsome uniform of the British army which he still wore. Near him wasWenlock Christison, and Jonas Ford also, who took care to appear amongthe first in the group. On the other side, a tall figure, his warplumes waving in the breeze, his dress richly ornamented with feathers,his countenance marked with paints of various hue appeared. He wasTaminent, the chief of the country, accompanied by a number of hisfollowers of the tribe of Leni-Lenape. With earnest words ofcongratulation the governor was welcomed to the land of his adoption bythe chief, while Colonel Markham briefly described how far he hadcarried out his employer's wishes. He had selected a site for thegovernor's residence, on the Delaware, a few miles below the Falls ofFenton, having purchased the land from the chiefs, who claimed it astheir own. He had also laid out the grounds and commenced the building,to which he had given the name of Pennsbury. Then turning to the chief,he said:

  "And our brother will bear witness that happily no dispute has takenplace between the white men and the natives, while not a drop of b
loodof either has been shed."

  "And while Taminent and his descendants live they will pray the GreatSpirit to watch over the white men who have come to their land, and toguard them from all harm," said the chief, taking the governor's hand.