Is it any wonder that Sarah and I were eager to see these gentlemenwho must have needed a baggage ship in order to bring over theirfinery. Think of people coming into the wilderness outfitted in suchextravagant fashion as that!
Surely they should be able to live comfortably, and without anxietyfor the future, because the company that sent them to build the town ofSalem, took good care that they were provided with provisions in plentyuntil they had sown and reaped.
If we of Plymouth had come so burdened with clothes and food, we shouldhave been spared many a sad day, when an empty stomach, scantilycovered with thin clothing, knew at the same time the biting of thefrost and the gnawing of hunger. It is little wonder that Sarah and Iwere eager to see these fortunate people, if for no other reason thanto learn how they carried themselves before us of Plymouth, who failedof being fine birds through absence of fine feathers.
PREPARING FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY
During one full week before the time set for us to leave home, motherand I worked from daylight until dark making ready the food, for itwas no slight task to prepare enough to fill the stomachs of all ourcompany.
It is true we would be housed and fed in Salem; but no one couldsay how the voyage might be prolonged, if the wind proved contrary,therefore did it behoove us to prepare for a long passage lest wesuffer from hunger by the way.
We made nookick enough, as father said, for the Plymouth army, and ofIndian corn meal and pumpkin bread, no less than twenty large loaves.We had a sweet pudding in a bag for each person, counting Sarah and me;Captain Standish had shot two wild ducks as his portion of the stores,and these had been roasted until they were of a most delicious brownshade, causing one's mouth to water when looking at them.
Father had cut up the salt and pickled fish until it could be stored ingourds, and John Alden caught lobsters enough to prevent our sufferingfrom hunger during at least two days.
We had two pumpkins freshly roasted, which would remain sweet a longwhile; the full half of a small cheese, a pat of butter as a luxury,and much else which I cannot well call to mind.
BEFORE SAILING FOR SALEM
The hinder part of the shallop was partly filled with dried beachgrass, that we might have a soft bed if so be we were, as it seemedlikely, still on the voyage when night came. In the forward portion ofthe vessel was a keg of John Alden's making, filled with sweet springwater, and thus, as you may see, everything had been done to ministerto our comfort.
I was half afraid Elder Brewster might force us to wait beyond the dayappointed for leaving, in order to read us more than one lesson on thesin of over-indulgence; but, fortunately, he could not spend the timeto overlook the preparations, because of building a new chimney to hishouse, the old one having burned on Saturday night.
On the evening before we sailed, many of our neighbors came in to praywith us that God would have us in His holy keeping while we wanderedso far from home, and my eyes were filled to overflowing when ElderBrewster made special mention of Sarah and me, asking that we mightnot be led from straight paths by the sight of so much worldly vanityas was likely waiting for us in that town of Salem, which had grown sosuddenly and so rapidly.
Sarah slept with me on that night, and after we were gone to bed in thekitchen, we could hardly close our eyes, so great was our excitement,as we thought of all the strange sights we were likely to see. I am ofthe belief that we had not been asleep above an hour, when mother cameto make ready the morning meal.
It was yet dark; but father had it in mind to make the start as soonas day broke, and there was much to be done before that time. We atehurriedly of the Indian corn meal pudding, and then Captain Standishand John Alden came to join us in the service of praise, when I amafraid my sin was great, for I could hardly keep my mind on the wordsof his prayer, so eager did I feel to begin the journey.
Elder Brewster has told us children again and again that we areoffending God when we allow our thoughts to stray while He is beingworshiped, and even with his warning in mind, I could not but wonderwhy father's prayer was so much longer on that morning than I ever hadknown before. Twice I heard Captain Standish cough while we were on ourknees, and I was so wicked as to feel pleased because he, like me, hadgrown impatient.
THE JOURNEY
The day had not fully dawned when we marched down to the shore wherethe shallop lay at anchor; but early though the hour was, we foundthere assembled nearly all the townspeople, come to bid us Godspeedon the dangerous journey. One would have thought we were counting totravel as far as England, to judge from the looks of sorrow on thefaces of our friends, and we did not go aboard the small vessel untilElder Brewster had prayed once more for our safe return from the placewhere temptation in so many forms awaited us.
However much time I might spend over the task, it would be impossiblefor me to describe, in such a manner that you could understand it, thepleasure which Sarah and I had during the journey. It was our firstvoyaging in so small a vessel, but we could not well have been alarmed,for the sea was as smooth as velvet, save where it was ruffled here andthere by the gentle breeze which filled the sail of the shallop.
Both my father and Captain Standish fretted because there was notwind enough to send us along at a smarter pace; but we girls were wellcontent with the slow progress, since it would be but prolonging ourpleasure.
As the day grew older, we partook of food, and each one, save him whowas at the helm, chose such position as was best suited to comfort.Father pointed out to us certain landmarks on the coast, which he saidhad been set down by Captain John Smith of Virginia when he journeyedin this region, and John Alden told of settlers who had begun to makeplantations on the shores of Massachusetts Bay.
At noon father read from the Book, while John Alden steered, andafter a season of prayer mother spoke with Captain Standish concerningfriends in Holland.
It was as if this carried the captain's mind back to the time when hehad been an officer in the Dutch army, for straightway he began tellingstories of adventure and of thrilling escapes from death, until Sarahand I were at the same time entranced and alarmed. Even though I burnedto have him continue, it was a relief when he changed the subject tospeculate upon what the future might hold for us of Plymouth.
When night came, we were yet at sea, and mother, Sarah, and I lay downon the dry beach grass in the bottom of the boat, after father hadonce more prayed that the Lord would hold us, as He does the sea, inthe hollow of His hand. We slept as sweetly as if in our own beds atPlymouth, never once awakening until Captain Standish cried out that weshould open our eyes to the glory of the sunrise.
THE ARRIVAL AT SALEM
We were then near unto the village of Salem, and there was no more thantime in which to break our fast, and join with father in thanks to Godbecause of His having saved us through the night, when the shallop wasrun in as close to land as the depth of water would permit.
Captain Standish carried each of us ashore, wading in the sea knee-deepto do so, and after we were standing dry-shod on the sand, the vesselwas pushed off at anchor, lest she should take ground when the tidewent down.
Then we went into the village, where already more than thirty houseshad been built, father and Captain Standish walking in the lead, whileJohn Alden remained by the side of mother, and we girls followed onbehind, soberly and slowly, even though our hearts were beating fastwith excitement.
Not for long were we left to our own devices. As soon as we were seenby one of the women, all our party were made welcome to Salem, and whenit was learned that we had come from Plymouth, in the hope of meetingthose whom we had known at Leyden, it was as if every person in thevillage made effort to entertain us.
SIGHT-SEEING IN SALEM
It is not for me to say ought against those who treated us so kindly;but yet I must set it down that Sarah and I were somewhat disappointed.There was no such show of luxury and vanity as we had been led toexpect, after learning how wondrously these
people had been suppliedwith clothes. The houses were no better than could be found in our ownvillage of Plymouth, and, save that there was pickled beef and pork ingreat abundance, the food was no more tempting.
The elders of our little company speedily found old friends whom theyhad parted with in Leyden; but Sarah and I, having been so young whenwe left Holland, could not be expected to remember any of the children.We wandered here and there however, being greeted by strangers as if wewere old friends, comparing all we saw with that which could be foundin Plymouth, and coming to believe that ours was the most goodly home.
BACK TO PLYMOUTH
I believe we looked forward to going back quite as eagerly as we hadto coming. Right glad were all of us, including even Captain Standish,when we said good-by to the people of Salem, and our shallop, with astrong wind astern, sailed with her bow toward Plymouth.
"It is well that we go abroad at times, if for no other reason than tolearn how dear is our own hearthstone," the captain said in a tone ofcontent, as he sat in the bottom of the boat with his back against themast, burning the Indian weed in a little stone vessel which Hobomokhad brought to him from Massasoit's village.
Then he fell to telling Sarah and me stories, tiring not until we wereonce more at home, for the return voyage was exceeding speedy.
And now, because I am just returned to the place where we landed tenyears ago, concerning which I have been trying to tell you, it is wellI should come to the end, trusting that the Lord may be as good to you,as he has been to us children of Plymouth during all these years ofhardships and sorrows.
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