Part 38 (2/2)
”Mistress Brewster would have you in to see about noon-meat.”
”But thy news, poppet, quick!” exclaimed Priscilla as gathering up her gear she slowly led the way up the hill.
”Why, the governor hath resolved upon a day, or rather a week, of holiday and of thanksgiving for the mercies G.o.d hath showed us. Think of it, Pris! A whole week of feasting and holiday!”
”Hm!” dryly responded Priscilla. ”It sounds well enow, but who is to make ready this feasting?”
”Why--all of us--and chiefly you, dear wench, for none can season a delicate dish or”--
”Ay, ay, I know that song full well; but dost really think, Molly, that to do a good deal more, and a good deal harder cooking than our wont, will be so very sprightly a holiday?”
”But 't will be doing our part to make holiday for the others,” replied Mary simply.
”Now, then, if thou 'rt not at thy old tricks of shaming my selfish frowardness!” exclaimed Priscilla, and laughing they entered the house where all the women of the community were a.s.sembled in eager debate over their share in the approaching festival.
”The governor hath already ordered my man, with Dotey and Soule and Latham, to go afield to-morrow with their guns, and to spend two days in gathering game,” announced Helen Billington with an air of importance.
”And it was determined to invite King Ma.s.sasoit and his train to the feast,” eagerly added Mistress Winslow, who, with her baby Peregrine White in her arms, had run across the street to join the council.
”Methinks another party should go to the beach to dig clams,” suggested Dame Hopkins. ”For though not so toothsome as venison and birds 't is a prey more surely to be come by.”
”The elder saith the G.o.d of Jacob sendeth us the clams as he did manna to those other children of his in the desert,” added the weak sweet voice of the elder's wife. ”At morning and at night we may gather them in certainty.”
”But they hold not sweet over Sunday, that is if the day be hot,”
suggested Desire Minter ruefully.
”And Priscilla we shall look to thee for marchpanes and manchets and plum-porridge and possets and all manner of tasty cates, such as only thou canst make,” said the dame hastily, and fixing her eyes upon the girl's face as if to hinder any irreverent laughter at Desire's speech.
”All that I can do I will do blithely and steadfastly if it will pleasure you, mother,” replied Priscilla gently, as she knelt down beside the invalid and rested against the arm of that old chair which you may see to-day reverently preserved in Plymouth.
”I know thou wilt, sweetheart,” replied the dame laying her frail hand upon the girl's abundant hair. ”But I fear me our men cannot dine to-day on the promise of the coming feast.”
”Well thought on, mother. Come maids to work, to work!”
That same afternoon Squanto was dispatched to Namasket to send from thence a runner to Ma.s.sasoit inviting him, with his brother and a fitting escort, to the feast of Thanksgiving now fixed for the following Thursday; and so cordially did the great sachem respond, that about sunrise on the appointed day the laggards of the settlement were aroused by the terrific whoop and succession of unearthly shrieks with which the guests announced at once their arrival and their festive and playful condition of mind.
Three of the leaders were ready even at this hour to receive the over punctual guests: the elder, who had risen early to prepare a few brief remarks suited to the occasion; Standish, who was always afoot to fire his sunrise gun; and Bradford, who valued the quiet morning hour in which he might allow his mind to dwell upon those abstruse and profound subjects so dear to his heart, and yet never allowed to intrude upon the business of the working day. So, while Winslow with his wife's a.s.sistance did on his more festive doublet and hose, and Allerton spake bitter words to Remember who had forgotten to replace the b.u.t.ton that should hold her father's collar in place, and gentle Warren, the gruff Surgeon, and the rest made ready as they might, these three stood forth to receive Ma.s.sasoit and Quadequina, who with a dozen or so of their princ.i.p.al pnieses came forward with considerable dignity, and through Squanto and Hobomok made their compliments in truly regal style, while their followers to the number of about ninety men with a few women remained modestly in the background.
Presently when the village was well afoot, and a big fire started between the elder's house and the brook for cooking purposes, the roll of the drum announced the morning prayers, with which the Pilgrims began every day, and more especially this Feast of Thanksgiving. The Indians stood reverently around, Ma.s.sasoit explaining in low gutturals to a chieftain who had never visited Plymouth before, that the white men thus propitiated the Great Spirit, and engaged Him both to prosper them and kill their enemies.
Prayers ended, Priscilla with her attendants flew back to the fire, and presently a long table spread in the open air for the men was covered with great wooden bowls full of what a later generation named hasty-pudding, to be eaten with b.u.t.ter and treacle, for milk was not to be had for more than one year to come. Other bowls contained an excellent clam chowder with plenty of sea biscuit swimming in the savory broth, while great pieces of cold boiled beef with mustard, flanked by dishes of turnips, offered solid resistance to those who so joyfully attacked them.
Another table in the Common house offered somewhat more delicate food to the women and children, chief among it a great pewter bowl of plum-porridge with bits of toasted cracker floating upon it.
The meal was a rude one looked upon with the dainty eyes and languid appet.i.tes of to-day, but to those st.u.r.dy and heroic men and women it was a veritable feast, and at its close Quadequina with an amiable smile nodded to one of his attendants, who produced and poured upon the table something like a bushel of popped corn,--a dainty hitherto unseen and unknown by most of the Pilgrims.
<script>