Part 5 (1/2)

He looked at her with surprise.

”These are children which G.o.d sent us,” the Woman explained, telling the story in words that would not offend the children.

”How wonderful!” the man exclaimed when he had heard the tale. ”If such children like these grow here in the woods, I'll adopt a whole dozen.

Come, now, tell me your names.”

In a short time the children had become acquainted with the queer, old man who was so peculiar and yet so good.

”We are going to be playmates, my lads,” said after a while, ”and I will teach you some tricks from old England.”

”And you, young lady,” he continued, ”I suppose you are a real miss, not afraid of Indians and lions and such like.”

”Please, sir,” Agnes replied, ”there are no lions in the Colony, but if there were they would soon fall dead before my trusty musket.”

With mock dignity she took down the heavy musket and aiming it at the man, said, ”And, sir, here is how the women of America defend their honor. Hold on, sir, or you will be a dead man.” They all laughed, but Mrs. Bradley urged Agnes to put away the gun, which was a fine specimen that Mr. Bradley had especially imported from England for the girl.

”You are going to teach me a trick or two,” the old man said laughing boisterously. ”I surely must guard my tongue, or the days of my earthly pilgrimage will be cut short.”

It was a lovely evening, and never for a long time was there so much jollity In the house. However, when finally Mr. Bradley took down the large family Bible to read the evening chapter, all were serious and listened to the Word of G.o.d with devotion.

The service was closed with a hymn of praise, which Agnes accompanied on her lute.

Tears crept over the rough cheeks of the old man, and as he bade his friends good-night, he said, ”Never was the heart of John Rawlins so happy as tonight. The Lord has verily blessed my pilgrimage to America, nor is it altogether a rough country, but one where there is much piety and delight.”

CHAPTER V

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY

Mr. Bradley was glad that he had his old reliable clerk with him in America, for he was anxious to leave the colony, and establish trading posts along the Connecticut River, west of the Ma.s.sachusetts Colony.

Already the year before, in the summer of 1685, many settlers had left the Boston Colony and gone west through the unbroken wilderness to the Connecticut River. They were courageous men and women, for the journey was very tedious and dangerous, and by no means inviting.

Yet they were dissatisfied with many things in the Colony, especially with the farms allotted to them, for they were sterile and did not produce rich crops.

Every one had the pioneer spirit in full measure; for the men who had come from England, braving many dangers, would not linger helplessly in a place where they did not find what they wanted.

The country was immensely large, and opportunities welcomed them everywhere. The first adventurers, who blazed the trail, reported rich and fertile lands along the Connecticut River, with fine opportunities for fis.h.i.+ng and trading; for this river, which in the North divides the two states of Vermont and New Hamps.h.i.+re, flows through Ma.s.sachusetts and Connecticut, where it pours rich deposits of silt into the ocean.

For the early settlers the rivers were means of travel and traffic, and we need not be surprised that so many of the Boston Colony left their homes and sought out this new country.

In the course of time three settlements were made, the towns of Windsor, Whethersfield, and Hartford. The last is now a flouris.h.i.+ng city and the capital of the state of Connecticut.

As soon as John Rawlins had acquainted himself with the intricacies of Mr. Bradley's business, and knew all the prices of the various articles, and could converse somewhat in the language of the Indians, Mr. Bradley prepared for the expedition.

At first he wanted to go alone, but after a while he decided to take Fred with him, who was well acquainted with the interior of the country.

Agnes begged so long, until she, too, was permitted to go. Then Matthew hung his head and looked sorrowful, because he had to remain behind.