A Pilgrim Maid: A Story of Plymouth Colony in 1620Taggart, Marion Ames
History
A Pilgrim Maid: A Story of Plymouth Colony in 1620
Taggart, Marion Ames
Massachusetts -- History -- New Plymouth, 1620-1691 -- Juvenile fiction
"Yes, Samoset know," the Indian turned upon him, understanding. "White
men ships fish far, far sunrise," he pointed eastward, and they knew
that he was telling them that English fishermen had been known to him,
whose fishing grounds lay toward the east.
"'Tis true; our men have been far east and north of here," said Myles
Standish, turning toward Stephen Hopkins, as to one who had travelled.
"Humphrey Gilbert, but many since then," nodded Mr. Hopkins.
"Big chief Squanto been home long time white men, he talk more Samoset,"
said Samoset. "Squanto come see----." He waved his hand comprehendingly
over his audience, to indicate whom Squanto intended to visit.
"Well, womenfolk, you must find something better than you give us, and
set it forth for our guest," said Stephen Hopkins. "Get out our English
beer; Captain Myles I'll undertake, will join me in foregoing our
portion to-morrow for him. And the preserved fruits; I'm certain he will
find them a novelty. And you must draw on our store of trinkets for
gifts. Lads--Giles, John, Francis--help the girls open the chest and
make selection."
Samoset betrayed no understanding of these English words, maintaining a
stolid indifference while preparations for his entertainment went on.
But he did full justice to the best that the colonists had to set before
him and accepted their subsequent gifts with a fine air of noble
condescension, as a monarch accepting tribute.
Later with pipes filled with the refreshing weed from Virginia, which
had circuitously found its way back to the New World, via England, the
Plymouth men sat down to talk to Samoset.
Limited as was his vocabulary, broken as was his speech, yet they
managed to understand much of what he told them, valuable information
relating to their Indian neighbours near by, to the state of the
country, to climate and soil, and to the people of the forests farther
north.
Samoset went away bearing his gifts, with which, penetrating his
reserve, the colonists saw that he was greatly pleased. He promised a
speedy return, and to bring to them Squanto, from whose friendship and
better knowledge of their speech and race evidently Samoset thought they
would gain much.
The younger men--Doctor Fuller, John Alden and others, needless to say
Giles, John, and Francis Billington, under the conduct of Myles
Standish--accompanied Samoset for a few miles on his return.
The sun was dropping westward, the night promising to be as warmly kind
as the day had been, and Constance slipped her hand into her father's
arm as he stood watching their important guest's departure, under his
escort's guardianship.
"A little tiny walk with me, Father dear?" she hinted. "I like to watch
the sunset redden the sands, and it is so warm and fine. Besides, I have
something most beautiful to tell you!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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