“life of holynes and faith, In reading of God’s word and contemplation Which healped her to assurance of salvation.” This is not a very lively, graphic description of the woman most honored, perhaps, of all the pioneer women of Plymouth, but we may add, by imagination, a few sure traits of human kindliness and grace. She was typical of those women who came in _The Mayflower_ and her sister ships. Although she escaped the tragic struggles and illness of that first winter, yet she revealed the same qualities of courage, good sense, fidelity and vision which were the watchwords of that group of women in Plymouth colony. Yes,—they had vision to see their part in the sincere purpose to establish a new standard of liberty in state and church, to serve God and mankind with all their integrity and resources. As the leaders among the men were self-sacrificing and honorable in their dealings with their financiers, with the Indians and with each other, so the women were faithful and true in their homes and communal life. They took scarcely any part in the civic administration, for such responsibility did not come into the lives of seventeenth century women. They were actively interested in the educational and religious life of the colony. Their moral standards were high and inflexible; they extolled, and practised, the virtues of thrift and industry. It may be well for women in America today, who were querulous at the restrictions upon sugar and electric lights, to consider the good sense, and good cheer, with which these women of Plymouth Colony directed their thrifty households. We would not assume that they were free from the whims and foibles of womankind,—and sometimes of mankind,—of all ages. They were, doubtless, contradictory and impulsive at times; they could scold and they could gossip. We believe that they laughed sometimes, in the midst of dire want and anxiety, and we know that they prayed with sincerity and trust. They bore children gladly and they trained them “in the fear and admonition of the Lord.” They were the progenitors of thousands of fine men and women in all parts of America today who honor the _women_ as well as the _men_ of the old Plymouth Colony,—the women who faithfully performed, without any serious discontent, “that whole sweet round Of littles that large life compound.” ----- Footnote 85: I, 35, July 5, 1635. Footnote 86: Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth; W. T. Davis. Footnote 87: Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories; also in Mayflower Descendants, 1, 245. Footnote 88: Genealogy of Some Descendants of Dr. Samuel Fuller of _The Mayflower_, compiled by William Hyslop Fuller, Palmer. Footnote 89: Two Centuries of Costume in America; Alice Morse Earle; N. Y., 1903. Footnote 90: In Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth. Footnote 91: Notes to Bradford’s History, edition 1912. Footnote 92: