II

Years of peace and prosperity existed in Providence plantations. The Colony grew. No man interfered with another man’s religion. Those in the other New England Colonies, who did not want to be forced to accept the creed of the Puritans, came to the Colony of Roger Williams.

He was their principal pastor. He was so kind, gentle, and good, that everybody respected and loved him. His people were his children. He had brought them together, and spent his time working for their good; and they looked on him as their best friend.

Charles Morris (Arranged)

JULY 6
JOHN PAUL JONES
AMERICA’S IMMORTAL SEA-FIGHTER

I have not yet begun to fight!
Paul Jones

PAUL JONES

A song unto Liberty’s brave Buccaneer,
Ever bright be the fame of the Patriot Rover.
For our rights he first fought in his “black privateer,”
And faced the proud foe, ere our sea they crossed over
In their channel and coast,
He scattered their host.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
’Twas his hand that raised
The first Flag that blazed,
And his deeds ’neath the “Pine Tree” all ocean amazed.

Ballad (Condensed)

John Paul Jones was born in Scotland, July 6, 1747

Was the first American Naval officer to receive a foreign salute for the Stars and Stripes, 1778

Won the victory over the Serapis, 1779

He died in Paris, July 18, 1792

His body was brought to America in 1905 and interred with honours at the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.

THE BOY OF THE SOLWAY

Born by the seashore of Scotland where the tide heaves up the Solway, living on a promontory surrounded by romantic scenery, and with the words of seafaring men constantly ringing in his ears, the boy, John Paul, longed to be a sailor.

He was the son of a poor gardener. But he was of that poetic romantic temperament, which always builds gorgeous structures in the future; and no boy, with a fancy like that of John Pul could be content to live the humdrum life of a gardener’s son. So he launched forth with a strong arm and resolute spirit to hew his way among his fellows.

John Paul was only twelve or fourteen years of age, when he became a sailor on board a ship bound to Virginia.

Thus early were his footsteps directed to America, by which his whole future career was shaped.

After reaching America, he took the name of Jones. He rendered his new name immortal, and the real name John Paul is sunk in that of Paul Jones.

J. T. Headley (Arranged)

DON’T TREAD ON ME!

In 1775, when our War for Independence broke out, Paul Jones commenced his brilliant career.

Some men regard him as a sort of freebooter turned Patriot—an adventurer to whom the American War was a God-send, in that it kept him from being a pirate. But nothing could be farther from the truth.

When the War broke out, he offered to serve in the Navy. Congress accepted his offer, and appointed him first lieutenant in the Alfred.

As the commander-in-chief of the squadron came on board the Alfred, Paul Jones unfurled our National Flag—the first time its folds were ever given to the breeze.

What that Flag was, strange as it may seem, no record tells us. It was not the Stars and Stripes, for they were not adopted till two years after.

The generally received opinion is, that it was a Pine Tree with a rattlesnake coiled at the roots as if about to spring, and underneath the motto: