FOREWORD

The purpose of this series of stories is to show the children, and even those who have already taken up the study of history, the home life of the colonists with whom they meet in their books. To this end every effort has been made to avoid anything savoring of romance, and to deal only with facts, so far as that is possible, while describing the daily life of those people who conquered the wilderness whether for conscience sake or for gain.

That the stories may appeal more directly to the children, they are told from the viewpoint of a child, and purport to have been related by a child. Should any criticism be made regarding the seeming neglect to mention important historical facts, the answer would be that these books are not sent out as histories,—although it is believed that they will awaken a desire to learn more of the building of the nation,—and only such incidents as would be particularly noted by a child are used.

Surely it is entertaining as well as instructive for young people to read of the toil and privations in the homes of those who came into a new world to build up a country for themselves, and such homely facts are not to be found in the real histories of our land.

JAMES OTIS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTERPAGE
WHERE I WAS BORN[9]
ALONE IN HOLLAND[11]
AN IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION[13]
I GO MY WAY[15]
THE BARGAIN[16]
SAILING FOR THE NEW WORLD[18]
A VIEW OF NEW NETHERLAND[20]
THE "BROWN MEN" OR SAVAGES[22]
SUMMONED TO THE CABIN[24]
TOYS FOR THE SAVAGES[27]
CLAIM OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY[29]
MAKING READY FOR TRADE[30]
HANS BRAUN AND KRYN GILDERSLEEVE[32]
THE GATHERING OF THE SAVAGES[34]
GOING ASHORE[36]
BUYING THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN[38]
BOATS USED BY THE SAVAGES[41]
WANDERING OVER THE ISLAND[42]
THE HOMES OF THE SAVAGES[44]
MASTER MINUIT'S HOME[46]
BEGINNING THE WORK[48]
A STRANGE KIND OF CRAFT[49]
BUILDING A FORT[52]
IN CHARGE OF THE GOODS[53]
THE VALUE OF WAMPUM[56]
BUILDINGS OF STONE[59]
THE GOVERNMENT[60]
A PROSPEROUS TOWN[61]
QUARRELSOME SLAVES[64]
A BRUTAL MURDER[67]
THE VILLAGE CALLED PLYMOUTH[68]
I GO ON A VOYAGE[70]
A LUKEWARM WELCOME[72]
TWO DAYS IN PLYMOUTH[74]
FORGING AHEAD[76]
THE BIG SHIP[78]
MASTER MINUIT'S SUCCESSOR[80]
TROUBLE WITH THE ENGLISH[82]
MASTER VAN TWILLER DISCHARGED[84]
DIRECTOR KIEFT[86]
UNJUST COMMANDS[88]
MASTER MINUIT'S RETURN[90]
THE REVENGE OF THE SAVAGES[91]
MASTER KIEFT'S WAR[93]
DIRECTOR PETRUS STUYVESANT[95]
TIME FOR SIGHT-SEEING[97]
HOW THE FORT WAS ARMED[99]
VILLAGE LAWS[101]
OTHER THINGS ABOUT TOWN[102]
A VISIT OF CEREMONY[104]
NEW AMSTERDAM BECOMES A CITY[106]
MASTER STUYVESANT MAKES ENEMIES[107]
ORDERS FROM HOLLAND[109]
MAKING READY FOR WAR[110]
AN UNEXPECTED QUESTION[112]
WITH THE FLEET[114]
DRIVING OUT THE SWEDES[116]
THE UPRISING OF THE INDIANS[118]
AN ATTACK BY THE INDIANS[120]
HASTENING BACK TO NEW AMSTERDAM[122]
COAXING THE SAVAGES[124]
INTERFERENCE WITH RELIGIOUS FREEDOM[126]
PUNISHING THE QUAKER[128]
OTHER PERSECUTIONS[130]
DULL TRADE[132]
THE CHARGE MADE BY HANS BRAUN[133]
DISMISSED BY MASTER STUYVESANT[134]
ENGLISH CLAIMS[137]
IDLE DAYS[138]
ON BROAD WAY[139]
LOOKING AFTER THE FERRY[142]
THE COMING OF THE ENGLISH[143]
A WEAK DEFENSE[145]
MASTER STUYVESANT ABSENT[146]
DISOBEYING COMMANDS[148]
SURRENDER OF THE CITY DEMANDED[149]
A THREE DAYS' TRUCE[150]
VISITORS FROM THE ENGLISH[152]
MASTER STUYVESANT'S RAGE[153]
THE END OF DUTCH RULE[155]
THE CITY OF NEW YORK[157]