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

PAGE
Why This Story Was Written[9]
The Leaking "Speedwell"[10]
Searching for a Home[13]
After the Storm[15]
Wash Day[16]
Finding the Corn[17]
Attacked by the Savages[20]
Building Houses[22]
Miles Standish[24]
The Sick People[26]
The New Home[27]
Master White and the Wolf[29]
The Inside of the House[30]
A Chimney Without Bricks[32]
Building the Fire[33]
Master Bradford's Chimney[34]
Scarcity of Food[36]
A Timely Gift[38]
The First Savage Visitor[39]
Squanto's Story[41]
Living in the Wilderness[42]
The Friendly Indians[44]
Grinding the Corn[46]
A Visit From Massasoit[47]
Massasoit's Promise[50]
Massasoit's Visit Returned[52]
The Big House Burned[53]
The "Mayflower" Leaves Port[54]
Setting the Table[56]
What and How We Eat[58]
Table Rules[60]
When the Pilgrim Goes Abroad[62]
Making a Dugout[63]
Governor Carver's Death[65]
William Bradford Chosen Governor[67]
Farming in Plymouth[68]
Ways of Cooking Indian Corn[70]
The Wedding[72]
Making Maple Sugar[73]
Decorating the Inside of the House[74]
Trapping Wolves and Bagging Pigeons[76]
Elder Brewster[77]
The Visit to Massasoit[79]
Keeping the Sabbath Holy[80]
Making Clapboards[81]
Cooking Pumpkins[82]
A New Oven[83]
Making Spoons and Dishes[84]
The Fort and Meeting-House[86]
The Harvest Festival[89]
How to Play Stoolball[91]
On Christmas Day[93]
When the "Fortune" Arrived[94]
Possibility of Another Famine[96]
On Short Allowance[98]
A Threatening Message[99]
Pine Knots and Candles[101]
Tallow from Bushes[102]
Wicks for the Candles[103]
Dipping the Candles[105]
When James Runs Away[106]
Evil-Minded Indians[109]
Long Hours of Preaching[110]
John Alden's Tubs[112]
English Visitors[113]
Visiting the Neighbors[115]
Why More Fish Are Not Taken[116]
How Wampum is Made[118]
Ministering to Massasoit[119]
The Plot Thwarted[121]
The Captain's Indian[122]
Ballots of Corn[123]
Arrival of the "Ann"[123]
The "Little James" Comes to Port[125]
The New Meeting-House[125]
The Church Service[127]
The Tithingmen[129]
Master Winslow Brings Home Cows[130]
A Real Oven[131]
Butter and Cheese[132]
The Settlement at Wessagussett[133]
The Village of Merrymount[135]
The First School[136]
Too Much Smoke[138]
School Comforts[139]
How the Children Were Punished[140]
New Villages[142]
Clothing for the Salem Company[146]
Preparing Food For the Journey[147]
Before Sailing for Salem[148]
Beginning the Journey[150]
The Arrival at Salem[153]
Sight-Seeing in Salem[154]
Back to Plymouth[155]

MARY OF PLYMOUTH