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
A Proper Beginning[9]
On the Broad Ocean[11]
Making Ready for Battle[13]
The Rest of the Voyage[15]
The First View of America[17]
The Town of Salem[19]
Other Villages[21]
Visiting Salem[22]
Making Comparisons[25]
An Indian Guest and Other Visitors[27]
A Christening and a Dinner[30]
Deciding upon a Home[33]
A Sad Loss[35]
Rejoicing Turned into Mourning[36]
Thanksgiving Day in July[38]
Leaving Salem for Charlestown[39]
Our Neighbors[40]
Getting Settled[42]
The Great Sickness[44]
Moving the Town[46]
Master Graves Prohibits Swimming[48]
Anna Foster's Party[49]
The Town of Boston[51]
Guarding against Fires[53]
Our Own New Home[54]
The Fashion of the Day[56]
My Own Wardrobe[59]
Master Johnson's Death[60]
Many New Kinds of Food[61]
The Supply of Food[64]
The Sailing of the "Lyon"[66]
The Famine[67]
The Search for Food[69]
The Starvation Time[70]
A Day to Be Remembered[73]
The Coming of the "Lyon"[74]
Another Thanksgiving Day[75]
A Defense for the Town[78]
The Problem of Servants[79]
Chickatabut[80]
Building a Ship[82]
Household Conveniences[84]
How the Work is Divided[86]
Launching the Ship[88]
Master Winthrop's Mishap[90]
New Arrivals[92]
Another Famine[94]
Fine Clothing Forbidden[96]
Our First Church[97]
A Troublesome Person[100]
The Village of Merry Mount[101]
Punishing Thomas Morton[102]
Philip Ratcliff's Crime[105]
In the Pillory[107]
Stealing from the Indians[108]
The Passing of New Laws[110]
Master Pormont's School[112]
School Discipline[114]
Other Tools of Torture[116]
Difficult Lessons[118]
Other Schools[119]
Raising Flax[121]
Preparing Flax[123]
Spinning, Bleaching, and Weaving Flax[125]
What We Girls Do at Home[127]
Making Soap[129]
Soap from Bayberries[132]
Goose-picking[133]
A Change of Governors[135]
The Flight of Roger Williams[136]
Sir Harry Vane[138]
Making Sugar[140]
A "Sugaring Dinner"[143]
Training Day[146]
Shooting for a Prize[149]
Lecture Day[151]
Punishment for Evil-doers[152]
The Murder of John Oldham[154]
Savages on the War-path[156]
Pequot Indians[158]

RUTH OF BOSTON