"At first, they were happy and contented in Holland. The boys and girls became men and women. The babies grew up into boys and girls. One thing grieved their parents. Their children were fast forgetting the English language. There were no English schools where they could learn their lessons.
"'This is not right,' said the older ones. 'No people could be kinder than our Dutch friends, but we do not wish our own children to grow up and forget their own country and the beautiful English language.'
"'I will tell you what we can do,' said one. 'We have heard a good deal about America. Some of our people have settled in Virginia. They write that it is a fine place and that the air is soft and pleasant all the year. Let us go to America. We will seek a home not far from Virginia.'
"The others thought these were wise words. They left their Dutch friends and went back to England. They wished to visit it once more before they bade it good-bye forever.
"Two ships were soon ready and one hundred pilgrims sailed for America in the year 1620.
"'We are like pilgrims,' they had said to each other, 'for we travel from place to place.' From that day to this they have been called by the name of the 'Pilgrims.'
"They had not sailed far before one of the ships began to leak. Its captain said: 'It is not safe to cross the ocean in such a poor boat.' So he turned back to England.
"All the Pilgrims now crowded into the second ship. It was called the 'Mayflower.'
"A long voyage was before the travelers. They were tossed about by storm and wind. Almost all of them were seasick. A hundred people in the small cabin of the Mayflower must surely have had a hard time.
"Land was sighted at last. It was their first view of their future home, America. How happy the children must have felt when they thought of running and playing on dry land once more!