"The food was poor and scarce. The one big house was not made tight enough. The freezing air, snow and rain came though the many cracks. One brave Pilgrim after another was seized with fever or other illness. Before the warm days of spring came to cheer them one-half of them had died. Alas! little baby Oceanus was one of these.
"They did not sit still and think over their troubles. Everyone who was able kept at work. The men cut down trees in the forest with which to build houses and a little church. They caught fish and lobsters. They dug clams.
"The women washed and cooked and spun, and made everything as homelike as they could for their husbands and children. The men carried their muskets with them wherever they went. Miles Standish had told them:
"'We do not know when the Indians may take us by surprise. We must be always ready.'
"The very day when the Pilgrims first stepped on Plymouth Rock they saw Indians peeking at them from over the hilltop. That was all, however. In a few minutes the Red Men were out of sight. It was a long time before any of them were seen again.
"One day early in the spring the white men were having a meeting to talk over some plans. Suddenly an Indian came into their midst. He was painted in the best style of his people. He wore a bear-skin over his shoulders.
"The men hastily seized their muskets. The Indian calmly looked from one face to another. He seemed in no hurry. Then he slowly said:
"'Welcome, welcome, Englishmen!'
"How good those words sounded! All were filled with wonder and delight. They were puzzled to think where this savage had learned English words.
"'Welcome, welcome, Indian.'