Energetic in practical affairs, they were equally zealous in religious observance; for they were very regular in their church attendance. Their Sabbaths began with sundown on Saturday and lasted until sundown on Sunday. The beating of a drum on Sunday morning was the signal for the men to meet at the door of Captain Miles Standish's house, from which they marched three abreast, followed by their governor in a long robe, with the minister on his right and Miles Standish on his left.
After the men came the women, then the children, and last of all the servants. On entering the church they sat in order of rank, the old men in one part of the church, the young men in another, mothers with their little children in a third, young women in a fourth, and the boys in a fifth.
The services lasted all the morning; then, after an intermission for lunch at noon, they began again and continuing all the afternoon. But on the coldest days of winter only foot-stoves were used to heat the meeting-house. Nor was this the only discomfort the Pilgrims had in their church worship. For even these good people found it sometimes hard to remain awake during the long services. And it was the duty of the constable to see that all kept their eyes open. If this official saw a boy asleep he rapped him with the end of a wand; if he saw a woman nodding he brushed her gently with a hare's foot, which was on the other end of the wand.
The Pilgrims held their town meetings in the meeting-house, where they held their religious services. At town meetings all the men wore their hats. In voting they used corn and beans, a grain of corn meaning yes and a bean meaning no.
Such was the life of the little company of true-hearted men and women at Plymouth. Small in number as they were, they remained brave in spirit, amid surroundings which tested all their powers of endurance. For several years Miles Standish did valiant service there, and then went to live at Duxbury, where he was soon joined by some of his Pilgrim friends, among whom was John Alden. Here the good captain remained the rest of his life, except when he was needed as military leader by the colony. He died many years later,—in 1656,—leaving behind him a good name with the Pilgrims and the rest of the world.
Brewster's and Standish's Swords.
REVIEW OUTLINE
The Englishmen who settled in New England.
Puritans and Separatists.
The Separatists escape to Holland.
The Pilgrims leave Holland for America.
Difficulties in their way.
The voyage of the Mayflower.
Miles Standish made military leader.
The stout-hearted Captain Miles Standish.
The grim Pilgrim soldiers.
Captain Miles Standish heads a second exploring party.
Indian mounds; Bradford in the deer-trap.
A dangerous expedition.
A night in the woods; Indians.
A struggle for life on the storm-swept sea.
A suitable place for settlement.
Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth.
The busy builders of log-houses.
In the homes of the Pilgrims.
The suffering Pilgrims.
Samoset; Squanto; Massasoit visits the Pilgrims.
A Thanksgiving feast.
Indian enemies.
The Pilgrims at church services.
The meeting-house.
Death of Captain Miles Standish.