Josephine Pittman Scribner

“ It is the season of peace and good-will, when disaffections are forgotten and friendships are cemented more closely, and all people, as the wise men of old, come bearing gifts. The first Christmas gift, which is ours from this new land, is this,” and he held aloft in his hand a goblet of sparkling water, fresh and clear and pure. “This comes from a sweet brook that runs under a hillside and many delicate springs, and [23] is as good water as can be drunk.” He pointed silently to the water-casks. ”

“ While they were feasting, Mary Chilton slipped away. Down in a lowly bed lay a mother and a young babe, even as that other mother of old; low and mean and poor the surroundings, but holding the hope, almost divine, of a people. ”

“ Nicholas day, and you’ve promised me, Francis, you know, to keep out of mischief.”
“But will there be something?” he insisted.
“I cannot promise, Francis; we must hope and wait.”
[11] Between the beat of the oars, John Winslow called out softly, “Mary!”
She moved nearer him. “What ails you? Are you sad?”
“My heart is sore, John. I know it is wrong. I love my people and my religion is dear to me, but I wish I were back in England! Just think, John, it is the blessed Christmas week. They are making merry, all over England, in holly-decked halls, with great fires roaring up the chimneys. ”

“ He will give his strength and his faith and his youth. Give him to me a moment.”
And she bore him up to the company.
“Friends,” she said, “I bring to you another Christmas gift. I bring to you a new citizen, born in the land of the free with no heritage of oppression and cruelty.”
“A citizen! A citizen! It is an omen!” they cried, and little Peregrine [28] White was handed around and admired while the Pilgrims sang, with lusty voices, the good old English carol, “Unto us a child is born.” ”

“ Although the glory and the sunlight is hidden from us by distress, privation, and sickness, yet I prophesy that long, long years from now, when our graves are leveled and all has vanished, men will stand with bared heads upon this sacred spot. ”

“ And, Mary, I pray you do not plague your heart about that young scapegrace Billington. I cannot comprehend how such a profane wretch as his father came to be shuffled in with the company of Pilgrims. He was not of the Leyden church, ’tis sure. And that boy, it is providential that the whole ship was not blown up when he fired that fowling-piece almost within four feet of the gunpowder barrel.”
Mary shook her head. “He did not know the danger. He has been cooped up and it is hard to keep so many little boys out of mischief. With such a father, I grieve for him ”