Mary Hazelton Blanchard Wade

“ LITTLE PILGRIMS OF LONG AGO "Pop! pop! pop!" went the corn as Joe shook the popper over Uncle Sam's fire.
"It is the very evening for roasted apples and pop-corn," the old man said soon after his young friends arrived. "Joe, you run down cellar and get some of the biggest apples you can find. Lucy, dear, take these ears of corn and shell them. We will put the apples in the hot ashes and pop the corn over those lovely red coals."
"Oh, what fun!" cried Lucy. "You are always thinking of the nicest things to do. I never knew anyone like you." ”

“ She was a year younger than Lucy and copied everything the older girl said and did.
"We all like stories," added Arthur, a tall boy of ten years. He was quiet and fond of books—very different from noisy Joe, who loved him the best of all his cousins.
"Once upon a time," began Uncle Sam, "there were some people who lived in England. They were good and honest, but they could not do just as they wished. The king said everyone in the country must worship God in a certain way. That way must be the same in every church. ”

“ Everything was changed after the arrival of the cruel Spaniards.
"These white men are great and wise," the Indians had thought at first. "We must serve them and give them all we can. They wish gold. We will show them where they can find it in the earth and the beds of the rivers."
These poor savages of Porto Rico were gentle creatures. They knew little about war. When they found the Spaniards had no love for them and cared for nothing except gold, it was too late to save themselves. They were forced to wait upon their white masters. ”

“ These stars and stripes stand for the struggles for freedom, the brave deeds in the cause of right and justice, the heroism of those who have laid down their lives that their country should still live, and the brother-love that binds together all the men, women, and children who can say, "I am an American!" ”

“ Even this unpleasant picture did not seem to frighten Joe. He was a "regular boy," as his mother said.
"If you are going to have adventures, you must take good and bad things together as they come," he said.
Uncle Sam was pleased with the answer.
"That is true, my dear, but remember one thing: No one should risk his life just for the sake of adventure alone. Yet, if he is trying to do some great and useful thing, as La Salle did, and cannot help meeting dangers, he should be praised for meeting them bravely and with a stout and trusting heart." ”

“ All this time Ponce de Leon was storing away great piles of the gold the Indians brought him. He made a poor governor. The king of Spain at last sent word he should no longer rule over the island of Porto Rico.
He was now growing old. He had been sick many times. He began to think of what the Indians had told him. They said:
"Much gold can be found in the land north of us. Something better than gold can also be found there. It is a wonderful fountain. If anyone tastes of its waters he shall never be sick again but shall be young forever." ”

“ Children were born and grew up in that cold island of the north. They were carefully taught by their parents and became wise men and women. This settlement in Iceland lasted for hundreds of years.
"You children may wonder why I tell you so much about the Norsemen coming to Iceland, but it is like the first step of a ladder. Perhaps you are getting tired, though, and do not wish to hear any more to-night."
"O no, we are not a bit tired, Uncle Sam," said both Lucy and her brother.
"Well, then, if Iceland was the first step toward America, Greenland was the second one. ”

“ When he reached England there were many people ready to listen to his wonderful adventures.
On the other hand, John Smith heard many stories about the land across the great ocean—of little Virginia Dare and her lost people, and of the Red Men who lived such a free life in the forests79 of America. This was not all, however, for people were saying:
"Why not try again to settle in Virginia? It is a beautiful country. The weather is warm and pleasant there. It must be easy enough to live in such a place, if we can only get along with the Indians." ”

“ In a minute the room was filled with the laughter of the Young folks as Uncle Sam dashed right and left trying to catch them in his long arms.
"The little Pilgrims though they had a good time on Thanksgiving Day. But their parents would no let them make much noise. Dear me! If children are not allowed to make a noise, they can't be happy." Uncle Sam was talking to himself as he walked home after the party. ”

“ Wasn't Columbus's name Christopher?"
"I know that. It is all the more reason for not making the word so common. He was too great a man. But, Uncle Sam, that makes me think of what Joe was saying the other night. He and I both think Columbia is a better name for our country than America."
"Let us see about that, children. I must tell you how it all happened.
"You remember, of course, that Columbus never knew what he had discovered. He thought he had visited the shores of Asia. Some years after his first great voyage another man from his own country of Italy sailed out into the west. ”

“ They envied the free life of the Pilgrims and they thought:
"'Why should not we, too, find such a home?'
"Lord Baltimore was one of their leading men. The king was very fond of him. When he asked that Catholics might seek a home in America with him, the king was quite willing. He told Lord Baltimore they might go with him to Newfoundland. More than that! Lord Baltimore should rule over them with as much power as a king. He should make the laws and punish people who did wrong. He need not ask the king about anything he wanted to do. ”

“ After they were well settled, friends from England came to join them. This made them very happy.
"A few years afterwards, still other people came from England to live in this part of the country. Their religion was not exactly the same as that of the Pilgrims. They were called the Puritans. They said:
"'We do not wish to go out of the English church. Yet we would like to make it pure. Some things have grown up in it which we think are wrong.'
"There were many Puritans in England, but the king would not listen to them. That is why they made up their minds to come to America. ”

“ A large cross was set up in the ground and the priests gave thanks to God for bringing them all safely across the ocean.
"As they sailed up the river, they saw Indians along the shores. The Red Men did not look kindly at the strangers. They seemed ready to make war. The governor thought:
"'This will never do. We must not fight if we can help it. We must show the savages that we wish to be friends.'
"He acted so wisely that fear and anger left the hearts of the savages. They put their bows and arrows aside and began to help the newcomers. ”

“ Those who still lived looked at the gardens of the Indians with a great longing. They watched the fields of corn waving in the breeze, and when it was ripe they tried to buy the grain.
They could not get it by offering money to the Red Men, for the savages had no use for money—that is, for our kind of money. John Smith said to his people:
"I will tell you what I will do. I will take some beads and other cheap trinkets and will go up the river in a boat. I can surely get some corn if I am willing to give the trinkets in return." ”

“ Thousands of buffaloes are wandering about. The herds are so vast that in some places the earth is fairly black with them.
"Here and there, over the country, stand the villages of the Red Men. They are usually built near the shores of streams or ponds so that fresh water may be plentiful.
"There are no stores, no factories, no churches, no roads, from one shore of America to the other.
"At first, it may seem strange to you that the Indians made no roads, for they were traveling a good deal of the time. They moved their homes whenever the game became scarce where they happened to be living. ”

“ Uncle Sam stopped and looked around.
"There's nothing like being brave," he said slowly. "The Pilgrims would not even think of123 giving up, and that is why they held out against all dangers. You remember I told you that only half of them lived through that first winter. They were very careful not to let the savages know how many of them had died. They were even careful not to make mounds to mark the places where their friends were buried. They thought the Red Men might count the mounds. They would know by that how few of the settlers were left. ”

“ It was more than a hundred years since Columbus discovered America. Yet still no one dreamed of the size of this country. How surprised John Smith and his people would have been to learn that they would have to travel three thousand miles westward before they reached another ocean.
As soon as Captain Smith had a chance he sailed along the shores and up the rivers. He was looking for a way to reach the South Sea. One day he went up the James River in a boat with two of his friends. ”

“ When they asked the Indians where to find it, the savages pointed towards the south."
"I am glad Columbus wasn't a Spaniard," said Joe, who had kept still a long time for a lively boy. "I just hate the Spaniards. I believe all they care40 for is riches. It's a good thing we beat them in the last war."
"My dear child," replied Uncle Sam, "You should hate no one. We may thank the Spaniards for one thing at least. If it had not been for them, Columbus might never have been able to cross the ocean and discover America. ”

“ The wise men must be right when they tell us the earth is round."
After he went back to England he heard the great news from Spain. A man named Columbus had54 done just what Cabot thought possible. He had reached the east by sailing west.
"It is truly wonderful," said the people. It was the talk of the whole country. John Cabot was as much excited as everyone else. He asked the king of England to send him on a voyage to the newly-found country. The king thought:
"The Spaniards should not be the only ones to bring back the riches of India. We must have a share of their good fortune." ”

“ Uncle Sam spoke softly as he looked from Joe to his sister.
"The name of the church does not matter so much, so long as people seek it for the right reason," he went on. "There was a time when people were not free to choose their church. You remember the Pilgrims and the Quakers, and how much trouble they had.
"Then there were the Catholics. They could not be happy in England any more than the Pilgrims.168 They heard stories of the great land across the ocean. ”

“ Uncle Sam went on. "It ought to be the best day in the week for everybody, young and old. But, dear me! the poor little Pilgrims had to keep so still and sober from Saturday evening to Sunday evening, it must have been painful. Not a loud word must be spoken, not a laugh must be heard. ”

“ His son Sebastian lived to be a bright and lively old man and was always glad to hear of the voyages of others to far-away places.
When Uncle Sam had finished the story of John Cabot he told the children why he wished them to remember it.
"Columbus made his voyages with the help of Spain," said he. "That country claimed the right to hold the lands he discovered. That is why the people who settled in the West Indies and in almost all of South America came from Spain and spoke the Spanish language. ”

“ Sure enough, stores of corn were hidden away among the rocks. The hungry men helped themselves to the grain and made their way back to their camp. They were careful to leave presents near the caves. They would not think of stealing the corn. The Red Men must be paid for it.
A fire was soon blazing. The corn was ground and cooked and they all sat down to eat. Suddenly they heard a noise and two Indians appeared. The Red Men held up the beads and cloth that the white men had left as pay for the corn. They were as happy over their presents as children are after Santa Claus has paid them a visit. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Those who journey far from their native land and find themselves in foreign countries tell us how they are stirred and thrilled when by any chance the stars and stripes of the American flag meet their view. ”

“ When Captain John Smith had gone, one trouble after another fell upon the people of Jamestown. They came near starving to death. They were glad to eat anything which would keep them alive. Dogs, snakes, and even toads were killed for food.
Most of the men had already died when some ships came sailing into the harbor. They brought91 some more settlers, as well as food and clothing from England. The worst was now over.
Pocahontas was still the friend of the white men. She grew up to be a beautiful young woman and married an Englishman named John Rolfe. ”

“ You remember what I told you the other day about the Puritans?"
"They wished everyone else to believe just as they did," answered Joe.
"And were very strict and solemn," added Lucy.
"You must remember another thing, too. The leading men of the church made all the laws for the town. Roger Williams did not think this was right. He was a minister himself, yet he believed the church should have nothing to do with governing the town.
"Besides that, he thought, 'the King of England138 has no right to give the land in America to the people who come here. The Indians hold the land. It is theirs. ”