Some Three Hundred Years Ago | Page 7

off for a change. On learning
what had happened and the message they carried, John allied himself to
the two and begged to continue with them.
After a rough journey, the three arrived at Plymouth and delivered the
letters, which were most carefully considered by the men of that colony.
Realizing the serious danger such a center as Merrie Mount could be to
all the settlements, it was decided to send a note of warning to Morton.
He, however, treated it with scorn and in the same spirit rejected a
second appeal. Then, with stern determination to take the man by force,
Captain Miles Standish started with his company of soldiers. He
returned with Morton, who was sent as a prisoner to England on "The
Whale," the very ship the travelers had found about to sail from the

Isles of Shoals. The various colonies shared the expense.
Roger, Nonowit, and John finally arrived home, triumphant with the
news of success. But the wrong Morton had already done the settlers
was never rectified, for the Indians had learned the value and power of
a gun and never again were content without firearms.

STRAWBERRY BANK.
"Couldn't he find one anywhere, Mother?" asked Samuel.
"Why didn't he keep on looking?" persisted Richard, as the two boys
braced themselves for the lurch of the vessel which was tossing on a
choppy sea. Mrs. Chadborn steadied herself and continued the story
they so loved.
"It was almost thirty years ago that Martin Pring sailed up the river to
which we are now going. He searched the forests on either bank for a
certain tree which he believed had the power to give people health and
happiness. He found the deserted camp fires of the Indians, but, even
though no savages disturbed his hunt, he sailed away disappointed
because he could not find a sassafras tree."
"I believe I could find one there," boasted Richard, with a secret
determination to do so, "for I know how they look."
This was in the early summer of 1631. It was a happy day when they
landed on the New England shore close by the Mason Manor House,
which had been built eight years before. Then it was the only one for
many miles. Now some eighty men and women of many trades had
come to settle about it and to build another which they would call the
Great House.
There was much to interest Samuel and Richard in the salt works and
the flakes where fish were dried, and in the fort which was built on the
hillock between the Manor-house and the ocean.

But a few days after landing, Richard, much troubled, hunted for
Samuel, whom he found fishing from the rocks.
"Sam, Mother's almost sick. Father says the voyage has tired her. He
thinks she's homesick, too. What can we do about it?"
Samuel dropped his pole and sighed, "I wish we could find a sassafras
tree."
"We will," cried Richard, jumping to his feet. "Father will let us go
with him to the place where they are working on the Great House. It is
several miles away, but we can hunt the woods there and camp with the
men until they come back."
Mr. Chadborn readily consented, not knowing what plan the boys had
in mind. But he warned them not to stray far, for, once lost, they were
at the mercy of the Indians and the wild beasts.
They made a long search always keeping within the sound of hammers.
"I'll keep the path while you examine that tree off there," they
constantly agreed, but never did they find one of the right kind. For two
days they searched diligently, glad to get back to the cornmeal cakes
and pea-porridge, and at night, quite as disappointed as Pring and
doubtless more tired, they fell upon the bed of boughs their father had
laid for them.
On the third morning Mr. Chadborn told them to keep within call, for
they were to return to the Manor that day.
Samuel thought quite seriously, while Richard lay on the ground
discouraged.
"What is it, Sam?" cried Richard, catching a gleam in his brother's eye,
and ready always to grasp at a suggestion.
"Let's make baskets out of bark from a birch tree and fill them with
these strawberries for Mother."

They went to work with much energy, surprised to find how abundantly
the berries grew along the banks, and returned to the Manor so full of
the account of that strawberry patch that their disappointment was
almost forgotten.
"Oh, Mother, see what we have found! The bank was covered with
berries, even after we had picked all these!"
"Why, boys, it is just like the home-land! Surely Captain John Smith
had described this Place well for Prince Charles to