Some Three Hundred Years Ago | Page 7

Edith Gilman Brewster
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 name it New England. Already I feel better, for this land is not so strange since home things grow here."
The boys found that even the sassafras could not have given her more pleasure. They went to bed that night before dark, contented with their search and anxious to return to the strawberry field.
For twenty years the land about the Great House was called Strawberry Bank. Though that was almost three hundred years ago and the name was afterward changed to Portsmouth, there are now many people in New England, and some outside, who know just what spot is meant when they hear of Strawberry Bank.

THE BOYS' CATCH.
"Get off that boat! We can't be bothered by boys on this trip!"
Edward Godfrie, who had charge of the fisheries at Mason Manor, shouted with stern authority.
It was scarcely daybreak on a May morning in 1632. Six great shallops lay at anchor off
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