and cheerful hearts.

For about two months—long, long months—they sailed, sailed, sailed, with nothing in sight but water, water, water, water. The weather was growing colder; there were sometimes storms, and the people were very uncomfortable. Some of them fell ill. One man died.

They were so crowded in the cabins that they suffered for want of air. They did not have water enough to keep their clothes and themselves clean. There was not room for the children to run about in their play, as they liked to do, and the long, tiresome voyage was hard for them to bear.

One day, when the ship was in mid ocean, a new baby, whom the Pilgrims called Oceanus, came. Now they had something to interest them. Doubtless they loved him instantly, liked to peep into his little red face at every chance, were glad to hold him when they might, and talked with one another about him.

Finally, late in November, the Mayflower came in sight of land. There had been more and more sickness among the Pilgrims, and the weather was stormy and cold. They were miserable on the ship, and yet on land they would be more miserable still. There were no houses, no place for them to go. What were the poor wanderers to do?

THE MAYFLOWER IN PLYMOUTH HARBOR

The Mayflower sailed as near to the shore as she could get, as we see her in this picture (1331. B. The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor), while a party of men went ashore to hunt a good landing place. They wanted to find a neighborhood where there was a spring of fresh water, plenty of trees that might be chopped down for the building of houses, and open fields where grain might be raised. It took them several weeks to find such a place.

One day, while wandering around, they came to a spot where something had been buried. Digging down, they found some maize, or Indian corn, which had been hidden there. Although they had caught fish along the shore, and had shot game in the woods, the food that they brought to America with them was fast being eaten up. So they looked upon this maize as a treasure. The finders promptly decided to carry it to the ship and pay the owner when they should find him.

It was almost Christmas before the Pilgrims decided on the spot to begin their new home, which was to be called Plymouth. The men all went to work, chopping down trees and shaping logs for a building in which all could live together until they could build more houses. When this was ready, just a few days before Christmas, they brought the women and children ashore.

In this picture (1332. Landing of the Pilgrims) one painter has shown us what kind of a day he thought it was. The skies are dark, the wind is blowing hard, and the waves are rough. The men pull the boat close to a rock, and hold her steady while the wanderers step upon it.

PLYMOUTH ROCK

This rock has ever since been called Plymouth Rock, and it has been kept and carefully guarded through all the many, many years that have passed since the Pilgrims first stepped upon it. Here is a picture of the actual rock, which we all love so well. (1333. Plymouth Rock.) So many thoughtless people broke off bits for keepsakes that it was necessary to build an iron railing around it so that it could not be reached. That has been taken away now. If you some day have a chance to visit Plymouth, you will see that a fine marble arch has been built over it.

MILES STANDISH AND HIS SOLDIERS

Now came many troubles and hardships. The weather was bitterly cold, and the Pilgrims were without comfortable homes in which to keep warm. They had not enough of the right kind of food. So many of them were sick that the second house which was put up was needed for a hospital. Then there were the Indians, of whom they stood in constant fear.

The men chose for their captain the brave Miles Standish, who had proved himself a good soldier and captain while in Holland. He drilled them so that they might be ready to fight the red men if necessary.

A friendly young Indian named Hobomok came to live with the Pilgrims. As he knew all about the Indians and the country, he was of great help to them. (1340. Miles Standish and His Soldiers.) Here you see Captain Standish and some of his soldiers following the faithful Hobomok, who is showing them the way.

As they never knew what moment the Indians would come upon them, even when they went to church the Pilgrims carried their guns. (1339. Pilgrims Going to Church.) A fine picture showing a group on the way to church, has been painted for us. You see a copy of it here. The man in the long gown and carrying a Bible, is the elder who will lead the services. Several others have their Bibles in their hands, but the men all carry guns. When they reach the meeting-house the guns will be kept close at hand. The same artist has painted another picture showing us that even when a young man takes his sweetheart to meeting, he must have his gun upon his shoulder (1337. John Alden and Priscilla), while she carries her Bible.

PILGRIMS GOING TO CHURCH

Have you noticed that in all of the pictures in which it has been possible to put a Bible, the different painters have given the Book a prominent place? Do you understand why? Because the noble Pilgrims had great love for God. They lived a life of loyal trust in him. Not only on Sundays, but every day they loved to read the Bible and pray. And so that they might pray to God and serve him as they wished they gave up kind friends and comfortable homes and risked their very lives. We should not think a picture of our Pilgrim forefathers good unless it made us think as soon as we saw it of this part of their lives.

One hundred and two Pilgrims had come to America on the Mayflower. By spring half of the little band had died. The first to go was the beautiful young wife of Captain Standish. Another and another followed. Little Oceanus and his mother both died. There were so many sick that at one time there were only seven who were able to wait upon the others. For fear that the Indians would find out how small their number was becoming, when the Pilgrims buried those who died, they would not make mounds above the graves, but smoothed them over.

In April the Mayflower set sail for England. Now was a chance for the people to go back to their old home. How many do you think wished to go? In spite of all the trials and sorrows which they had seen, in spite of the hard times that would surely come to them in this new country, not one sailed in the Mayflower except the sailors who manned the ship!

Still, the sailing of the ship made the Pilgrims think of the many loved ones across the water, and without doubt they watched with sorrowful faces and weeping eyes, as long as the Mayflower could be seen. (1334. Departure of the Mayflower.