Page:Maury's New Elements of Geography, 1907.djvu/48

44 LESSON XXVIII.



1. The New England States.—Now that we have glanced at the whole of our country, suppose we make a visit to the New England states.

2. Name.—One of the first things that will excite our curiosity is the name. Why are these states called New England? About three hundred years ago Captain John Smith, of England, when searching for whales, sailed to the coast of this region. He explored a part of the country, made a map of it, and called it New England after his old home, England.

3. Plymouth Colony.—In 1620, a few years after Captain Smith's visit to New England, a small band of brave men came over in a little vessel called the Mayflower. After a rough voyage they landed on the coast of Massachusetts at a place which they called Plymouth (plim'uth).

Here they made the settlement that is known as Plymouth Colony. They have been called The Pilgrim Fathers.

In the early years of the colony they endured great hardships. Sometimes they were almost starved. Still they persevered.

More settlers came. Boston and other towns were founded, and New England steadily grew in population.

4. The New England States are six in number. They are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont. Massachusetts, Connecticut (kon-net'-e-kut), and Rhode Island.

They are in the northeastern corner of the country. Can you find them on the map of the United States?



LESSON XXIX.

1. Surface.—Most of New England is hilly. Parts of it are mountainous. The country is very unlike the level land of the prairies.



The mountains belong to the Appalachian ranges. In Vermont and Massachusetts they are called the Green mountains. In New Hampshire they are called the White mountains.