Page:The Galaxy, Volume 5.djvu/803

1868.] "Imprimis"—[a single pagan word, whose sonorous dignity their simplicity could not resist]—"that wee, by the Grace of God, sett downe on the tract of land lieing betwene the brook where the house was until itt comes unto that river that rvmneth in at the head of the meadow.

"That we endeavour to keep and maintaine Christian love and sivill honesty.

"That we faithfully counsell what may be of infirmity in any one of us.

"Plainly to deal one with anuther in Christian love.

"That all and every one of us doe pay untoe the minister according to his meade.

"That provision be endeavoured for education of children, and then encouragement be given untoe any that shall take pains.

"That we give new encouragement to Mr. Brewster each other week, to give us a word of exhortation, and when we are settled we meet togeather every other weeke, one houre, to talk of the best things.

"It is ffurder agreed that we will mete togeather on Sabath days to celebrat the worshp and servic of God in the best maner we can atain untoe.

"That we doe pay our minester by rats."

"(You must take these men according to the spirit, not the letter of their agreement. Otherwise one would form a very erroneous opinion of the dignity of vermin two hundred years ago. In the early records, time and again, is noticed the election of two honorable men to 'calculat the towne rats for all towne rats that are not mad up untoe this year and to collecte the said rats.')

"That one day every spring be employed for the destroieing rattlesnakes.

"That some every Lord's Day stay at whome for safety of our wives and children."

"There is no remarkable wisdom displayed in this agreement, I confess. They showed their wisdom, however, not if making it, but in keeping it; and, in accordance with its simple provisions, they lived happily together, 'plainly dealing one with another in Christian love.' Moreover, they lived long together. Why, to-day a man of seventy is only in the prime of life in these parts. In two hundred years, but two of the Tompkinses have died before they had reached fourscore. 'Endeavoring to keep and maintain Christian love and sivill honesty,' they lived peaceful lives, and died ripe in years and rich in homely virtues.

"Of the two who died before they had attained the full number of their years, one was Sarah—the wife of the Henry Tompkins who originally settled here. All that we know of her is the short story that has come down to us of her death. Shortly after the settlement of the colony, she was bitten by one of those rattlesnakes, to whose destruction the colonists devoted one day each spring. It was immediately evident that she must die, and she herself was conscious of it. She was to leave four little children behind her, of whom Miriam was the oldest; and she knew that the nurture and education of the others would devolve upon this oldest child. She had but a few moments to live, for the weakness of death was on her; yet, the fear of death did not enter the heart of a Puritan woman, nor the pain of death distract a loving mother; but she called Miriam to her, and as calmly as though she were going only for a day, but as earnestly as though she spoke from heaven, said, with the strength that was left her: 'Teach them to say their prayers every night; make them tell the truth always; and, O Miriam, be patient with them, and do not strike them.'

"Do not those few words, spoken almost by inspiration, condense all the advice that can be given for the rearing of children? Children brought up with