Standish of Standish | Page 9

to see that no sick or overborne
man be allowed to adventure himself on the expedition. Will that
satisfy thee, dame?"
"Right well, and you are all one with the saints we used to honor,

though we do know better now."
"'T is the most comfortable promise I've heard in many a day, dear
Mistress Standish," cried Priscilla vivaciously. "And well do I believe
that the whispers of the wives are more weighty than the shouts of the
husbands. I've never proved it myself, being but a maid; yet I have ere
now marked how the prancing of the noblest steed is full deftly
checked by a silken rein."
"It were well if a rein were put upon thy tongue, girl," severely
interposed a comely matron sitting near. "Thou 'rt over forward for thy
years, Priscilla. Shamefastness and meekness become a maid, and when
thou knowest more thou 'lt say less."
"Thanks, Mistress White, I will try to profit by your discourse," replied
Priscilla demurely; but her tone did not satisfy the matron, who sharply
rejoined,--
"See that thou do, Mistress Malapert, or I'll ask the elder to deal with
thee. Here he is now."
And, in fact, Elder Brewster, who had caught the tone of Mistress
White's voice, drew near to the group, saying pleasantly, "A goodly
sight yonder, is it not? And how well our strong fellows set their
shoulders to the toil! What shall we call the pinnace when she is
launched, Mistress White?"
"Methinks Discretion would be a good name, Elder," replied the lady
with a glance at the two girls. "Surely, we have room for it in our
company."
"Truth, my daughter, and yet to my mind Charity is a sweeter name,
and one more likely to float us over troubled waters." And the elder's
pleasant smile disarmed his words of all sting. "Priscilla," continued he,
turning to the girl, "I hear that thy father keeps his bed to-day, and thy
mother is but poorly."
"Indeed, sir, they are both in evil case," replied Priscilla sadly. "Neither

of them has stomach for such food as is at hand, and so they weaken
daily. John Alden shot some little birds yesterday, and I made broth of
them, but, saving that, my mother has taken no meat for days."
"I will go and visit them," said the elder, and forgetting the launch he
had come up to see, he went at once.
"See! See! There she goes!" cried Elizabeth Tilley, as the great boat
slid gracefully down her ways to the water, dipped her bows deeply,
and finding her level rode upon an even keel.
"There she goes!" echoed Constance Hopkins and Remember Allerton,
who with Elizabeth Tilley constituted what may be called the rosebud
division of the Pilgrim girls, all glowing in the freshness of early youth,
all comely, strong, and vivacious. Priscilla Molines and Mary Chilton
with Desire Minter, a distant relative and charge of Governor Carver's,
made another little group of older girls, and then came the young
matrons of whom there were many, while Mistress Brewster in the
dignity of middle life was the recognized head and guide of all.
"Yes, there she goes," cried Priscilla, clapping her hands and dancing
upon her slender feet. "And Mary," continued she, dropping her voice
to a whisper, "it was Captain Standish who gave that last mighty
shove"--
"Nay, it was John Alden," interrupted Mary innocently.
"I tell thee, girl, it was the captain. John Alden is ever at his elbow and
striving to imitate him, but our captain is still the leader, and I do
honour a man who can think as well as do, and act as well as talk. Of
talkers we have enow, the dear knows; Master Winslow and Master
Allerton can so argue that they would force you to swear black was
white and the moon a good Dutch cheese an they chose, and they can
lay out work marvelously well for others to carry out, but I mark that
their own hands abide in their pockets for the most part. Then there are
plenty of strong arms with no head-pieces, like John Alden and your
good friend Gilbert Winslow and John Howland and"--

"Nay, nay, Priscilla, thou shalt not wrong good men so," interrupted
Mary, her fair face coloring a little. "The leaders aye must lead, and the
younger and simpler aye must follow in every community, and I mark
not that those you flout for speaking so well fail of their share in the
labor, nor do I think John Alden or the rest would do well to thrust their
advice upon their betters. At all rates, yon boat had not slid down so
merrily if John Alden had not put his shoulder to the work."
"Yea, put his shoulder where the