A HAPPY SURPRISE

Events moved swiftly along in the Colony, and in a short time two fleeting months had passed. June came with sunshine, breaking buds, rich, green grass, and general joy among the colonists.

After the long winter they set out with grateful hearts to clear more land and plant more corn. The Colony was increasing from month to month and required more ample supplies with which to feed the many hungry mouths.

Almost every week a ship from England would come in with new immigrants, for the Colony enjoyed an enviable reputation, and in England the persecution of Puritans and Separatists continued. Between 1630 and 1640 more than twenty thousand people came to the Massachusetts Colony, as the historians of our country tell us.

The vessels brought supplies and immigrants and took back with them such raw products as the Colony could produce. The furs which the traders obtained from the Indians and their own trappers were very valuable, and brought high prices in old England.

But England needed also timber, and this was found abundantly in the new country where thousands of giant trees covered the land.

Mr. Bradley was happy that he had gained another helper for his store. In fact, Matthew proved himself an excellent clerk in the trading post. He was not forward, but at the same time possessed courage enough to mingle undauntedly with the Indians, who liked the “pale face” very much because of his frankness and honesty.

The boy had received a good education, and whatever he knew, he turned to good use, so that Mr. Bradley more than once trusted him with important negotiations.

“God has given me a fine helper,” he said one evening to his wife, as they were closing the store. “Fred and Matthew are good business men, and will in course of time be of invaluable service to me.”

“As soon as possible we must write to his mother and ask her to come over to America,” Mrs. Bradley suggested. “I can use her in the house, since my work is increasing.”

To this her husband assented; yet this promise was never carried out, for in the course of the summer Matthew received the news that she had found a trustworthy and loving husband, who after their marriage insisted that they stay in England and seek their fortune there. He was a small merchant who was doing well in business, so that Matthew’s mother had no reason to complain.

“And now you will return to England,” Fred said sadly after he had read the letter to the family. “I might just as well bid you good-by right now.”

“Never,” Matthew answered; “this is my country and shall remain my country. Here God has given me work to do and dear friends with whom I am happy. So why should I return?”

All rejoiced in Matthew’s resolution, and they promised to make life as pleasant for him as possible.

Certainly to him life was not a drudgery. Mr. Bradley wisely allowed the children sufficient time for recreation, especially in summer when the fur trade was not active.

He was anxious that the lads should become thoroughly acquainted with the country and its inhabitants, as his business depended much on the good will of the white men and the Indians.

So he sent them far into the interior with little gifts and trinkets which the boys were to give to the Indians, in order that they might establish trade connections with the “House of Bradley.”

These trips were very pleasant to the boys, and as they sometimes took Agnes with them, they formed a merry party, for the girl was full of fun and laughter, and though the boys were much taller than she, she could endure much more fatigue than they.

How the Indians adored her!

When the three pilgrims of the woods came to the Indian villages, Fred, who was thoroughly versed in the language and customs of the red men, would seek out the chief and broach his mission to him.

The chief called together his men and a council was held, in which every one smoked the peace pipe, including Fred and Matthew, who had to submit to this ordeal for business reasons.

Then the matter of trading with the “House of Bradley” was discussed, and Fred told them what prices his great white father, who dwelled in the large wigwam by the sea, paid for furs, much more than the French and other traders. This he could say with truth, for Mr. Bradley indeed was thoroughly honest in his business and never deceived the guileless Indians.

After the promise was made, that they would turn their furs over to the “House of Bradley,” the boys would open their treasures and give to each man some gift which he liked. All of them liked tobacco, though many asked for fire-water, which, however, Fred never offered them. Some, however, preferred cups and kettles which Fred supplied as long as the store lasted. Usually, however, these were reserved for the mighty men among the Indians, the chiefs and leaders, since only a limited supply of them could be carried on horseback.

In the meanwhile Agnes would approach the wigwams of the women, and by her winsome smiles, her hearty laughter and gayety soon won their confidence. She spoke the language of the Indians fluently, and sang many of the Puritan hymns in their tongue, so that they were “much entertained,” as the old chronicle says.

On her trips she carried her lute with her, and on this she played so well that not only the women, but also the men were attracted to her entertainment. Then she would sit down in their midst, and tell them interesting stories of the white men and women, and their kings and queens, and their gold and silver, and big wigwams, and when they had become thoroughly interested, she told them of their religion, and of God’s Son who had become man to save sinners.

The Indians loved to hear stories, and never tired of them, especially when Agnes told them about the miracles of Jesus, how He had healed the sick and fed the hungry multitudes with bread.

It had taken the girl a long time until she had learned how to tell these stories to the Indians. In general, the Puritans did not trouble themselves about the salvation of the Indians; but in 1631 a young minister had come from England, who for sometime had stayed with the Bradley’s in Boston, Where Agnes became well acquainted with him.

His name was John Eliot, and from the very start this pious minister was interested in the spiritual welfare of the Indians.

“They have immortal souls, too,” he said to Mr. Bradley, “and we must tell them of the salvation which God has prepared for all men.”

Mr. Bradley was not much interested in the project, though he was a true Christian; but like other Puritans he never believed that the Indians could be converted to Christianity.

Agnes, however, listened to the minister with keen interest, and often she would converse with him on this matter.

At first, John Eliot had no congregation, nor did he know the language of the Indians. But in 1632 he was elected pastor of Christ Church, in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

He at once suggested to his congregation to preach also to the Indians, but at first the men would not permit him to do this blessed work. But he secretly studied the language of the Indians, and at last in 1646, he engaged in mission work among them “amid much opposition and vexation,” as we are told by the historians.

At the time when Agnes with Fred and Matthew made their summer trips in the Indian country. Pastor Eliot was not yet preaching to them; but the girl had learned from him how to tell the story of Christ in simple words which all could understand.

Agnes thus became the first missionary among the Mohican Indians in Massachusetts. Later, John Eliot became famous as the “Apostle of the Indians”, for besides preaching to them, he translated into their language the Bible and many other fine books.

Usually the children spent a week on their trip but at times when they had drifted far away from the Colony, they stayed away for two and even three weeks. Their foster-parents, however, never worried about them, for they knew that Fred was a brave leader, and that Agnes would not lose her way even in the densest forest.

By this time all three could handle such weapons as were used at that time, and though the guns were heavy and clumsy, none of them missed the object at which they aimed. So by the grace of God they always returned safe, and then they had many interesting stories to tell.

One evening as they had just related their tale of adventure, Mr. Bradley said, “I must secure some trustworthy person who can attend to my business when I am away. So far, I have not cared to entrust my store to any one here, but I must find some one, for I, too, must venture out to establish more trading posts. The furs are not coming in as fast as they should; there are too many traders elsewhere.”

Just then some one rapped at the door, and when Fred opened he saw a huge man standing in front of him.

“Good evening,” said the stranger somewhat timidly; “does Mr. Bradley dwell here? I was directed to this house.”

No sooner had Mr. Bradley heard the man’s voice, when he jumped from the chair and hastened to the door.

“Do my ears deceive me?” he cried. “Can it be you, John Rawlins?”

“Well, I declare,” the man answered; “really, it is you, John Bradley!”

The two men shook hands warmly, and then the stranger was invited in.

“Where do you come from?” asked Mrs. Bradley after she had welcomed the man to the home. “You are an unexpected visitor, forsooth!”

“From the good ship ‘Hope,’ which is in the harbor,” the man explained. “I could not wait till tomorrow, and so I prevailed upon the captain set me ashore. I just had to see my old mate this evening.”

“So the good ship ‘Hope’ arrived?” Mr. Brad asked. “That is fine, for the colonists are eagerly waiting for supplies; and I know there is a shipment for me.”

“Yes, so the captain tells me,” the stranger said and he at once began to relate why he had come America.

This he did upon the urgent request of Mr. Bradley who was much surprised at so unexpected a visit.

“Well, it was this way,” the stranger began, after he had lighted his pipe and taken a few draughts of the tea which Mrs. Bradley set before him. “In England they are all talking about the wonderful success of the Colony, and there are thousands of people ready to come over, if only they could pay their fare.”

“I hope they do not come over without funds” Mr. Bradley said, “for we have difficulties of our own; and I hope, too, that they will not send us worthless and lazy fellows. We cannot use them here.”

“I understand, I understand,” John Rawlins said; “well, when you sold the business and came over here, Mrs. Bradley, I stayed over in the old, country, and this, as you know, for Mrs. Rawlins sake, who was an invalid. But the days of her earthly pilgrimage are over, and she rests under the flowers of old England. What should I do, a widower and a lonely man? So I bethought myself of you, and lo, here I am seeking work, as in the days of yore.”

“And you are exceedingly welcome,” Mr. Bradley said warmly; “your faithful services are worth gold to me. If you seek employment, you are hired at your own price this very evening.”

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” Mr. Rawlins replied ardently, for he was a devout Christian. “I had never expected such a welcome.”

“I just talked about help when you rapped at the door,” Mr. Bradley explained, “telling the boys that I must venture out on expeditions myself in search of trade. With an old servant like you in the store, I shall now carry out my plan.”

We must explain to our readers that while John Bradley was still in England, John Rawlins was his most trustworthy clerk and helper. He was now an old man, who had lived more than three score years, yet he was hale and hearty, and as enterprising as when he had served Mr. Bradley in England.

It was only after he had related his tale that Mr. Rawlins took notice of the children.

“What fine children you have, Mrs. Bradley,” he said, “and how tall for their age! Why you never had any children when you left old England!” He looked at her with surprise.

“These are children which God sent us,” the Woman explained, telling the story in words that would not offend the children.

“How wonderful!” the man exclaimed when he had heard the tale. “If such children like these grow here in the woods, I’ll adopt a whole dozen. Come, now, tell me your names.”

In a short time the children had become acquainted with the queer, old man who was so peculiar and yet so good.

“We are going to be playmates, my lads,” said after a while, “and I will teach you some tricks from old England.”

“And you, young lady,” he continued, “I suppose you are a real miss, not afraid of Indians and lions and such like.”

“Please, sir,” Agnes replied, “there are no lions in the Colony, but if there were they would soon fall dead before my trusty musket.”

With mock dignity she took down the heavy musket and aiming it at the man, said, “And, sir, here is how the women of America defend their honor. Hold on, sir, or you will be a dead man.” They all laughed, but Mrs. Bradley urged Agnes to put away the gun, which was a fine specimen that Mr. Bradley had especially imported from England for the girl.

“You are going to teach me a trick or two,” the old man said laughing boisterously. “I surely must guard my tongue, or the days of my earthly pilgrimage will be cut short.”

It was a lovely evening, and never for a long time was there so much jollity In the house. However, when finally Mr. Bradley took down the large family Bible to read the evening chapter, all were serious and listened to the Word of God with devotion.

The service was closed with a hymn of praise, which Agnes accompanied on her lute.

Tears crept over the rough cheeks of the old man, and as he bade his friends good-night, he said, “Never was the heart of John Rawlins so happy as tonight. The Lord has verily blessed my pilgrimage to America, nor is it altogether a rough country, but one where there is much piety and delight.”