University of Virginia Library

May ye 20th.

We had scarcely breakfasted, when him they call
Sir Thomas called on us, and with him came also
a Mr. Sewall, and the minister of the church, Mr.
Richardson, both of whom did cordially welcome home
my Cousins, and were civil to my Brother and myself.
Mr. Richardson and Leonard fell to conversing about
the state of the Church; and Sir Thomas discoursed us
in his lively Way. After some little tarry, Mr. Sewall
asked us to go with him to Deer's Island, a small Way
up the River, where he and Robert Pike had some men
splitting Staves for the Bermuda Market. As the Day
was clear and warm, we did readily agree to go, and
forthwith set out for the River, passing through the
Woods for nearly a half Mile. When we came to the
Merrimack, we found it a great and broad stream. We

took a Boat, and were rowed up the River, enjoying
the pleasing view of the green Banks, and the Rocks
hanging over the Water, covered with bright mosses,
and besprinkled with pale, white Flowers. Mr. Sewall
pointed out to us the different kinds of Trees, and their
nature and uses, and especially the Sugar-tree, which
is very beautiful in its leaf and shape, and from
which the People of this Countrie do draw a sap well
nigh as sweet as the Juice of the Indian cane, making
good Treacle and Sugar. Deer's Island hath rough,
rocky Shores, very high and steep, and is well covered
with a great growth of Trees, mostly evergreen Pines
and Hemlocks, which looked exceeding old. We
found a good seat on the mossy trunk of one of these
great Trees which had fallen from its extreme age, or
from some violent blast of Wind, from whence we
could see the River running with loud noise over the
Rocks, and hear the melodious sound of the Wind in
the leaves of the Pines, and the singing of Birds ever
and anon: and lest this should seem too sad and
lonelie, we could also hear the sounds of the Axes and
Beetles of the workmen, cleaving the Timber, not far
off. It was not long before Robert Pike came up, and
joined us. He was in his working Dress, and his Face
and Hands were much discolored by the smut of the
burnt logs, which Rebecca playfully remarking, he
said there were no Mirrours in the woods, and that must
be his apology; that, besides, it did not become a
plain Man, like himself, who had to make his own
fortune in the world, to try to imitate those who had
only to open their mouths, to be fed like young Robbins,
without trouble or toil. Such might go as brave as
they would, if they would only excuse his necessitie.
I thought he spoke with some bitterness, which indeed
was not without the excuse, that the manner of our gay
young gentleman towards him savored much of pride
and contemptuousness. My beloved Cousin, who hath
a good heart, and who, I must think, apart from the
wealth and family of Sir Thomas, rather inclineth to
her old friend and neighbor, spake cheerily and
kindly to him, and besought me privately to do somewhat
to help her remove his vexation. Soe we did
discourse of manie things, very pleasantly. Mr.
Richardson, on hearing Rebecca say that the Indians
did take the melancholie noises of the Pine trees in the
Winds to be the voices of the Spirits of the Woods,
said that they always called to his mind the sounds in
the Mulberry Trees which the Prophet spake of.
Hereupon Rebecca, who hath her memory well provided
with divers readings, both of the Poets and other
Writers, did cite very opportunely some ingenious
lines, touching what the Heathens doe relate of the
Sacred Tree of Dodona, the rustling of whose leaves
the negro priestesses did hold to be the language of the
Gods. And a late writer, she said, had something in one
of his pieces, which might well be spoken of the aged
and dead tree trunk, upon which we were sitting.
And when we did all desire to know their import, she
repeated them thus: —
These lines, she said, were written by one Vaughn, a
Brecknockshire Welsh Doctor of Medicine, who had
printed a little book not many years ago. Mr. Richardson
said the lines were good, but that he did hold
the reading of Ballads and the conceits of Rhymers a
waste of time, to say nothing worse. Sir Thomas
hereat said that, as far as he could judge, the worthy
folk of New England had no great temptation to
that sin from their own Poets, and did then, in a drolling
Tone, repeat some Verses of the cxxxvii psalm,
which he said were the best he had seen in the Cambridge
Psalm Book: —

“Nay, Sir Thomas,” quoth Mr. Richardson, “it is
not seemly to jest over the Word of God. The writers
of our Book of Psalms in Metre held rightlie that
God's Altar needs no polishing; and truly they have
rendered the Words of David into English verse with
great fidelitie.”

Our young Gentleman, not willing to displeasure a
Man so esteemed as Mr. Richardson, here made an
apology for his jesting, and said that, as to the Cambridge
Version, it was indeed faithful; and that it was
no blame to uninspired men, that they did fall short of
the beauties and richness of the Lord's Psalmist. It

being now near noon, we crossed over the River, to
where was a sweet Spring of Water, very clear and
bright, running out upon the green Bank. Now as we
stood thirsty, having no cup to drink from, seeing some
People near, we called to them, and presently there
came running to us a young and modest woman, with
a bright pewter tankard, which she filled and gave us.
I thought her sweete and beautiful, as Rebecca of old,
at her father's fountain. She was about leaving, when
Mr. Richardson said to her, it was a foul shame for
one like her to give heed to the ranting of the Quakers,
and bade her be a good Girl, and come to the Meeting.

“Nay,” said she, “I have been there often, to
small profit. The Spirit which thou persecutest testifieth
against thee and thy Meeting.”

Sir Thomas jestingly asked her if the Spirit she
spoke of was not such an one as possessed Mary Magdalen.

“Or the Swine of the Gadarenes?” asked Mr.
Richardson.

I did smile with the others, but was presentlie sorrie
for it; for the young Maid answered not a word to this,
but, turning to Rebecca, she said, “Thy Father hath
been hard with us, but thou seemest kind and gentle,
and I have heard of thy charities to the Poor. The
Lord keep thee, for thou walkest in slippery places;

there is danger, and thou seest it not; thou trustest to
the hearing of the Ear and the seeing of the Eye; the
Lord alone seeth the deceitfulness and the guile of
Man; and if thou wilt cry mightily to Him, He can
direct thee rightly.”

Her voice and manner were very weighty and solemn.
I felt an Awe come upon me, and Rebecca's
countenance was troubled. As the Maiden left us, the
Minister, looking after her, said, “There is a deal of
poison under the faire outside of yonder Vessel, which
I fear is fitted for destruction.” “Peggy Brewster
is indeed under a Delusion,” answered Robert Pike,
“but I know no harm of her. She is kind to all, even
to them who evil entreat her.” “Robert! Robert!”
cried the Minister, “I fear me you will follow your
honored Father, who has made himself of ill repute,
by favoring these people.” “The Quaker hath bewitched
him with her bright eyes, perhaps,” quoth Sir
Thomas. “I would she had laid a spell on an uncivil
Tongue I wot of,” answered Robert, angrilie. Hereupon,
Mr. Sewall proposed that we should return, and,
in making readie and getting to the Boat, the matter
was dropped.