Flower in New England in the year 1620. As the "best linguist" among the pilgrims, he was qualified to treat with the Indians; and as the best soldier, he took the command in their expeditions. "His capital exploit," as the old chronicle terms it, was the salvation of the planters at Weymouth from extermination. The hostility of the Indians had been provoked by the injustice of some greedy London adventurers, who were striving to monopolise the advantages of the fur trade. The colony was saved by the wisdom and courage of Miles Standish. He died in 1656, at the age of 72.

He was twice married, and the tradition has been handed down, that some time after the death of his first wife, he employed the friendly services of John Alden to pay court in his name to a fair lady, one Priscilla Mullins, who, however, fell in love with his ambassador, and afterwards became his wife. Another lady, however, known to us only by the name of Barbara, consoled him for this mortification

by accepting the hand of one of the greatest and noblest men whom Providence ever raised up to fight the battle of Liberty in the Old World, and to lay the social foundation of the New.

THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH.

I.

MILES STANDISH.

IN the Old Colony days, in Plymouth the land of

the Pilgrims,

To and fro in a room of his simple and primitive

dwelling,

Clad in doublet and hose, and boots of Cordovan

leather,

Strode, with a martial air, Miles Standish the

Puritan Captain.

Buried in thought he seemed, with his hands behind him, and pausing

B