ance, for they were industrious and skilful
artisans--manufacturers of silk, jewelry, and glass."

"I'm glad some of them did come here," said Eric. "The massacre of St.
Bartholomew was before that, wasn't it, grandma?"

"Yes; on the 26th of August, 1572; in that seventy thousand
Protestants were butchered by the Papists in France, by the authority
of the Pope and the king. From that time on, until 1598, there were
terrible persecutions, stopped in that year by Henry IV.'s issue of
the Edict of Nantes, allowing, as I have told you, Protestants to
worship God according to the dictates of their consciences. That edict
remained in force for nearly a century, but was revoked in 1685 by
Louis XIV."

"Then the Protestants moved away to escape being killed?" asked Eric.

"Yes," replied Grandma Elsie, "and some of them came up this river and
settled on its shores. They found it less hazardous to dwell beside
the savage Indians than among the persecuting Papists."

"So they came across the ocean and up this river and settled near
Kingston, did they, grandma?" queried Eric.

"They settled in the valley of Ulster and Orange counties," she
answered.

"And then they had good times, I hope," said Neddie.

"Not for some time," she answered, "because the Indians were fierce
and jealous of the palefaces, as they called the whites. It was not
until after the Revolution that they ceased to give trouble to the
white settlers, both Huguenots and others. But it was borne with
patience and perseverance; and many of their descendants helped in
the hard struggle for our independence."

"Fighting the British in the Revolutionary War, do you mean, grandma?"
asked Neddie.

"Yes; fighting for freedom. That was the war that made us the great
and growing nation that we are to-day. It was a fearful struggle, but
God helped us, and we should never forget to give him thanks for our
liberties."

"I hope we won't," said Eric. "Papa says we have more to be thankful
for than any other people; and I think so myself."

"As I do," said his grandma; "and my little grandsons are much better
off than very many other children, even in this good land."

"Yes, grandma, I know that; papa and mamma often remind me of it; and
I do feel thankful for my many blessings; for none of them more than
for my dear, sweet grandma," he added with a loving look into her
eyes.

"As I do for my dear grandchildren," she returned, giving him a loving
smile and softl