with the signatures and seals of the Duke of
Lenox, the Marquis of Hamilton, the Earl of Warwick, and Sir Ferdinando
Gorges), yet to us, reading history in the perspective of three hundred
years, the disagreeable impression of Weston's letter outweighs the
satisfaction for the patent. When the Fortune sailed away it was like
the departure of a rich, fault-finding aunt, who suddenly descends upon
a household of poor relations, bringing presents, to be sure, but with
such cutting disapproval on her lips that it mars the entire pleasure of
her visit.

The harbor was once more empty. I suppose that in time the Pilgrims half
forgot, half forgave, the sting of Weston's reproof. Again they gazed
out and waited for a sail; again England seemed very far away. So,
doubtless, in the spring, when a shallop appeared from a fishing vessel,
they all eagerly hurried down to greet it. But if the Fortune had been
like a rich and disagreeable aunt, this new visitation was like an
influx of small, unruly cousins. And such hungry cousins! Weston had
sent seven men to stay with them until arrangements could be made for
another settlement. New Englanders are often criticized for their lack
of hospitality, and in this first historic case of unexpected guests the
larder was practically bare. Crops were sown, to be sure, but not yet
green; the provisions in the store-house were gone; it was not the
season for wild fowl; although there were bass in the outer harbor and
cod in the bay there was neither tackle nor nets to take them. However,
the seven men were admitted, and given shellfish like the rest--and very
little beside.

At this point the Pilgrims looked with less favorable eyes upon
newcomers into the harbor, and when shortly after two ships appeared
bringing sixty more men from Weston, consternation reigned. These
emigrants were supposed to get their own food from their own vessels and
merely lodge on shore, but they proved a lawless set and stole so much
green corn that it seriously reduced the next year's supply. After six
weeks, however, these uninvited guests took themselves off to
Wessagusset (now Weymouth) leaving their sick behind, and only the
briefest of "thank you's."

The next caller was the Plantation. She anchored only long enough to
offer some sorely needed provisions at such extortionate prices that the
colonists could not buy them. Another slap in the face!

Obviously, none of these visitors had proved very satisfacto