and for a time the distress was alleviated.

Governor Winthrop also encouraged his fellow colonists in the Christian
virtue of forgiveness. One time a leading man of the Colony wrote him
an angry letter, but this he sent back at once with the note appended:
"I am not willing to keep such a provocation to ill-feeling by me."
The offender, a man of great influence, replied immediately: "Your
overcoming yourself, has overcome me." He became one of his warmest
friends and from that time diligently assisted him in his arduous tasks.

The Governor was not desirous of vainglory, though according to the
custom of the time, he might have demanded absolute submission and
obedience. But he was a man who rather desired the love of his
fellowmen than their slavish fear, and in all things he guided them so,
that they could well govern themselves.

His greatest boast was that he had a "loving and dutiful son," who
followed in his father's footsteps and was as pious and sincere in his
religion as he was. This son grew up to be a man of excellent virtues,
and he became the first governor of the Colony of Connecticut.

No wonder that under such a governor the Colony prospered and became
stronger from year to year! And what a blessing it was for our two
little friends that they were brought up in such a Christian atmosphere
and home!

It is true, sometimes Fred longed to find out what became of his father,
but in spite of all efforts made to ascertain anything about him,
nothing was heard of him.

In those early times many a settler disappeared, and no one ever learned
what had become of him. The woods were full of fierce animals, the
Indians at times were hostile, and took revenge for real or imagined
injuries which they suffered by killing innocent persons, for they
regarded the Colonies as so many units, so that the wrongs inflicted by
individuals were regarded as having been done by the whole community.

In the long and dreary winters storms and tempests would rage, and many
a settler lost his way in the forests, and perished miserably in the
deep snow. Then when spring came, forest streams would wash away the
bodies, or wild animals would devour them. In short, there were many
ways to account for the disappearance of Fred's father, as the boy
learned when he grew up.

Yet he was not a boy to brood over matters that could not be changed,
and the rich and varied life in the Colony gave him little time for
dreaming idle