usetts.

But they had to be patient, while day after day they covered small
distances through the thick woods.

They were dressed oddly enough, and looked more like Indians than like
white people. Agnes was dressed like the boys, with a fur cap on her
head, fur coats and trousers on her body, and her feet covered with
moccasins. Yet no one took notice of that, for many of the settlers
were clothed in this way, since it was hard to obtain woolen cloth from
the old country.

When they returned to Massachusetts, they were greeted with great joy,
not only by their foster parents, but also by the other villagers, who
marveled that children so young had undertaken so serious a venture.

Yet we must not judge the children of that time by standards of our own
day. Their life was lived largely outdoors where they grew up like the
trees of the ever present forest. Their daily experiences made them
alert and self confident, and while they were behind the children of our
time in school learning, they knew a thousand arts which the children of
our later times have never heard of.

Life was hard, and the struggle for existence made them strong, hardy,
and enterprising. Had those early pioneers been of a weaker fiber, the
history of our country would never have been written in glory. But let
us not forget that the pioneers were mostly men of deep piety, whose
rugged strength was rooted in true faith and the fear of God. Let
those who scoff at religion, remember that without it our country would
never have become what it is today. The fear of God is not only the
beginning of wisdom, but also the keynote to prosperity and a nation's
success.

CHAPTER VII

IN THE THROES OF WAR

The brief New England summer passed much too quickly for our three
friends, for whom summer time meant a long and pleasant vacation. As
usual they made trips on horseback or on boat to the other Colonies,
which were being planted in New England in ever greater number. In
this way they widened their circle of acquaintances, and enjoyed many
pleasant hours in company with other good New England youths.

Mr. Bradley, in view of the fact that the children had so successfully
carried out their mission, excused them from all work, and gave them
unlimited time in which to enjoy themselves to their hearts' content.

Yet they were not of the class of young people that wished to be idle,
and they were heartily glad when the prospect of continui