FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232  
233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   254   255   256   257   >>   >|  
he beauties of sea and shore to his thoughtful companion. "A pleasant sight, a goodly scene," said Hampden, as at last they turned away and struck into the dense forest. "If it be God's will I for one shall be well content to return hither and end my days." "And yet there is world's work to do yonder for a man with an eye to read the times," said Winslow flinging a hand eastward. * * * * * "No wife or child to see me off, Mistress Winslow," said the captain as he passed the door where Susanna lingered, and she, smiling with the tear in her eye, answered pleasantly,-- "Then why not purvey thee one, Captain Standish? Well I wot you need not long go a-begging." "Nay, none will look on a battered old soldier when fresh young faces are at hand," replied Standish casting a whimsical glance after Alden who preceded him down the hill, while the matron shook her head murmuring,--"Such fools as maids will be!" Besides Alden, the captain had chosen five men, enough to man the boat, and to make a good defense in case of attack, but among these he had included none of the fire-eaters, none of the independent souls of the little colony. Alden, to whom the captain had given the names of those to be summoned, had noted this feature of the selection, and ventured to comment upon it approvingly. "Ay, lad," replied his master with a grim smile. "'T is a service of danger, and a service of diplomacy, and I must have my force well in hand with no danger of a baulk from within. Dost know how the Romans conquered the world? I bade thee study my Caesar in thy leisure moments." "By power to command, Master?" "Nay, boy, but by power to obey. Their forces moved as one man, as a grand machine, and so they carried the Roman eagles to all the known world. There's the model of a Roman soldier in that big Book yonder. He says to his Sovereign Lord, 'Give not yourself the inconvenience of coming to heal my servant, but send some spirit to carry the command. I know how it is; I also am under the commands of my general, and men are under me. I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to the other, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.' There's the model of a soldier for you, John Alden; perfect obedience rendered, perfect obedience expected, perfect faith in the commander-in-chief. Now, then, off upon your errand, sir, and mind you tarry not at the Elder's house. There is no e
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232  
233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   254   255   256   257   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

perfect

 

captain

 

soldier

 
yonder
 
servant
 

replied

 
Winslow
 

command

 

Standish

 

obedience


service
 

danger

 

Caesar

 

Master

 

moments

 
leisure
 

approvingly

 

comment

 

master

 
ventured

selection

 
summoned
 

feature

 

Romans

 

conquered

 

diplomacy

 

cometh

 
rendered
 

general

 

commands


expected

 

errand

 

commander

 

eagles

 

carried

 

forces

 

machine

 

spirit

 

coming

 

inconvenience


Sovereign

 

eastward

 

flinging

 

smiling

 

answered

 

pleasantly

 
lingered
 

Susanna

 

Mistress

 

passed