A True Hero: A Story of the Days of William Penn

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER NINETEEN.

  As soon as Wenlock could approach the governor, he inquired for hisfriends, the Meads.

  "Have you not seen them?" exclaimed Penn. "Surely the _Concord_, inwhich they sailed, left England nearly three months ago, and they shouldhave been here for some time already."

  "The _Concord_ has not arrived," answered Wenlock, and his heart sunkwithin him.

  Every inquiry was made, but none of the vessels which had arrived oflate had heard of the _Concord_. Wenlock had been hoping that theymight have come out, and almost expected to see them on board the_Welcome_. He was now almost in despair. "I grieve for thee, youngman," said the governor; "for I know thy love for my old friend'sdaughter. I grieve also myself at his loss, if lost he is."

  Wenlock was unable to speak in reply.

  "The only remedy I can advise for thee, is active employment of body andmind, and the reading of the best of books," added the governor, with alook of compassion at the young man.

  Wenlock endeavoured, as far as he could, to follow the advice of hisfriend. The governor now proceeded up the river, touching on his way atUpland. The inhabitants of the place came out to receive him withdelight, a tall pine, which had been allowed to stand when itsneighbours were cut away, marking the spot where he went on shore.Turning to Pearson, who had so nobly supported him in his arduouslabours among the sick daring the voyage: "What wilt thou, friend, thatI should call this place?" he asked.

  "Chester, an' it please thee," answered Pearson. "It is my native city,and the affection I bear for it will never be effaced. Yet I mighttransfer some slight portion to this town."

  "Chester, therefore, let it be henceforth called," answered Penn.

  While the governor was stopping at the house of Mr Wade, Wenlock wentto visit old Rullock, and to see his own humble abode. He found a largeparty of Dutch emigrants in the town, who had arrived the day before.Among them he recognised a face he knew. Yes, he was certain. It wasthat of Dr Van Erk.

  "Yes, I am indeed myself!" exclaimed the doctor, shaking Wenlock warmlyby the hand. "Not knowing by what tyranny we might next be oppressed athome, I resolved to quit the shores of the Old World, and to seek refugein the New; and my brother agreeing with me, we have come over with ourwives and families. He will carry on mercantile pursuits,--and, by theby, he will be glad, I doubt not, to give you employment,--and I shallfollow my own profession. My wife and children will, I am sure, be veryglad to see you, but as yet we can show you very little hospitality.But you look somewhat sad, my young friend. Tell me what has occurred?"

  Wenlock told him the cause of his sadness.

  "Well, we will give you all the consolation in our power."

  Wenlock felt much pleased at meeting his old friends, and was amplyemployed, for some time, in obtaining accommodation for them. Every dayvessels were arriving with passengers and cargoes, but not one of thembrought any account of the _Concord_. His Dutch friends, however, didtheir utmost to console Wenlock. He thanked them, but yet found histhoughts more than ever going back to Mary. He would have beenwell-pleased if Ford had kept out of his way, but that person managed tointroduce himself to the Van Erks, and he felt sure he was meditatingmischief of some sort. The governor then proposed that he should go ona mission on state affairs to Boston, hoping that the change of life andscene might benefit him. Wenlock having received his instructions,accordingly went on board the _Amity_, which vessel, having beenthoroughly repaired, was engaged for the purpose.

  "But I cannot part from you," exclaimed old Bill Rullock. "I did notthink to go to sea again, but if the captain will let me work my passagethere and back, I will go along with you."

  No arguments would induce the old man to give up his purpose, andWenlock was not sorry to have so faithful a companion. Rounding CapeMay, the _Amity_ sailed along the shores of New Jersey, steering to thenorth, keeping in sight of land till she came off Long Island, formingone side of the magnificent harbour of the New York Bay. Then she stoodon, through Massachusetts Bay till the long established city of Bostonwas reached. Wenlock had expected to meet with kindness and sympathyfrom the descendants of those who had been driven for conscience' saketo seek a home in the New World. However, even by those to whom he hadletters he was received with coldness, and he heard remarks made aboutQuakers generally, and himself especially, which somewhat tried histemper. His name, too, seemed especially to excite anger among thecitizens. At length he was summoned to appear before the governor ofthe state.

  "Know you not, young man, that we allow no persons of your persuasion toremain in our state?" exclaimed the governor. "There was one, of yourname too, banished not long since; and some who have ventured to return,have of necessity been put to death, as breakers of the law and rebelsagainst the state."

  "Verily, I knew not that such was the case," answered Wenlock; "and whenI have performed my business here, I am ready to take my departure. Ihave never been here before, and truly I should be glad to hear of oneof my name, hoping that he might prove a relative; for at present I knownot any one to whom I am kith and kin."

  "Stand aside, young man, and bring forth the prisoner, with whose trialwe will proceed," exclaimed the governor, casting a frowning glance atWenlock.

  The governor was proceeding to condemn the prisoner, when a loud voicewas heard, exclaiming, "Pronounce not judgment." Wenlock started, andlooked towards the speaker. He almost fancied that he saw his fatherstanding before him.

  "Who are you, who thus dares to interrupt the court?" exclaimed thegovernor.

  "I am Wenlock Christison," was the answer. "I come to prevent you fromcondemning the innocent."

  "Then thou art my uncle!" exclaimed Wenlock, hurrying towards him. "Iknow thee by thy likeness to my father."

  "And, verily, I know thee," exclaimed the old man. "And what is thyname?"

  "Thine own," answered Wenlock.

  "Carry them both off to prison. They will hang together well,"exclaimed the governor.

  In spite of Wenlock's protestations that he had been sent in thecharacter of an envoy by the governor of the new state, he and his unclewere committed to prison. The old man, however, seemed but littleconcerned at this.

  "We shall be set at liberty ere long, nephew," he said; "and I rejoicegreatly to have at length found thee, and more than all, that thou hastembraced the true and perfect way of life."

  Bill Rullock, on hearing what had occurred, was very indignant, and,almost forgetting that he himself had become a Quaker, was about toattempt forcibly to liberate his friend.

  The governor kept Wenlock shut up, but seemed doubtful about proceedingwith him. His uncle was, however, brought up day after day, refusing toacknowledge himself guilty, warning his persecutors of the punishmentwhich was soon to overtake them. Old Rullock employed himself in makinginterest with various people in the place, to obtain the liberation ofhis friend, warning them that though Master William Penn might not takevengeance on them, there was a certain Colonel Markham, who would beinfluenced by no such scruples. The result was, that not only youngWenlock, but old Christison, was set at liberty.

  "Nephew, I have wealth," exclaimed his uncle, "and I rejoice to find onewho will inherit it. However, of one thing I am resolved, not to spendit among this people. The account thou dost give me of the new colonyhas made me resolve to go and end my days there; and we will togetherleave in the vessel that brought thee hither, as soon as she is ready tosail."

  Although the Friends were no longer persecuted at Boston, as may besupposed, it was not a pleasant city for them to reside in. Aconsiderable number, therefore, set sail on board the _Amity_, which hada prosperous voyage to the Delaware.

  CHAPTER TWENTY.

  We left the _Amity_ sailing up the Delaware. During her absence, anumber of vessels had arrived both from England and from Dutch andGerman ports, and it pleasant to those interested in the welfare of thecolony to see them land their passengers and cargoes, the former oftencollected in picturesq
ue spots on the banks, under the shelter of whitetents, yellow wigwams, dark brown log huts, and sometime green arboursof boughs. Off Chester a shattered weather-beaten bark was seen atanchor. Here also the _Amity_ came to an anchor, although news wasbrought on board that the governor had already selected the site of hiscapital on the point of land at the junction of the Delaware and theSchuylkill. Wenlock turned his eyes towards the shattered vessel, andnaturally inquired who she was.

  "Oh, she is the long lost _Concord_!" was the answer.

  Wild agitation filled his bosom as he heard these words, but it wassucceeded by fear.

  "What have become of the passengers, then?" he asked.

  "Some of them died, but others arrived in her. She was cast away on anisland, and only with great difficulty was at length got off."

  "But where are they?" asked Wenlock.

  "Most of them are at Chester, though some have gone off to the newcity," was the answer.

  Unable to obtain any further information, Wenlock jumped into the firstboat returning on shore. He bethought him that he would at once go tohis friend, Dr Van Erk, who would be more likely than any one else togive him information. He inquired for his house. Wealth will do much.While others were lodged in huts, the doctor had already secured acomfortable residence for his family. Wenlock hurried towards it, butbefore he reached it he met the doctor. After they had greeted eachother, he told him of whom he was in search.

  "Come, my young friend, and perhaps we may find them." The doctor tookhis arm and led him along till they reached a somewhat highly-pointedbut very neat cottage.

  "There, whom do you see there?" he asked, pointing through the window.There were four ladies, two old ones and two young. One of them wasGretchen. She was close to the window, so he saw her first; but beyondher,--yes, there was no doubt about it, there sat Mary Mead. They wereengaged in their work, so they did not see him.

  "Stay," said the doctor, "I forgot. A certain friend of yours has beentelling them that you are dead; that he has had news of it; and it mightagitate them somewhat, if you were to appear suddenly. I will go in andprepare them." Wenlock stood outside, hid by the porch. He heard firstMaster Mead's rich voice utter a note of surprise, and then severalfemale voices. He thought he could distinguish Mary's. It was verylow, though. Master Mead was the first to come out and welcome him, andin a few seconds he was in the presence of Mary and Gretchen and the twoold ladies.

  "My dear sister, I am so thankful," exclaimed Gretchen, bestowing a kisson Mary, "that he has been restored to you." Whatever doubt Master Meadhad before, as to bestowing his daughter on Wenlock, it was set at restby the appearance of the elder Wenlock Christison, who very speedilysatisfied all prudential scruples, by informing the worthy father of hisintentions regarding his nephew.

  While the party were assembled, _a head was put into the door_. It wasquickly withdrawn.

  "Oh! it is that odious Jonas Ford," said Gretchen. "I am sure he nevercomes here to speak truth."

  "Nay; but we should not think harshly of a friend," observed Mead.

  "I do not think over harshly," answered Gretchen. "If ever there was asleek hypocrite, that man is one." Time showed that Gretchen was right,although Wenlock escaped the consequences of his machinations. Wenlock,however, could not remain long at Chester, having to proceed up to thenew capital, Philadelphia, to give an account of his mission to thegovernor. He was received in the kindest manner by the governor, whowas living in a log hut while his intended residence, some way higherup, was building.

  "Here, my young friend," he said, pointing to a large sheet of paperspread out on a table, "is the plan of our future capital. See, weshall have two noble rows of houses fronting the two rivers; and, here,a magnificent avenue of one hundred feet in width, which we will callthe High Street, uniting them with lines of trees on either side. Thenwe will have Broad Street, cutting the city in two parts from north tosouth, with a magnificent square of ten acres in the centre, and in themiddle of each quarter there shall be another square, each of eightacres, for the recreation of the people, and we will have many detachedbuildings covered with trailing plants, green and rural, to remind us ofthe country towns of England. Already many houses have been put up, andthe people show a commendable energy in erecting more, as fast asmaterials can be procured. To-morrow I have appointed for a meetingwith the native chiefs, to hold a solemn conference for the purpose ofconfirming former treaties, and forming with them a lasting league ofpeace and friendship. I am glad that thou art come, Christison, as itwill be a matter of great interest. Thou hast probably visited the spotwith my kinsman, Colonel Markham. It is called Sakimaxing, the meaningof which is, `The place or locality of kings.'"

  "Yea," answered Wenlock; "I accompanied him on more than one occasion,when he had to make arrangements with Taminent. The natives hold ingreat respect an ancient elm of vast size which, they say, is alreadyone hundred and fifty-five years old. Under its branches the tribes arewont to meet to smoke the calumet of peace, and to arrange theirdisputes."

  "No fitter spot could have been chosen," observed Penn. "We hope, too,that they will ever be ready to smoke with us the calumet of peace."

  At an early hour the following morning, the governor, with his faithfulfriend Pearson, and other attendants, men of influence among thesettlers, set forth on horseback to a spot where the conference was totake place. It was an open space, close to the banks of the magnificentDelaware. In the centre stood the stately council elm, spreading itsbranches far and wide over the green turf. Circling round was theprimeval forest, with the dark cedar, the tall pine, the shiningchestnut, and the bright maple, and many other trees, stretching faraway inland. The governor and his companions, leaving their horses,advanced towards the meeting-place. His tall and graceful figure wasespecially distinguished by the light-blue sash he wore, as a simplemark by which the natives of the forest might recognise him. He hadnever affected ultra-plainness in dress, preferring rather to simplifythe costume which he had hitherto worn. His outer coat was long,covered, as was the custom, with buttons. An ample waistcoat of richmaterial, with full trousers, slashed at the sides and tied withribbons, while his shirt had a profusion of handsome ruffles, and a hatof the form worn in his younger days, completed his costume. On oneside was Colonel Markham, already well known to the natives, and on theother his faithful friend Pearson; while Wenlock and his othercompanions came a little way behind them. As they advanced, the Indianswere seen to approach, led by Taminent, their chief, all habited in theancient costume of the forest, with the brightest of feathers, theirfaces painted in their most gorgeous style. A number of the settlersfrom various parts had followed the governor, and now formed a circle ata respectful distance. No monarchs of the Old World could have behavedwith more dignity than did the Indian chief and the Quaker governor.Taminent having retired and consulted with his councillors, againadvanced, placing on his own head a chaplet, in which was fastened asmall horn, the symbol of his power. Whenever a chief of theLeni-Lenape placed on his brow this chaplet, the spot was made sacred,and all present inviolable. The chief then seated himself with hiscouncillors on either side, the older warriors ranging themselves in theform of a crescent round them, the younger forming an outer semicircle.The English governor then arose, the handsomest and most graceful of allpresent, and addressed the natives in their own language. He told themthat they had one common Father, who reigns above; and that his desirewas that his people, and theirs should be brothers, and that as brothersand friends they should treat each other, and that thus they should helpeach other against all who would do them harm. And, lastly, that bothhis people and the Leni-Lenape should tell their children of this leagueand bond of friendship which had been formed,--that it might growstronger and stronger, and be kept bright and clean, as long as thewaters should run down the creeks and rivers, and the sun and moon andstars endure. He then laid the scroll containing the proposed treaty onthe ground, which was accepted by Taminent, and p
reserved for agesafterwards by the Indians. Thus was this treaty ratified with a "Yea,yea,"--the only treaty, as has been remarked, known in the world, neversworn to, and never broken. Thus was Pennsylvania happily foundedwithout injustice, without bloodshed, without crime; and, blessed byHeaven, continued to flourish, the most happy and prosperous colony everformed by Britons.

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  Our tale is ended. A faint outline of the history of a true hero hasbeen traced. From it may be learned in what true heroism consists.William Penn (for he is our real hero), like the Master he served,though in the world, was not of it. He, as all must who desire to befaithful subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not mere nominalChristians, took Him as his example. He had counted the cost, andentered boldly on the warfare. Worldly honours and distinctions weregiven up, though the highest were within his grasp. Persecution andcontempt were willingly accepted; imprisonment endured withoutmurmuring. He trusted to One all-powerful to help in time of need. Hisfirm faith even in this life was rewarded. He was enabled to overcomethe world.

  So will it be with all who like William Penn, know in whom they trust,if they persevere like him without wavering.

  THE END.