Standish of Standish: A Story of the Pilgrims

by Jane G. Austin

  CHAPTER XX.

  FUNERAL--BAKED MEATS AND MARRIAGE FEASTS.

  "Methinks our governor should not be buried with as little ceremony aswe perforce have showed our meanest servant," said Captain Standishgloomily to Elder Brewster the evening of Carver's death. "YouSeparatists despise the ministering of the Church, but what have ye setin its place?"

  "We clothe not the coffins of the dead with the filthy rags of Popery,and we pray not for the souls of them whom God hath taken into His ownhand, for that were of the sins of presumption against which David dothspecially pray, but yet,"--and the Elder's face softened, "I am of yourmind, Captain, that we should honor our chief magistrate in the lastservice we can render him, and although by his own wish I ceased to prayfor him ere the last breath was sped, and will never again pray for himor any parted soul, I well approve of such military honors as we areable to pay to his memory, and I will carry my musket with the rest, andfire it as you shall direct."

  "Why, that's more than ever I would have looked for, Elder," exclaimedStandish in amaze. "But since you so proffer, I gladly accept your aidand countenance, and by your leave, since as yet we have no governor inplace of him who is gone, I will order the funeral by mine own ideas."

  "As a military man?"

  "Surely. I claim no spiritual powers," and with a curious expression ofcontent and disapproval upon his face the captain went away to soarrange and order his plan, that at sunrise on the third day a guard oftwelve men, including the elder, presented themselves at the house ofmourning, and receiving the coffin upon the crossed barrels of theirmuskets carried it along the brow of the hill to the grave newly openedamid the springing wheat.

  Mistress Carver had made but one request, and that of piteousearnestness,--

  "See that they make his grave where another may be dug close beside,"pleaded she, and John Howland had seen that it was as she desired.

  Earth to earth was reverently and silently laid, the grave was coveredin, and then, at the captain's signal, the twelve muskets were fired inrelays of four, and their mournful echo mingled with the sobbing dirgeof the waves breaking upon the Pilgrim Rock, while the dense column ofsmoke rising grandly to heaven was the only monument then or evererected to John Carver, that willing martyr and gallant gentleman whohad indeed "given his life for the brethren."

  Returning to the Common house the Guard of Honor joined with the rest ofthe townsmen in a Council, whereat they elected William Bradford to betheir second Governor, and as he now lay ill in his bed, Isaac Allertonwas chosen to be his Assistant and mouthpiece.

  Bradford, neither over elated nor daunted by his new dignities, acceptedthe nomination, and with few and brief intervals retained it until hisown death some four-and-thirty years later, and nobly and faithfullydid he perform its duties.

  About a week after Carver's funeral the new governor, now convalescent,received a visit from Edward Winslow, who sought him with the formalrequest that he as chief magistrate of the colony would perform themarriage ceremony between him and Susanna, widow of William White.

  For the Separatists during their sojourn in Holland had accepted thecreed of that nation of traders, and held with them that marriage ismerely a civil contract, requiring a magistrate to secure the properamount of goods to each party, and make sure that neither defrauded theother. As for the sacramental blessing of the Church, said the Dutchmanand the Separatist, it costs money and bestows none, and priests areever dangerous associates, so we'll none of them or their craft.

  Apart from this view of the matter however, the civil authority was theonly one available in this case, since Pastor Robinson had been detainedin Leyden with the rest of his flock, and Elder Brewster had noauthority except to preach.

  "It will be my first essay at such an office, Winslow, and I know notprecisely how to go about it," replied Bradford smilingly when hisfriend had somewhat formally declared his errand.

  "But you were yourself wed that way," replied the bridegroomimpatiently. "For me, my first wife held to her early teaching in thatparticular, and would be married in a church and by a minister."

  "Yes, I was wed by a magistrate in Amsterdam," replied Bradfordreluctantly; "but the old Dutchman did so mumble and mouth his wordsthat I gathered not the sense of half. Likely it is, however, MasterCarver hath left some Manual for such occasion. He was warned or ever heleft England that he was like to be our Governor for longer than thevoyage."

  "Doubtless, then, he had some such office-book. Shall I bid John Howlandsearch for it?" asked Winslow.

  "Nay, the widow hath already sent me a box of papers and some littlebooks, which she said should be the governor's. I have not yet searchedthem, but I will do so before I sleep. What day have you set for yourwedding, Winslow?"

  "Why, we would not seem to fail in respect to our dear departed brother,and would leave a clear fortnight between his funeral and our wedding;so an' it please you we will set the marriage for Thursday of nextweek."

  "And at what hour?"

  "At even when all may rest from their labor it seemeth best. Aftersupper we will be ready."

  "Wilt come to me or I to thee?"

  "The dame saith she would fain be wed in her new home. It is justfinished to-day, and such gear as we have will be carried thitherto-morrow."

  "I mind me that Mistress White hath a fair cradle of her own," suggestedBradford dryly.

  "Ay. Peregrine lieth in it now."

  "May it never stand idle. I will come to thy new house then on Thursdayof next week, after supper."

  As Winslow departed, Desire Minter met him on the threshold, and with ahasty reverence asked,--

  "Is the governor within, and can I see him?"

  "Ay, lass, he is within, and I know not why thou shouldst not see him.Knock and enter."

  And Bradford still languid from his late illness raised his head fromthe back of his chair with a patient smile as the knock was immediatelyfollowed by Desire's broad and comely face.

  "Can your worship grant me a few moments if it please your honor?"

  "Nay, Desire, it needs not so much ceremony to speak to WilliamBradford. What wouldst thou?"

  "Well, worshipful sir, 't is a little advice. Your honor sees that I ama poor lonely lass, bereft now of even my cousin Carver's husband"--

  "Nay, my girl, our late governor was more than 'even my cousin'shusband.' Pay honor to him rather than to me."

  "Ay, but he is dead and cannot help me, and thou art alive."

  "'And better a live dog than a dead lion,'" murmured Bradford lookingsorrowfully at the girl whose selfish cunning was not keen enough todisguise itself.

  "Well?"

  "Why, I fain would know your honor's judgment upon my marriage."

  "Thou marry! And who is the man?"

  "Why, there now is the question, sir? Captain Standish hath showed methat he fain would ask me to wife, did not Priscilla Molines woo him sodesperately"--

  "Peace, child! How dare one Christian woman speak thus of another!"

  "But 't is so, your worship; 't is so, indeed, and how can I gainsayit?" whimpered the girl. "She as good as asked him when we were sicktogether in the hospital, and she wrought upon her father to ask him,and what could he do between them, and still he would rather have had meto wife, and I would have not said him nay."

  "Well, and what can I do about it?"

  "Bid Priscilla give him up, your honor, and bid him speak out to me, andquickly, for else John Howland will have me to wife."

  "Ah, and hath Howland also asked thee?"

  "Yes, your honor, he asked me as the Mayflower was sailing out of theharbor, and I told my cousin Carver, and she says it will be an ease toher mind to leave me with so good a man to my husband, but for me I hadrather have the Captain."

  "And thou callest upon me to straighten this coil, and marry thee towhichever man will have thee, eh?"

  "Yes, your honor."

  "Thou 'rt a simple lass, and knowst not half thou sayest. Go now, and Iwill send for thee in a d
ay or two. But see thou keep a quiet tongue.Say not one word so much as to the rushes, or thou shalt have no husbandat all. Mind that!"

  "Oh, I'll not speak, I'll not forget, trust me to do all your honor'sbidding," cried the girl joyfully, and Bradford gazing at her incompassionate wonder rejoined,--

  "Well, go now, and remember. Stay, send me one of the lads, no matterwhich. The first one thou seest."

  And when Giles Hopkins presently appeared he sent him to crave thepresence of Captain Standish when he should have finished his noon-meat.The Captain came at once, and after a few friendly words the governorcalmly inquired,--

  "Dost wish to wed with Desire Minter, Myles?"

  "Desire Minter! Has thy fever come back and turned thy brain, Bradford?"

  "Nay, but wilt thou wed with her?"

  "Not if there was no other woman upon earth. Dost catch my meaning,Will?"

  "Ay, I fear me that I do."

  "Fearest! Why, dost thou desire so monstrous a sacrifice to the commonweal, as Winslow words it? If the wench must be wed there are men enowwho are not of thy nearest friends, Bradford. And, besides, thou knowestI am to marry Priscilla Molines, and now I think on 't, 't is time toarrange it. I did but wait for the brig to be gone, but then thegovernor's death put all thought of marriage gear out of my head."

  "Oh ay, I mind me now that thou didst speak of Priscilla. Hast everspoken to her?"

  "Not I. I have no skill in such matters, nor time, nor thought. I'llwrite her a cartel, I mean a letter of proposals"--

  "But can she read? Not many of our women are so deeply learned."

  "I know not, I hope not. The only woman I ever cared to speak to of lovecould do no more than sign her name and 't was enough."

  "Well, then, settle it thine own way, only let it be soon, for I fainwould see thee with a home and children about thy hearth, old friend."

  "Ay, I suppose 't is a duty,--a man who hath given all beside, may wellgive his own way into the bargain. I'll marry before your new old lovecan reach here, Governor."

  "Nay, when thou sayest 'Governor,' I note that thou art ill pleased withsomewhat, Myles. Is it with me?"

  "Nay, Will, 't is with thy words."

  And laughing in his own grim way the Captain left the house, and strodeup the hill to solace his spirit by examining and petting his big guns.

  That same evening Bradford walked painfully across the little spacedividing Hopkins's house from that where Katharine Carver sat alonebeside the little fire still comfortable to an invalid, and after someconversation said,--

  "Dame, hast any plan for marrying thy kinswoman Desire Minter to any ofour young fellows?"

  "I am glad you have spoken of it, Governor Bradford," replied the widoweagerly. "For it is a matter largely in my thoughts. I do not think I amto tarry very long behind my dear lord,--nay, do not speak of that Ibeseech you, kind sir,--but it hath dwelt painfully on my mind that thepoor silly maid would be left alone, and none so ill-fitted to care forherself have I ever seen. But she tells me that John Howland hath spokento her, and she is not ill inclined to him. Would not it be approved ofyour judgment, Governor?"

  "Ay, if in truth both parties desire it, dame. Suppose we have Howlandin before us now, and ask him his will? Thou canst deal with the maidafter."

  "He is just without, cleaving some fuel for this fire, if yourexcellency will please to call him."

  "I will, but first, Dame, let me beg thee, of our old friendship, of thelove I bore thy husband and he to me, treat me not with such cruelformality. True it is that his honors have fallen upon me, and that hisplace knoweth him no more; and yet it is his spirit, his counsel, andhis ensample that rules my poor actions at every turn. Be not jealous,be not resentful, mistress, though well I wot so loving and so faithfula heart as thine cannot well escape such weakness, for 't is part ofwoman's nature. But canst not be a little mindful of thine old friend'sfeelings too, and soften somewhat of this stately ceremony in speakingto him?"

  "Yes, he loved thee, he loved thee well, and he would have chidden me"--

  "Nay, nay, weep not, Dame Katharine. I did not mean to grieve thee butonly to tell how I was grieved; but then, we men are still too clumsy tomeddle with women's tender natures. Be what thou wilt, speak as thouwilt to me dear Dame, I am and ever shall be thy faithful friend andservant."

  He went out as he spoke, and when a few moments later Howland and hereturned together the lady had resumed her usual quietude of manner.

  "Sit thee down, John. Mistress Carver and I have somewhat to ask ofthee. Art thou minded to wed?"

  "Not while my mistress needeth my service."

  "Mayhap 't will further her comfort, John."

  "Is it thy wish, Dame?" and the young man turned so eager a face towardher, and spoke so brightly, that a smile stirred the widow's pale lipsas she replied,--

  "'T is plain enough that 't is thy wish, John, and it will wonderfullycontent my conscience in the matter of bringing Desire Minter away fromthe home she had, poor though it then seemed."

  "Desire Minter!" echoed Howland.

  "Why yes, she told me how you spoke to her the day the Mayflower sailed,and she modestly avows that she is well content to be thy wife."

  "But"--

  "What is it, Howland? Speak out, man," interposed Bradford withauthority. "Thou seemest dazed."

  "Why, truth to tell, sir, and my dear Dame, I thought not of Desire asmy wife"--

  "Didst thou not speak to her of marriage?"

  "Surely not,--or--there was some idle jest between us, I mind not what,and I never thought on 't again."

  "But she did, thou seest," said the Governor sternly. "Thou knowest how'idle jesting that is not convenient' is condemned in Holy Writ, and nowis the saying proven. The maid believed thee in earnest, and hath sether mind upon thee"--

  But of a sudden Bradford remembering Desire's plainly expressedpreference for the Captain, if he might be had, paused abruptly, andDame Carver took up the word,--

  "It would much comfort my mind, John, if thou wouldst consent to thisthing. The maiden's future is a fardel upon my shoulders now, and theyare not over strong. 'T is a good wench, John, if not over brilliant."

  "Say no more, dame, say no more. If it will be a pleasure and a comfortto thee, it is enough."

  "But hast thou any other choice, John? Wouldst thou have chosenPriscilla, like thy friend Alden?"

  "Nay, Dame."

  "But thou hast something in thy mind, good John. Tell it out, I praythee."

  "Well, then, to speak all my mind, Mistress, there is no maid among usso fair in my eyes, and so sweet, and pure, and true, as ElizabethTilley, and I had"--

  "Why, she is scarce turned sixteen, dear boy," exclaimed the widow.

  "I had thought to wait a year or two for her," faltered Howland, butBradford interposed,--

  "Nay, nay, John, we cannot have our sturdy men waiting for little maidsto grow up. There are boys enow coming on for them, and as for thee, whyman, thou 'rt five-and-twenty, art not?"

  "Seven-and-twenty, sir. But all this is beside the matter. If my dearmistress asks me to marry Desire Minter as a comfort to her, I will doit to-day."

  "I thank thee heartily, John." And in the affectionate glance and smilehis lily-like dame turned upon him Howland felt more than repaid for hissacrifice.

  "And yet," continued she, "I will not let thee marry to-day, nor for ayear. But if thou wilt call thyself betrothed to her, and promise me onthy faith to deal truly by her, and at the year's end marry her if youboth are still so minded, I will be content. I shall leave her in thycare, even as he who is gone left me in thy care, and a good andfaithful guardian hast thou been, dear friend."

  "I pledged my life to him that I would do my best, and now I pledge itin your hands, my honored mistress and dear lady, that I will so dealwith this maid as shall most pleasure you."

  And so John Howland and Desire Minter were formally betrothed; andbefore the month of May was gone the wheat upon the hill-side was againdisturbed
as John Carver's wife came to lay herself down to rest closebeside him in sweet content.

  "They tell of broken hearts," said Surgeon Fuller musing above thatdouble grave; "and were I asked to name Dame Katharine's complaint Iknow no name for it but that."