governor, whom we are too apt to picture in our minds as a stern and forbidding personality, with eyes fixed on the other world to the neglect of the gentler domestic emotions.

His Writings. On the way over to his new home Winthrop wrote an essay, A Model of Christian Charity, which is a plea for unity of spirit and action on the part of the company bound for the New World. It is a little sermon on unselfish brotherly love. The chief work of Governor Winthrop, however, is his Journal, which later came to have the more pretentious title, History of New England, begun in 1630 and continued until his death in 1649. This journal is a record of the civil, domestic, and religious happenings in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during all those years; sometimes there is the baldest and briefest statement of events, without any scale of values. The death of a cow and a goat from eating too much Indian corn gets a notice of one line; the drowning of the governor's own son at Salem is chronicled with the same brevity. Divine judgments are seen by the devout governor in the sudden deaths of evildoers and in civil and domestic calamities; because of their neglect of religious duties, parents are bereft of their children; many instances of special providence are recorded. Throughout the volume there is a curious mingling of plain common sense and fanaticism, but it is often lighted up by a radiant idealism. The finest utterances in the History of New England are those on the true nature of liberty, under the year 1645, forming the report by Winthrop of his own speech before the General Court in defense of certain of his acts as deputy governor.

Winthrop's style, though formally more exact, lacks the charm of Bradford's. One comes upon passages in the Plymouth governor's writings which have a melody like that of Bible prose, bringing the emotions home to the primal things of life: Winthrop is drier, more philosophic, more logical, and on the whore less appealing to the imagination. But why speak of style? The worthy governors were not

literary men, but conscientious historians of the beginnings of religious commonwealths. It is almost impertinent to mention graces of style in connection with the work of pioneers in times that tried men's souls. The wonder of it is that such busy men in such days could have found the time and energy to make extensive records of the social, political, and religious activities of their communities.

Morton and Merry Mount. By way of contrast to the serious manners of the Puritans, brief mention may be made of Thomas Morton, the Cavalier settler of Merry Mount not far from Plymouth. Morton was a London lawyer who with a lively band of jolly fellows established a plantation and trading-post at Merry Mount (Mount Wollaston); here they set up a May-pole and made merry as they were wont to do in good old England, dancing and singing around the pole with the Indians. It seems, too, that the Englishmen sold rum and firearms to the Indians and traded with them to the hurt of the Plymouth colony. What gave mortal offense to the Puritans, however, was the noisy mirth at Merry Mount; Morton and his hilarious crew were arrested and he was twice transported to England for trial, only to return to live elsewhere in New England, for under English law his offense was not punishable. While in England Morton wrote the New English Canaan, satirizing the Puritans, praising the Indians, and extolling in glowing terms the natural beauties and resources of New England. He was an irresponsible, jesting Cavalier, not so bad as his enemies made him out, and his book, though carelessly written, is interesting because it gives a touch of color to an otherwise somber background. Morton and his men have been preserved for us in literature through Hawthorne's attractive little story, "The May-Pole of Merry Mount," which should be read by all who would understand the setting and spirit of this episode in New England history.

Judge and Man of Affairs.-Although the grandparents of Samuel Sewall were early immigrants to Massachusetts, he was born in England whither his parents had gone on a visit. He graduated at Harvard in 1671 and then proceeded to study for the ministry, but gave up this profession, after a short period of service, to become a business man. By the time Sewall was forty he had become a prominent figure in the political life of the colony, and as a judge of the probate court he took a leading part in the witchcraft trials at Salem. Later on, having become convinced of his mistake in persecuting the poor wretches, he had the courage to make a public confession of his error. In doing this he lost for a time at least the friendship of the Mathers who persisted in maintaining their original opinions about the witches. Throughout his long life Sewall

showed an active interest in the affairs of the community; he served the church and commonwealth as member of committees, of the council, and as chief justice. He was well informed on the educational progress of the time and on the literature brought from the mother country, for as an alumnus of Harvard he felt an intelligent concern for the young college, of which he was for a while the librarian. Of all this his famous Diary is an enduring evidence.

The Diary. The one work which entitles Judge Sewall to lasting remembrance is his voluminous Diary covering a period of fifty-six years (1673-1729). Ordinarily, diaries are dreary reading and only two or three in our language deserve to rank as literature. In English literature the Diary of Samuel Pepys, that gossipy old navy clerk of the seventeenth century, has long been a classic. An interesting personality, varied experience, and capacity for minute observation are essential to the making of a readable diary. These qualities belonged also to Samuel Sewall, of Massachusetts, who has left us in his Diary an intimate personal record as well as a detailed picture of colonial life. It is the only diary of the period—and there were many-which one reads to-day with pleasure. All sorts of trivial personal entries are found: a neighbor has his hair cut, a schoolboy is whipped, a good dinner is eaten, boys are admonished not to play "idle tricks" on April-fools' day, Mrs. Winthrop is presented with half a pound of sugar almonds. Serious matters of Church and State are also set forth with becoming solemnity.

The most entertaining part of the Diary, however, is that dealing with Judge Sewall's long courtship of Mrs. Catherine Winthrop. Both had been twice married and had reared families. To the winsome widow her suitor sends or takes sermons, gingerbread, cakes, drinks healths, and talks sweetly and practically; but the wooing is in vain; the obdurate lady says no; and the judge decides to take it philosophically. Here are two or three extracts:

October 24, 1720.—I went in the hackney coach through the Common; stopped at Madam Winthrop's Sarah came to the door with Katie in her arms; but I did not think to take notice of the child. Called her Mistress. I told her, being encouraged by David Jeffries' loving eyes and sweet words, I was come to enquire whether she could find in her heart to leave that house and neighbourhood and dwell with me at the South-end; I think she said softly, Not yet. I told her it did not lie in my lands to keep a coach. If I should, I should be in danger to be brought to keep company with her Neighbour Brooker (he was a little before sent to prison for Debt). Told her I had an antipathy to those who would pretend to give themselves, but nothing of their Estate. I would a proportion of my Estate with myself. And I suppose she would do so. She commended the book I gave her, Dr. Preston, the Church Marriage . I said the Time and Tide did circumscribe my visit. She gave me a Dram of Black-Cherry Brandy, and gave me a lump of the sugar that was in it. She wished me a good Journey. I prayed God to keep her, and came away. Had a very pleasant journey to Salem.

Monday, November 7.-My son prayed in the Old Chamber. Our time had been taken up by Son and Daughter Cooper's Visit; so that I only read the 130th and 143rd Psalm. 'Twas on the Account of my Courtship. I went to Mad. Winthrop; found her rocking her little Katie in the Cradle. I excused my coming so late (near Eight). She set me an arm'd Chair and Cushion; and so the Cradle was between her arm'd Chair and mine. Gave her the remnant of my Almonds; she did not eat of them as before; but laid them away; I said I came to enquire whether she had altered her mind since Friday, or remained of the same mind still. She said, Thereabouts. I told her I loved her, and was so fond as to think she loved me: She said she had a great respect for me The Fire was come to one short Brand besides the Block, which Brand was set up on end; at last it fell to pieces, and no Recruit was made. She gave me a Glass of Wine. I think I repeated again I would go home and bewail my Rashness in making more Haste than good Speed. I would endeavour to contain myself, and not go on to solicit her to do that which she could not consent to. Took leave of her. As I came down the steps she bid me have a Care. Treated me Courteously. Told Widowhood

her she had entered the 4th year of her

was not so clean as sometime it had been. Jehovah jireh!

Her dress

Wednesday, November 9.-Dine at Bro. Stoddard's: were so kind as to enquire of me if they should invite Madam Winthrop; I answered No.