Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE SETTLEMENT In a little thatched cottage in old Portsmouth of Hampshire, England, Roger Low sat on a stool by his father's knee, while the light of the fire flickered over the heavy settles and on the rafters above. The man was still in his working clothes, with his hammer and saw at his side. "This new world they tell me of, my boy, must be a wonderful place. Those Puritan leaders, Bradford and Standish three years ago, in 1620, took their followers to New England to worship as they pleased. And now the Laconia Company, of which our own Governor, John Mason, is a member, has been given a grant of land there." "What can he do with it, father?" Roger asked. "They say, lad, the furs of those forests and the fish of those waters would make a big business for England." A knock at the door brought the man to his feet. On opening it, he bowed low to the gentleman waiting. "Come in, sir, and be seated." David Thompson took the opposite settle, quite ignoring Roger, who had risen in respect. Absorbed in his own plans this Scotchman, Thompson, broke out at once, "Low, I want you to pick up yourtools and come to America with me this spring. Governor Mason wishes to make a settlement and proposes to establish a Manor on his new grant. We will pursue fur trade and fishing, and even hope to cultivate vines and discover mines." It was an astonishing thought to this carpenter, whose son was his only companion. "I should have to take the boy with me," was his first remark, after some thoughtful moments. "Certainly," replied David Thompson, who knew that the good workmanship of this man was worth an extra passenger. "We shall need the boys in a year or two," he added. Final arrangements were completed, and in the spring of 1623, Roger and his father sailed with ...