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Standish of Standish, a novel by Jane Goodwin Austin |
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Chapter 20. Funeral--Baked Meats And Marriage Feasts |
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_ CHAPTER XX. FUNERAL--BAKED MEATS AND MARRIAGE FEASTS "Methinks our governor should not be buried with as little ceremony as we perforce have showed our meanest servant," said Captain Standish gloomily to Elder Brewster the evening of Carver's death. "You Separatists despise the ministering of the Church, but what have ye set in 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 own hand, for that were of the sins of presumption against which David doth specially pray, but yet,"--and the Elder's face softened, "I am of your mind, Captain, that we should honor our chief magistrate in the last service we can render him, and although by his own wish I ceased to pray for him ere the last breath was sped, and will never again pray for him or any parted soul, I well approve of such military honors as we are able to pay to his memory, and I will carry my musket with the rest, and fire it as you shall direct." "Why, that's more than ever I would have looked for, Elder," exclaimed Standish in amaze. "But since you so proffer, I gladly accept your aid and countenance, and by your leave, since as yet we have no governor in place 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 of content and disapproval upon his face the captain went away to so arrange and order his plan, that at sunrise on the third day a guard of twelve men, including the elder, presented themselves at the house of mourning, and receiving the coffin upon the crossed barrels of their muskets carried it along the brow of the hill to the grave newly opened amid the springing wheat. Mistress Carver had made but one request, and that of piteous earnestness,-- "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 covered in, and then, at the captain's signal, the twelve muskets were fired in relays of four, and their mournful echo mingled with the sobbing dirge of the waves breaking upon the Pilgrim Rock, while the dense column of smoke rising grandly to heaven was the only monument then or ever erected to John Carver, that willing martyr and gallant gentleman who had indeed "given his life for the brethren." Returning to the Common house the Guard of Honor joined with the rest of the townsmen in a Council, whereat they elected William Bradford to be their second Governor, and as he now lay ill in his bed, Isaac Allerton was chosen to be his Assistant and mouthpiece. Bradford, neither over elated nor daunted by his new dignities, accepted the nomination, and with few and brief intervals retained it until his own death some four-and-thirty years later, and nobly and faithfully did 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 formal request that he as chief magistrate of the colony would perform the marriage ceremony between him and Susanna, widow of William White. For the Separatists during their sojourn in Holland had accepted the creed of that nation of traders, and held with them that marriage is merely a civil contract, requiring a magistrate to secure the proper amount of goods to each party, and make sure that neither defrauded the other. As for the sacramental blessing of the Church, said the Dutchman and the Separatist, it costs money and bestows none, and priests are ever dangerous associates, so we'll none of them or their craft. Apart from this view of the matter however, the civil authority was the only one available in this case, since Pastor Robinson had been detained in Leyden with the rest of his flock, and Elder Brewster had no authority except to preach. "It will be my first essay at such an office, Winslow, and I know not precisely how to go about it," replied Bradford smilingly when his friend had somewhat formally declared his errand. "But you were yourself wed that way," replied the bridegroom impatiently. "For me, my first wife held to her early teaching in that particular, and would be married in a church and by a minister." "Yes, I was wed by a magistrate in Amsterdam," replied Bradford reluctantly; "but the old Dutchman did so mumble and mouth his words that I gathered not the sense of half. Likely it is, however, Master Carver hath left some Manual for such occasion. He was warned or ever he left England that he was like to be our Governor for longer than the voyage." "Doubtless, then, he had some such office-book. Shall I bid John Howland search for it?" asked Winslow. "Nay, the widow hath already sent me a box of papers and some little books, which she said should be the governor's. I have not yet searched them, but I will do so before I sleep. What day have you set for your wedding, 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 next week." "And at what hour?" "At even when all may rest from their labor it seemeth best. After supper 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 just finished to-day, and such gear as we have will be carried thither to-morrow." "I mind me that Mistress White hath a fair cradle of her own," suggested Bradford dryly. "Ay. Peregrine lieth in it now." "May it never stand idle. I will come to thy new house then on Thursday of next week, after supper." As Winslow departed, Desire Minter met him on the threshold, and with a hasty 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 from the back of his chair with a patient smile as the knock was immediately followed 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 William Bradford. What wouldst thou?" "Well, worshipful sir, 't is a little advice. Your honor sees that I am a poor lonely lass, bereft now of even my cousin Carver's husband"-- "Nay, my girl, our late governor was more than 'even my cousin's husband.' 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 looking sorrowfully at the girl whose selfish cunning was not keen enough to disguise 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 me that he fain would ask me to wife, did not Priscilla Molines woo him so desperately"-- "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 gainsay it?" whimpered the girl. "She as good as asked him when we were sick together 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 me to 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, and quickly, 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 the harbor, and I told my cousin Carver, and she says it will be an ease to her mind to leave me with so good a man to my husband, but for me I had rather have the Captain." "And thou callest upon me to straighten this coil, and marry thee to whichever man will have thee, eh?" "Yes, your honor." "Thou 'rt a simple lass, and knowst not half thou sayest. Go now, and I will send for thee in a day or two. But see thou keep a quiet tongue. Say not one word so much as to the rushes, or thou shalt have no husband at all. Mind that!" "Oh, I'll not speak, I'll not forget, trust me to do all your honor's bidding," cried the girl joyfully, and Bradford gazing at her in compassionate wonder rejoined,-- "Well, go now, and remember. Stay, send me one of the lads, no matter which. The first one thou seest." And when Giles Hopkins presently appeared he sent him to crave the presence of Captain Standish when he should have finished his noon-meat. The Captain came at once, and after a few friendly words the governor calmly 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 common weal, as Winslow words it? If the wench must be wed there are men enow who are not of thy nearest friends, Bradford. And, besides, thou knowest I am to marry Priscilla Molines, and now I think on 't, 't is time to arrange it. I did but wait for the brig to be gone, but then the governor'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 ever spoken to her?" "Not I. I have no skill in such matters, nor time, nor thought. I'll write 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 love could 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 fain would 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 well give his own way into the bargain. I'll marry before your new old love can reach here, Governor." "Nay, when thou sayest 'Governor,' I note that thou art ill pleased with somewhat, 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 strode up the hill to solace his spirit by examining and petting his big guns. That same evening Bradford walked painfully across the little space dividing Hopkins's house from that where Katharine Carver sat alone beside the little fire still comfortable to an invalid, and after some conversation said,-- "Dame, hast any plan for marrying thy kinswoman Desire Minter to any of our young fellows?" "I am glad you have spoken of it, Governor Bradford," replied the widow eagerly. "For it is a matter largely in my thoughts. I do not think I am to tarry very long behind my dear lord,--nay, do not speak of that I beseech you, kind sir,--but it hath dwelt painfully on my mind that the poor silly maid would be left alone, and none so ill-fitted to care for herself have I ever seen. But she tells me that John Howland hath spoken to her, and she is not ill inclined to him. Would not it be approved of your judgment, Governor?" "Ay, if in truth both parties desire it, dame. Suppose we have Howland in before us now, and ask him his will? Thou canst deal with the maid after." "He is just without, cleaving some fuel for this fire, if your excellency will please to call him." "I will, but first, Dame, let me beg thee, of our old friendship, of the love I bore thy husband and he to me, treat me not with such cruel formality. True it is that his honors have fallen upon me, and that his place knoweth him no more; and yet it is his spirit, his counsel, and his ensample that rules my poor actions at every turn. Be not jealous, be not resentful, mistress, though well I wot so loving and so faithful a heart as thine cannot well escape such weakness, for 't is part of woman's nature. But canst not be a little mindful of thine old friend's feelings too, and soften somewhat of this stately ceremony in speaking to 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 but only to tell how I was grieved; but then, we men are still too clumsy to meddle with women's tender natures. Be what thou wilt, speak as thou wilt to me dear Dame, I am and ever shall be thy faithful friend and servant." He went out as he spoke, and when a few moments later Howland and he returned together the lady had resumed her usual quietude of manner. "Sit thee down, John. Mistress Carver and I have somewhat to ask of thee. 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 toward her, and spoke so brightly, that a smile stirred the widow's pale lips as she replied,-- "'T is plain enough that 't is thy wish, John, and it will wonderfully content my conscience in the matter of bringing Desire Minter away from the 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 with authority. "Thou seemest dazed." "Why, truth to tell, sir, and my dear Dame, I thought not of Desire as my 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 now is the saying proven. The maid believed thee in earnest, and hath set her mind upon thee"-- But of a sudden Bradford remembering Desire's plainly expressed preference for the Captain, if he might be had, paused abruptly, and Dame Carver took up the word,-- "It would much comfort my mind, John, if thou wouldst consent to this thing. The maiden's future is a fardel upon my shoulders now, and they are 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 comfort to thee, it is enough." "But hast thou any other choice, John? Wouldst thou have chosen Priscilla, like thy friend Alden?" "Nay, Dame." "But thou hast something in thy mind, good John. Tell it out, I pray thee." "Well, then, to speak all my mind, Mistress, there is no maid among us so fair in my eyes, and so sweet, and pure, and true, as Elizabeth Tilley, 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, but Bradford interposed,-- "Nay, nay, John, we cannot have our sturdy men waiting for little maids to grow up. There are boys enow coming on for them, and as for thee, why man, thou 'rt five-and-twenty, art not?" "Seven-and-twenty, sir. But all this is beside the matter. If my dear mistress asks me to marry Desire Minter as a comfort to her, I will do it to-day." "I thank thee heartily, John." And in the affectionate glance and smile his lily-like dame turned upon him Howland felt more than repaid for his sacrifice. "And yet," continued she, "I will not let thee marry to-day, nor for a year. But if thou wilt call thyself betrothed to her, and promise me on thy faith to deal truly by her, and at the year's end marry her if you both are still so minded, I will be content. I shall leave her in thy care, even as he who is gone left me in thy care, and a good and faithful guardian hast thou been, dear friend." "I pledged my life to him that I would do my best, and now I pledge it in your hands, my honored mistress and dear lady, that I will so deal with this maid as shall most pleasure you." And so John Howland and Desire Minter were formally betrothed; and before the month of May was gone the wheat upon the hill-side was again disturbed as John Carver's wife came to lay herself down to rest close beside him in sweet content. "They tell of broken hearts," said Surgeon Fuller musing above that double grave; "and were I asked to name Dame Katharine's complaint I know no name for it but that." _ |
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