48 OLD PLYMOUTH TRAILS 



Forefathers' Day, they came five days later in 

 the Mayflower itself. 



There were twenty-eight of these children, 

 varying in age from the babe in arms to well- 

 grown, lusty youths and maidens. Christmas 

 was at hand, and one fancies that all knew much 

 about it, and spoke little, perhaps not at all. So 

 far as record goes they had broken absolutely 

 from all that they believed the follies of the 

 fatherland. Yet in the hearts of many, one can 

 but think, must have remained warm memories 

 of Yule logs, of the boar's head, piping hot and 

 decked out with holly berries, and of the low- 

 ceiled, oak-wainscotted dining halls of Old World 

 houses all alight with candles and green with 

 Christmas decorations. It is a pity that in re- 

 pudiating the folly they had to repudiate also the 

 fun. For just ashore in this land of mystery to 

 which they had come were opportunities for 

 Christmas greenery and Christmas feasting 

 which they would have done well to take. The 

 English holly they had left behind, yet along 

 Town Brook grew the black alder with its red 

 berries that are so pretty a substitute for the oth- 

 ers, a holly itself, or at least an Ilex. All about 

 Plymouth in the low grounds may be found these 



