AD DEE 39. 19 



would make rapid progress in agriculture. Casting behind 

 them all that was dear to their hearts from early childhood, 

 ^nd consecrated by tender association, they were to begin life 

 tinew. Their former experience could not serve them much. 

 For months after landing, they had no beasts of burden to 

 share their toils, and the woodman must work in the two-fold 

 capacity of teamster and team. Afterwards, when a few cat- 

 tle were obtained from England they were poorly fed on 

 meadow hay and were liable to fall a prey to the wolves and 

 the Indians. The price was so high that it was impossible 

 for a poor man to procure them. A long time after the pil- 

 grims had established themselves in the country, a two year 

 heifer sold for twenty-five pounds sterling. It is a curious 

 fact that a red calf was much cheaper in those early days 

 than a black one, because the wolves mistaking it for a deer 

 were much more likely to kill it. 



While stock was so high, a quart of new milk could be 

 bought for a penny and four eggs at the same price. 



The difficulty of procuring proper agricultural implements 

 was an additional obstacle to improvement. No metal could 

 be obtained but Taunton iron, made of bog ore, very brittle 

 and liable, at any moment, to break and put a stop to a day's 

 work. SteeLwas not then to be had. 



On landing, the pilgrims found nearly all the plants then 

 cultivated or raised as food by the Indians, such as corn, beans, 

 pumpkins and squashes. 



They were indebted to the Indian women for many hints 

 as to the modes of farming adapted to the new circumstances 

 in which they were placed. These women, whose patient 

 and meek endurance would seem to have entitled them to a 

 better fate, were compelled to do all the hard and thankless 

 work, which the limited wants of their families required. All 

 the farming fell to their lot, while the hunting and fishing was 

 the sport of their husbands and sons, though, after the fish 

 were caught, they, poor creatures, had to carry them home, 

 often to the distance of miles. 



From them the settlers learned the use of corn, and the 



