THE LINDENS AT PLYMOUTH 



nation of our earth, as we may already 

 name the transatlantic Saxon nation. They 

 went seeking leave to hear a sermon in their 

 own method, these 'Mayflower' Puritans — ■ 

 a most indispensable search; and yet like 

 Saul the son of Kish, seeking a small thing 

 they found this unexpected great thing. 

 Honor to the brave and true! They verily, 

 we say, carry fire from heaven, and have 

 power they dream not of. Let all men honor 

 Puritanism, since God has so honored it." 



What manner of trees were those which 

 tossed their giant branches against the 

 stormy sky as the Pilgrims landed? Not 

 the lindens, with which this chapter is con- 

 cerned, but pine and oak, chestnut and wal- 

 nut, even on Cape Cod. With undaunted 

 zeal these men and women accepted the 

 task before them and conquered the land 

 and the forest as well as their enemies. 

 There is a tradition in the old town that the 

 Pilgrims brought with them specimens of 

 their favorite trees. At any rate, when the 

 community began to assume the proportions 

 of a town and definite streets were laid out, 



