CHAPTER X.

THE PESTILENCE.

THERE was a slight pause in the conversation, during which a person entered the room, and whispered to Endicott, and then to Esther Ludlow, who had been sitting all this time, listening in attentive silence to what was going forward. As soon as the person had communicated his message, she arose from her seat, and quietly left the room.

A shade passed over the stern brow of the governor, and his iron features seemed to be moved by a momentary convulsion. The emotion, however, whatever it was, seemed to be instantly suppressed, and he shortly afterwards resumed his conversation with his companions.

"Look ye, Master Conant, and you, Master Ludlow," said he, "these be blank register books, which, at the company's request, I propose shall be kept in every family of the colony. I purpose to appoint an overseer to each family, whose duty it shall be to keep an authentic history of each day's business. Idleness is the mother of mischief, Master Ludlow, and I mean that every hour of every day shall be chronicled, with the employment and the amount of work of each member of each family, from the father down to the youngest child. I purpose that every child born in the colony shall be brought up to some useful occupation, whereby he will be more likely to obey his spiritual instructors, and to walk in the way of the Lord. I intend, by means of these registers, that the governor and the council shall at any moment be able to read the lives and the characters of every man, woman or child, who live under their authority.

Thus shall the patriarchal days of the old world be restored, and sin, thus busily watched for, shall be scared out of our infant community."

So saying, the governor gravely distributed to Conant, Ludlow and to others, whom he had appointed overseers, the registers, in which the history of the little colony was thus minutely and daily to be recorded.

"I believe," continued he, "that the objects of our present meeting, which were duly to discuss all matters which might create difference between the old planters and the new, have at last been satisfactorily adjusted."

"Even so," answered Conant, "the company hath been wise and fortunate, both in their prudent resolutions, and in their selection of so discreet and upright an agent as Master Endicott."

"I furthermore propose," said the governor, "in view of this peaceful settlement of all difficulties, of this happy termination of all heart-burnings between the new comers and their predecessors, to baptize this spot of the wilderness by a new name. Nahumkeak is its present denomination, in the barbarous language of a barbarous people."

"So is it called,” replied Walter Ludlow, "but I am inclined to believe that the term, even like these wandering tribes themselves, is of Hebrew origin. I am not altogether unskilled in that tongue, in which the blessed Scriptures were first promulgated, and I find there an apt and happy derivation for the word by which this wilderness spot hath hitherto been known."

"And what may that be, Master Ludlow?" asked the Governor.

"Nahumkeak," continued Ludlow, "deriveth plainly from two Hebrew words, which, being interpreted, signify the haven or the bosom of consolation, and a pleasanter or more prophetic designation than this, I could not desire for our new settlement."

"And so think I," said Roger Conant, "and I confess a desire to retain the term endeared to us by a long period of suffering."

"Nevertheless, I propose to change it," returned Endicott, in a somewhat peremptory and arbitrary manner, "and henceforth I propose that it shall be called the City of Salem, in memory of the covenant of peace, this day concluded between the new comers and the ancient planters. 'In Salem is my tabernacle, and in Zion is my dwelling-place, saith the Lord.'"

"Be it as you will," said Ludlow, "although I should be even as well contented to know my old resting-place by its old name."

"I could be as well content likewise," said Conant, "and do desire to have no hand in changing its appellation. Nevertheless, I say with Master Ludlow, be it as you will. Peace is, at least, happily established among us."

"And therefore shall it be commemorated by this new and sacred name," said the governor, "and so no more of these

matters."

"Verily," said the withered little man, who had been puffing his pipe in solemn silence, during this long session, and whose voice now sounded like the boding raven's, " verily, I marvel that ye should discuss the prospects of this little colony so closely. The pestilence walketh among us by noon-day, and assuredly the ill-starred colony must perish speedily."

"I tell thee, man, that this colony shall never perish!" thundered Endicott, striking the ground fiercely with his sword, as he spoke. "No, although, as in Egypt of old, there be not a house where there is not one dead. No, let the pestilence stride among us, let the grave yawn and swallow us. Still shall this goodly work go on, for the finger of the Lord is in it. I fear not the savage, nor the winter, nor the pestilence, and under God, I have sworn to fulfil the sacred trust reposed in

me. I, even I, with the blessed Redeemer's help, will sustain this tottering load, and may this right arm be withered, bone, marrow, and muscle, if it doth not cheerily bear up the load imposed upon it, so long as this heart of mine beateth within my bosom."

The stern and choleric Puritan strode forth into the middle of the apartment, as he spoke, and looked around him with flashing eyes. His rude but impressive figure seemed to dilate into colossal proportions, as he stood in the centre of that earnest group, looking and speaking almost like an inspired prophet. Stern, sudden, choleric, but earnest, undaunted, untiring, he seemed more like Joshua, the son of Nun, rebuking his faltering followers, and invigorating them with his own overflowing inspiration, than like a mortal of earth's mould.

"What tell you me of famine, of pestilence, of danger?" he continued. "I tell you, man, that my people shrink not, for the Lord sustaineth them, and the road to heaven is no nearer from their fathers' graves, than from these frozen deserts. But should their hearts faint by the wayside, should they cry to me, even as the children of Israel cried unto Moses, saying, because there were no graves in Egypt hast thou taken us away to die in this wilderness; even then do I feel that within me, which could lift them up from the sloughs of despair, and sustain their footsteps even till they reached the firm ground."

The withered little old planter, somewhat abashed by this burst of fierce enthusiasm, which his observation about the pestilence had elicited, seemed desirous of withdrawing himself from observation beneath the smoke-cloulds which he furiously emitted from his pipe. In the mean time Conant, looking respectfully towards the governor, observed,

"Since the subject hath been mentioned, let me express my deep regret, that the worthy Dame Endicott should be, even now, dangerously ill with the fever, which hath made such havoc in the colony."

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"Aye," replied Endicott, calmly, "the wife of my youth is stricken, I fear me she is sick even unto death, but God in his mercy may yet withdraw this cup of bitterness. Her sufferings are, at this moment, but light, and an angel from heaven, even now, is ministering at her bedside."

"What mean you, Master Endicott ?" asked Conant, in some surprise, and as if he believed the governor's mind bewildered by the stern suppression of his natural emotion.

"I mean,” said Endicott, speaking with some difficulty, for his voice seemed choked at times, in spite of his sternness, "I mean that her sufferings seem at the moment light, and that all which could be done by the gentle hand of woman, to alleviate pain, is rendered to her hourly by one who seemeth to me to walk among us more like an angel than a woman. I need scarcely add, Master Ludlow, that I speak of your sister."

The brother was already gone, but Brackenbury spoke, "You may well say, Master Endicott, that she seemeth more like an angel than a woman, for it hath, truly, often seemed to me, that she must possess powers greater than human, to sustain herself amid the trials and the dangers to which she hourly exposes her life. Since this fearful pestilence first began to rage among us, she hath been untiring. Not a cold hearth but hath been warmed, not a starving family but hath been fed from her bounty, not a bedside at which she hath not ministered. Providence hath been more bountiful in worldly goods to Master Ludlow and his kindred, than to most of the indwellers of the wilderness, but Esther Ludlow holdeth her substance as a sacred trust from the Almighty, and dispenseth it accordingly." "And may the blessings of those who were nigh to perish, descend upon her head!" said Endicott. "Who dares murmur, when this fair and feeble creature alone seemeth endowed with strength enough to sustain, upon her own shoulders, so heavy a burthen of suffering and sorrow? Were I to be struck down in