The Governorâs lady enlivened the tedious voyage over by telling of several little incidents that had occurred; one was when the _Mayflower_ during a severe storm was saved from going to the bottom by some one wedging a _kracht_, or jackscrew, in a leak that had suddenly sprung amidships.
Little Humility Cooper, one of the children of the _Mayflower_ voyagers, an Oriole Pioneer, recited Mrs. Hemanâs âLanding of the Pilgrims,â while sprightly Mary Chilton told of her race with John Alden to be the first one of the little company to step on Plymouth Rock. She added to the interest of this recital by giving a short account of this historical granite from the day it served as a foundation stone of her victory until the present time.
A Bob White told about the first American washday, and the fun the children had gathering sweet juniper boughs to build the fires, over which hung the tripod from which was suspended the kettles of that historic occasion.
Louise Gaynor, as Priscilla, recited parts of Longfellowâs poem, âThe Courtship of Myles Standish,â with its picturesque account of the most romantic happening of the little town, while as Mistress Fuller, Barbara described Fort Hill and told about Captain Standish and his sixteen valiant men-at-arms who explored the hills and woods of the wilderness.
Kitty Corwin, as another Pilgrim dame, told of the erection of the seven little houses with their thatched roofs, built in a row on First, or Leyden Street, giving a rather exciting account of the many serious accidents that happened to the Common House where the stores and ammunition of the community were stored. And so, in picturesque detail, each feature of the story was brought forth to form in the minds of these twentieth century Pioneers a picture that would last through the years that were to follow, and help them gain an insight into the characters they were representing.
Elizabeth Winslow, the first wife of the first American statesman, one of the first to pass away in the fatal sickness of that lonely winter; Mrs. Hopkins, who won fame as the mother of the boy Oceanus, born on the _Mayflower_; Bridget Fuller, the wife of the genial Dr. Fuller, and others, were all impersonated by some one of the Pioneers.