By the kind permission of the Gutenberg Project.
THE FOURTEENTH REMOVE
Now must we pack up and be gone from this
thicket, bending our course toward the Baytowns; I having nothing to eat by the
way this day, but a few crumbs of cake, that an Indian gave my girl the same
day we were taken. She gave it me, and I put it in my pocket; there it lay,
till it was so moldy (for want of good baking) that one could not tell what it
was made of; it fell all to crumbs, and grew so dry and hard, that it was like
little flints; and this refreshed me many times, when I was ready to faint. It
was in my thoughts when I put it into my mouth, that if ever I returned, I
would tell the world what a blessing the Lord gave to such mean food. As we
went along they killed a deer, with a young one in her, they gave me a piece of
the fawn, and it was so young and tender, that one might eat the bones as well
as the flesh, and yet I thought it very good. When night came on we sat down;
it rained, but they quickly got up a bark wigwam, where I lay dry that night. I
looked out in the morning, and many of them had lain in the rain all night, I
saw by their reeking. Thus the Lord dealt mercifully with me many times, and I
fared better than many of them. In the morning they took the blood of the deer,
and put it into the paunch, and so boiled it. I could eat nothing of that,
though they ate it sweetly. And yet they were so nice in other things, that
when I had fetched water, and had put the dish I dipped the water with into the
kettle of water which I brought, they would say they would knock me down; for
they said, it was a sluttish trick.
We went on our travel. I having got one
handful of ground nuts, for my support that day, they gave me my load, and I
went on cheerfully (with the thoughts of going homeward), having my burden more
on my back than my spirit. We came to Banquang river again that day, near which
we abode a few days. Sometimes one of them would give me a pipe, another a
little tobacco, another a little salt: which I would change for a little
victuals. I cannot but think what a wolvish appetite persons have in a starving
condition; for many times when they gave me that which was hot, I was so
greedy, that I should burn my mouth, that it would trouble me hours after, and
yet I should quickly do the same again. And after I was thoroughly hungry, I
was never again satisfied. For though sometimes it fell out, that I got enough,
and did eat till I could eat no more, yet I was as unsatisfied as I was when I
began. And now could I see that Scripture verified (there being many Scriptures
which we do not take notice of, or understand till we are afflicted) "Thou
shalt eat and not be satisfied" (Micah 6.14). Now might I see more than
ever before, the miseries that sin hath brought upon us. Many times I should be
ready to run against the heathen, but the Scripture would quiet me again, "Shall
there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it?" (Amos 3.6). The
Lord help me to make a right improvement of His word, and that I might learn
that great lesson: "He hath showed thee (Oh Man) what is good, and what
doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and walk
humbly with thy God? Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it" (Micah
6.8-9).
We began this remove with wading over
Banquang river: the water was up to the knees, and the stream very swift, and
so cold that I thought it would have cut me in sunder. I was so weak and
feeble, that I reeled as I went along, and thought there I must end my days at
last, after my bearing and getting through so many difficulties. The Indians
stood laughing to see me staggering along; but in my distress the Lord gave me
experience of the truth, and goodness of that promise, "When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee" (Isaiah 43.2). Then I sat down to put on my stockings and
shoes, with the tears running down mine eyes, and sorrowful thoughts in my
heart, but I got up to go along with them. Quickly there came up to us an
Indian, who informed them that I must go to Wachusett to my master, for there
was a letter come from the council to the Sagamores, about redeeming the
captives, and that there would be another in fourteen days, and that I must be
there ready. My heart was so heavy before that I could scarce speak or go in
the path; and yet now so light, that I could run. My strength seemed to come
again, and recruit my feeble knees, and aching heart. Yet it pleased them to go
but one mile that night, and there we stayed two days. In that time came a
company of Indians to us, near thirty, all on horseback. My heart skipped
within me, thinking they had been Englishmen at the first sight of them, for
they were dressed in English apparel, with hats, white neckcloths, and sashes
about their waists; and ribbons upon their shoulders; but when they came near,
there was a vast difference between the lovely faces of Christians, and foul
looks of those heathens, which much damped my spirit again.
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