But when I tell you how sick they were and how much they suffered that
first winter, you will be very sad and sorry for them. The weather was
cold, the snow fell fast and thick, the wind was icy, and the Pilgrim
fathers had no one to help them cut down the trees and build their
church and their houses.

The Pilgrim mothers helped all they could; but they were tired with
the long journey, and cold, and hungry too, for no one had the right
kind of food to eat, nor even enough of it.

So first one was taken sick, and then another, till half of them were
in bed at the same time, Brave Myles Standish and the other soldiers
nursed them as well as they knew how; but before spring came half of
the people died and had gone at last to "heaven, their dearest
country."

But by and by the sun shone more brightly, the snow melted, the leaves
began to grow, and sweet spring had come again.

Some friendly Indians had visited the Pilgrims during the winter, and
Captain Myles Standish, with several of his men, had returned the
visit.

One of the kind Indians was called Squanto, and he came to stay with
the Pilgrims, and showed them how to plant their corn, and their pease
and wheat and barley.

When the summer came and the days were long and bright, the Pilgrim
children were very happy, and they thought Plymouth a lovely place
indeed. All kinds of beautiful wild flowers grew at their doors, there