Front Matter

Days of the Colonists

Author of "Days of the Discoverers," Etc.

Great events in the early days of our history vividly described and vitalized by the use of new material.

Starting with John Smith in 1607, on through the finding of Plymouth; the early settlement of Manhattan; the early days of Delaware, New Hampshire, Maryland; the founding of Connecticut—all the events of outstanding days are made real, through to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The distinctive feature of this author's work—the feature that has made her books invaluable to parents, teachers and librarians—is her ability to get at and put into living words fresh information on subjects seemingly exhausted by historians.

Not only does Miss Lamprey tell the important facts connected with the development of the different colonies but she also brings out the human side of history and tells interestingly of the beginnings of some of the most significant features of American life. Do you know about the first American inventor? About the girl who started the indigo industry in the South? About the first Swedish settlements? Do you know about the first appearance of young George Washington in public life? About the first missionary work among the negro slaves? All this can be found in these remarkable stories which, taken together, form a real history of American life.

To Diantha Hardy

Where Parson Page his orchard set
Beside the terrace wall,
And vireo, bluebird, woodpecker,
Crossbill and catbird call,
There lived a garden quaintly sweet,
All planted for delight,
With blossoms brave in rose and gold
Or pinafored in white.

And if they stood so prim and tall
As pilgrim children stand,
And if they served the gracious Lord 
Who gave them to the land,
When summer moonlight waked on earth
Its wild mysterious spell,
O then the flowers remembered things 
They never chose to tell!

Then morning-glories trumpeted 
Their elfin reveillé,
And dewdrop lanterns lit the masque
That vanished with the day,
When Ragged Robin, Bouncing Bet,
Lad's Love and London Pride 
Went dancing to the fairy lutes,
With many a flower beside!

Grandmother's garden! How it knew
The little children's ways,
The heart of life, the lore of death, 
The dreams of all our days!
And when we come to Paradise
And with our loves are met,
Love walks within a garden there—
The flowers will not forget!