"  In  the  principal  houses  was  a  great  hall,  orna-
mented with  pictures ;  a  great  lantern ;  velvet  cush-
ions in  the  window-seat  to  look  into  the  garden :  on
either  side  a  great  parlour,  a  little  parlour  or  study,
furnished  with  great  looking-glasses,  Turkey  carpets,
window-curtains  and  valance,  picture  and  a  map,  a
brass  clock,  red  leather-back  chairs,  a  great  pair  of
brass  andirons  :  the  chambers  well  furnished  with
feather  beds,  warming-pans,  and  every  other  ele-
gance and  comfort :  the  pantry  well  filled  with
substantial  fare  and  dainties,  Madeira  wine,  prunes,
marmalade,  silver  tankards  and  wine-cups  not  un-
common."

If  any  are  incredulous  as  to  the  correctness  of  the
above  extract,  we  assure  them  that  its  truth  is  con-
firmed by  the  spaciousness  of  the  Pilgrim  habitations
still  standing  in  Boston,  and  occupied  by  their  de-
scendants. These  Pilgrims  were  not  needy  adven-
turers nor  ruined  exiles.  Mr.  Winthrop  himself  had
an  estate  in  England  worth  seven  hundred  pounds
per  annum.  Some  of  his  associates  came  from  lordly
halls,  and  many  of  them  brought  wealth,  as  well  as
virtue,  to  the  colony.
The  rigour  of  the  climate,  and  the  embarrassments
incident  to  their  condition,  often  reduced  the  Pil-
grims, in  their  earliest  period,  to  the  wants  of  extreme
poverty ;  but  their  sufferings  had  the  dignity  and
merit  of  being  voluntary,  and  are  now,  as  the  tat-


212  HOPE    LESLIE.
tered  garments  of  the  saints  are  to  the  faithful,  sa-
cred in  the  eyes  of  their  posterity.
