y arrived in the fall of the year, too late to plant grain or to
put by enough provisions for the winter, so they were quite dependent
upon the provision boat from England. Often this boat was long delayed
because of storms at sea, or because the people in England did not
send it on time. This caused much suffering and distress.

In our picture we see three of the first settlers of our New England
coast, waiting for the provision ship. The waves come rolling in to
this rough and barren shore, but as far as the eye can see there is
yet no sign of the awaited boat. On that point of land in the distance
are a few rude houses which must be the homes of the Pilgrims. This
dreary place, so bleak and barren, makes us wonder how they could ever
hope to survive the perils of a winter there.

Our interest is centered upon the three figures at the right in the
picture. One can almost read the thoughts expressed in the three
faces. The figure of the man stands out strong and erect, and there is
that in his fixed gaze which tells us his thoughts are far away. No
doubt he is thinking of his old home across the ocean. He is homesick,
yet go back he would not; there is no sign of discouragement. His
wife, standing beside him, places her hand on his shoulder to comfort
him, but she too looks as if she were thinking of that other home and
the friends across the sea. Her gentle, refined face is saddened for
the moment, yet in it we see expressed the fine courage which has
carried her thus far along the way.

The mother, seated on the great rock, has the same thoughtful,
far-away gaze. Her hands, clasped in her lap, have more of resignation
and patience in them. Probably her thoughts and affections are
centered in the two dear ones beside her, and in their welfare, rather
than in the friends across the sea.

Notice the Puritan dress, cloaks, shoes, caps, and collars. These
people are well dressed, and do not seem to be poor. Perhaps they are
simply longing to hear from their friends, and hoping the ship will
bring some news of them. It may be that it has been due for several
days, and each day they have walked out to this same rocky point,
hoping to see it on the distant horizon.

They are dressed in warm clothes. From that fact and from the half-bare
branches of the bush that we see growing beside the rock in the
foreground of the picture we should judge it to be the fall of the year.

Standing in the bright sunlight, they look anxi