William
Penn, the son of the celebrated Admiral.

"As to worldly wealth, dear Jack," he said, "I might gain that in
England, but of freedom of conscience and freedom of worship, we may at
any time be deprived, I fear. Our present king--may Heaven preserve
him!--is liberal, but there are many malignants yet in the country who
are striving for place and power, and we know not what another reign may
bring forth. Other Acts of Conformity may be passed; and I cannot
forget the cruel way in which our divines were treated in the last
reign, when they were cast out on the cold world to gain their
livelihood, as best they could, by those who sought to obtain only the
loaves and fishes which their livings afforded."

"But will my father agree to let sister Kate cross the ocean, and leave
him for ever?" asked Jack.

"Thy father is a man of sense," answered Dainsforth. "In most things he
agrees with me; albeit he is more inclined to associate with malignants
than I approve of, yet he, too, sees how the wind blows, and if he
thinks it is for the happiness of thy sister Kate, he will not prevent
her following the bent of her inclinations. Often has she said to me,
`Where thou goest I will go,' and therefore, without undue presumption,
I may hope that she will consent to accompany me across the wide ocean
to the land of promise. It is a beautiful and rich country, Jack; I
would that thou wouldst make up thy mind to come with us! We might
there, in a new England, enjoy that peace and prosperity and liberty of
conscience, and freedom to worship God as we list, which may be denied
us in this old country."

The idea was quite a new one to Jack. It had never occurred to him to
seek his fortune abroad, simply, probably, because he had not been
thrown in the way of persons who spoke on the subject. He promised
Dainsforth, however, to consider the matter.

"I will talk to thee anon more about it, Jack," said Dainsforth, as they
parted. "For a young man enjoying the health and strength that thou
doest, I cannot picture a finer calling than that of subduing the
wilderness, of turning a desert into a garden, and producing fruitful
corn-fields out of wild land. The vine and the olive, and the orange
flourish, they say, out there; and that corn which they call maize, with
its golden head, so rich and prolific; and there are deer in the woods,
and quail innumerable, and fish in the rivers and in the sea which
washes its coasts. Ind