from England, though
there were troubles and hardships enough for the settlers.

Mr. Bradley came over from Salem, and selling his little farm in the
forest clearing, started a business in Boston, where he dealt with the
Indians, of whom he bought rich and costly furs, which they exchanged
for such articles as the white people had to offer.

The Indians wanted cooking utensils, guns, and above all fire-water;
guns were more effective than their bows and arrows when they were
hunting wild animals, though later, when they became hostile to the
white people, the governors did all in their power to prevent traders
from furnishing them rifles and ammunition.

They also forbade them to sell to the Indians the much-desired
fire-water or whiskey, for this insidious poison worked great havoc
among them. So anxious were they to obtain it, that they sold their
last fur blanket to the white trader, and when they got their whisky
they drank to excess, and in their fits of drunkenness committed
outrages both upon their own people and the whites.

Mr. Bradley was a true Christian, and therefore refrained from selling
to the Indians such things as might harm them. They were like children,
and would have given in exchange for worthless beads and trinkets the
most expensive and valuable furs. In this way, Mr. Bradley could have
made much money, but his heart was not covetous, and he tried his best
to teach the Indians what articles were really of use to them.

So he prospered, but not as much as did the wicked traders who only
considered their gain, and who without qualms of conscience sold to the
Indians worthless and even harmful things.

His home was near the fort, and it was substantially built of huge logs
which he had felled in the forest.

Since his wife was accustomed to luxuries and comforts, he tried to
make his home as pleasant as possible, though she proved herself a good
pioneer, who did not grumble when she did not have the many fine things
to which she was used in England, and which could not be obtained in
the Colony.

"God has given me so much that is precious," she would say as her
husband expressed his regrets that he could not do more for her. "I
have you, my dear husband, and God has sent us two obedient and pious
children, though we have none of our own. So while not giving us all we
want, He has nevertheless filled our cup of happiness to overflowing."

"And to me He has given a most godly and faith