he many
hungry mouths.

Almost every week a ship from England would come in with new immigrants,
for the Colony enjoyed an enviable reputation, and in England the
persecution of Puritans and Separatists continued. Between 1630 and
1640 more than twenty thousand people came to the Massachusetts Colony,
as the historians of our country tell us.

The vessels brought supplies and immigrants and took back with them
such raw products as the Colony could produce. The furs which the
traders obtained from the Indians and their own trappers were very
valuable, and brought high prices in old England.

But England needed also timber, and this was found abundantly in the
new country where thousands of giant trees covered the land.

Mr. Bradley was happy that he had gained another helper for his store.
In fact, Matthew proved himself an excellent clerk in the trading post.
He was not forward, but at the same time possessed courage enough to
mingle undauntedly with the Indians, who liked the "pale face" very
much because of his frankness and honesty.

The boy had received a good education, and whatever he knew, he turned
to good use, so that Mr. Bradley more than once trusted him with
important negotiations.

"God has given me a fine helper," he said one evening to his wife, as
they were closing the store. "Fred and Matthew are good business men,
and will in course of time be of invaluable service to me."

"As soon as possible we must write to his mother and ask her to come
over to America," Mrs. Bradley suggested. "I can use her in the house,
since my work is increasing."

To this her husband assented; yet this promise was never carried out,
for in the course of the summer Matthew received the news that she had
found a trustworthy and loving husband, who after their marriage
insisted that they stay in England and seek their fortune there. He was
a small merchant who was doing well in business, so that Matthew's
mother had no reason to complain.

"And now you will return to England," Fred said sadly after he had read
the letter to the family. "I might just as well bid you good-by right
now."

"Never," Matthew answered; "this is my country and shall remain my
country. Here God has given me work to do and dear friends with whom I
am happy. So why should I return?"

All rejoiced in Matthew's resolution, and they promised to make life as
pleasant for him as possible.

Certainly to him life was not a drudgery. Mr.