The Great Drought
How the Pilgrims’ little farms did flourish! Rye, barley, maize, oats, beans, and peas grew and thrived; also parsnips, carrots, turnips, onions, melons, radishes, and beets. In the gardens, were fragrant herbs. Refreshing watercresses grew wild in the meadows; while fruit ripened on the trees, which the Pilgrims had found already growing in the land.
But early during the third Summer, destruction threatened those little farms. There was a great drought. For many weeks, scarcely a drop of rain fell.
The corn, oats, rye, and barley, drooped their yellowing blades. The beans stopped running, and lay parched and shrivelling. The other vegetables were turning yellow. Unless rain should fall soon, the Pilgrims knew that they and their little children must starve when Winter came.
To add to the misery of it all, a ship laden with supplies, which had been sent from England, was missing. Nothing had been heard of her for months. And now, during the great drought, the wreck of a ship was cast on shore.
In sorrow and anxiety, the Pilgrims met together for a day of public fasting and prayer.
We will let Edward Winslow himself, tell what happened:—
“But, Oh! the mercy of our God! who was as ready to hear as we to ask!
“For though in the morning when we assembled together, the heavens were as clear and the drought as like to continue as ever it was, yet our Exercise (public worship) continuing some eight or nine hours, before our departure the weather was overcast, the clouds gathered together on all sides.
“And on the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain continuing some fourteen days and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived.
“Such was the bounty and goodness of our God!
“So that having these many signs of God’s favour, and acceptation, we thought it would be great ingratitude if secretly we should smoother up the same or content ourselves with private thanksgiving, for that which by private prayer could not be obtained.
“And therefore another Solemn Day was set apart and appointed for that end. Wherein we returned glory, honour, and praise, with all thankfulness to our good God which dealt so graciously with us.”
Governor Edward Winslow (Condensed)
The story of “The First Harvest Home in Plymouth” may be found in “Good Stories for Great Holidays.”