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.The Lord preserved us in safety that night, and raised us up again in the morning, andcarried us along, that before noon, we came to Concord.Now was I full of joy, and yet not withoutsorrow; joy to see such a lovely sight, so many Christians together, and some of them myneighbors.There I met with my brother, and my brother-in-law, who asked me, if I knew wherehis wife was? Poor heart! he had helped to bury her, and knew it not.She being shot down by thehouse was partly burnt, so that those who were at Boston at the desolation of the town, andcame back afterward, and buried the dead, did not know her.Yet I was not without sorrow, tothink how many were looking and longing, and my own children amongst the rest, to enjoy thatdeliverance that I had now received, and I did not know whether ever I should see them again.Being recruited with food and raiment we went to Boston that day, where I met with my dearhusband, but the thoughts of our dear children, one being dead, and the other we could not tellwhere, abated our comfort each to other.I was not before so much hemmed in with the mercilessand cruel heathen, but now as much with pitiful, tender-hearted and compassionate Christians.Inthat poor, and distressed, and beggarly condition I was received in; I was kindly entertained inseveral houses.So much love I received from several (some of whom I knew, and others I knewnot) that I am not capable to declare it.But the Lord knows them all by name.The Lord rewardthem sevenfold into their bosoms of His spirituals, for their temporals.The twenty pounds, theprice of my redemption, was raised by some Boston gentlemen, and Mrs.Usher, whose bountyand religious charity, I would not forget to make mention of.Then Mr.Thomas Shepard ofCharlestown received us into his house, where we continued eleven weeks; and a father andmother they were to us.And many more tender-hearted friends we met with in that place.Wewere now in the midst of love, yet not without much and frequent heaviness of heart for our poorchildren, and other relations, who were still in affliction.The week following, after my coming in,the governor and council sent forth to the Indians again; and that not without success; for theybrought in my sister, and goodwife Kettle.Their not knowing where our children were was a soretrial to us still, and yet we were not without secret hopes that we should see them again.Thatwhich was dead lay heavier upon my spirit, than those which were alive and amongst theheathen: thinking how it suffered with its wounds, and I was no way able to relieve it; and how itwas buried by the heathen in the wilderness from among all Christians.We were hurried up anddown in our thoughts, sometime we should hear a report that they were gone this way, andsometimes that; and that they were come in, in this place or that.We kept inquiring and listeningto hear concerning them, but no certain news as yet.About this time the council had ordered aday of public thanksgiving.Though I thought I had still cause of mourning, and being unsettled inour minds, we thought we would ride toward the eastward, to see if we could hear anythingconcerning our children.And as we were riding along (God is the wise disposer of all things)between Ipswich and Rowley we met with Mr.William Hubbard, who told us that our son Josephwas come in to Major Waldron's, and another with him, which was my sister's son.I asked himhow he knew it? He said the major himself told him so.So along we went till we came toNewbury; and their minister being absent, they desired my husband to preach the thanksgiving forthem; but he was not willing to stay there that night, but would go over to Salisbury, to hearfurther, and come again in the morning, which he did, and preached there that day.At night,when he had done, one came and told him that his daughter was come in at Providence.Herewas mercy on both hands.Now hath God fulfilled that precious Scripture which was such acomfort to me in my distressed condition [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]