Some Dutch people from New York had built it for the purpose of preventing others from settling near them. They had planted a cannon upon the fort, to fire upon any one who should attempt to sail higher up the river.

5. When Holmes came along in his vessel, the Dutch came out from the fort, and hailed him. "Stop," said they, "and lower your sails;" and while they said this, they loaded their cannon, and brought fire from the fort, and told Holmes that they would blow him through if he did not stop.

6. Holmes saw the Dutch, saw their cannon, saw them loading it, and heard them call. Little cared he; he was a bold man. A fine wind was blowing, and his little vessel went on like a bird in the air. Besides, he knew that the Dutch were no marksmen at all; and he went on, leaving them quite vexed that powder and ball would not scare an Englishman. On reaching Windsor, he put up his house, and thus led the way for the settlement of Connecticut.

HUDSON SAILING UP THE RIVER IN THE HALF MOON."

LESSON VI.

The Middle States.

1. These are New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

2. In 1609, Henry Hudson, in his little Dutch vessel, the Half Moon, sailed up the river which now bears his name. He claimed the country on its banks for the States of Holland. When he returned to Europe, he described the land he had discovered as the most beautiful in the world.

3. In 1624, the Dutch bought from the Indians the little island on which New York now stands for twenty-four dollars. They named the little village

of Dutch cottages, with straw roofs and wooden chimneys, which they built, New Amsterdam. The whole province they called New Netherlands.

4. The Dutch did not keep the country many years. In 1664 there was war between England and Holland, and the English came over to America and took possession of New Netherlands. It was called by them New York. A great many Dutch families, however, remained in the colony, and to this day many of their customs still linger in the cities of New York and Albany.

5. New Jersey was a part of New Netherlands. When the English took possession, the king divided the province into East and West Jersey, and gave it to two English noblemen. Both divisions were settled by New England Puritans and English Friends, or Quakers, as they were called. In 1664, Elizabeth, then "a cluster of four houses," was made the capital of West Jersey. In 1702, the two provinces were united, but long kept their old name of "The Jerseys.'

6. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn. His father, Admiral Penn, had lent large sums of money to King Charles II. The English king repaid the loan in lands. He gave the son of his friend a large tract in America, which he called Pennsyl

C

vania, or the "Forests of Penn." The first settlers arrived in 1681, and in the following year, William Penn himself came over, and founded the city of Philadelphia. The name means "Brotherly Love."

7. Delaware was settled by people from Sweden and Finland as early as 1627. Wilmington was the first town founded. For a long time Delaware was a part of Pennsylvania.

Questions.

1 and 2. Give the names of the Middle States. Who ascended the Hudson River in 1609? What was the name of his vessel? For whom How did he describe the country?

did he claim the land?

3. When, and by whom, and of whom was New York island purchased? For what sum? What did the first village upon it consist of? What was this settlement called? What was the province called?

4. When did war exist between England and Holland? What act of hostility did the English commit? What did they call the country? Were any Dutch people left in New York?

5. To what province did New Jersey belong? What was done with New Jersey when the English took it? By whom was New Jersey settled? Name the capital of West Jersey in 1664. Of what did it consist? When were East and West Jersey united?

6. By whom was Pennsylvania founded? What had Penn's father done for the king? How did Charles II. repay the debt? What was the land called which he gave him? What does the name mean? did the first settlers arrive? When did Penn come?

When

7. By whom was Delaware settled? At what date? Name the first town. Of what province was Delawarc a part?

Story.

1. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was the only son of an English admiral. He had received a fine education in England, and had improved his mind by study, and by travel in foreign countries.

2. His father, who was high in favor at the English court, was very proud of the beautiful person and graceful accomplishments of his only son. He looked to see him crowned with every success and honor which the world could bestow.

3. But at the age of twenty-two, this gay, handsome, and accomplished youth renounced the world, and cast in his lot with the then poor and despised Society of Friends. This step led to much suffering. His father turned him out of doors, and it was a mother's love only that saved him from starving. The firmness and gentleness of William Penn afterwards gained for him the admiration and entire forgiveness of his father.

4. For some years Pen endured persecution. At length, seeing no hope of toleration for the Friends in England, he determined to try "the holy experiment," as he called it, of founding a free and happy home for them in the New World.

5. The ship that brought Penn over was named the Welcome, and warm, indeed, was the welcome which this good man received, when he landed in his colony, from the Friends who had come over the previous year.

6. With a few companions, he visited the spot where Philadelphia now stands, and there made his famous treaty with