His laugh which followed cheered many hearts, and was echoed in faint smiles on the pale faces of the colonists.  Governor Bradford himself smiled and, turning to the Captain, held out his hand.  “Thou art ever a tonic, Thomas,” he said, “and there is always a welcome for thee in Plymouth and for thy friends, too,” he added, turning to the Goodman.

“Though thou knowest him not, he is haply more thy friend than mine,” said the Captain, pushing the Goodman and Daniel forward to shake hands with the Governor, “He is married to Mistress Bradford’s niece and his name is Pepperell.”

“Josiah Pepperell, of Cambridge?” said the Governor’s lady, coming forward to welcome him.

“At your service, madam,” answered the Goodman, bowing low, “and this is my son Daniel.”

Daniel bowed in a manner to make his mother proud of him if she could have seen him, and then Mercy and Joseph swarmed up, bringing their older brother William, a lad of fifteen, to meet his new cousin, and the four children ran away together, all their tongues wagging briskly about the exciting event of the day.  The earthquake had now completely passed, and the people, roused from their terror, hastened to their homes to repair such damage as had been done and to continue the tasks which it had interrupted.  Meanwhile the Captain distributed his letters and parcels, leaving the Governor to become acquainted with his new relative, learn his errand, and help him on his journey, while his wife hastened home to prepare a dinner for company.

It was a wonderful dinner that she set before them.  There were succotash and baked codfish, a good brown loaf, and pies made of blueberries gathered and dried the summer before.  Oh, if only Daniel’s mother could have been there to see his table manners on that occasion!  He sat up as straight as a ramrod, said “please” and “thank you,” ate in the most genteel manner possible, even managing blueberry pie without disaster, and was altogether such an example of behavior that Mistress Bradford said before the meal was half over, “Thou ’lt leave the lad with us, Cousin Pepperell, whilst thou art on thy journey?”

“I fear to trouble thee,” said the Goodman.  “And the Captain hath a purpose to take him to Provincetown and meet me here on my return.”

“The land is mayhap safer than the sea should another earthquake visit us,” said the Governor gravely, “and he will more than earn his keep if he will but help William with the corn and other tasks.  Like thyself we are in sad need of more hands.”

Daniel looked eagerly at his father, for he already greatly admired his cousin William and longed to stay with him.  Moreover, the earthquake had somewhat modified his appetite for adventure.

“His eyes plead,” said the Goodman, “and I know it would please his mother.  So by your leave he may stay.”

A whoop of joy from the three young Bradfords was promptly suppressed by their mother.  “For shame!” she said.  “Thy cousin Daniel will think thou hast learned thy manners from the savages.  Thou shouldst take a lesson from his behavior.”