"It is long since I have read any of then; but Virgil and Apulius do, if I mistake not, speak of this power over the elements." "Do you not remember, father," said Rebecca, "some verses of Tibullus, in which he speaketh of a certain enchantress?
Some one hath rendered them thus:-- "Her with charms drawing stars from heaven, I, And turning the course of rivers, did espy.
She parts the earth, and ghosts from sepulchres Draws up, and fetcheth bones away from fires, And at her pleasure scatters clouds in the air, And makes it snow in summer hot and fair." Here Sir Thomas laughingly told Rebecca, that he did put more faith in what these old writers did tell of the magic arts of the sweet-singing sirens, and of Circe and her enchantments, and of the Illyrian maidens, so wonderful in their beauty, who did kill with their looks such as they were angry with.
"It was, perhaps, for some such reason," said Rebecca, "that, as Mr.
Abbott tells me; the General Court many years ago did forbid women to live on these islands." "Pray, how was that ?" asked Sir Thomas.
"You must know," answered our host, "that in the early settlement of the Shoals, vessels coming for fish upon this coast did here make their harbor, bringing hither many rude sailors of different nations; and the Court judged that it was not a fitting place for women, and so did by law forbid their dwelling on the islands belonging to the Massachusetts." He then asked his wife to get the order of the Court concerning her stay on the islands, remarking that he did bring her over from the Maine in despite of the law.

So his wife fetched it, and Uncle Rawson read it, it being to this effect,--"That a petition having been sent to the Court, praying that the law might be put in force in respect to John Abbott his wife, the Court do judge it meet, if no further complaint come against her, that she enjoy the company of her husband." Whereat we all laughed heartily.
Next morning, the fog breaking away early, we set sail for Agamenticus, running along the coast and off the mouth of the Piscataqua River, passing near where my lamented Uncle Edward dwelt, whose fame as a worthy gentleman and magistrate is still living.

We had Mount Agamenticus before us all day,--a fair stately hill, rising up as it were from the water.

Towards night a smart shower came on, with thunderings and lightnings such as I did never see or hear before; and the wind blowing and a great rain driving upon us, we were for a time in much peril; but, through God's mercy, it suddenly cleared up, and we went into the Agamenticus River with a bright sun.

Before dark we got to the house of my honored uncle, where, he not being at home, his wife and daughters did receive us kindly.
September 10.
I do find myself truly comfortable at this place.