In this story, draw one line under each common noun and two lines under each proper noun. There are 41 common nouns and 12 proper nouns. Before the founding of the United States, many colonists settled along the eastern border of North America. Some colonists came to the New World to trap animals, such as beaver, otter, mink, and fox. Other men came in search of gold or land. Christians came, however, because they wanted freedom to worship God. People like the Pilgrims wanted to teach their children the principles of the Bible. They desired to obey Deuteronomy 6:4-12, which commands parents to train their children diligently. Many hardships faced these early settlers. Disease, bitter - cold winters, and a lack of food brought death to numbers of the colonists. Only with the help of the Lord did the colonies survive. Through trails the people were drawn closer to God. Through these troubles the colonists learned the true meaning of patience, thriftiness, and perseverance. They also developed a dependence on God. Some of the greatest preachers who ever lived would later preach the Gospel in these struggling colonies.