Litchfield enquirer., 1834-06-05


bility, strong affections, tenderness. and DEL
icacy Of feeling, dOve-like gentleness, and
most entire disinteFestedness These beau-s
fifnl qualities we're not in her n0rtured and
trained by the Influences ofre6ned life, hut
we're the native and spontaneous gsOwth.O of
her heart and soul.
Her mind had not been formed and fed
by books, or the conversation of the gifted
and cultivated; the nameiess graces of poll
shed life had NOT surrounded her from her
birth and created that tact ia manner and
department, and becoming propriety in
carriage and conversation, which all we'll
bred people, however differing originally
in refinement and delicacy Of perception
seem to possess in about the same degree
norhad the coarse forms of actual life been,
to bereyes concealed by the elegant drapefy
which civilization throws over them. From
her earliest years she had been familiar
with rude ways Of living, uacouih habits
and lawlcss passions. Yet she seems 20
have been, from the first, being distinct
from and unlike her people, though ID the
midst Of them. She reminds one Of q dele
cate Wild flower, growing mp in the cleft Of
a rock, where the eye can disceTntno soil
for It's roots 20 grasp. and sustain its slender
stalk. We behold her as she came FROM
the hands of her Maker, who seems to have
created her IN spirit of rebuke to the
pride or civilization, giving 10 an Indian
girl, reared in fhe depths Of "a Virginian for
est, that symmetry Of feminine loveliness,
which we but seldom see, with all our helps
and appliances. and all that moral machines
ny with which we work upon the raw. ma
terfal character.
But in our admiration Of what Is lovely
md attractive in the character Of Pocahon-
tas, we must not overlook the higher NOR
al qualities, which command respect almost
70 reverence. Moral courage. dignity, and
independence are among her most conspic-
uous traits. Before we can do justice to
them we must take into consideration the
circumstances under which they were diss
played. AT the time when the English
FIRST appeared in Virginia, she was achild
but twelve or thirteen years old. These
formidable strangers immediately awaken
ed in the breasts Of her people the strong
est passions Of hatred and fear, and Capt.
Smith, in particular, was looked upon as q
being whose powers Of injaring them were
irresistible and superhuman. w hat could
have been more natural than that this young
girl should have had all these feelings ex-
aggerated BY tire creative imagination Of
childhood, that Capt. Smith should have
haunted her dreams, and that she should
not have had the courage ~ look upon the
MAN to whom her excited fancy had given 4
nm outward appearances corresponding y
his frighlfnl attribntes2
Bot tile very FIRST net of her life, as
known % ns, puts her far above the notions
and preiudices of her people, and stamps
at once 4 seal of marked superiority upon
her character. And from this elevation
she never descends. Her motives IRE pc
culiar to herself, and take % iinge from the
passions and opinions around her. She
thinks and nets for herself, and does not
hesitate, when thereto constrained, 81 leave
her father, and trust for protection 10 that
respect, which was awakened alike BY her
high birth and high character among the
whole Indian race. II Is certainly y re-
! markable combination which we see ia hers
OF een,leness and sweetness with strength
of mind, decision, and frm consistency OF
purpose, and would be 50 in any female,
reared under the most favorable influences.
The lot Of Pocahontas may be consid-
cred happy one, Notwithstanding thepang
which her affectionate nature must have
4 felt, in being called 80 early 70 part from
her husband and child. 1t was her good
fortune 10 be the instrument, IN the hand
Of Providence. for bringing abont league
Of peace and amity between her OVID ma
ton and the English, a contamination most
agreeable to her taste and feelings. The
many favors, which she bestowed upoh the
colonists, were by them gratefully acknowl-
edged, and obtained for her rich harvest
of attentions in England. Her narnc and
deeds have not been suffered 10 pass out Of
the minds of men, nor are they discerned
only by the glimmering light of tradition.
Captain Smith seems to have repaid the
vast debt. Of gratitude which he owed her.
by the immortality whichhis eloquent and
feeling pen has given her. Who has not
beard the beautiful story Of her heroisns |;
and who, that has heardsit, has not felt bis
4 heart throb quick with generous admiras
[tion? She has become one Of the dar-
llings of history, and her name is as fainil-
lar as household word tothe numerous
and powerful descendants Of the feeble
Il folk whom she protected and befriended.
4 Her own blood flows in the veins OF mn
nv honorable families, who trace back win
.,..;da ,he;r descent from this daughter oil