Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-30
4listrlloueolis.
TALES OF THE. COLONIES
NUMBER ONE
TIE MARRIAGE OF POCAHoyTAS.
BY W. II. CARPENTER, ESQ.

Tho traveller up James River never fails to
look with interest upon Il low, level peninsula.
which, jutling far out into the stream, commands
a long reach Of the river, above and below.
This was the first permanent settlement made
BY the cavalier adventurers in Virginia, and was
the scene of hOrdshps and losses, of sickness
and starvation of suffering and death, unpara-
eed in the annals Of any OF the American Co.
lonies.
The city which was here found was called
james Town.
1t was once pasadoed with incredible labor
and iorIs built, and houses raised; and it had its
Captains, and its men-ol-war and its motley ar
ray of adventurerS, who, inciIsd by the good
fortune of the Spaniurds in Mexico and Peru,
imagined they had discovered new FL Dora
do, where mines Of and silver were TO be the
prizes Of the new comers.
How these hopes were blasted, the battles
they fought the exremilies they endured, and
how often the town was abandoned, again reco.
vered and rebuiIded, ,-aro matters which histo-
ry has made familiar to all.
The Colony did at length prosper Adven-
turrrs with more moderate desires, hocked n.
Industry and a fertile soil brought plenty in their
train: and James Town became a. length set
llemenl of note and consequence.
Save the ruins of a church, green with para
silcal plants, the growth Of past centuries, no
farther veslige now remains.
In that venerable edIice, or in one, perhaps
more humbly wrought for the same holy ser.
vice, a rite was performed, which changed the
doubtful feature of the ColoniSls into one GER
tain aud prosperous.
That rite, which set holy seal upon the evils
of The past, was the Marriage Of Pocahontas,
The current Of that adverse fate which the
heroic Smith had endeavorcd to stem in vain,
was by this simple act changed into happier
channel, for Powhauan loved his daughter, and
buried his enmily AT the foot of the altar which
Witnessed the union Of two loving hearts.
Tho blessed Princess Pocahonlas-the guar
dian angel Of weakng Virginia, the preServel
of IFS greatest Captain, the waichlul and tandei
friend, the brave high-spiriled girl, and the pas
sionaleIy. y.devoled wile,-what heart beats more
warmly at the recital Of her manifold kindnes
sosl
Well might men call her Angel, who wa:
more than woman!
A brave, gentle, ingenious nature!-a chile
Of the forest, filled with great and good instincts
and imbued with love for her adopted friends
that neiher the magnity Of her knsmen, no
threats, nor tribulatlons, nor dangers could evel
move from its watchluI steadfaslness.
And for these high qualities hath The Princes
Pocahontas Il shrine in every grateful heart.
Truly her descendenls have good reason Il
be proud of her blood in their veins; for thos
shining acts which would grace civilize
queen, ray out with double lustre when record
ed as native to the heart of a wild woodIan
) princess.
Honor and glory, then, TO the blessed Prn
cess Pocahontas, and may her name be beaul
full TO the memory Tor ever and ever!
, And honor, and immortality, TO the lady Re
becca Rolfe, the welded and Christunzed Prir
cess Pocahontas; who heard the saving wore
Of Grace, and an eternal hereafter, and. hea
ing, believed, and with the trusting confdenc
Of her child-lke nature knelt down and W;
baptized accordingIy.*
+ Who then shall say men had not reason
be Joyous when the Princess Pocahonlas bestov
ed her hand, and with it all her heart upon Ma
ter John Rolfel
*We lew days since gazed upon the MAJ
nifcent representation Of The ceremony, whc
! occupies one of The panels Of The Rotunda
,he Capitol. oI.-ED. A. &.