Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-02-08
A power to sooth and still subdue,
Until, though humbled like a slave,

hsg WiLIIAN g. SiaMs.
| The emperor yielded to the maid, and
the captive was set tree.
Two years after that event Pocahontas
again become az angel of deliverance. She
hastone & 10 jamestown during dark and
stormy night, Uniformed the English of y
conspiracy to externinate them, and was
back to her couch before dawn. Smith was
grateful, and the whole English colony re-
garded her as their deliverer. But graft
tude j. often > plant of feeble root, and the
cauker Of selfshness will destroy it alto
gether. Smith went to England; tue NOR
ais of the colonists became deprived; Argall !,
rough, half-piratical navigator, unmandful
Of her character, brihed savage, by the
promise of a copper kettle, to betray Poca-
hontas n.to his hands, to be kept az hos
tage while compelling Powhatan to make
restitution for injuries inflicted. The en-
peror loved his daughter tenderly, agreed
to the terms of ransom gladly, and promised
uubroken friendship for the English.
Pocahontas was now free to retarn to her
forest home. But other bonds, more holy
than those of Argall, detained her. While
IL the custody Of teh rude buccaneer, . mu.
tual attachment had budded aud blosson.ed
between her and John Rolfe, and the fruit
was happy marriage "another knot to
bind tae peace with Powhatan much strong
er-
April, in the Virginia peninsula, where
she English settlers first built city, is one
of the loveliest months in the year. Then
winter has hidden q fual aaieu 70 the mid
die regions of America; the trees are robed
in gay and fragrant blossoms; the robin, the
blud- bird, and the oriole, are just giving
tie first opening preludes 10 the summer
concerts in the woods, wild flowers are
laughing u,orrily in every hedge, and upon
the green banks of every stream.
i; wasa day in charming April, in 1913,
when Rolfe ana Pocahontas stood at the
marriage altar in the new and pretty chapel
at'Jamestown, where, not long before, the
bride had received Christian baptism, and
was named the I1ady Rebceea. Tho sun
had marched half way up toward the nIeri-
| diau when goodly company had assembled
beneath the temple roof. The pleasant oder
of the s'pews of cedar" commingied with
the fragrance of the wild flowers which
decked the fdstoons of ever greens ard
sprays that hung over the s'fair, broad win
dow<," and the commandment tablets above
the ehancel. Over the pulpit of blackwell
nut hung garlands of white flowers. with the
waxon leaves and scarlet berries of the hol-
| y. The communicable was covered with
| fair white linen, and bore bread from the
wheat fields of jamestown, and wine from
its luscious grapes. Tue font. ''hewu hol-
low between, like canoe" sparkled with
water, as on the morning when the gentle
princess uttered her baptismal vows.
:
Of all that company assembled in the
broad space between the cbancel and the
pews, the bride aud groom were the central
figures in fact and significance. Pocahon-
tas was dressed in simple tunic of white
muslin, from the looms of Dacca. Her arms
were bare even to the shoulders; and, hang
ing loosely towards her feet, was robe of
rich stuff, presented BY Sir Thomas Dale,
aud faneifqlly embroidered by herself and
her maidcns. A gaudy fllen encircled her
head, and held the piumage Of birds and a
veil of gauze, while her limbs were adorned
with the simple jewelry Of the native work
shops. Rolfe was attired in the gay cloth
ing OF an English cavalier of that period aud
upon his thigk he wore the short sword of
gentleman Of distinction in society. He
was the personiGcation of manly beauty in
form and carriage; she Of womanly modesty
aud lovely simplicity; and as they came
and stood before the man of God, history
dipped her pen in the indistructable foun-
tain of truth, and recorded prophecy of
mighty empires in the New World. Upon
the chancel steps, where no railing inter
fercd, the good Whitaker stood in his sac
erdotal robes; and, with impressive voice,
pronounced the marriage ritual Of the liturgy
of the Anglican Church, then FIRST planted
on the Western continent. On his right
in richly carved chair Of state, brought
from England, sat the Governor, with his
ever attendant halberdiers, with brazen
helmets, at his back.
There was yet but few women in the col
ouy, and these, soon after this memorable
event, returned to native England. The
'sninety young women, pure and uncorrupt-
ed" whom the wise Sandys caused to be
sent to Virginia. as wives for the planters,
did not arrive until seven years later. All
then at Jamestown we're at the marriage.
| The lettors of tho time have transmitted to