Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-31


the white features were but fends in human |
form-apd had come there but to drive them g
from their hunting grounds. {
Prophetic visions were not wanting to tore- ,
tell their fnal destruction. The pale faces I
had come to their shores in mysterious guise,
bartercd curiosity and pride for gold, awaken i
ed in the untutored mind fairy feeling that
peoples creation with beings subservient to
their pleasures; but their selfish rashncss soon
awakened fear and hatred that continued
with the superstitious, ndomitable characters
Of the red preventing al! attempts at
civilization or lightennlent Had thatquiet,
peaceful and honorable intercourse of the two
races continued that was promising good, du-
ring the season that gave the Emperor Pow
haitian his favorite daughter, and afterward
tutored her susceptible mind, the new world
had seen less Of boodshed, and more of the
benefits arising from the intermngling of the
giant iortitude of the Indian, and the mild re-
Gnement of the European. But ere the bloom
of womanhood was upon her brow, the rude
discussions of war cried bitterly from the
wild forests of those delightful shores. One
example only is given to the historian, and
the conmingling Of happy hearts was but for
season, and the offspring single child, but
from its birth is traced much Of worth and
goodness.
Among band of adventures who landed
on the coast of Virginia in 1907, was Capt.
John Smith, daring young man whose deeds
have since rendered his name imperishable,
and whose history is closely connected with
the one of oar contemplation. To his adven-
lures are we indebted for this remarkable
trait Of savage life. The company sailed up
James River some fifty miles, and commenced
planting colony, which they called James
town.
Early in the year, Smith, accompanied by
a small band, assembled the river to the site
Of the residence Of the Emperor Powhattan.
At this time the first visit was made to the
royal abode. The presence of the pale face
presaged naught of good to the suspccting
savage. and their murmurs were loud. 1t is
not to be supposed that less magnanimity
would have been displayed to prevent the
whites from gaining ioothold upon their
shores-but the selF-deceptive reply Of Pow
haitian to the murmurs Of his subjects, was
that &" they wished not to harm us, but mere
y to occupy our waste lands" But season
was approaching in which the virtue Of both
parties was to be bong ht to the test. Powhattan
was surrounded by his family and crowned
with all the luxury savage ingenuity could in
vent. and troubled were the feelings with
which he mcditated the schemes of the white
mcn-a people whom he rightly deemed pos
sesscd of but desire for plumber. Mad with
fear, he beheld his family cling to him for de-
Ience-hs subjects awed with terror, and the
kind heart Of Pokahontas shuddering at the
picture Of horror and boodshed to cnsuc
Disalfcction ard dosignings were ranking in
the breast of the jealous people; while the
colony was harressed by lurking bands ard
the means OF subsistence carefully removed
from the reach Of the pale face.
Anxious to make discoveries, and to explore
the promising country, Smith set out with a
small party to discover the head of the Chic
ahomny River and obtain supply Of food
for the subsistence Of the colonists not, how
ever, until he had witnessed the death of hall
of his colonial band by starvation and uncom-
Portable abodes. Following his expedition up
the Chicahomny Smith left the boat in
charge Of part OF his crew. and started off
in canoe, and while hunting for game, in
preparation for the nights camp, band OF
sayagcs under the direction Of Opechancan-
ough, brother Of Powhattan, surprised and
Killed his men at camp, and followed after
omith, who, in order to save his life, fastened
the Indian guide to himself as shield to
their arrows.
He however, while hastily retreating to.
ward his canoe, fell into d marsh, and. after
nearly perishng was obliged to call upon the
mercy Of his pursuers; who, instead Of kill
81 ing him, placed him before fire, warmed his
chilled limbs and at his request brought him
to their ieader--in whose presence he display
= cd his skill to such advantage as to excite the
curiosity of the savage, and prevent his i'm
mediate death. Displaying a compass he
~, explained 20 them the revolutions OF the earth
and showed them its singular construction
leading his captors to believe him pos
sesscd OF almost supernatural powers. But
with all their admiration Of his skill they de-
ermlned to dispatch him, and he was accord
. i0gIy fastened TO a tree, and a hundred arrows
|
n Or, D ochancanoDgh, wishing to learn more Of
i his nature, held up the compass as sigma
~ to spare his life
- A triumphant procession was formed auC
~ Smith escorted to Orapakcs, the hunting res
ca idonce Of the Emperor. The appearance o
81 the procession as they entered The town caus
m ed a g eat excitement among the people, who
On hocked around them to behold one of SC
~ strange u nature from any whom they hac
Nv ever beheid. The warriors painted and dec
,1e grated with quiyers, clubs, and feathers o
=. birds upon their heads, offers and fox skin
n upon their arms, and kind of rattle lasten
%. ed to the tallost feather Of the crown: witt
cs Smith and Opechancanough in their centre
70 commenced a war dance, followed with song,
ID war whoops, yes, and Civilizations of Joy, a
70 was their custom after success had crowne
~ the expeditions against their emies
d. The dance concluded, they conducted Smt
n. to the guard house, where he was left n tn
n. keeping Of thirty Of their warriors. Wnil
r. thus retained, abundance Of provision was SC
on before him, and after his repast the guar
or partook of the remnants. No pains we,
cir 'Paleu io' MS comiort. An ageu lndian pr
NO sented him with his costly robe, as token
oh gratitude in return for Kindness done hi
". upon the first arrival of the colony. At OF
,ws time he came near being killed by sayag
i'd who had lost his son in the capture on Il
ay. river, but was saved by the guard.
re- TO BE CONTINUED.
vas
gh- The poet is sining-bird and every il
rel, pulse makes him sing This impulse m,
the come from without, or from within it mt