Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-02-20

The Emperor loved his daughter tenderly,
agreed to the terms Of ransom gladly, and
promised unbrsken friendship for the En-
glish
Pocahontas was now free to return to her
forest home. But other bonds more holy
than those Of Argall, dstained her. While
in the custody Of the ruds buccaneer,
mutual attachment had budded and bios
Somed between her and John Rolfe, and
the fruit was happy marriage another
knot to bind the peace with Powhatan
much stronger.
April, in the Virginia peninsula, where
the English settlers first built city is one
of the loyeliest msnths in the year. Then
winter has bidden hnal adleu to the mru-
die regions Of America, the trees are Fobsd
in gay and fragrant blossoms, the robin,
the blue bird and the sriolc, are just giving
the first opening preludes to the summer
concerts in the woods, and wild flowers
are laughing merriy in every hedge, and
upen the green banks Of every stream.
1t was day in charming April in 1913,
when Rolfe and 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 Lady Rebecca. The sun
had marched half way up toward the meri-
dian, when goodly company bad assem-
bIed beneath the temple roof. The pleas
ant odor Of the "pews of cedar" com
mingled with the fragrance of the wild
flowers which decked the festoons of ever
greens and sprays that hung over the " fair,
broad windows" and the commandment
tablets above the chancel Over the pull
pit of black walnut hung garlands of white
flowers, with the waxen leaves and scarlet
berries of the holly. The communion table
was covered with fair white linen, and bore
: bread from the wheat fields of jamestown,
and wine from its luscious grapes. The
font, hewn hollow between, like canoe"
sparkled with water, as on the morning
5 when the gentle princess uttered her bap-
tismal vows.
Of all that company assembled in the
broad space between the chancel and the
pews, the bride and groom were the central
J figures in fact and significance. Pocahon'
! tas was dressed in simple tunic Of white
, muslin, from the looms of Daccs. Her
u arms were bare even to the shoulders and,
J, hanging loosely towards her feet, was arobe
II of rich STUFF presented by Sir Thomas Dale,
: and fancifully embroidered by herself and
: her madens. A gaudy fIlet enercled her
o head, and held the plumage of birds and a
q veil Of gauze, while her limbs were adorned
:, with the simple jewelry Of the workshops.
n Rolfe was attired in the gay clothing of an
d English cavalier of that period, and upon
e his thigh he wore the short sword of gen
e tlemsn Of distinction in society. He was
1t the pcrsoniication of manly beauty in form
and carriage she Of womanly modesty and
!, lovely simplicity; and as they came and
ID stood before the man Of God, history dip
'e ped her pen in the indestructble fountain o
ot truth, aud recorded a prophecy Of mighty
empires in the New World. Upon the
t. chaucel staps, where no railing interfered
le the good Whitaker stood in his sacerdota
le robesy and, with impressive voice pronounced
id the marriage ritual OF the liturgy of the
err Anglican Church, then first planted OF
al the Western continent. On his right, in
richly carved chair of state, brought from
England, sat the Governor, with his evel
attendant halberdiers, with brazan helmets
al his back.
he There were yet but few women in The
"a colony, aud these, soon after this memorabl
. event returned to native England. Th
IN ninety young women, pure and uncorrupt
he ed" whom the wise Sandys caused to b
.r sent to Virginia, as wives for the planter
did not arrive until seven years later. A
then at jamestown we're at the marriage
The letters Of the time had transmitted
us the names Of some Of them. Mistre:
, John Rofe, with her child, (doubtless {
the family Of the bridegroom } Mistres
EGslou and child, and Mistress Martin an
grandcbild, with her maid servant, Eliz;
beth Parsons, who, on a Christmas eve b.
fore, had married Thomas Powell, were V
in Virginia. Among the noted men the
present, was Sir Thomas Gates, bra'
soldier in many wars, and as brave an &C
venturer among the Atlantic perils as an
who ever trusted to the ribs of the ships
Old England. And Master Sparks, vi
bad bean co-2mbassAdor with Rolfe to Il
court Of Powhatan, stood near the old sc
der, with young Henry SpilmAn at bis sid
There, too was the young Henry Geor!
Percy, brother Of the powerful Duke
Northumberland, whose conduct was alwa
as noble as his blood i; and near him,
earnest spectator of the scene, was Il
5. the elder brother Of Pocahontas but n
" destined successor TO the throne of
father. There, too, WAS younger broth
Of the bride, and many youths and maide
from the forest shades but one noble
ure-lhe pride ofthe Powhatan confederac
the father Of the bride was absent. Heb
consented to the marriage with willing vol
W. hut would not trust himself within the pc
IS. er of the English at jamestown. He
mainsd in his habitaton at WeroworomoC
@Hu shile the Rose and the Totum we're bel
-. welded, but cheerfully commissioned
EsSs cS brother, Opachiso, to give away his dau9
cue ter That prince performed bis duty W
a9u and then, in careless gravity, he sat and
OF a tened to the voice of the Apostle, and
was va, sweet chanting of the little choristers.
ni'h music ceased, the beusdiction fell, the
lony emn Amen echoed from the rude vaul
graz, roof, and the joyous company left the ch
ana 81 for the festa hall Of the Governor. |
1t al the peace was made stronger, and
the Rose of England lay undiIturbsd upor
aved Hatchet Of the PowhatanS, while the fat
'iYA- Of PocahontAa lived.
zee Month, glided away. The bride
ettle, Groom lived ci,illy aud lovingly togetl