Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-02-20
CHOICE LITERATURE.
From tho Home Journal
THE MARRIAGE OF pOCAHONTAS
ny BENSON J. TOSSING.

u bbNSON j. IOSSlNG
During the lovely Indian summer time.
Ia the autumn of 1908 there was mar
rage on the banks Of tho Powhatan, where
'ne English had laid the corner stone of the
great fabric Of Anglo.Saxon Empire in the
New World. 1t was celebrated in the sec
ond church which tho English settlers had
erected there. Like their first which fire |
hat -deVourcd the previous winter, it was |
ru0e structure, whose roof rested upon /
rough pine columns, frcsn TON tte virgin
forest, and whose adorniugs were little in
debted to the hand Of art. The officiating
priest was "good Master Hunter who
had lost al bis books by the conhagration
History, poetry and song have kept a dUti-
ful silence respecting that first English
marriage in America, because John Lay.
don and Anne Burrows we're common peo-
pie. The bridegroom was a carpenter
among the hr:t sdvcnturers who assembled
the Powhatan, then named James in honor
OF bad king, and the bride was waiting
maid to "Mistress Forest" wife of Thorn
as Forrest, gentleman. These were the
first white women ever seen at the James
town settlement.
Almost five years later, there was anoth-
or marriage at Old jamestown, in honor
ofWhich history, poetry and song have been
employed The bridegroom was Master
John Rolfo, an honest gentleman, and Of
good behavior from the realm Of England !;
and the bride Was princess royal, named
Aatoa, or Pocahontas, the we'll beloved
daughter Of the Emperor Of the great Pow
hatan confcderacy on the Virginia peninsu-
Ia. The officiating priest was Master Alex
snder Whitaker a noble apostle of Chris
tianity, who went to Virginia for the cure
Of souls. Sir Thomas Dale, then Governor
of the colony, thus briefly tells his masters
Of the Company in London, the story Of
Pocahontas 'Powhatan's daughter
caused to be carefully instructed in the
Christian religion, who after she had made
good progress therein, renounced publicly
her country's idolatry, openly confessed
her Christian faith, was, As she desired,
baptiGed and il since married to an English
gentleman Of good understanding Gas by
his letter unto me, containing the reason OF
his marriage of her you may percelve,) an
other knot to bind this peace the stronger.
Her father aud friends gave appreciation
20 it, aud her uncle gave her to him in
the church. She lives civilly and loving
" with hin, and, trust, will increase in
goodness, as the knowledge of God increased
in her She will 90 to England with me
and, were it but the gaining Of this one
soul, will think my time, toll and present
stay, we'll spent
So di,coursed Sir Thomas Dale, Curl
osity would know more Of the Princess ant
her marriage and curiosity may here b,
EratiGed to the extent Of the revelations o
recorded history.
The finger of a special Providence, point
ing down the vista Of ages is seen in TIL
character and acts Of Pocahontas. Sh
was the daughter Of a pagan king who ha
never heard OF Jesus of Nazareth, yet he
heart was overlooking with the cardiua
virtues Of Christian life.
q She was Il landscape Of mid Garth
Where all was harmony, and calm quiet,
Luxuriant, budding. .'-HYRoS.
when Captain Smith the boldcst and til
best Of the early adventurers in Virgins
penetrated the dense forest, he was made
prisoner, was conducted in triumph fror
village to village, until he stood in tn
presence OF Powhatan, the supreme rule
and was then condemned to die !
Upon the barren sand
\ single captive stood;
Around him came with bow and brand,
The rcd-mcn of the wood.
Like him of old his doom he hears,
Rock-hound ON oceans rim:
The chicftaiu's daughter knclt in tears,
And breathed a pUavCr for him
Above his head in air
The savage war-,lub swung:
The frantic girl in wild despair,
Her arms around him flung.
Then shook the warriors Of the shade,
Like leaves on aspen limb
Subducd by that heroic maid
Who breathed prayer for him.
"Unbind him :" gasped tho chief
lie kissed away her tears of grief,
And set the captive free.
'Tis ever thus, when in lifes storm,
Hopes star to man grows dim,
An angel knccs in woman's form,
And breathes prayer for him.
GEORGE P. MORRIS
How could that stern old king deny
The angel pleading in her eye?
How mock the sweet, imploring grace
That breathed in beauty from her face,
And to her kneelng action gave
A power to soothe and still subdue
Until, though humble as a slave,
To more than queenly sway she grew
WILLIAM G.. SIHNs
The Emperor yielded to the maid,
the captive was set free.
Two years after that event, Pocahor
again became an angel Of dcliverance.
hastencd to jamestown during a dark
stormy nght, informed the English
conspiracy to exterminate them and
back to her couch before dawn. Sn
was grateful, and the whole English col
regarded her as their deivcrer. But G
itude is often plant Of feeble root,
the cInker Of Selfshness will destroy i
together. Smith went to England,
morals Of the eolonsts became depra
aud Argall, rough, half-piratical nav
tor, unmindful Of her character, brib,
savage by the promise of copper ke
10 bstray Pocohontas into his hands, t.
kept as hostage while compelling Po,