Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-22
'Tis ever thus, when in lifes storm,
Hopes star to man grows dim,
An angels knerls in womans form,
And hreathes prayer for him.

The Emperor yielded to the maid, and tn
captive was set free.
Two years after that event, Pocahontas agail
became an angel Of dclivcrancc. She hastenet
to jamestown during dark and stormy night
informed the English of a conspiracy to eXter
inmate them, and was back to her couch before
dawn. Smith was grateful, and the whole
English colony regarded her as their deliverer
But gratitude is often plant of feeble root, ane
the cankcr of selfshneSs will destroy it alto
gether. Smith went to England; the morals
of the colonists became deprayed and Argall
q rough, halfpiratical navigator, unmindfully o
her character, bribed a savage, by the promise
of copper kettle, to bctray Pocahontas into
his hands, to be kept as hostage while com
peling Powhatan to make restitution for inju
ries inflicted. The Emperor loved his daughter
tenderly, agreed to the terms of ransom gladly
and promised unbroken friendship for the Eng
lish.
Pocahontas was now free to return to lei
forest home But other bonds, more holy thar
those of Argall, detained her. While in the
custody of the rude buccaneer, mutual at
tachment had budded and blossomed between
her and John Rolf, and the fruit was a happy
marriage another knot to bind the peace
with Powhatan much stronger.
April, ill the Virginia peninsula, where the
English settlers first built city, is one Of the
loveliest months in the year. Then winter has
bidden a final adea to the middle regions OF
America; the trees are robed in gay and fra
grant blossoms the robin, the blue-bird, ant
tue orolc, are just giving the first opening pre-
ludcs to the summer concerts in the woods, ant
wild flowers are laughing merrily in every hedge
and upon the green banks of every stream.
1t was day in charming April, in 1913
when Rolf and Pocahontas stood at the marriage
altar in the new and pretty chapel, at james
town, where, not long before the bride had re-
ceired Christian baptism, and was named the
Lady Rebecca. The sun had marched half way
up toward the meridian, when goodly compa'
ny had assembled beneath the temple roof The
pleasant odor of the "pews of cedar" commin-
gled with the fragrance of the wild flowers
which decked the festoons of evcrgreens and
sprays that hung over the stair, broad windows,
and the commandment tables above the chance
Over the pulpit of black-walnut hung garlandS
of ,wEitc flowers. with the ,waxen . leaves. tmand an
scarlet berries OF 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, +" hewi
hollow between, like a CANOE" sparklcG with
water, as on the morning when the gentle prin'
cess uttered Ecr baptismal VOWS.
OF all that company assembled in the broad
space between the chancel and the pcws, tho
bride and groom were the central figures in Fact
and significance Pocahontas was dressed in q
simple t,lnic of white muslin, from the looms
of Dacca. Her arms were bare even to the
shoulders; and, hanging loosely towards hcl
lcet, was Il robe Of rich stuff, presented by Sil
Thomas Dale, and tanciiully embroidered by
herself and her maitlens \ gaudy tillet cncr,
clcd her head, and held the plumagc of birds
and veil of gauzc, Willie her limbs were adorned
with the simple cwelry of the native work
shops. Rolf was attired in the gay clothing u
an English cavalier Of that PERIOD and upon his
thigh he wore the short sword of gentleman
of distinction in society. He was the per>oni-
licaton of manly beauty in form md Carriage
she of womanly modesty and lovely simplicity
and as they came and stood before the man o
God, history dipped her pen in the inlestructa'
bic fountain Of truth, and recorded prophecy
of mighty empires in the New World. Cpol
the chanccl steps, where no railing intcrfelred
the GOOD Whitaker stood in his saccrlotal robes
and, with impressive voice pronounced the mar
riage ritual of the liturgy of the Anglican
Church, then first planted on the Western con,
tincnt. On his right, in a richly carved chair o.
state, brought from England, sat the Governor
with his ever attendant halbcrdiers, with bra
zen hemlctS, at his back.
There were yet but few women in the colony
and these, soon after this memorable event re,
turned 10 native England. The "ninety young
woman, pure and mcorrupted," 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 were at
the marriage. The letters OF the time have
transmitted to us the names Of some of them
Mistress John Rolf, with her child, (doubtleS>
of the family of the bridegroom;) Mistress
Easton and child, and Mistress Morton and
graudchild, with her maid-Servant, Elizabeth
Parsons. who on Christmas eve before, hat
married Thomas Powell, were yet in Virginia
Among the noted men then present, was Sir
Thomas Gates, brave soldier in many wars
and rs brave IN adrenturer among the Atlantic
perils of any who ever trusted to the ribs OF
the Slips of Old England And Master Sparke<
who had been co-ambaSsador with Rollto the
count Of powhatan, stood near the old soldier
with young Henry Spilman at his side. There
too, was the young George Percy, brother ol
the powerful Duke Of Northumberland, whose
conduct was always as noble as his blood; and
near him, an earnest spectator of the scene
was the elder brother of PocahontaS; but not
the destined successor to the throne OF bis
father There, too, was younger brother o.
the bride, and many youths and maidens from
the forest shades; but one noble ilSure-the
pride of the Powlatan coniedcracy-thc iathel
of the bride was absent. lie had consented tc
the marriage with willing voice, but would not
trust himself within the power oil the Engilsl
at jamestown. lie remained i'll his llabltatlol
at Wcruworomoco, while the Rose and Iotun
were being welded, but cheerlully commission
ed his brother, Opachisco, to give away nj; ii,
daughter. That prince performed his duty well
and then, in careless gravity, he sat and listen
ell to tue voice of the Apostle, and the sweet
chanting Of the little choristers. The music
ceased, the bcnediction fell, the solemn amen
echoed from the rude vaultcd roof, and th'
Joyous company left the chapel for the testa
hall Of the Governor. Thus "the peace" wa
made stronger, and the Rose of England la.
undisturbcd upon the Hatchet Of the Powha
tans, while the father Of Pocahontas lived.
Months glided away. The bride and groom
"lycd civily and lovingly together" until 81
Thomas Dale departed TO England, in lGlC
when they with many settlers, accompanied
him. Tomocomo, one of the shrewdest Q
Powhatans councillors, went also, that lie nigh
! report all the wonders of England to his master