The Shasta courier., 1868-10-17
SHASTA COURIER.
THE BAPTISM OF PoCAHoNTAs.

The name Of Pocahontas has descended to
posterty as the great benefactress, the tute-
larry genius OF the first successful colony
planted within the limits of the United States,
who, when famine ragged or conspiracy mena-
eed With swift destruction, ever benign and
gentle influence to supply their wants and
ward off their danger. From all that history
and tradition have preserved, as we'll as from
the testimonials of the objects of her kindness
and protection, from the particulars of her
life that have come down to US, and from
every authentic memorial now extant, she
appears to have been both in mind and per-
son, one of the choicest models the hand of
nature ever formed. With the purest simplici-
ty she united the kindest heart, and to the
timidity of spotless virgin she joined sa-
gacity of mind a frmness of spirit, and an
adventurous daring, which more than once.
when the existence of the colony was at stake,
prompted her to traverse the midnight forest
alone, and brave the indignation of her kin
dred, to give advice and warning.
Inseparably interviewer as is the name and
history of Pocahontas with the very existence
of the first permanent Christian community
Of this great confederation, and clothed as
she is with every attribute to call forth our
veneration and gratitude, she most undoubt-
edly deserves the dignity Of historical char
acter. Though a simple Indian maid, her
life and actions are closely associated with
events, which in their consequences, have as
sumed a magnitude that fully entities her to
be placed among those who exercised in
fiuence in the destinies of States and the
course of human events. She was, therefore,
deemed fit subject for National Picture
painted by order of Congress, to commemo-
rata tha h1sforvy nd 6
But she had another claim, not less venera-
BILE and touching, to the remembrance of pos
terity, and which addresses itself to all Chris
tian people and churches. She stands FORE
most in the train of those wandering children
of the forest who have at timcs-few indeed,
and far between-been snatched from the
fangs of barbarous idolatry, to become the
lambs of the Divine Shepherd. She therefore
appeals TO our gious as well as our patriotic
sympathies, and is equally associated with
the rise and progress of the Christian Church,
as with the political destines of the United
States.
1t was a memorable Sabbath morning when
the sound of the church bells echoed through
the silent forests about jamestown to gather
to its consecrated aisles-the first dedicated
the worship of the living God in British Amer
ica--the pioneers of civilization and Christian
III tut NtW w UTlu, W hllUcSS Iuo suDlIulC
spectacle of this converted heather girl i
Pocahontas-the daughter of Powhatan-
g the first Christian of her nation, turning
from her idols to God"
How long and earnestly the winning of
this one soul" had been looked to in the col
ony, and by its friends and promoters in
England, numerous letters and chronicles Of
that day express in terms that cannot be mis-
taken for transient impulse. They placed
their hopes of lasting prosperity In bringing
the savage within the influence of the light
of the Gospel; and when the pure minded
girl knelt, the g first fruits of Virginia con.
version" at the altar of God, they INDUCED
in pious exultation at the glorious beginning
and prospect of peace, security, and prosper
ity, that seemed to dawn upon the colony.
In obedience to the regulation of the town
the captain of the watch had gone his usual
round. to shut the ports and place sentinels,
and the bell having tolled the last time, had
searched all the houses of the town, to COM
mand every one, of what quality soever, 1.-THE
sick and hurt excepted to repair to church,
after which he accompanied all the guards
with their arms. himself being last) into the
church, and laid the keys before the governor.
The sergeants took their stations, and the
Indians gathered about the place of ceremony,
Us Rolfe supported his destined bride to the
rude baptism front, hewn from an oak of her
native forest. Nantequdas, her favorite broth
er, whom Smith calls '' the most manifest,
boldest spirit he ever saw in n savage" stood
nearest to her own Kindred an elder sister,
with her Indian boy, sat in mute, anxious
interest and curiosity in front, while her
uncle the sullen, cunning yet daring Ope-
chankdnough shrunk back, and probably
even then brooded over the deep laid plan of
massacre which he so fearlessly executed
years after, when that spotless Indian girl
had gone to reap her reward in Heaven.
The book of prayer is closed, for not un-
til after that time was there an established
form for the baptism of those of ripper years
in the service of the church of England
She bears upon her forehead the record of
her vow-she renounces the idols of her nation
has confessed the faith of Christ, and is
baptsed. The Indian child clngs closer to
his mother, gay snowy mantle of swan skin,
tipped with the plumage that may still be
seen among the thickets and along the shores
about jamestown, falling from her shoulders,
discovers to her own the costume of her adopted
people, and an unguarded movement of mo-
mentary excitement among the savage spec
tators is repeated through the congregation,
as hands fall instinctively on matchbox and
sword hilt. AT the movement of the picture
another, and she is received into the fold
of Christ, as pure and beautiful spirit as
ever knelt at His Holy Sacrament.
DESCRIPTION OF TOILETS Miss B., old
Smiths daughter, wore short dress of sor-