Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-10-31
POcRhOntas.

The incident Of the rescue Of
Capt. John Smith by the Indian
maiden, POcahOntas, is familiar to
every one, but the romantic story
of her love for Smith and her dis
appintment is not known to many.
After Smith left America, she con-
sented reluctantly to marry a col
onist named Rolfe. From "The
Romance and Tragedy of Pioneer
Life" We take the following touch
ing bit of history:
1n 1916, John Roife and Poca-
hOntas went to England, taking
several Indians with them. Here
ROlfe we'll nigh got into trouble
over his marriage. The intelligent
King James, the same who wanted
his minister to procure a flying
squirrel, because he was $50 well
affected to such toys took it into
his limited head that Rolfe, a pri-
vate gentleman, by marrying into
the imperial family Of Powhatan,
bad committed high treason. His
oounselors succeeded, with difficult
ty, in showing him bow far-fetched
the notion was. The Lady Rebecca
as Pocahontas was generally called
in England, received considerable
attention.
In a little while, however, Poca-
hOntas seems to have been neglec-
ted. The novelty wore of. After
the first week Of her visit, she was
no longer spoken of as the wife of
ROlfe, at all. Smith relates the
story of singular interview which
he had with her. After a modest
salutatiOn, she, without a word,
turned her back to him, and pas
sionately buried her face in heI
hands. At length she broke forth
with pathetic reprOaches, recalling
the old scenes at the colony and
her sacrifices for the English, how
he had called POwhatan father
when be was a stranger in a strange
land; vet, how now that their posi-
tions were reversed, he neglected
her aud objected to her calling hin
father She said that after hi'
departure the English always tOlC
her he was dead; yet POwhatar
had commanded those of her peo
pie that we're with her to searcl
for Smith and find out whether h'
was living, because your country
men will lie much. The reason 0
her conduct is obscure. Many
have thought that ROlfe told hel
Smith vas dead. because she wa
. resolved never to marry any one a.
o long as he was alive. IL is not i'm
possible that she had loved him
and was deeply grieved to find Ou
the trick that had been played up
on her. More likely she was home
=. sick and grieved to find the En-
glish no longer paid her any at
tentions, and was deeply sensitiv,
to Smiths neglect, in not visiting
. her earlier and renewing their oil
acquaintance.
among the Indians who accom-
panied POcahOntas was TOcOmOcC
4 her brOin-law, who was sent b
Powhatan to take the number {
A. people in England, aud bring a
account Of their strength and n
sources. When he arrived
Plymouth be got a long stick an
- began to cut a notch in it for ever
person he met. Bat he soon b
/ came weary of the endless task
and tn ew away the stick. Whe
=. he wasasked by Powhatan, on b
return how many Englishme
al there wyre, he said; 'Oount th
Ih stars in the sky, the leaves on I'll
II trees, tie sand on the seashore
id for such is the number Of the pc
y pie of England This same sa'
age accidentally met Capt. Smit
e 7. in Lhsion, where their old a
% % auai69ance was renewed. He
lean begged Smith to, show him b