The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-06
Powhatan's Love For His Daughter.

Tragedy of Pioneer Life," by Augustus
Lynch Mason and John Clark Ridpath,
from the publishing house of Jones
Brothers & Co., Cincinnati, contains
the following thrilling inci1ent in the
life of the old Indian Emperor, Pow
hatan, whose Oldest daughter, Poca-
hontns, after the famous incident Of her
saving the life Of Captain John Smith,
had married m Englishman of the
colony named Rolfe:
"Such benefits have flowed from the
marriage of POcahontas, that good
Governor Dale, piously ascribing it to
the Divine approval which rested on the
heather, and rejecting that another
daughter Of Powhatan would form an
additional pledge of peace, sent Hamor
and the interpreter, Thomas Savage, to
Powhatan for the purpose Of securing
another daughter for himself. At the
town of Matchcat, farther up the river
than WerOwocomocO, from which the
emperor had removed on account of the
proXimity of the English, the visitors
we're received. The emperor seemed
glad to see Savage, and invited him to
his house, After pipe of tobacco had
been passed around, Powhatan iu-
Quired anXiously about his daughters
welfare, 'her marriage, his unknown
son, and how they liked, lived, and
loved together Hamor answered that
Rolio was very well, and 'his daughter
so well content that she would not
change her life to return and li,e with
him, whereat he laughed heartily, and
said he was very glad of it,
"POwhatan then desired TO know the
reason of the unexpected visit. Hamor
said his message was private, and he
desired no one to be present. The em-
pcrOr at once ordered the room cleared
of all except the inevitable pair of queens
who sat on either side Of the monarch.
As propirlatory Introduction to the sub
ject, Uamor delivered message of 'love
aud peace, supplementing it with pres
ents Of coffee, beads, combs, fish hooks,
aud knives, and promise Of the long
wished-for grindstone, whenever Pow
hatan would seud for It. Hamor then
proc eded TO speak of the great reputa-
tion for beauty and attractiveness which
Powhatan's youngest daughter bore, of
the desire Of POcahontas to have her sis
ter's companionsbip, Of Governor Dale's
intention to remain permanently in Yir.
ginia, and his desire, in case the young
lady proved to be all that was reported
of her, TO make her his nearest compan.
ion, wife, and bed-fellow.' Such an al
lance, Hamor represented, would be an
honor TO all concerned, and would form
new bond OF alliance and friendship.
When llamor had finished, the en-
peror gracefully acknowledged the COM
pliment, but protested that his daughter
had been three days married TO a certain
one of his kings. Ilamor replied that
this was nothiug, that the groom would
readily rcliuquish her for like ample
presents which Governor Dale would
make, and further, that the empeloI
might easily exert his authority to re.
claim his daughter on some pretext. TC
this base proposition the old monarch
made an answer, Of which tae nobility
and purity might have put to shame the
brazcn llamor. He confessed that hi,
real objection was the love he bore Il
his daughter, who was dearer to hin
than his own life ; that though he hat
many children, none delighted him a.
much as she that he could not live un.
less he saw her every day during the few
remaining years OF his life, which he
could not do If she went to live with the
English, as he was resolved never to put
himself in their power by visiting them
He desired no other pledge offriendshlF
than the one already existing In the
marriage of his Pocahontas, unless she
should die, In which case he would give
up another child. Finally, he urged
with vehement and pathetic eloquence
Il hold 1t not a brotherly part for your
king to endeavor to bereave me Of my
two darling children at once. Give hin
10 understand that, If he had no pledge
at all, he need not dlstrust any injury
from me or my people. There has been
already too much Of blood and war. Toe
many fmy people and his have already
fallen In our strife, and by my occasion
there shall never be any more. |, who
have power to perform 1t, have said III
no, not though should have just occa-
sion offered, for am now grown old
and would gladly end my few remain
ing days In peace and quiet. Even II
the English should offer me injury,
would not resent 1t. My country Il
large enough, and would remove my
self farther from you. l hope this will
give satisfaction to your king. He can
not have my daughter. II he is not sat
.