Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-07-29

II
partake of refreshments and hurriedIy
retraced her steps Through the irksome
woods In the dark night.n Great was
her joy when, shortly after, she heard
that her fathers murderous plan had
been defeated.
| This formidable Indian chieftain.
Powhatan dearly loved his daughter:
but her zeal on behalf of the English
settlers greatly angered him, and with
view to counteract her beneficial and
enlightened influence, "he sent her
away to the leader of neighboring
tribe, Japawzaws, chief of the Poto-
macs"
Captain Smith had given up his post
at Jamestown, and in 1911 his friend,
Captain Angel, whose ship was then
lying in the river Potomac, conceived
the idea of taking Pocahontas prisoner
with view to induce her father to
enter into more favorable negotiations
with him. Angel had often heard his
gallant friend speak of Pocahontas as
the ''nonpariel Of Virginia." and curl
osity as well as policy induced him to
make every effort to gain possession of
her. He visited Japawzaws and en-
deavored to persuade him to allow Po-
cahontas to come as visitor and look
at his ship. Japawzaws made no sign
of having heard what was meant. But
Capt. Angel knew his man, or rather
found out his weak point; he produced
a large copper kettle, and no sooner
had the willy old chieftain's eyes
alighted on this tempting bauble, than
his scruples were overpowered and he
allowed his ward, Pocahontas, to fall
into the hands of Captain Angel.
The entrapped Indian princess wept
long and bitterly when she discovered
herself prisoner, she was sent to
Jamestown, (which seemed a sad re-
turn for all her disinterested kindness
to that place and its inhabitants" Her
father offered five hundred bushels of
corn as ransome for her, but they were
not accepted. AS the beautiful prison.
er was treated kindly by her captors,
she gradually became reconciled to her
lot, and being naturally intelligent and
very desirous to learn, she soon ac-
quired knowledge of English under
theinstructions ofa brave and religious
ly-minded young officer, named John
| Rolfe.
During her captivity she was visited
by two Of her brothers, who were de-
| lighted to find her so we'll cared for
and contented. She declared to them
that she had no wish to return to her
tor with the liveliest gratitude. When
they took leave of her, Rolfe accompa-
MED them and informed them he de-
sired to marry their lovely sister. The
brothers informed Powhatan, who gave
his consent to the union; he was not
present at her marriage, but he sent her
| two brothers and one of her uncles to
represent him and fulfill all necessary
formalities.
Pocahontas had already embraced
the Christian religion; and had been
baptized in the Christian faith receiv-
ing the name of Rebecca. Early in
April, 1914, in the little English chapel,
handsomely decorated for the occasion
with garlands of evergreens, intersper-
ed with wild flowers, this more than
usually interesting wedding took place.
1.-THE bride was arrayed in a simple
tunic of white muslin, leaving her arms
bare. Over her shoulders was loosely
thrown an elegant robe, presented by
Sir Thomase Dale, and fancifully en-
broidered by herself and her maids. A
rich fillet bound her hair, and from her
head dropped veil of cause and the
plumage of birds. Her arms were en-
circled with simple bracelets and her
feet with slippers of her own handi-
work. Rolfe was attired as an English
cavalier, and upon his thigh he wore
the short sword of a gentleman of dis
tinction in society. The result of this
union was the continuance of the most
friendly relation between the English
settlers and the Indians as long as Pow
hatan lived"
| In 1916 she accompanied her husband
to England, where she was presented
as an Indian princess to James I. and
his queen, and quickly became and OBJ
ject of interest and great curiosity to
all classes. While she stayed in Lon
don Captain Smith called to see her.
For some reason or other, both she and
her father had long ago been led to
consider the brave captain as dead; and
whelmed with emotion that she turned
aside to weep. She naturally felt in
dignant at being so deceived; his pres
ence recalled old memories; the differ
enee between now and then rushed over
her with overpowering force, for three
hours she was incapable of any cOnver-
sation. At the end of this time she
partially recovered herself, and as she
talked to the captain her natural geni-
ality and vivavicty returned. In the
course of the conversation she called
Smith father. He expressed himself
unworthy of this distinction, but she
insisted, saying: "You called Powha-
tan father, when you were i'll his land
stranger, and for the same reason so
must I do you. Fear you should here
call you father? I.tell you will, and
you must call me child, and then shall
be forever and ever your countrs-wo-
man."
This pure-minded, interesting wo-
man remained in England about twelve
months, winning the regard and the af-
fection of many who came in contact
with her. In 1917, while preparing to
embark with her husband for Virginia,
she was suddenly i'll at Gravesend and
in short time died. She was thus
stricken down in the prime of her
woman-hood, being only twenty-five.
| She left one son, who became in after
years of prominence in Virginia. she
was the first Indian convert in the
British colonies; the first native who
learned to speak English, and the first
who was united in marriage to an
Englishnan."
Her character throughout shines in
its beauty. Her human and generous
heart her ardor and mistaken con-
stancy in her attachments, her unwear-
L = IL l.