The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-01
A Le.ts~ OF jamestown Island.
For The Times.l

Yon fair old, feint old picture set in its
antique rpstlc frame;
4 queer old. quaint old picture as fairly
unique az its mamie.
A spot SO fraught with incense Of our brave
fdrefathefs.
Tho times long line Of warfare has left
IFS ruined haunts aud name.
What vague and cherished memories cling
round its crumbiing shrine;
What tragic, weird traditions ITS shadows
bring to mind.
First, a red proved race Of warriors here
built their wigwam tres.
Planned rude, unlettered warfare 'gainst
the whites with savage ire.
For this fair isle of promise God freed
from a benighted race
And the Saxon's freighted vessels soon the
Indians barque replaced:
Aye, then a sorrowfui romance clouds this
legendary isle
OF n dark eyed Indian Princess by n Sax
on's smiles b~eguiled,
And sadder fate no wild dove e'er. with
broken heart or wings
Sought rest, and soreIy found Il. In the dis
tant land OF kings.
These fierce aud fated nomads, whose
bIrthright made them free,
Journeyed westward, further westward,
from Orient to Occident sea,
From the white mans bcld encroachmcnt
they escaped To distant plains,
While scattered beads aud arrow heads IN
the legacy that remains,
For here Britaln's sturdy heroes. their mon
arch's flag unfurled.
And jamestown" a nations birthplace,
was heralded 10 the world.
Tho they brought no misers treasure, no
stores Of hordcd geld,
Yer brought hearts Of Christian patriots,
In freeman's form 10 mould;
How dread hardships long deferred them,
Smith In fused courage all the whiie'
Til primeyal rudeness vanished ana ne"
horn comforts smiled.
Mid the forest rose m affair." en- tms i'ir
GO1-giyen sod,
Whose rude spire pointed h~eayenward,
where the colonist worshippcd God,
And free. Grand happy anthems rolled Ger
each varied scene.
GLORY TO God In the highest on eHrth
peace. gccd VIII 60 men.
At last our English sireS dare outs' w"
England's chain;
They gwore 10 more ailcgiaic'' ""' '""
freedom 20 gain;
race with brave. free spirit, knew no
tallsman but right
| And hero sons OF heroes found ther Hes-
dom IN their might.
To-day we American pilgrims We" 'n'
Mecca Of our land
| And kneel beside the ruined fahe' "heAe
our fcrefathers used 10 stand.
| r,ao "a nature seems so still, Its sacred
reverence shone; -
THE old river laps So tenderly near the sra'
escutcheon'd stones
c.aua s,onos all chipped and battered,
md dispersed throughout the iand :.
A relics Of that ancient court once ruled
by royal hands. A..
toay shadows fall far en- the James that
kisses the islard shore. ....,
Dark shadows Of that ruined seat tna'"
re-ccho never more. Ar.
No more will twilight Dreezes e"''" ""
DYING yesper strains -.
Nor crnmbllng fount, nor rocness a's'e g"
rcsound TO prayer AGAIN, .a..
pesornd to none but spirits tread. mat
guard this empty urn, -.
Whore mighty birds, CHASTITY sentineis' pe'7
walt the days return. .
raraueII fsr.famcd Old Jamestown, fss
ON In thy p~caccfuI. sleep.
1vbv sacred ruins Of former fame ATOMS
their sentry keep.
nut bark. there comes a master mind' VINO
dreamed II silded dream
He sees Old Jamestcwn's court rebuilt a""
vessels crowd the stream, "
And Jamestown. like the Phoehik ""s
he sees rise from her dust.
She calls and claims each ps'rio' y" "
csme and come they must
In see the crownless Orient Queen |"
gain her island throne.
And bring all your guests OF other ianN 70
the birthplace Of your own.
And from the old coloniat SnV VA" "
r.., NE Jerusalem Of Egypt. twill -
thr,ngcd with guests each year. 80
r.u~sa~n viii be born again. Win tsis
and manly grace. - a, .hs.
That seek the weird encnan'~e'' =" ~"
= old historic spot. 49,.