The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-07-11
THE ORIGIN or 4 CUSTOM.
How the First American Girl Came -
Marry Foreigner.

sion to appear. 1t was to be long pro-
cession, for its leading feature was Cap
tain John Smith of England, and Pow
hatan proposed in his noble, aboriginal
mind to make the time of his passing a
given point extremely indefinite, not to
say permanent. In the words of later
historian, '.Powhatan was layin fer John
with a club" True, he was not in cor
ccalInent, ready to spring upon the unsus-
pecting captain and sanding him, SO TO
speak, for the captain more than suspected
that he was persona non grata to the
mighty chief and was aware that Mt the
hour appointed he to be brought be-
fore Powhatan, and then and there, at u
given signal, TO lay his head upon stump
in order to facilitate the chiefs purpose in
getting rid of him with promptness and
dispatch.
Presently the enlivening notes of the
James River Falls brass band Were heard
in the distance, and the old chiefs face,
before frownng Mt the uncalled for delay
broke into IL seraphic smile, and he toyed
with his club mcrrily.
'sWhat air plays the band?" inquired the
chief of his private secretary
II believe, sire, it is called 'Goodby,
John
GLOW much better" sighed Powhatan,
ethan Johnnie Get Your Cum or some
other of those seditious and insurrectionary
tunes the band was accustomed to play be-
fore we scalped the leaderr'
Powhatan smiled grimly, and the pri-
waite secretary bowed with grave Difference.
The music of the band sounded nearer,
and the shouts of the Algonquin Light in
fantry We're waited in on the soft Virginia
air A few more moments of impatient
waiting and the procession filed down be-
fore the tanbarl throne.
Powhatan stood up in all his fuss and
feathers, and he looked like an October
sunset with fringe on it.
Captain Smith had halted directly in
front of the chief and he gazed detlantly at
the vermilion landscape before him.
Good morning, John, said Powhatan
in the hospitable tones of the old Virginian.
''How are you, Black and tan-excuse
me = Powhatan,' responded Captain
Smith, with the bluff cordiality of the
Englishman.
The chiefs face Redeemed, but it didn't
show through,
'.Thanks, I" ne said ''I'm ready for bust
ness
freddy is good - smiled Captain Smith,
noting Powhatans war paint but Pow
hatan was not a subscriber to Punch, and
this witty sally of the Englishman fell I'M
needed,
Il presume" he continued he bal
anccd his cordwood stick in his hand with
graceful ease THAT you know what you
are here for?''
Il fancy replied the captain with
charming naivete and bonhomie, "that
am to take the stump and join your cam
paign club.
- You Guessed it the first time, - smiled
the chief But truce to such airy fairy
pcrsillagc, p he added. Take your place. -
Captain Smith was conducted to the
stump at the foot Of the throne, and Pow
haitian jauntily stepped to his side, twirling
his club as the policemen do on pleasant
summer afternoons as they stroll along.
This pillow, - laughed the captain as
he placed his head on the stump in several
positions in order to find a comfortable one,
reminds me of the pillow l had in the
Pullman coming up here"
Its soft enough for my purpose. -
growlcd Powhatan, for the first time
showing his anxiety TO get his work in.
The chief braced himself, sighted along
his club to get the proper distance, the
band played Annie Laurie, = and he drew
back his formidable weapon.
\ silence, broken only by the mournful
music of the band fell upon the scene but
it was for an instant only, then wild cry
pierced the stiffness, accompanied by a
swish Of petticoats, and a fair girl stood
between the captain and the club
ooh, pepper" cried Pocahontas, for it
was she, the chiefs beautiful daughter.
ooh, pepper, what are you going to do?''
Back, girl, . he shouted; back say,
or you'll get it in the neck sure
Nay, nay, pepper, " she pleaded in sweet,
Cabling tones, Il shall not back. You
know not what you are about to do.''
stand from under for a minute, and
you will see if | don't, = the chief answered
sulenly as he let his club fall by his side.
But tell you, she insisted, ''that you
DON'T
''Why don't I?''
Because you don't"
Because me no becauses, girl, F." thun-
dered Powhatan reaching for his club.
Have you no other reason than a wom-
an S reason?"
being a woman" she replied haught-
lily, II don't have to have.
''Now, Pokie,'' said Powhatan caress.
ingly, ''you get out of this and give your
papa chance"
''No, pepper" she responded as she
threw her plump and tawny arm around
the neck of the captive captain, 81 came
here to give Captain Smith a chance and
to give every American girl, for all time
to come a chance" she added in almost
tragic tones
Come off, - he growled.
''No, pepper, she persisted, 'fMr. Smith
must come off-off of that stump. Will 1T
be necessary Tor me to give you map and
a diagram before you will understand that
Captain Smith is a foreigner, that I am an
American girl of marriageable age and
that the entente cordiale between the two
must and shall be preserved? Don't you
know that you owe something to posterity
and the future social conditions of this
great and glorious republic? Pepper, pop
per- she pleaded, "can't you see that your
Pocahontas is endeavoring to establish a
precedent that will stand for all time?'
Powhatan hesitated. A light as of a
new day was breaking in upon his abor-
| iginal perception.
"Old man." exclaimed Captain Smith,
| taking the stump with his feet instead of
his head, ftPocahontas has called you, and
you've got to show down." Powhatan
dropped his CORY club in supreme disgust
"Tell that COMPOUNDED band to play
Tommy Atkins % he commanded his
| private secretary.
Il guess I'll take you,' said Pocahontas
| to the captain as be came down off tho
| stump.
'Please guess again. said John.
But despite this ungallant and ungener-
| Gus rebuff history records the fact that
| Pocahontas was the first American girl to
marry a foreigner.-W. J. hampton in
| Life
No Help For 1t.
] Miss Summit launching with Castleton)
Il really don't feel as if I could eat a