Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-05-30
THE ORIGIN OF A CUSTOM.
How the First American Girl Came Il
Marry o Foreigner.

THE ORIGIN OF A CUSTOM.
How the First American Girl Came t.
Marry q Foreigner.
The mighty chief Powhatan sat on hi
tanbark throne and waited for the process
sion to appear. 1t was to be long pro
oession, for its leading feature was Cap
tain John Smith Of England, and Pow
hatan proposed in his noble, aborigina
mind to make the time of his passing 6
given point extremely indefinite, not t.
say permanent. In the words of Later
historian, "Powhatan was layin fer Johr
with q club" True, he was not in con.
cealment, ready to spring upon the unsus
pecting captain and sandbag him, so tt
speak, for the captain more than suspected
that he was persona non grata to the
mighty chief and was aware that at the
hour appointed he was to be brought be
fore Powhatan, and then and there, at &
given signal, to lay his head upon q stumr
in order to facilitate the chiefs purpose ir
getting rid of him with promptness and
dispatch.
Presently the enliyening notes of the
James River Falls brass band were heard
in the distance, and the old chiefs face,
before frowning at the uncalled for delay,
broke into seraphic smile, and he toyed
with his club merrily.
"What air plays the band?' inquired the
chief of his private secretary.
II believe, sire, it is called 'Goodby
john"
'How much better" sighed Powhatan,
ethan Johnnie Get Your Gun,' or some
other Of those seditious and insurrectionary
tunes the band was accustomed to play be.
fore we scalped the leaderl''
Powhatan smiled grimly, and the pri.
vate secretary bowed with grave Difference.
The music of the band sounded nearer,
and the shouts Of the Algonquin Light in.
fantry were waited in on the soft Virginia
air. A few more moments of impatient
waiting, and the procession filed down be-
fore the tanbark 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 deflantly at
the vermilion landscape before him.
GOOD morning, JOHN" said Powhatan
III OAIO uOuCS Vi Oiu
"How arc you, Black and -tan--excuse
mo - Powhatan," responded Captain
Smith, with the bluff cordiality of the
Englishman.
The chiefs face Redeemed, but it didn't
show through.
Thanks" he said. "Im ready for busi
ness"
freddy Is good, smiled Captain Smith,
noting Powhatan's war paint, but Pow
hatan was not subscriber to Punch, and
this witty sally of the Englishman fell un
needed.
II presume" he continued as he bal
anced his cordwood stick in his hand with
graceful case, "that you know what you
are here forp"
II fancy" replied the captain with
charming naivete and bonhomie, 'that
am to take the stump and join your cam.
paig9 club"
"You guessed it the first time," smiled
the chief. "But truce to such airy fairy
persifage," he added. "Take your place. I"
Captain Smith was conducted to the
stump at the foot of the throne, and Pow
hatan jauntily stepped to his side, twirlin9
hts club as the policemen do on pleasant
summer afternoons as they stroll along.
"This pillow" laughed the captain az
he placed his head on the stump in several
positions in order to find comfortable one,
reminds me of the pillow had in the
Pullman coming up here
"It's soft enough for my purpose, !"
growled 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.
A silence, broken only by the mournful
music Of the band, fell upon the scene, but
1t was for an instant only, then wild cry
pierced the stiffness, accompanied by a
swish of petticoats, and fair girl stood
between the captain and the club.
"Oh, popper," cried Pocahontas, for 1t
was she, the chiefs beautiful daughter
"Oh, pepper, what are you going to dor"
"Baok, girl, !" he shouted; "back say,
or you'll get it in the neck, sure.'
may, nay, pepper, :" she pleaded in sweet,
cajoling tones, II shall not back. You
know not what you are about to do"
"Stand from under for q minute and
you will see IL don't, " the chief answered
sullenly as hc let his club fall by his side
"But l tell you, she insisted, "that you
don't"
"Why don't I9'
Because you don't"
because me no becauses, girl, /" thun-
dered Powhatan, reaching for his club.
"Have you no other reason than wom-
ans reasonp'
being woman" she replied haught-
lily, II don't have to have"
"Now, Poke" said Powhatan caress-
ingly, "you get out of this and give your
papa chance"
"No, popper," she responded as she
threw her plump and tawny arm around
the neck of the captive captain, II came
here to give Captain Smith chance and
to give every American girl, for all time
to come, a chance" she added In almost
tragic tones.
"Come of, /" he growled.
"No, pepper, " she persisted, "Mr. Smith
must come off--off Of that stump. Will it
be necessary for me to give you map and
n GsaSaam hafArn. will ~aa~--1--.-s Ai.@4