The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-20
The First american Babv.

Almost three hundred years ago, wher,
Queen Elizabeth was reigning in England,
there; was a baby born that was very in-
teresting baby, indeed, for many reasons.
AS the young parents bent over their little
girl they thought. Of course, that there
was not another such baby in the whole
world; and there was q grand old man,
with long silvery beard falling over his
high ruff and his velvet doublet. who
called the little stranger his pet. and
kissed her as if she were his own.
But this was not what made the baby
famous.
It was hong ago, you see, before the En-
glish had single settlement upon the
mainland Of America. But number Of
energetic men at the English court were
greatly interested in colonizing the new
land. Foremost among them was Sir
Walter Raleigh! of whom you have heard.
It was Raleigh that fitted out the COLI
ony that landed at Roanoke Island, a
beautiful green land full Of cedars, sassa-
fras, palms and flowers, where the birds
sung the year round. Annanias and Ell
eanor Dare, the father and mother of our
baby, were among these settlers. Their
child was born about a month after the
landing of these settlers Their child was
born about month after the landing Of
the colonists, August 49, 1887.
In the little wooden chapel, two or three
weeks after the event. the colontsts assem-
bled one bright day to attend the baptism
and christening Of the little stranger. The
font was the fanlily's silver wash ever;
the sponsor was Governor White himself,
the baby's grandfather. Thereafter she
was known as Virginia Dare, sweet and
appropriate name for this pretty wild
flower that bloorned all alone on that
desolate coast. She was the first child
born Of English parents in America, and
was the only white baby then living on
this continent.
About the time that Virginia was cut
ting her first teeth there came very dis
tressing times to the colony. There was
great need Of supplies and it was deter
mined to send to England for them. Cow
ernor White went himself, and never saw
his little granddaughter again.
It was three years before the governor
returned to Roanoke Island, He was kept
In England by the Spanish invasion, and
after the winds and the waves had shat
tered the dreaded Armada, it was some
time before Raleigh could get together
the men and supplies that were needed
by the far-off colony. At last the ship was
ready and White took his departure, but
overtaken by Spanish cruiser and cap
tured.
White himself escaped in boat and
after many days reached England again.
Then he had to wait for another ship and
the weary old man saw day after day 60
Ny OSAOic ne lcIt Tue cnalK-CllIL4 OF E11.
gland behind him: After long, anxious
months he approached the new land.
You can fancy how he strained his eyes
to catch the first sign Of life among the
green trees. 1t was near sunset and he
expected to see the smoke rising from the
chimneys and the settlers hurryinK In
from the fields to eat their evening meal
or crowding down to greet the long looked
for arrivals. But no such cheering sight
met his gaze. There stood the Cabins
but they were deserted; not single HUI.
man sound was visible
They landed and walked up the grass
Grown paths Vines and climbers fes-
TONED the doorways, and a herd Of deer
were feeding ON the ripe melons anr Gu
cumbers. A dreaTy stiffness reigned every.
where. In the home Of Dare stood the era
die that had held little Virginia, as II she
had left 1t but a moment before. A little
shoe lay on the floor beside it-that was