The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-08-21
THE FIRST AMERICAN BABY.

A. SAA ~ ASAAD
New York Mail and Express.
Over three hundred years ago, when
Queen Elizabeth was reigning in Eng.
land, there was a baby born that was
very interesting 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 WIS Il grand old man, with long
silyery beard falling over his his high
ruff and his velvet doublet, who called
the little stranger his pet, and kissed
her as II she was his own, says the
Philadelphia Times.
But this was not what made the
baby famous.
1t was long ago, you see, before the
English had single settlement upon
the mainland Of America. But a
number OF energetic men at the Eng.
lisll court were greatly interested in
cOlonzing the new land. Foremost
among them was Sir Walter Raleigh.
1t was Raleigh who fitted out the
colony that landed ut Roanoke Island,
of the coast Of North Carolina, a
beautiful green land full of cedars,
sassafras, palms and flowers, where
the birds sang the year round. An
anias and Eleador Dare, the father
and mother of our baby, were among
these settlers. Their child was born
about n month after the landing OF
the coloni>ts, August IS, 1857.
BApTIzINa THE LITTLE GIRL.
In the little wooden chapel, two or
three weeks after the event, the colo
nists assembled one bright day to at
tend the baptism and christening OF
the little stranger. The font was the
family's silver wash ever, and the
sponsor was Coy. White himself, the
baby's grandfather. Thereafter she
was known as Virginia Dare, a sweet
and appropriate name for this pretty
little wild flower that bloomed all
alone on the desolatc 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
cutting her first teeth there came
very distressing times to the colony.
There was great need Of supplies, and
it was determined to send to England
for them. Gov. White went himself,
and never saw his little granddaugh-
ter again.
1t was three years before the gov.
ernor returned to Roanoke Island.
lie was kept in England by the Span
isli invasion, and after the winds and
the waves had shattered the dreaded
Armada it was some time before Raj
cigc could get together the men and
supplies that were needed by the far.
of colony. Atlast the ship was ready
and White took his departure, but lle
had not sailed far when his vessel was
overtaken by Spanish cruiser and
captured.
THE RETURN.
White himself escaped in boat,
and after many days reached England
again. Theaahe had to wait for =
other ship, ana the weary old IN
saw day after day 50 by before he left
the chalk cliffs Of England behind
him. After long, anxious months he
approached the new land.
You can fancy how he strained his
eyes to catch the ilrst signs OF life
among The green trees. 1t was near
sunset and lie expected to zee the
smoke rising from the chimncys and
the settlers hurrying In from the
fields to cat their evening meal, or
crowdlng down to greet the long
lookcd.for arrivals. But no such
cheering sight met their gaze. There
stood the cabins, but they were de-
serted; not a single human soul was
visible.
They landed and walked up the
grass-grown paths. Vines and climb
ers festooned the doorways. A dreary
stiffness rclgncd everywhere. In the
home or Dare stood the cradle that
had held little Virginia, as II she had
left It but y moment before. A little
shoe lay on the floor beside it--that
was all.
= - I.