The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-17
Selected Story.
NAHWISTA: A STORY OF THE
COLONIES.
BY CHARLES F. POW IL.

GSSSSsSSSSSSSS
A BOUT two centuries ago, when
n New England, consisted of the
colonies of Massachusetts,, Plymouth,
Connecticut and New Haven, under
the supervision of commissioners sub
ject to the control of the governor
and general court of Massachusetts,
the difficulties with the Dutch at
Manhattan, or New Amsterdam, COM
menced. Massachusetts and Ply
mouth being at points farther east,
and of right of possession less ques-
tionable, were not Immediately in
volved in the contest, but being un-
der compact or confederation with
the other colonies, were bound to aid
in sustaining the rights of Connecti-
cut and New Haven.
Among the occurrences which led
to the quarrel, were the insolence of
the Dutch agents; the burning of the
English trading houses in New
Haven; selling powder and guns to
the Indians, and taking from the har-
Dor of New Haven a vessel belong
ing to the Dutch.
About this time the Dutch COVER
nor, Kieft, living at Manhattoes, took
under his charge, to educate and
bring up, an Indian maiden, named
Nahwista. Her father was Block
island Indian, aged and infirm, and
having many daughters and but one
son, solicited the governor to take
Nahwista under his protection. 1t
does not appear that Kieft had any
children of his own, and he naturally
looked on Nahwista as member of
his own family, and cherished her
with more than the ordinary kindly
feelings of an adopted father. Nah
vista was not eighteen when she left
her fathers hut. Tall and graceful,
and just budding into womanhood,
she had attracted the attention of
more than one young sachem of her
tribe. The younger of the daughters,
and the favorite of her father, and
living as she did near to the Dutch
settlement, much pains had been
taken with her dress. Her small,
delicate foot told that her moccasons
had been more snugly fitted than they
were wont to be for her sisters of the
forest. Her slender waist, too, showed
that she had worn girdle from her
youth; and her soft and graceful
hand had been trained to the bow
and culver, which she used most dex-
terously. Her eve was like the
eagles, and her hair like the ravens
wing; but melancholy sadness
brooded over her fnely-chiselled
features. She was at times thought
full, deeply thoughtful, and it would
seem that no earthly incentive could
light up the smile on her counte-
nance. At times, it is true, she was
gay, and even joined in the revelries
of the hour, but her JOY was in her
solitude, and her pleasure in her
meditation.
Nahwista liked her adopted father,
and her aptness led her soon to be-
come proficient in the Dutch Ian
guage. Her sisters were permitted
to visit her, and she in return occa-
sionally went to the house OF her ia
Their. But her attachments to the
Dutch became stronger as she grew
more acquainted with them and could
converse with them more freely, and
her restless anxiety to associate with
the wild beings of her native home
gradually subsidized at years end.
A servant of the governors named
earle, an active. intelligent young
man, was enamored with Nahwista,
and used all the artifice in his power
to win her affections. She was artless
in the affairs of the heart, but had
sufficient good sense and female
cautiousness to be distrustful of his
motives. earle lavished presents up
on the fair Indian maid, and strolled |