The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-21
POKAHONTAS. INDIAN
PR INCESS AND JOHN
- ROLES WIFE.

THE romantic history of the daughter OF
the Indian chief Powhatar mas inspired
many a story-writer. One of the favorite
books Of the last year. ITO Have and 10
| Hold" refers to her with much tenderness.
and her husband. John Rolfe, is one OF It's
characters. Years ago. John Esten Cooke
gathered together the stories and traditions
about the Indian Princess and published
his book, "My Lady Pokahontas: A True
Relation Of Virginia."
The story is told In the first person by
Anas Todkill. a Puritan. who had followed
John Smith from England to Virginia. and
was ever his most faithful friend. Pokahon-
tas is introduced to the reader in Smiths
relation Of how she saved his life:
81 will tell thee of a great hazard l
have run. Anas,' Smith says. And then.
with a wistful look. he acquaints me how
he was seized by the heather in the Chick
ahomania Desert. and tied to a tree to
be shot with arrows, but he showed them
an ivory dial. Seeing the needle through
the glass and yet unable to touch 1t. they
think him a god. So they spared him and
conducted him to their great Emperor. the
mighty King Powhatan, at his royal resi-
dence on the York River"
Smith tells that they brought in a
uge stone and dragged me to 1t. and
forced me down on 1t. Then q big savage
raised his club to beat out my brains, when
Gods mercy sent to m succor one OF his
angels"
"Ths angel was q girl Of IL or Is. the
Kings beloved daughter. I had taken note
and comeliness. She was clad In a doeskin
robe. lined with down. from the breast OF
the wood pigeon. with bracelets of coral
and a white plume in her black hair. She
was short and slight OF stature. with feet
so small as scarce carried her.
She ran and clasped my head and held
me close to her heart. that was beating.
and looks up to her father, the Emperor.
begging he will spare me. With tears
streaming down, she holds me close to her
bosom, and murmurs pittfully that I be
spared
"She brought food to the starving colon
lists. and learned to speak a little English.
After a time she progressed rapidly under
Smiths tutelage.
She was ever in and out of the James,
town palisade with her wild train. gambol-
ing mirthfully on the grass, and looking at
all things around her with curious eyes.
What marveled at most was the child and
the woman mixed in her. 1t was more a
maiden of II than a child that 1 saw in
these days; and never in any of her plays
and antics was there any freedom or i'm
modesty.
All this spring of the year, 1909. dear
Pokahontas. as the old soldiers would still
call her. comes and goes every four or five
lays to and fro between jamestown and
her fathers habitation on the great York
River"
There were times of trial and discourage
ment to Captain Smith. All was not GO
ing we'll with his colony. The author re-
cords:
Once, wandering on the river bank, I
see him leaning thus on his sword, when.
sudden steals up behind him my little lady,
Pokahontas. who. coming to the fort and
not finding him there, goes to seek him, and
Is close to him before he sees her. . . =
Even In the woods some fifty yards from
her. I could see her gracious face and the
FOND look on it. Sure the swimming eyes
nxed on the young soldier were full of an
extreme OF strange tenderness. She touched
him and he turned suddenly: whereat I
thought he would kiss her. but he did not.
His face fushes and he stands looking at
her holding her hands. but not speaking a
word. Then they walk along the shore,
slowly. each beside the other.
When they come back to the fort I see
q bright light in my little lady's eyes; and
the soldiers face CLOVIS too, as he looks at
ner. l know he loves her now, and she
loves him. Twas truly a wondrous sight
to see this hardy solder melt, all Of a sud-
den. as the slim form of the girl was there
beside him. There were tears in the fawn
eyes. but a sudden splendor in the soldiers:
and he needs must go a long way with her
and her companions through the woods to-
ward the York.
They went away in hat same fashion
In the slant sunlight. . I meet him
by the palisade and say with laughter:
Thou art q prisoner. at last, worthy
Captain
AT that he muses. a little with a flush
on the tanned cheeks, and then laughs,
too"
After smith' removal from the governor
ship of the colony and his departure from
Virginia the young Princess goes no more to
Jamestown. I'm old days (as hath been
told she was ever in and out with her wild
train (and baskets. but now NO ~Pokahontas
and no wild train: worse than all. no bas-
kets! She cometh not, and, as We hear,
Is not now at Werowocomoco."
In order to secure the safety Of the Eng
lish, Argall, their Governor takes Poca-
hontas prisoner. and keeps her in James
town as q hostage. At this time she hears
that Smith has been killed in the Azores.
THE bruit has come that Smith was
death. and when she hears 1t a great sob
shakes her. and she bends down moaning
most like a poor bird that Is shot and bleed
ing. She talked long of the young
soldier. and had a. legion Of old stories of
him. But ever she fell again to weeping.
and saying In q low voice as before, when
she took leave of him. God! Godr where
by I knew she was still a Christian and
faithful to her vows"
As time passed her grief was assuaged,
and still later, Master John Rolfe won her
promise to marry him. The chronicler of
the story. Anas Todkill. promises the Prin-
cess that he will always serve her, and he
goes with her and her husband to their
home Farmingdell. The years pass, and
Pocahontass only child is born. Then
comes the invitation to England, and the
whole family take ship.
The Indian Princess Is received at court
with much cordiality. Master Rolfe goes
with her. but Is not received with such