Virginia Dare [pp. 585-595]

Virginia Dare: or, The Colony of Roanoke.
readiness to receive them. Before a fortnight had
passed the colony were landed, and took possession
of their habitations.
to quit the helpless one. Then clasping it to her
bosom in an agony of tears, she implored its forgiveness for her intended desertion. At length in
a low voice almost choked by sobs, she poured
out a prayer for help in this her extremity. As
she continued, her heart throbbed less violently,
the flush faded from her cheek, the fire from her
eye, and by degrees a sweet and holy calm stole
over her sad countenance. An hour after, when
Dr. Carson entered, he found her perfectly calm,
with a prayer-book open before her.
" God hath strengthened you, my child," said the
good man, as he wiped a tear from his eye.
"He has," she answere d with de ep thankfulness; "and I desi re this day to dedicate to him my
child. Thus robbed of her earthly father, let me
place her under the care of a he a ven ly on e."
" All shall be prepared for h er b aptism," replied
Dr. Carson; " and I know tha t your father will
leave with a lighter heart when th is d ut y is performed.'
As the sun was sinking in the west, t he little
band of colonis ts assembled in the hollow-square
around which their dwellings wer e built, to unite
in public worship. With the m c ame Manteo and
some of his tribe, who gazed with admiration on
the devotions of the wh ite men. A d eep solemnity
pervaded the scene, and when the gove rnor a ppeared with his widowed daughter and her infant, the
unbidde n tears started t o every eye. The wild
savages looked upon the delicate babe a a an angel
from the sky, so differe nt was her pure beauty
from tha t of their own rude nurselings. At the
close of the usual service, Dr. Carson read the
prayer for thos e going to s ea, with deep feelinugand all added a fervent Amen. Then turning to
the baptismal service, he commended to the care of
the Almighty, the little one, who born amid many
perils, and deprived thus early of its father, seemed peculiarly to require His protecting love and care.
Then talking the babe from the hands of its grandfather, he gave the name of Virginia Dare. to the
first child born of English parents on the soil of
America. As he restored it to Mr. White, Manteo
came forward, and solemnly promised in the name
of the Great Spirit, to watch over and befriend the
little stranger. Eleanor warmly thanked the generous Indian, who had from their first arrival, shown
himself their devoted friend.
As soon as the services were concluded, Fer
Several months had passed since Mr. White and
his colony landed at Roanoke. For a short time,
the City of Raleigh, as the new settlement was
called, had prospered, and the lands they had so
carefully cultivated yielded an abundant harvest.
But before long, the impatience and ill-conduct of
Fernando, the naval commander, threatened the colony with destruction. Refusing to comply with
his instructions and explore the surrounding country, he determined to set sail for Europe, that he
might renew a profitable traffic with the West-Indies which had been interrupted. The colonists
all with one voice insisted that Gov. White should
return with him and procure immediate supplies
and a reinforcement of men. Rumors of hostility
among the neighboring tribes of Indians were heard,
and a t l e ngth one of Mr. White's assistants was
killed. Becoming suspicious of the intentions of
t he s avages, a party of them who were sitting
peaceably bv their fi re, w ere attacked; and it was
not discov ere d till too late that they belonged to a
friendly tribe. Manteo, he hie o the chief of the Hatteras
Indians, who by the commandment of Sir Walter
wa s ch ristened and invested with the title of a feudal baron, wa rn ed them to b e on their guard again st
their wary and revengeful enemies. It required
all the energy and prudence of which Mr. White
wa s mast er to aver t the gathering storm, and at
last he found h imself compelled to yie ld to the
general wish that he should return to England.
Fernando became impatient, and at length a day
was fixed for their departure. Before that day,
George Dare fell a victim to a disease caused by
his constant labor and unwearied exertions to make
every thing comfortable for his wife.
The Sabbath morning previous to the day fixed
for the sailing of the fleet, rose with uncommon
loveliness upon the disheartened colonists. But
one being, ever alive to the beauty of nature, heeded not the glorious morning. Eleanor Dare knelt
by the side of her sleeping infant with streaming
eyes and uplifted hands. The death of her husband she had borne with uncommon fortitude, but
now her heart seemed wrung with agony. At
times she was almost overcome by the conflict going on in her mind,-a conflict between filial affection, and a mother's love. Before her lay her
fatherless daughter, helpless and innocent. Could
she leave it among strangers. Yet it was too youngc
to encounter the perils of a voyage. Would her
mother have asked such a sacrifice?l But how
could she suffier her idolized father to depart alone!
Who would then support her amidst the horrors
threatening them ~. Sometimes her devotion to himl
conquered, and rising, she seemed nerving herself
nando hastened them to prepare for their departure.
Mr. White made a short and touching address. He
beogged the colonists to be of good courage, and
carefully avoid giving the natives any provocation;
finishing, by commending to t heir care his daughter and the little Virginia. All readily promised
to protect a being whom they almost worshipped.
He then more particularly entreated the kind attentions of Alice, an old woman who accompanied
them from England and was devotedly attached
598.
[SEPTF-MIRF,R,
CHAPTER 111.