POCAHONTAS


There was once a very brave man whose name was John Smith. He came to

this country many years ago, when there were great woods everywhere,

and many wild beasts and Indians. Many tales are told of his

ad-ven-tures, some of them true and some of them untrue. The most

famous of all these is the fol-low-ing:--



One day when Smith was in the woods, some Indians came upon him, and

made him their pris-on-er. They
led him to their king, and in a short

time they made ready to put him to death.



A large stone was brought in, and Smith was made to lie down with his

head on it. Then two tall Indians with big clubs in their hands came

forward. The king and all his great men stood around to see. The

Indians raised their clubs. In another moment they would fall on

Smith's head.



But just then a little Indian girl rushed in. She was the daugh-ter of

the king, and her name was Po-ca-hon'tas. She ran and threw herself

between Smith and the up-lift-ed clubs. She clasped Smith's head with

her arms. She laid her own head upon his.



"O father!" she cried, "spare this man's life. I am sure he has done

you no harm, and we ought to be his friends."



The men with the clubs could not strike, for they did not want to hurt

the child. The king at first did not know what to do. Then he spoke to

some of his war-riors, and they lifted Smith from the ground. They

untied the cords from his wrists and feet, and set him free.



The next day the king sent Smith home; and several Indians went with

him to protect him from harm.



After that, as long as she lived, Po-ca-hon-tas was the friend of the

white men, and she did a great many things to help them.



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