Tennessee Wesleyan College - Nocatula Yearbook (Athens, TN)

Page 7 text:

orewvra 11 Many years ago, when the Indians roamed through the forests of East Tennessee, a wounded English soldier found his way to the wigwam of a chief of one of the tribes and was nursed back to health by the beautiful princess Nocatula. She was as charming as her name and she won the heart of the young Englishman. The marriage was celebrated and John was adopted into the tribe. Some months later John started out hunting with a small party. They were scarcely a mile from the camp when an Indian foe leaped from ambush and hurled a hunting knife into the breast of Nocatula Kowena s beloved husband. A runner quickly carried tie news to camp, and Kowena hastened to the side of her husband. Seeing his condition and realizing her loneliness, she snatched the knife from his breast and plunged it into her own. Her father, the chief, arrived as the last breath left the bodies of the devoted lov- rrs. According to custom, he placed a hack- berry in the hand of Kowena, an emblem of womanly qualities, and an acorn in the hand of John, an emblem of sturdy manhood and ( illl U illio strength. Together they entered the happy hunting ground. As the years went by and the plan ' s grew, they also witnessed the growth of our dear old college. The lowering oak and the flourishing hackberry, a monument to the un- timely dea ' h of John and the sacrifice of Nocatula Kowena. We consider it appropriate, therefore, that ihe first Annual published by the Senior Class of Athens should be named Kowena.