Glass House at Jamestown Author:Lavinia Dobler Orphaned by a great fire in London, Nat became one of the youngest members of the famous Virginia colony. At first he lived in a large home with several of the men and had to work hard in the kitchen. But later he was promoted to apprentice in the new glass house, working with the skilled Poles and Germans who were making window panes and bowls... more » and colored beads for the Indians. Nat was eager to learn all he could about the wonderful way in which beautiful glass was produced out of sand and other materials found near Jamestown.
He found a close friend in an Indian boy and together they took care of a pet raccoon that lived in a cage in the woods. Nat and the Indian youth learned each other's languages and were taken by the Governor of Jamestown to visit the great Indian chief Powhatan, to act as interpreters between whites and the red men. It was this same Indian boy who later rescued Nat from the terrible fire which burned down the glass works and part of the forest.« less