%^ ?:^ :vf ^..■(?--:.-4g^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. %p — ^mm¥'^^— Shelf .:Z~^'^*^' UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. '. 'y, sSsiS^- imim A ■ ■ .-^ ' M:'^>;i^^ ?\* ■^ i»- .-4 ■ o^../^- ^10^ A CERTAIN Totokonula was once chief of the people heie ; a mighty hunter and a good husbandman, his tribe never wanted food while he attended to their welfare. But a change came: while out hunting one day the young man met a spirit-maid, the guardian angel of the valley, the beautiful Tisayac. She was not as the dusky beauties of his tribe, but white and fair, with rolling yellow tresses, that fell over her shoulders like sunshine, and blue eyes with a light in them like the skv where the sun s:oes down ; white, cloud-like wings were folded behind her shoulders, and her voice was sweeter than the song of birds: no wonder the strong chief loved her with a mad and instant love. He reached towards her, but the snowy wings lifted her above his sight, and he stood again alone upon the dome where she had been. No more Toto- konula led in the chase, or heeded the crops in the valley ; he wandered here and there like a man distraught, ever seeking that wonderful shining vision that had made all else on earth stale and unprofitable in his sight. The land began to languish, missing the industrious directing hand that had tended it so long; the pleasant garden became a wilderness, where the drought laid waste, and the wild beast spoiled what was left and taught his cubs to divide the prey. When the fair spirit retmned at last to visit her valley, she wept to see the desolation, and she knelt upon the dome, praying to the Great Spirit for succor. God heard, and stooping from his place, he clothed tiie dome upon which she stood, and the granite was riven beneath her feet, and tile melted snows of the Nevadas rushed through the gorge, bearing fertility upon their cool bosoms. A beautiful lake was formed between the cloven walls of the moimtain, and a river issued from it to feed the valley forever. Then sang the birds as of old. laving their bodies in the water, and the odor of tlowers rose like a pleasant incense, and the trees put forth their buds, and the corn shot up beneath the sun and rustled when tlie breeze crept through the tall stalks. Tisavac moved away as she had come, and none knew whither she went ; but the people called the dome by her name, as it is indeed known to this day. After her departure the chief returned from his weary quest, and as he heard that the winged one had visited the valley, the old madness crept up into his eyes and entered, seven times worse than at first, into his empty soul. He turned his back on the lodges of his people. His last act was to cut with his lumting-knife the outline of his face upon a lofty rock, so that if lie never returned his memorial at least should re- main with them forever. He never did retrnn fiom that hopeless search;, but the graven rock was called Totokonula, after his name, and may be still seen, three thousand feet high, guarding the entrance of the beautiful \alley. — "Native Races," by H. H. Bancroft, page 12^, Vol. 111. Illuminated half-title Title-page ' Majestic peaks of frigid will" ' ' (jreat Spirit ! grant nie mystic power' " ' She shrank from mortal touch, arising" . ' Ruined harvest, worthless, seared." . . ' Reflecting dusky native daughters" . . ' Nature casts her fairest treasures" . . . ' Sublime appeared the mountains grand" ' ' But I have known a harder death' " . . ' He saw Tisayac's angel face" ' ' The Bridal Veil' is ever flowing" . . . Floral decorations throughout the text . . Modellings in clay " Drawn by Will H. Low. Modelled by John J. Boyle. Drawn by Hek^iann Simon . . Fredehick Dielman FuEDERicK Dielman '■ FuEDEuicK Dielman FuEDEKiCK Dielman " Hermann Simon . . H. Bolton Jones . . Frederick Dielman " Frederick Dielman Henry Sandham . . Rene T. de Quelin. Ijy A. L. R. Van der Berg / 29 " 33 f' 37/ 41 ■ 45 ^■ 49 ''■' TISAYAC OF THE YOSEMITE. Once the Sierra range, rock riven, Craggy with jagged boulders gray, Looked like wall borders touching heaven, That led along their lofty way. The grand old glaciers extended. Majestic peaks of frigid will, Against midsummer sun defended Their right to wear ice armor still. O'er the steep slopes were wild woods, dotted On fluted ridges of the pass. Where climbed the zigzag trails allotted Ascent from vales of brambled grass. '^'^; ^^^•' II. In these mountains ruled supremely To-to-ko-nu-la, valiant, brave — With wisdom strove he, as was seemly, To guard the right, from wrong to save. One morn he stood, adventure daring, Upon the highest peak, with pride Invoking unseen flite, ne'er sparing Dangers that threatened to betide ; Beneath the o'erarched heavens, speaking As if a king upon his throne. He, from his love of venture, seeking Some strange phenomenon unknown. "Great Spirit! grant me mystic power To change all things 1 now behold ! With might give wisdom, wondrous dower New glories in mv deeds to fold ! Give loftv life this habitation I Magnificent argentine sweep ; Give mighty mountains to this nation ! Give treasures richest for our keep !"' Lo I while he spake soft shimmers lightly Illumed the cliffs of boulders high. With warmer iridescence, brightly, Like promise bows that span the sky ; IV. Forth from irradiance advancing, In answer to his uttered prayer, A vision, glorious, entrancing, As if his destiny to share, Appeared beside him on the mountain. Most beautiful, transcendent, fair, — In robe of sheen, like foam of fountain That pearls the dewv morning air ; Her silken tresses falling lightly Waving with rays of golden hue. Like sunshine shone, but far more brightly, Threading her folded pinions through. V. 0"er her pure brow seraphic, twining. Were bands of bright encircling tlame — Halos of saintly ninibus — shining The while she spake her wondrous name. " 1 am Tisayac ! For thv glorv The Light of light awardeth thee To till the measure of thy story. Its meed of mystic destiny." While speaking, saintly smiles were wieathing Their tender lights of ti'uth divine From azure eyes, her bosom breathing The holy love that hearts enshrine. *^^\'i,S VI. The Indian chieftain, charmed, delighted, Awoke with warmest love aglow ; Wild words his adoration plighted With pride exultant bliss to show ; Excitedly his arms extended The angel presence to embrace ; With wooing thoughts his praises blended Fleeter than words could till their place. Tisayac's smile at once o'erclouded His earthly passion to disprove ; Her glorious presence, saintly-shrouded In mantle of divinest love. VII. She shrank from mortal touch, arising On outspread wings, she soared away, The bold young brave with shock surprising, Who stood bewildered in dismay : Never before had he been slighted Or baffled in his wild desire ; His soul subdued by wishes blighted, Bedazed with disappointment dire. His searching gaze o'er earth and heaven Met only chaos everywhere, Till speech his palsied tongue was given To utter this pathetic prayer : i£r^ ^ r/ '■%' Ik Vlli. "Oh! banish not this new-found pleasure, Feast of my eves ! to gaze on thee, My light of life ! my peerless treasure I My meed of glorious destiny ! Bv the Great Spirit sent, thy beauty Intoxicates my heart with love. That truly vows with dauntless duty Its adoration fond to prove. What angel grace I What tender glances ! Thv beauty, beaming rosy light, Awakes desire, my soul entrances With whispered words of fond delight. IX. "Stay! Why arouse my mind fiom sleeping, With proffered smiles, ecstatic bliss? My heart once cold, now madly leaping, — What doom was ever like to this? Vanished? alas! all things seem dreary; Naught in this world will please again ; Of life's oppression 1 am weary — Still hushing heart-throbs born of pain. Tisayac ! light of air world, hover Awhile above my burning brow ! Comfort this grief of mine, thy lover Who wafts adoringlv his vow. " Of noble presence, God-like bearing, With youth, ambition, warm desire, Bravest of braves, his dauntless daring, With eyes of eagles" gleam and tire ; Like one distiacted, ever seeking The angel through wild mvstic wavs, To-to-ko-nu-la wandered, speaking Or singing sad, disjointed lays. Neglected lands began to languish, With weeds and brambles overgrown ; The chieftain's spirit racked with anguish. His mind bv maddened thoughts o'erthrown. XI. " TiSAYAC ! I will follow ever Along the way 1 saw thee tly ! Thou canst not by this torture sever Love that will live if I must die!" Then he a glacier steep ascended From crag to crag, soon disappeared ; Dominion thus neglected ended In ruined harvest, worthless, seared. Soon through the canons mimic measures Along the dingled caverns deep, With waking voice invoking pleasures, Unceasing murmurs softly sweep. XII. " To-TO-KO-NU-LA ! " like a whisper Sio;hed on the stilly mountain air With rippling hush, like laughing lisper Awoke the echoes everywhere. As with a ray of light from heaven, Tisayac. the fair angel, came; A glow of glorious radiance given With music of the chieftain's name. She gazed upon the desolation Desertion brought that vast domain, On barren blight, — drear devastation, Since madness crushed the chieftain's reign. XIII. Her tears like piecious dews of Hermon Fell on the soil beneath her feet ; Fair tlowers awoke, with silent sermon Wafting odorous incense sweet. At her command were boulders riven, The granite parted where she stood ; The melted mountain snows were driven. Rushing in falls with force of tlood. A lovelv lake she formed of waters Pure as the mirrored azure skies. — Reflecting dusky native daughters, — Now forms the source where rivers rise. i^, XIV. Thus the Yosemite. that wonder Of fabled scenery sublime, Was given falls with voice of thunder, And purling streams with ceaseless chime. A grander majesty enhances The scene, and pines soft shadows fling, Their tasselled foliage — eUin lances — In bristling range of battle bring. Forests of mammoth trees embracing With massive boughs magnificent, Climbing wild vines whose interlacing Frail tendrils lights to shadows lent. XV. Most wondrous charms of beauty blended Along the overarching skies, Grand granite monuments extended O'er fissures, falls, and domes that rise ; Their needle shafts so sharply pointed, The Sentinel imposing stands, Like sacred edifice anointed As offertory of the land. For nature casts her faiiest treasures Before the altars offered there ; The birds are chanting songs in measure, With sweet responses everywhere. ^ -; w XVI. Bold, granite boulder range was given Wiiere towering cliffs imposing stand, Deep mighty falls o'er ledges d liven, By ceaseless breezes ever flinned ; The wild birds sang in tuneful measure. Blossoms bedecked with odors sweet The fertile tklds, exalting pleasure Of vernal beauties rare, leplete. To-to-ko-nu-la, then returning After a long and fruitless quest, Of fair Tisayac's visit learning, With wilder phrensy was possessed. XVII. Awe-struck he gazed upon the changes : Sublime appeared the mountains grand, Dense foaming falls, arcaded ranges That towering rose above the land. Upon a lofty peak he places A likeness of himself in stone, With hunting-knife that outline traces Now to the gazing pilgrim shown. And while he worked, his sad song singing, He'd pause, with an attentive ear. Again to hear Tisavac winging — His wearv heart with life to cheer. ■M6MUMWB SONG. Here will I trace My saddened face, Upon this stone, For thou hast flown To Spirit Great. Tisayac ! thou With seraph brow, Irradiant — fair — Naught can compare To thee, my fate. Hard is tliis stone ; But 1 have known A harder death With living breath — My doom is brief; It follows still Thy witching will That wooed, that won And left undone A hapless chief. Delve, delve I now, O'er face and brow In earnest zeal ; My harder steel Deepens each line. Tisayac, see ! My love for thee Aids to impress. For thy caress. This face of mine. XVIII. And while he sang the birds were singing, Flitting from crag to crag the while, With fluttering pinions softly winging, As if his sadness to beguile. When finished, he would proudly linger, Hoping Tisayac would approve : Smiling he'd say, with pointing finger, — " Behold ! a likeness of thy love !" Thus day bv day would he endeavor The angel presence to invoke ; Echoes, with sweetest murmurs, ever His words in mimic trills awoke. XIX. One eve, while balmy hours were sleeping And zephyrs hummed a lullaby, The drony waters ever leaping Through misty sheen from boulders high, While falling floated airv measure Of plashes musicallv sweet, Like fabled pearls on threads of pleasure In gauzy warp and woof complete, — Then through the fairv veil, appearing On graceful fill, like finest lace — One moment, his fond fancv cheering, He saw Tisayac's angel face. XX. No word with her pure presence spoken, But bows of promise shimmered there, Soothing the heart, with hallowed token Of spirit love with her to share. Quick as electric tlash from heaven. By hope inspired, fond fancy cheered Thus to behold the presence given. The brave sprang forth and disappeared. "The Bridal Veil" is ever flowing Tisayac wore her nuptial night. That hour with iridescence glowing Appear two rainbows, beaming bright. ■c:^n 1^ ■^,- '%■ ^M w# :^'; /^^^ ^H^.- ,.,'<; ^..'^^x-?; .H^vj.C ts#^ ^' c //•^