Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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Nenemoo’sha. MABEL REID Long ago before the white men discovered Amer- ica, there lived in California, a mighty race of red men. ‘These Indians were a race so powerful and mighty that they were pictured as gods, rather than men, by the Eastern tribes. They were great hunters, and their beauty was extraordinary. They owned and ruled all of California and made the tribes under them pay tribute to them. For many hundreds of years they ruled and paid due worship to the Great Spirit, but after awhile they began to abuse their power. They were cruel and severe to the other tribes and for- got to thank their God for the blessings he poured upon them, for He loved them. Now it happened that Multonomah, the proud. haughty old chief of the Sequoias, had a son, Osseo. of whom he was very proud and of whom he ex- pected much, for he was the heir to the empire of California. When Osseo became of age his father began to search the country for a wife worthy of him. Only a princess of rank, wealth and beauty might be the bride for so powerful a prince. Fin- ally, after a long and weary search, Multonomah learned of a great empire in the south, ruled by the tribe of the Incas and that the monarch had a daughter of rare beauty who was of marriageable age. Meanwhile Osseo had found his beloved among the lowly tribes of the mountains. She was the daughter of IKKeneu, the arrow maker, and her name was Wallulah. Under the pretext of long hunting trips the prince often stole away to visit his lowly but beautiful sweetheart. She, not knowing the rank of her lover, consented to be his wife, and they were married after the simple rites of their race. Osseo, though he guessed that at first his father might be angry, felt certain that Wallulah’s great beauty and sweetness of character would, in the end, win over the old chief. In the meantime Wenonah, the Incas princess, had been brought to California to be the wife of She was very beautiful, and gentle, and kind, and was loved by everyone. Multonomah re- ceived her with many honors, and Prince Osseo was sought. Scouts were sent far and wide, but no word could they get of Osseo. Finally, how- ever, one of them happened to wander into the yil- age of Keneu just as the wedding of Wallulah and Osseo was being celebrated. The scout was not seen by Osseo and soon was on his way bear- ing the news to Multonomah. Osseo. Terrible was the wrath of Multonomah, and the raves cowered before his angry brow. He arose and stretching his arms to the heavens cried: “Great Spirit, father of my tribe, ruler of the heavens and the earth, hear my prayer! Grant that from the example of my son, all California —|9—

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and direction of every part to a pre-established design. The development of the American short story can best be shown by examples of stories writ- ten by the most famous short story writers. A forerunner of the present short story was Washington Irving’s “Rose of the Alhambra,” an unemphatic, non-centralized type of narration which preceded the short story of today. It is a tale, with slow action, devoid of character study, and written in a flowing, easy style. Irving, how- ever, brought the tale to a high standard of ex- cellence. Although he wrote of the historic and supernatural, his stories are closely related to the facts of life. They show a remarkable orginality of expression, melody, and charm. “The Ambitious Guest” by Hawthorne rises above the tale in that it is a character portrayal. It is a picture of ordinary human life with its am- bit ions and hopes which fate overcomes. A weird, foreboding atmosphere permeates the whole story. a sense of pervading ill that causes suspense. Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death” is a grue- some mediaeval tale full of color and sound, a step higher than other tales, but withal a tale. Bret Harte’s “Outcasts of Poker Flat” is a realistic, romantic story of crude western life which approaches nearer to the modern short story. It has local color and single effect and situation. It is also a character portrayal, and shows that there is some goodness even in a bad character. The plot of Stockton’s “The Lady or the Tiger ?” is ingenious, clearly and briefly presented, and It is a semi-barbaric story, but cleverly planned. adds to the short story an exciting interest and suspension that is almost painful. It works up to the climax very deliberately and then leaves the reader to decide the whole question for htn- self. 0. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” is distinctly a modern short story which shows a wide observa- tion of men, women, and books. The style is free and easy, with an originality and personality all its own. It is quick, vivid, and sympathetic. and abounds in slang and coined words. Char- acter illuminates the whole story, a fact that never appeared in tales, and at the end is a surprise. “A Wasted Day” by Richard Harding Dayis is a story of modern city life, realism and ro- mance combined. It is exeellent in technique, with the events foretold by character, realistic in detail, and idealistic in theme. But Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’s “Revolt of Mother” is the typical American short story with all that it embraces. The plot is simple, but pow- erful, with character overtopping other qualities. It depicts unconventional, original human nature in the crude state. The life on a New England farm is shown well with very little description. It is an appeal to humanity against selfishness and inconsiderateness. Thus, passing down through the ages, the short story, like a snowball, has gained in form, strength and momentum, has developed from the unpre- tending little tale to the pretentious American short story with all its notable characteristics. Toe-Biters—Help ee

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Multonomah and obey his will learn to fear words.” Wenonah, horrified by the bloody prayer, strove to move him from his purpose, urging that ven- geance would leave him without an heir when he made the long journey to the Kingdom of Pone- mah. But Multonomah would not be persuaded by soft words or tears and replied, “What do women know about the affairs of men? Return to your own country in peace, and I will send presents of value to the tribe of the Incas.” Then Multonomah gathered his braves together and told them of his plan. He selected the strong- est and most powerful among them; he took those whose eyes flashed and those mo were tall of stature and lithe and young. He gave them or- ders to be prepared to start before ‘day break the next morning. And all night long he nursed his wrath. That same night Osseo and his bride sat in the moonlight and tall ked, happy beyond words. Early the next morning, however, Keneu came to them, and told them that Multonomah, the great chief- tain, was not far away with many warriors. surprised, but not knowing of Multo- anger, told his wife and Keneu who he was. Keneu, afraid for them, but not wishing to mar their happiness, said nothing By this time Multonomah had arrived, and he commanded Osseo to be brought before him. Had not Multonomah been so angry, he might have forgiven them both, for the lovers looked like two beautiful gods. Multonomah knew now that the words of the scout were true and his features, distorted with rage, revealed his anger to his son. Wallulah came closer to her husband; she feared the angry fea- tures of the old chieftain. Had not the scene been so tragic, it would have been a beautiful one. In the center was the proud old warrior and all around him, his handsome followers. Facing these were the lovers, and behind them the sturdy lit- and surrounding all of these, the Osseo, nomah’s tle mountaineers, wonderful Sierras of California. tonomah spoke in a low, menacing voice: “My son, give up this woman or die.” Osseo drew himself up, his eyes flashed; truly he was of royal blood, and for a moment Multo- nomah was prouder of his kingly son than of all his empire. At length Mul« “My father, honor to my Name and sorrow to love.” I cannot give her up, without dis- the maiden I Suddenly as lightning flashes across the sky, fleet and true as an arrow, the tomahawk of Multo- nomah struck Osseo. Lifeless he fell at the feet of his bride. For a moment Wallulah stood as if changed to stone, then threw herself on the dead body of her lover. The Spirit of Evil had seized Multonomah. He ordered the village to be destroyed, and the vil- lagers to be tortured and burned. The tribes of the mountains resisted, but the chosen men of Multonomah were stronger than they. All through the night the terrible orders were carried out; and Multonomah’s braves danced their war dance. Of the mountain race only Keneu, the arrow maker, lived to see the sun rise in the Hast. For him had been reserved even greater cruelty than his companions had suffered. As the first rays of the sun fell upon the tor- tured old man, he cried out, “Great Spirit, who art the father of us all, hear my prayer! Avenge my people, bring ruin and shame upon our oppressors. Avenge the beautiful Wallulah.” With these words his life departed, but the Spirit heard his prayer, for he loved Keneu and was angry with the tribe of the Sequoia. A flash of lightning was seen, and a voice like the rolling of thunder was heard. Multonomah and his braves stood rigid wit fear. Then the Great Spirit spoke and said, “You are a mighty race of men, but you have abused your power; yet because I once loved you, I will not destroy you entirely. Henceforth you shall be a mighty race of trees, and lowly tribes will find shelter under your branches.” Multonomah and his warriors raised their arms to heaven in supplication, but even with the move- ment, the resistless might of the Great Spirit rooted them fast in the earth and where the war- like band had gathered to witness the torture of the lowly arrow maker, stood a grove of majestic trees which men call the Giant Sequoias. From the blood of the lovers lilies sprang up which the Indians call Nenemoosha, or The Sweethearts and which the white men call the Mariposa lilies. Their spirits, however, passed to the Kingdom of Ponemah, to the Land of the Hereafter, where they still dwell in peace and happiness. =90=