The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-10-24
The Gift of Pomona,

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e4' Once on time, when the earth was
new, there were no fruits on its surface.
sfa But at last PoNoNA, daughter of the
s-' sky, beholding the people of the earth,
wished to bestow upon them some gift
RI which would induce them to regard her
~ With reverence and love. So she resolved
to mako the circuit of the earth, and OBJ
isa scryo its various gifts. Now the, land
was very fair and blessed of the Gods
-Fs greatly. When she came to her jour
ney's end, she spake in this wise; 1.-The
ssTt tender plsnts have their flowers and the
ss4 grass its tiny blossoms, therefore [ will
create fruits to adorn the trees and graf
ify the taste, fs TO present TO the Gods
themselves and worthy ofmy name. -
ra While she spake these words, imnedi-
81. stely were seen among tho trees all vari-
cites of fruits that grow, and men marvel
81 sd much. and Jupiter, pleased with her
- gins, made her Queen and Goddess of
fs fruits.u.t 81.
Time passed, and other gifts were ad-
lsd to the abundance Of the earth, but
nons 40 good as this. Now the nations
Of men in these times were Prospered
because they trusted and were grateful to
~ the Gods, who showercd lnapy good
s. Cifts unon them, so that the whole land
r. was filed with their bounty. And men
Blessed tho Gods and forgot not to offor
tho tir.t fruit, unto the giver. @
II g Nov in Theses times Pomona walk, d
- the eartL with her sisters Ceres and Flo
r., anil zach had her various mission :
! Queens the different kingdoms. The
kait. and flowers adorned the trees and
made the whole world lovely. When
b. therefore the trces were filed, Pomona
commanded the earth, and the luscious
.z strawberry, melons, and all vines, came
forth from the earth. Again men mar
SeAd,.but not long, for noS* the whole
earth ehohnded with fruits. For SO did
potrluna guard her gift, that Motherhood,
inssst or frost dare injurc it. Now the
garth had grown older, and the mea who
had witnessed tho bcstowal Of the gift
were deaa and other generations had MS
on TO EIl their place. And men grew
wicked, and some there were who had
takan up their abode in the North part OF
tho Garth, who resolved not to offer sac
rfecs to the Gods. In then wickednoss
b they said; "Behold we never have seen
the Goddess, how know we that this be
not an idle tnle. We therefore will be
foolish no longer, and with ms, sacrifices
to tie Queen of fruits shall cease"
- Thas spake these wicked ones of the
North, and their brethren of the South :
ern and middle portions gave answer
'tBe not so selfsl,for it is a truth handed
e. down to us by our fathers, even from
time immemorial, that once there was no
fruit on che earth, and that Pomona
greatly blessed the world with her gift
and some there be who are said to have
seen her; therefore, put away this SIN
from: among you and be grateful to the
fair Goddess" ----.----
But the foolish of the North listened
not TO the words of the wise, and replied
with anger, and turned away from the
right with scornful sayings. A few were
steadfast, but the wicked prevailed, and
the whole earth consented not to offer
sacrifces to the Queen Of fruits.
Now the day arrived on which they
were accustomed to offer the first fruits
to the giver, They fastened to the plain
whers stood three affairs, facing three diff
,ferent ways, which their ancestors had
consecrated toPomona. Ono there was
for each nation. 30 asaasi .a9l.ao4 Cd
The people of the North filled their al
tar With the most foul and hateful herb:
in the whole earth. But many people 0
the Southern and middle portions, hac
ropeAted, and brought tho finest fruits tc
ny upon the affairs, but there were min
cIed with them loathseme weeds. Now
Pomols was wont to pass asoros the 81 altar
in a radiant cloud, and if she was pleas
ed with the offering, from horn he Id II
her haqd, called CoRNucoPIA, she pour
ed upon. the affairs all varieties of fruits
But n this time the eloud passe d over The