The record-union., 1893-05-20
THE BATTLE OF THE BUrrEs.

EXPLANATORY.-Whil travelling with nv
sister up the Columbia River, we were invited
Oy the steamer Captain into the pilot-house
for better views OF the grand sceuery The
stream was dotted with round rocks OF ali
sizes, many OF them i'll the steamers course
They caused our remark when the pilot held
forth thus: Have you never hee'rd how the
rocks came there? Wen. the Injuns say that
Mount Hood over yon and Mount Adams
over yan had Il fight once. Hood was a vol
CanO then. so he spit fire ana sulphur down
till he killed of everything Adams threw
these rocks tryin' to hit back and the Intuns
say they fought three thousand years"
"a long war, that. What was the causuS
beiit?"
The which, mum?"
.', "Ine cause. What did they fight about?'
tried to be boss but Adams wouldnt have it,
Can't git much outen them Injuns cause
they re iraid OF white folks laughin' at em
That's all l know bout it."
Dame Earth, long ages since as told,
one day passed through convulsions as of
Trembling-perhaps with JOY stnl more than
The gfound upheaved and fell by turns.
Huge waves rolled back and forth across the
sand
Spent by high cliffs whose caverns echoed
oceans moan.
Winds shrieked and raved through trackless
forests vast,
And midnight clouds spread darkness every
hlelC
Long time the tempest ragged and only ceased
When, from beneath Earths bosom, fair and
fIll,
There rose monstrous butte
Old sol, grave, silent witness Of this scene,
Looked down and saw newborn son
Nul sed on the green breast OF his spouse
Mount Hood, they named the child
And ne was faIr-at least SO SAID his parents,
Earth and sun.
A Scornful lad was Hood, yet loved by all the
elements
That played around his brow, or oft tattoed
mis- rugged form
With scar or gulch to tell of its caress
Proud OF their preference was he
And gazed with naughty mien on smaller
hills
For shelter hoversd at his base
Their birth Is not ofnote in Natures book
From whence they came or how
None knows nor, cares, for high DER all he
towers,
Claiming chief admiration for himself.
Time passed, and yet again
With throes that thrilled through all the West
Dame Earth did please her lord
With still another son.
Mount Adams was the child
And this one they baptized With rain Cropor-
toned to his state.
\ quiet, dreamy boy was he
VINO seemed of ali affection void
No am'roUs breeze could stir his pulse:
No brook that babbled on for ave
An answering word could win
In vain eacn nymph held forth her arms
or whispered OF her sylvan wales
Fer silent and sublime he stood
His heart unmoved by Wanton charms
Clothed In chaste robes OF snow
He seemed majestic ic rs Il mountain god
ErstWhile ne scattered showers on every val
ley round his realm,
And gazed with calm indifference on naughty
Hood
Far southwark.
There in long solitude the brothers lowered.
Ages swept on. Primeval forests died.
sank deep into their mother earth and were
replaced.
Resistless tides led on by changing moons,
Encroached upon the land and built new
shores.
Strange creatures roamed the jungles of wild
fern.
Crushing all obstacles meath feet leviathan.
Sated with prey they slept in gloomy caves
Where since their bones are found.
The face OF Nature oft did change
BY action OF the air, the sun, the sea.
AT length there came a day so sweet and still
The elements all paused IN wondrous calm
An unknown bliss seemed everywhere
But not a thing On earth know why,
Old Sol threw down his geutlest rays
And as they passed away,
4 soft breeze rose from out the sea
And murmured through the pines
The cadences OF Natures lullaby.
Just as a wave of starlight shimmered on the
scene,
There rose from out of Dame Earth's arms
her daughter.
ST. Helene
Round, graceful and divinely pure