Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-11
=
The Legend Of the Spirit of Fire.

Mexico is land OF many beautl-i
full legends. The one relating to
the Secret Of Fire illustrates how the
Toltecs personifed and magnifed
every thing in nature. The legend
of the discovery Of fire, whenever it
is told, begins back at tie time
when the people were cold and were
longing to learn the secret of the
great smoking mountain above the
snow line on their southern horizon.
They knew that the Fire Spirit
lived in Popocatepetel, because they
had seen his blazing torch standing
high up into the heavens and had
seen the hot molten lava running
down the declivities, but whenever
they had sent anyone to learn the
secret from the Fire God in the
mountain, he overwhelmed them in
seas Of fire and smoking rocks ana
they never returned to the valley.
At that time Tetzank was the
bravest and wisest of all their gods,
and the people implored him for
warmth, for the secret Of fire which
they needed in their daily life.
Tetzank wanted to help his peo-
pie, but he knew that for ages the
entrance to the home Of the Fire
Spirit had been hidden mystery.
But prompted by the sufferings Of
the people he determined to climb
the great mountain and do what he
could for them. AS he iourneyed
upward he found that the Storm
King was in league with the Fire
Spirit, and that he had to struggle
fiercely to make any Roadway.
After many days and nights Of
travel he came to cave in the
mountain and lay down to rest. Di-
rectly he fell asleep. When he awoke
he found himself bound hand and
foot, so that he could not rise to re-
sumo his journey. Then he knew
that the Storm King had found him
while he slept and bound his limbs
with ice, for in this cruel manner
the Storm King was known to serve
all persons who fell asleep far up on
the mountain side. Then he saw
the Storm King standing at the en-
trance of the cave, laughing loudly,
for he believed that those who fell
asleep with his cold eye upon them
were never able to move again.
And Tetzank slept again, and
dreamed that he saw the hands of all
his people in the valleys held up tic
him in supplication, and heard all
their voices crying: "Tetzank, Tet
zank give us fire or we perish"
Their cries gave Tetzank mighty
strength and he suddenly burst his
bonds and stood erect. AS let
zank arose the Storm King clinclled
him and then followed a terrific
combat. For two days and three
nights they wrestlcd and strove for
mastery. Many times Tetzank felt
like yielding, but each time the
voices Of his people gave him re-
newed strength. The Storm King
had no such inspiration, and he
grew weaker and at last Tetzank
threw him and bound him on the
floor Of the cave. Then the Storm
King begged for mercy. "Unbind
me" he cried, for thou art greater
than l. Unbind nle and I will help
thee to climb the smoking noun
tain and find the door Of the home
of the great Fire Spirit
Then Tetzank unbound the Storm
King and together they travelled to-
ward the mountain top, and after
many days they came to the sea OF
fire, over which neither gods nor
men had been able to pass since tie
beginning Of the world. The Storm
King was true to his promise. He
blew a loud blast upon his trumpet,
and from far toward the northland
came a great army of spirits in an
swer to his summons, and they
said: Command us great king and
we will obey"
elbow upon this sea of fire and
molten rocks and drive it back
into the smoking mountain that we
may pass into the home Of the Fire
Spirit"
And the spirits blew and the
lava cooled and choked up tile mouth
of the mountain. The sea Of fire
went out and .Tetzank and the Storm
King walked over the dead land
where the fire had been and ascend
ed the mountain. When they
reached the crater and looked over
the brink they surprised the Fire
Spirit with his many servants build
ing fires in thousands Of places.
Now the Fire Spirit and his minions
had long known Of a prophecy that
4