Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-04-19
Observation-Disclosures
LodgeTales
BY
Ford c. Prick
THE GARDEN OF THE GODS


THE GARDEN OF THE GODS
IN THE nesting wales and on the
4 grassy plains which lie at the foot
Of the Great White mountain that
points the way to heaven lived the
Chosen People. Here they dwelt in
happiness together. And above them,
on the summit of the mighty peak,
where stands the western gates to
heaven, dwelt the Manitou.
In order that the Chosen People
might know of his love, the Manitou
stamped upon the peak the image of
his face, that all might see and wor-
ship him. And there each day the
Chosen People came to pray and wOr-
ship, where the first bright rays of
the rising sun embossed the image in
their golden glow. There in happi-
ness they dWelt, their realm extend
ing just as far as they might see the
face of ,Manitou over hill and plain.
And the land was fair and the chosen
tribe was envied by all the jewellers
Of the plains who knew not Manitou.
But one day, as the storm clouds
played about the Peak, the image of
the ManitOu was hid Low hanging
clouds swept down from out the sky
and crept to earth in mist and fog and
rain, and the happy, smiling face of
Manitou was hid and none could see
1t. And down from the Horth swept
a barbaric host of giants, taller than
the spruce which grew upon the noun
tain side and so great that they shook
the earth with their strides.
With the invading hosts came ter
rible beasts, unknown and awful in
their mightiness, monstrous beasts
that would devour the earth and tread
1t down. And as they came on the
Chosen People were frightened, and
in their fear they fled to the Holy
Mount, for in the sight of their titanic
fees they were as grasshoppers.
AS the invading tribes came on, the
Chosen People fell on their faces and
prayed to ManitOu for aid. Then came
to pass a wondrous miracle. The
clouds broke away and sunshine smote
the peak And from the very sum-
nit, looking down upon the valley and
the plains appeared the ManitOu him
self Sternly he looked upon the in.
vaders, and as he looked the giants
and the beasts turned into stone.
AS then they stood, the giants stand
today Their scattered bands now
rock of red and brown, are found to
east and north, time-worn and SCARED,
with legs deep buried in the drifting
sands Some holder than the rest
are near the mount, and some are far
away in sheltered canons as if they
sought to hide. Some hold their
shields uplifted as if to meet the
stony gaze Of Manitou, while others,
crouched in horror, were struck dumb
and turned to stone there where they
stood The beasts the giants drove
are stranger still-big, clumsy ele,
plants with clumsy trunks; camels
and massive bears and timid deer;
smooth, glossy beaver with fiat, scaly
tails: huge frogs and timid turtles.
All were changed and stand today
as they stood then when, living, they
defied the Manitou.
They covered all the valIey-these
living men and beasts now turned to
stone And if you doubt this story.
go and see them standing there today
as they stood then. Time worn and
gray they are from countless storms,
half-buried In the sweeping sands, and
yet if you look closely you can see
their forms. the giants and the beasts
that hoped to steal the land where
dwelt the trfbesmen who were our ia"
theirs.
When the white men came they
called the spot the Garden of the
Gods because they say, the rocks are
great and odd; but we who know the
story of the race still call it 'Valley of
the Miracle" for here it was that
Manitou gave aid to save his chosen
people and left there these rocks and
forms of men all turned to stone,
as warning 10 all OF us VINO may
some time attempt defiance to him and
his commands.
Note-The Utes for years lived on
the eastern slope of the Rockies, with
their big town situated near what is
now the city of Colorado Springs. This
legend refers to the Garden of the
Gods, just outside the city of Manitou
"a spot that has become world IA
nous for the unique beauty of its rock
formations. 1