v^ .<* *°% v* 1 «5 ^ ^ 'a > it * % --...= ^ -^ ... .- \f * -,. * » « o 9 -<{, v r V ^ ,^ % vSSK* ** ^ -^W* ,/ % -.SRv ,^ ^ -^ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/tulumenikaartpoeOOgarr Tu/u yVenika An Art Voern By Rade//a Garretson Illustrated by Radella Garretson and Harold DeLay Chicago W. B. Conkey Co., Publishers V 3 Copyright 19 17 By Radella Garretson. Copyrighted earlier in other form OCT -5 1917 ©CI.A473835 TO THE MEMORY OF POCAHONTAS the history of whose life furnished a thought for the beginning of this story THE WORK TULU MENIKA' ORIGINALLY WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PUBLISHED PRODUCT; BUT CRE- ATED EOR A LYCEUM NUMBER OR PARLOR ENTER- TAINMENT LOR WHICH PURPOSE IT HAS BEEN USED. THE POEM HAS ALSO A MUSICAL SETTING, THE MUSIC BEING COMPOSED AND EXECUTED VERY SUCCESS- FULLY BY HENIOT LEVY OP THE AMERICAN CON- SERVATORY, CHICAGO. I SHOULD PEEL MORE SATISFIED TO OEEER APOL- OGIES DUE IN THIS CONNECTION; BUT OWING TO THE ADVISEMENT OP CERTAIN FRIENDS, I AM NOT DOING SO. R. G. JS 1 -§ 5 *2 1 ^ S3 **3 ,*-■ m& TULU MENIKA THE VILLAGE OF WAUCHA Near to the heaving Atlantic where dwelleth the bird and the wild bee Sipping the nectar ambrosial out of the heart of the wild flower, Gathering honey, the sweetest, from heath abounding the moorland, Building their primitive nests in the boughs of the oak and the birch tree. Busy, oh busy are they all day from the morn till the even ; From the flushing of light in the distance off to the eastward Till low dreamily sinketh the Sun in his golden reflection, Leaving the darkness of night o'ershadowing forest and moorland, E'er lies the state of the sylvans, the home of the Blue Juniata. There in the verdant land of the busy, importunate wild bee, Where the birds build their nests in the boughs of the oak and the birch tree, Abounds the rabbit, the nadipo, in his infinite meekness, Stealthily creepeth the guileful, the grim, internecine serpent, Through the valley, the moorland and virent turf of the forest Stealthily creepeth the guileful, but not invincible torment. On the hillside, the prairie, and into the shadowy forest, There in the gloom or the sunshine where the fallow or red deer was grazing, Stately arching his neck at the creaking and rustling of branches, Poising with head high, erect and nostrils distended, Thither bounding at ominous visions of danger. Exquisite, interweaving woodland, or dale and valley, Clusters the richest of nature's love-devised productions, 9 T ulu M e nik a Wildflowers, the blessings of Father Almighty, the Giver; Bestowed upon earth, a reward for its fruitful deliverance. Sweet are they bountiful, fragrant bordering forest and brooklet, By gentle breezes swayed and kissed by the dew of the morning. Like the bright gleams of sunshine they creep into dale, into valley. Like the flowers of the heavens shining through all the woodlands. Miles upon miles into the heart of the great silent forest, From whence had departed the rabbit, the bird and the red deer, Was a grassy plot intervened by a few stately hemlocks And a scatter of wigwams, which told of a lone habitation; There the sunlight, the moonlight, the starlight were welcome, There stood the clancular Indian village of Waucha. Gently spreading outward to the impenetrable gloom of the forest, Solemn, obscure, secluded this cluster of Indian wigwams, Intermingled with vines and berries of exquisite sweetness, Shaded by here and there a group of murmuring pine trees. From out the forest primeval the robin and bluebird twittered, With clear and melodious accent echoing through the Indian village, Bounding from tree to tree played the squirrel, the padioko, Swayed to and fro in the branches of the rustling oak and hemlock, Watching there keenly maneuvers of Indian hunters, Hiding from view ere the sound of a footstep approached. Gathering here and there around the evening firelight Could be seen the Indian hunters, the valiant; While preparing- a roast of rabbit, of squirrel, or of deer meat, Or at their various tasks could be seen the busy women. Scampering to and fro anon, from wigwam to wig"wam, Were the Indian children, papooses, in goodly numbers, Knowing none else than to reap from the rich fields of Nature. These were inhabitants of the Indian village of Waucha, These were the people of the mighty tribe, Wampanoags. There in the quiet skirts of the solitaire village of Waucha, Standing narrowly apart from the cluster of Indian wigwams, 10 T ulu M e nik a Grotesque, intervening the shadowy wood and the grass plot, There in a murmuring group of subramose pine trees, Was the commodious wigwam of the chieftain Benokis, Chief of the mighty tribe Wampanoags. Lacing the edge of the pathway were wild flowers in richest profusion, Gathering in clusters and gracing the door of the wigwam, Smiling with uplifted faces as if they were bidding you welcome. Gracing the firelight within far more than odorous wildflowers Was a radiant gleam of sunshine, the chieftain's beautiful daughter, Sweet Tulu Menika, the fairest of Indian maidens. Strongly built of deerskin and oak was this primitive wigwam Where dwelt the chief of the mighty tribe, Wampanoags, Where dwelt the fairest of Indian maidens. Stalwart of figure exceedingly hearty and hale was the chieftain, Clad in his mantle of deerskin and headgear of feathers, Not in the most like the mantle of Indian hunters, With muscles of iron and a heart as hard as a flintstone, Hardened still more by inveterate feuds with the White Men. Long and often had there been war between them, Out numbered, defeated, they fled from the lands they had cherished. Despairingly sought the uninterrupted forest Where in solitude they might fish in its waters, Where they might rule the kingdom of red deer. Beautiful was she, this fairest of Indian maidens, With eyes beaming softly from under the long drooping lashes, Dark as the midnight resplendent with sunshine and fervor. Adding still more to the deep of her eye and its luster. Around her shoulders were falling in gentle profusion, Falling and flowing at will were shining tresses of raven. Like the roses her mouth, more red than the ripest of cherries, Softly modeled and kissed by the sweet dew of nature. Slender her form and like a fawn she was graceful, Gentle of mind and kindly of heart was the maiden, Many a time she ruled by her goodly manner and accent : 11 T ulu M e nik a How so oft had the heart of the chieftain Benokis Been turned from direful acts of vengeance and cruelty, By the goodness of heart and kindly deeds of the maiden. How oft she has saved from the merciless hands of the Indians Some illfated White Man who by mishap had fallen their victim. Thus dwelt she among them this maid of the silent forest, Sweet Tulu Menika, the pride of the Indian Village. II THE ROTHWELL FAMILY Out to the northward of the Indian village of Waucha, Standing alone on the fertile fields of the prairie, Tranquil and still, with the red of the radiant sunset Falling in gentle repose on the English village of Bradford. Stretching afar to the northward, the southward, the eastward, the westward, Were meadows vastly, extending onward without interruption, Save here and there a group of the graceful elm or a friendly Clump of the cottonwood-tree yielding a pleasant coolness, A grateful relief to herds, the wild, the domestic. Gathering there at noonday were the vagrant kine or the red deer, Breathing the shadowy freshness or quietly grazing at leisure On the neighboring turf of the prairie till came the lateness of even; Then wandered they thither and scattered afar in the night-time, To feed on the vast meadows or linger long at the brooklet. Like billowy bays of the sea ever was waving and rolling The beautiful grass of the prairie in whispering winds of the summer, Hiding from view the home of the meadow-lark and the ground monk; Softly touching the earth, the rich and glorious mantle, A fairy scene to behold, inserted with radiant wild flowers. Climbing the verdant heights and towering above the long grass, 12 §: -C-, <3 "S3 ^3 CQ T ulu Mentha Beckoning in the breezes, the fairest of upland lilies, Crouching low at the feet of the stately flower, the benignant. The violet, the daisy, the buttercup, and even the crimson amorphas, She the queen among them, and they were all her followers. These were the belts extensive that girdled the village of Bradford Sprinkled with blessings of brightness, and over running with verdure. Quietly there in the midst of the wondrous and beautiful prairies, In earlier years unforgotten, reposed the flourishing village. Leading gently outward to the goodly lands of the farmers, Were spacious streets bordered with parallel rows of maple. Neatly built were the dwellings, though rude, yet artistic and homelike. There in the sunlit mornings of Summer when gayly the birds sang In the sweet fresh air made cool by the fragrance of dewdrops, Busy, to and fro at their toil and care were the happy People, and as the Sun arose in the heavens then fell and extended His yellow arm o'er the village and all of the landscape, An hour for rest or perchance some wholesome recreation, Then gilded the window panes by the farewell look of the sunset And verily they turned to the mystical land of the dreamer. Adjacent the village and o'erlooking the far-distant landscape, A building more pretentious than the other buildings of Bradford And speaking the air of thrift, stood holding its goodly acres. There where the first light of morn fell in softest and radiant splendor, Dwelt placidly Benjamin Roth well, the goodly Vicar of Bradford. Sweet were the blessings from Heaven that rightly were bestowed upon him, Sweet were the blessings earthly that flowed at the word of a bidding; Well should it be, for his riches though they abounded Gushed from the fountain of love at his every act of benevolence; And many the splendid virtues that won the heart of the maiden Who clung to him Through the journey of life, Through both the ebbing and flowing. And now they dwelt In their ripening years 14 T ulu M e nik a With their harvest of hope about them : Four children they had in the dawning of life's early Springtime, Roses of sunshine creeping into the household : Firstly came Marvin to brighten the home with the blossom Of babyhood. The hours slipped by and into three happy Summers. Then came Mary, sweet Mary, who budded with flowers of the Maytime, Blossomed in tender beauty, then faded with roses of Autumn. Years passed away and fortunately, in the meantime Opened the golden gates of Heaven and unto the Roth wells Two virginal forms were sent to seek a. home with the living. Arosa came firstly, and as she grew into womanly beauty, Gladdened the home and the hearts of the two who with joy had received her. And lastly entered Teresa, the child delight of the household. Happily the years rolled on and now, in his home of contentment, Benjamin Rothwell dwelt with his children and goodly companion. Youthful longings laid by, thus far from the frolic of childhood, Marvin at eighteen Summers bade the way of manhood welcome ; And in the years he became as duties pressed more upon him, A staff at his side on which the Father leaned as he bended : Noble and valiant was he and strong of will and of purpose. Fair haired, blue eyed, as blue as the seas of the northward, While on his face shone the light of manly strength and of courage. Arosa, too, no longer partook of the blithesome of childhood, But ripening seventeen Summers pronounced her a beautiful woman. And little Teresa, though upon her teens was she entering, Seemed a mere child with childish ways and fancies, So slight of form, so meek, so simple hearted. These were the goodly blessings given the Vicar of Bradford And his worthy companion as they had grown to this likeness. And there they dwelt : Where the carol of birds seemed sweetest, Where the gleams of the sunshine seemed brightest, And the dew of the morning the freshest And the breezes of Autumn the softest. 15 ;=• ; -a : ^1 :"M: f*&0 ''""'■'■C SHE' ■7 ■••■ 1 t3 ^ ^ '■53 s^ 53 ^