Journey to the West finally!

 https://chineselore.com/series/series-journey-to-the-west/

The New Chronology

https://chronologia.org/en/

Created finally in the XVI century A.D. and accepted today chronology and history of the ancient and medieval world, evidently contains big mistakes.

Many outstanding scientists understood it and discussed during a long period of time. But it appeared to be a difficult task to build a new, non-contradictory concept of chronology.
Starting from 1975 a group of mathematicians, mainly from the Moscow State University, were engaged in the development of this problem. Interesting results were received and published both in scientific periodical print and in separate monographs. We underline, that new concept of chronology is based, mainly, on analysis of historical sources WITH THE METHODS OF MODERN MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS and vast COMPUTER CALCULATIONS.

The task of chronology is to put in order the events into proper way on a temporary scale based on the available information. This task naturally fits into the field of applications to modern mathematical statistics, theory of information. The methods of humanities, one of which is history, are not enough for solving chronological issues. New chronology imposes another psychological picture of perception of the antiquity. Now the word "antiquity" should be connected with XV-XVII centuries A.D. that is with the events, distant from us on 300-400 years. Expression "high antiquity" should now relate to the XIII-XIV centuries A.D. And the words "the highest antiquity" – are already the XI-XII centuries A. D. BEFORE THE X-XI CENTURIES A.D. THE EPOCH OF SILENCE OF WRITTEN DOCUMENTS COMES. (See the book RECONSTRUCTION).
Our analyses of the chronology and history opened a striking circumstance. Based on the applied by us mathematical methods it was proved, that the Scaligerian chronology, and therefore also the Scaligerian history of the "antiquity" and the Middle Ages, is totally wrong. Moreover, it appeared that our history right up to the end of the XVI century was consciously falsified at the epoch of the XVII-XVIII centuries.

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

A long time ago, an old and humble man who was cutting bamboo saw that one of the logs he’d gathered was glittering in a strange way as if it was illuminated by the moon. Taking the log in his hands, he realized that inside was a beautiful and tiny little girl, about 7 centimeters tall. The man took her home because he’d never had children, and between him and his wife, they took care of her as if she were their own daughter. She was named Princess Moonlight. The branch of bamboo in which the man had found the strange visitor began to produce gold and gems and the bamboo cutter became a rich man in a short time.

The strange girl grew into a beautiful woman of normal size, and over the years, people began to learn of the existence and beauty of this lady. Suitors traveled from all over to request her hand. On one occasion, five honorable gentlemen approached the house of the bamboo cutter trying to persuade him to allow his adopted daughter to marry. He was old and didn’t want to leave her alone upon dying, they argued. But she refused to take any husband, making impossible requests of her suitors in to avoid marrying them.

The existence of the beautiful young woman came to the attention of the emperor, who requested that she appear in his court. When she refused, he visited her and, upon seeing her, he too fell madly in love with her. The emperor tried to take the girl to his palace to marry her, but the young woman assured him that if she were taken by force, she would become a shadow and then disappear forever.

Each night, she watched the sky with melancholy. It was time to return to her place of origin, and it was then that she confessed to her adoptive father, in tears, that she had come from the moon and that her time on Earth was to end. Upon learning of this, the emperor sent guards to the house of the bamboo cutter, to try to prevent the princess from returning to her place of origin.

One night, the moon was covered by a cloud. This quickly began to descend towards the Earth, while the sky grew ever darker. A carriage manned by luminous beings arrived for the princess. She left a letter and a small bottle with the Elixir of Life for the emperor before leaving. Frightened, he ordered that both be taken to the top of the most sacred mountain of that land and there, burned.

To this day, it’s remembered that when there is smoke upon Mount Fuji, this is the letter and elixir that the Princess of the Moon left for the emperor, and these will continue to burn at the mountain’s peak.

Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index

 https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/c.php?g=651166

ATU Classification Type	AT Classification Type	Thompson Motif
ATU 1 The theft of fish	AT 1 Fox steals fish by playing dead	K371.1. Trickster throws fish off the wagon.
	AT 1* Fox and rabbit steal a basket (now ATU 1)	NA
ATU 2 Tail-Fisher	AT 2 How the Bear Lost His Tail	K1021 The tail fisher.
ATU 2A Torn-off Tails	AT 2A Caught by the Tail	K1021.1. Tail buried (hair tied)
ATU 2B Basket Tied to Wolf's Tail	AT 2B Trickster Drowns His Fishing Partner	K1021.2. Basket tied to wolf's tail and filled with stones.
ATU 3 Simulated Injury	AT 3 Sham Blood and Brains	K473. Sham blood and brains.
ATU 4 Sick Animal Carries Healthy One	AT 4 Getting a Ride by Pretending to be Injured	K1241. Trickster rides dupe horseback.
ATU 5 Biting the Tree Root	AT 5 Biting the Root	K543. Biting the foot.
ATU 6 Animal Captor Persuaded to Talk	AT 6 Open Your Mouth and Lose Your Meal	K561.1 Animal captor persuaded to talk and release victim from his mouth.
ATU 7 The three tree names	AT 7 Contest to Name Three Trees	N51 Wager: who can call three tree names first.
ATU 8 False Beauty Treatment	AT 8 Painting the Bear Red	K1013.2 "Painting" on the haycock.
	AT 8A Curly Hair from Boiling Water (now ATU 8)	K1013. False beauty-doctor.
ATU 9 The unjust partner	AT 9 The unjust partner	K1251.1 Holding up the roof.
	AT 9B Dividing the Harvest (now ATU 9)	K171.2. Deceptive grain division: the corn and the chaff.
	AT 9C In cooking dinner the fox's porridge is light (now ATU 9)	K471. The substituted porridge.
ATU 10*** The Fall Over the Edge	AT 10*** Over the edge	K891.5.1. Animals (giants) enticed over precipice.
ATU 15 Theft of Food by Playing Godfater	AT 15 Stealing the Partner's Butter	K372. Playing godfather.
ATU 20A  Animals Caught In a Pit Eat One Another Up	AT 20 Eat the Smallest One First (now ATU 20A)	K1024. Beginning with the smallest
	AT 20A The Animals in the Pit	K1024. Beginning with the smallest
ATU 20C The animals flee in fear of the end of the world	AT 20C The animals flee in fear of the end of the world	Z43.3. Nut hits cock in head: he thinks world is coming to an end.
ATU 21 Eating his own Entrails	AT 21 Eating his own Entrails	K1025. Eating his own entrails.
ATU 30 The Fox Tricks the Wolf into Falling into a Pit	AT 30 The Fox Leads the Wolf into a Pit	NA
ATU 31 Fox Climbs from the Pit on the Wolf's Back	AT 31 Escape from a Pit on Another's Back	K652. Fox climbs from pit on wolf's back.
ATU 32 The Wolf Descends into the Well in One Bucket and Rescues the Fox in the Other	AT 32 One Bucket Down, One Bucket Up	K651. Wolf descends into well in one bucket and rescues fox in the other
ATU 33 The Fox Plays Dead and is Thrown out of the Pit and Escapes	AT 33 The Fox Plays Dead and Escapes from the Pit	K522. Escape by shamming death.
ATU 41 The Wolf Overeats in the Cellar	AT 33* Escape by Playing Dead (now ATU 41)	K1022.1. Wolf overeats in the cellar (smokehouse).
ATU 41 The Wolf Overeats in the Cellar	AT 33** The Fox Plays Dead for a Boat Ride now ATU 41)	K1022.1. Wolf overeats in the cellar (smokehouse).
ATU 34 The Wolf Dives into the Water for      Reflected Cheese	AT 34 Diving for the Moon	J1791.3. Diving for cheese.
ATU 34A Dog Drops His Meat for the Reflection	AT 34A The Meat in the Water	J1791.4. Dog drops his meat for the reflection.
ATU 36 The Fox Rapes the She-Bear	AT 36 The Hare Takes Advantage of Mrs. Fox	K1384. Female overpowered when caught in tree             cleft (hole in hedge).
ATU 37 The fox as nursemaid for the Mother Bear	AT 37 The Nursemaid Eats the Children	K931. Sham nurse kills enemy's children.
ATU 37 The fox as nursemaid for the Mother Bear	AT 37* The Fox as Herdsman	K931. Sham nurse kills enemy's children.
ATU 38 Claw in Split Tree	AT 38 Claw in Split Tree	K1111. Dupe puts hand (paws) into cleft of tree (wedge, vise).
ATU 40A The Wolf and the Bell	AT 40 Bear Bells Itself by Eating a Belled Horse	K1114. Fox rings the bell.
ATU 41 The Wolf Overeats in the Cellar	AT 41 Overeating in the Pantry	K1022.1. Wolf overeats in the cellar (smokehouse).
ATU 41 The Wolf Overeats in the Cellar	AT 41* Overeating in a Hollow Tree (now ATU 41)	K1022.1. Wolf overeats in the cellar (smokehouse).
ATU 43 The Bear Builds a House of Wood; the Fox, of Ice	AT 43 A House of Wood and a House of Ice	J741.1. Bear builds house of wood; fox of ice.
ATU 44 The Oath on the Iron	AT 44 The Oath on a Trap	K1115. The oath on the iron.
ATU 47A The Fox Hangs Onto the Horse's Tail	AT 47A Catching a Horse by the Tail	K1022.2. Wolf tied to cow's horns.
ATU 47D Dog Wants to Imitate a Wolf	AT 47D The Dog Imitating a Wolf Wants to Slay a Horse	NA
ATU 47B Horse Kicks the Wolf in the Teeth	AT 47E The Message on the Horseshoe	K566. Ass begs wolf to pull thorn out of foot before           eating him: kicks wolf in mouth.
ATU 48* Flatterer Rewarded, Honest One Punished	AT 48* Bear who went to the Monkey for the Gold Chain	J815.1. Liar rewarded by the apes.
ATU 49 The bear and the honey	AT 49 The Fox, the Bear, and the Wasp's Nest	K1023. Getting honey from the wasp-nest.
ATU 50 Curing a Sick Lion	AT 50 Curing a Sick Lion	K961. Flesh of certain animal alleged to be only cure            for disease: animal to be killed.
ATU 50A Fox Sees all tracks going int Lion's Den but None Coming Out	AT 50A Tracks into the Lion's Den	J644.1. Fox sees all tracks going into lion's den             but none coming out.
ATU 50C Donkey Boasts of Having Kicked the Sick Lion	AT 50C Kicking the Dying Lion	W121.2.1. Ass insults dying lion.
ATU 51 The Lion's share	AT 51 The Lion's share	J811.1. The lion's share.
ATU 52 The Donkey without a Heart	AT 52 Brainless Ass	K402.3. The ass without a heart.
ATU 53 The Fox at Court	AT 53 Reynard the Fox at Court	J864.2. Fox about to be hanged asks to be            allowed to see geese.
ATU 55 The Animals Build a Road (Dig Well)	AT 55 Keeping the Lazy Animal from the Well	A2233.1. Animals refuse to help dig well              (make road) and are punished.
ATU 56 The Fox Through Sleight Steals the Young Magpies	AT 56 The Jackal Steals a Baby Bird	K1788. Fox threatens to catch bird, who feeds him her young as appeasement.
ATU 56A Fox Threatens to Cut Down Tree and Get Young Birds	AT 56A Fox Threatens to Cut Down Bird's Tree	K1788. Fox threatens to catch bird, who feeds him her young as appeasement.
ATU 56B Fox as Schoolmaster	AT 56C Jackal as Schoolmaster (now ATU 56B)	K1822.2. †K1822.2. Fox disguised as scholar
ATU 57 Raven with Cheese in his Mouth	AT 57 Singing Crow Loses Her Cheese	K334.1. The raven with cheese in his mouth.
ATU 59 Fox and the Sour Grapes	AT 59 The Fox and the Grapes	J871. The fox and the sour grapes.
ATU 60 The Fox and the Crane Invite Each Other	AT 60 The Fox and the Stork Exchange Invitations	J1565.1. Fox and crane invite each other.
ATU 61 The Fox Persuades the Cock to Crow with Closed Eyes	AT 61 The Cock that Closed an Eye on the Fox	K721. Cock persuaded to crow with closed eyes
ATU 20D* Pilgrimage of the Animals	AT 61A The Fox as Confessor	K2027. Fox confesses to cock, then eats him
ATU 61B Cat, Rooster, and Fox	AT 61B The Cat, the Cock, and the Fox Live Together	K815.15. Cat lures young foxes from den with music.
ATU 62 Peace Among the Animals     – The Fox and the Rooster	AT 62 Universal Peace	J1421. Peace among the animals
ATU 63 The Fox Rids Himself of Fleas	AT 63 Fox with Fleas	K921. Fox rids himself of fleas.
ATU 2A Torn-off Tails	AT 64 Fox without a Tail (now ATU 2A)	K1021.1. Tail buried (hair tied)
ATU 65 The She-Fox's Suitors	AT 65 Mrs. Fox's Suitors	N681.Husband (lover) arrives home just as wife (mistress) is to marry another.
ATU 66A  "Hello House!"	AT 66A  "Hello House!"	K607.1. The cave call. ("Hello, house!")
ATU 66B Sham Dead (hidden) Animal Betrays Self	AT 66B Dead Trickster Shows Signs of Life	K607.3. Sham-dead man deceived into making gesture.
ATU 67 Fox in the Swollen River	AT 67 Drowning Fox Pretends to be swimming	J873. Fox in swollen river claims to be swimming to distant town.
ATU 67** The Fox Caught by Butcher	AT 67** The Fox, the Man, and the Fire	K634.1. Escape by throwing captor's clothes on the fire.
ATU 68 The Jackal Trapped in the Animal Hide	AT 68 Eating an Animal from the Inside	K1022.1.1. Jackal eating into elephant's dead body  becomes a prisoner when it dries up
		K565.2. Jackal entrapped in elephant's carcass tells passing God to show his magic power by making it rain.
ATU 68A The Jug as Trap	AT 68A Trapped in a Jug	J2131.5.7. Fox trying to drown jug.
ATU 68*  Fox Jeers at the Fox Trap	AT 68* Fox Jeers at the Trap	J655.2. Fox jeers at fox-trap

Quint killed Gardner

 

The Last Watch of Hero by Frederic Leighton

Leander, he would have lived many a fair year, though Hero had turned nun, if it had not been for a hot midsummer night; for, good youth, he went but forth to wash him in the Hellespont and being taken with the cramp was drowned and the foolish coroners of that age found it was 'Hero of Sestos.' But these are all lies: men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.

THE LOST CHILDREN OF THE ALLEGHENIES AND HOW THEY WERE FOUND THROUGH A DREAM

http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/history/local/lost-children.txt

PREFACE. 


     At the solicitation of a number of the older citizens of Blair and Bedford 
counties, (Pa.) I have consented to publish this brief and thrilling narrative. 
The subject is one that does not require the pen of a ready writer to make it 
interesting, but a mere relation of the fact as they occurred I think cannot 
fail to interest all. 
     Children are the most interesting and at the same time the most helpless of 
all God's creatures, so that until they have reached certain years they are 
entirely dependent upon others for food, clothing, and protection. They do not 
have the least knowledge of danger. But in order that they may be protected and 
provided for in their tender years, God has, by the touch of His finger, 
implanted that love that burns in the heart of nearly all parents for their 
children. It was this love that led David in the bitterness of his grief to 
exclaim, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom; would God I had died for 
thee." A railroad engineer, as his train approached his home that was near the 
road, saw his little three 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

iv     PREFACE.   

year old boy playing on the track. The situation was such that he could save his 
boy by losing his own life. He chose the latter alternative, and was instantly 
killed. 
     In 1874 when the news flashed over the wires that little Charley Ross had 
been kidnapped or stolen from his parents in Philadelphia, this entire continent 
was moved in sympathy for the little boy and his parents and friends. Such was 
the feeling that the name of Charley Ross became a household word in every 
family all over the land. His picture was sent to every part of the country. The 
press freely advertised him and gave the parents every possible assistance to 
find him, while thousands of letters of love and sympathy were written to them 
from every part of the United States and Europe. If half the children in 
Philadelphia had died in a single day it would not have created a greater 
sensation over the country than did the abduction of little Charlie Ross. No one 
can imagine what his parents have suffered. Yet through all these years of 
painful anxiety they have had some hope that their dear lost boy may one day 
find his way back to their home, not as the little boy now, but as a young man 
in all his strength of manhood. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PREFACE.     v 

They imagine that his abductors though fiends in human form, could not find it 
in their hearts to murder their innocent little victim, and that he still lives, 
perhaps in their own city. The parents have spent a fortune trying to find their 
boy, and would willingly spend their lives in the search. And now as he has been 
lost so long they no doubt have given up the search. Still they will live in 
hope that he may yet return. But not so in the case I am about to relate. If the 
narrative of "The Lost Chlidren," was a romance or fictitious story I might 
couch it in entirely different language. But, as every part of it is literally 
true, the reader will pardon me for using as nearly as possible the language of 
those who were present at the time and witnessed the events as I shall relate 
them. The narrative is so sad and touching that even strong men to-day who 
helped to search for the lost children more than thirty years ago, are moved to 
tears while relating the story. 
     To the parents and relatives of "the lost children," and to the hundreds of 
generous hearted neighbors, who are still living, and who spent so many long 
days and wearisome nights in searching for them, this little narrative will 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

vi     PREFACE.   

come home with a touching interest that the strange reader far away from the 
wilds of the Alleghenies may fail to realize. Yet I believe the narrative 
possesses a merit separate and apart from all mere local and personal 
associations. It is hoped therefore that these pages may find many interested 
readers, not from any merit of the writer, but from the truthful and touching 
subject he represents. 


Huntingdon, Pa., June 25th, 1888.     
 
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               THE LOST CHILDREN OF THE ALLEGHENIES AND HOW
                     THEY WERE FOUND THROUGH A DREAM.


                                CHAPTER I.

     The traveler going west over the Pennsylvania Railroad, as he approaches 
the Allegheny Mountains some four or five miles west of Altoona, is delighted 
with the wild scenery that meets his gaze. Here he is in the very midst of the 
Allegheny range, where the great barrier begins to break into the numerous spurs 
which lead away in long lines from the interior towards the east.
     The iron steed boldly climbs the mountain on one if these numerous spurs, 
carrying the traveler up by an ascending grade of eighty-four and a half feet to 
the mile, but reduced to seventy-five feet by means of curves.
     At Kittanning Point, the road is carried around a sharp curve which has 
ever since its construction been a wonder of engineering skill. 

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8     THE LOST CHILDREN   

The art, or science, here must have been put to the sharpest test, and proved 
master of the situation. Two deep ravines had to be crossed, and to accomplish 
this feat, a point of the mountain had to be cut away and the two ravines by 
high embankments brought up to proper grade, then by a sharp horseshoe shaped 
curve, the sides of which are parallel with each other, the train is turned 
around in a moment's time, and on the opposite spur of the mountain has the 
appearance of running directly back to Altoona, the station it had left a few 
minutes before. But after completing the horseshoe bend, the road by use of 
another curve, turns to the right and passes on more directly westward, through 
the great gateway nature has opened for its accommodation, and through the long 
tunnel to Gallitzin. On leaving the horseshoe curve, the traveler is more 
delighted than ever with the wild mountain scenery, The gorge here is much 
deeper than at the horseshoe curve, and as the train carries him along the steep 
mountain side he looks down into the deep ravine some places, almost 
perpendicular, hundreds of feet below him; while another mountain rising 
abruptly on the other side, and running parallel with the one he is on towers 
far above 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OF THE ALLEGHENIES.     9 

his head. Before reaching Gallitzin, the train passes through a long tunnel 
which is three thousand six hundred and twelve feet in length, and securely 
arched throughout. The highest point attained by the Pennsylvania Railroad is at 
the western end of this great tunnel, where the elevation above tidewater is 
twenty-one hundred and sixty-one feet. This summit is known as Allegrippus 
Point. The entire distance over the mountain, is some thirty or thirty-five 
miles. 
     Hundreds of travelers every day between Altoona and Gallitzin are led, not 
only to admire with pleasure this wild mountain scenery, but alike the grand and 
daring engineering skill manifested in so successfully building an iron road 
over this formidable barrier. These scenes are so grand, and so romantic, that 
they never grow old. 
     Some fifteen or twenty miles south of this, in other wilds of the 
Alleghenies is the scene of our narrative. The scenery here is much like that 
described above, only upon a scale more extended. The different hills, cliffs, 
crags, and ravines have been named by old hunters, so that the people living 
near the foot of the mountain understand them. One of the highest points is 
known 
 
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10     THE LOST CHILDREN

as Blue Knob, another Fork Ridge, others Blue Ridge, Cedar Swamps, Kings Cabins, 
Red Ridge, Hogback Ridge, Spruce Hollow, Gypsy Hollow, Bob's Creek, Ciana Run, 
and others. 
     The isolated farms and small improvements that can be seen in different 
parts of this vast mountain range look as if they had wandered away from 
civilization, and (like the children) been lost in the wilderness. 
     Spruce Hollow, is in Bedford county, Pa. From the mouth of this ravine to 
the top of the mountain, or to the settlements on the other side is at least 
fifteen miles, while the forest extends for many miles on either side. Over this 
vast mountain range are numerous rugged peaks and deep hollows, through which 
pass a number of creeks and mountain streams. During the spring months, when 
these streams are swollen by the melting of the snow, they rush down these deep 
ravines on their wild, mysterious errand as though each was trying to outrun its 
fellows in reaching the Juniata River below. And while this part of the mountain 
has numerous high peaks, hills and hollows, much of it is level and covered 
thickly with under growth timber and brush, making it difficult in many places 
to trav- 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OF THE ALLEGHENIES.     11 

el through it. And there is such a sameness about it that old hunters sometimes 
get lost and have trouble to find their way out. 

                               ----------


                               CHAPTER II.
                      How the Children Were Lost.

     Thirty-two years ago there lived in a little cabin, in Spruce Hollow, a 
family by the name of Cox. The family consisted of Samuel Cox, his wife, and two 
little sons. Mr. and Mrs. Cox commenced their early married life in Johnstown, 
Cambria county, Pa., and remained there until their two sons were born, when 
they moved to the State of Indiana, in 1851. But unfortunately for them, they 
settled in a part of the state where malaria fever prevailed, and soon their 
little family was prostrated with the disease, and for weeks and months, they 
lingered between life and death, until for the sake of life and health, they 
were compelled to move back to their native hills in Pennsylvania. Soon after 
returning they settled in this lonely spot in the wilds of the mountain as their 
future home. 
     It is evident that they had no desire to be 
 
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12     THE LOST CHILDREN   

rich or they would never have selected Spruce Hollow as a place to gain wealth. 
But being naturally of a contented turn of mind it did not require much of this 
world's goods to make them happy. And now that their children were fast gaining 
health from breathing the pure mountain air they felt entirely satisfied with 
their lonely retreat and with the thought that their children might be a 
blessing to them now, and a comfort to them if they should live to declining 
years. With such musings in their minds they felt perfectly happy. 
     But alas! with them, as with all others, how uncertain are all earthly 
enjoyments. Grief and woe unutterable was at their very door, and they knew it 
not. The dark cloud without a silver lining was fast gathering over their heads 
and they had no knowledge of what a single hour would bring forth to them. 
     It was on the 24th day of April, 1856, that Samuel Cox while at breakfast 
heard his dog barking in the woods about one-eighth of a mile from his cabin, 
and, as his dog usually had a squirrel treed when he barked this way, Mr. Cox 
remarked to his wife that if his dog should continue to bark until he was 
through his breakfast 
 
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OF THE ALLEGHENIES.     13 

he would go out and shoot the squirrel. Hastily finishing his meal he shouldered 
his gun and started out in the woods in the direction of his dog, leaving his 
two little boys at the table with their mother. Failing to find the squirrel he 
shortly returned to his cabin by a different route from that he had taken in 
going out. Not seeing the children, he inquired of their mother where they were. 
She had not noticed them after they had gone out from breakfast. As there was 
but little cleared land about their cabin it did not require long to determine 
that they must have undertaken to follow their father to the forest. The parents 
in the wildest alarm ran to the mountain, and taking in as much of it as they 
thought it possible for their children to have reached in so short a time, they 
made the most careful search without finding them. Then they returned to their 
home thinking the children might have come back to their cabin during their 
absence but in this they were sadly disappointed. The parents, now almost 
distracted, made the fact known to their nearest neighbors that their children 
were lost in the wilds of the mountains. The news spread like wild-fire, and 
while many hastened to the mountain to help search for the 
 
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14     THE LOST CHILDREN   

lost ones, others on foot and on horse, traveled from house to house, and from 
one village to another, carrying the news. Every one that heard it seemed at 
once to comprehend the situation, that whatever was done to find them must be 
done quickly or they would not likely be found at all. With this kindred feeling 
in the minds of nearly all who heard the tidings it is not at all strange that 
plowman unhitched their teams midway in the fields, merchants closed their 
stores, mechanics threw down their tools with their work unfinished, and all, 
with one common purpose, hastened to the mountain, and notwithstanding the day 
was far spent before many of them heard the news, yet so quick were the people 
in their efforts to rescue the little perishing ones, that not less than two 
hundred voices rang along the crags and cliffs of the Allegheny ere the sun had 
set on that day. So thorough was the search that every plane, hill top and 
ravine within a reasonable distance of their home had been carefully gone over 
before dark without finding even a foot print of the lost children. And what 
alarmed the parents still more was, that as night approached it was fast growing 
cold, dark heavy 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OF THE ALLEGHENIES.     15 

clouds were looming up in the north-west, and as it was in the dark of the moon 
everything indicated a dark and stormy night. The father, worn out with exertion 
and grief, plead with his neighbors to continue the search through the night. 
"For how," he thought, "can they possibly live through this dismal night exposed 
to the wild beasts of the mountain, without a shelter to protect them from the 
snow that is fast falling, without a place to lay their weary heads, or a morsel 
of food to strengthen their feeble and exhausted bodies." Willing to do anything 
to comfort the bereaved parents, quite a number remained out all night and kept 
up fires on different points of the mountain, thinking the children might be 
attracted to the lights, while others returned to the home of the parents, if 
possible, to speak words of comfort to them. 
     Grief sometimes reaches a point when friends, though stored with words of 
comfort, do not seem to have the power to express them. So it was in this case. 
The grief of the parents was so great that those who had gone there for the 
express purpose of consoling and comforting them could only look on in silence 
and weep with them. 
 
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16     THE LOST CHILDREN   

     It is not at all strange that the parents should feel heart-broken at the 
loss of their little boys. They were very innocent, interesting children. 
George, the elder one, seven years old, had dark hair and blue eyes; while 
Joseph, the younger one, aged but five years, had light hair and gray eyes; and, 
owing perhaps to their sickness in the west, they were small for their ages, but 
in cuteness and knowledge, they were far in advance of their years. George was 
remarkably intelligent for one of his age, and always had such a care for his 
younger brother, that when going to and from their play, he nearly always led 
him by the hand and they were so affectionate with one another that they never 
had a quarrel at their play. 


"Young loves, young hopes dancing on morning's cheek,
Gems leaping in the coronet of Love!
So beautiful, so full of life they seemed
As made entire of beams of angels' eyes,
Gay, guileless, sporting, lovely little things!
Playing around the den of sorrow, clad.
In smiles, believing in their fairy hopes,
And thinking man and woman true! All joy,
Happy all day, and happy all the night." 
 
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OF THE ALLEGHENIES.     17 

The old straight track : its mounds, beacons, moats, sites, and markstones by Watkins, Alfred, 1885-1935

The Voyage of Bran

Long ago in Ireland, there was a High King named Bran. He was not much interested in being High King, and one day, during a feast, Bran slipped away to get some peace and quiet.

As he was walking, all alone, he began to hear this beautiful music. It was haunting and like nothing he had ever heard before. Bran hunted high and low to see where it was coming from, but no matter what way he turned, the music always seemed to be coming from just behind him. At last, the sweet music lulled him, and he fell asleep. While he slept, he saw a vision: a beautiful woman of the Otherworld, who sang to him about the Land of Women, where everything was pleasant and joyful, and there was never any grief or treachery.

When he woke, Bran found in his had a silver branch with golden apples on it. Not really knowing what this meant, Bran brought it back to the fort with him. That evening, at the feast, the same woman from his dream appeared, but this time, all those present in the hall could see her. She spoke to Bran, and told him to come and find her in the Island of Women. Then the silver branch leaped out of Bran’s hand and into hers, and she was gone.

Bran wasted no time in building a ship. His three foster brothers came with him, and each of them brought nine men. They set sail out west into uncharted waters that no one had ever been to before. As they were sailing, Mananan Mac Lir, the god of the ocean, came riding towards them in his chariot. Bran and his men watched, dumbstruck, as the god reined up beside them and stopped to talk. He told Bran that their skiff was sailing, not through waves, but through an orchard, and that where they saw sea-horses and sea foam, he could see a grassy plain, covered in flowers, with warriors going to and fro across it. He sang to them about all the wonders of the Land Under Wave that he ruled over, and then he took his leave, telling them that he was on his way to meet the wife of a king, to father a child that would be called Mongan.

Bran and his men rowed on, and before long they came to an island, called Moy Meall, or the Island of Joy. There were a great number of people on the shore, but when Bran and his men called out to them, to ask if they were near to the Island of Women, the people only laughed and gaped at them. So one of Bran’s men jumped out of the boat, and waded to shore to see if he could get any answers out of them. But as soon as he landed, he started to laugh like a fool and gape at them, as if he didn’t know them. Bran and his men circled the island, over and over, calling out to their companion to come back to them, but he ignored their calls, and only laughed witlessly.

Downhearted, Bran and his men continued on their way. They came to the Island of Women, and saw the woman from Bran’s vision. But Bran and his men were wary, because of what had happened to their friend, and they kept their distance. Then the woman threw a ball of yarn at Bran’s head, and he put up his hand to stop it. The ball of yarn stuck fast to his hand, and the woman on the shore started to reel the boat, with all of the men in it, in to shore.

When they landed, the men were taken to a beautiful house, and a plate was put before each one. No matter how much they ate and drank, their plates always remained full, and their cups never emptied. When they had eaten and drunk their fill, a woman led each man to his own room, richly appointed, and let them sleep there.

The men stayed on the Island of Women for what seemed to them to be a year. Every day was restful, and easy. All they had to do was to play sports and games, to eat and drink and enjoy themselves, and the women took care of all their wants. But one of Bran’s men, Nechtan, began to feel homesick. He started to pester Bran about going home. The other men shushed him, but he spoke to each of them in turn, reminding them of home, and the people they had left there, until at last Bran relented, and they prepared to go back to Ireland.

The Queen of the Island took Bran aside and warned him that if he returned, he would get only grief. But Bran could see no other option. So the Queen told him that if he must go, he should pick up his companion from the Island of Joy on his way, and when he got to Ireland, he must make sure not to set foot on the land. Bran agreed to this, and off they went.

When they came to the Island of Joy, they called their companion’s name, and he ran straight out to the boat, and recovered his wits as soon as they had him on board. Then they sailed over the sea to Ireland. But when they came near, they could see that the whole coastline had changed. The countryside looked completely different, all the forests were gone, and the people seemed small and grey and weak. They called out to the people on the shore, and no one had ever heard of them. Then one old man came forward, and said that when he was a young boy, he had heard the story of King Bran, an ancient tale that was almost lost.

Nechtan, the man who had been homesick, could not accept this. He flung himself from the deck of the boat, and landed on the shore. But as soon as his feet touched the ground, he turned to dust. Bran realized then that he and his men had been gone for hundreds and hundreds of years, and they could never return home.

Bran carved an account of his voyage on stone tablets, in Ogham writing, and threw the stones to the people on the shore. Then he and his men turned their ship around, and sailed off to the three times fifty Islands of the Otherworld. And as to what adventures befell them after that… nobody knows!