PREFACE
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This little Tale is founded upon the wellknown tradition, prevalent among the old inhabitants, that where the Golden Gate now is was once dammed up by a rock or rocks, and the whole Valley was a great inland sea with its entrance to the Ocean down near Monterey. The writer has seen, on Ohio Street, in this City, (which in 1850 was quite an elevated spot of ground,) the black sedimentary earth, at least two feet thick, which abounds in greater or less degree throughout the Valley, and which readily accounts for the wonderful fertility of the soil.
San Francisco, December, 1868.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by Chas. P. Kimball, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Northern District of California.
THE SAN FRANCISCO FAIRY
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LONG years ago, ere Spaniards lived on California soil,
An Indian of the Digger tribe was resting from his toil;
He lived beside an inland sea, or lake, so wondrous large
No one could look from shore to shorea day's sail for a barge.
This Indian was a happy dog, of threescore years and eight,
Of children he had half a score, also an aged mate;
His youngest was LiLamboni, a petit laughing cit
Who kept the Wigwam happy by her fund of ready wit.
A blooming maid of twenty, perhaps of two years more,
Her lovers might be counted at wholesale by the score;
But there was onea comely lada Chieftain's only son,
This one alone of all the crowd her youthful love had won.
So tall, so straight, so beautiful, an eye like diamonds bright,
Not one could beat him in the chase, by night or broad daylight;
And when upon the warpath with the braves he started out,
The deathsong of his enemies would plainly mark his route.
But, ah, alas! the wampum to make him all her own.
She did not have the needful, for she had poorly grown;
And often on the placid Lake, within her log canoe.
She pondered long and deeply on just what she should do.
One day, when very sad indeed, a long way out from shore,
She sighedshe felt just then more sad than e'er she felt before;
Just then a Fish of monstrous size jumped from the water out.
And, balanc'd nicely on his tail, asked what she was about.
At such a sight she fainted, yet still she did not fall,
But straightway told her sorrows, she told him of them all,
The Fish he wagged his little fin, and shook his pointed nose,
And said, "My darling Maiden, into my mouth you goes!"
Now, who would think a maiden of two and twenty years,
Would step into a fish's mouth without the slightest fears!
But so great was her desire her object to attain,
That she treated anything like fear with feelings of disdain.
Down came the Fish's lower jaw upon her light canoe,
He asked her if that ladder would answer for her shoe;
Then tripping up it lightly, she spied a splendid seat,
With wampum it was cover'dher lover's it would beat.
Back came that self same lower jaw, without the slightest jar,
No one could treat her better, not e'en her dear Papa;
The Fish he told her plainly to his Mistress she must go,
She was a lovely Fairy, and she lived right down below.
He said that she was very kind, and beautiful, and great.
And dwelt within her watery home in rich and royal state.
That she wanted LiLamboni her dominions all to know.
So she sent her dear Fish Monster, to bring her down below.
Scarcely was she seated in the regal wampum chair.
Thinking of the Fairy Queen, when she was almost there;
And soon her fine Fish Monster drew down his under jaw
A SeaLion from ocean deep held out his ugly paw.
She tripped down quite gracefully and took the Lion's paw,
But I really cannot tell you all the riches that she saw:
On her right, there was a Grotto with gates of solid gold,
Guarded by a Devil Fishto meet him would be bold.
On her left, a Fairy Palace, its walls of silver bright,
Its windows set with diamonds, which shone both day and night;
Its doors were made of jasper, its steps of onyx fine
A worker up of cameo would think he'd found a mine.
The Lion touched her lightly, and she took his shaggy arm.
She felt while she was with him he'd shield her from all harm;
They tripped nimbly up the stepshe touched a little slide,
And almost in an instant the door was open'd wide.
A WaterLily met them and passed her through the hall,
So rich I'd fain describe it, but can't do so at all;
Then to the audience chamber, with all things bright and airy,
There, right upon a golden throne, sat San Francisco Fairy.
A lovely figure, tall and straight, in elegant attire,
Looking for all the world like gold refined by fire;
She greeted LiLamboni in an offhand, easy style.
Was tickled that she came, and would have her stay awhile.
With a motion of her hand for LiLamboni to draw near,
She spoke unto the Lily to bring for her a chair.
When seated near the throne, what should the Fairy do
But wave again her hand, and up through the floor they flew!
Here was a room of wampum, the ceiling, walls, the floor
And furniture were lined with it, as also was the door.
Says the Fairy to LiLamboni, "This wampum's all your own;
You see it's only lining, and you can easy take it down.
You can pack it in a compass small, and show it to your Pa,
Who never saw the like before, nor neither did your Ma;
And also when your chosen Fish shall take you to the air,
When stepping down the ladder you can take the wampum chair.
You wonder why I do this? I'll make it all quite plain:
Once, while running as a rabbit, you saved me from all harm;
The coyotes and the wolves had nearly run me dead.
When you threw them off the scent and took me to your bed.
And since that time I've look'd for you that action to repay,
But no good chance e'er offered till I heard you cry today.
We shortly move away from herethis Lake is to be drained
For out quite near the Farallones another home we've gained.
The water will be drained awaya City here will rise,
Here will be marts of commerce, and wealth which men do prize;
Here'll be temples of the living God, and of Heathen idols, too,
