s a little gift of remembrance, a book
called "Poems of the Piasa," by Frank C. Riehl. It contained also a
number of other kindred poems of Western life.

The Piasa was a dreadful, winged monster, which inhabited the banks of
the Mississippi at Alton in ages past. A note in the volume I received
might here be quoted. It is as follows:

"The region along the shores on both sides of the Mississippi,
between the points of the confluence of the Illinois and Missouri
rivers with the Father of Waters, is particularly rich in legendary
stories concerning the life and habits of the powerful tribes of
Indians who were the original owners of these fertile valley lands.
Along the bluffs on the Illinois side are numberless burial places
where the bones of thousands of 'the first Americans' repose, while
the valleys and prairie-stretches for some distance back from the
river, afford constant reminders of their presence and handiwork in
the dim ages of the past.

"From the time of the earliest frontier expeditions, this locality
has been conspicuous among the chronicles for the number and
peculiar charm of the folk-lore stories handed down from one
generation to another, and held in almost sacred reverence by the
Indians. And, among these, dating from the famous expedition of
Marquette, none is more striking and interesting than that of the
Piasa Bird. That this was more than a mere myth is attested by the
evidence of many early settlers, who got the story in minute detail
from the Indians themselves; and by the painting that remained upon
the face of the perpendicular bluffs within the present limits of
the city of Alton, until quarried away just about the close of the
first half of this century."

The Indian legend referred to is of a fearful, winged monster, who
swooped down upon his prey, making his aery on the great cliffs at
Alton. The tribes were in deadly terror of this great creature, whose
fearful power seized their bravest warriors, as well as their most
beautiful maidens, in his deadly talons. At last, a chief, named
Ouatoga, conceived the bold design to place himself in the way of the
monster, a sacrifice for the safety of his race; while twelve of the
best archers, should lie concealed near by, and slay the monster with
their united arrows, as he rose in air with his prey. This, the legend
says, was done, and a rude picture of th