Anon the tricky Hassayampa rose from his source. On mischief bent he
overflowed his bed, teasing the infant Arizona. He worried her, poor
dearie--dear till she shed tears and nature adding to the gush of
waters there flowed a brackish stream away; now named Saltriver and
on its banks nested the Phoenix.
From Elysium in his chariot descended then the sungod to nurse his
infant daughter. He dried the Hassayampa's bed in the hot desert sand
and where man-like, incautiously he scorched the hem of Arizona's
dress--where now lies Yuma--there the temperature rose ten degrees
hotter than hades; but luckily since then it has cooled off as much.
The happy maiden smiled with joy as Apollo kissed her long and often.
He took the turquoise from the skies, an emblem of unfaltering faith.
It and a lock of shining hair he gave her. That hid she in her rocky
bed where it became gold of the mint; the filthy lucre of
unworthiness and avarice, a blessing when in charity bestowed; a boon
as the reward of honest labor!
With lengthening shadows Luna, night's gentle goddess came, a full
mile nearer to Arizona than to other lands beaming her softest rays
over the sleeping child. Under the lunar kisses woke Arizona and
stored the moonshine in her gown.
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