The Lady with the Lantern

by Kate Rasmussen

In California's Sacramento Valley are two towns: Paradise (which was called "Pair of Dice" before the Founding Mothers changed the name) and Chico, named after the Chico Creek. Connecting the towns is Honey Run Road with the original covered bridge still intact.

Although California's Indians didn't welcome intruding gold miners, they feared the invading settlers even worse. The local Indian tribes were not a warrior people. But as settlers chopped the forests and plowed the land, the Indians became desperate.

Not far from the old covered bridge are a group of boulders on the edge of the Chico Creek. Here, according to legend, Indians pushed these rocks down onto settlers' children playing in the water. When the youngsters didn't come home for dinner, their mother searched......and found them.

In the old part of Chico Cemetery is a tall, marble obelisk with the date, five children names, and "kilt by Injuns." On dark nights, a slender, shadowy form behind a flickering light may be seen wandering along Chico Creek.

Authors' e-mail: rasmussenk@usa.net
Visit the authors' homepage!