The Maiden of the Yellow Rocks

In an ancient time, in a village known for its yellow rocks, a beautiful maiden, the daughter of a high priest, possessed extraordinary hunting skills and knowledge of animals. However, she was selfish and hoarded the game for herself, leaving the villagers to suffer from hunger. Many young men sought her hand, but she set a challenge: they must bring her a deer to prove their worth. One by one, suitors failed to catch any game, as the maiden secretly controlled the animals, keeping them in a hidden corral. Each young man returned empty-handed, and the maiden dismissed them, maintaining her selfish hold over the animals. Eventually, two small gods, who were brothers, decided to court her. Despite their unattractive appearance, they were powerful and clever. The brothers approached the maiden with nothing but their bows. They observed her secretive behavior and discovered her corral filled with deer and other game. They waited for her to arrive and, when she did, they shot a deer, impressing her with their hunting skills. The maiden, realizing they had succeeded where others had failed, agreed to marry them. However, she imposed a new challenge: they must clean and prepare a large number of buckskins she had accumulated. The brothers, with the help of field mice they encountered, managed to complete the task. The maiden, pleased with their efforts, agreed to marry them both. As time passed, the brothers and the maiden lived together and had twin boys. However, the younger brother's impulsiveness led to tragedy when he shot the maiden, fearing she would be taken by the sun. The brothers were left with their children, and they returned to their grandmother, who initially rejected them but eventually accepted the grandchildren. The story concludes with a moral about the responsibility to care for abandoned children, reflecting the values of compassion and nurturing within the community.

By Frank Hamilton Cushing · First published 1883 · Genre: Mythology, Folklore, Fantasy · 8,515 words

First lines

In the days of the ancients, when our ancestors lived in the Village of the Yellow Rocks,5 also in the Salt City,6 also in the Village of the Winds,7 and also in the Village of the White Flowering Herbs, and also in the Village of Odd Waters, where they come forth, when in fact all these broken-down villages were inhabited by our ancients, there lived in the Village of the Yellow Rocks a very beautiful maiden, the daughter of the high priest.

What this Textopian page supports

The Maiden of the Yellow Rocks is listed on Textopian as a novella by Frank Hamilton Cushing, dated 1883 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novella
• Author: Frank Hamilton Cushing
• Date: 1883 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mythology, Folklore, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
• Length: 8,515 words
• Structure: 1 section, 231 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Maiden of the Yellow Rocks by Frank Hamilton Cushing
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Maiden of the Yellow Rocks?
• How does this novella by Frank Hamilton Cushing fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mythology first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

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• The Hermit Mitsina by Frank Hamilton Cushing
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Genres

• Mythology — The narrative incorporates elements of ancient beliefs, gods, and cultural traditions, characteristic of mythological storytelling.
• Folklore — The story reflects traditional tales passed down through generations, featuring moral lessons and cultural values.
• Fantasy — The presence of magical elements, such as the maiden's ability to communicate with animals and the transformation of characters, aligns with fantasy themes.
• Adventure — The plot involves quests and challenges faced by the characters, particularly the young men seeking to win the maiden's favor.

Tags

Fiction · Novel · American Literature · 19th Century · Western Fiction · Adventure · Romance · Historical Fiction · Native American · Cultural Anthropology · Ethnography · Mythology

More by Frank Hamilton Cushing

• The Trial of Lovers (1887)
• The Youth and his Eagle (1889)
• The Poor Turkey Girl (1881)
• How the Summer Birds Came (1883)
• The Serpent of the Sea (1883)
• The Foster-Child of the Deer (1883)
• The Boy Hunter who Never Sacrificed to the Deer he had Slain (1883)
• How Áhaiyúta and Mátsailéma Stole the Thunder-Stone and the Lightning-Shaft (1883)
• All works by Frank Hamilton Cushing