HEARTBREAK HILL

THE NAME OF HEARTBREAK HILL PERTAINS TO AN EMINENCE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A TOWN IN WHICH THERE WAS A LARGE INDIAN SETTLEMENT, BEFORE THE
WHITE MEN SETTLED THERE AND DROVE THE INHABITANTS OUT. BEFORE THE
ENGLISH COLONY HAD BEEN FIRMLY PLANTED, A SAILOR STRAYING ASHORE
CAME UPON THE SIMPLE NATIVES AND FINDING THEIR WAYS FULL OF NOVEL-
TY, HE LIVED WITH THEM FOR A TIME. WHEN HE FOUND A WAY TO RETURN
TO ENGLAND, HE TOOK WITH HIM THE LOVE OF A MAIDEN OF THE TRIBE,
BUT THE GIRL HERSELF HE LEFT BEHIND, COMFORTING HER ON HIS DEPART-
URE WITH AN ASSURANCE THAT BEFORE MANY MOONS HE WOULD RETURN.
MONTHS WENT BY AND EXTENDED INTO YEARS, AND EVERY DAY THE GIRL
CLIMBED HEARTBREAK HILL AND LOOK(ED) SEAWARD TO LOOK FOR SOME
TOKEN OF HER LOVER. AT LAST A SHIP WAS SEEN TRYING TO COME INTO
THE HARBOR, WITH A FURIOUS GALE RUNNING HER CLOSE TO SHORE, WHERE
BREAKERS WERE LASHING THE ROCKS AND SAND. THE GIRL STAYED WHERE
SHE WAS UNTIL THE VESSEL WAS HURLED AGAINST THE SHORE AND SMASHED
INTO A THOUSAND PIECES. AS ITS TIMBERS WENT TOSSING AWAY, A
WHITE, DESPAIRING FACE WAS LIFTED TO HERS FOR AN INSTANT, THEN IT
SANK AND WAS SEEN NEVERMORE--HER LOVER'S FACE. IT IS SAID THAT
SHE LIES BURIED INSIDE THE LEDGE THAT WAS HER WATCH-TOWER.

Submitter comment: MRS. ORESTE HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER HUSBAND MANY YEARS AGO.
SHE CLAIMED THAT AT THE TIME HE TOLD IT TO HER, THERE WERE TWO
VERSIONS INVOLVED, BUT THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHE COULD
REMEMBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND HAVEN

Date learned: 09-00-1963