The Legend of Mish-i-mi-nong.

[Leavenworth]: Robert T. Pearce, [1903]. First and only edition. [30] pp. Printed on rectos only. Each page with a tissue guard. Publisher's limp suede with a rawhide tie and blind-stamped lettering on the front. Old crease to upper rear corner else a very good copy of this very ephemeral item.One day in 1899 (according to the preface), Robert T. Pearce was transplanting an apple tree and came across the burial site of a Native American. He was buried with his knives which Pearce took home and which inspired this poem. The poem was was based by Crab Apple Island on Fox Lake and local Indian legends. After writing the poem, he send it to his father, Frank Pearce, who was living in Chicago. In turn, Frank illustrated the poem and sent it back to his son with a note (both this note and Robert's note to his father are reproduced in this book): "I have endeavored to engross and illustrate it with my pen as a birth-day gift to you. May you find interwoven in each line and page the love of your affectionate Father." Robert took the poem and his father's illustrations and engraved the entire thing. Thus every page is illustrated the the poem is in cursive. A charming little piece made even more desirable by a presentation inscription signed by both father and son. No copies are located by OCLC but the local Lake County library has a copy.