The Little Lady of Lagunitas: A Franco-Californian RomanceSavage, Richard
General
The Little Lady of Lagunitas: A Franco-Californian Romance
Savage, Richard
California -- Fiction
His duty is done. He has verified the departure of the Yankee ship. It
is crowded with a hundred aliens. They are now exiles.
Gathered in by General Vallejo, the "pernicious foreigners" have been
held at Monterey, until a "hide drogher" comes into the port. Alvarado
permits her to anchor under the guns of the hill battery. He then seizes
the ship for his use.
Captain Peralta is given the honor of casting out these Ishmaels of
fortune. He views calmly their exit. It is a land which welcomes not the
"Gringo." The ship-master receives a draft on Acapulco for his impressed
service. These pioneer argonauts are warned (on pain of death) not to
return. It is a day of "fiesta" in Monterey. "Vive Alvarado!" is the
toast.
So, when Captain Miguel dashes into the Plaza, surrounded with his
dare-devil retainers, reporting that the vessel is off shore, the
rejoicing is unbounded.
Cannons roar: the yells of the green jacket and yellow scrape brigade
rise on the silent reaches of the Punta de los Pinos. A procession winds
up to the Carmel Mission. Governor Alvarado, his staff, the leading
citizens, the highest families, and the sefioritas attend a mass
of thanksgiving. Attired in light muslins, with here and there
a bright-colored shawl giving a fleck of color, and silk
kerchiefs--fleecy--the ladies' only other ornaments are the native
flowers which glitter on the slopes of Monterey Bay. Bevies of dark-eyed
girls steal glances at Andres, Ramon, or Jose, while music lends a
hallowing charm to the holy father's voice as he bends before the
decorated altar. Crowds of mission Indians fill the picturesque church.
Every heart is proud. Below their feet sleeps serenely good Fray
"Junipero Serra." He blessed this spot in 1770;--a man of peace, he
hung the bells on the green oaks in a peaceful wilderness. High in air,
to-day they joyously peal out a "Laus Deo." When the mystery of the
mass rehearses the awful sacrifice of Him who died for us all, a silence
broods over the worshippers. The notes of the choristers' voices slowly
die away. The population leaves the church in gay disorder.
The Bells of the Past throw their spells over the mossy church--at once
triumph, tomb, and monument of Padre Junipero. Scattered over the coast
of California, the padres now sleep in the Lethe of death. Fathers Kino,
Salvatierra, Ugarte, and sainted Serra left their beautiful works of
mercy from San Diego to Sonoma. With their companions, neither unknown
tribes, lonely coasts, dangers by land and sea, the burning deserts
of the Colorado, nor Indian menaces, prevented the linking together of
these outposts of peaceful Christianity. The chain of missions across
New Mexico and Texas and the Mexican religious houses stretches through
bloody Arizona. A golden circlet!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account