The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-05-30
MisteIIaneons SeIettiuns.
A CALIFORNIA LEGEND.

n OhLlI OnNlH LLQEHUI
Nestled between the cloud-capped
mountains and the sea, in the sunny
regions of California, lies the beau
tiful town of Santa Barbara. Here,
through the long winter months, the
air is mild and balmy, and the hills
are rich with verdure. Pepper and
acacia trees mingle the grace of their
perennial foliage with that of the
sturdy live oak and the dark-leaved
olive all the year round; while flow
ers, both wild and cultivated, bloom
in unbounded profusion.
Santa Barbara claims to be one of
the most favored spots on the globe
for healthfulness, the geniality Of its
climate and the beauty and produe-
tiveness of its semi-tropical vegeta-
tion. Differing fran the Napolitans,
the Santa Barbarans, say, "See San
ia Barbara and liYep'
About four miles from the town,
in the valley of Montecito, grows the
now famous grapevine, one of the
wonders of tourists in southern Cal
ifornia. 1t is the largest on record.
It measures four feet four inches in
circumference at the ground, forty
one inches two feet from the ground,
and rises eight feet before branching
out; then, spreading with extreme
luxuriance, its branches cover more
than five thousand square feet, and
are supported by fifty-two trelises.
The largest branch is thirty inches
in circumference, and, were it not
for rigid pruning, the branches
would extend indefinitely in every
direction. It is of the Mission variety
and exceedingly prolific, producing
annually from five to six tons OF
grapes, which hang in massive clus-
ters beneath trelises, the effect of
which, in the mellow time,
excites admiration and wonder. 1t
is claimed that it has produced T.
900 punches of grapes, varying from
one to four pounds each. A bean
was put into vase for each bunch
plucked until the beans numbered
1000. ItgrOws on a sunny slope of
the foothills, commanding a fine
view of the rugged mountains in one
direction, and in the other the lovely
Montecito Valley, with glimpses of
the blue Pacific. The vine is irri-
gated by waters from the hot
springs a few miles distant; and the
country about the vine is very beau
tiful and Mexican in its natural and
artificial surroundings.
There is a tradition connected
with the origin Of this vine we wish
to relate. Seventy years ago, during
the occupancy of the Mission Faith
ers, there lived in the vicinity of Los
Angeles beautiful young Spanish
girl. Nearly all Spanish girls, while
in the bloom and freshness of youth,
possess more or less of their nation
al cast of beauty; but the Senorita
Marcellina had, from childhood,
been acknowledged queen among
the maidens of her native place.
Her complexion, tinged with the
warm, brunette hue of her race was
clear and bright with the rich tint
of health. Her wealth of black hair
fell in ripping waves far below her
waist; and her large dark eyes were
fringed with silken lashes that
matched the exquisite penciling of
the arched broWs above them. Her
parents, though belonging to the
better class of Spanish, had become
poor through extravaganza and mis-
management, and had formed the
project of bettering their fortunes
by wedding their lovely daughter to
some rich Don. The lovely Marcel
lima did not lack for admirers nor
ardent lovers, and among them all,
Senor, Carlos de Domingues was the
favorite and accepted suitor. He
was handsome, tall, and manly, but
alas! without fortune and socially
not the equal of Earcellina. AS may
be supposed, his suit met with no
encouragement from the Don and
Dona Feliz; and they, finding the
attachment between the young p0O-
ple becoming stronger than accorded
with their plans for their daughter,
resolved to remove to Santa Barbara
"a mission some hundred miles
north-where resided many wealthy
families, among whom, they doubt
ed not, an alliance would be formed
suitable in fortune and position.
The announcement of their con
templated removal struck dismay to
the hearts Of Marcellina and Carlos;
but the latter receiving courage
from desperation, presented his suit
to the parents. As was anticipated,
it was scornfully rejected, and furth-
er intercourse sternly forbidden.
The lovers were however, too ardent
to be separated thus, and through
the medium of an old Indian nurse,
who was devotedly attached to the
Girl, they obtained an interview be-
fore parting.
In the early twilight Marcellina
stole out TO an oling orchard, sur
rounded by an adobe wall, which lay
back of the paternal mansion. Here
she stood, awaiting with throbbin g
heart, the arrival of her lover, while
her nurse kept watch on the other
side of the wall, ready to give the
alarm by a signal agreed upon.
should any one approach from the
house.
Already the shadows lay dark be-
meath the tick, low branches of the