The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-10-20
THE FRIAR ALFONSO.

old Spanish families, and many Spanish
estates, miles and miles in extent. On
these old estates are old.iashioned adobe
houses -gaunt aud grim in appearance
that have been occupied for many years
These structures are not particularly at
trnctive in appearance externally, though
within they are adorned with taste, and
some Of them are handsomely furnished
Seen at distance. they look like pile Of
dark brown bricks. Except those which
have been whitewashed) and heavy win.
dow shutters close the few windows they
contain The old Mexicans kept heat
and sunlight out Of their dwellings. and
in the hottest weather they were cool and
pleasant Some of them are spacious
enough, and are built round court yard
so that everything is within large en-
closure. Tue parlor is neatly kept by
the female portion of the family, while
the other parts of the building are full of
odds and ends Of every kind-horse fur.
nilure, such as saddles, brides, lariats and
halters, prelominating All Nlexicans
and old Californians are excellent horse
men, and in former times the wealth Of
the country was made up in great part,
of immense herds Of horses and cattle.
Years ago, one pleasant evening just
before sunset, q travel.stained horseman
rode up to one of these houses, and the
proprietor thereof went out to meet him.
There were no ladies about the house, and
the owner appeared to be living there
with only few farm laborers to assist
him, The horseman was Frisr Alfonso,
from Monterey, who was on his way
through the country on business The
friar was about thirty.fvc years of age,
and appeared to take life very easily. lie
was no ascetic, though thoroughly good
man, and like many another priest, be-
lieved kind Providence bad given us
the good things Of this world in order
that we might enjoy them, and by no
means abuse them.
As he alghted from his horse he seized
the hand of the proprietor of the house,
giving it hearty shake, at the same time
inquiring about his health
The proprietor staid and dignihed
old Spaniard answered. My health is
very good, padre how does it fare with
you?"
Il am we'll thank, be to the Virgin,
and am iourncyiOe toward Los Angeles,
ard if it would not be asking too much,
would be pleased to stay during the night
with you"
Don Diego with true Spanish polite
ness replied "Padre Alfonso. you know
very well that my house and all it con.
tains, is at your service, and shall coly
be too glad to have you accept it
The padre made some reply equally
courteous,an entered the house with him
the horse in the meantime having been
taken in charge by one OF the labore.s.
When the irisr entered the house. he
thought be observed strange air abou,
everything but made no remark which
would lead Don Diego to suppose he had
any suspicious, The talk war mainly
concerning religious matters, and affairs
near Monterey. which was at that time
the most considerable settlement in | p
per California. The Noche Indians also
claimed share Of the attention Of Don
Diego and the irar as this tribe was the
nearest to them. The missions were ther
lourishing, aud were scattered along a
irregular intervals, near the coast OF lht
Pacific ocean, all Of them being in charg,
of the priesthood who were Jealous il
endcavoring to teach the aborignes Chris
tiani:y and the arts Of peace. The lndi
ans were for the most part tractable, ant
really seemed to understand what wa,
taught them by the pious fathers
A cleau room was given TO Friar Al
ion, his few priestly articles placed nca
him, aud AS the sun sank away off in tn,
the blue waves of the blue Pacific, tho
Indian laborers gathered in the patio. O.
court yard, and sang their simple hymn
to the Virgin, in which they were joine'
by the friar and Don Diego.
Afterwards they sat in front OF III,
farmhouse enjoying the balmy atmos
phere. and the wild sounds Of the nigh,
as they were heard in the distance an
echoed family back The evening wa
serenely beautiful and the starlight iai
as any scene in nature A. the evenin
{ waned the iiiar returned to his room an
could not understand why he could &C
e no rest, luasmnch as he needed it, an
was weary after his long days rid
Over and over again he turned in h
bed, but no sleep could he get Abor
midnight as near as he could Judge, b
I saw light through crack in the doc
aud the shadows Of several men walkin
! aud moving about, though they did nj
!. make the least noise They appeared
Z, be engaged in some work. but it was dor
y SO quietly that he conld not understar
# what it was, nor what it meant, tlsua
ly the Indian laborers went to sleep iu
q mcdiately after they had lain down, al
10 their being awake and moving about
l. midnight was as unusual as it was straug
ie lie thought at one time that he would &
II up and see what was going on, but refoC
= ed that he was guest at the house, al
such proceeding might appear illtimi
ia as if he wished to pry into the affairs
- Don Diego he therefore kept in bis be
70 and endeavored to throw off all interC
e. in what was going on in tho court var
~ Indians by nature are stealthy. o.
can move about making no more moi
J than cat On this occasion they We
\. unusually cautious, and no sound cou
" be heard, though the frar Was close
them. Tie could aot see all their NOV
ments. it is true, but their shadows Fl
quently passed across the crack in I
s door, and he even fancied they we're
gagged in some kind Of dance. Thou
nominally christians, it is well kno
w. they readily return to the barbarous Ct
toms of their ancestors, aud engage
I their wild rites whenever they have
- opportunity. This reflection was II
calling to Friar Alfonso, and hc aim
began to suspect that Don Diego cor
tenanced these proceedings. He co.
endure the suspense 30 longer but 9
A