Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-01-20
MUSTANG GREY.

Previous to the breaking out of the
Mexican war in 1845, [ was making &
tour Of observation through the western
portion OF Texas, looking for an eligible
location on which to commence my ca
reer as a stock raiser. The summer sea-
son had passed away, and October Will
its hazy beauties fingered upon thr
prairies, the low trees and tender mes
quite foliage, with a softness and grace
that gave u charm to all that the ey
chanced to rest upon.
One afternoon, when the sun was low
ering itself i'll the west, leaving in the
valleys shadows that the art of the paint
er could hardly equal for softness and va
riety of shades, [ passed through his
toric Goliad, small village on the lin
pid San Antonio, and spurred my horse
on toward the old Spanish mission,
which reared i+eo1G ne antique
structure, d link between the living
present and the dead past. AS | rode up
the hill leading from the river. at tina!
time of the year fordable, the mission at
tracted my full attention. It was al
most square, built of rough stone, and
commanded a view of the whole coun-
JIH. luc Wills WGIC ulllCh, WlItlOWS
few, narrow and barred with rods of
iron; and from the sides and ends, in
tiers, were portfolios, from which, in
former. days, the muzzles of guns peered
forth at hostile men.
It was at this spot-around this mis-
sion-where Fannin and his gallant sol
diers were slaughtered by the treacher-
GUS MeXicans. The river, the waters OF
which look milky in their purity that
day were tinged with eddying pools,
leaving the incarnation which distin-
guishes the corolla from the rose. Dis
mounting from my horse, my mind took
in at glance all that occurred on the
day OF the massacre, and multitude of
emotions thronged my breast. What q
change had taken place since that event.
full period. Instead of armed men,
bearing lance, sword and carbine, chill.
dren played around the low, broad door
and up from the river was vending its
way in the shadows of the hill and strag.
Cling sunlight, train of empty Mexican
OK carts-ffty or more-twO wheeled
vehicles, and the small animals yoked
with wooden bars from one to the other
on the fore part of their sturdy heads
The drivers, vaqueros, were costumed il
leather breeches and jackets, and wore
upon their heads the inevitable som
brero. As the Mexicans goaded theil
animals with long poles, in which restet
long, sharp pieces of iron, up the &C
chvity, and on across the prairies, m,
eyes commenced to take in objects tha
surrounded me-
The mission had been transformed int,
a caravansary, and around it's door played
innumerable Mexican children, and dog
OF the half wolf species squatted in laz,
attitudes in patches of sunshine that la,
around. Groups of Mexican men an(
women lounged about, talking in thei
low, musical Spanish patois, smokin,
cigarettes and blowing the light cloud
of vapor above their heads in fantasti
shapes and spiral columns.
A short distance to the right of thi
group, on square stone that projecte,
from the mission, forming the center O
cross, stood young girl looking alb
stractedly toward Goliad, the white ston
houses of which peeped through til
trees, and the quaint towers reflected th
soft light as it came from the west. Sh
was apparently thirteen years of age
dressed in black, and about her shoulder
was the usual Mexican mantle, whic
dropped down, and lay in careless rolls
resembling drapery around statue.
foot, small and delicate, arcl ed exquisite
ly, and covered with the Mexican gaite1
protruded from under the folds of he
dress, as it was disturbed by the wind
of the evening that crept in gusts up til
valley. Her hair fell over her shoulder
in auburn ringlets, and as the wind softl
lifted them the waning sunlight shon
through their golden folds with an il
effable halo
Who could she be ? / had not yet see
her face. Walking slowly to where sh
stood, / looked for her to turn and col