Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-18

"a dew! u OeWIH N.H
Tn not above my work,
For, when 1 look around,
clearly see none long can be
Above the ground.
THE LEGEND OF PADRE JOSE.
In the beautiful city of Monterey,
close beside the dFranciscan convent,
there stands single stately palm, larger
and more perfect in its growth than any
other palm that you will find in all the
country for miles around. 1t grows up
on an odd corner of waste land-that
very likely was the convent garden a
couple of hundred years or so ago-and
behind it, across the broad sweep of the
tree-clad valley, the blue Sierra raises
its jagged crest against the bluer sky.
Instinctively you know, as you look
at this beautiful palm-with its waving,
feathery branches reared high toward
heaven, and its deep-set roots drawing
strength from the ground that the good
fathers long ago made holy by their
~prayers-that it has a story Of some
sort to tell; that a meaning attaches to
its presence beside the convent wall;
that it came there. back in the misty
past, by no mere idle chance. But
among the gentlefolk of Monterey, you
will ask in vain for this solitary palms
story. Culture and refinement somehow
are at war with the sweet traditions
which modestly, along quiet ways,c come
down to us from times of old. And so,
if you would know the story you must
seek it among the humble jewellers in
the town: the cargadores, who carry
heavy loads of other peoples goods up
on their shoulders; the serenos, who
watch owe the safety of the city in the
still, dark hours of night; the patient
lcnadores, who bring in wood, loaded
upon yet nor patient burros, from the
mountains near at hand, or other of the
children of toll; for all of these, know
ing not of books, and busying them
selves not with the serious thoughts and
concerns which vex the souls of their
betters, are learned in legendary lore.
In these simple, trustful minds, illumi-
mating them with a light that brightens
the dark places of weary lives, the old
stories live on through the centuries;
passing from lip to heart, from heart to
lip, and so to heart again, yet gaining
always a more mellow beauty with the
passing years. Therefore, it must be
among the lowly folk OF Monterey that
you search for the story of the stately
palm; and if your search be well sped,
you will hear told, in the gracious
Spanish Of MeXico-which is richer and
softer even than is the rich, soft Span
ISL of Spain-this legend of the Padre
Jose.
Padre Jose was not bred to the church
from his youth. He was the son of the
gallant soldier, Don Diego de Vargas,
and his profession was that of his father
the sword. When Don Diego was Or
dered up into the rebellious northern
country-back in the year 1892 this was,
before the father of the Oldest man now
living was born-Don Jose went also.
And this although the day was named
Tor the wedding, and the Dona Ana de
ona'e, most beautiful of all the maidens
IN the realm OF New Spain, was waiting
to be his bride. AS all the world knows,
there was hard fighting during that
campaign. For a dozen years the re-
VOTED Pueblos had stood out against
their Spanish masters, and even Don
Diego, with all his %gallantry, and with
all his soldicrly skill, could not in a
moment conquer them. There were bat
ties at Santa Cruz de la Canada, at San
llacfonso, at Taos; even under the very
walls OF Santa Fe. But the campaig n
ended, and Don Diego drew his forces
southward again for rest while the win
Ter lasted, and yet the S%paniards were
not conquerors. 1t was about the
blessed Christmas season-the noche
Duena-that the sad news came down to
bona Ana, in the city of Mexico, that in
one OF these battles her lover had been
Sla1n, And so, no joyfulness being left
IN lie, she entered the stern order of the
v,ap1chinas. Passing into and so be-
.oiu the grave-as was that orders
"omt-she to the world was dead.
through that new year, and through
Great part of the next, Don Diego bat.
!ed with the Pueblos, and finally, hav'
1S subdued them, he came g%allantly
nome; and, a strange thing! with hin
came Don Jose, alive and we'll! Being
.aken prisoner in the fight on the mes;
uel9re San Yldefonso, he had been car
tlea or into the mountains of the San
gre dc Christie and there held for neal
Two whole years. His was a dreary
Homecoming, for his promised bride
was welded to the holy church, and sc
Was lost to him utterly. There was ne
1Tssht or hope for him in the world at all
iefrlble was Don Jose's raging agony
~. last, in his fierce despair, he curset
IHe holy church for severipg him from
us love. But God was merciful to thu
;nner, and, instead of consuming hin
4! d moment of wrathful flame, sent t.
, num- a messenger of peace. That nigh
W. 'plessed Saint Francis appeared t
I'm IN a vision and told him that nj
H,ead sin would be pardoned, and even
AZ tne end, rest from his fierce sorrow
b SoGi1 be given him, if he would devot