Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-06
SANTOS BROTHER

Aoth sun 5uODe Dr1R1tly al0nC
Iooe-niils OF the Coast Range Under its genial
.hnuenes, millions OF tiny seeds expanded into life
- r'c'ceo the moist turf with their lancets
Oi"ud masses OF yesterday dipped behind the
=, raising here and there a bIlowy crest
Uo'eriook the valley which had been the scene of
suor grateful ministry. new life seemed m
nave oeen infused into the sluggish veins n, the
uyihs year. About the farm-houses neglected
ssaS uncared Tor during the long, dry summer
showed promise OF bud ana bloom stall
s' rancnmen. but yesterday idly resting from
harvest and vintage, wers already behind the
Poasn' opening deep, black burrows In orchard
"na vineyard The more prudent moved restlessly
eooue stable and workshop, getting out harrows
ana cultivators, sharpening plouyh-shares and
spsoes as they impatiently waited for the surplus
moisture 10 be absorbed before they upturned the
We cioos 70 the action OF the suns greedy rays
1'erytning In all the landscape was nstinct with
energy and new life.
Al things save two Down the road from the
oo missloc, where a low pile OF adobe buildings
sno cfumoling belfry sto q out in strange con-
ronnas, ,s sne )aunty modern dwellings that sur
,ounueu them, came two moving objects. Drawn
nearer they resolved themselves into a COW and
man. Unlike all other animate beings within
~ Ianse OF vision, these alone seemed possessed
OF no definite aim purpose Although long
iope was attached 10 the horns OF tue red cow and
sne man heid the end IN his hand, II DIM
cut 70 see which had the ascendency. The COW
wAlked lesurely from side side OF the road, ex-
aiming the scant heritage with languid satisfae-
eion- sometimes she stopped 20 niboIe dalntily at
dfied clump OF last springs vegetation; some
times she thrust her nose through the wire fence
az the roadside 70 NIP tOothsome peach or almond
bud, already swelling and disclosing touch OF
vivid pink; more frequently she strolled laZlly
down the middle OF the road, chewing the cud OF
her mornings meal with grim SATISFACTION: and
wherever the cow led the man followed.
AT length they came 10 a narrow lane, where an
oyernowed rrigating ditch evoked a generous crop
OF grass and dock the year round. TAN yum-trees
stood guard by the roadside and carpeted the
ground beneath them with great strips OF cinna-
mon-colOred bark. Here the cow fell eagerly 10
grazing, and the man sank listlessy down.
All day long they stayed there. Sometimes the
COW moved about In her search fo- succulent
morses, but the man scarcely shifted his position.
Passersby looked at him with varying sentiments
OF pity, curiosity or Indifference, but he never
needed them casual observer might have
thought him sleeping, but beneath the brfm OF
MS coarse straw hat his wide, dark eyes. liked
on the nils, told that his sense OF vision was
awake.
Reclining there, on q bark-covered bank, he pre-
sented a striking picture OF manly strength He
was large, with a Well-knit muscular figure. Lying
inert, motionIess, he looked like a torpid giant.
line sun crossed the meridian and slsnted down
upon the bank, searching out the strong, manly
features OF the sun-Ourned face, discovering lines
OF gold In the tawny beard falling Tull In the wide
brown eyes, which lazily bllnked and closed but
their owner neither turned his head pulled his
hst-erin forward for protection Had this slug
gish Hercules no sense OF shame at thought OF the
busy forces tOilng around him? Man and beast
tree and plant, were oil al work. He alone, OF all
creation. seemed content TO be an idler.
bend In the road A moment later there came in
hSnt oand OF merry children, returning from
santos brother! Hurranw
Now for some fuuI They tossed satchels and
Iunch-oaskeIs upon the ground and made ready
Tor rare sport.
'.Sit upr'
The man rose to sitting posture
Put your nnger In your mouth"
say MARY has little lamb"
Inc man complied without a protest.
dog" cried one merry boy.
Down upon all fours went the man
He simulated the growl of dog
Bark! 'oow-wow-wOwr
lie initiated the bark OF dog
NOW sit I'D and beg"
His attempt 10 accomplish this absurd canine
trick sent his torrnentors into fresh paToxysms OF
laughter.
Take on your shoes and stockings" was the
next command.
He unlaced MS shoes, and, removing them, dis
PLAYED pair OF large, shapely feet.
Vow get down and bark at the cow"
Again The man pasSlvely obey ed. During the
Nho!e of TINS extraordinary performance he had
not SMILED, nor had his expression changed in the
least degree. Ills wide brown eyes regarded the
children as calmly and with as little feeling as
they bad viewed the hills ali day. But now arose
a conflict OF authorities. Tae cow objected 10 the
proceedings and turned upon him In a meDaciny
manner, lowering her horns and making ready Tor
active resistance. For the first time the huge
fellow hesitated- and looked questioningly from
one TO the other.
would have resulted, Tor. while the man still |
oTouened upon the ground, lrresolute a buggy
dashed around the bend in the road and its 0c- |
eupant, taking In the Whole sceLe in a glance |
relned up before the MERRY group.
For shame, Manuel! Fur shame, Jose and Ce- |
lestine, and Johnnie, and ROOole and little Josefo
ana al the rest OF you! Do school, and church. |
and the good parents at home teach you, then, no
better lesson than 10 make mock and lest OF one
upon whom the hand OF God has been laid? r.,
on now-the whole pack or you! And when any
OF your playmates would amuse themselves at this
~Tl-f- a Iarf
have an account To settle with Father Nealr'
The children gathered up their baskets and
satchels In shameI:ced silence and troOped OF
down the road while Father Neal gazed after
them with d merry twinkle In his eve moved by a
half-hamorous sympathy, recalling. no doubt, the
lawIesS pranks OF his own boy hood. In spite OF
his forty years and the dignlned position 10
which he had attained he was Sill more layman
than priest Witness the handsome animal he
drove, as pretty piece Of horse flesh as could
be found In all the country, and not one TO bs
surpassed In speed oy any nag IN all the villages
about, as Father Neal had proved by sundry tests
OF speed upon The road Kumor had it that the
cratic priest had even been seen urging his
favorite around the racetrack, In the fair grounds
near by, one moonlight night. ON more t1an one
occasion he had been known 10 take a lady ouC 10
onve ne KEEP boat on The little lake close by,
ana oeNsnted ID pulling AN oar at daybreak
whence songs OF a sadly temporal nature
noated across the still waters and scandal
led the most pioQ5 OF his par1snoners, While the
less straitIaced were delighted. Il Is true tnat
lie 50 lar eOnIormed 70 the traditions OF the hoary
old mission, which was his especial charge as 10
wear the conventional sackcIOtn gown a mi h.mnen
girdle which had always been worn by the fathers
In charge, but this was by no means allowed 10
interfere with his mode OF iiie And as for cigars
and wine, the grocer al The corner, and the great
watts OF the old mission wine cellars could have
tod tales that would have startled the cOnmu-
nifty. These worldly procliylties had brought
Father Neal no end Of trouble with the heads of
the church The bishop OF his diocese In partlcu-
lar, q olgoted and ascetic old gentleman VINO
would have burned heretics at the stake had not
IL been for the danger of interference from the
laws OF the Land, had frequently called MS younger
brother 10 account, and on one occasion made MIN
the subject OF grave charges preferred before a
high council OF the church But, IN spite OF his
Irregularities as a clergyman, Father Neal was at
heart 80 excellent a man, unselfish In time OF
heed, 50 tender with the sick, 50 generous 70 the
POOR. 50 watchful OF the errlng, unreenttng
with eyfdcerS and so generally beloved among ali
his rOck, that the council compromised with the
BISHOP oy putting him upon sort OF indefinite
trouble Father Neal In the least, or hamper MS
accustomed freedom OF action.
.PVt on your shoes and stockings, Rafael or
dered the priest, not unkindly.
Without looking at the speaker, the man obeyed
Father Neal watched him curiously as he went in
dOlenLly about the task de knew that haa AZ NOT
been for his own forethOusht the young fellow
would that night have returned nome barefooted
he knew, too-as who In ali the valley did no,
knowf-tne history Of santos brother" The
santos family were quite above the rest OF the
Nsxlcans Of the valley. BY pluck and Thrift and
the accumulated Industry OF three generations
they had come into possession OF a goodly compe-
tence and owned hundreds or acres OF grain and
pasture land and well-tllled orchard and vineyard
Better still. they had ocJstrpped others Of their
race IN tlelr appreciation OF the advantages