The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-06-08
THE PADRES CATS.

Padre Mateo verdugo was the vener-
able priest in charge of an Indian mission
near the coast of California. The mission
is now a majestic ruin, and the race for
whose regeneration it was founded is
nearing extinction; but sixty years ago
Padre Mateo was the busiest man in the
world. There were the massive struct-
ures of adobe to be erected, neophytes to
instruct and discipline, infants to bap-
tie, hordes of hungry Indians TO feed
and funeral services to preach, for be-
fore the benighted savages could be
brought TO understand that the mission
was being established for the saving of
their souls they had sent many Chris
tian to join the army of the blessed
martyrs.
But when, after ten years of toll, the
buildings were completed, and the last
martyrs were buried, and the infants
were all regenerated, and the Indians
were pacified by gifts of trinkets and
clothes, time began to weigh rather
heavily upon the Jealous padre. He
heightened the services and sang mass
every day and performed all the cere-
monies of the church with scrupulous
exactness; he provided the mission with
cattle and sheep, and taught the Indians
to sow grain and to labor with tools, yet
there were long hours left unoccupied
and the priest was often lonely.
After the soldiers were removed to a
younger mission the PADRES parishioners,
with the exception of Gaudaloupe Cor
teo, the ancient sacristan, were all In
dians. Now, Gaudaloupe it must be
confessed, made but poor companion;
for, his work being done, he straightway
stretched his lank body upon bench be-
tween the great arches at the sunny side
of the building and went to sleep.
Years passed away. The mission pros
pered. The harvest of souls was bounti-
full, and where once had been an un-
broken solitude now uprose picturesque
Indian village, with houses built of reeds
or of adobe, and the winding streets all
leading up to the great gray pile on the
hill.
One morning, while the sacristan slept
on his bench, Padre Mateo sat outside his
door with big book ON his knees.
The rugged mountains were yelled in
miles of blue mist, but their snowy crests
shone in the sunlight. Upon the velvety
slopes of the foothills grazed cattle and
sheep. The wide, fertile valley was
bathed in golden light. Far off-a silver
line<Agleamed the Pacific ocean. The
village streets were deserted. Save the
droning of insects and the regular respi-
rations of the doing sacristan, not a
sound broke the stiffness.
The padre had almost fallen asleep,
when, hearing the patter of bare feet, he
looked up to see some dark skinned boys
carrying litter of kittens toward the
creek.
"Quel Quel" cried the padre, rubbing
his eyes. "Adonda va V? Would you
destroy the poor kittens?"
Isl, padre" replied one little Indian.
Para que?" questioned the priest.
"They are too many, padre, answered
the little Indian, poking his great toe in
the dust and looking longingly toward
the creek.
"But waitl The pretty thingsl They
have not yet beheld the light of day.
Give them to meI' cried the benignant
priest. "They shall not perish, for will
care for them myself. Are they not
| pretty my worthy Gaudaloupe? Open
thine eyes for an instant Seel are they
not pretty?"
Surely, had the sacristan foreseen the
consequences, he would have made re-
monstrance then, before the PADRES pas
sion strengthened; but, being sleepy and
selfish, Gaudaloupe only chuckled as he
settled himself for another nap, think.
ing, "Now that the reverend padre has
somewhat to amuse him, perchance
may be permitted to doze in peace"
One of the Inconvenience arising
from the adoption of family of cats is
the manner in which it is prone to in.
crease. At the end of the second year
Padre Mateo's cats were the bane of the
sacristan's life. Every day the priest
found it necessary to reprove Gaudaloupe
for some sad dereliction. Either he had moi
bathed Celestines sore eye, or the dose
of catnip tea for Antonio had been neg,
lected, or Christafus had been allowed
to scamper off before breakfast-for, be
it understood, each cat had high sound
ing name, and a place at the padres
table, and regularly partook of repas
three times a day.
Had Gaudaloupe not SO highly vener
ated the padres sacred calling, there
would surely have been an open rebel
lion; as it was, the sacristan had to con
tent himself with thinking his indigna
ton.
"Must l." thought he, with rising
spleen, 81, who am 7Oyears old and have
a stitch in my back-must /, besides
dusting the altar and ringing four heavy
bells aud tending the PADRES house
/ do obedience TO an army of yowlinl
cats? Es vergonzoso, indeed!'
Had he not feared the PADRES male
diction he would have murdered th,
creatures without compunction. He ever
gave up his morning nap, sitting witt
his little red eyes open and scowl OF
his wrinkled, yellow face, while he trieC
to devise a means Of ridding the worlC
of the pests. In vain he pondered. Tn
cats flourished, and the PADRES fondnes
increased, aud Gaudaloupe was scolde,
more frequently than ever. "Heart o
stone" the priest would exclaim
"Would you let them starve? am sur
you gave no milk to Carmina's new kit
tens this dayl and well you know she ha
not nourishment enough for them all
You shall do penance for your iniqui
tiesi"
"But, your excellency," the sacristal
would demonstrate with great humility
81 had no milk left after supplying tn
sick babe of the squaw who died las
week. Surely the kittens can wait"
L.AL-. !. - -