The Princeton union., 1890-11-20
Of Pedro's inaccuracies Of speech ran

us lOIlOWS. 'e
In the year 1777, when
the people of the eastern
part of America were fight
ing for independence, the Spaniards
had already settled on the Pacific
coast and founded several missions.
The fathers, with that devotion and
fearlessness which has charact erized
the priesthood in all ages, had pen
etrated far inland and made many
converts among the savages in the
interior as early as 1925.
Among the most Jealous and sue
cessful was Eather Pietro del Torra,
a man of great piety, and also as
social and genial q companion as
one could wish for. In the fall of
1777 Father Pietro had crossed the
Sierras and was preaching aud bap-
tizing among the Indians of Nevada
and Utah, He had passed the alkali
plains Of the Humboldt region and
the great Salt Lake, and late one
evening was was walking in Weber
Canon, when he came to a
wall of rock which barred his
passage. He determined, however,
to push on, and after labori-
ously climbing the hill he pursued
his way along the top. Soon he OBJ
served q gentleman dressed as a
Spanish cavalier of the day coming
toward him. Father Pietro was not
a little surprised to see white man
SO far from civilization;and in truth,
he was not sorry, for being, as we
have said, of a social disposition, he
| felt the lack of company sorely.
Therefore, when they met Father
Pietro smiled pleasantly and re-
marked:
"a lonely walk you are having,my
son.,
1T is reverend father, bnt is it not
likewise lonely for you, who travel
day after day unattended?''
Every lonely" answered Father
Pietro, with a sigh. Then brighten
ing up he added:
"Let ussup together; a crust with
pleasant companion is better than
a feast in Solitude
"You are right,' responded the
stranger. 'I myself can speak
knowingly of the misery of solitude.
/ am theproprietor of]arge furnaces,
and came here in search of fuel. I
became separated from my party,
and for the last two days I have been
wandering around in this vicinity;
luckily, I am indifferently we'll pro-
vided with food.'' AS he concluded
he sat down beside a large stone and
motioned Father Pietro to take a
seat opposite. He did so, and draw
ing from his wallet flask of water,
crust of black bread and an onion he
prepared to make his meal. His COM
panion laughed, and telling him to
| ''put away that pigs food,' pro-
| duced from under his cloak a loaf Of
fresh bread, a flask of brandy and
some Jumps of sugar and proposed
to commence the supper with a
health to the priest. Nothing 10th,
| Father Pietro substituted the fresh
| bread and spirits for his own hard
crust and water. AS he did so the
stranger remarked in a pitying tone:
"Poor food for a traveller, holy .fa-
ther; I marvel thatyour brethern do
not furnish you with better''
| Father Pietro sighed 1t was poor
food, the onion and black bread.
And what though the brotherhood
at the Mission Dolores were poor,
still they were rich in the mother
country, and men who worked as he
did escheWed better fare. AS the
brandy rose to his brain the demon
Of discomfort rose in his heart.
"Bread without meat is but dry
eating" said the stranger, and ex-
tending his hand beneath the stone,
he drew ap IL pair OF plump par
tridges, smoking hot, rs from a. grid
iron. Father Pietro was surprised
ut first, but the brandy had given
him Il feeling of rccklessness entirely
unknown to his sober senses. So he
ate and joked with his strange enter
tainer, and was is no way surprised
when he drew a couple of bottles OF
wine and some delicious fruit from
the same strange ldrdcr. After much
general conversation, in the course
of which the stranger had expressed
a high a admiration for Father Pietro's g
zeal and learning, he said carelessly:
"You are we'll acquainted with this
part of the country, presume, re,
verend father?" --..-, -,..
Il have Travelled through it several
years." was the prompt answer.
! Chow would you like to leave the
| priesthood and become my agent?
The work is easy, the payis liberal,
and you will be provided with a
warm home after you have done
For, by my faith, it pains me to my
heart to see a man of your talents
and learning working for q beggarly
monastery, half clothed and worse
fed. Come with me and this will be
changed" ...
81 could not leave the brother.
hood" answered Father Pietro.
4 Then followed a long ar sument be-
tween them; the stranger usingevery
argument in his power, promising
untold wealth, O life of ease and the
qualification of every passion. The
good father persistently refused
At last the stranger rose, and rolling
away the rock. showed Father PietrC