St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-07-19
DOMINGO.

Father Gaspard was selected by
the father superior at Monterey to
carry a message to the Mission San
Iuan, 40 miles away. He was offered
horse to ride, but refused it, and
started on foot.
1t was May, the most delightful
month in the year, and Father Gas
pard, free from the restraint of the
mission, beguiled the way by singing
and soliloquIzing something after
this wise:
Indeed no. feel far safer on my
own legs than on the back OF an imp
ish bronco that plants his four feet
all together in one small spot and
humps his back like iend incarnate.
Did not | myself see the father
superiors face banch when he
mounted him to ride down the
coast ?"
Father Gaspard was strong and in
good health, barring threatened
obesity and a shortness OF leg, but
with the aid of a stout oakeu staff
he made good progress. A light re-
fiction at midday and short siesta
50 refreshed him that he almost
seemed to trot, so fast did the ups
aud downs of the mountain trail
under his feet.
He passed the night with herds
man, who shared with him his simple
fare, and in the morning, after giving
the man his blessing, proceeded on
his wav through the mountain pass
to the edge OF the Salinas river.
lucking his gown around his waist
and carrying his sandals in his hand,
be forded the stream in a shallow
place, mounted the bank, and drew
long breaths of delight at the view
before him.
The valley stretched leagues away
to the south, where the mountains
seemed to meet the sand dunes separ-
ating it from the sea on the west.
There were no land marks Of any
kind, not a tree, shrub or rock, only
an unbroken prairie OF verdure and
flowers, azure sky overhead and a
gentle breeze moving the grass.
The good father fastened on. Well
he knew that later in the day these
great Salinas plains were the very
nozzle OF the bellows through which
the trade winds swept, and toward
evening terror 20 travellers from the
fog that rolled in from the sea, envel-
oplng, drenching and bewildering
them, so it was folly to continue
their journey. They must stop where
they were until the next morning
when the welcome trade winds once
more arose and drove the fog away
in fantastic clouds over the noun
tainS.
1t was the good priests intention
to cross the plains aud reach the
ranch OF Don Manuel on the Gabilan
where he would pass the night sure
ota kindly welcome and good cheer.
But about noon, suffering from heat,
fatigue and the pangs OF hunger, he
bethought himself of a shepherd who
tended the sheep OF Don Manuel with
whom he had stopped once or twice
when overtaken by the fog and who
had the knack of frying trijoles deli
clously.
Yes, there to the right was the hut,
and short distance away the flock.
SO the priest turned from his course
and soon reached the shepherds hut.
he sat down on bench by the door
until he recovered his breath. Then
putting his hands to his mouth he
called loudly: Pedro! Oh, Pedro!"
The sheep were huddled together
ngroups, heads to the ground, their
woody backs resisting the heat OF the
sun. At his call some lifted their
heads, but the shepherd did not rise
rom his sleep on the ground, as
Father Gaspard expected. Instead
the black head of a shepherd dog lit
Ed itself on the further side OF the
hock. Then circling around it he
came bounding and leaping toward
tue priest. In reaching him he ran
around and around, barking, jump
ing and trying to lick his face.
Father Gaspard laughed and said;
is 1t thou, Domingo? This is cor
oial greeting, but where is thy mas
Ter Pedro? Is the sluggard asleep in
the grass?"
The dog showed all his teeth, and
oent himself almost double first one
S'oe' then the other, in the violent
wwaSs OF his tail. Heran little way,
'nen lay down and rested his head
vi MS paws an instant, then ran up
20 the priest again, emitting sharp,
qu'ck yelps. He repeated this again
ana again, but as the priest only
laughed the dog took hold of his
gown with his teeth, and, backing
vi, tried to pull him along.
Oh, well, then, come" said the
priest lndulgently, and followed the