The herald., 1896-02-02
IN TIE OLD DAYS
Observation-Disclosures
BY ALICE ROLLINS CRANE

In the old days, long ago, when the
q wer-scented wi DIS whired throu /
be alleys Of California and at sventid,
arrisd with I he m the sound of the IAN
se -" When, as the sunset fell, the sweet
uotes of the guitar, picked by TIE
taper fiusers OF dark-eyed beauties
Tiled the air with a music, which was
,nly equ4lsd by the psrfu ne o. the
ossng- blossom. When? The answer
comes-whsn the CALIFORNIA; were a
Spanish possession and when the good
id p ,dr-S rulei suprsI~e over ri,e
Of naughty C4stiiiaus and dark hued
niians, wnose only though were the
precepts of the uhurch AMI the graut
ing of no Sptali'y TO every stranger
Who happened within their borders.
Legend runs back, back three hundred
years, and one instance is recalled
which TOOK place at the Old San DECO
mission. 1t is many years ago, yet To
some this little incident may be of
value.
Ons day, white winged sailer OF he
deep. entered S4u Diego harbor. She
WAS unlocked for, blt yet. her arrival
WAS welcome, AS bringing news from
that outaide world, so far away. The
captain of The ship WAS entertained
royalty, by thu p<dres of the mission,
AMI IA. reciproc ated in every way with
in his power. A multitude of ducks
in those days, fed and flew, over the
bay of San Diego and the different
streams which emptieu into it. The
captain of the snip WAS su ardent
deyotee of sport, hut after having shot
ducks to lis h arts content and one
evening beiug entertained ut the mis-
sion, he remarked upon the number of
tame geese he padres owned.
They denied own ng any and thu
sailor seemed to thiuk that strange,
because while following mp his dnck,
he had come across great tlocks of
geese, which, from their apparent tame
nes-, he had hesi'ated TO fire at, and
gone farhe after the duck, which had
flown beyond
mot goose do we own said one of
the padres, and an Indian convert who
was present. hearing what was said, re-
spouded by saying, Good fathers, you
shall have geese with which to produce
tame ones, and geese galore"
The good fathers smiled patronizingly
upon the Indians enthusiasm and
shrugged their shoulders as he disap-
peared in the darkness.
The Indian, however, immeda lately re-
paired 70 bis nut, and taking his bows
and arrows went to the nearest pond
and shot a goose. The skin of this he
took off aud dried. The Indian in h
innermost soul reasoned right. He
thought if the wild geese could he
caught and their offs pring domesti-
Gated, all would be we'll and the good
fathers provided. He went that night
to the borders of pool, few hours
before dawn, clad only in his headgear
of gooseskin, and having around his
waist belt to which was attached
many buckskin thongs. The moon
still shown Respondent in the skies,
AMI through tn great calm which
everyu here surrounded him, he grad u
ally sank his body into the depths of
the pond until only his head, COW red
with the masque of goose, appeared
above it.
Imperceotibly he approached the
nearest flock of geese, who, under their
leader, we're reposing gently upon the
sorface of the pond, and responding
with few somnolent quacks. Quickly
aud efficiently he attached the thongs
or his belt to the unsuspecfing feet of
his new-found friends 1t vas hard
work; here and there wonld be g pro-
lonRed qlack and struggle, but the In
dian persevered One hundred and
fifty geese had be tied to his grill and
was thinking of the gratitude of the
padres when the sun rose. Standing
upright the Indian took off his head
gear and disclosed himself 'a man"
This Nas enough for the geese; they
rose and flaw away, and alas! they took
the poor Indian with than. His weight
could not resist the uplifting power of
their wings and through the perfumed
air of early morn he Disappeared
M geese had the padra, and no In
dian servitor returned. The captain
in his white-winged ship sailed away,
and the angelus bell, while calling to
prayer, prouounces the requiem o. the
lost Indian