The Southern herald., 1900-02-02

happy. married, and soon were sur.
rounded by equally healthy, happy
children of their own, and to this sim
ple-hearted people, encouraged in the
idea no doubt by their jealous priest,
ali these blessings came from the
blessed child Jesus ard San Jose. his
father, before whom they, ostensibly
at least, bent the knee each day at
early morning mass.
But, equally singular TO state, while
the Acomans were enjoying this won
derful prosperity, the people in the
neighboring city Of Laguna, more mod
ern in its history, were having just
the very opposite experience. Every
thing seemed to so amiss with them
and neither Indian nor white mans
God smiled upon them. The difference
in the affairs of the two towns-only
II miles apart-could not long remain
unnOticed, and as the Lagunas talked
with the Acomans about il the latter
could not help attributing their un-
eXampled prosperity to the possession
of the magical San Jose and Holy Child.
When the Lagunas reached home the
whole matter was talked over again
and again, and finally a deputation OF
the city council, the most conservative
and honored men of the town, were sent
TO the city council of Acoma to beg
the favor of the loan of San Jose and
the Holy Child for little while, TO see
if their presence would not turn the
tide of misfortune that so long had
deluged them.
With good nature and the most fra.
| ternal of feelings the Acoma council
complied with the request of the La
guna delegation, and the picture glee-
fully was removed to its new tempo
rary home. Its presence did bring
the good fortune hoped for, and soon
there was great and glad rejoicing at
| the change that had come among the
/ crops, herds and families of the La
gunas. But, strange to say, the abb
sence of the picture made the Acomas
uneasy, and, more singular still, dur
| ing its absence some of their leading
men died and other disasters hap.
pened that made them anxious to get
the picture back as speedily as pos
sible. As soon as the time expired
for which the Lagunas had borrowed
it they returned it with the most sin
cere and profuse expressions Of
| thanks for the benefits its presence
had conferred upon them.
The Acomas received it with a jov-
full procession and high mass was es-
pecially celebrated to give solemn ex-
preston to their gladness.
] Laguna went back to its old and dis
astrous condition. A year or two
elapsed, and when Laguna came to
borrow San Jose and the Holy Child
again, the AcOmans generously gave
it up rs before for the benefit of their
suffering neighbors.
And now comes the war part.
When the time expired for its return
Laguna with one voice said: 1--WE will
not let it go. IL is good medicine 70
keep it and bad if it goes" When the
Acomans heard this they were for GO
ing to war Immediately, but the good
old priest persuaded them to submit
the matter to the courts, which, after
long trial, finally decreed the pic
ture belonged to Acoma and must in
stantly be returned thither. When
the Lagunas heard the decision they
took the picture and reared it against
tree half way between the two vii.
lagos, and there the Acomans found
it, and to this day they tell you how
San Jose started to walk to his home,
but grew tired and stopped to rest
and then they found him.
@. WHARTON JAMES.