The San Francisco call., 1910-04-23

land from the Mexicans, except to buy
it; and they gave us many leagues on
small payment. But what we pay for
is ours honestly and we should not
have to give it up"
Taxation without representation is
tyranny" shouted Lucian, struggling
from his mothers arms and assuming
a brave air That is what 1 said when
/ threw the Boston tea-that was
Pedro-into the harbor this afternoon"
Mrs. Elliott laughed at her sturdy
boy, but she warned him against the
practice of throwing boys into the
water and of playing such Yankee
games as the Boston tea party with
native Californian for the tea.
I'VE must be quiet and not war
like" said the good mother. Always
we should be that way, but now espe-
cially, when there is danger in the
air. We must do nothing to excite
the Mexicans, but must live in peace
with them"
Mrs. Elliott was already in dread of
the uprising of the Mexicans. The
story of the soldiers and their threats
as repeated to her graphically by her
little boy increased that fear. From
the old missionary priest who bare
footed tramped the valley from Indian
village to rancheria. the good woman
learned more of the bitterness of Gen
eral Castro and his associates, and
Governor Picos impending campaign
against the "gringoes."
But you are safe here" the old
priest would say. General Vallejo is
a good father to all of US and no harm
will come"
But Mrs. Elliott could not be quieted.
Her husband was in Monterey, where
he had gone to transact some business
with the government and the American
consul, Mr.. Larkin. He would be away
hi Ia.y
the Santa Clara valley. where General
Castro was gathering his forces.
In the Isolated little ranch in the
Sonoma valley, the mother longed for
the return of the father, He was to
arrive on June IA. On the night of
June 13 Mrs. Elliott went to bed light
hearted Her husband would be home
on the following day and nothing to
stir her fears had happened since the
passing of Lieutenant Arce.
She had been sleeping soundly when
she was aroused by the noise of many
horsemen in the field at the house. 1t
was dark, but through the chink in
the heavy shutters the woman could
see a party of about 80 armed men
watering their horses at spring.
Immediately she thought of Lieuten-
ant Arce. He and his troop had come
back to drive the Americans, the Yam
KEGS, out of the country. She and her
beds
AS yet the children had not been
awakened. Noiselessly the mother
crept to the corner of the room where
Lucien slept. Bending low she whis-
pered into his ear that he must awake.
Once before, when they were cross
ing the plans and the emigrant party
had been attacked at night by Indians,
Mrs. Elliott had aroused her son that
way. Then the 13 year old boy had
gone to the front with the men and
fought by the side of his father against
the Indians.
The mother feared q more hopeless
struggle now.
"The Mexicans are in the yard; they
have come to attack us; jump up, Lu-
cien" whispered the alarmed mother
But be still Rose is still asleep"
Lucien leaped from his bed and has
tened to the window He found a
chink in the shutters and leaning over
the adobe sill gazed silently at the as
sembled warriors in the yard 1t was
dark. All he could see in the starlight
was that they were mounted and
armed He clutched gun from the
rack.
Wen keep still mother, until they
start to attack us Then Wen fight
them. Be still and maybe they will
pass on"
The mother and son stood intently
watching the body Of men. They knew
not what moment an attack might be
made. But they would not invite it,
But there was Rose She moved
uneasily in her bed.
Suddenly her voice broke out filling
the room and causing the men in the
yard to swing their guns into position
Rose had started a song:
"Oh, say, can YOU see by the dawn's
early light
What so proudly we hailed in the
twihghts last gleaming?'
TO Ipe eOntinuedl