Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

N RHYTHM their long low lines, their
-, slow curves, their warm hueS of buff
~ and brown forever goldenng and
darkening under the passing hours
Carnela like the lizards and the meadow larks, found
the old graveyard kindly place to tarry in for every
day. the fields that stretched between the ruined
old mission and her low adobe house under the syca
mores by the arroyo-the fields that sometimes
maze of shoulder high wild mustard, sometimes airy
thcket of whispering wild oats, sometimes tange of
blazing solderng purple or scarlet or amber or azure
the hosts of wild flowers possessed them IN tuTn-
every day. whatever the she came faithfully to
the little graves Indian Carmela the wife of Tobaito,
who head shepherd of Don Patncio's great Santa
Margarita Rancho.
Carmela did not need to have the names inscribed
above the little graves. Well she remembered the his
tory of each small mound that broke the slant of the
fowery hillside. And well she knew the Ginning any
of the of the little sisters resting there: Rosario
Tuta, Juaquina Mariana, Pepita-these were the
of her beloved nas lying under the flowers her
five little girls, of whom had stayed with her two
years.
ais in the tiny white coffin which Esteban Mendoza of
La Puente always rented in turn the gravesde for the
mnerttos of San Luis Rey Others had forgotten; but
every day Carnea each little child as if it
among the flowers alive the larks whose yellow breasts
Splashed the "faree.''
Rosario the oldest, would have been ten if she
had gone. She would be tall girl up to her mothers
elbow her hair hanging in long shining braids And such
pretty ways Rosario would have, always smile and
little busy dimpes! She would look shyly up at you as
YOU spoke, casting her eyes down timidly when she
answered in delicate the echo of the altar bell
Rosario would 60 to the American school down at the
town OF the Doom, Wnere daily CnaC happy teaCneT
had little boys and girls clustered about her And
Rosario would read in the American books, and by and
by she should have little thick black prayer book
church instead of rosary and she would write letters
down to Carmela uncle in Mexico And Rosario would
be preparing for her first communion, when she
should have long white dress and wreath of white
artificial flowers on her head. Not pretter, better
child would kneel at Our Lady's altar that happy day
than little smiling RoSaria.
Tuta, eight years DID, would be shorter and stouter
than Rosario, and not gentle. Tulita mia
who must have her will; but she too good
child.
Mariana, Juaquina, Pepta-ike the steps leading
down the bank of the arroyo would be their height
Pepita the last baby, whom Carmela and big sister
Rosario would long have carried swung in the reboSo
would be saying little baby words and running
everywhere, chasing the chickens and the ducks and
venurng too the goat Rosario and all the other
little girls would have to watch vgilany to keep the
little toddng feet of Pepa out of the waerof the arroyo
San Luis could forget when the grave closed the
little faces Always sharply than the old reproach
of being childless woman was borne upon Carmelas
spirit the stigma of being with whom God
would not let His little remain.
Her tears and signs had often made sad the little
adobe house behind the bank of scarlet geraniums.
Tobaito had married her as smiling, round faced
maiden with flower above her and light
foot ready for fandango. Now the smiles more,
and Carnela cared not for friends pleasure. Truly,
Tobahto had grown weary of her mourning and her
memories!
At first he would say suleny trying in his dull way to
comfort her, 1t is God who gave Them the naas Let
Him have them back, if so He plays the game"
No, MOI! Carmela would protest 1.-THE good God
had need of them to be happy here 1t that somehow
l did not help their guardian angels to hold them
EARTH God would not His time to send them
only to them lie in their little graves in the
Campo SantO.'
Then Tobalito would mutter, rolling his cigarette,
"Give Him His way. 1t is easier to not. Then He
cannot hurt you