The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-12

governor, Father Crespi and Father
Dumetz reflected how soon the counsel
and example of their Father Presi-
dente might again be in demand.
To render Governor Neve all the
honor to which his office entitled him.
Father Sierra decided that the recep.
ton should be in accordance with the
prescribed solemnities. He deemed
it important, too, for obvious reasons,
that the new military head of the
province be shown the happy results
which the Fathers had achieved at
the mission after an activity of only
six years. On Wednesday morning,
therefore, after Holy Mass, he inform
ed the neophytes that the kings new
representative would visit the mission
that afternoon and he requested them
to perform the various tasks he would
now assign to them. A word from
their beloved Padre sufficed to enlist
the interest of young and old, and
soon San Carlos Mission resembled a
bustling beehive on balmy summer
day. In the chapel, Father Crespi and
a number of boys were busy about the
altar and the sanctuary. With Igna-
clio and few older boys, Father Ser
ra was arranging the Fathers apart
ments. Without, in the courtyard, the
happy Indians under the direction of
the majordomo combined pleasure
with work. Armed with rake, pick
and shovel, the men were leveling the
path that led up to the chapel; and
along it at regular intervals they
were planting oak and willow saplings
fetched from the banks of the Car
melo. Setting up arches and hanging
festoons was left to the more artistic
taste of the women and girls. They
were as noisy about it as diligent;
and every now and then a shrek from
the woman at the mission gate, angri-
ly clamoring for more cedar sprigs,
would jar the ight-hearted laughter of
the careless urchins, intent on full
share in the fun, If not in the work;
while over all, like heavens benedic-
ton, the sweet, familiar strains of
the Alabado and other sacred hymns
resounded from the farther end of the
courtyard where Father Dumetz was
practicing with his boys choir. In
this way, the missionaries and their
responsive neophytes labored till al.
most noon, so that when the Angelus
bell rang and the Indians, after say,
ing their prayers, rushed to the pozo
lera to receive their well earned mid
| day ration, San Carlos Mission pre-
sented picture Of thrift and pros
perity that would have elected the ad
miration of the most Indifferent OBJ
| server.
Don Felipe de Neve would not have
been human if the homage paid him
on his first visit to San Carlos had
left him entirely unconscious of his
dignity and wholly devoid of kindly
feelings toward the missionaries, with
whom he should henceforth have te
deal. The group of Indians in holiday
1 attire advancing in procession up the
road to meet him and his escort; the
songs they sang on the way back tt
the mission; the elaborate tokens O.
heartfelt regard that met his gaze OF
passing through the mission gate; the
winning courtesy with which the Fa
Their Presidente at the chapel doc
offered him holy water and the cru
cifix; the tone of sincerity with which
in a few well chosen words he wei
coined the governor to his new fielt
of service for the spread of God
kingdom and the extension of tn
Spanish dominion; the fervent man
ner in which he and his confreres, &C
ccmpanied by a number of the sol
diers, chanted the TIE Deum, there
with bringing the ceremonies to
close-all this, it is needless to say
made deep and favorable impression
on the man for whom it was meant
Governor Neve was as delighted as b
was surprised. Nor did he fail to Civ
expression to his emotions in tn
short address he made from the char
ell steps. He thanked the mission
aries and their neophytes for the pain
they had taken on his account, CON
mended the progress the mission ha
made in the way of civilization, an
exhorted the Indians to co-operat
faithfully with the missionaries an
with him in order to realize for thei
own benefit the purpose which ha
brought the Spaniards to their cour
try.
Naturally, it never became known
barring few particulars of little mt
ment, what passed between the go,
ernor and the Father Presidente du1
ing the private consultation they helC
When the official and his party ha
left, however, and Father Sierra wa
alone with his two fellow missionaries
the latter felt justified in cencludin
from the happy demeanor of their ST
lperior that all would be we'll unde
the new management; and doubles:
before going to bed that night, the
both knelt down at the throne of D
vine Mercy and asked pardon for tn
unkindly and distrustful sentiment
they had given expression to, whe
first they heard that Don Felipe d
Neve had arrived as Governor Of Ca
ifornia. -Frnnciacon H.,,,d