CHAPTER IV
A QUEER WINTER
Christmas and New Year's brought a mad whirl. All that could, came infrom the mines. The streets were thronged. Banjo and guitar werethrummed to the songs and choruses of the day, and even the accordionnotes floated out on the air, now soft and pathetic with "AnnieLaurie", "Home, Sweet Home," and "There's Nae Luck About the House,""The Girl I Left Behind Me," or a jolly song from fine male voices.Then there were balls, and a great masquerade, until it seemed as ifthere was nothing to life but pleasure.
Miss Gaines came in with some of the stories. But the most delightfulwere those of the three little Estenega girls about the Christmas eveat the church and the little child Jesus in the cradle, the wise menbringing their gifts, the small plain chapel dressed with greens andflowers in Vallejo Street. Laverne had not been brought up toChristmas services and at first was quite shocked. But the child'sheart warmed to the thought, and Miss Holmes read the simple story ofBethlehem in Judea, that touched her immeasurably.
And then there seemed a curious awakening of spring. Flowers sprang upand bloomed as if the rain had a magic that it scattered with everydrop. The atmosphere had a startling transparency. There were theblue slopes of Tamalpais, and far away in the San Matteo Range theredwood trees stood up in their magnificence. Out through the GoldenGate one could discern the Farallones forty miles away. The very airwas full of exhilarating balm, and the wild oats sprang up in thenight, it seemed, and nodded their lucent green heads on slenderstems. And the wild poppies in gorgeous colors, though great patcheswere of an intense yellow like a field of the cloth of gold.
Sometimes Jason Chadsey of a Sunday, the only leisure time he couldfind to devote to her, took his little girl out oceanward. There werethe seals disporting themselves, there were flocks of ducks andgrebes, gulls innumerable, and everything that could float or fly.Ships afar off, with masts and sails visible as if indeed they werebeing submerged. What stores they brought from the Orient! Spices andsilks, and all manner of queer things. And the others coming up fromthe Pacific Coast, where there were old towns dotted all along.
Or they took the bayside with its circle of hills, its far-offmountains, its dots of cities yet to be. Angel Island and Yerba Buenawhere the first settlement was made, growing so slowly that in tenyears not more than twenty or thirty houses lined the beach. Or theyboarded the various small steamers, plying across or up and down thebay. Miss Holmes did object somewhat to this form of Sundayentertainment. There was always a motley assemblage, and often roughlanguage. Men who had come from decent homes and proper trainingseemed to lay it aside in the rush and excitement. Yet that therewere many fine, earnest, strong men among those early emigrants wasmost true; men who saw the grand possibilities of this western coastas no eastern stay-at-home could.
Was the old legend true that some mighty cataclysm had rent the rocksapart and the rivers that had flowed into the bay found an outlet tothe sea? Up at the northern end was San Pablo Bay into which emptiedthe Sacramento and its tributaries, and a beautiful fertile countryspreading out in a series of brilliant pictures, which was to be thehome of thousands later on.
And from here one had a fine view of the city, fast rising intoprominence on its many hills as it lay basking in the brilliantsunshine. Irregular and full of small green glens which now had burstinto luxuriant herbage and were glowing with gayest bloom, anddiversified with low shrubbery; then from the middle down great beltsof timber at intervals, but that portion of the city best known nowwas from Yerba Buena Cove, from North Beach to Mission Cove. Alreadyit was thriving, and buildings sprang up every day as if by magic, andthe busy people breathed an enchanted air that incited them topurposes that would have been called wildest dreams at the sober East.
The little girl looked out on the changeful picture and held tight toher uncle's hand as the throngs from all parts of the world, and instrange attire, passed and repassed her, giving now and then a sharpglance which brought the bright color to her face. For the Spanishfamilies kept their little girls under close supervision, as theywent decorously to and from church on Sunday; the dirty, forlornIndian and half-breed children hardly attracted a moment's notice,except to be kicked or cuffed out of the way. More than one manglanced at Jason Chadsey with envious eyes, and remembered a littlegirl at home for whom he was striving to make a fortune.
Jason Chadsey did not enjoy the crowd, though the sails to and fro hadbeen so delightful. Miss Holmes was shocked at the enormity ofSabbath-breaking.
"There is no other day," he said, in apology. "I shouldn't like you togo alone on a week-day, the rabble would be quite as bad."
She sighed, thinking of orderly Boston and its church-going people.Not but what churches flourished here, new as the place was, and theready giving of the people was a great surprise to one who had beeninterested, even taken part in providing money for various religiouswants. It was a great mystery to her that there should be so manysides to human nature.
"I wonder if you would like a pony?" he asked of the little girl, asthey were picking their way up the irregularities of the pavement orwhere there was no pavement at all.
"A pony?" There was a dubious expression in the child's face, and arather amazed look in her eyes. "But--I don't know how to ride,"hesitatingly.
"You could learn," and he smiled.
"But a horse is so large, and looks at you so--so curiously--I think Ido feel a little bit afraid," she admitted, with a flush.
"Oh, I mean just a nice little pony that you could hug if you wantedto. And I guess I could teach you to ride. Then we could have nicelong journeys about. There are so many beautiful places and suchfields and fields of wild flowers. You cannot walk everywhere. And Ihave not money enough to buy a boat of my own," with a humorous smile.
"I suppose a boat does cost a good deal," she returned thoughtfully."I love to be on the water. Though at first I was afraid, and whenthat dreadful storm came. A ship is a queer thing, isn't it? One wouldthink with all the people and all the cargo it must sink. I don't see_how_ it keeps up," and her face settled into lines of perplexity,even her sweet mouth betraying it.
"That is in the building. You couldn't understand now."
"Do you know who made the first ship?"
He laughed then. He had such a hearty, jolly laugh, though he had beentossed about the world so much.
She had a mind to be a little offended. "It isn't in the geography,"she said, with dignity. "And Columbus knew all about ships.
"Yes, we can go back of Columbus. The first one I ever really heardabout was Noah's Ark."
"Oh, Noah's Ark! I never thought of that!" She laughed then, and thelines went out of her face. "I'm glad we didn't have a deluge on ourlong journey. And think of all the animals on board! Was the wholeworld drowned out?"
"I believe that has never been satisfactorily settled. And longbefore the time of Christ there were maritime nations----"
"Maritime?" she interrupted.
"Sailors, vessels, traders. The old Phoenicians and the nationsbordering on the Mediterranean Sea. Though they went outside thepillars of Hercules, and there were seamen on the Asian side of theworld."
"Oh, dear, how much there is for me to learn," and she drew a longbreath. "And they thought I was real smart in our little old school.But I could spell almost everything."
"There are years in which you can learn it," he said encouragingly.
"And you have been almost everywhere." There was a note of admirationin her voice. "The stories were so wonderful when you told them onshipboard. I didn't half understand them then because I didn't thinkthe world could be such a great place, so you must tell them over tome."
"Yes. And some day you may go the rest of the way round the world.You've been nearly half round it and you are still in America."
They paused at the little cottage. Bruno, the great dog, lay on thedoorstep, but he rose and shook himself, and put his nose in thelittle girl's hand.
She had been rather afraid of him at first. Eve
n now when he gave alow growl at some tramp prowling round it sent a shiver down herspine. But he was a very peaceable fellow and now devoted to his newmistress.
Miss Holmes prepared the supper. She had a fondness for housekeeping,and this life seemed idyllic to her. The old weariness of heart andbrain had vanished. Miss Gaines told her she looked five years youngerand that it would not take her long to go back to twenty. Miss Gaineshad made some charming new friends and did not always spend Sundaywith them.
Laverne wiped the dishes for Miss Holmes. Jason Chadsey lighted hispipe, and strolled uptown.
"I wish you would read all about Noah's ark to me," Laverne said, andMiss Holmes sat down by the lamp.
The child had many new thoughts about it at this time.
"People must have been very wicked then if there were not ten goodones. There are more than that now," confidently.
"But the world will never be drowned again. We have that promise."
"Only it is to be burned up. And that will be dreadful, too. Do yousuppose--the people will be--burned?" hesitating awesomely.
"Oh, no, no! Don't think of that, child."
"I wonder why they saved so many horrid animals? Did you ever see atiger and a lion?"
"Oh, yes, at a menagerie."
"Tell me about it."
She had an insatiable desire for stories, this little girl, and pickedup much knowledge that way. Miss Holmes taught her, for there was nonearby school.
She made friends with the Estenega girls, though at first theirmother, with true Spanish reticence and pride held aloof, but interestin her children's welfare and a half fear of the Americanos, besidethe frankness of the little girl induced her to walk in theirdirection one day, and in a shaded nook she found Miss Holmes and hercharge. Perhaps the truth was that Senora Estenega had many lonelyhours. Friends and relatives were dead or had gone away, for there hadbeen no little friction when California was added to the grasping"States." When she could sell her old homestead she meant to remove toMonterey, which at this period was not quite so overrun withAmericanos. But she had been born here, and her happy childhood wasconnected with so many favorite haunts. Here she had been wedded, herchildren born, in the closed room where there was a little altar herhusband had died, and she kept commemorative services onanniversaries. And then no one had offered to buy the place--it wasout of the business part, and though the town might stretch downthere, it had shown no symptoms as yet.
Miss Holmes was reading and Laverne sewing. She had taken a decidedfancy to this feminine branch of learning, and was hemming ruffles fora white apron. Her mother had taught her long ago, when it had been avery tiresome process. But the Estenega girls made lace andembroidered.
Laverne sprang up. "It is Carmen's mother," she said. Then she glancedup at the visitor, with her lace mantilla thrown over her high comb,her black hair in precise little curls, each side of her face, and hereyes rather severe but not really unpleasant.
"I do not know how you say it," and she flushed with embarrassment."It is not Madame or Mrs.----"
"Senora," answered the Spanish woman, her face softening under theappealing eyes of the child.
Then Laverne performed the introduction with an ease hardly expectedin a child. Miss Holmes rose.
"I am very glad to meet you. I was deciding to come to ask about thechildren. Laverne is often lonely and would like playmates. And she ispicking up many Spanish words. You understand English."
"Somewhat. It is of necessity. These new people have possessed ourcountry and you cannot always trust servants to interpret. Yes, thechildren. I have a little fear. They are Catholics. Carmencita will goto the convent next year for her education. And I should not wanttheir faith tampered with."
"Oh, no," Miss Holmes responded cheerfully. "You know we havedifferent kinds of faith and yet agree as friends." And glancing atLaverne she almost smiled. These Spanish children would be much morelikely to convert her to their faith. Would her uncle mind, shewondered? He seemed to think they all stood on the same foundation.
"You have not been here long?" and there was more assertion thaninquiry in the tone.
"No," returned the younger woman. And then she told a part of herstory, how she had come from the east, the Atlantic coast, and thatshe was governess to the child, and housekeeper. "Did the Senora knowa family by the name of Vanegas?"
"Ah, yes, they were old friends. Two daughters, admirable girls,devoted to their mother, who had suffered much and whose husband hadmade away with most of the estates. There was an American lady in herhouse, she rented two rooms."
"A friend of mine. She came from the same place, and we have knowneach other from girlhood."
Then the ice was broken, and Miss Holmes in a certain manner wasvouched for, which rather amused her, yet she accepted the Spanishwoman's pride. Many of them felt as if they had been banished fromtheir own land by these usurpers. Others accepted the new order ofthings, and joined heart and soul in the advancement of the place, theadvancement of their own fortunes also. But these were mostly men. Theprejudice of the women died harder.
The children were in a group at one of the little hillocks, muchamused it would seem by their laughter. And the two women patched up abit of friendship which they both needed, seeing they were nearneighbors, and interested in the education of young people, MissHolmes listened to what the elder woman said and did not contradict orcall the ideas old-fashioned. After all it was very like some of herold grandmother's strictures, and she was a staunch Puritan. Whatwould she have said to women who had not yet reached middle life, andhad planned to go to a strange land to seek their fortunes!
The Senora was so well satisfied that she asked Miss Holmes to comeand take coffee and sweetmeats with her the next afternoon.
Oh, how lovely the hills and vales were as they wandered homeward. Fornow it was the time of growth and bloom and such sweetness in the airthat Marian Holmes thought of the gales of Araby the blest. Truly itwas an enchanted land. The birds were filling the air with melody,here and there a farmer or gardener, for there was fine cultivatedlands about the foothills, and even higher up there were great patchesof green where some one would reap a harvest, garden stuff waving orrunning about rich with melon blooms, here the blue of the wildforget-me-nots and the lupines. And further on flocks of sheepnibbling the tufts of grass or alfalfa. Some one was singing a song, arich, young voice:
"Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me, I'm goin' to California with my banjo on my knee."
Here and there in a clump of trees was a dark shadow, and the longslant rays betokened the coming of evening. It gave one a luxuriousemotion, as if here was the true flavor of life.
Miss Holmes was feeling a little sorry for those swept off of theirown land, as it were.
"What have they been doing with it these hundreds of years?" askedJason Chadsey. "Even the Indians they have pretended to educate arelittle better off for their civilization. And think how the gold layuntouched in the hills! Spain still has the Philippines with all hertreasures."
It rained the next morning with a musical patter on everything, andlittle rivulets ran down the steps. Then it suddenly lighted up andall San Francisco was glorified. Pablo, an old Mexican, came to workin the little garden patch. Laverne said her lessons, then went out tofind her squirrels and talk to her birds who came to enjoy the repastof crumbs, and then went hunting bugs and worms for their importunatebabies. And at last they were making ready for their walk.
"It is nice to go out visiting," Laverne said, as she danced along,for the sunshine and the magnetic air had gotten into the child'sfeet. "We have been nowhere but at Mrs. Dawson's."
"And Miss Gaines."
"Oh, that isn't really visiting. Just a little cake and fruit on aplate. And now she is so busy she can hardly look at you. I wish welived farther up in the town. Don't you think Uncle Jason would moveif you said you did not like it here?"
"But I do like it. And there are so many dreadful things happening allabout the town. And
we might be burned out."
"Well, I am glad of the Estenegas, anyhow."
The old place was like some of the other old homes going to decay now,but it was so embowered with vines that one hardly noted it. Thechimney had partly fallen in, the end of the porch roof was propped upby a pile of stones. But the great veranda was a room in itself, withits adobe floor washed clean, and the big jars of bloom disposedaround, the wicker chairs, the piles of cushions, and the low seatsfor the children. Little tables stood about with work, many of thewomen were very industrious, the mothers thinking of possibletrousseaus, when laces and fine drawn work would be needed. Carmencitahad her cushion on her knees, and her slim fingers carried the threadover the pins in and out, in a fashion that mystified Laverne.
"It's like the labyrinth," she said.
"What was that?" glancing up.
"Why, a place that was full of all kinds of queer passages and you didnot know how to get out unless you took a bit of thread and wound itup when you came back."
"But I know where I am going. Now, this is round the edge of a leaf. Ileave that little place for a loop, and then I come back so. TheSenorita Felicia makes beautiful lace for customers. But mine will befor myself when I am married."
"But I thought--you were going to a convent," said Laverne, wide-eyed.
"So I am. But that will be for education, accomplishments. And thereare more Spanish men there," lowering her voice, "more lovers. PepitoMartinez, who lived in the other end of the old place, down there,"nodding her head southward, "found a splendid lover and was married inthe chapel. Her mother went on to live with her. They had notroublesome house to sell," and she sighed.
"Juana," exclaimed the mother, "get thy guitar. The guests may likesome music."
Juana rose obediently. She, too, was older than Laverne, but Anestayounger. She seated herself on one of the low stools, and passed abroad scarlet ribbon about her neck, which made her look verypicturesque. And she played well, indeed, for such a child. Then shesang several little songs in a soft, extremely youthful voice. MissHolmes was much interested.
The children were sent to play. There was a little pond with severaltame herons, there were two great cages of mocking birds that sang andwhistled to the discomfiture of the brilliant green and scarletparrot. The children ran races in the walk bordered with wild olivetrees on the one side, and on the other a great tangle of flowers,with the most beautiful roses Laverne had ever seen, and hundreds ofthem.
"Oh, I should like to live here," declared Laverne.
"Then ask thy uncle to buy. The Americanos have money in plenty. Andsee here. It is my tame stork. His leg was broken so he could not fly.Diego bound it up and he staid here. But when he sees a gun he dashesaway and hides."
He had a number of amusing tricks, but he eyed the strange little girlsuspiciously and would not let her come too near.
They went back to the house and swung in the hammock, talking brokenEnglish and Spanish and laughing merrily over the blunders. Carmencitaput away her lace and began to prepare two of the small tables,spreading over each a beautiful cloth.
Miss Holmes had been taken through the apartments. There were three onthe lower floor, the kitchen being detached. The walls were a darkfaded red, the windows small, with odd little panes of glass. Therewas some fine old furniture, and a rug soft as velvet on the floorthat long ago had crossed the ocean. Family portraits were hung highon the wall, and looked down frowningly, the brilliancy of theirgarments faded and tarnished, but Miss Holmes noted that they weremostly all military men. In the next room were several portraits ofthe priests of the family, and hideous copies of the old Madonnas. Inthis room a high cabinet of wonderful carving, filled with curios andone shelf of books. The third was evidently a sitting and sleepingchamber, with a spindle-post bedstead and canopy of faded yellow silk,edged with old lace; while the bedspread in its marvellous handiworkwould have filled a connoisseur with envy. For two hundred years ormore there had been Estenegas here, and then the old part, now fallendown, had its ballroom and its long dining room where banquets andwedding feasts had been given.
"There is another branch of the family at Santa Margarita who have notfallen into decay as we have, and as many old families do. I dare saythey would be glad to have some of the heirlooms. They have young men,and it would be but right that they should propose to marry one of mydaughters."
Carmen summoned her mother and the guest. The tables were daintilyarranged with fruit and custards, some sweet fried cakes and breadcovered with a sort of jelly compound that was very appetizing, withsome shredded cold chicken highly spiced. For drink, tea for theelders, but fruit juice made of orange and berries for the youngpeople. Carmencita was at the table with her mother, the three otherstogether, and they had a merry time.
The Senora and the children walked part of the way with them. MissHolmes had proposed that they should come up in the morning forlessons with Laverne. The distance to the Sisters' school was toogreat, and now one dreaded to send young girls through the new part ofthe town.
"It was very nice," declared Laverne, "only I think I like the littleMaine girls better. They understand more quickly, and they have somany thoughts about everything, while you have to explain continuallyas you talk to these children."
"Perhaps it is because they do not understand the language," said MissHolmes.