CHAPTER XVII
At Viamede, Chester's daily message by 'phone or telegraph was eagerlyawaited and greatly rejoiced over, as it reported steady improvement inLucilla's health, constant gaining in strength, and the new baby alsoin most flourishing condition. All wanted to see him; no one more thanGrace, who felt that the child of her beloved only own sister must andwould be very near and dear to her, while to the others he was fully asnear and dear as darling Baby Mary.
They would have returned home immediately but for the fact that Dr.Harold and his brother physicians considered it safer for both Graceand Ned to remain in the warmer climate until some day late in May.
The older Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore and the Oaks and Fairview families wenthome somewhat earlier, travelling by rail, but Mr. and Mrs. Lilburnaccepted an invitation to return in the _Dolphin_, as did GrandmaElsie; and, of course, Grace and Harold were to be passengers in her,making with Violet, her two children, and the captain himself quite aparty--much the same party that had come in her.
During these weeks of waiting they continued their pleasant littleexcursions by land and water and their sociable evening parties on theveranda, or out under the trees, generally enlivened by exhibitions ofCousin Ronald's ventriloquial skill, or made interesting by a bit ofhistory or some sort of story told by Captain Raymond.
On Sunday mornings they all attended church and heard a sermon by theirpastor, the Rev. Cyril Keith, and in the afternoon the colored peoplewere invited to assemble on the lawn, when the captain would give thema brief and plain discourse about the dear Lord Jesus and His dyinglove, making the way of salvation very clear and plain. They wouldhave prayer, too, and the singing of gospel hymns, the colored peoplejoining in with fervor and in many cases rich melody, having beautifulvoices.
In the evening the captain would catechise his own children, and therewould be religious conversation and the singing of hymns. They weresweet, peaceful, improving Sabbaths, enjoyable at the time and pleasantto look back upon. It was on a lovely morning in the latter part ofMay that they left beautiful Viamede and sailed away for their morenorthern homes, going with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow, for whocould leave Viamede or part with the dear relatives in that regionwithout regret? Or who could fail to rejoice in the prospect of soonseeing the sweet homes for which they were now bound and the tenderlyloved ones there?
Harold was very happy in the consciousness of being able to take bothGrace and Ned back to their home in almost perfect health, and verycareful was he to watch against any exposure for them to wind orweather that might result in the renewal of any of their ailments. Whenthe weather was bright, clear and not too cold he encouraged them to beon the deck in the bracing air, but in cloudy or damp weather insistedon their remaining below in saloon or stateroom.
At such times Grandma Elsie, Cousin Ronald or the captain would becalled upon to provide entertainment, and one or another was sure tocomply.
"Papa," said Elsie Raymond on one of these occasions, "I should like itvery much if you would give us a little history of Texas."
"If I should attempt to give you all its history it would be a verylong story," he said with a smile; "but I shall give a brief outlineand try to make it interesting, for I want you to have some knowledgeof the early history of each of our States.
"A colony of Frenchmen were the first whites who settled in Texas. Theywere led by La Salle. He meant to found a colony near the mouth of theMississippi, but by mistake entered Matagorda Bay, went five or sixmiles up the Lavaca, and there built Fort St. Louis. That was about theyear 1686. In the spring of the next year he was murdered by his men.They had been quarrelling and killing each other, and when the Indiansheard of the death of La Salle they attacked the fort and killed allthe men left but four, whom they carried into captivity. Some twoyears later a Spanish expedition sailed into Matagorda Bay, intendingto drive away the French, but found they were gone and their fortdestroyed. A few years afterward several settlements were made in thatState--what is now that State--by the Spaniards, but soon abandonedbecause of Indian hostilities.
"It seems that both the Spaniards and French considered the provincetheir own, though it did not really belong to either of them, forthe Indians were the rightful owners. In 1712, Louis XIV. of Francegranted it to Crozat, the man to whom he had granted Louisiana. Thatso alarmed the Spaniards in Mexico that they promptly made numeroussettlements in Texas, thinking in that way to secure the province forthemselves. The French tried to expel them, but did not succeed.
"Some years later four hundred families were sent by the SpanishGovernment from the Canary Isles to Texas, and joined there by othersfrom Mexico. These founded the city of San Antonio.
"For some time the Indians of Texas and Louisiana were verytroublesome, but in 1732 the Spaniards defeated them in a great battle,and so quieted them for some years.
"You know our Revolutionary War began in 1775. Spain declared waragainst England in 1779 and carried on active hostilities against theBritish on the Mississippi. Then a prosperous trade was carried onbetween the Spanish settlement of Natchez, in Mississippi, and theinterior of Texas, and became the means of making that province knownto the Americans.
"After the United States came into possession of Louisiana, a treatybetween them and Spain fixed the Sabine River as the eastern boundaryof Texas upon the gulf. West of that river was a tract called theNeutral Ground, occupied by bands of outlaws and desperate men, wholived by robbery and plunder. The Spanish authorities had tried toexpel them, but could not. Our government sent a force against them anddrove them away, but they came back and went on with their robberies.
"About that time a civil war was raging in Mexico, and that favoredthe plans of a man who wanted to conquer Texas to the Rio Grande andestablish a republican government. There was a good deal of fightingand much slaughter of both Americans and Spaniards, the latter beingvictors in the end; but I shall not go into particulars at this time,but leave you young people to read the whole sad story when you areolder. For years it was fighting, wounding, killing, the Mexicansmurdering many Americans in cold blood after they had surrendered asprisoners of war. But at last the independence of Texas was secured.And after a little she asked to be annexed to the United States, whichrequest was finally granted. By a joint resolution of Congress she wasannexed to the Union on February 28, 1845."
"She seceded in the time of the Civil War, did she not, papa?" askedGrace.
"Yes," he replied; "but was readmitted into the Union in March, 1870."
"Texas is a very big State, isn't it, papa?" asked Elsie.
"Yes, the largest of all our States," he replied; "and it has everyvariety of surface--plain, mountain, hill and desert. Its coast islined with a chain of low islands, forming a series of bays, lagoonsand sounds. There are a number of rivers, several of them very long;1800 miles is the length of the Rio Grande, which is the largest ofthem. It forms the southwestern boundary. There is a salt lake near it,from which large quantities of salt are taken every year."
"The climate is warm, is it not, papa?" asked Grace.
"Yes," he said; "it claims to be called the Italy of America. It hasa delightful, unwavering summer sea breeze and the nights are alwayscool enough to make a blanket acceptable, even when the day has beenoppressively hot. But now that surely is enough of that one State forto-day."
"Yes, papa, and many thanks to you for giving us so interesting anaccount," said Grace. Elsie and Ned added their thanks, then Elsie tookup a book, and Ned went to his berth for a nap.