Padre Peyri is one of the most picturesque figures in California's
mission history: the zeal he showed in calling his mission into
existence; the intensity of enthusiasm with which he labored for it; his
long career of usefulness; the love the neophytes had for him; his agony
at the ruthless destruction of the missions - too great for him to
endure, old and feeble as he then was growing; and his dramatic
departure, hastening away under cover of the night, to escape the
importunities of his devoted flock: all this had been pictured with
keen clearness in the old Indian's simple tale.

I thanked him for his story as he rose to go. Wishing me "adios" with
grave politeness, he walked slowly away, and left me to dream of the old
mission times, full of color and romance, which have given so much to
the present day, until the sun sinking behind the hills in the west
recalled me to myself and my surroundings.

I fear I shall never again see Pala; but I shall not forget its charm
and beauty, the quaint old campanario and near-by buildings, and, above
all, Antonio, the Indian, and his tale of mission life in the old days.



Father Zalvidea's Money



Father Zalvidea was in despair! After having lived for twenty years at
Mission San Gabriel, devoting himself all that time to bringing the
mission to a condition of so great size and wealth that it took its
place at the head of nearly all of the missions of Nueva California,