terest to
you, senor, is the knowledge that Fray Antonio has gained of our native
Indians during his ministrations among them. It is the dearest wish of
his heart to carry to these heathen souls the saving grace of
Christianity, and for the accomplishment of this good purpose he makes
many journeys into the mountains; ministering in the chapels which his
zeal has founded in the Indian towns, and striving earnestly by his
preaching of God's word to bring these far-wandered sheep into the
Christian fold. Very often his life has been in most imminent peril, for
the idolatrous priests of the mountain tribes hate him with a most
bitter hatred because of the inroads which his mild creed is making upon
the cruel creed which they uphold. Yet is he careless of the danger to
which he exposes himself; and there be those who believe, such is the
temerity with which he manifests his zeal, that he rather seeks than
shuns a martyr's crown."

Again Don Rafael paused, and again was it evident that deep feelings
moved him as he spoke of the holy life of this most holy man. "You will
thus understand, senor," he went on, "that Fray Antonio of all men is
best fitted by his knowledge of the ways of these mountain Indians to
advise you touching your going among them and studying them. You cannot
do better than confer with him at once. It is but a step to the church
of San Francisco. Let us go."

What Don Rafael had said had opened new horizons to me, and I was
stirred by strange feelings as we passed out together from the shady
silence of the Museo into the bright silence of the streets: for Morelia
is a quiet city, wherein at all times is gentleness and rest. For
priests in general, and for Mexican priests in particular, I had
entertained always a profound contempt; but now, from an impartial
source, I had heard of a Mexican priest whose life-springs seemed to be
the soul-stirring impulses of the thirteenth century; who was devoted in
soul and in body to the service of God and of his fellow-men; in whom,
in a word, the seraphic spirit of St. Francis of Assisi seemed to live
again. But by this way coming to such tangible evidence of the survival
in the present time of forces which were born into the world six hundred
years ago, my thoughts took a natural turn to my own especial interests;
and, by perhaps not over-strong analogy, I reasoned that if this monk
still lived so closely to the letter and to the spirit of the Rule that
St. Francis,