the place where my work was laid. I was soon advised
concerning this by those in authority over me. And since they could not
change me and I could them, yet wished to work and to teach, the New
World was suggested, and I volunteered to give the rest of my life to
missions. It was soon found that some one was needed here, and for this
little place I sailed, and to these humble people I have dedicated my
service. They are pastoral creatures of the soil. Their vineyard and
cattle days are apt to be like the sun and storm around them--strong
alike in their evil and in their good. All their years they live
as children--children with men's passions given to them like deadly
weapons, unable to measure the harm their impulses may bring. Hence,
even in their crimes, their hearts will generally open soon to the one
great key of love, while civilization makes locks which that key cannot
always fit at the first turn. And coming to know this," said Padre
Ignacio, fixing his eyes steadily upon Gaston, "you will understand
how great a privilege it is to help such people, and how the sense
of something accomplished--under God--should bring Contentment with
Renunciation."

"Yes," said Gaston Villere. Then, thinking of himself, "I can understand
it in a man like you."

"Do not speak of me at all!" exclaimed the Padre, almost passionately.
"But pray Heaven that you may find the thing yourself some
day--Contentment with Renunciation--and never let it go."

"Amen!" said Gaston, strangely moved.

"That is the whole of my story," the priest continued, with no more
of the recent stress in his voice. "And now I have talked to you about
myself quite enough. But you must have my confession." He had now
resumed entirely his half-playful tone. "I was just a little mistaken,
you see--too self-reliant, perhaps--when I supposed, in my first
missionary ardor, that I could get on without any remembrance of the
world at all. I found that I could not. And so I have taught the old
operas to my choir--such parts of them as are within our compass and
suitable for worship. And certain of my friends still alive at home are
good enough to remember this taste of mine and to send me each year some
of the new music that I should never hear of otherwise. Then we study
these things also. And although our organ is a miserable affair, Felipe
manages very cleverly to make it do. And while the voices are singing
these operas, especially the old ones, what harm is th