ss they are tutors or teachers who would right
gladly avoid such service. In this meaning, and in no other, must
one understand whatever is said about our religious having servants
in the Philipinas. I have heard scruples expressed here in Espana
over this bare kind [of service], when it ought to be a matter for
edification to see that in addition to the truly gigantic toils that
our brothers there load upon their shoulders, they voluntarily take
this very troublesome one of rearing a few children who serve only to
exercise the patience." Joseph strove to imitate the fathers as much
as possible, in self sacrifice and austerity, and desired to become
a donne, "which was the most to which he could aspire, since he was
only an Indian." That, however, being denied him, he was enrolled
in the confraternity of the Correa or girdle, and admitted as a
spiritual brother of the Recollect order. He acted as teacher of boys
for over fifty years, teaching them reading, writing, arithmetic,
and music. At his death he was buried in the Recollect church at
Taytay. One of the boys taught by Joseph was Bartolome Lingon. At
the age of fifteen he was appointed to assist Fray Alonso de San
Agustin or Garcias, who arrived in Philipinas in 1684 and was sent
immediately to Calamianes. Although he desired to remain unmarried,
he was married at the request of the missionaries to a devout woman
named Magdalena Iling. He acted as the chief sacristan of the Recollect
church in Taytay, ever taking great delight in the service of the
church and his duties therein. He survived his wife three years, dying
in January 1696. His wife had been born in Laguna de Paragua but had
lived in Taytay most of her life with a Christian aunt. Although she
wished to devote her life exclusively to religion she was persuaded
by the religious to marry Bartolome. Her devotion led her to teach
the girls of the village without pay. Of a gentle disposition she
was yet unyielding on occasions of necessity and although tempted by
an alcalde-mayor who was enamored of her beauty and made improper
proposals to her, she ever maintained her virtue. At her death by
cancer of the breast, she was buried in the Recollect church. The
last two sections of this chapter have nothing on the Philippines.]

DECADE TEN

[The first chapter of this decade does not treat of the Philippines.]

CHAPTER II

Our province of Philipinas attempts a mission to Great China. The
life of th