There was a small window, rudely latticed with unplaned laths, and a door opening upon a pleasant view of the golden-sanded beach and the restless waves of the ocean.
At that time, the Spaniards, Mexicans, and Indians were the only inhabitants of the country.
Over these people, the padres, who established137 the mission, had acquired a most unlimited2 sway, ruling them more completely than even the Pope his subjects of the Holy See of Rome.
The Mexicans are an indolent race. The luxurious3 climate of Santa Barbara is not favorable to the development of latent energy in any people, least of all to the inert4 Mexicans; yet the padres, by awakening5 their superstitious6 fears, made them work until the wilderness7 became a vineyard, and the golden orange glowed amid the leaves of the fragrant8 trees.
Poor Joza disliked any exertion9, and, if left to his own inclination10, would have lived on the spontaneous productions of that almost tropical climate, and been happy after his oyster11 fashion.
Often he obeyed very reluctantly, those whom he thought had power, not only over the body, but could doom12 his soul to unnumbered138 years of suffering, in the fearful fires of purgatory13.
The padres lived in great ease and comfort; though so far from the elegances14 of the great world, their own ingenuity15 and the rapid growth of the country, furnished them with many luxuries.
Their quaint16 adobe houses were very pleasant, built after the Spanish style, in the form of a square with an open court in the center.
Beautiful gardens flourished around them, in which grew the fragrant citron, the lemon, with its shining leaves, and nearly all the rare fruits and flowers of the tropics.
For some years, Joza labored17 in the vineyards and gardens; but the ambitious padres were planning a greater work. A new church was to be built, and elaborately ornamented19; a convent and college was planned; extensive grounds to be laid out139 and cultivated, and all to be surrounded by the enduring adobe wall of mud and stones.
One evening, after a weary day in the vineyard, just as Joza was about starting for home, padre Antonio called him.
"On the morrow," he said, "we will begin to lay the foundation of the new church, the Grand San Pedro; you shall be permitted to aid in the blessed work, by carrying stones and mortar20, for which great mercy thank the holy Mother and all the saints, especially the blessed San Pedro, who is the patron saint of this great enterprise."
Then the padre blessed him, and wandered off into the delicious shade of the garden.
In the gathering21 gloom of the twilight22, Joza returned to his cottage, more disheartened than ever, wondering how much140 more torturing the fires of purgatory could be, than carrying stones under the burning sun of Santa Barbara.
As he approached his cottage, he saw his wife sitting before the door with a stranger, both smoking, with the greatest apparent enjoyment23.
His son, and a large dog, were rolling about on the soft earth, near them, raising a cloud of dust, and making a great noise, which seemed to disturb no one, and to afford them much pleasure.
When Joza came up, his wife introduced the stranger as his old playmate, and her brother Schio, who, many years before, had gone away, and, until that evening, had never been heard from.
Joza welcomed his old friend in the cordial Spanish way, placing his house at his disposal.
For a short time, in pleasant memories of141 their boyhood, he forgot the weary present. After they had eaten their frugal24 supper, and were again seated in the vine-clad doorway25, Joza looked out upon the great ocean, dusky with the shadows of evening, growing sad and silent.
"What ails26 thee, brother," said Schio, in his clear, ringing voice, that sounded like the strong notes of a clarionet. "You are changed; you are growing old, but see me, I am as young in heart as your boy, and strong as a bullock."
He lifted a great stone that lay near him, and held it at arms' length, laughing loudly, till the caves of the ocean sent back a hundred echoes.
With many sighs, Joza told the story of his troubles; how, for years, till his back had grown old and stiff, he had worked in the vineyard of the padre, but the purple harvest had brought no blessing27 to him.
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How a harder task was to be laid upon him. He was to hew28 and carry the heavy foundation-stones of the Grand San Pedro, and even at the thought of so great labor18, the beaded sweat rolled down his forehead.
His sympathizing wife sobbed29 aloud, but the brother only laughed, till again he woke the mysterious voices of the ocean caves.
Half angry, Joza turned to Schio, saying: "'Tis all very well for you, Schio, to laugh; you who roam at will in the cool of the evening, and rest in the delightful30 shade, while the scorching31 sunshine is burning my life out."
Poor Joza buried his face in his hands and sighed wearily.
"Cheer up, brother," said Schio, pleasantly. "Listen to me. Go in the morning, to padre Antonio, and tell him you are getting old and feeble, and cannot work143 through the heat of the day, but if he will appoint your task, you will accomplish it after the burning sun has gone down.
"Tell him if you carry those large stones in the day, your life will be consumed like the burning candles before the altar; but that in the cool of the evening, your strength returns as in the days of youth."
"And what, then?" said Joza, wearily.
"I will see that the morning finds your task accomplished32," replied Schio.
That night Joza dreamed that his tasks were ended, and that all day long he luxuriated in most delicious ease, under the shade of olive trees, and, when he woke, his heart grew sad, that it was only a dream.
He rose in haste to go to his task, for he had overslept himself; then he thought of Schio's advice. "I will do as he told me, though I fear 'twill do no good,"144 thought he. "I can but fail, and who knows what may come.
"Schio is such a strange fellow; when he's talking, it seems as though a hundred voices rung changes on his words. God grant he's not in league with the devil."
Joza crossed himself, and muttered prayers most devoutly33 until he reached the house of the padre Antonio.
After he had told the padre all Schio had directed, his task was appointed, and he returned home, all day long resting in the shade of his favorite lime-tree, smoking his cigarettés, and was happy as only a careless, indolent Mexican could be, enjoying the luxury of complete repose35.
Toward evening he began to be a little uneasy, but with the dewy twilight, came Schio, waking the mysterious echoes, with his ringing laughter, and, as the darkness deepened, he placed a lantern in Joza's145 hand, saying: "Now, brother, we will go to the task you complain of so bitterly."
Silently they pursued their way, until they arrived at the huge pile, upon which the padre had appointed Joza to begin his work.
Many days would have passed before he could have hewn the rock as the padre desired, but, with one blow of an immense drill, in Schio's powerful hand, the rock was cleft36 in twain. As he reduced it to its proper size and shape, Joza stood by, trembling with fear; then pointed34 out the chosen spot, and, in silence and darkness, the first stone of the Grand San Pedro was laid.
When the full moon arose, clear and bright, shedding its floods of golden light over the mission of Santa Barbara, and the blue waves that washed its sanded shore, the laborers37 had gone—Joza, to sleep146 peacefully in his little cottage, and Schio, down to the echoing caverns38 by the sounding sea.
Morning came, gorgeous with sunshine and beauty, and the padre walked out to inspect the site of his ambitious dreams.
He was an avaricious39 and unscrupulous man.
In building this new church, he hoped to erect40 a tower of strength and greatness for himself, more than an edifice41 in which to worship the blessed Christ, the immaculate Virgin42, and the holy saints.
When he saw the huge foundation-stone that Schio had laid, he was greatly amazed.
Even the hewing43 of it, he knew to be the work of days, and there it was, cleanly cleft, and in its proper place.
"There is a mystery here," he said; "the people will believe it a miracle; be it as it will, I must make the most of it."
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He called Joza, who came to him smiling and happy.
"You have done well for the beginning," said the padre, "but to-night, you must lay two stones like this."
"Holy San Pedro, help me!" exclaimed Joza. "It is impossible!" and he turned away, very sorrowful.
At night he told Schio what the padre had said. Schio frowned, and answered, "The padre should not ask too much; but this shall be as he desires."
Again they went out in the twilight, and before the rising of the golden moon, two more foundation-stones were laid.
At daybreak the padre arose, and hastened to see if the task had been accomplished, and before his wondering eyes, lay the three immense foundation-stones, smooth, and in their proper places.
"Holy Virgin! I will give him enough148 to-night," exclaimed the amazed padre, and again the task was doubled.
Thus it went on, night after night, and week after week, till the Grand San Pedro began to rise up like Aladdin's wonderful palace, but, Schio, the man of iron, grew very angry, as the full moon arose upon him, bending over his unfinished task.
"Joza," said he, "the padre may go too far for even Schio to bear; bid him beware!
"If the morning sun finds me here, I will not answer for the result; too much pressure will burst open the hidden recesses44 of earth, and cause the caverns of ocean to resound45 with fearful echoes of mystery.
"Can he think San Pedro will bless avarice46 and oppression, even in the padre Antonio?"
In the morning Joza went to the padre, and entreated47 him to lessen48 the task, but149 he only laughed, and said: "You are getting fat and lazy. I will not double your work to-night, but you shall do four times as much as ever, and I will be there to see it accomplished."
Joza departed with a heavy heart, dreading49 to meet Schio; and when he told him in the evening, he made no reply, but a black frown covered his whole face, and his eyes shot fire.
That night the padre Antonio went out to watch Joza, and when he saw Schio cleaving50 the huge stones with one blow of his wonderful drill, he thought he had not imposed task enough, and resolved he would command him to finish the Grand San Pedro in one night.
Just after midnight the moon arose, and the startled Joza heard, at every blow of the drill, a hundred echoes ring out from150 the ocean caverns. But Schio worked steadily51 on.
"Schio," said Joza, suddenly, "what is it makes these mournings from the sea caves?" But Schio only answered by a heavier blow from his hammer, and under their feet the ground shook violently, then opened, and, where the Grand San Pedro should have stood, yawned a great gulf52, that closed upon the labor of many nights; and with the great foundation-stones went down the ambitious padre.
The morning sun rose on a scene of great desolation, but only Joza was there, with trembling voice, to tell the tale of the padre Antonio and the Grand San Pedro.
When others spoke53 of the great earth quake, he said: "'Twas all Schio's doings.
"The padre would never be satisfied, and the man of iron grew so angry, that he struck the great stone from the heart of151 the mountain, and then the earth shook, opened, and swallowed up the padre Antonio and the Grand San Pedro."
Schio was never afterward54 seen at the mission of Santa Barbara, but often, at evening, his ringing voice was wafted55 along the shore, from the cave of echoes, down by the sea.
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收听单词发音
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1
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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3
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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5
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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6
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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8
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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9
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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10
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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11
oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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12
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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13
purgatory
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| n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的 | |
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14
elegances
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| n.高雅( elegance的名词复数 )；（举止、服饰、风格等的）优雅；精致物品；（思考等的）简洁 | |
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15
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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16
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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17
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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19
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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21
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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22
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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23
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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24
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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25
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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26
ails
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| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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27
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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28
hew
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| v.砍；伐；削 | |
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29
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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30
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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31
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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32
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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36
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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38
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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39
avaricious
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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40
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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41
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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42
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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43
hewing
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的现在分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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44
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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45
resound
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| v.回响 | |
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46
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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47
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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49
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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50
cleaving
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的现在分词 ) | |
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51
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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52
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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53
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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54
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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55
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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