Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Itwasallcattleinthosedays,sheep,horses—steers,notsomany—andifmoneywasscarce,therewasalwaysplentytoeat,andclothesenoughforall,andwine,ah,yes,bythevat,andoiltoo;theMissionFathershadthat.Yes,andtherewaswheataswell,nowthatIcometothink;butaverylittle—inthefieldnorthoftheMissionwherenowitistheSeedranch;wheatfieldswerethere,andalsoavineyard,allonMissiongrounds.Wheat,olives,andthevine;theFathersplantedthose,toprovidetheelementsoftheHolySacrament—bread,oil,andwine,youunderstand.Itwaslikethat,thoseindustriesbeganinCalifornia—fromtheChurch;andnow,”heputhischinintheair,“whatwouldFatherUllivarihavesaidtosuchacropasSenorDerrickplantsthesedays?Tenthousandacresofwheat!NothingbutwheatfromtheSierratotheCoastRange.IrememberwhenDeLaCuestawasmarried.Hehadneverseentheyounglady,onlyherminiatureportrait,painted”—heraisedashoulder—“Idonotknowbywhom,small,alittlethingtobeheldinthepalm.Buthefellinlovewiththat,andmarryherhewould.Theaffairwasarrangedbetweenhimandthegirl’sparents.ButwhenthetimecamethatDeLaCuestawastogotoMontereytomeetandmarrythegirl,behold,JesusTejedabrokeinuponthesmallrancherosnearTerrabella.ItwasnotimeforDeLaCuestatobeaway,sohesenthisbrotherEstebantoMontereytomarrythegirlbyproxyforhim.IwentwithEsteban.Wewereacompany,nearlyahundredmen.