height of twenty-two feet, is a rough
stun wall.

This wall is a reproduction of the dangerous coast of Spain, and back on
this rise of ground can be seen the Convent of La Rabida, a fac-simile,
or, as you might say, a similer fact, a exact reproduction of the
convent where Columbus planned out his voyage to the new world.

Yes, within these walls wuz born the great and darin' scheme of
Columbus--a great birth indeed; only next to us in eternal consequences
to the birth in the manger.

It stands jest as it ort to, a-facin' the risin' sun.

A low, eight-sided cupalo surmounts the choir space inside the chapel,
and above the nave rises the balcony.

On three sides of a broad, open court are the lonesome cloisters in
which the Monks knelt in their ceaseless prayers.

The chapel floor is a little higher than the court and cloisters, and is
paved with bricks.

It wuz at this very convent door that Columbus arrived heart-sore and
weary after seven years' fruitless labor in the cause he held so clost
to his heart.

Seven long years that he had spent beggin' and importunin' for help to
carry out his Heaven-sent visions.

A livin' light shinin' in his sad eyes, and he couldn't git anybody else
to see it.

The constant washin' of new seas on new shores, and he couldn't git
anybody to hear 'em.

A constant glow, prophetic and ardent, longin' to carry the religion of
Christ into a new land that he knew wuz a-waitin' him, but everybody
else deaf and dumb to his heart-sick longin's.

Oh, I thought to myself as I stood there, if that poor creeter could
only had a few of the gorgeous banners that wuz waved out to the air,
enough to clothe an army; if he could have only had enough of 'em to
made him a hull shirt; if he could have had enough of the banquets
spread to his memory, enough to feed all the armies of the earth; if he
could have a slice of bread and a good cup of tea out of 'em, how glad I
would be, and how glad he would have been!

But it wuzn't to be, it wuzn't to be.

Hungry and in rags, almost naked, foot-sore, heart-sore, he arrived at
the convent gate, to ask food and shelter for himself and child.

[Illustration: Almost naked, foot-sore, heart-sore, he arrived at
the convent gate.]

It wuz here that he found an asylum for a few years, carryin' on his
plans, makin' out new arguments, stronger, mebby, than he had argued
with for seven stiddy years, and I should a thought them old arguments
must have b