lls in Mexico which she used to look upon with a hush of awe,
and dream of the lives of peace and holiness passed behind them. But she
was not one to grieve long over what cost some tears to resign, and soon
was, heart and soul, absorbed once more in whatever her hand found to
do. Father Pujol having suggested the plan to her, she now, for the
first time, took up the study of nursing at the mission hospital,
instructed by the two sisters who had come with her and the other
children some years before, and who had remained at the mission. There
were always many patients among the neophytes, and here Apolinaria found
a work ready to her hand, which soon claimed all the time she could give
to it. This was an intense happiness to her, and the Father saw, with
the utmost satisfaction, that his remedy was a good one.
Not long after this Senor Carrillo was called to Santa Barbara to take
command of the presidio, and knowing he should be kept there for many
months, perhaps years, he decided to move his family to this new place
of activity, and make it his future home. Apolinaria alone, of all
the household, was averse to the change. She had just given herself
unreservedly to her work with calm, patient enthusiasm, that left no
room for regretful thought for what she had once longed to do; she could
not bear the idea of parting from Father Pujol, who had been, indeed, a
father to her, and who had had so much influence in marking out her life
work. It was with tears she said the last bitter "adios" to him, on the
eve of the departure; for in those days and in that country, there could
be no probability that she would ever see him again, less likely in this
case, as Father Pujol was far on life's decline. But even Apolinaria's
sorrow at leaving Monterey could not destroy the interest and pleasure
felt on arriving at Santa Barbara, one of the most beautiful places in
the province, and at that time much larger than Monterey. As the ship
came into the roadstead which served as a harbor, the town lay spread
out before them: in the foreground, straggling along the beach and for
some distance back, were the adobe houses of the inhabitants, about
one hundred in number, most of them glittering white in the brilliant
sunlight; among them, somewhat distant from the shore, was the huge,
low building of the presidio, frowning out over the rest of the scene;
beyond the houses, and nearly two miles from the water, was the mission,
a large group
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