Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/480

474 proceed from a great number of birds that sang in perfect accord and harmony.

"It seemed to him that the entire rocky hill above him was vibrating and echoing the sweet notes of the myriad, tiny-throated warblers, and raising his eyes to that point, he beheld a beautiful rainbow, formed from the brilliant rays reflected from the center of the cloud. The Indian was held in silent wonder and admiration, but without fear he stood, contemplating in his heart the strange revelation.

"Ere he had recovered from his surprise, the singing ceased, and at once there issued from the clouds a voice, soft and gentle as a woman's, calling him by name, 'Juan,' and begging him to draw near.

"He hastened to climb the hill, and there he beheld in the midst of the light a most beautiful lady, whose clothing, he said, shone so brightly that the rays from it lighted up the rough cliffs of the rocks which rise from the summit of the hill until they seemed to him like precious stones, cut and made transparent; and the leaves of the prickly pear, which are small and stubby at this point, on account of the barrenness of the place, seemed to him like clusters of fine emeralds, and their branches, trunks, and thorns like shining gold; and even the ground of a small plane on the summit appeared to him to be of jasper, dotted with different colors.

"The lady, with gentle, smiling face, spoke to him in the Mexican language, and told him that she was the Virgin Mary, the true Mother of God, and that she wished to have a temple in that place, where all those who loved her and sought her might come for comfort in their afflictions.

"She commanded him to go to the palace in the City of Mexico and tell the Bishop of her desire.

"The Indian threw himself upon his knees and promised to obey her commands. According to promise, he went directly to the house of the Bishop, to which he gained admittance only after great trouble and delay. Being at last in the presence of his lordship, he fell upon his knees and delivered his message.

"The Bishop was much astonished at the communication, and