IN CALIFORNIA 189 



wild, because they liked the water so well. And 

 here I have other lilies this is lirio de Maria, the 

 lily of the Blessed Virgin. I think you call it An- 

 nunciation lily; and these other lirios are pretty, 

 too iris, you say, no? But best of all, I love my 

 Flor de San Jose. You say hollyhock we say 

 Flor de San Jose Saint Joseph's flower; or some- 

 times Saint Joseph's staff la Barra de San Jose 

 there's so many words in Spanish!" and the old 

 lady smiled apologetically for her voluminous lan- 

 guage. ''Perhaps you are Catholic and know why 

 Saint Joseph's flower? No? Once the padre at the 

 church, he told me why. When it was that a hus- 

 band should be chosen for the Blessed Virgin, the 

 young men that were of her kindred were sent for, 

 and they came at the set time, each with his staff in 

 his hand, which was the way of travelers in those 

 days; and it was that the man whose staff should 

 break into bloom, should be the husband. And sure 

 enough, Saint Joseph's staff, it budded and beauti- 

 ful flowers came on it like roses all up and down the 

 stem, just as you see in the hollyhocks, and so we 

 call them Flores de San Jose. They are de muy 

 antes very, very old. All the gardens had them 

 even my grandmother's." 



By the gate bloomed a white oleander, not in a 

 tub, however, to be taken indoors with the coming 



