66 MEXICO. 
order, but the Senor Zummarraga refused him credence : his only re- 
ply being, that he must have some token to satisfy him of the verity of 
the annunciation. Again Juan Diego returned to the mountain with this 
message of the Bishop, and delivered it to the Holy Virgin, who appeared 
to him on the 12th of December for the third time. She ordered him then 
to ascend the mountain of Tepeyac, cut roses and bring them to her. 
The humble and happy messenger went, notwithstanding he knew full 
well that on the mountain there were not only no roses, but no vegetation 
of any kind. Nevertheless, he found the flowers and brought them to 
Mary ! She threw them in the tilma (a part of Indian dress) and said to 
him, ' Return once more to the Bishop and tell him that these flowers are 
the credentials of your mission.' Accordingly, Juan Diego immediately 
departed for the episcopal residence, which, it is said, was then in the 
house called the Hospital del Amor de Dios ; and when he found himself 
in the presence of the prelate, he unfolded his tilma to present the roses, 
when, lo ! there appeared on the rude garment that Messed picture of the 
Virgin, which now after centuries still exists, without having suffered the 
slightest injury ! Then the illustrious Bishop took the image, and placed 
it in his oratory. It is now in this Collegiate church. The Virgin ap- 
peared again, a fourth time, to the Indian. She then restored to health 
his uncle, named Juan Bernardino, and told Diego — ' The image on thy 
tilma I wish called the Virgin of Guadalupe !' " 
Such is the story given of the sacred portrait, the original of which 
presides over the destinies of Mexico ; whose name — " Maria de Guada- 
lupe" — is given to one half the females of the Republic, and whose shrine 
is one of the wealthiest in the world. A copy of this picture is hung in 
every dwelling in Mexico, a household god, as dearly cherished as the 
little clay images were by the ancient Indians. The motto beneath, " Non 
fecit taliter omni Nationi,'' is full of pride and consolation. 
Toward the close of the services in the church the crowd became less 
dense, and I ventured within. For the last half hour I obtained a good 
stand directly in front of the position occupied by General Santa Anna, 
and an opportunity was thus afforded me of seeing him at his devotions. 
The same refinement of manner, easy grace, and perfect decorum which 
characterize the well-bred Mexicans in their dwellings, adhere to them in 
church ; and the President and his little military court fully sustained 
upon that occasion the reputation of their countrymen. 
That night I saw him again at a ball given by General Valencia, in 
honor of his wife; who, being named '■^ Maria de Guadalupe," enjoys this 
as her festal day as well as the saint. The ball, the music, the style, and 
the supper were all excellent ; and although I went with a headache at 
ten, I did not leave the cheerful walls of the General until the " small 
hours" of next morning. This ball and supper, I was told by those who 
prepared it, cost our host the sum of near four thousand dollars , and 
from this, you may form an opinion of the extravagance of living and 
