The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume I

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR 521 now return to their native land, and their wives meeting in great harmony while on their way to join their husbands) ~frs Pedraza did not go on with l\Irs. Zavala, but remained in Orazaba. From Orazaba Mrs. Zavala, ~xchanging her Litero for a coach set out for Pueblo. On her way, whilst stopping on the road to make some repairs, they beheld come galloping down a party of horsemen in full speed towards them. Taking it -for granted that they-were robbers, they were much relieved on finding them to be a party which their friends had despatched for their protection.- Arriving Mrs Zavala & Mrs l\fexia at puebla, they stopped at a public house where they had remaind, but a short time, where a gentle- man, called upon Mrs Zavala with a letter from her husband, telling her to reside in the house of this gentleman during her stay in Puebla. He was a wealthy man, and an intimate friend of Mr. Zavala's. The Lady wept bitterly, and said to M.:rs Mexia, how can I seperate from you- you are my interpetrer, & friend, and the only person with ·whom I am acquainted- I cannot go. Thinking, however, that she ought to otey her husband, she finally went with the gentleman to his residence; where she had been but a brief time, when, in came Mrs Mexia, for whom the gentleman, seeing M:rs Zavala's distress, had sent his carriage for. In this gentleman's house, they abided, until One morning a gentleman entered and told l\Irs Zavala that he had come under the direction of her husband, with means to take her to Toluca. The two ladies set forth for the City of Mexico, where 1\frs Mexia met her sister l\fadam Tuso; and :Mrs Zavala proceeded next day for Toluca, where she arrived in safety and met _her husband.-frorn Toluca to Mexico 16 l~agues.- 1\Irs Zavala., was fond of equestran exercises, and she and her hus- band took many excursions over the ~ountains- She once expressed a desire to ride on horse-back to Mexico--16 leagues but her husband protested against it, as it was too long a journey for a lady to take; and finally told her, that he would consent to her undertaking it, if she would first try her horsemanship, by galloping to Lerma and back in one hour-distance of about 7 miles from Toluca--to which she readily asented; and she and her husband, duly mounted for the trial, set off in full speed precisely at six oclock, and dismounted at their residence exactly at 7-performing the wonderful feat in one hour. Th1is she won the privilige o·f riding to :Mexico, of which she availed herself a few weeks afterwards. :Hr Zavala was the idol of the people of 'l'oluca; and when he was in danger of being assailed on one occasion, anc1 forced to keep his house guarded, the ladies volunteered their services in his defense, saying they would bring stones in their aprons to let fly at his foes, if they could do no better.- When the Cholera broke out in Tolnca, Mrs Zavala was sent to the City of Mexico for safety; but the disease soon became as bad here as in Toluca- This was probably in 1832.- Here she abided with Mrs Mexia, until her husband was appointed l\Iinister to lF'rance.- Santana in the mean time had come into presidency. Mr Zavala did not dP..sire to go to france; and was only prevailed upon accept the appointment, thro' the prayres of his wife; who foresaw that be would be sacrifised by the parties if he remafoed in l\'lexico.-Santana,

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