The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-23
A MEXICAN SEXTON.

out Of sight. impersonal and conveyed no
distinct impression to his mind. His fond
hess for cemeteries was architectural in
lhe main and speculative in part. He was
ieScinated by the thought that 30 many
millions Of people had lived and left no
trace but sacred to the memory" n name
and date. His favorite walk of Sunday,
when at home was In the large cemeteries
contiguous to the town he lived In. His
mind was perfectly healthy; there was
nothing morbid about him; in fact visit
to cemetery would cure him Of the blues,
not give him u fit OF them. He had never
seen a Mexican one, SO when an oppor-
tunity presented itself he took advantage
\ of 1t.
He had gone with party of magnates
to Mexico In their special car as a stenog-
rapher. Being liable to be called on at
any moment he always carried with him
his notebook and several well sharp
ened pencils. This had got to be such a
habit with him that he took his notebook
with him to theaters, weddings, to church.
When he went on a trip with his employer
he carried another extra in the shape of
what looked like tourists field GLASSES in a
leather case, hanging from the shoulder
! by leather strap. It beld a flask and
three silver cups, and on this occasion con
tanned cogDac. 1t was fad of his en-
ployer's, who disliked to see whisky or
brandy bottles around, but WHO, when be
wanted a nip, wanted it then and there.
Arthur's opportunity 10 see a Mexican
cemetery occurred on their way down to
the capital. They had their car cut of at
one of the towns and remained over one
day. His services not being needed, he
strolled about the place and finally drifted
toward the cemetery.
1t was about the size of two of our city
blocks, inclosed by wall some ten feet
high. The only living occupant OF the
place was an old Mexican pottering about,
hoe in hand, seemingly engaged in clean
ing the walks and graves from weeds. AS
:, Arthur passed him he mechanically said
Good morning." and was somewhat
startled to have his salutation returned in
!, his own language.
Good morning. sir. speek Englesh, !
speek every language, every language have
to get buried sometime"
Are you the sexton" Arthur asked
/ him.
~ take caro- the grave, the grave take
care long time. You speek Spanish"
4 NO" he answered.
"Ah, too very bad, Spanish beautiful
language. You want to get somebody
!, buriedF'
"Oh, no; / only walked in here out of
curiosity. That's curious headstone,"
1 Arthur said pointing to one near which
which they were standing.
"Of truth, yes. You like to hear story
of that. that gravef"
"Then ! tell you. First translate. To
memory of Juan Ell Peon. BY friend.
Fifty-one year take care that grave"
Arthur looked duly astonished, as he
seemed to expect It, There was one strik-
ing feature about this grave, it was the
only one in the cemetery that had a head
stone. II was of granite; a shaft, uncut,
untrimned, unpublished, just as it came
from quarry. On the face of it was some
! lettering, not cut into the stone, rather
scratched-as If done by weak, unaccus-
toned hand.
' Arthur looked at the old sexton, who
was regarding him attentively.
You want to hear story of gravefn
| Eyes, II you please" Arthur answered.
/! "You got ten cents? The authority make
me collect ten cents from every one who
, come in, to bury the poor who cannot bury
himself. Thank you, Now, listen me"
Mechanically Arthur took out his note
: book and put down what he said. The
Mexican had one popularity. He put into
his conversation wherever he possibly
could the words ''d-n" and by d-n,'
: for the purpose seemingly of conveying &
sharp impression Of the essence and perfec
ton of his knowledge of English.
"This grave flfty-one year old. The mar
I inside twenty year old. l suppose he sam,
age now, by d-n. When he eighteen yea
OF age, he became himself In love Of til,
dear d-n daughter of the great hacien
n dado, Don Marcos de la Vega. Very rich
Don Marcos. Plenty mines, ranches, bull
ocks, civilizations. Very high in the land
: Very kind hearted, merciful
Poor Juan Peon, he get crazy TO
8 Chonita de la Vega, very crazy. Doi
Marcos very, by d--n, kind to him, he sent
r him away to the mines, but Juan he com,
back every time. Every one know whel
i Juan back, he come and sing the Indian
song, THE Love Of the Tree for the Sky.
Very pretty song, very pretty, very mucl
tenor voice. Every night he sing it. Ii
front Of the house every night when every
s body go to bed he sing the song. Yer
strong tenor voice. Powerful. Every
=. body know when Juan back, they sa
. Juan Ell Peon is singing THE Love of tn
Tree for the Sky" to Chonita Vega
Z Impossible to keep Juan away H
leave the mine, he leave the ranch, b
Y leave his mule, he come back and sim
that song. Two year he, by d-n, sing tina
a song. He never speak to Chonita. WheI
he see her coming he kneel down and lool
at the earth. Very polite peon. He d
nothing only sing every night.
NJ zone night Don Marcos he call his may
II ordono, Don Miguel. He say, Don Mig
uel there Juan lie sing again. got sor
eye. tired that d-n same song. Go xii
him.
|, Don Miguel very honorable mayor
: domo. Very kind hearted, he never lie
Juan know he going to kill him; he 90 b.
3 hind him, by d-n, and cut his head in tw
!, like eoliflor. Very kind hearted mar
il Don Miguel. Juan never know he dead
Next morning everybody know jus
dead. Everybody talk. BY d-p Don Mul