The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-10-12

OharIes Is. Howard contributes 70
the st. Nicholas story Of the Philip
pines under the title Of 'Juanito and
Jefe." Mr.. Howard says:
On an obscure little island in the
Philippine group stands an obscure
little native village, aud in this vii
lnge there stood, few years ago, n
certain hut, built. like the others, en-
tirely Of bamboo, and thatched with
dried nipa leaves. In this hut there
dwelt chocolate 'olored family, con.
gisting of MARI no Pelasquez, his wife
and n sturdy eieven.year-old boy,
Junnito by name.
Old Mariana had lived MS n boy in
one of the large seapor,s, and there
had learned to speak Spanish nuently,
and this language he had taught
Juanito as he grew up, in hope that
some day the boy might become SER
want or possibly clerk to one Of the
Spanish or English fesidents-prefer-
ably the latter, Ms the Ingleses maid
better wages than the Epanoles, Snd
were less liable to throw boots and
dishes and things.
Nho " optNi'o VI
ist whenever he chose to exert him
self, which was seldom. He owned
tiny bit OF land, on which stood
commodious hut and n faithful mango
tree, but the pride of his heart was his
carnbao, or water buffalo, which tugged
at the plow or rough cart on the rare
occasions when Mariana took to farm
ing. These carabaos are huge mouse
colored beasts, amazingly hideous in
appearance, and very savage when
wild; but they are docile as lambs
when once tanned. Moreover, their
tremendous strength is of great ser-
vice, while their very slow gait is quite
In accord with the ideas of the Philip
pine natives, and perfectly suits that
LATEST OF races.
This particular carabao was called
'Jefe," (which means "chief"), be-
cause he was the largest and strongest
in the village, and the Pelasquez fam
lily took the same amount OF pride in
him that an English family would have
In o thoroughbred race horse. There
fore the head OF the household was
greatly exercised in mind one morn
ing to discover that Jefe had broken
his tether during the night and left
for parts unknown.
ooh, thou ungrateful one," NUT
tered Mariana, "and / wss to plow to-
day. JuanitO" he called.
Isl PADRE" answered Juanito, ap-
pearing in the doorway arrayed in
pair OF short trousers, his customary
costume.
"Good boy, to answer in Spanish"
said the father, smiling, and holding
out his hand, which Juanito dutifully
kissed, as all good little Filipinos are
expected TO do every morning, and all
bad ones must. "See," went on Ma
riano, "that pig of Jefe has broken
his rope. and gone probably to the
river-bend. Get from thy mother
some breakfast and seek him."
.Juanito looked thoughtful. "Per-
haps the crazy Englishmen who ar
rived yesterday have stolen him." he
suggested.
Two nataralists, who seemed Eng
lish, had come to the village the even
ing before and spent the night at the
priests house. Juanito had seen them
and had thought Of little else ever
since.
"Ingleses do not steal carabaos,
thou monkey" answered Mariana.
"These two particular lunatics seek
only bugs and snakes. Thinkest thou
that they could put Jefe in their
pockets? Haste away, now, and come
not back without him."
Juanito secured two plump bananas
from his mother and trudged away
across the field towards the bend in
the river. Carabaos at liberty for the
time being always assembled there to
sink themselves up to the eyes in the
cool water, aud to dozs in comfort,
delying their insect tormentsss.