New-York tribune., 1899-12-17


turned her thoughts from earthly things-the
woman told the child Of how it was the custom
to keep the fiesta in Mazatlan when she was
only such another slip Of girl. and how on the
eve Of Christmas the manger was prepared in
every house for the Nno.
And who was the Nino in your own Mazatlan.
tia Juana?' asked PanChita.
why, child, 'tis the blessed son Of Our Lady
the Queen Of the Anges-its Jesus" and it is
likely that this was the first time the sacred
name was ever spoken in the Tigre except in
blasphemy
"'Tia Juana will the Nino come to me in the
Tigre if make ready the manger to-night?"
"Yes, child" said the woman; "the padre says
there is no place to which the Nino will not
come If we make the place for him"
1t set tia Juana thinking for there may have
been a streak Of good IN that battered nature
At any rate, she did an unusual thing; she went
away from the Tgrc and up to Livermore to the
shops where there were men whom she knew or
had known before the sickness and the knife had
so dlsGgured her that the kitchen became her
place. From one and from another she begged a
little money. Not that, either; there was in her
errand just enough Of saving grace to change
her attitude so she begged nothing but only
permitted them to contribute to her scheme to
make little Panchita happy the night of that
evenings bale. The men gave freely enough
gave anything If only the woman would hurry
out Of their stores, for Liyermore, being respect
able, likes not to receive calls by daylight OF
those whose acquaintance it has made after dark
when it has called on the Tigre. But tia Juana
did what she had set out to do; she had got
money, and it was clean money such as one
Iona tho
price of her pretty checks; they were gone and
now she only cooked for the others With the
clean money she made purchases, as many
worse woman did that afternoon, with no
thought as to whether her money were cleanly
come by and such as the Nino would bless.
Christmas Eve in the Tigre, and the bale at
its drunken height. Guitars are twanging. the
pail Of blue smoke from many cigarettes hangs.
near the ceiling in slow eddies, in unwashed
glasses the mescal pours over lips where it were
safe no more liquor should pass There is no
use wasting description on it; it is only
Greaser revel in the Tigre, where the Yankees
from Livermore who think they are out for
sport will pay the piper as soon as the mescal
does its appointed work. In the height Of the
revel the scene is interrupted by the presence
Of Panchita Juggling in a rough box. Setting
this on two chairs before the chimney she took
out from the box a store of coored tissue paper
with which she proceeded to decorate the rough
sides.
What make you there. Panchita?" asked big
Pedro. when the dongs Of the child had brought
the dancers to a wondering halt. and the tide
Of liquor surged back a hairs breadth in heated
brains.
Il dress the manger for the Nino, the son Of
our Lady the queen of the Angels, to see If he
will come to the Tigre on this the vigil Of his
own fiesta"
Big Pedro crossed himself, and every Greaser
in the room did the same, or at least laid one
finger across its neighbor, for to such people re-
ligion after it has passed remains as superst-
tion. Had he dared big Pedro would have
dumped the girl and the box out Of the nearest
window. but he was really afraid, and feared he
knew not what dire calamity if he should COM
NIT such an act.
Unconcerned, the girl went on with her prep
aratons the drapng of the box with the sheeta
and wreaths of colored paper When 1t was
midnight tia Juana surprised even Panchita.
and certainly all the rest Of that reyclling crew.
for she entered the room bearing in her arms
the largest wax doll which she had been able
TO buy. From the remnants Of her wardrobe
she had succeeded in making gorgeous robes
for the Nino, and about its head she had set a
coronct Of gold paper while round its neck she
had hung on a silk thread her only treasure,
plated ring with an Alaska diamond.
when she was seen at the door the other mu'
chachas fell on their knees ana recited the Ave
Maria. while the woman laid the Nino in the
maneer Just before the doll touched the straw
on. Of the girls snatched the silk scarf from her
neck and spread it for the Nino TO lie upon. That
was the signal for the gifts to pour in
"Panchita thy soul is yet white, give this
breastpin to the Eino.' said one, and another
came up with some other trinket. Even big
Pedro offered his best holiday knife, the one