The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-05-04

uidaeo Mrs. Cunho was most ANXIOUS
for her son to come to Vidago tol
the benefit Of his fidago (HVer), ana
when. on Monday, I went down to dln
ner late I found. that h actually
come. and had taken a room next &c
mine; how friendly.
After dinner I go out, and two gem
.tlemen from the village snow me-
| about. We find great excitement in
the. place. Almeida, he bookkeepef
at the hotel. had start~a on horse
back with the picadOr, riding a little
grey pony lent by Sur Rebello, when
| the grey ran away and threw nm ON
hurting his leg. but we, one ana ali.
consoled him by our Hu-
merous fails; whereupon it appeared
cutie q miracle that any OF us were
alive, and utterly Impossible to De
anything like sound.
Ifaad brought my f~ly-fishing tackle
with me, but no q fish could be IN
duced even to look at 1t in the stream
that runs near the town, nor IN the
Tan1ega about two miles off. How
ever, everybody said thai a stream
near Baticas (called TIVE leagues Off.
always long leagues) was full OF
trout, so on Tuesday I determined to
get there the following day. But the
difficulties were great, as no horse
could be hired and two me-
had refused me q donkey; but I
was at last pointed cat a rough look
ing woman who was said to j" a
donkey and would do anything. I
bargained with her, but nothing would
induce her to take less than 500 refs
fabout rs cents), SO at last I consent
ed, but only on condition that she vas
to take me to Boticas and accompany
me in my fishing and carry everything
l wanted. We closed the bargain
with a good big laugh.
Wednesday morning at. five O'Clock
I had breakfasted, and vas soon
ready, as also was Ignacia (my COM
panion), the donkey and a young
donkey colt. Borges, the hotel man,
appeared just then, but the sight Of
US starting from his hotel was too
too much for him, and his usual
another way OFF we went at a gentle
pace, the, donkey colt frisking in the
liyilest manner all about us, very often
quite stopping my by get
ting in front, and occasionally nib
bling at my toes. 1~gnacio, she walked
or ran.
Anything steep caused me to get off
and walk, as the a~bSurdity of Strug-
Cling with my small donkey any more
than necessary became painfully ap-
parent, but we still had the difficulty
Of making the donkey go on alone un-
l made up my mind that time
must be no object, and Ignacia GER
tajnly helped to make it go, an awful
n really witty. too. Her own
and everybody else's history was re-
counted to me. and Madame (of the
lOtel) came in for a full share Of
tbuSe-in fact. 1Snacia had, to leave
hotel service on o Of her
however, h still did the
washing for the King. To the grand !
& nj tho u. = S,,111 ~ ~1o l-r- |
self gave 400 refs, and yet Madame
got the credit for it. !
AT last Boticas. q long struggling
village upon q HILL was reached, and
wendell Our way to the house Of
her friends. where, Of course the four
IL us created q good heal OF curiosity.
lgnacia then explained the case to
around, and said that she was |
l1rald OF no n and vas now going
o take me to the Bessa stream and
accompany me a-fishing. I confess I
1ad rather hoped she might have for
gotten that part Of the bargain. but
ny g~allantry forbade me to stop her.
Again we started. but this time only
,Wo OF us. up AN awful hill, in q
'olllng sun, and [ thought poor L.
1acia would have dropped. After
S reached. At three O'Clock nothing
been caught. but a. few rises pro-
.oked me to so IN, and 50 I explained
I thought the girl a better go
ONE and ave her friends at Boticas
orange a bed for me.
IT IS quite dark When I arrive at
5otcas with one small trout. and
Immediately to the estalagem
1nn), into Which I am ushered. Pic
ure the Kitchen in uch q place: a
seat n q few low stools around
smouiderlng log, and a long table
board only in width. Supper con-
listed OF chicken soup (olla podrida),
.rled salt Goldfish and b>oa (rve and
zeal mixed), which I insisted upon
IaElnS IN the snug corner where I had
rst fetched up to dry myself.
Nhlle sitting in the corner after
upper enjoying a pipe OF tobacco,