The San Francisco call., 1910-02-12

That Is, they were the first day. but
now they arc just like all the others.
Sometimes when look at Cruzita now,
remember that first day. and 1t makes
me feel old. But then, am getting
old. | shall be IA next month, on
graduation dav, and it's six months
since saw Lupe, holding Cruzita by
the hand, come i'm through the big
gate right into the middle Of the
yard. crowded with girls Six months
is really q long time
They stood in the middle of the yard
and the first thing | noticed about
them was their eyes. | believe that
Cruzita and Lupc have the biggest
eyes of any children in the world.
Lupes are black. just like great. big,
soft blackberries, but Cruzita's are
gray. When she smiles they twinkle
all over with little lights. Some peo-
pie have miserly smiles, that just
witch up the corners of their
mouths but Cruz laughs all over her
face. You see, sometimes we call her
Cruz, which means cross, and some
times Cruzita, little cross. They stood
there in the middle of the yard. with
their eyes as big as plates, looking
scared to death, holding each others
hands.
1t was rope season, and the yard
was full of turning ropes, for all the
world like dozens OF windmills flying
about But in a moment everybody
had caught sight of the two little
things. The ropes stopped and we all
crowded close about them. Really, they
were the very funniest looking children
we had ever seen. Cruzita had on
little Mother Hubbard, made Of black
silk. so old and shiny and pair of
shoes that must have been her mothers.
She had a yellow straw hat, that is.
part of one, because the crown was
out all covered with bright, red roses;
and her hair, braided so tight that it
stuck out on each side of her head,
like two little wire ropes, was tied
with pieces of pink calico. Lupe had
long trousers, although he wasn't more
than g. His scoat had once been
skirt, and his CAPT remember
wondered if it fell to pieces every time
he took it off They really did look
funny, especially in our school, where
nearly all the children are rich and
dress beautifully
There they stood. looking at us with
those big eyes, till suddenly Paula
White burst out laughing, She Just
laughed and laughed.
did you ever see such frights?
Where on earth did they come from?'
'sThe clothes bag, | guess" IL any
one had told me Freda would have said
thing like that | wouldn't have be-
lieved it,
y
Marjories father keeps the biggest
dry goods store in town, and they're
awfully rich. Perhaps she only meant
to be funny, but she reached out and
took the corner of Cruzitas old silk
dress in her fingers. | don't know
what next she would have done, but
she didn't have time to do anything.
Lupe just dropped Cruz's hand and
came at her like a little tiger. He
pushed at her with his arms and his
head without saying word The girls
tumbled over themselves to get away
from him, and when he had cleared a
space he stood in front of his sister
with his fists doubled.
Well of all the little wildcats"
Marjorie tossed her. head and walked
away Come, girls. He'll bite If you
look at him" But none of the girls
went, only Thelma Thelma follows
Marjorie around like shadow and
does everything she's told TO do.
Then the funny little thing in the
black wrapper began to cry She didn't
make a noise, but just let the tears
roll down her face as If she had moth
ing to do with them, Lupe turned round
and saw her. He gave one long, slow
look at us that made me feel burning
all over I was so ashamed. Then he
took his sisters hand and turned
toward the gate.
'cIittle boy-little boy-come back"
They were almost at the gate before
/ reached them. what do you want?
Come back Nobody'li hurt you
He stopped and turned round. OF
course he didn't understand what
was saying. but ! didn't know that
then, so / knelt down on the floor in
front Of them and began asking all
kinds OF questions. They were such
tiny little things l didn't feel as IL
could talk to them standing up.
"You mustn't cry" / said. "She
didn't really mean to be mean"
Look out, he'll scratch 1t was
one of Marjorie's friends but the other
girls looked at her so she turned as
red as a beet and slipped back into
the crowd.
won't you tell me your names and