The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-04-13
Juallto's Easter Dream

In Triana, a suburb Of Seville, lived
a lad OF Is named Juanito ell Morenito.
He had neither father nor mother, had
grown up haphazard, like a blade of
wild grass In the pavement Of Triana;
slept sometimes under the open sky,
sometimes in the stable of posada;
lived on handful OF sweet acorns or
fried cake bought of the huckster
and followed a hundred ways of earn
ing a living, the most lucrative being
the sale of programs at the doors OF the
theaters. Spite of his ragged clothes
he was handsome little fellow. with
sparkling eyes, smiling lips, curling
locks and deeply sunburned skin, which
had won him the surname OF Morenito
There was a strain Of gypsy blood in
his veins, and. like the gitanos, he pos
sessed an independent disposition, loved
q wandering life and was passionately
fond of bullfghts.
On the morning of Holy Friday he
woke in very dull mood During the
whole fortnight of the passion the
theaters had been closed, and, having
been unable to follow his business of
selling programs, he had only cuarto
in his pocket. He felt his poverty all
the more keenly because a magnificent
bullfight, with MaZZantini and Fras-
cuelo as spadas. was to take place at
Easter, and owing to the emptiness Of
his purse he would be perforce de-
prived of his favorite spectacle. New
ertheless he determined to go in search
OF any money he COLD find in the
streets Of Seville, and after having ad-
dressed a prayer to the Virgin of Hope
he shook off the straw that chung to his
hair and hurried out OF the stable
where he had slept.
1t was a splendid morning. The slen-
der pink tower of the Giralda stood
forth In clear outline against the deep
blue sky. The streets were already
filed with people who had fiocked to
Seville to see the procession of the con-
fradias. Passing in front Of the Plaza
de Toros, Morenito saw a long line OF
buyers besieging the ticket Office,
spectacle which increased the bitter
ness of his regrets. For four hours he
wandered up and down the Gale
Sierpes, inhaling the odor of cinnamon
cakes browning In boiling oil, follow
ing the toreadors, who were strolling
In front of the cafes, proud Of their
loose jackets and straight trousers. He
racked his brain to devise some way OF
earning few pesetas. He had vainly
endeavored to join the vendors who
were shouting the programs of the pro-
cession with the names of the various
fraternities; all the places were
on every side. Finally, unable to hold
out longer with an empty stomach and
q back scorched by the sun, he entered
the Plaza de la Constitution, where the
professions were stationed, and find
Ing a shady corner under one OF the
portals of the Audiencia he determined
to rest there while waiting for the con-
fradias to pass.
who sleeps dines," says the proverb.
and for lack of breakfast Morenito
INDUCED in a good slice OF slumber. He
was soon in a sound nap and certainly
looked very handsome stretched at full
length OH the white pavement with one
arm folded under his waving black
locks, his long lashes resting on his
cheek and his red lips slightly parted
by a smile which disclosed his little
white teeth.
While he slept two travellers passed
young people, probably husband
and wife, at any rate lovers; one could
see that by the way she leaned on his
arm.
Look at this pretty boy" said the
young man, pausing to watch the sleep
err. What charming picture he would
make! What a comical attitude! II
tells the whole story, even to the posi-
ton of the open hand, which seems
extended for some prize to be dropped
into it while the lad is asleep"
Wouldn't 1t be a charming surprise
for the sleeper to slip a silver coin into
his hand so that he can find 1T when
he awakes?"
Lovers are proverbially generous. The
young man took out a 5-franc piece
and slid 1t lightly into the open hand,
which, by a mechanical movement, half
closed at the cold touch Of the metal
Then the young pair went away laugh
Ing.
L Morenito slept on and had a dream.
He thought that he beheld ladder,
brilliant with all the hues Of the rain
bow. down which the Virgin of Hope
descended to him. Her hair was
wreathsd with garlanA Of lilies. and