Year: 1877

In the northern part Of Mexico are
rugged mountain ranges. through which
run many seams Of silver. Seme OF
these silver veins are very rich in the
precious metal, and they were exten-
siveiy worked in former days By the
Aztecs. and perhaps by those who in.
habited the country before the Aztecs +:
but the mines have been disused for
many years. chiefly because the war
like Apaches at the north would not
permit the work TO continue.


The old mines still exist, however,
with remains of the old works, and a
number of Indians, half-breeds and
Mexicans gain scanty living by work.
ing in them and selling such amounts
Of silver AS they can dig out with
their rude tools. Poor and ignorant as
these people nre, they have an ambition
OF their own. and are continually ami
mated by the hope that some day they
may strike great lump of silver, or a
rich vein. such ~ would produce for
tune to one Of them. A piece Of good
luck OF this kind is called a bonanza.
and these wretched miners, IN spite Of
their poverty and affections, are spurred
forward and kept at work by the hope
Of u bonanza.


They are very supcrstitious, IS ignor-
ant people always are, and many wild
and strange tales are current among
them concerning the old mines. which
are supposed to be inhabited by demons
and the spirits of those who once
owned and worked them. who conceal
and guard the richest veins in the
mountains. preventing others from dis
covering and using them.


Near one Of these mines lived Manuel
Murieto, with his wife ZapOneta and
his son Pepito. Their hsbitation was
miserable bovel. and their food was of
the coarsest and often very scanty, and
there was little to make life desirable
to them. Zsponeta used to try TO per-
suai lie her husband to leave that place
stuck to the old mine. believing that he
would yet find fortune there. He
was encouraged in this belief by a
tradition to the effect that very rich
vein of silver was hidden in tire mine,
and by the prophecy that the lost vein
would again be discovered by a boy
who was pure Of heart and free from
siu


Manuel knew. aud so did Zsponeta,
that if ever there lived boy who WAS
pure of heart and free from sin. such
boy was their son Pepito. He was a
beautiful boy. and his appearance was
almost unearthly. owing to the pale
ness of his features, his large eyes and
his serious countenance. He did not
seem to belong to this world, and it was
the opinion of those who saw him that
he would not long remain in it. As
for goodness his parents had never
known him to be guilty of a wrong act,
nor had they even suspected him of an
impure thought. If purity and good
ness were to discover the lost vein,
Manuel was sure it would be found by
means of Pepito.


One morning. when the boy arose
from his couch of straw. he told his pa
rents of wonderful dream that had
visited him in the night. Two beauti-
full beings whom he believed to be an
gels, had come to his bedside, and
beck oned him away. He had followed
them to the old mine. and farther into
the heart Of the mountain than he had
ever gone b fore. At last they stop d
at . spot which he was sure he would
recognize If he should ever see it again.
Here they struck against the rock. and
it opened before them, disclosing pas
sage which they entered. and Pepito
followed them. A bright light went
before them. until they reached cav.
ern through which stream Of water
ran. The light rested against the rock
on the other side of the stream, and
Pepito saw that the rock was full Of
shining silver Then the angels led
him back through the passage. closing
the entrance tshind him. and took him
to the mouth Of the mine, where be
awoks.


Manuel at once perceived an angel
visitation in this dream. He was sure
that Pepito had been taken to the old
mine in his sleep. and had discovered
the lost vein. This was the bonanza
that was to make the fortune Of the
family, and he insisted that the boy
should revisit in his waking hours the
scene which he had sought In his sleep.


Zeponeta was not as enthusiastic as
her husband was, and feared that some
harm might happen to her darling boy;
but she finally yielded to Manuel's ur-
gent entreaties. and equipped Pepito
with . lamp and bali Of yarn.


The boy said farewell TO his parents.
received their blessing. and set out to
search for the lost vein.


At the mouth of the mine he attached
the yarn to piece Of rock and unrolled
the ball ~ he went along. so as to leave
clue BY which his father might search
for him in case he should get lost. and
went boldly forward into the heart of
the mountains


He went farther in than he had ever
gone before. creeping through narrow