FRANCISCO had been at home now for a week. He had returned to find Elenarosy and well and the house in a turmoil of preparation, for Guillermawas to be married. Her fiance was a wealthy _estanciero_ from theprovince of Mendoza, which lies almost at the foot of the Andes, and hehad made a fortune from raising grapes for wine. His _estancia_, also,produced great quantities of figs, dates and sugar cane.
Guillerma was very happy, for although El Senor Conquero was older thanshe by fifteen years, theirs was a genuine love match. He had seen herat mass, one morning, and the following day, he had presented himself toher mother and her Uncle Juan with irreproachable credentials, and theirengagement of six months was to culminate in the celebration of theirmarriage during the early part of March.
It would be a very quiet wedding, for Senor Conquero was in mourning forhis father, who had died over a year before; and the custom of mourningin Argentina demands two years of seclusion from all social events afterthe loss of a parent.
Her Uncle Juan had been most generous in his allowance for hertrousseau, and she, with her mother, was busy all of each day visitingthe dressmakers and shops.
Francisco, at first, was very much distressed because Guillerma was tolive in Mendoza, as that fertile province is the seat of numerousearthquake disturbances. Scarcely a month passes that the inhabitantsare not startled by one, and as a rule they sleep with open doors toinsure a quick exit in case one occurs during the night.
But Guillerma assured him she did not fear them, as there had been noserious ones since 1861, and when she began telling him of the beautifulhome she would have, surrounded by wide vineyards and orchards of olivesand figs, where he could come to visit her, and with Elena play just asthey pleased, he became better reconciled to her marriage.
He was very busy, himself, for Carnival, the great festival, came earlythis year, and never before had he had so much money to spend in itscelebration.
He and Jose and Manuel had divided the reward money they had receivedfor capturing the horsetail thieves, and Francisco felt very proud ofhis share of it. He and Elena had counted it over and over, and plannedhow each _peso_ should be spent. Each one of the family, including theservant, should have a gift, and the balance would be their own to useas they chose for the celebration of the greatest _fiesta_ of the wholeyear.
As in many Roman Catholic countries, Carnival comes during the weekpreceding Lent; and although it is really a church festival, it is theleast religious of any celebration, whether of church or state.
In Buenos Aires everything dates from it and everything stops for it;even business is suspended. It is a festival of merriment and revelry,and every house and every street is decorated before its arrival inflags, banners, streamers and lanterns. There are processions andcontinuous parades, with crowds of people in masks and dominoes, blowinghorns, dancing and singing.
This year, Francisco and Elena were to be allowed to enter the _corso_or Carnival parade, and Uncle Juan had offered his motor car, which wasto be decorated with garlands of paper flowers; Jose was to be theirchaperon and Enrique would drive the car.
Elena and Francisco owned their little costumes, which they had used onprevious occasions, but as they had their own money this year, they haddecided to buy new ones to wear in the parade.
"ELENA AND FRANCISCO WERE DRESSED AND READY."]
Elena was to be dressed as a shepherdess, and Francisco as a Spanishking. Their mother had neglected Guillerma and her trousseau one entireday, in order to go with the children to help them select their costumesand masks; for no one enters into the streets in costume without a maskor domino.
The morning of the day on which the great parade was to take place thechildren spent, dressed in their old costumes, playing with theneighbours' children in the streets.
Although the law had forbidden the custom of throwing water atpedestrians, the number of people who were drenched by unexpected pailsof water thrown from upper balconies was not lessened, and the childrenbroke dozens of _pomos_, or rubber balls filled with perfumed water, oneach other and strangers, as well, who chanced to pass.
After _siesta_ that afternoon, Elena and Francisco began theirpreparations for the parade; and when the gayly decorated car drove upabout six o'clock with a fiery red representation of His Majesty, thedevil, on the front seat and a _pierrot_ or harlequin with one half ofhis costume a vivid green and the other half yellow, Elena and Franciscowere dressed and ready.
The harlequin jumped out and bowed low to the ground, and Elena ran backinto the house, for she was sure this comical looking fellow could neverbe Jose. But she was reassured when he lifted his mask, and soon thehuge car was puffing along the street with the red driver in front and adainty little shepherdess, a small king in velvet, gold lace and acrown, and a harlequin in green and yellow, all sitting on the backseat, throwing confetti and waving banners and shouting at the peoplegathered on the corners or on the balconies of the houses.
Enrique took them up one street and down another, among the crowds ofthe other carriages and automobiles, all full of gayly dressed maskersbent on making as much noise as possible.
As it grew darker the streets began to blaze with arches of electriclights, many of the bulbs being swung inside Chinese lanterns. The crowdgrew denser and many times they were caught in a mass of carriages, thatcould move neither one way nor the other. Mounted police wereeverywhere, trying to disperse the people where the crowds were toothick, and even they were treated to the contents of hundreds of _pomos_until their horsetail plumes and scarlet lined capes dripped perfumelike water.
At eight Enrique stopped the car in a side street opening on to thegreat Plaza, where the procession was to form; his plan being to allowthe children a view of part of the parade from this vantage point, andthen to slip out the side street and enter the _corso_ from the rear.
It was nine o'clock when the bands of music took their places at thehead of the procession and they were followed by large fancifullydecorated wagons, filled with young ladies dressed to represent wellknown allegories.
Then came floats with papier-mache figures caricaturing political eventsin the history of the Republic. These were followed by companies ofhorsemen dressed in every sort of fantastic costume; victorias filledwith merry maskers, floats with goddesses, and burlesqued well-knownpublic characters. King Carnival was seated on a high throne, veryhandsomely draped, and drawn by sixteen pure white horses. When thechildren grew tired of looking, Enrique joined the procession itself,and the hearts of Elena and Francisco were beating high with excitement,for their ambition was realized--to be a _part_ of the great Carnival_corso_.
It was quite one o'clock before Jose could persuade them to leave it andbe taken home; and it was many days before they ceased to talk of theirwonderful experience.
But school would open immediately after Carnival and Francisco wasanxious to reenter, as he was fond of books and made good progress inhis studies.
His Aunt Sarita with her six daughters had returned from their summerouting and Uncle Juan was preparing for a trip abroad immediately afterGuillerma's wedding should take place. Francisco saw him often, for theyhad grown very fond of each other during their summer together, and evenAunt Sarita began to love him more as she saw him oftener.
The first day of school had arrived, and Francisco, in his clean linenduster, had proudly led Elena to the school, for this was to be herfirst year. He was very proud of his pretty sister, who was shy, andheld on tightly to her protector's sunburned hand.
He introduced her to her teacher, kissed her, and then hurried out intothe large _patio_ to greet his old school friends.
They were all there, like a flock of tan coloured butterflies in theirlinen coats, their hair brushed sleekly into place and their faces andhands smelling of recent cleansing with perfumed soaps.
Francisco was a favourite. Soon he was in the middle of a group ofinterested listeners, recounting to them his experiences on the_estancia_.
He was only human, and you mus
t forgive him if he told of his adventurewith the horsetail thieves. Even the little English boy grew excited andplied him with questions that seriously retarded Francisco in hisaccount of their capture. The bell rang just as he finished, and theyall fell into line in the _patio_, where the beautiful Argentinenational hymn was sung, and the Argentine flag of blue and white wassaluted by each pupil as they passed it on their way into theschool-rooms.
THE END.
THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS
(Trade Mark)
_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_
_Each 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per vol._ $1.50
=THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= (Trade Mark)
Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Corner Series, "TheLittle Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The GiantScissors," put into a single volume.
=THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING SCHOOL= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHRISTMAS VACATION= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOUR= (Trade Mark)
=THE LITTLE COLONEL'S KNIGHT COMES RIDING= (Trade Mark)
=MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHUM= (Trade Mark)
_These ten volumes, boxed at a ten-volume set_ $15.00
=THE LITTLE COLONEL= (Trade Mark)
=TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY=
=THE GIANT SCISSORS=
=BIG BROTHER=
Special Holiday Editions
Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.25
New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings incolor, and many marginal sketches.
=IN THE DESERT OF WAITING=: THE LEGEND OF CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN.
=THE THREE WEAVERS=: A FAIRY TALE FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AS WELL AS FORTHEIR DAUGHTERS.
=KEEPING TRYST=
=THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART=
=THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME=: A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG.
=THE JESTER'S SWORD=
Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative $0.50 Paper boards .35
There has been a constant demand for publication in separate form ofthese six stories, which were originally included in six of the "LittleColonel" books.
=JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE=: By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. Illustrated byL. J. Bridgman.
New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel Books, 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50
A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author's best-knownbooks.
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Cover design and decorations by Amy Carol Rand.
The publishers have had many inquiries from readers of the LittleColonel books as to where they could obtain a "Good Times Book" such asBetty kept. Mrs. Johnston, who has for years kept such a book herself,has gone enthusiastically into the matter of the material and format fora similar book for her young readers. Every girl will want to possess a"Good Times Book."
=ASA HOLMES=: OR, AT THE CROSS-ROADS. A sketch of Country Life andCountry Humor. By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON.
With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery.
Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top $1.00
"'Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads' is the most delightful, mostsympathetic and wholesome book that has been published in a longwhile."--_Boston Times._
=THE RIVAL CAMPERS=: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY BURNS. By RUEL PERLEYSMITH.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, alert, andathletic, who spend a summer camping on an island off the Maine coast.
=THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT=: OR, THE PRIZE YACHT VIKING. By RUEL PERLEYSMITH.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
This book is a continuation of the adventures of "The Rival Campers" ontheir prize yacht _Viking_.
=THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE=
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"As interesting ashore as when afloat."--_The Interior._
=JACK HARVEY'S ADVENTURES=: OR, THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYSTERPIRATES. By RUEL PERLEY SMITH.
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=PRISONERS OF FORTUNE=: A Tale of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. By RUELPERLEY SMITH.
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=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.
Large 12mo. With 24 illustrations $1.50
Biographical sketches, with interesting anecdotes and reminiscences ofthe heroes of history who were leaders of cavalry.
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=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.
Large 12mo, illustrated $1.50
In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of the Indianbraves who have figured with prominence in the history of our own land,including Powhatan, the Indian Caesar; Massasoit, the friend of thePuritans; Pontiac, the red Napoleon; Tecumseh, the famous war chief ofthe Shawnees; Sitting Bull, the famous war chief of the Sioux; Geronimo,the renowned Apache Chief, etc., etc.
=BILLY'S PRINCESS.= By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL.
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Billy Lewis was a small boy of energy and ambition, so when he was leftalone and unprotected, he simply started out to take care of himself.
=TENANTS OF THE TREES.= By CLARENCE HAWKES.
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=BEAUTIFUL JOE'S PARADISE=: OR, THE ISLAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE. A sequelto "Beautiful Joe." By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful Joe."
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='TILDA JANE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS.
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'Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as fond of heranimal pets as ever.
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Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and triumphs, of adelightful New England family, of whose devotion and sturdiness it willdo the reader good to hear.
=BORN TO THE BLUE.=
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12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25
The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of thisdelightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalrystationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned thegratitude of a nation.
=IN WEST POINT GRAY=
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=FROM CHEVRONS TO SHOULDER STRAPS=
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West Point again forms the background of a new volume in this popularseries, and relates the experience of Jack Stirling during his juniorand senior years.
=THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES=
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=THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES=
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Mr. Hopkins's first essay at bedtime stories met with such approval thatthis second book of "Sandman" tales was issued for scores of eagerchildren. Life on the farm, and out-of-doors, is portrayed in hisinimitable manner.
=THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES=
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Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50
"Children call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago EveningPost._
=THE SANDMAN, HIS SEA STORIES=
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Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50
Each year adds to the popularity of this unique series of stories to beread to the little ones at bed time and at other times.
=THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL=
By MARION AMES TAGGART, author of "Pussy-Cat Town," etc.
One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50
A thoroughly enjoyable tale of a little girl and her comrade father,written in a delightful vein of sympathetic comprehension of thechild's point of view.
=SWEET NANCY=
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL. By MARION AMESTAGGART.
One vol., library, 12mo, illustrated $1.50
In the new book, the author tells how Nancy becomes in fact "thedoctor's assistant," and continues to shed happiness around her.
=THE CHRISTMAS-MAKERS' CLUB=
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A delightful story for girls, full of the real spirit of Christmas. Itabounds in merrymaking and the right kind of fun.
=CARLOTA=
A STORY OF THE SAN GABRIEL MISSION. By FRANCES MARGARET FOX.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00
"It is a pleasure to recommend this little story as an entertainingcontribution to juvenile literature."--_The New York Sun._
=THE SEVEN CHRISTMAS CANDLES=
By FRANCES MARGARET FOX.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00
Miss Fox's new book deals with the fortunes of the delightful Mulvaneychildren.
=PUSSY-CAT TOWN=
By MARION AMES TAGGART.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors $1.00
"Anything more interesting than the doings of the cats in this story,their humor, their wisdom, their patriotism, would be hard toimagine."--_Chicago Post._
=THE ROSES OF SAINT ELIZABETH=
By JANE SCOTT WOODRUFF.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00
This is a charming little story of a child whose father was caretaker ofthe great castle of the Wartburg, where Saint Elizabeth once had herhome.
=GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK=
By EVALEEN STEIN.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00
Gabriel was a loving, patient, little French lad, who assisted the monksin the long ago days, when all the books were written and illuminated byhand, in the monasteries.
=THE ENCHANTED AUTOMOBILE=
Translated from the French by MARY J. SAFFORD.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors by Edna M. Sawyer $1.00
"An up-to-date French fairy-tale which fairly radiates the spirit of thehour,--unceasing diligence."--_Chicago Record-Herald._
=O-HEART-SAN=
THE STORY OF A JAPANESE GIRL. By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors by Frank P. Fairbanks $1.00
"The story comes straight from the heart of Japan. The shadow ofFujiyama lies across it and from every page breathes the fragrance oftea leaves, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums."--_The ChicagoInter-Ocean._
=THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND=: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF ALLAN WEST. By BURTON E.STEVENSON.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
Mr. Stevenson's hero is a manly lad of sixteen, who is given a chance asa section-hand on a big Western railroad, and whose experiences are asreal as they are thrilling.
=THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"A better book for boys has never left an American press."--_SpringfieldUnion._
=THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated. $1.50
"Nothing better in the way of a book of adventure for boys in which theactualities of life are set forth in a practical way could be devised orwritten."--_Boston Herald._
=CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER.= By WINN STANDISH.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
Jack is a fine example of the all-around American high-school boy.
=JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS=: OR, SPORTS ON LAND AND LAKE. By WINNSTANDISH.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"It is exactly the sort of book to give a boy interested in athletics,for it shows him what it means to always 'play fair.'"--_ChicagoTribune._
=JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS=: OR, MILLVALE HIGH IN CAMP. By WINN STANDISH.
Illustrated $1.50
Full of just the kind of fun, sports and adventure to excite the healthyminded youngster to emulation.
=JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE=: OR, THE ACTING CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM. By WINNSTANDISH.
Illustrated $1.50
On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling,tobogganing, but it is more of a _school_ story perhaps than any of itspredecessors.
=CAPTAIN JINKS=: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SHETLAND PONY. By FRANCES HODGESWHITE.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
The story of Captain Jinks and his faithful dog friend Billy, theirquaint conversations and their exciting adventures, will be eagerly readby thousands of boys and girls. The story is beautifully written andwill take its place alongside of "B
lack Beauty" and "Beautiful Joe."
=THE RED FEATHERS.= By THEODORE ROBERTS.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"The Red Feathers" tells of the remarkable adventures of an Indian boywho lived in the Stone Age, many years ago, when the world was young.
=FLYING PLOVER.= By THEODORE ROBERTS.
Cloth decorative. Illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull $1.00
Squat-By-The-Fire is a very old and wise Indian who lives alone with hergrandson, "Flying Plover," to whom she tells the stories each evening.
=THE WRECK OF THE OCEAN QUEEN.= By JAMES OTIS, author of "Larry Hudson'sAmbition," etc.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"A stirring story of wreck and mutiny, which boys will find especiallyabsorbing. The many young admirers of James Otis will not let this bookescape them, for it fully equals its many predecessors in excitement andsustained interest."--_Chicago Evening Post._
=LITTLE WHITE INDIANS.= By FANNIE E. OSTRANDER.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25
"A bright, interesting story which will appeal strongly to the'make-believe' instinct in children, and will give them a healthy,active interest in 'the simple life.'"
=MARCHING WITH MORGAN.= HOW DONALD LOVELL BECAME A SOLDIER OF THEREVOLUTION. By JOHN L. VEASY.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
This is a splendid boy's story of the expedition of Montgomery andArnold against Quebec.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Varied use of accents mate/mate, estancia/estancia, and Martin/Martinwere retained.
Page xi, Table of Contents, "v" changed to "vii" to reflect actualfirst page of Preface.
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