202 SANTIAGO. 



seen me, at last followed me into the room as I returned from a walk one morning. Having 

 seen him gambling with a peon in a by-street only a few days previously, my mind was at once 

 made up. Pretending to believe that the box he carried had been sent from one of the nunneries 

 for sale, before he had time to say a word, half a dollar was offered for it, with a remark that 

 one of my little daughters would be pleased with so pretty a baby-house. The look of indig- 

 nation and hatred with which my really liberal proposition was received, was sufficient warranty 

 that our door would never by darkened by him again. 



There is another class of beggars more persevering, and with whom a stranger finds it far 

 more difficult to deal unscathed. Whilst writing one Sunday morning the servant announced 

 three ladies, who followed immediately behind her. They were evidently just from mass, as their 

 church dresses and carpet-rugs over their arms established. The eldest stated that they were 

 neighbors, who had long desired to become acquainted with me, but had been prevented by 

 various causes, and then presented me to her two daughters, who were somewhere about twenty 

 years of age. Knowing that it was not an unusual custom for the lady of a house to send her 

 card to strangers arriving at the capital, if its male head or her husband should be absent, their 

 civility was duly acknowledged, and nothing more was thought of the visit until it became time 

 to repay it. As I did not possess sufficient " modest assurance" at the time to ask either their 

 names or residence, it became necessary to inquire of friends, and thus describe the persons as 

 well as tell of their visit. They were unanimous in the opinion that it was a scheme to obtain 

 money, as it proved ; and no small amount of wit and laughter were indulged in at my expense 

 and that of my lady visitors. A few days afterwards a little grandson came with a handsome 

 bouquet ; bringing also a message that I was not punctual in returning calls, but was a poor 

 neighbor. Having excused myself under the plea that their house could not be found, only a 

 day or two passed before he came again, this time with a basket of early nectarines, and an offer 

 to show me the way. But the warning of my friends made me ungallant enough to allege occu- 

 pation which prevented my going with him. When my little son arrived from home, the grand- 

 mother came alone to felicitate me on his safe journey, and pressingly offered to take charge of 

 the repairs of his wardrobe. Both attentions were received with as cold courtesy as it was 

 proper to exhibit in one's own parlor to a well dressed and lady-like woman, even though her 

 motives were strongly suspicious. Several weeks elapsed before anything further was seen of 

 my visitors, except in passing along the street. At last, tired of waiting to see me in their own 

 house, the trio came again, the elder daughter saying, with a pretty smile, it was to ask a favor. 

 They had concluded to sell their " quint a" on the " Tajamar," but the house needed repairs 

 which would cost three doubloons a sum not at their immediate command. To dispose of it in 

 its then condition would be a loss to them of many hundred dollars ; and as they knew of a pur- 

 chaser ready, they took the liberty of asking me to lend them the former sum for a week or two. 

 Luckily it was Sunday, and I had not so much money in the house, thus escaping "for the 

 nonce." But at a later period, when the old lady found that her manoeuvres were suspected, if 

 not actually understood, and came to borrow two dollars to pay a doctor whom she felt bound to 

 consult (she told me) for one of her daughters, the excuse could not be made, and I considered 

 myself fortunate to get off so cheaply. The persecution, however, did not end here. Within a 

 week another came, desiring conversation for a single minute with Don Santiago (as they called 

 me), a servant girl attending her, conformably to the customs of society. And in this so- 

 called minute was narrated how she was a stranger from Quillota, who had come to nurse a sick 

 mother, actually destitute of necessities ; how her own husband had gone to my country (Cali- 

 fornia), leaving her a very small sum, and two years had passed without her hearing from him ; 

 how a friend had told her that I was sympathetic and generous to the unfortunate; and how 

 sorry she would be if I considered her importunate. Though convinced from the first- that she 

 was an emissary of the old lady, what could I reply under the circumstances ? Absolutely 

 nothing not of a conciliatory nature ; but notice was given to the portress, the moment she was 

 out of hearing, that when ladies called thereafter for Don Santiago, he would be "not at home." 



