THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 89 



stitions are barbarous any more than were the pious 

 New Englanders who used to indulge in equally 

 barbaric practices. In most other relations of life 

 the witch-persecutors are sufficiently harmless and 

 worthy. The Mexican does not often punish for 

 witchcraft, partly because the Mexican witch is a 

 person of lively and retaliatory character and has 

 an unpleasant habit of turning on the persecutor. 

 Even in our civilized Valley the Mexican does not 

 discourse freely of his real and genuine witch — un- 

 less in the guise of a falling star she may be per- 

 ceived scurrying to some baleful interview, or the 

 house-cat on its nightly prowl may caterwaul the 

 information that the witch has found lodgment in 

 its furry form. 



The superstitions of the Mexicans have, in cer- 

 tain instances, a familiar ring to one who has spent 

 many years in the heart of the South. For instance, 

 there is the moon whose proceedings govern sowing 

 and planting, pruning and reaping, and all the daily 

 actions of the Southern farming man. Lately I 

 said to Valentina, that it was sad that in my flock of 

 thoroughbreds the eagerly awaited pullets should 

 have proved to be merely an overplus of cockerels. 



"Ah," replied Valentina, "when you set the eggs, 

 you did not watch the moon!" Valentina has lived 

 with me, or rather worked for me, on and off, a 

 matter of two years, but still stoutly refuses to speak 

 a word of English, and indeed pretends she under- 

 stands none — which is an imposition. "La luna 

 chiquita — oh, chiquitilla! — poco gallinas, mucho 

 gallos! La luna gra-a-a-nde" (spreading arms and 



