42 . OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



quired is missing. Where is it ? ' Quien 

 sabe ?' who knows ? The retort courteous, 

 but unsatisfying. 



Now, there is Hernandez he is neither 

 repulsive nor degraded in appearance, not 

 even plain ; on the contrary, he has some- 

 what the air of a peaceful Spanish hidalgo 

 in miniature, and of tender years. He is 

 therefore ornamental, and his manners are 

 charming ; also his English is fair to middling. 

 He is also not cruel to animals. Hernandez 

 is really good to horses so long as their 

 demands upon him are not too exacting. 

 He is always courteous, sober, and great 

 day in de mawnin' ! to quote our negro 

 friends HONEST. At the same time, as 

 before intimated, Mexican honesty is apt 

 to be of the comparative order, and the time 

 came when that of Hernandez gradually be- 

 came more and more comparative. The inch 

 given was assumed to supply also the ell, 

 and kindness did not seem to produce as 

 in the better sort of negro a greater faith- 

 fulness. 



Hernandez was agreeable in every capacity 

 save that for which he was hired, i.e., work. 



