THE MEXICAN IN NEW MEXICO 43 



Had I been able to give him thirty dollars 

 a month and his board in return for a few 

 light chores, it would no doubt have been 

 satisfactory to retain him as a pleasant 

 appendage to the establishment ; but as I 

 was not able thus to support him in affluence 

 and ease, we were compelled to part. Of 

 the six months our contract endured, several 

 weeks were consumed in the ceremony of 

 marriage, which for the Mexican bridegroom 

 appears to be beset with complications. 

 There were the new relatives to be 

 courteously entreated above all, to be fed, 

 lavishly and numerously wedding garments 

 to be provided for the bride, etc., and much 

 of this with the aid of my waggon and team, 

 and on wages due only in rather dim per- 

 spective. For me remained the privilege 

 of providing a home for the bride and groom 

 against the time when they should declare 

 themselves ready to occupy it. Over and 

 above this, I enjoyed the cheap privilege of 

 hope. But hope proved poor provender on 

 which to subsist. Whether Hernandez was 

 already reaping the not uncommon fruits of 

 marrying above his station for he considered 



