OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MEXICAN 143 



find on the mountains, if possible ; if not, 

 hauls them toilsomely up their sides and, 

 when darkness falls, lights his fires upon the 

 crags and peaks for miles around. Therefore 

 it is that, should the Holy Virgin come our 

 way, there is no fear lest her feet should 

 stumble in the night. When bedtime arrives, 

 we step out on the porch, and look towards 

 the high mountains ; the fires still burn. 



The superstitions of the Mexican have, in 

 certain cases, a familiar ring to one who has 

 spent many years in the heart of the South. 

 For instance, there is the moon, whose pro- 

 ceedings govern, in the Southern States, 

 sowing and planting, pruning and reaping, 

 and all the daily actions of the farming man. 

 Lately I said to Valentina that it was sad 

 that, in my flock of thoroughbred chickens, 

 all my pullets should have turned out to be 

 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 understands none 



