Sampaguita garlands [short story]

Title

Creator

Ancheta, Herminia

Language

English

Year

1936

Subject

Short stories, Philippine (English)

Philippine fiction (English)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[Berto trotted up street and down alleys in search of customers who will buy his sampaguita garlands. He found a lady's purse and returned it to its owner. ]

Fulltext

340 THE YOUNG CITIZEN .f•rnnon·y, J.'l.J6 SAMPAGUITA GARLANDS ALL through the hot afternoon, Berto trotted up street and down alleys in search of customers. He was on the look out for ladies to buy his sampaguita garlands. "Sampaguita garlands! Sampaguita garlands!" he called to a slim looking girl. The girl shook her head and walked on her way. The old afternoon sunshine glazed brightly on the stone patio of the Quiapo church. Berto was sure to find customers here where women often came to lay offerings to the patron saint. He was lucky enough to sell six garlands to a couple of young women. The garlands would match their balintawak costumes. Berta's attention was caught by the sign boards of the old Metropolitan show. Berto passed through the pavement across the crowded street to the show house. Inside the Cine the audience roared with laughter. The hero was Douglas Fairbanks. A couple came out of the show house. In an instant Berto ran after them. "Sampaguita Ali," he pleaded. Perhaps it was the look on his face which won the woman. "All right, I want two garlands for a cenBy HERMINIA ANCHETA* tavo" replied the woman with a tone of finality. "Surely Ali, how many please." "Only five centavos" came the answer. Berto allowed the woman to pick out the good ones. Berto slipped the coin· which the woman paid him into his pocket. His flowers were all sold. In a hole in a pavement just a stone's throw from his place lay a purse. A lady's purse. His eyes swept from the pavement to the young couple dis'.lppearing in the distance. He stooped and picked up the pocket. It was bulky. He supposed it col'ltained peso bills. That meant a new shirt for him and then a good supper. f Pfrase turn ro page 356) "' ,Teacher, Tayabas Elementary School. HAPPY LITTLE NENA (Continued from page 335) Butterflies and flowers were em· broidered on the table runners. chair covers and curtains. Nena felt as if she were in a garden. But che most beautiful thing in the room was a sweet little girl with big curls on her head and a bean· tiful twinkle in her eyes. ''Anita, I have brought you a playmate.'' "Oh, how do you do?" Anita extended her hand to greet Nena. "My name is Nena. I live in tht: small house at the foot of that hill.'· "Would you like to play doU: I have many. many dolls." Anita opened a case. She brought out a Japanese doll in kimono. ShP. put out a Spanish doll in a beautiful lace dress. There was a French doll with white hair and wide skirt. There were dolls· that said. 'Mamma" and dolls that danced. There was a baby doll in a crib. There was a big lady doll in a carriage. Nena looked long at everyone vf them. She touched their rosy cheeks. She stroked their curly hair. Sh~ sajd over and over again. "cute. lovely. beautiful!" She forgot Father. Mother, and Baby at home. She had not seen such beautiful dol!s before. Her dolls wen~ tiny thing:-> without hair and without clothes. On her way home, Nena kept thinking of Anita's dolls. If she could only have one which saic!, "Mamma!" When she was met by her mother on the stairs. she ~ried breathlessly. "O Mother, such a beautiful house!" And the girl is very lovel >'. Her name is Anita. She had dozens of th~ prettiest dolls. Mother, may I have a doll that cries 'Mamma' ?" THE YOUNG CITIZEN LOVE OF COUNTRY (Continut:d from page 336) country so dear as the Philippines, because she is your motherland. Under her skies. you firs<: saw the light of day. Just as you can't help breathing her air. so you can't help admiring her woods, brr rivers, her mountains; her sunshine. her plains and valleys, because they are filled with a singular beauty. You are growing up under thi?ir good and kind influences. Are you not glad that you were born in a country to which our Mother Nature has been most generous? You can show your love of country by serving her with all your soul. True love of country does not mean blind worship of ever.ything that h~s to do with one's country. "My country, right or wrong!" is not a wise prinCiple to ~follow. Truth and justice should guide your conduct. If ,you know something to be wrong and improper, you should not uphold it simply because it happens to be of your native land. The best way to show that you have the welfare of your country at heart. is to work for the happiness and prosperity of its people. You should employ yourself in some profitable occupation so that you may be able to make your own living. You should willingly help those who you see are in need of help. You should love your fel· low country men as· you love your mother murmured very softly. "Ma, ma. ma. Da da da" cam~ the silvery ripple of the baby's voi...:e from the bedroom. Nena tore herself away from Mother's embrace. In a moment she had Baby in her "Perhaps I can buy you one ne>.:~ arms. Christmas if I could begin savin~ "Why· Mother· Baby can sa;: now. I must save at least fifty cen- Mamma like Anita's doll. She can tavos every month and ic will taki? say Dada. Perhaps it means Daddy me a whole year co save enough to She can rry and she can laugh. buy a big doll." Don·c buy me J doll. I love Baby "A whole year. Mother~" Ne- better than all Anita's dolls." ua's eyl'S were very wide with sur- "Tcy. Tcy" crooned che baby. prise. "Mocher, she calJs me 'Siscer. Sis"Yes, dear, and you will have to ter'." And Nena pressed the baby's EO without school dresses." Th.: checks against hers. SAMPAGUIT A GARLANDS (Continued fro,., PQlfe .uo; He shot out of the scrret like .l bullet. He was swallowed in a stream of faccory women picking their way home. He was almost crushed below the wheels of a tn:ic.ab had not the whistle of a tr:'lffic policeman stopped the car. Berto pushed on unmindful of th.: driver's curses. He found them at the corner of Echague and Vilblobos. He was panting and shout1?d: "Ali. Ali is this your purse?" ''Oh yes. that is mine.·: Where dal you find it?" "Near the show house," answered Berto wiping his forehead with the hand. The man brought out a few coins and handed them to Berto. Bert.;> flashed a smile and was gone. By this ti~e fleeting shadows had come. When Berto was gone the wom,1:t opened her purse. Two folded show programs, .i prayer book, and a rosary came out. Berto strode off, whistling a familiar talkie song hit as his fingers caressed the two five-centavo Pieces which the man had given him. own brother. If you truly love your country, you will obey and respect its laws. If the people do not obey their own government, there can be no peacl! and order in the land. Under sucli a condition. the life as well as the property of the peop~e are constanLly in danger of being lost. Ours is a country in which the people rule themselves by electing their own officials. If we want a good, dun government, we must elect only those men whom we believe to be entirely capable to run the government. Once they have been elected. it is our solem.n duty to obey and respect them. What must you do when your country is drawn into war with another? There can be only one an· ~ w;:r- Fight for her! If need be. die for her! As patriO[ic sons of your motherland. you should be willing to shed your last drop of blood for her.

pages

340, 356

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