The adventures of a beggar boy [series]

Title

Creator

Pena, Julio Cesar

Language

English

Year

1936

Subject

Children stories

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[Chapter 10 of the series]

Fulltext

THE YOUNG CITIZEN January, 19.Jl> Chapter Ten AMONG BARRIO BOYS ACCUSTOMED to a life of regular habits, Tonio did not find any difficulty in following his daily schedule of work. Two hom·s in the afternoon, from four to six o'clock, were his to spend as he pleased. He easily made friends with the peasant boys of the neighborhood. They all liked him because he had no "airs," although he had been brought up in Manila. When they asked him about the manner of iiving in the big city, he did not brag at all about it. In fact Tonio made the boys understand that city boys were in no way superior to the barrio boys. Tonio found the barrio boys more congenial. Their pranks were harmless and their games wholesome. At sundown before the boys drove the carabaos home, they played leap frog. Tonio's friends taught him all the tricks of the game until he became just as skillful as they. He learned to balance himself standing on a carabao's back. On moonlight nights the boys played "patintero." Among the farm boys, there was one who was particularly friendly and played the part of big brother to the smaller ones. Every boy called him "Ka Jose." He taught the boys how to make lanterns and kites and how to initiate bird calls. Hill father, too, was very popular among the THE ADVENTURES OF A BEGGAR BOY by Julio Cesar Pena boys. The old man told them the most fantastic tales about enchanted princes, kind fairies, and wicked witches. He knew the local names and legends of constellations. He did not tire repeating the tales about "Juda's Purse," "The Three Marys," the "Cross," and the "Hair of Queen Esther." He was illiterate, but he could chant pages and pages of the "Pasion" and recite in a sing-song manner the entire adventures of such heroes as Carlo Magno, Rodrigo, and Bernardo Carpio. The children of the country seemed to Tonio neare1· to God. At d·usk they hurried home to be with the rest of the family for January, J.9.16 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 34) the evening p1·ayer. Every chil<l coul<l say the rosa1·y. Every young person greete<l an ol<ler one at night with "Good evening" or "mano po," bowing low as he uttered the words in a most reverent manner. The young people were regular church goers. Tonio observed that the faces of the country people seemed bright and happy on Sunday. The traces of poverty and daily grind seemed to banish from their countenance as Sunday <lawned. Having been brought up in the old-fashioned way, Tonio found he had much in common with the barrio boys. He realized that country life was just the life for him. His once vague ambition took a definite form. He decided to prepare himself for the farm. The last days of May were most pleasant and gay. Every village had its own fiesta as each had its own patron saint. Simultaneously almost every street had its series of -"Sta. Cruz de Mayo" processions. To climax all the minor "fiestas," a general "Flores de Mayo" festival was held at the end of May. While nobody /in the City paid attention to him, everybody in the country seemed to have taken a fancy to him. Several times he played the part of "Constantino" at processions in honor 0f the Holy Cross of May. About a week befo1·e the opening of schools in June, Tonio's Lolo was called by Mr. and Mrs.· de! Valle. ''As we once told you," Mr. de! Valle began, "it is our intention to send Tonio to school. We have a barrio school here." "But I wish to send him to a school in the City. Anyway Mr. de! Valle goes down every day," Mrs. de! Valle interrupted. "Yes, Madam," the old man agreed, "I believe the schools in the City a~e superior to our barrio school. But I am afraid to let him stay alone among strangers the whole day." "Oh, your fears are unfounded. Pupils are taken care of in schools," Mr. de! Valle blurted in defense of public schools. "If you would rather have him in a private school, I am willing to send him to one," offered Mrs. de! Valle. "Oh; no, Madam, it would be too much . to ask that of you," the old man exclaimed. ''Besides, I want Tonio to mingle with poor children and to meet problems which he must learn to solve by himself. However, I would not want him to go with street boys from whom he will learn nothing good." "All right, then," Mr. de! Valle finall~· said, "think it over. YOU have a whole week to decide." "Yes, Sir, we shall talk it over. Although my boy is young, he has a mature mind." (To be continued)

pages

342-343

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