GAMES AND SPORTS
THE _hacienda_ was more beautiful than it had been in the fall, and
Fernando was soon busy as a bee. He had of course to attend school, but
it was a country school, not so strict nor so large as the city one,
and he enjoyed showing off his superior accomplishments to the other
boys. This the others did not relish, and there was a grand fight to
see which was the strongest, and when Fernando had whipped all the boys
of his own size, he was happy and felt that he had not disgraced the
name of Guzman. Manuel did not attend him in the country, and Fernando
much enjoyed doing as he liked, roaming about, taking his own time to
come home, tramping about the orange groves, or sailing boats in the
brook.
When school was over and Antonio came for the promised visit, what
merry times there were! The boys went swimming at all hours. They
ran bareheaded all over the place, Mazo after them, their constant
companion. Fernando had a few lessons to do each morning, a master to
teach him his French, music, and drawing,--for boys of his class in
Spain are accomplished as well as educated,--but these were soon over,
and then, stung by the bees, burnt by the sun, wet by the rain, eating
green oranges, doing in fact what American boys, or boys all over the
world will do if let alone, this was the way in which the two Spanish
boys spent their vacation.
Juanita, meantime, was having a very happy time. She, too, had a few
lessons, and her _aya_ was giving place to a governess, but she was
still too young to learn much, and the beautiful out-of-doors was a
great lesson-book to her. Riding Babieca, tagging after the boys,
sun-tanned and rosy, she grew strong and hearty, and was never so
happy as when allowed to go with her brother and Antonio. Generally
they took very good care of her, and her mother felt that she was safe
with the two boys. Fernando teased her a good deal, but Antonio was of
a calmer mood, and was always her gentle knight.
All manner of games were played by these happy children, who, with
their little neighbours of the nearest _hacienda_, made a merry group.
They were simple-hearted little folk, and the boys had not reached the
state described in the old Spanish rhyme of the boys of Madrid:
"They should be romping with us,
For they are only children yet;
But they will not play at anything
Except a cigarette.
No plays will cheer the Prado
In future times, for then
The little boys of seven
Will all be married men."
Fernando, and even the graver Antonio, entered into all the childish
sports with the rest, and an especial favourite was a play very much
like our "London Bridge is Falling Down," called the "Gate of Alcala."
Two children are chosen to head the lines, and called Rose and Pink.
They form an arch with their arms held up and their fingers locked,
and under this the other children pass headed by the mother. They sing
gaily a little dialogue:
_Rose and Pink._ "To the viper of love that hides in the flowers
The only way lies here."
_Mother._ "Then here I pass and leave behind
One little daughter dear."
_Rose and Pink._ "Shall the first one or the last
Be captive of our chain?"
_Mother._ "Oh, the first one runs so lightly,
The last one shall remain."
_Chorus._ "Pass on, oho, pass on, aha!
By the Gate of Alcala."
The last child, with squeals of delight, is caught in the falling arms,
and chooses whether she shall follow Rose or Pink, taking her place
behind the one of her choice. When all have been chosen, there is a
grand tug of war, the merry party singing, meantime.
_Rose and Pink._ "Let the young mind make its choice,
As young minds chance to think;
Now is Rose your leader,
Or go you with the Pink?
Let the young mind make its choice
By laws the young heart knows.
Now is Pink your leader
Or go you with the Rose?"
_Chorus._ "Pass on, oho, pass on, aha,
By the Gates of Alcala."
The boys enjoyed playing soldier, and would whittle toy swords out of
sticks, and form in line, marching and singing:
"The Catalans are coming,
Marching two by two;
All who hear their drumming,
Tiptoe for a view,
Aye, aye, tiptoe for a view;
Red and yellow banners,
Pennies very few.
Aye, aye, pennies very few.
"Red and yellow banners
The moon comes out to see;
If moons had better manners
She'd take me on her knee.
Aye, aye, she'd take me on her knee.
She peeps through purple shutters;
Would I were tall as she.
Aye, aye, would I were tall as she.
"Soldiers need not learn letters
Nor any schooly thing;
But, unless they mind their betters,
In golden chains they swing.
Aye, aye, in golden chains they'll swing.
Or sit in silver fetters,
Presents from the king.
Aye, aye, presents from the king."
The prettiest of all the games is that of the "Little White Pigeons,"
which all Andalusian children love to play. The little companions form
in two rows, and, facing each other, dance forward and slip beneath the
upraised arms of the opposite side. Thus they pass under the "Silver
Arches" to Sevilla and Granada:
"Little white pigeons are dreaming of Seville,
Sun in the palm-trees, rose and revel.
Lift up the arches, gold as the weather,
Little white pigeons come flying together.
"Little white pigeons, dream of Granada,
Glistening snows on Sierra Nevada.
Lift up the arches, silver as fountains,
Little white pigeons fly to the mountains."
Our little Spanish cousins play nearly all the same games that American
children play, only their "Blind Man's Buff" is called "Blind Hen," and
"Pussy Wants a Corner," is called "Cottage to Rent," and played with
the rhyme:
"Cottage to rent, try the other side,
You see this one is occupied."
Their game of tag is called the "Moon and the Morning Stars," and is
played by one child being chosen as the Moon and forced to keep within
the shadow. The rest of the children, being Morning Stars, are safe
only where it is light. If the Moon can catch a Star in the shadow, the
Star must become a Moon, and as the Stars scamper in and out of the
shadow, all sing:
"O the Moon and the Morning Stars,
O the Moon and the Morning Stars,
Who dares to tread--oh
Within the shadow."
"Hide and Seek" the children played, and "Forfeits," and all manner
of other games, and as the sun nearly always shines in Andalusia, the
summer was one long merry round of out-of-door fun.