WINTER WORK AND PLAY
"See, winter comes to rule the varied year."
--_James Thomson._
WHAT joy in the home when Jose that evening, after the late supper,
told the good news! How they crowded around Antonio, clapping him on
the shoulders! With what glee did Joanna bring out preserved fruits and
sweet cakes for them to eat as they drew their chairs around the hearth!
"We will have many a happy winter evening together;" the father spoke
with a new courage shining in his eyes. "The doctor you sent for,
Antonio, came to-day while you and Jose were away. He told me that if
I rest this winter, free from care, I shall have full use of my right
hand and foot again. Your taking the care from me will be what saves
me, Antonio."
"I can do more than keep you from care, father. I saved money while I
was away, and have over two hundred dollars now, even after paying my
passage home. I will spend some of this money to make the farm better."
This was the first time Antonio had spoken of his savings. He had kept
silent until he could decide as to whether or not he would go back to
America.
"You are a rich man, my son." A look of pride shone in the father's
eyes as he spoke.
"You deserve it, Antonio. You are a good son," the mother said, as she
wiped happy tears from her eyes.
Indeed this seemed to the whole family a very great fortune. Even
Senhor Castillo was not worth more than five hundred dollars, and he
was the wealthiest man for miles around.
"I will buy a new plough and some new tools. We shall soon have enough
better crops to more than pay for this spending. When you are well
again, father, there will be two men of us to work instead of one."
"And what about Jose?" The father put his left hand upon the little
boy's shoulder. Jose was kneeling beside him, roasting chestnuts on the
hearth.
"I am going to school this winter, Antonio says." Jose looked up with a
happy face.
"A school term will begin early in January, at the village. Jose can go
for the sixteen weeks; he is strong enough to walk there and back, I
think," said Antonio.
"Sometimes can I go, too?" Malfada asked, tossing back her thick black
hair.
"Yes, little one, you can go with Jose, that is the best plan. Then you
can help each other with your lessons," the father said quickly.
Soon the winter began. The dull weather with heavy rains lasted two
or three weeks. In this Portuguese country, autumn meets winter with
pouring rain and with strong winds, which break down almost everything
in the gardens and which cover gardens and fields with wet leaves and
long sprays of vine.
During these days Antonio and Jose wore about the farm-work curious
coats made of several layers of dried grass. These were some protection
against rain and wind. But there was not much work to be done until the
heavy storms should cease.
In late November the sun came forth brightly. It was time to plough the
stubble fields.
The only plough Jose had ever seen until now, was one made of a crooked
branch of hardwood tree, shod with iron,--of the same pattern as the
plough used by the Romans two thousand years ago. It was a plough so
light in weight that after the day's work was done, the man lifted it
from the ground and hung it over the yoke of the ox.
This old kind of plough was drawn by one ox, and it stirred the soil
only six or seven inches deep. The new plough--which Antonio brought
home one day behind the oxen--turned a deep straight furrow in the
light crumbling soil.
The old harrow, to level the ground after the ploughing, was made of
fifteen or twenty teeth of iron set into a wooden framework. The new
harrow which Antonio bought had many strong, close-set teeth.
Jose had followed after the plough with great delight, to watch its
working. Now, when Antonio let him ride on the harrow-seat, the boy
kept his head turned back most of the way, in order that he might see
the ploughed land grow level under the harrow's teeth.
"Surely our crops will be doubled next season--twice as large as ever
before--because the ground is so well-prepared," the father said each
day as he watched the work from the doorway. He seemed to gain in
strength daily, even during this dullest season of the year. It was
hard, though, for him to be unable to help, for there was much work to
be done.
Jose was given the sowing of the winter wheat and rye, and of the maize
for the winter food of the cattle. Antonio pruned the grape-vines and
cut off the tops of the trees on which the vines hung. Soon the maize
shot up, and the young stalks had to be cut, morning and night.
Jose stayed around the house all one market-day afternoon, taking care
of little Tareja and being company for his father, while the mother,
Joanna and Malfada went to the village with Antonio. Malfada dangled
the silver-link bag from her wrist, just as Antonio knew she would; and
she brought back home in it a little boxful of candies for Jose. It was
a great day for them all.
There were long, pleasant evenings, for Portuguese families stay at
home together instead of going to their neighbors for amusement. Jose
played softly on his violin. The mother, Joanna and Malfada sewed or
embroidered. Antonio read aloud from some book, or oftener from a
newspaper he had bought on the weekly market-day and which gave news
of the nation's progress. Sometimes, but not often, he went out with
his flute; and then the family knew that he had gone to serenade Inez
Castillo.
Swiftly the days passed. Soon came _Natal_--Christmas--the great
holiday of the year. On this day and on New Year's, there were
fireworks and decorations at each farmhouse, singing, and visits back
and forth.
Daily between Christmas and New Year's the Almaida family ate _bôlos de
bacalhau_, and _rebanadas_,--thick slices of _brôa_ soaked in new milk,
fried in olive oil and spread with honey. _Rebanadas_ is the special
holiday food for Christmas and New Year's. The red tomato salt-cellar
was used at table on each of these days.
The holidays from farm-work lasted up to the Feast of the Epiphany,
January 6th. On the day after, the school in the village opened.
Five days each week Jose and Malfada walked barefoot the three miles in
the early morning, returning in the dusk of the mild winter day. The
walk was very tiring sometimes. It was fortunate that both children
were strong, and used to being much on their feet.
At first Carlos wanted to go with them. But soon he seemed to
understand that he was not to be allowed to take these morning walks.
On each school-day, however, at four o'clock, he would begin watching
for the children, and the moment he caught sight of them coming along
the wood-lane, he dashed off at top speed to meet them.
The old parrot was very funny these days. So much going and coming
confused him. In the mornings when Jose and Malfada went away he
called out _Accolade_--welcome, and in the afternoons, when they
returned, _à deus_--good-by. These were the only words he knew; Jose
had tried in vain to teach him other words, just as Antonio had tried
when a little boy.
"The parrot is growing very old; he is losing his sense," the mother
said one day when the bird greeted the children on their return from
school with _à deus! à deus! à deus!_
"Oh no, mother; I am sure he thinks it is a joke, just as we do," Jose
said, very earnestly.
On the Saturday holiday Jose worked from dawn till dark, helping
Antonio. The vine-pruning and tying did not end until February. Jose
learned to tie the vine branches skilfully to the trees, leaving room
for the vines to grow and not be hurt by the cord. In February, March
and April came the sowing for the crops of the summer and autumn.
The sixteen weeks' term of school ended in April. Jose had been put
into the class of the quickest learners. He had gone rapidly ahead of
Malfada, who, although three years older, stayed in the lower class.
Jose had been eager over his books,--far more eager than Malfada. But
he ran almost all the way home, and reaching there long before she did,
put away his books gladly. The school-room, with its crowd of boys and
girls, had seemed hot and dusty those days when the outside world was
growing so beautiful.
Antonio was out in the field, planting cabbages, when Jose hurried
toward him calling: "No more school, Antonio, no more school now."
Antonio straightened back his shoulders and asked: "Is this the boy who
wanted so much to go to school?"
Jose's face turned very red under its tan. But when he saw the teasing
look in Antonio's eyes, he laughed and said: "It is good to have
spring come after winter, so I think it is good to change from going
to school to not going. Besides, the teacher says there will be a ten
weeks' term next autumn."
"Spring unlocks the flowers, so the spring should let children come out
of doors," said Antonio. "There will be some hard work for you, Jose,
but never mind!"
"Never mind," repeated Jose, racing back to the house with Carlos at
his heels.