Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/121

 us speak the piece from the platform. Every niño wear his bes' clothes.

"I have been ver' good; I work hart. I wash all the clothes. I sweep all the floor and do the dishes ver' careful, so maybe they give me the new dress for the las' day of school.

"To-night they laugh at me and say: 'The ol' dress is good enough for a gringo!' I haf learn the longest piece in the hymn-book to speak from the platform, but when the teacher call 'Rosario Richards' I must shake my head, for I will not stand up before them all in the ol' shoes of Señora Fuentes and the ol' dress."

The child threw aside her shawl to show her rags, and thrust out the woman's shoe tied on with twine. "I haf nothing but this—nada! nada!" She buried her face in her shawl.

"I had no idea that you had so very many troubles, Rosario."

"Ver', ver' many troubles, señorita."

"What color do you like best—the very best of all?"

Rosario considered.