Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/419

Rh at the table drinking pulque and recalling their youth, until this cheerful beverage reconciles them to the epoch in which they live. The greater part of the night is spent in this way.

The following day they repair to the house of the bridegroom, where the feast is concluded with another dinner and dance; the only difference being that on this occasion the bride has nothing to do with the preparations.

The two days which are devoted to the solemnization of the wedding being spent, the couple receive the blessing of their parents and retire to their own house to enjoy the honeymoon.

The following is a specimen of a street conversation between a man and woman of the common people.

Says the man: "Pos onde va mi vida, pos de donde sale tan linda como una rosa? ni siquiera habla?" ("Where are you going, my life? Where do you come from as nice as a rose? Don't you want to speak to me?")

"Pos ande habia de ir? Mire que pregunta!" ("Where am I going? Listen, what a question!"), she replies.

"Pos claro onde va? ò ya porque lleva su rebosito nuevo se la hecha de lado!" ("Well, that's all right, but where are you going? Now that you have on your new rebozo, you are beginning to put on airs!"), he retorts. At the same moment he catches her by the rebozo.

"Oh, suélteme, mire que aburricion con V. todos los dias que lo encuentro me ha d'estar moliendo! Caramba con V.?" ("Oh, let me alone! what a nuisance you are! Every day I see you, you bother me so! Goodness, what can I do with you?") she vehemently replies.

"Pero no se enoje. Me quiere ó no me quiere? digame y si no me dice no la dejo ir!" ("Don't get mad. Do you love me or not? tell me, and if you don't tell me I shan't let you go"), says he, pacifically.

"Dale otra vez, pos ya no se lo dije el otro dia que no me ande molestando?" ("But didn't I tell you the other day not to bother me again?") says she.

"Cuando me lo ha dicho? mire nada mas que embustera!" ("When did you tell me that? See what a story-teller you are!") answers the man.