Page:Here and there in Yucatan - miscellanies (IA herethereinyucat00lepl 0).djvu/52

 her in. What little property was found in her home—fifty dollars, some gold ornaments, and clothes—was appropriated by the same kind neighbor to defray expenses. The unconscious woman was placed on a camp-bed, and preparations for the wake were at once begun. A demijohn of strong liquor was bought with the money of the patient, also a lot of cake, four pounds of chocolate, and plenty of black wax candles.

Soon the room was full of men and women, regaling themselves with "drinks" and cigarettes. Young girls with flowers in their hair and powder on their faces were seated around the room, in expectation of cake and chocolate. On one table there were sundry small ornaments, and a wooden crucifix before which burned wax candles. On another, a pitcher of water, glasses, cigars, and beneath it, the demijohn of rum.

An old woman came in; the hostess offered her a cigar, which she accepted, saying: "Thank you, ma'am. Have you got her chickens?"

"Yes," replied the other; "they are all in the coop. She will be dead presently, and they will be killed for this good company."

"Yes, yes," rejoined the dame, lighting her cigarette; "woe to us! what are we in this world!"