Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/108

84 almost utter solitude. I was old when these misfortunes came upon me; alas! how much older has grief made me since that time! And when I tell you that I am not absolutely poor; that my wants are few; and that I am as contented as it is likely I can ever be in this world, you are in possession of nearly my whole history—such as it was pre-ordained to be."

Thus runs a translation of the old alcalde's narrative, word for word, as he related it to me.