the houses into which I went where a pretty young woman of twenty years sat crocheting, while the baby slept in his petate cradle and the husband lay sick on his humble cot in the corner. She cordially welcomed me, and when I was seated, he, though feeble and trembling, raised himself upon his elbow, tendering me the hospitality of his pobre casa; then asked his wife to prepare for me a cup of coffee or chocolate, which she did.
I condoled with him on his illness and hoped would soon be well. To this he replied he hoped so, but as he had consumption, there was little chance for his recovery; but if it were possible, he would like to get well, "in order to serve me the rest of his life!"
I was agreeably surprised to find so many sewing machines, and that the women understand their use quite as well as we do. A machine agent informed me that the women of this class are as prompt to meet their installments as those in any country. But the price of sewing is so very cheap—only one cent a yard—that they must do a great deal to render themselves self-sustaining.
Babies are cared for with great tenderness. They are wrapped as tightly as possible in "swaddling-clothes "until about one month old, when the calzoncillos (little breeches) are substituted, for both
