The little girl answered rather shyly. “I was just thinking,” she said, “how much I would like to carry some good things for the holiday to the poor sick soldiers in the hospitals.”
“Well spoken, my dear, it’s a thought worthy of a soldier’s daughter,” said Señor Vasquez. “And what is your wish, my son?” he asked.
“When we have been to the hospital, may we buy something for Mariquita?” asked Antonio.
“Indeed you may, you shall take her whatever you think will make her most happy,” answered their father.
“Oh, I’m so glad,” cried Anitia. “It was good you thought of it, Antonio. Mariquita was so kind to help me make my nacimento,” she explained to her father. “It certainly was splendid,” said Señor Vasquez. Anitia, pleased with his praise, thought gratefully of the many hours her mother’s friend had spent helping her make the plaster representation of the birth of Christ which every Spanish child prepares at Christmas time. Thanks to Mariquita’s deft fingers, the little figures of the Baby, St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin had been fashioned most artistically and Anitia might well be proud of her nacimento.
“First, we will buy whatever you wish to take to the hospital,” said Señor Vasquez. They had left the river behind them and were back in the city streets again. Soon they paused in a busy market-place where swarthy peasants were displaying their wares and a crowd of purchasers were buying holiday dainties.
There was such a bewildering display of good things that it was hard to make a selection. The luscious golden oranges of Andalusia were piled high in pyramids and Anitia said she wanted some for the soldiers. Antonio suggested that they add some nuts from Granada and the market-man displayed some fresh dates from Tangiers which their father added to their store.
Both children looked longingly at the various sweetmeats, dried and candied, which were shown so invitingly, but their father told them they would not be good for sick people. He bought some turmi, however, and laughed with the salesman at the children’s delight when he had the parcel of this favorite Christmas candy wrapped separately for their own use.
The shops were decorated with ribbons and streamers, while all kinds of wares were given a holiday air by their decorations. Even the sausages were gaily displayed and the folds of red and yellow serge which the peasant women buy gave an added note of color.
There was laughter and gay talk. Sometimes a dark-eyed girl danced gracefully while she tossed her tambourine, and in other places the low monotonous scraping of the zambomba