A corner of Spain
Miriam Coles Harris
Paperback
(RareBooksClub.com, July 11, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ... dinner. The old woman placed a table for us. It was a small low table, and we brought it close up to the fire inside the chimney. Everybody in Spain uses low chairs, which are like dachshunds in the matter of legs; after giving us a couple of these she went away for a cloth; then for two soup-plates, which she washed before giving us. Each knife and spoon she seemed to bring from a separate source, one from a bureau-drawer, another from a high shelf; she went up stairs for the cup and saucer, and I have little doubt she brought them from between the blankets of her bed. In the meanwhile the cold and darkness had increased the circle around the fire. A herd of goats came pattering in at the great open door. I was afraid they were going to join us, but they went through to the farmyard, and a boy shut the gates upon them. A man on a mule rode into the room, hitched his beast to the swinging iron chain, unwrapped the muffler about his neck, and came up to the fire to warm himself. There were a good many children, more or less dirty, swarming about. A soldier took the least one on his knee, and seemed kindly disposed towards it. Finally the repast was ready. The two potatoes and some ashy salt were placed before us. The nuns at the convent had insisted on putting up a basket of luncheon for us. We had thought it very unnecessary, but we opened it with eager interest now. What treasures it contained! We need not have ordered "dinner." Butter, French rolls, cold meat, sandwiches, chocolate, figs, raisins, cake, wine, biscuits, eggs, tea! But we had two days to stay in these wolfish mountains before we could get away; we must husband our resources. Three of the hungriest cats I ever saw fastened themselves on the basket covers, and raged with desire to...