From Hell to Breakfast Page: 43
viii, 214 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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MEXICAN MONCHAUSEN
tions would run from mouth to mouth for the benefit of
those whose ill-fortune had caused them to miss the men-
tidero over which at every stop he presided.
The donkeys having been relieved and their cargo stored
safely, Don Gregorio was borne away by a favored and
flattered host to supper. At dusk, he came forth and spread
his wares by the fire which his prospective customers and
audience had lit at the corner of one of the main corrals.
The fire served a social purpose only, since the night was
warm; it furnished light and identified the gathering place
for the benefit of late comers.
Before any other business might be proceeded to, how-
ever, the matter of the purchase of a proper amount of the
peddler's stock must be consummated; for Don Gregorio
never consented to relax and display his talents until a suf-
ficient number of articles had been disposed of to arouse in
him an expansive and care-free humor. Until he judged that
he had glutted the market he was business-like and taciturn,
but when satisfied with the evening's sales and barter he
would relax on his blanket and wait for a cue.
There was a regular technique, universally practiced, in
getting Don Gregorio started and keeping him going. He
never broke vulgarly into boastful narrative, but required
that his audience furnish him with a framework upon which
to embroider. One tale told, he would subside into silence
until he chose to accept another cue, and so he would sit
even into the small hours, unless some rare exhibition of
levity or unbelief by some uninstructed member of his audi-
ence broke up the sitting prematurely. Don Gregorio required
absolute gravity and unconditional acceptance of his tales as
the price of performance; he tolerated no ribaldry, and if
disturbed by any breach of decorum he would rise with
dignity, recover his blanket and the remains of his stock, and
stalk away in returning taciturnity to sleep.
"My cow, the red one, is sick," proffered a voice from
the periphery of the firelight. "I cannot tell what is the
matter with her. She grazes and still gives a little milk,
but she is gradually wasting away. I have even tried feed-
ing her, but it doesn't help."43
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From Hell to Breakfast (Book)
Volume of popular folklore of Texas and Mexico, including religious anecdotes, stories about Native American dances, stories about petroleum and oil fields, folk songs, legends, customs and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 205.
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Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964. From Hell to Breakfast, book, 1944; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67649/m1/51/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.