Puro Mexicano Page: 37
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MEXICAN TALES
to wear sandals. Your cow would make one hundred pairs of
guaraches and ten times one hundred would bring one thousand
pesos. You see," continued Don Pedro, "you see, a good friend
to tip one off and a bit of figuring and a bit of common sense
are all one needs these days to make money out of no money
at all."
*Is it really true," asked Josh, "that in Aldama guaraches are
ten pesos a pair?"
"Hombre, would I say so if they were not?" responded Don
Pedro. "Go ask Lupe Aguilar, the brother-in-law of Cuca
Ramirez. It was only this morning that he told me, and this
very day I shall kill some cows and sell their hides for
guaraches."
The trick worked. Within an hour Jose Dias was no longer
content with the even trend of things. "One thousand pesos,"
he mused. "Just fancy, the vieja could have fine clothes, the
daughters the many things they need, and I would no longer
have to work. A thousand pesos, figusrese no mas! Just figure
that to yourself!" The peladito became such a victim of illusions
that before nightfall he had killed his cow, skinned her, and
cut the hide into small strips the size of the sole of a man's foot.
Without caring for the meat in any manner, he left that very
night for Aldama.
Bright and early the following morning on a street in Aldama
two policemen were startled by a strange vendor's call.
"Guaraches!" was the cry. "Guaraches! Ten pesos a pair."
"Is he drunk or crazy?" asked one of the policemen.
"We will take him to the presidente municipal and soon find
out," said the other.
Jose told his story, and everyone except the presidente
laughed.
"Carrasco has caused you to make a fool of yourself, my
friend," said he. "Your rawhide isn't worth three pesos, much
less a thousand. Here, take this coin, buy yourself a taco--
sandwich--or two and leave Aldama."
Mechanically Jose accepted the gift and, without bothering
to shoulder his bundle of guarache leather, took to the street.37
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Puro Mexicano (Book)
Collection of popular Mexican folklore, including folk songs, folk tales, myths, legends, and other essays. The index begins on page 256.
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Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964. Puro Mexicano, book, 1969; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc77209/m1/49/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.