isabelita

Updated: May 20, 2025

The long, low house was partly roofed with tiles, and the adobe walls of the dwelling were a yard thick, as any one might see who looked at the windowsills. On one of these broad sills Isabelita leaned, her black eyes fixed on the bone gate-posts that she could see through the blossoming hollyhocks. There was a displeased expression on the young girl's face.

Mary E. (Mary Ellen) Bamford - Out of the Triangle: a story of the Far East

However, as I was turning off down the orange grove again, the bulky señora seemed to think that something might be made out of it after all, for she called out to know whether I wouldn't like Isabelita to accompany me Isabelita being the small girl, then engaged at unravelling a bamboo for a whitewash brush under the shade of the family date-palm. Or was there nothing else she could do for me?

Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne - The Recipe for Diamonds

She was watching for her brother Timoteo, who would soon come from school. "He must go for the cow tonight," resolved Isabelita aloud in Spanish. "I will not go! I wish the Americans had never come to this town! In the old days, my father says, there were no cattle notices on the trees. My father did not have to go for cows every night!"

Mary E. (Mary Ellen) Bamford - Out of the Triangle: a story of the Far East

And Isabelita frowned as she remembered the notices about letting cattle run loose upon the highway. These Spanish and English notices were now nailed on pines here and there along the roads, and proved a source of inquiry to wandering Americans who saw the boards with their heading: "AVISO!!"

Mary E. (Mary Ellen) Bamford - Out of the Triangle: a story of the Far East

Now, "hombre bobo" means much the same as our word "booby," therefore this was not a very soothing manner of beginning her information. To Isabelita's surprise, however, Timoteo answered only "Yes," and, coming in, put his one book carefully away, and then went forth for the cow, as he had been bidden. Isabelita stared after him. She had at least expected a quarrel.

Mary E. (Mary Ellen) Bamford - Out of the Triangle: a story of the Far East

But it was not only with cattle notices and Americans that Isabelita was offended this day. She was in a bad humor, and nothing suited her. Hence it was in no pleasant voice that she called to Timoteo, when he at last made his appearance between the bony gate-posts: "Hombre bobo, thou must go for the cow tonight!"

Mary E. (Mary Ellen) Bamford - Out of the Triangle: a story of the Far East

Isabelita would have been more surprised still, if she could have seen what Timoteo did after reaching the place in the woods where the cow was tethered. He threw himself down; crushing the fragrant, small-leaved vines of "yerba buena" as he fell, and, hiding his face, Timoteo cried in a half-angry, half-hopeless tumult of feeling.

Mary E. (Mary Ellen) Bamford - Out of the Triangle: a story of the Far East