Chapter VII: Winter Work and Play

"See, winter comes to rule the varied year."
--_James Thomson._

WHAT joy in the home when Jose that evening, after the late supper, told the good news! How they crowded around Antonio, clapping him on the shoulders! With what glee did Joanna bring out preserved fruits and sweet cakes for them to eat as they drew their chairs around the hearth!

"We will have many a happy winter evening together;" the father spoke with a new courage shining in his eyes. "The doctor you sent for, Antonio, came to-day while you and Jose were away. He told me that if I rest this winter, free from care, I shall have full use of my right hand and foot again. Your taking the care from me will be what saves me, Antonio."

"I can do more than keep you from care, father. I saved money while I was away, and have over two hundred dollars now, even after paying my passage home. I will spend some of this money to make the farm better."

This was the first time Antonio had spoken of his savings. He had kept silent until he could decide as to whether or not he would go back to America.

"You are a rich man, my son." A look of pride shone in the father's eyes as he spoke.

"You deserve it, Antonio. You are a good son," the mother said, as she wiped happy tears from her eyes.

Indeed this seemed to the whole family a very great fortune. Even Senhor Castillo was not worth more than five hundred dollars, and he was the wealthiest man for miles around.

"I will buy a new plough and some new tools. We shall soon have enough better crops to more than pay for this spending. When you are well again, father, there will be two men of us to work instead of one."

"And what about Jose?" The father put his left hand upon the little boy's shoulder. Jose was kneeling beside him, roasting chestnuts on the hearth.

"I am going to school this winter, Antonio says." Jose looked up with a happy face.

"A school term will begin early in January, at the village. Jose can go for the sixteen weeks; he is strong enough to walk there and back, I think," said Antonio.

"Sometimes can I go, too?" Malfada asked, tossing back her thick black hair.

"Yes, little one, you can go with Jose, that is the best plan. Then you can help each other with your lessons," the father said quickly.

Soon the winter began. The dull weather with heavy rains lasted two or three weeks. In this Portuguese country, autumn meets winter with pouring rain and with strong winds, which break down almost everything in the gardens and which cover gardens and fields with wet leaves and long sprays of vine.

During these days Antonio and Jose wore about the farm-work curious coats made of several layers of dried grass. These were some protection against rain and wind. But there was not much work to be done until the heavy storms should cease.

In late November the sun came forth brightly. It was time to plough the stubble fields.

The only plough Jose had ever seen until now, was one made of a crooked branch of hardwood tree, shod with iron,--of the same pattern as the plough used by the Romans two thousand years ago. It was a plough so light in weight that after the day's work was done, the man lifted it from the ground and hung it over the yoke of the ox.

This old kind of plough was drawn by one ox, and it stirred the soil only six or seven inches deep. The new plough--which Antonio brought home one day behind the oxen--turned a deep straight furrow in the light crumbling soil.

The old harrow, to level the ground after the ploughing, was made of fifteen or twenty teeth of iron set into a wooden framework. The new harrow which Antonio bought had many strong, close-set teeth.

Jose had followed after the plough with great delight, to watch its working. Now, when Antonio let him ride on the harrow-seat, the boy kept his head turned back most of the way, in order that he might see the ploughed land grow level under the harrow's teeth.

"Surely our crops will be doubled next season--twice as large as ever before--because the ground is so well-prepared," the father said each day as he watched the work from the doorway. He seemed to gain in strength daily, even during this dullest season of the year. It was hard, though, for him to be unable to help, for there was much work to be done.

Jose was given the sowing of the winter wheat and rye, and of the maize for the winter food of the cattle. Antonio pruned the grape-vines and cut off the tops of the trees on which the vines hung. Soon the maize shot up, and the young stalks had to be cut, morning and night.

Jose stayed around the house all one market-day afternoon, taking care of little Tareja and being company for his father, while the mother, Joanna and Malfada went to the village with Antonio. Malfada dangled the silver-link bag from her wrist, just as Antonio knew she would; and she brought back home in it a little boxful of candies for Jose. It was a great day for them all.

There were long, pleasant evenings, for Portuguese families stay at home together instead of going to their neighbors for amusement. Jose played softly on his violin. The mother, Joanna and Malfada sewed or embroidered. Antonio read aloud from some book, or oftener from a newspaper he had bought on the weekly market-day and which gave news of the nation's progress. Sometimes, but not often, he went out with his flute; and then the family knew that he had gone to serenade Inez Castillo.

Swiftly the days passed. Soon came _Natal_--Christmas--the great holiday of the year. On this day and on New Year's, there were fireworks and decorations at each farmhouse, singing, and visits back and forth.

Daily between Christmas and New Year's the Almaida family ate _bôlos de bacalhau_, and _rebanadas_,--thick slices of _brôa_ soaked in new milk, fried in olive oil and spread with honey. _Rebanadas_ is the special holiday food for Christmas and New Year's. The red tomato salt-cellar was used at table on each of these days.

The holidays from farm-work lasted up to the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th. On the day after, the school in the village opened.

Five days each week Jose and Malfada walked barefoot the three miles in the early morning, returning in the dusk of the mild winter day. The walk was very tiring sometimes. It was fortunate that both children were strong, and used to being much on their feet.

At first Carlos wanted to go with them. But soon he seemed to understand that he was not to be allowed to take these morning walks. On each school-day, however, at four o'clock, he would begin watching for the children, and the moment he caught sight of them coming along the wood-lane, he dashed off at top speed to meet them.

The old parrot was very funny these days. So much going and coming confused him. In the mornings when Jose and Malfada went away he called out _Accolade_--welcome, and in the afternoons, when they returned, _à deus_--good-by. These were the only words he knew; Jose had tried in vain to teach him other words, just as Antonio had tried when a little boy.

"The parrot is growing very old; he is losing his sense," the mother said one day when the bird greeted the children on their return from school with _à deus! à deus! à deus!_

"Oh no, mother; I am sure he thinks it is a joke, just as we do," Jose said, very earnestly.

On the Saturday holiday Jose worked from dawn till dark, helping Antonio. The vine-pruning and tying did not end until February. Jose learned to tie the vine branches skilfully to the trees, leaving room for the vines to grow and not be hurt by the cord. In February, March and April came the sowing for the crops of the summer and autumn.

The sixteen weeks' term of school ended in April. Jose had been put into the class of the quickest learners. He had gone rapidly ahead of Malfada, who, although three years older, stayed in the lower class.

Jose had been eager over his books,--far more eager than Malfada. But he ran almost all the way home, and reaching there long before she did, put away his books gladly. The school-room, with its crowd of boys and girls, had seemed hot and dusty those days when the outside world was growing so beautiful.

Antonio was out in the field, planting cabbages, when Jose hurried toward him calling: "No more school, Antonio, no more school now."

Antonio straightened back his shoulders and asked: "Is this the boy who wanted so much to go to school?"

Jose's face turned very red under its tan. But when he saw the teasing look in Antonio's eyes, he laughed and said: "It is good to have spring come after winter, so I think it is good to change from going to school to not going. Besides, the teacher says there will be a ten weeks' term next autumn."

"Spring unlocks the flowers, so the spring should let children come out of doors," said Antonio. "There will be some hard work for you, Jose, but never mind!"

"Never mind," repeated Jose, racing back to the house with Carlos at his heels.