seventy years of age, and drove
before me a _burrico_, with a sack of Testaments lying across its back.
On nearing the village I met a genteel-looking young woman leading a
little boy by the hand. As I was about to pass her with the customary
salutation of '_Vaya usted con Dios_,' she stopped, and after looking at
me for a moment she said; 'Uncle (_Tio_), what is that you have on your
_burrico_? Is it soap?' I replied, 'Yes; it is soap to wash souls
clean.' She demanded what I meant; whereupon I told her that I carried
cheap and godly books for sale. On her requesting to see one, I produced
a copy from my pocket, and handed it to her. She instantly commenced
reading it with a loud voice, and continued so for at least ten minutes,
occasionally exclaiming, '_Que lectura tan bonita_, _que lectura tan
linda_!' ('What beautiful, what charming reading!') At last, on my
informing her that I was in a hurry and could not wait any longer, she
said, 'True, true,' and asked me the price of the book. I told her 'But
three _reals_'; whereupon she said that though what I asked was very
little, it was more than she could afford to give, as there was little or
no money in those parts. I said I was sorry for it, but that I could not
dispose of the book for less than I had demanded, and accordingly
resuming it, wished her farewell and left her. I had not, however,
proceeded thirty yards, when the boy came running behind me, shouting out
of breath: 'Stop, uncle! the book, the book.' Upon overtaking me he
delivered me the three _reals_ in copper, and seizing the Testament, ran
back to her, who I suppose was his sister, flourishing the book over his
head with great glee.

On arriving at the village I directed my steps to a house around the door
of which I saw several persons gathered, chiefly women. On my displaying
my books their curiosity was instantly aroused, and every person had
speedily one in his hand, many reading aloud. However, after waiting
nearly an hour I had disposed of but one copy, all complaining bitterly
of the distress of the times and the almost total want of money, though
at the same time they acknowledged that the books were wonderfully cheap
and appeared to be very good and Christian-like. I was about to gather
up my merchandise and depart, when on a sudden the curate of the place
made his appearance. After having examined the books for some time with
considerable attention, he asked me the price of a co