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""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

Page 22

classroom that I am afraid her interests in books is lost. 

Last week, Pamposa pulled her out of school and brought her home. You know how your mother can be, so I decided to let you handle the situation. It seems Pamposa was passing the school that say and noticed Maria standing in the window all by herself holding two stones in out stretched hands. Pamposa said she looked like Padre Armenta giving benediction. It seems that Maria had been coaxed by the other children to pin a paper skeleton on the back of a professor who was visiting the class that day. Well, you know your daughter. She accepted the dare, got caught and was being punished just as Pamposa was passing the school. A stroke of bad luck for maria. 

As you know, Pamposa always believed that girls belong at home and that was all the excuse she needed to take Maria out of the school. The teacher advised her that if she did do such a thing, that on the way home to stop and buy herself a burro. In that way she would have two to serve her the rest of her life. Maria seems quite relived about the whole outcome. She likes to be home doing the chores and does them very well. At least she is not lazy.

"Perhaps, mama is right, Jesusa. At least for the time being. Our moving about, me being away, her having to live here and there. Maybe in Botija, Maria will have a chance to see things differently."

"It is not so bad to be a mother, Zeferino. Perhaps our Lord intends for her to be the center of a family. If she can keep a family together, that is a gift to be sure than few have and a noble fate indeed. With a fine husband, a place where there is a chance to grow, her life can be rich and full."

" Yes, our Lord works in mysterious ways. At times, I felt as though I could not go on one more day. We must do the best we know how and pray that in some way it will be enough. If we can pass on to our children to never loose trust in our Lord, their burdens in life will be easier to bear. After a few days of rest, I will get our move started."

Within a week, Zeferino and his family arrived at the Hacienda de Botija. Another person made arrangements with hacendado Juan Vasero on Zeferino's behalf. It was agreed that he could rent a sizable person of his land based on the livestock that he owned. The crops would be sold and an agreed percentage would go to Vasero. Zeferino in turn would distribute his profit to his workers accordingly. 

To Maria's disappointment, Botija was smaller than any place she had ever been. Once the chores were done, there was not much to do for entertainment. Otilio continued his schooling and Maria helped in the home where her talents and feelings for the home improved. One of Maria's duties was to take lunch to her father each noon. The distance she would walk depended upon where her father and his workers were working each day. 

In order to help him in the farming, Zeferino hired Francisco Rameriz and his family, Polecarpio and his two sons, and a foreman by the name of Leno Cano. Because of taking her father's lunch to him, Maria was able to get to know all of the workers on a first name basis. She remembered one worker in particular and on one of her return trips from the fields, she came across one

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classroom that I am afraid her interests in books is lost. Last week, Pamposa pulled her out of school and brought her home. You know how your mother can be, so I decided to let you handle the situation. It seems Pamposa was passing the school that say and noticed Maria standing in the window all by herself holding two stones in out stretched hands. Pamposa said she looked like Padre Armenta giving benediction. It seems that Maria had been coaxed by the other children to pin a paper skeleton on the back of a professor who was visiting the class that day. Well, you know your daughter. She accepted the dare, got caught and was being punished just as Pamposa was passing the school. A stroke of bad luck for maria. As you know, Pamposa always believed that girls belong at home and that was all the excuse she needed to take Maria out of the school. The teacher advised her that if she did do such a thing, that on the way home to stop and buy herself a burro. In that way she would have two to serve her the rest of her life. Maria seems quite relived about the whole outcome. She likes to be home doing the chores and does them very well. At least she is not lazy. "Perhaps, mama is right, Jesusa. At least for the time being. Our moving about, me being away, her having to live here and there. Maybe in Botija, Maria will have a chance to see things differently." "It is not so bad to be a mother, Zeferino. Perhaps our Lord intends for her to be the center of a family. If she can keep a family together, that is a gift to be sure than few have and a noble fate indeed. With a fine husband, a place where there is a chance to grow, her life can be rich and full." " Yes, our Lord works in mysterious ways. At times, I felt as though I could not go on one more day. We must do the best we know how and pray that in some way it will be enough. If we can pass on to our children to never loose trust in our Lord, their burdens in life will be easier to bear. After a few days of rest, I will get our move started." Within a week, Zeferino and his family arrived at the Hacienda de Botija. Another person made arrangements with hacendado Juan Vasero on Zeferino's behalf. It was agreed that he could rent a sizable person of his land based on the livestock that he owned. The crops would be sold and an agreed percentage would go to Vasero. Zeferino in turn would distribute his profit to his workers accordingly. To Maria's disappointment, Botija was smaller than any place she had ever been. Once the chores were done, there was not much to do for entertainment. Otilio continued his schooling and Maria helped in the home where her talents and feelings for the home improved. One of Maria's duties was to take lunch to her father each noon. The distance she would walk depended upon where her father and his workers were working each day. In order to help him in the farming, Zeferino hired Francisco Rameriz and his family, Polecarpio and his two sons, and a foreman by the name of Leno Cano. Because of taking her father's lunch to him, Maria was able to get to know all of the workers on a first name basis. She remembered one worker in particular and on one of her return trips from the fields, she came across one 22.