surroundings, to gain wide outlook, to achieve notable things. "Ignacio M. Altamirano, a pure Aztec Indian, was born at Tixtla, State of Guerrero, December 12, 1834. The first fourteen years of his life were the same as those of every Indian boy in Mexico; he learned the Christian Doctrine and helped his parents in the field. Entering the village school, he excelled, and was sent at public expense in 1849 to Toluca to study at the Instituto Literario. From that time on his life was mainly literary,--devoted to learning, to instructing, and to writing. From Toluca he went to the city of Mexico, where he entered the Colegio de San Juan Letran. In 1854 he participated in the Revolution. From that date his political writings were important. Ever a Liberal of the Liberals, he figured in the stirring events of the War of the Reform, and in 1861 was in Congress. When aroused he was a speaker of power; his address against the Law of Amnesty was terrific. Partner with Juarez in the difficulties under Maximilian, he was also partner in the glory of the re-established Republic. From then, as journalist, teacher, encourager of public education, and man of letters, his life passed usefully until 1889, when he was sent as Consul-General of the Republic to Spain. His health failing there, he was transferred to the corresponding appointment at Paris. He died February 13, 1893, at San Remo. His illness was chiefly nostalgia, longing for that Mexico he loved so much and served so well. "Altamirano was honored and loved by men of letters of both political parties. His honesty, independence, strength, and marvelous gentleness bound his friends firmly to him. He loved the young, and ever encouraged those rising authors who form to-day the literary body of Mexico. He ever urged the development of a national, a characteristic literature, and pleaded for the utilization of national material." [Footnote 1: Published by The Open Court Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.] DEDICATORIA A FRANCISCO SOSA A Vd., mi querido amigo, a Vd. que hace justamente veinte años, en este mes de Diciembre, casi me secuestró, por espacio de tres días, a fin de que escribiera esta novela, se la dediqué, cuando se publicó por primera vez en México. Recuerdo bien que deseando Vd. que saliese algo mío en "_El Álbum_" de Navidad que se imprimía, merced a los esfuerzos de Vd., en el folletín de "_La Iberia_" periódico que dirigía nuestro inolvidable amigo Anselmo de la Portilla, me invitó para que escribiera un cuadro de costumbres mexicanas; prometí hacerlo, y fuerte con semejante promesa, se instaló Vd. en mi estudio, y conociendo por tradición mi decantada pereza, no me dejó descansar, alejó a las visitas que pudieran haberme interrumpido; tomaba las hojas originales a medida que yo las escribía, para enviarlas a la Imprenta, y no me dejó respirar hasta que la novela se concluyó. Esto poco más o menos decía yo a Vd. en mi dedicatoria que no tengo a la mano, y que Vd. mismo no ha podido conseguir, cuando se la he pedido últimamente para reproducirla. He tenido, pues, que escribirla de nuevo para la quinta edición que va a hacerse en París y para la sexta que se publicará en francés. Reciba Vd. con afecto este pequeño libro, puesto que a Vd. debo el haberlo escrito. IGNACIO M. ALTAMIRANO PARÍS, Diciembre 26 de 1890 LA NAVIDAD EN LAS MONTAÑAS I El sol se ocultaba ya; las nieblas ascendían del profundo seno de los valles; deteníanse[1] un momento entre los obscuros bosques y las negras gargantas de la cordillera,...