THE MISSION SCHOOL
AFTER a little while Yisoo came back. “Come now; it is time to go to school,” said he.
“What is school? What do you do there?” asked Docas.
“Why, it’s a place where all the Indian boys go every day. They just say over things that the Father tells them.”
“Is that all? I don’t think that’s any fun,” said Docas.
“No, it isn’t,” said the boy; “but I tell you what is fun,” he added. “If you have a good voice, the Father will teach you to sing and maybe he will teach you to play on a violin.”
Docas was glad to hear that perhaps he could learn to sing, for he loved music. As they walked along Yisoo told Docas about what he must do at school.
As they came out of the school, Yisoo said to Docas, “I can beat you home.” They both started off on a run, but Docas came out a little ahead. Yisoo looked at his bare legs and said, “You know how to run.”
Docas said, “Yes; but you see I haven’t so many clothes on as you.”
“I must take you after dinner to get some clothes like mine,” said Yisoo.
They hurried to get their baskets and go for the dinner. For dinner they had some meat as well as mush. Father Pena told the women who were giving out the dinner that both Docas and Yisoo had studied very hard that morning, and if there were any scraps of dinner left they should have them. So Docas and Yisoo had a big dinner that day, for when they came back, the women gave them each an extra piece of meat and a little cake made of corn.
After dinner, Yisoo said, “Now we will go for your clothes.”
They went to the house where the Indian clothes were kept. Father Pena went with them and gave Docas a suit of clothes just like Yisoo’s. Docas liked them very much, for the jacket was white and the shirt was scarlet.
After Docas was dressed, Father Pena said, “Haven’t you a brother and a sister?”
“Yes, Father,” said Docas.
“Then take them each a suit of clothes, too. All the children here wear the same kind of clothes,” said Father Pena.