onions next summer."



6: AT THE EDGE OF A MEXICAN VILLAGE

Cotton-picking was over, and the Beechams tided themselves over
with odd jobs till spring came and they could move on to steadier
work. This time they were going up into Colorado to work in the
beets.

"And high time!" said Grandma. "We've lived on mush and milk so
long we're getting the color of mush ourselves; and our clothes
are a caution to snakes."

"But we'll be lucky if the brakebands of the auto last till we
get over the mountains," said Daddy.

The spring drive up through Texas was pleasant, between
blossoming yellow trees and yuccas like wax candles and pink
bouquets of peach trees and mocking birds' songs.

The mountain pass between New Mexico and Colorado was beautiful,
too, and exciting. In places it was a shelf shoved against the
mountain, and Jimmie said it tickled his stomach to look down on
the tops of other automobiles, traveling the loop of road below
them. Even Carrie, riding haughtily in her trailer, let out an
anguished bleat when she hung on the very edge of a curve. And
the Reo groaned and puffed.