They protested that they did not wish to be there when it happened, and some one suggested going to a big Italian rancho four miles away, where they could get up a dance.

Immediately they paired off, lad and lassie, and started down the sandy road.

And each lad walked with his sweetheart--trust a child of seven to listen and to know the love-affairs of his countryside.

And behold, I, too, was a lad with a lassie.

A little Irish girl of my own age had been paired off with me.