The Coyote Under the Table/El Coyote Debajo de la Mesa Read Online Free PDF

girls attended the dance in the dresses they had borrowed from the statues in the church. They had a wonderful time, even though they didn’t seem to attract any special attention from the prince. But, for that matter, neither did any of the other girls at the dance.
    The next evening the girls went again to the church to borrow the dresses from the statues. Imagine their delight to discover that the statues wore new dresses!
    Once again a fine time was had by all who attended the dance, but the prince still didn’t seem to be falling in love with any of the young women.
    As the third evening approached, the prince was growing worried. Maybe his plan wasn’t going to work after all. So before the hour of the dance, the prince went to the church to light candles in front of the saints he was so devoted to. When he entered the church, what should he see but two young women about to remove the dresses from the statues.
    The prince crept up closer to find out what the two girls were up to. He heard one of them say, “These dresses are even more beautiful than the last two. Surely the prince will notice one of us in these dresses.”
    â€œI don’t know,” sighed the other. “I wonder if he’ll fall in love with any girl.”
    And then the first said, “I know what I’m going to do. Look at the golden slippers this statue has on. I’m going to wear them tonight. That will catch the prince’s attention!”
    The girl removed one slipper from the statue.
    â€œLook!” said her friend, “Santa María moved her leg. She must be angry that you’re taking her slippers!”
    The other girl laughed and said to the statue, “Don’t worry, Santa María. You’ll have your slippers back before morning.” She pulled off the other slipper.
    The statue yawned and stretched and rubbed her eyes. “Oh,” she said, “what a sleep I’ve been having!”
    The two girls were frightened and ran from the church, but the prince recognized the poor girl. He ran from his hiding place.
    â€œPlease, go with me to the dance tonight!” he begged her.
    They went to the dance together, and, of course, it wasn’t long before the two of them were married. They put the golden slippers on the real statue of Saint Mary, and to this day the two of them go each morning to light a candle in front of Santa María and bring her a beautiful new dress.

Z APATILLAS DE ORO

    Había una vez una reina que vivía en una casona con su único hijo, el príncipe. El rey se había muerto hacía años. La reina apreciaba mucho a su hijo y le concedía todo lo que pedía.
    Pero el príncipe no pedía mucho, porque era un buen joven. Casi lo único que pedía era que su madre mandara hacer a su costurera un vestido nuevo cada día. Cada mañana el príncipe llevaba el vestido nuevo a la iglesia en un envoltorio. Prendía una vela ante la figura tallada en madera de Santa María y decía una oración. Dejaba el bulto delante de la estatua y más tarde la viejita que limpiaba la iglesia vestía a Santa María en su nuevo atuendo.
    En el mismo pueblo vivía una señora muy pobre que tenía una sola hija. Al igual que la reina, la pobre era viuda. Y, como la reina, apreciaba mucho a su hija. Pero mientras el príncipe se vestía con fina ropa real, la niña pobre andaba en harapos.
    Una mañana cuando el príncipe entraba a la iglesia, vio a la niña pobre hincada ante la estatua de Santa María. Por supuesto, no quería estorbarla y se quedó quieto, esperando a que terminara su oración. Pero no pudo evitar oír lo que decía:
    â€”Santa María —rezaba la pobre—, cada vez que vengo, tú llevas un nuevo vestido hermoso, y yo en los harapos de siempre. Por favor, ¿me puedes mandar uno de tus vestidos algún día, para que pueda venir a la misa de domingo viéndome linda,