Hastin's Big Chance

Hastin wiped the sweat from his forehead and wished for a cool

breeze. He reached into his bag and pulled out a mango. He tore

into the fleshy orange fruit with his teeth and wiped the juice from

his chin. Sandos, his elephant, wandered over to Hastin. The

elephant tried to swipe the mango from Hastin's hand with his

trunk. Hastin laughed and tore off a piece for his playful friend.  

been together since Hastin was eight years old and Sandos was two

two years old. In the five years they had been together, Sandos had

grown to be one of the strongest elephants living in the

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Yet the elephant was always

gentle with Hastin. Hastin had become very fond of his giant

friend.  

clear a road with the mahouts, or elephant trainers, who worked

on clearing the roads. The mahouts were working with their

elephants to remove some trees that had been knocked into the

road by wild elephants. The sanctuary where the mahouts and

elephants worked and lived had many visitors. The roads needed

to be clear so the visitors could drive safely through the park.  

tusks. As he watched, he thought about becoming a mahout one

day. However, there were few positions available. It would be

difficult to become a mahout and get a job at the sanctuary. Hastin

would have to prove to the head mahout that he could control an

elephant before he would be considered for a position.

mahouts."Hastin! Come quickly! I need you!" his father shouted

to him. His call sounded urgent.  

the command by holding out its front foot. Hastin climbed the foot

like a ladder and grabbed the chain collar around Sandos's neck to

pull himself up. "Hut!" Hastin said. As the elephant began moving

forward, Hastin tucked his feet under the chain collar to keep

from falling.  

problem was. A jeep carrying food and supplies had hit a tree in

the road. The jeep had rolled onto its side and was blocking the

road. Nearby, other trained elephants, not quite strong enough to

move the jeep, began to eat the spilled food as the confused driver

walked to safety.  

strongest. Now is the time to prove that you can be a mahout."  

breath. "Hut!" he said to Sandos with confidence in his voice. He

led Sandos to the jeep. As Hastin gave the commands, the large

elephant leaned its head against the side of the jeep and pushed.

The jeep moved but not enough. Again Hastin gave the orders, and

Sandos followed his commands. As the elephant pushed, the jeep

slowly rolled back onto all four wheels.  

head mahout walked over to Hastin. "You have proved to me that

you and Sandos are ready. Your training is complete. Beginning

tomorrow, you will work with the other mahouts and elephants."  

would finally be able to work alongside his father and the other

mahouts. Hastin lay his body over Sandos's head. He felt the

strength of the leathery creature beneath him. He was glad that

Sandos had followed his commands. He was also thankful for the

friendship he had with Sandos. As Hastin and Sandos made their

way back, they moved as one, elephant and mahout.  

Tía Lidia Weaves a Story

Ñanduti is a type of thin lace handmade by women in Paraguay.

Ñanduti can be made into many things, such as a scarf, tablecloth, or

blanket. A mantilla is often made of this fine lace. It is worn by some

women like a veil over their head and shoulders.

Paraguay, she smiled at all the wonderful sights and smells. Along

the side of the road, men and women sold goods from their street

shops. Some were selling beans and peanuts, while others sold

hats, mats, and many other things. Celina paused at one of the many

shops where women were selling mantillas. She admired the

delicate lace mantillas that many women in Paraguay both

sell and wear. Most of the lace mantillas were white, but some

were more colorful. At last Celina hurried on to Tía Lidia's house.

Celina liked to visit her aunt every day.  

made lace. Celina had always been fascinated by the wooden

frame that stood in the corner of the house. She loved to watch her

aunt stand at the frame, working the delicate strands of linen or

silk. Most of all, she loved the pretty lace pieces called ñanduti

that Tía Lidia created. Tía Lidia made everything from small lace

collars to long, flowing dresses.  

Lidia was working on an elegant lace tablecloth. She had been

working on the tablecloth for several weeks. First Tía Lidia had

placed a sheet of linen on the wooden frame. Then she had drawn

a pattern of circles and fancy designs on the material. Finally she

had begun carefully removing some of the threads from the

material and weaving other threads across the open spaces. It was

a difficult process that would produce a thin, detailed lace.  

admired some of the lovely pieces her aunt had made. She smiled

when she saw one rectangular piece of lace that lay over a bench.

Celina carefully lifted it and settled it over her head like a veil.

She peered out from behind the finely woven patterns. She

thought that this must be how the world looked to new brides.

"This looks like a spider's web," she said.  

smoothed her colorful skirt. "Every young girl in Paraguay should

know this story. But this story needs a nice cup of yerba mate." As

Tía Lidia prepared the hot drink, she told Celina about the lace

Tía Lidia's mother had woven. "My mother told me this story

when I was learning to make ñanduti.  

named Juan was fetching water for his mother to make tea with,

he saw a white spider struggling in the stream. Quickly he

scooped the spider and placed it gently on the leaves of a yerba

tree."  

Celina asked.  

Juan went to fill up the water jugs, he saw the white spider

waiting for him. He began to think of the spider as a friend to

whom he could tell all his troubles. One day he told the spider

about a lovely woman with whom he had fallen in love. However,

shoulders of the woman he adored.  

the area. Leaves and vines and drops of dew then surrounded the

flowers. Instantly Juan understood what the spider had done. He

ran off to present his gift. When he reached the village and placed

the mantilla upon the woman, her face immediately lit up. She

was radiant. Everyone around her gasped. They all knew at once

that this mantilla was the most wonderful gift a woman could

receive. Juan and the woman were married right away."  

have tried to duplicate the delicate lace. We have woven the lace

for years, but no one has been able to equal that made by the

white spider. Still, our lace is famous for its splendor."  

that I know the story of the white spider, perhaps it is time I

learned to make lace."