"Cleofas M. Jaramillo (1878-1956) grew up in northern New Mexico, and her memoir, originally published in 1955, offers a unique and engaging portrait of daily life and customs from the late nineteenth century through the early twentieth century. The story of her life in a prominent family steeped in the traditions of Old Spain takes us into village life of a bygone period. Jaramillo's vivid recollection of a time when tradition clashed with modernization...

Recounts Ponciano's run-in with Vicente Silva and his bandits, who history confirms murdered, stole, and rustled cattle throughout the 1880s. It's the story of a farmer outwitting Silva in a folktale that shapes our understanding of the cultures of northern New Mexico--