I, Juan De Pareja

Juan de Pareja was born into a slave family. His mother died when he was just five years old. The only thing his mother left was her gold earrings. From that day on Mistress, Dona Emilia de Silva y Rodriguez, took him as her pageboy. But soon after Mistress taught Juanico his letters and how to write. Juanico developed beautiful handwriting, which at first made Mistress envy him until she noticed that he could now write her letters. But after a while Master became ill and got worst everyday until he died. The house had now been very quiet and sad Mistress then dictated a letter to Juanico for her nephew. The letter explained that Master had died and that she might go and visit his nephew soon. But she never realized this because Mistress died soon after due to the plague. After this Juanico was the only survivor from that house. But he also got very sick after Mistress died. Then one day a Brother from the church named Isidro came to the house one day fixed a bed for Juanico and made him broth. He also took the house pet that was a dog named Toto. Brother Isidro then informed Juanico that he had been inherited to Don Diego, Mistress' nephew. The next day Brother Isidro pleaded the magistrate to not note Juanico's name so he could prepare him for his journey at the convent. Luckly he told brother Isidro he wouldn't note him down until he was ready. Juan stayed in the convent for about six days, during this time he took care of the children in the convent and helped out with other things. Then the day came to go to the house of the magistrate. When they got there Juan waited outside until Brother Isidro came out and gave Juanico the bad news that he may never see him again and that he will have to stay there and receive orders.

When night came Juan was assigned to a bed for him with straw and used one of the horse's blanket. That same night Juanico was awakened by a man named Carmelo ; he would be the muleteer who would lead him to Madrid with Dona Emilia's nephew,