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ith a feeling in which I do not know whether easure or melancholy predominated; for I was reinded of those days when, like them, I had neither nown care nor sorrow, and a holiday was the sumit of earthly felicity. We stopped a few moments terward to water the horses, and on resuming our ute a turn of the road brought us in sight of a eat country-seat. I could just distinguish the rms of a lady and two young girls in the portico ad I saw my little comrades, with Bantam, Carlo d old John, trooping along the carriage road. I aned out of the coach window, in hopes of witessing the happy meeting, but a grove of trees ut it from my sight.

In the evening we reached a village where I had etermined to pass the night. As we drove into the eat gateway of the inn, I saw, on one side, the ght of a rousing kitchen fire beaming through a indow. I entered, and admired, for the hundredth me, that picture of convenience, neatness, and road honest enjoyment, the kitchen of an English n. It was of spacious dimensions, hung round th copper and tin vessels highly polished, and corated here and there with a Christmas green. ams, tongues, and flitches of bacon were suspended om the ceiling; a smoke-jack made its ceaseless anking beside the fireplace, and a clock ticked in e corner. A well-scoured deal table extended ong one side of the kitchen, with a cold round of ef and other hearty viands upon it, over which 70 foaming tankards of ale seemed mounting ard. Travelers of inferior order were preparing attack this stout repast, while others sat smokg and gossiping over their ale on two high-backed ken settles beside the fire. Trim housemaids were

and have a rallying laugh with the group round ire. The scene completely realized Poor Rob umble idea of the comforts of mid-winter:

Now trees their leafy hats do bare
To reverence Winter's silver hair;
A handsome hostess, merry host,
A pot of ale and now a toast,
Tobacco and a good coal fire,

Are things this season doth require.

I had not been long at the inn when a po chaise drove up to the door. A young gentlem stepped out, and by the light of the lamps I caug a glimpse of a countenance which I thought I kne I moved forward to get a nearer view, when eye caught mine. I was not mistaken; it was Fra Bracebridge, a sprightly good-humored young f ow, with whom I had once traveled on the co inent. Our meeting was extremely cordial, for t countenance of an old fellow-traveler always bring up the recollection of a thousand pleasant scene odd adventures, and excellent jokes. To discus all these in a transient interview at an inn was im possible; and finding that I was not pressed fo ime, and was merely making a tour of observation e insisted that I should give him a day or two a is father's country-seat, to which he was going t pass the holidays, and which lay at a few miles listance. "It is better than eating a solitary Christ nas dinner at an inn," said he, "and I can assure you of a hearty welcome, in something of the oldfashioned style." His reasoning was cogent, and 1 nust confess the preparation I had seen for universal festivity and social enjoyment had made me feel a little impatient of my loneliness. I closed,

OW THE SOVEREIGNS OF CASTILE TOOK POSSESSION OF GRANADA

VHE

(From "The Conquest of Granada ")

JHEN the Castilian sovereigns had received the keys of Granada from the hands of abdil el Chico, the royal army resumed its triphant march. As it approached the gates of e city, all in the pomp of courtly and chivalrous ray, a procession of a different kind came forth meet it. This was composed of more than five ndred Christian captives, many of whom had guished for years in Moorish dungeons. Pale d emaciated, they came clanking their chains in umph, and shedding tears of joy. They were eived with tendernes by the sovereigns. The ng hailed them as good Spaniards, as men loyal d brave, as martyrs to the holy cause; the Queen tributed liberal relief among them with her own nds, and they passed on before the squadrons of army singing hymns of jubilee..

The sovereigns did not enter the city on this day its surrender, but waited until it should be fully cupied by their troops, and public tranquility inred. The Marques de Villena and the Count de ndilla, with three thousand cavalry and as many antry, marched in and took possession, accomnied by the proselyte prince Cidi Yahye, now own by the Christian appellation of Don Pedro Granada, who was appointed chief alguazil of › city, and had charge of the Moorish inhabitants, d by his son, the late Prince Alnayar, now Don

tower, and the thundering salvos of the ordr told that the subjugation of the city was comp The grandees and cavaliers now knelt and k the hands of the King and Queen and Prince and congratulated them on the acquisition o great a kingdom; after which the royal proce returned in state to Santa Fé.

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It was on the sixth of January, the Day of K and the festival of the Epiphany, that the ereigns made their triumphal entry. The King Queen (says the worthy Fray Antonio Agap looked, on this occasion, as more than mortal; venerable ecclesiastics, to whose advice and zeal glorious conquest ought in a great measure to attributed, moved along with hearts swelling holy exultation, but with chastened and down looks of edifying humility; while the hardy v riors, in tossing plumes and shining steel, seer elevated with a stern joy at finding themselves possession of this object of so many toils and per As the streets resounded with the tramp of ste and swelling peals of music, the Moors buried the selves in the deepest recesses of their dwellin There they bewailed in secret the fallen glory their race, but suppressed their groans, lest th should be heard by their enemies and increase th triumph.

The royal procession advanced to the princip mosque, which had been consecrated as a cathedr Here the sovereigns offered up prayers and than givings, and the choir of the royal chapel chant a triumphant anthem, in which they were joined all the courtiers and cavaliers. Nothing (says Fr Antonio Agapida) could exceed the thankfulne

è elevation of the cross in that city wherein the pious doctrines of Mohammed had so long been erished. In the fervor of his spirit, he suppliced from heaven a continuance of its grace, and at this glorious triumph might be perpetuated. e prayer of the pious monarch was responded by the people, and even his enemies were for ce convinced of his sincerity.

When the religious ceremonies were concluded, court ascended to the stately palace of the Almbra, and entered by the great Gate of Justice. e halls lately occupied by turbaned infidels now stled with stately dames and Christian courtiers, o wandered with eager curiosity over this farned palace, admiring its verdant courts and gushfountains, its halls decorated with elegant araques and storied with inscriptions, and the splen- of its gilded and brilliantly painted ceilings. t had been a last request of the unfortunate abdil-and one which showed how deeply he felt transition of his fate-that no person might be mitted to enter or depart by the gate of the ambra through which he had sallied forth to surder his capital. His request was granted; the tal was closed up, and remains so to the present —a mute memorial of that event. The Spanish ereigns fixed their throne in the presence-chamber the palace, so long the seat of the Moorish roy7. Hither the principal inhabitants of Granada aired to pay them homage and kiss their hands token of vassalage; and their example was foled by deputies from all the towns and fortresses the Alpuxarras, which had not hitherto subted.

'hus terminated the war of Granada, after ten VOL. V-7

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