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THE DEATH OF THE JUST.

75

tures, from whom the lowest of the Spanish citizens would have shrunk with disgust and hatred, before those piles had ceased to blaze, were translated into another and a better world-into the society of angels and the presence of their God! They are no longer objects of our pity: we look at their reward, and pray that our easier path may be as safely trod."

“Amen!” said Mr. Delville, as he took his children by the hand, and led them to the Octravo, a place of uncommon size, though inferior in dimensions to the great square. It is octagon in shape, and from it six large streets diverge at regular distances. This is usually the place where the bull-fights are exhibited, and is calculated to hold twenty-four thousand persons.

"Last time I was in Spain," said Mr. Delville," I was fortunate enough to arrive at the commencement of this pastime; which, cruel as it is in itself, is conducted on so grand a scale as to be a very imposing spectacle. I was struck with the immense concourse of people, who, from a circuit of several leagues, had collected to see the festival. The famous bull-killer, Pepetrillo, was then alive, and had been sent for from Madrid. He paid his respects, I remember, to the French ambassador, by presenting him with several of the bulls he had killed; a compliment usually paid to dignified foreigners, and returned in solid gold. It was re

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JOYS OF A BULL-FIGHT.

marked that he had never been more successful than on that occasion; but I heard he afterwards fell a victim to the fierceness of a bull, who gored him in a hopeless manner, but which he nevertheless killed."

"I cannot pity him," said Ellen.

"Hear her! hear her!" said Edward; while Frank put his hand before her mouth.

"Nay, Frank," said his father; "you have gained nothing. Her indignation is written in her eyes: those who run may read."

"These are points," said Mrs. Delville, with a smile, " on which boys and girls will always differ."

"Never mind," said Mr. Delville. "We will see a bull-fight at Madrid, depend upon it. We will leave the ladies at home, if their hearts are too tender. I have no wish to see them enjoy it as we shall. Cease to convert your sister: it is a hopeless attempt, I assure you."

“Frank, we will make a compromise," said Ellen : 66 if you will not ask me to like it, I will not say a word against it. Talk to Edward and papa about it, and not to me; for I do not like to contradict you."

With some reluctance Frank entered into this compact; only stipulating that, after he had seen it, he was to tell her all about it.

In the evening, when the little party were

PROCESSION OF THE ROSARY.

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quietly seated round the fire, their attention was excited by the sound of a bell and a chorus of voices. They looked out, but it was dark; and Mr. Delville, who was writing, was called to explain the circumstance. He listened, and then said: "It is the procession of the rosary. The people in Valladolid are, if possible, more superstitious than in any other town; and that is saying a great deal, for a province remarkable for its bigotry. It abounds in processions. One of the most singular is that of the rosary, a sort of litany, common in all Catholic countries; and the form of prayer appropriated to it, is to be found in all Roman Catholic prayer-books. In ancient times, immediately after the angelus, the inhabitants of every street, without going out of their houses, sang with a loud voice the litany, or service dedicated to the Virgin. This custom has been dropped as civilization improved. Instead of this primitive mode of devotion, the people content themselves with kneeling down during the angelus, and saying a brief prayer in a low voice. This procession is a remnant of the manners of a former age, when the united voice of a city sang praises to the Virgin at the vesper hour."

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Surely, papa," said Ellen, "there is something very affecting in the idea of so universal a homage, offered up by so many persons at the same hour."

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VESPER-BELL AND ITS EFFECT.

"Yes, my dear; I grant that the idea is very imposing; but you must remember, that this worship was not directed to God, but to the Virgin Mary. This brings our ideas back again to earth, and fills the mind with the poverty, rather than the splendour of the human imagination, which is untouched by so magnificent and all-pervading an idea as the Almighty, and rests content with an address to a human being like themselves. I grant, however, that the devotion of the Spaniards, during the angelus, has an extraordinary effect on strangers. At the first sound of the bell every sort of movement ceases in the streets, the walks, and even the theatre: all pause, uncover themselves, and pray. The actors even of grotesque characters interrupt their buffooneries to recite an ave-Maria, and to make the sign of the cross."

"Look!" said Frank, "they are coming this way. What a light their flambeaus give! May we open the window, mother ?"

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"By all means; and do not forget to give them some silver that is the chief object of their present exertions."

The procession of the rosary now approached. In the middle was a man holding a banner bearing the representation of the Virgin; two more walked on each side, with the insignia of their dignity fixed to long poles, and another in advance of the party, by ringing a bell, gave notice to the faithful,

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GALA-DAYS OF THE CHURCH.

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who immediately opened their lattices and threw something into the basket held out for the purpose. The produce of these contributions is employed either in a festival to the patron-saint, or in the repairs of the chapel dedicated to her. The young people having watched the last glare of the torches, shut the window.

"It is on fête-days," said Mr. Delville, " that the Catholics display an extraordinary degree of pomp. The interior of the church is carefully cleaned; the walls and pillars decked with hangings of crimson velvet, bordered with gold fringe, and carefully disposed in festoons. The altar is spread with the finest linen, and glows with the light of a thousand tapers, which are reflected on the polished surfaces of the silver candelabras hung around. Flowers of every hue add to the rich decorations of the altar, and their perfume mingles with that of the incense. The vases for the sacred service are frequently of gold enriched with precious stones. The priests are decked out in the most sumptuous dresses; and the music of the choir is often exquisite. The ceremony of the mass is followed by a sermon from some celebrated preacher, taken, perhaps, from his cell to address a numerous and polished audience. When he has finished, he is invited to partake of a collation, and usually rewarded with some pieces of

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