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possible danger in attempting such a journey | Then the movement of the table and every

alone. In vain the shepherd assured him that he must have reached a place of safety before the darkness and the storm came on. A presentiment which he could not cast off made him so miserable that he could hardly refrain from tears. But nothing could be done to relieve the anxiety now become so painful.

The doctor at last retired to bed about midnight. For a long time he could not sleep. The raging of the stream below the small window, and the thuds of the storm, made him feverish and restless. But at last he fell into a sound and dreamless sleep. Out of this, however, he was suddenly roused by a peculiar noise in his room, not very loud, but utterly indescribable. He heard tap, tap, tap at the window; and he knew, from the relation which the wall of the room bore to the rock, that the glass could not be touched by human hand. After listening for a moment, and forcing himself to smile at his nervousness, he turned round, and began again to seek repose. But now a noise began, too near and loud to make sleep possible. Starting and sitting up in bed, he heard repeated in rapid succession, as if some one was spitting in anger, and close to his bed,-"Fit! fit! fit!" and then a prolonged "whir-r-r-r" from another part of the room, while every chair began to move, and the table to jerk! The doctor remained in breathless silence, with every faculty intensely acute. He frankly confessed that he heard his heart beating, for the sound was so unearthly, so horrible, and something seemed to come so near him, that he began seriously to consider whether or not he had some attack of fever which affected his brain-for, remember, he had not tasted a drop of the shepherd's small store of whisky! He felt his pulse, composed his spirits, and compelled himself to exercise calm judgment. Straining his eyes to discover anything he plainly saw at last a white object moving, but without sound, before him. knew that the door was shut and the window also. An overpowering conviction then seized him, which he could not resist, that his friend M'Donald was dead! By an effort he seized a lucifer-box on a chair beside him, and struck a light. No white object could be seen. The room appeared to be as when he went to bed. The door was shut. He looked at his watch, and particularly marked that the hour was twenty-two minutes past three. But the match was hardly extinguished when, louder than ever, the same unearthly cry of "Fit! fit! fit!" was heard, followed by the same horrible whir-r-r-r, which made his teeth chatter.

chair in the room was resumed with increased violence, while the tapping on the window was heard above the storm. There was no bell in the room, but the doctor, on hearing all this frightful confusion of sounds again repeated, and beholding the white object moving towards him in terrible silence, began to thump the wooden partition and to shout at the top of his voice for the shepherd, and having done so, he dived his head under the blankets!

The shepherd soon made his appearance, in his night-shirt, with a small oil-lamp, or "crusey," over his head, anxiously inquiring as he entered the room,

"What is't, doctor? What's wrang? Pity me, are ye ill?"

"Very!" cried the doctor. But before he could give any explanation a loud whir-r-r was heard, with the old cry of "Fit!" close to the shepherd, while two chairs fell at his feet! The shepherd sprang back, with a half scream of terror! the lamp was dashed to the ground, and the door violently shut.

"Come back!" shouted the doctor. "Come back, Duncan, instantly, I command you!" The shepherd opened the door very partially, and said, in terrified accents,—

"Gude be aboot us, that was awfu'! What under heaven is't?"

"Heaven knows, Duncan," ejaculated the doctor with agitated voice, "but do pick up the lamp, and I shall strike a light."

Duncan did so in no small fear; but as he made his way to the bed in the darkness, to get a match from the doctor, something caught his foot; he fell; and then, amidst the same noises and tumults of chairs, which immediately filled the apartment, the "Fit! fit! fit! fit!" was prolonged with more vehemence than ever! The doctor sprang up, and made his way out of the room, but his feet were several times tripped by some unknown power, so that He he had the greatest difficulty in reaching the door without a fall. He was followed by Duncan, and both rushed out of the room, shutting the door after them. A new light having been obtained, they both returned with extreme caution, and, it must be added, real fear, in the hope of finding some cause or other for all those terrifying signs. Would it surprise our readers to hear that they searched the room in vain?—that, after minutely examining under the table, chairs, bed, everywhere, and with the door shut, not a trace could be found of anything? Would they believe that they heard during the day how poor M'Donald had staggered, half-dead from fatigue, into his

friend's house, and falling into a fit, had died at twenty-two minutes past three that morning? We do not ask any one to accept of all this as true. But we pledge our honour to the following facts:

The doctor, after the day's fishing was over, had packed his rod so as to take it into his bed-room; but he had left a minnow attached to the hook. A white cat left in the room swallowed the minnow and was hooked. The unfortunate gourmand had vehemently protested against this intrusion into its upper lip by the violent "Fit! fit! fit!" with which she tried to spit the hook out; the reel added the mysterious whir-r-r-r; and the disengaged line, getting entangled in the legs of the chairs and table, as the hooked cat attempted to flee from her tormentor, set the furniture in motion, and tripped up both the shepherd and the doctor; while an ivy-branch kept tapping at the window! Will any one doubt the existence of ghosts and a spirit-world after this?

I have only to add that the doctor's skill was employed during the night in cutting the hook out of the cat's lip, while his poor patient, yet most impatient, was held by the shepherd in a bag, the head alone of puss, with hook and minnow, being visible. M'Donald made his appearance in a day or two, rejoicing once more to see his friend, and greatly enjoying the ghost story. As the doctor finished the history of his night's horrors, he could not help laying down a proposition very dogmatically to his half-superstitious friends, and as some amends for his own terror. "Depend upon it," said he, "if we could thoroughly examine into all the stories of ghosts and apparitions, spirit-rapping, et hoc genus omne, they would turn out to be every bit as true as my own visit from the world of spirits; that all that sort of thing is great humbug and nonsense."

We leave this sentiment with confidence in the hands of the illustrious dead, who spend so much time in disturbing furniture without even the apology of a hook and minnow. We have no doubt that Milton, Dante, Shakspeare, or Newton or Bacon, if properly invited, will cheerfully come as guests to any tea-party of true believers in London or Boston, to contradict in the most authoritative manner the doctor's profane scepticism. We shall be glad to hear the views of those distinguished men, who, it is alleged, though dead yet speak. We despair of the cat. She has been silent ever since her great début into spirit-land. Her lips though healed are sealed.

THE DREAM.

FROM THE SPANISH.

The morn was purple on the hills,
The birds upon the boughs were singing,
In sparkling crystal flowed the rills,

A thousand sweets the winds were winging: Yet still I slept: a lovely dream

Kept me still fettered in my chamber, In spite of song, or breath, or beam

That turned my curtains all to amber.

I saw a shape; pray Heaven some painter,
Whose brush with gold and flowers is gushing,
May see the vision yet-no fainter

Than when it stood before me blushing!
O, that some hand whose lute is sweeter
Than ever mine was yet, may listen
To those sweet accents! by St. Peter
They'd make a hermit's eyeballs glisten!
Her form was tall, yet not too tall;

Her face was beauty in perfection;
The mouth half-smiling, ruby, small;
The chin-but, poh!-no more dissection.
Let age descant on eyes and noses,

Let youth be happier-ay, and wiser;
Who'd shiver diamonds?-break up roses?
Take Woman all in all, and prize her.
She gave a look-a swift, sweet look,
Made up of all her charms together,
That all my recreant reason shook,
And wrapt my soul, the saints know whither.
It was not joy, it was not sadness,

"Twas passion, deeply, deadly spoken;
By such has love been turn'd to madness,
By such have noble hearts been broken.
She gazed: the splendour of her eye
Lay on my senses like a spell :
She spoke; her voice was melody

1

That search'd my bosom's inmost cell; Her words were like her angel tone, Of love, that not even death could sever. I woke hill, dale, and river shone; I long'd to sleep and sleep for ever.

MARRIAGE.

Cries Sylvia to a reverend Dean, "What reason can be given, Since marriage is a holy thing,

That there is none in heaven?" "There are no women," he replied. She quick returns the jest:"Women there are, but I'm afraid They cannot find a priest."

ROBERT DODSLEY (1703–1764).

GOVERNOR SANCHO PANZA.

[Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, born at Alcalá de Henares, 9th October, 1547; died at Madrid, on the same day that his contemporary Shakspeare died, 23d April, 1616. The greater part of his life was passed in the army. He was for four years held captive in Algiers (1576-1580), and was at last ransomed by a payment of 500 ducats. His experiences of captivity are narrated in his novel El Cautivo (The Captive).

In t

1584 he first became known as an author, and his chief

works are Galatea, a pastoral romance in prose and verse; upwards of thirty dramas, which were acted with considerable applause, but of which only two have been preserved, namely, El Trato de Argel (Life in Algiers),

and La Numancia; an account of the festivities with which Lord Howard, the ambassador of James I., was received at Valladolid, 1605; Exemplary Tales, 1613; The Journey to Parnassus, 1614; a collection of unacted comedies and interludes; Persiles y Sigismunda, a novel, 1617; and the immortal Don Quixote, of which the first part appeared in 1601, and the second in 1615. It is

from Smollet's translation of the latter work that the following is taken. As a jest, Sancho has been appointed by the duke governor of an island.]

Sancho, with his whole retinue, arrived at a town containing about a thousand inhabitants, one of the best in the duke's possession; which they told Sancho was called the island Barataria, either because the name of the place was really Barataria, or because he had very cheaply purchased the government.1 When he reached the gates of the town, which was walled, the magistratescame forth to receive him, the bells were set a ringing, and the inhabitants, with expressions of universal joy, conducted him with vast pomp to the great church, in order to return thanks to Heaven for his safe arrival; then, with some ridiculous ceremonies, they delivered to him the keys of the town, and admitted him as perpetual governor of the island Barataria.

The equipage, matted beard, corpulency, and diminutive stature of the new governor, furnished food for admiration to everybody who did not know the juggle of the contrivance; aye, and even to those acquainted with the mystery, who were not a few. In fine, they carried him from the church to the town-hall, and placing him upon the bench, the duke's steward addressed himself to the governor in

these words:

"It is an ancient custom in this famous island, my lord governor, that he who comes to take possession of it is obliged to answer some difh cult and intricate question that shall be put to him, and by his response the inhabitants feel the pulse of their new governor's genius,

1 Barato, signifies cheap.

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according to which they rejoice or repine at his arrival."

While the steward pronounced this address, Sancho was contemplating a number of large letters written upon the wall that fronted his tribunal, and as he could not read, he desired to know the meaning of that painting on the wall.

"In that place, my lord," replied the steward, "is written and recorded the day on which island, for the inscription runs, On such a day your excellency has taken possession of this and such a month, Signior Don Sancho Panza took possession of this island, and long may he enjoy the government thereof."

"And whom do they call Don Sancho Panza?” said the governor.

"Who but your excellency," answered the steward; "for this island never saw any other Panza than him who sits on that tribunal."

"Take notice, then, brother," replied Sancho, "that Don belongs not to me, nor did it ever belong to any of my generation. Simple Sancho is my name; so was my father called, and so my grandfather; and they were all Panzas, without addition of Don or Donna; and I begin to imagine there are as many Dons as stones in this island; but no more of that: God knows my meaning; and peradventure, if my government lasts above three days, I shall weed out these Dons, which, from their swarms, must be as troublesome as vermin. But pray, Mr. Steward, proceed with your question, which I shall answer to the best of my understanding, whether the townsmen should repine or not repine."

At that instant two men entered the hall, one in the habit of a labouring man, and the other a tailor with shears in his hand, who, approaching the bench,

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'My lord governor," said he, "this countryman and I are come before your lordship about an affair which I am going to explain. This honest man comes yesterday to my shop

for, saving your presence, I am an examined tailor, Heaven be praised! and putting a remnant of cloth in my hand, Gaffer,' said he, is there stuff enough here to make me a cap?' I, having handled the piece, replied, 'Yes' Now he supposing, as I suppose, and to be sure it was a right supposition, that I wanted to cabbage part of the stuff, grounding his suspicion on his own deceit, and the bad character of us tailors, desired I would see if there was enough for two caps; and I, guessing his thoughts, answered, 'Yes.' And so my gentleman, persisting in his first and evil intention, went on adding cap to cap; and I

proceeded to answer yes upon yes, until the number increased to five caps. This very moment he called for them, and when I produced them, he not only refused to pay me for my work, but even demanded that I should either restore the cloth, or pay him the price of it." "Is this really the case, brother?" said Sancho.

"Yes, my lord," replied the countryman; "but I beg your lordship would order him to show what sort of caps he has made."

"With all my heart," cried the tailor; who immediately pulling out his hand from under his cloak, produced five small caps fixed upon the tops of his four fingers and thumb, saying, "Here are the five caps which this honest man desired me to make; as I shall answer to Heaven and my own conscience there is not a scrap of the stuff remaining, and I am willing to submit the work to the inspection of the masters of the company."

All the people in court laughed at the number of caps, and the novelty of the dispute, which Sancho having considered for a few moments, "Methinks," said he, "this suit requires no great discussion, but may be equitably determined out of hand: and therefore, my determination is, that the tailor shall lose his work, and the countryman forfeit his cloth; and that the caps shall be distributed among the poor prisoners without further hesitation."

If the sentence he afterwards passed upon the herdsman's purse excited the admiration of the spectators, this decision provoked their laughter: nevertheless, they executed the orders of their governor, before whom two old men now presented themselves, one of them having a cane, which he used as a walking-staff. The other making up to the governor,

"My lord," said he, "some time ago I lent this man ten crowns of gold, to oblige and assist him in an emergency, on condition that he should pay them upon demand; and for a good while I never asked my money, that I might not put him to greater inconvenience in repaying, than that which he felt when he borrowed the sum; but as he seemed to neglect the payment entirely, I have demanded the money again and again, and he not only refuses to refund, but also denies that I ever lent him the ten crowns; or, if I did, he says he is sure they were repaid: now, I having no witnesses to prove the loan, nor he evidence of the repayment, for indeed they never were repaid, I entreat your lordship to take his oath, and if he swears the money was returned I here forgive him the debt, in the presence of God."

"What have you to say to this charge, honest gaffer with the staff?" said Sancho.

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'My lord," replied the senior, "I confess he lent me the money; and since he leaves the matter to my oath, if your lordship will lower your rod of justice, I will make affidavit that I have really and truly returned and repaid the sum I borrowed."

The governor accordingly lowering his wand, the defendant desired the plaintiff to hold his cane until he should make oath, because it encumbered him; then laying his hand upon the cross of the rod, he declared that the other had indeed lent him those ten crowns which he now demanded; but that he, the borrower, had returned them into the lender's own hand, and he supposed he dunned him in this manner because he had forgot that circumstance. This oath being administered, the great governor asked what farther the creditor had to say to the allegation of the other party. And he answered that doubtless the defendant had spoke the truth; for he looked upon him as an honest man and a good Christian; and that as he himself must have forgot the particulars of the payment, he would never demand it from thenceforward. Then the defendant, taking back his cane, and making his obeisance, quitted the court; while Sancho seeing him retire in this manner, and perceiving the resignation of the plaintiff, hung down his head a little, and laying the fore-finger of his right hand on one side of his nose, continued in this musing posture for a very small space of time: then, raising his head, he ordered them to call back the old man with the staff, who had retired: he was accordingly brought before Sancho; who said to him,

"Honest friend, lend me that staff, I have occasion for it."

"With all my heart, my lord," replied the elder, reaching it to the judge: then Sancho took and delivered it to the plaintiff, saying: "Now, go your ways, a-God's name! you are fully paid."

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How, my lord!" said the old man, "is this cane then worth ten crowns of gold?"

"Yes," replied the governor, "otherwise I am the greatest dunce in nature: and now it shall appear, whether or not I have a noddle sufficient to govern a whole kingdom." So saying, he ordered the cane to be broke in public; and when, in consequence of his command, it was split asunder, ten crowns of gold were found in the heart of it, to the astonishment of all the spectators, who looked upon their new governor as another Solomon. When he was asked how he could conceive that the

money was in the cane, he answered, that seeing the deponent give his staff to the other party before he made oath, then hearing him declare that he had really and truly returned the money; and lastly, perceiving that after his deposition he took back the staff, it came into his head that the money was concealed within the cane. And in this instance we see that governors, though otherwise fools, are sometimes directed in their decisions by the hand of God: besides, Sancho had heard such a story told by the curate of his village, and his memory was so tenacious in retaining everything he wanted to remember, that there was not such another in the whole island. Finally, the two old men went away, the one overwhelmed with shame, and the other miraculously repaid; the by-standers were astonished; and he whose province it was to record the sayings, actions, and conduct of Sancho, could not determine in his own mind whether he should regard and report him as a simpleton or a sage.

The history relates, that from the town-hall Sancho Panza was conducted to a sumptuous palace, in the great hall of which was a royal table, most elegantly furnished. When the governor entered the waits struck up, and four pages came forth and presented him with water for his hands, which he received with great solemnity; then the music ceasing, he took his place at the upper end of the table, which was accommodated with one seat only, and a cover for himself alone: while close by him stood a personage, who afterwards proved to be a physician, with a rod of whalebone in his hand. They removed a very fine white cloth that covered the fruit and a great variety of dishes. One who looked like a student said grace; a page tucked a laced bib under Sancho's chin, and another person, who acted the part of sewer, set a plate of fruit before the governor; but scarce had he swallowed a mouthful, when the doctor touching the said plate with his wand, it was snatched from him in a twinkling: the sewer presented him with another dish, which the governor resolved to prove; but, before he could finger or taste it, the plate being also touched by the wand, one of the pages conveyed it away with incredible despatch, to the amazement of Sancho, who, looking round him, asked if he must be obliged to eat like a juggler, by slight of hand!

To this interrogation he of the wand replied: "My lord governor must, in eating, conform to the use and customs of other islands where governors reside. I, my lord, enjoy a salary as physician to the governors of this island,

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and take more care of their health than of my own; studying night and day, and considering the governor's constitution, that I may be able to cure him, in case he should be taken ill; but the principal part of my office is to be present at his meals, where I allow him to eat what I think will agree with his complexion, and restrain him from that which I conceive will be hurtful and prejudicial to his stomach. I therefore ordered the fruit to be removed, because it is dangerously moist; and likewise commanded the other dish be conveyed away, because it is excessively hot, as containing a number of spices which create thirst, and copious drinking drowns and destroys the radical moisture which is the essence of life."

"By that way of reasoning," said Sancho, "that there dish of roasted partridges, which seems to be very well seasoned, will do me no harm." To this hint the physician replied:

"Of these my lord governor shall not eat while there is breath in my body."

"And pray, for what reason?" said the governor.

"Because our master Hippocrates, the north star and luminary of physic, expressly says, in one of his aphorisms, Omnis saturatio mala, perdix autem pessima;' that is, All repletion is bad, but that with partridge worst of all."

"If that be the case," said Sancho, "good Mr. Doctor, pray examine all the messes on the table so as to point out that which will do me least harm and most good, that I may eat without fear of conjuration; for, by the life of the governor, and as Heaven shall prolong it! I am ready to die of hunger; and to deny me victuals, even though Signior Doctor should prescribe fasting, and say a thousand things in its praise, will, instead of preserving my health, deprive me of life entirely."

"Your lordship is very much in the right,” replied the physician, "and to begin, I would not have you touch these ragoold rabbits, because they are a sharp-haired food: of that veal, indeed, you might pick a little, if it was not roasted a-la-daube; but as it is, touch it not."

"The dish that smokes yonder," said Sancho, "seems to be an olla podrida, and considering the variety of ingredients of which these ollas are composed, surely I cannot fail to light on something that will be both savoury and wholesome."

"Absit!" cried the physician, "far from us be such a thought. There is not a more pernicious nutriment upon the face of the earth: leave your ollas to canons, rectors of colleges,

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