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mangled features of his noble sons. So great was the sorrowful shock, that he fell to the ground, and was thought dead. After a time he rose up, and large tear drops fell from his eyes, as he said to Almançor: "Well do T know these heads, they are those of my sons, the seven children of Salas; the other one is that of Nuno Salido, who brought them up. Alas! and woe is me."

After thus speaking, he began to vent sighs, so full of grief, that none of the spectators, seeing his great sorrow, could restrain their tears. He took each of the heads up, and kissing it, enumerated all the great deeds it had performed. Then in his great anguish of mind, he snatched a sword from an attendant, and with it killed seven Alguazils, even in the presence of Almangor.

How many more he would have killed had he not been prevented, cannot be conjectured. He then implored Almançor to put him to death, having nothing more to live for. But Almançor took pity on him, and would not allow him to be harmed,—no, not one hair of his head to be hurt.

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Don Gustios being in this anguish of mind, there came to him the Moorish dame who waited upon him : Courage, sennhor Don Gonçalo ; cease weeping. Learn that I once had thirteen sons, all good cavaliers, and such was their fate and mine, that they were all killed one day in battle. I have, nevertheless, taken courage, and at last remained silent in sorrow. How much more so ought you, who are a knight; you may well weep for your sons, but that will not recall them, or enable you once more to see them during your life. Do not, therefore, let your grief kill you."

Almançor said to him: "Return to thy country. It is long since thy wife, Donna Sancha, has seen thee; as to the heads of thy sons, I will do all I can to their honour, and all that can be done shall be done."

Gonçalo Gustios took leave of Almançor, and of the grandees of his court, and returned to Salas, leaving the Moorish lady half his signet ring as a token.

We shall now relate how the Moorish lady had a son, and that he was the son of Don Gustios; that he was named Mudarra Gonçalez by his mother; that from the fourth year of the King Bermudo's reign until the eleventh, we have nothing to recite relative to this history. But in the end it will be seen how the seven sons of Lara, were revenged.

At ten years of age Mudarra was knighted by Almançor, whom it is said loved him full well because his mother was the king's own sister. Mudarra became a gallant cavalier. He knew that his father was a Christian,-what he had suffered in prison,--the death of his brothers by treachery; his mother had told him all these things.

One day he said to his companions :- Friends, you know how my noble father, Don Gustios, suffered great sorrow and tribulation without cause. You also know how the seven sons of Lara died. I tell you here that I have a great mind to go into the land of the Christians and revenge their deaths."

He took leave of the king and went to Salas, where he was recognised by his father, to whom he presented the broken ring given to his mother for a token between them. Don Gustios was greatly pleased with him, and his sad heart was raised to joy. But at the expiration of some days, Mudarra said to his father, "I am come here to know how your fortunes went, and to revenge the death of the seven sons of Lara. That being my intention, it is not good that we should prolong the business."

Mudarra went to Burgos, where was Count Garci Ferrandez and Ruy Velasquez, and defied the latter before the count. Ruy would not accept the challenge. Mudarra was greatly enraged, and went towards him sword in hand to strike him, but Ferrandez prevented it, and would not allow Ruy to be struck. He commanded a truce of three days, but longer he would not allow it, and all those who were present with the count took leave of him except Ruy Velasquez, who remained until midnight.

Mudarra Gonçalez waited for him on his road homeward, and when he saw him coming, exclaimed in a loud voice :-" Thou shalt die, false traitor !" then running against him with all his horse's strength, he gave him such a dreadful blow with his sword, that Ruy Velasquez fell dead from his saddle with his head cleft in twain. He also killed thirty vassal horsemen that served as Don Ruy's escort. After this Mudarra hastened to the palace of Velasquez, took Donna Lambra prisoner, and finally burnt her to death; but this was not done during the life of Count Garci Ferrandez, because Donna Lambra was his near relative.

And to conclude, it must be told that when Mudarra Gonçalo returned to Salas, his father caused him to be baptised, and made a Christian, for before this he was a Moor.

A FATHER'S ADVICE TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER. (Written Immediately after her Marriage.)

MY DEAR MARY,--You have just entered into that state which is replete with happiness or misery. The issue depends upon that prudent, amiable, uniform conduct, which wisdom and virtue so strongly recommend, on the one hand; or on that imprudence which a want of reflection, an indulgence of passion, or even of a querulous habit may prompt on the other.

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A FATHER'S ADVICE TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER.

You are allied to a man of blameless character,-to a man of honour, of talents, of culture, and of an. open, generous disposition. You have, therefore, in your power all the essential ingredients of domestic happiness. Your felicity cannot be marred, if you, my daughter, properly reflect upon that system and course of conduct which it is within your reach invariably to pursue, or if you now perceive clearly the path from which you will resolve never to deviate.

A maxim of the first importance which should, of course, be impressed at once with an adequate strength upon your mind, so as to become a fixed principle, is, never to attempt to control your husband by a harsh opposition, by mere displeasure, or any other species or mark of angry passion. A man of sense, of prudence, of warm feelings, cannot, and will not, bear an opposition of any sort which is attended with a passionate look or expression. The current of his affections is suddenly stopped; his attachment is weakened; he feels a deep mortification; he is lowered in his own esteem; and be assured that the wife who once excites those sentiments in the breast of her husband, will hardly ever regain the high ground which she might and ought to have retained. When he marries her, if he be a good man, he expects from her reliance, not frowns; he does not expect from her a tyrannical control either of tongue or of sulky opposition, nor that she will ever attempt to take from him the freedom of acting as his own judgment shall deliberately direct; but one who will place such confidence in him, as to beieve that his prudence is a sufficient guide; who will strive to act and think in consort with him, and who will wield her rightful and proper sway, rather by means of silken cords than obdurate chains. Little things,-what in reality are mere trifles in themselves, often produce bickerings, if not lasting quarrels. Never permit them to be a subject of dispute. A difference with your husband ought to be considered as the greatest calamity. What, indeed, can a woman gain by her opposition or quarrelsomeness? Nothing. She loses everything; she loses her partner's respect, his love, and with that, all prospect of future happiness. She creates her own misery, and then utters idle and vain complaints. The love of a husband, who is at all worthy the appellation, can be retained only by the high opinion which he cherishes of his wife's goodness of heart, of her amiability, of her prudence, and of her devotion to him. Let nothing on any occasion ever be calculated to lessen that opinion. On the contrary, it should augment every day; he should have much more reason to admire her for those excellent qualities which will cast a lustre over a virtuous woman, when her personal attractions are no more.

Has your husband staid out longer than you expected? When he returns,

receive him as the partner of your heart. Has he disappointed you in something you looked forward to at the time, whether of ornament or furniture, or of any conveniency? Never evince discontent or sourness, but receive his explanation or apology with cheerfulness and a hopeful smile. Does he, when you are housekeeper, invite company without informing you of it, or bring home with him a friend? Whatever may be your repast, or however scanty t may be, receive them with a pleasing countenance ; adorn your table with welcome and happy looks, give to your husband and to your company a hearty reception; for this will more than compensate for every other deficiency ; it will evince love for your husband, good sense in yourself, and that politeness of manners which acts as the most powerful charm! It will, in short, add to the plainest fare, a zest superior to all that the richest luxury can boast.

As your husband's success in business will greatly depend upon his popularity, and as the manners of a wife have no little influence in extending or lessening the respect and esteem of others for her husband, you should take care to be affable and polite to the poorest as well as the richest. A reserved haughtiness is a sure indication of a weak mind or an unfeeling heart.

With respect to your servants, teach them by your conduct and conversation to look up to you and to love you, while you expect from them a reasonable discharge of their particular duties. Never tease yourself or them by scolding; it has no other effect than to render them discontented and impertinent. Admonish them with a calm firmness.

Cultivate your mind by the use of those books which instruct, rather than of those which merely amuse, or of such as are fitted for both purposes at one and the same time. Do not devote much of your time to pure novel reading; there are works of the kind which may be useful in improving the fancy, and in giving a refined tone to the moral sensibilities; but an indiscriminate or constant reading of such books must vitiate the taste, and produce a disrelish for substantial food and intellectual training of the highest order. Most plays are of a kindred cast, they are not friendly to the delicacy which is one of the principal ornaments of the female character. History, Geography, Poetry, Moral Essays, Biography, Travels, select branches of Science, Sermons, and other well-written religious publications, will not fail to enlarge your understanding, to render you a more agreeable companion, and to exalt your virtue. A woman devoid of rational and devout ideas of religion, has no security for her virtue; it is sacrificed to her passions, whose voice, not that of God, is her only governing principle. Besides, in those hours of calamity to which families must lay their account with, where will she find support, if it be not in her just reflections upon that all-ruling Pro

vidence which governs the universe, and whose designs and laws have been so impressively made known to man, in all that concerns the well-being of our race now and hereafter.

Mutual politeness between the most intimate friends is essential to that harmony, which should never be once broken, interrupted, or impaired. How important then must it be between man and wife! The more warm the attachment, the less will either party bear to be slighted, or treated with the smallest degree of rudeness or inattention. This politeness, then, if it be not in itself a virtue, is at least the means of giving to real goodness a new lustre it is the means too of preventing discontent, suspicion, and even fallings out; it is, in fact, the oil of intercourse, removing asperities, and lending to everything a pleasing movement.

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I will only add, with regard to matrimonial happiness, that it does not depend upon wealth; no, it is not to be found in wealth, but in minds properly-tempered and suited to our respective situations. Competency is necessary; all beyond that point is ideal. Do not suppose, however, that I would not advise your husband to augment his property by all honest methods. I would wish to see him engaged actively in such a pursuit, because a sedulous employment, in obtaining some laudable end, is essential to happiness. In the attainment of a fortune, by honourable means, a man derives particular satisfaction in self-applause, as well as from the increasing estimation in which he is held by those around him.

In the management of your domestic concerns, let prudence and a wise economy prevail. Let neatness, order, and judgment be seen in all your different departments. Unite liberality with a just frugality, and always reserve something for the hand of Charity. Your servants, in particular, will have a strong claim upon your kind consideration;-let them be well fed, well treated, and humanely nursed in sickness.

VERITABLE HISTORY OF THEODORA.*

THERE was once in the kingdom of Tunis a Hungarian merchant, the richest that ever was in the world. One day, passing on the great square, he saw a young Christian girl for sale, who was from the countries of Spain;

*This Spanish romance is of high antiquity, and but little known even in Spain. The author is entirely unknown, but it is attributed to a learned monk of the 15th century. As a tale it possesses all the beautiful simplicity that characterises the Spanish romanceros of olden times, and it is rendered peculiarly interesting by exhibiting a true picture of the theology, philosophy, and natural history taught in the middle ages.

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