PREFACE. THIS work consists of Tales and Essays selected from various English publications, which have either never been published in this country, or have had but a very limited circulation here. It is intended to be, as its name implies, a useful and entertaining companion for LEISURE HOURS, -a book which may enliven the family circle, when assembled upon a winter's evening around the social hearth,-which may accompany the reader while travelling by land or water, in stage-coaches or in steam-boats,-which may go with him when he flies from the heat, and noise, and dust of the city, to the pure air, and refreshing shade, and quiet enjoyments of the country,-which may cheer him in hours of languor and of sickness,— and which may profitably fill up those vacant hours in the life of a student, or man of business, when the mind, exhausted by its efforts, seeks, in amusement, for the restoration of its wonted powers. If it shall be found to contribute to these purposes,-if, while it amuses, it shall sometimes instruct by the pictures of life which it exhibits,-if, by the elegance of its style, and the purity of its sentiments, it shall serve to improve the literary or moral taste of our countrymen, we shall deem the time and labor, which we have devoted to its preparation, well bestowed. This volume may, in due time, be followed by others, perhaps of a widely-different character; but in all our publications it will be our object to blend entertainment with instruction, to improve the taste while the various powers of the mind are called into pleasant and healthful exercise, and to aid in training the moral feelings to the love and practice of every duty. BOSTON, Sept. 1, 1834. LEISURE HOURS. THE DEAN OF SANTIAGO. It was but a short hour before noon, when the Dean of Santiago alighted from his mule at the door of Don Julian, the celebrated magician of Toledo. The house, according to old tradition, stood on the brink of the perpendicular rock, which, now crowned with the Alcazar, rises to a fearful height over the Tagus. A maid of Moorish blood led the dean to a retired apartment, where Don Julian was reading. The natural politeness of a Castilian had rather been improved than impaired by the studies of the Toledan sage, who exhibited nothing, either in his dress or person, that might induce a suspicion of his dealing with the mysterious powers of darkness. "I heartily greet your reverence," said Don Julian to the dean, "and feel highly honored by this visit. Whatever be the object of it, let me beg you will defer stating it till I have made you quite at home in this house. hear my housekeeper making ready the noonday meal. That maid, sir, will show you the room which has been prepared for you; and when you have brushed off the dust of the journey, you shall find a canonical capon steaming hot upon the board.” The dinner, which soon followed, was just what a pampered Spanish canon would wish it—abundant, nutritive, and delicate. "No, no," said Don Julian, when the soup and a bumper of Tinto had recruited the dean's spirits, and he I |