it for nearly half an hour without uttering a word.
At last he laid it down with a sigh and said that he should be very happy
to purchase some of these books for his school, but from their
appearance, especially from the quality of the paper and binding, he was
apprehensive that to pay for them would exceed the means of the parents
of his pupils, as they were almost destitute of money, being poor
labourers. He then commenced blaming the Government, which, he said,
established schools without affording the necessary books, adding that in
his school there were but two books for the use of all his pupils, and
these he confessed contained but little good. I asked him what he
considered the Testaments were worth. He said, '_Senor Cavalier_, to
speak frankly I have in other times paid twelve _reals_ for books
inferior to yours in every respect, but I assure you that my poor pupils
would be utterly unable to pay the half of that price.' I replied, 'I
will sell you as many as you please for three _reals_ each; I am
acquainted with the poverty of the land, and my friends and myself in
affording the people the means of spiritual instruction have no wish to
curtail their scanty bread.' He replied: '_Benedito seo Dios_' ('blessed
be God'), and could scarcely believe his ears. He instantly purchased a
dozen, expending therein, as he said, all the money he possessed with the
exception of a few _cuartos_. The introduction of the reading of the
Word of God into the country schools of Spain is therefore now begun, and
I humbly hope that it will prove one of those events which the Bible
Society after the lapse of years will have most reason to remember with
joy and gratitude to the Almighty.

An old peasant is at present reading in the portico. Eighty-four years
have passed over his head, and he is almost entirely deaf; nevertheless
he is reading aloud the second [chapter] of Matthew. Three days since he
bespoke a Testament, but not being able to raise the money he has not
redeemed it until the present moment; he has just brought thirty
farthings. As I survey the silvery hair which overshadows his sun-burnt
countenance, the words of the song occur to me: 'Lord, now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation.'

I will now conclude these anecdotes with one not divested of singularity.
Over a branch of the Tagus by the bridge Azeca there is a large
water-mill. I have f