led them to regret the
successes of the English arms, and they were ready to make any
sacrifices that could be named, not because they loved peace for itself,
but because, while the war should last, it would not be possible for the
monarch to follow his mother's advice to "be a king" in fact as well as
in name,--advice that was destined to cost the King much, and his realm
far more.

* * * * *

EQUINOCTIAL.

The Sun of Life has crossed the line:
The summer-shine of lengthened light
Faded and failed,--till, where I stand,
'Tis equal Day and equal Night.

One after one, as dwindling hours,
Youth's glowing hopes have dropped away,
And soon may barely leave the gleam
That coldly scores a winter's day.

I am not young, I am not old;
The flush of morn, the sunset calm,
Paling, and deepening, each to each,
Meet midway with a solemn charm.

One side I see the summer fields
Not yet disrobed of all their green;
While westerly, along the hills,
Flame the first tints of frosty sheen.

Ah, middle-point, where cloud and storm
Make battle-ground of this my life!
Where, even-matched, the Night and Day
Wage round me their September strife!

I bow me to the threatening gale:
I know, when that is overpast,
Among the peaceful harvest-days,
An Indian-summer comes at last!

* * * * *

THE LEGEND OF MONTE DEL DIABLO.

The cautious reader will detect a lack of authenticity in the following
pages, I am not a cautious reader myself, yet I confess with some
concern to the absence of much documentary evidence in support of the
singular incident I am about to relate. Disjointed memoranda, the
proceedings of _ayuntamientos_ and early departmental _juntas_, with
other records of a primitive and superstitious people, have been my
inadequate authorities. It is but just to state, however, that, though
this particular story lacks corroboration, in ransacking the Spanish
archives of Upper California I have met with many more surprising and
incredible stories, attested and supported to a degree that would have
placed this legend beyond a cavil or doubt. I have, also, never lost
faith in the legend myself, and in so doing have profited much from the
examples of divers grant-claimants, who have often jostled me in their
more practical researches, and who