第151章 15th February,1839(1)

To the Rev.A.Brandram (ENDORSED:recd.Feby.25,1839)MADRID,16CALLE SANTIAGO,15FEBRY.1839.

REVD.AND DEAR SIR,-In my last communication I stated that I had got everything in readiness to commence operations in the neighbourhood of Madrid,and indeed since that period I have entered upon my labours in reality,though unforeseen circumstances produced an unavoidable delay of several days.It is with feelings of gratitude to the Almighty that I now state that considerable success has attended my feeble efforts in the good cause.All the villages within the distance of four leagues to the east of Madrid have been visited,and Testaments to the number of nearly two hundred have been disposed of.It will be here necessary for me to inform you that these villages,for the most part,are very small;some of them consisting of not more than a dozen houses,or Ishould rather say miserable cabins.I left my servant Antonio to superintend matters in Madrid,and proceeded with Vitoriano,the peasant from Villa Seca,in the direction which I have already mentioned.We however soon parted company,and pursued different routes.The first village at which I made an attempt was Cobenna,about three leagues from Madrid.I was dressed in the fashion of the peasants of the neighbourhood of Segovia in Old Castile,namely,I had on my head a species of leather helmet,or MONTERA,with a jacket and trowsers of the same material.I had the appearance of a person between sixty and seventy years of age,and drove before me a BURRICO,with a sack of Testaments lying across its back.On nearing the village I met a genteel-looking young woman leading a little boy by the hand.As I was about to pass her with the customary salutation of 'VAYA USTED CON DIOS,'she stopped,and after looking at me for a moment she said;'Uncle (TIO),what is that you have on your BURRICO?Is it soap?'Ireplied,'Yes;it is soap to wash souls clean.'She demanded what I meant;whereupon I told her that I carried cheap and godly books for sale.On her requesting to see one,I produced a copy from my pocket,and handed it to her.She instantly commenced reading it with a loud voice,and continued so for at least ten minutes,occasionally exclaiming,'QUE LECTURA TAN BONITA,QUE LECTURA TANLINDA!'('What beautiful,what charming reading!')At last,on my informing her that I was in a hurry and could not wait any longer,she said,'True,true,'and asked me the price of the book.I told her 'But three REALS';whereupon she said that though what I asked was very little,it was more than she could afford to give,as there was little or no money in those parts.I said I was sorry for it,but that I could not dispose of the book for less than Ihad demanded,and accordingly resuming it,wished her farewell and left her.I had not,however,proceeded thirty yards,when the boy came running behind me,shouting out of breath:'Stop,uncle!the book,the book.'Upon overtaking me he delivered me the three REALS in copper,and seizing the Testament,ran back to her,who Isuppose was his sister,flourishing the book over his head with great glee.

On arriving at the village I directed my steps to a house around the door of which I saw several persons gathered,chiefly women.