The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-04-27
From the Zincali or Gipsies ofSpain.

4
! THE BOOKSELLER OF LOGRONO
About the middle of the sixteenth century
| there resided one Francisco Alvarez in the
CITY of Logrono, the chief town of Rioja, pro.
vince which borders on Arragon. He was a
man above the middle sge,sober, reserved and
in general absorbed in thought he lived neal
the great church, and obtained livelihood BY
selling printed books and manuscripts in q
| small shop. He was 4 very learned man.
and was continually reading in the books which
| he was in the habit of selling, and some OF
these books were in foreign tongues and char
acters so foreign in deed that none but him.
selfa and soIne of his friends, the cAnons, could
understand them he YVES much visited BY the
clergy who were his principel custimers, and
took much pleasure in listening to his dis.
course.
He had been a considerable traveller in his
youth. and bad wandered through all Spain.
visiting the various provinces and the most re.
remarkable cities.
1t was likewise said he had visited Italy
and Yarbary, He was moreover invariably 81
lent with respect to his travels and whenever
the subject was mentioned to him, the gloom
and melancholy increased which usually cloud
ed his features.
One day, in the commencement OF autumn ne
vas visited by'a priest with whom he had
long been intimate and for whom ne had
always displayed greater respect and liking
than for any other acquaintance. The ecle.
siastic found him even more sad than usual
and there was haggaTd paleness upon his
countenance which alarmed his visiter. The
good priest made affectionate inquiries res
pecfing the health of his friend, and whether
anythinpa had Of late occurred to give him na-
easiness. adding at the same time that he had
long suspected some secreflay heavy upon bis
mind which he now coninred him to reveal, an
life was uncertain,and It was very possible that
he might be quickly summoned from earth m
to the presence of llis Maker.
The bookseller continued for some time in
gloomy meditation, till at last he broke silence
IN these words-s.lt 10 true / have secret
which weighs heavy upon my mind and which
ara still 10th to reveal; but have aPreaent-
imert that my end 10 approaching. and that q
heavy misfoFtutune is about 70 fall upon this
ei,v viii therefore unburden myself for u
were now sin TO remain silent.
81 ana, a. you are aware native Of MS
tovvr,. which 1 first Ieft wheE went to acquire
a, education at Salamapca continued there
until Ibecan1e licentiaf6 when quilied the
raiyersitv and stfoIled through Spain, sup
portinu myself in general by touching
the guitar according 70 the pE1ctce Of penni-
Iess students, my adventures WerS numerous
and Il frequently experienced great poverty.
Once while making my way from Toledo %.
Andalusia through the wild mountains, fell
Is With and was made captive by Q band of
The neople called Gitanos O. wandAEing ERyp-
tians fheg IN general lived among thes1
Vida and pIunder6d or murdered every per-
SON whom they met. should pKq1 ha.e
been hssasiHatsa ~ thcnS but ny Till ia mEglp
rerlnps bnved mr. liie. EuQlallun9a Wild aneM
= .n,.,a.m;s1nmala firnn tilt AZ last they mMKN1a-
3e5 re Is becor,s 01s 81 tholhS Whe18nppn 4