Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-08-12
THE CRoss OF THE SEVEN DAGGERs.
pYA TRAVELLER.

After traversing the mountains OF Cal
licia, on journey from Corunna to Mad
rid, we came to halt late one afternoon,
near small town which had onces sup
ported prominent University, but which
now bore the usual tokens Of the drnysy
decay manifested by every portion Of
Spain.
: There were several gentlemen Of vari
GUS nations composing our company, who
like myself, were always anxious to learn
those passages of interest which almost
every foot Of ground possesses in this i'll
iated land, SO full of romance and folly
AS the moon would give US pleasant light
in the evening, we concluded 10 defer our
entrance into the village until alter night
fall. Accordingly, we gave directions to
have our suppers prepared whore we were,
for which we were duly provided with
materials, as we generally found it to our
advantage, both as regarded pocket and
palate, to prepare our own meals, when
circumstances would allow, rather than
depend upon the miserable posades.
. While our repast was being prepared,
we strolled about to take view Oh the
scenery. Observing little eminence a
short distance off, we ascended it, and found
that it commanded fine view Of the
{ town and country. On its top was a
grove of trees, from among which flowed
!. a rill Of pure water, that added sort OF
rural music to the charms Of the scene, as
it rippled over its pebbly bed down the
gentle slope. A little beyond, We saw
couple of our muleteers, who had come
to the spring for water, silently gazing
upon cross that was erected over what
appeared to be the RUNS of o habitation, and
on which seven daggers with red handles,
were strikingly painted. We inquired oi
the muleteers the purpose of the cross ano
the meaning Of the daggers -
e sHospita! and you do not know the
story Of The Cross of the Seven Dag
gersn exclaimed one of them, thinking as
the cenceited Spainard always does, tha
a man is wofnlly ignorant who is not as
familiar with every object within thei'
own observation as they are themselves
Can it be possible continued he tina
you have read SO many books, and are no
acquainted with the great even: that tool
place here?'
We replied that our books had beer
sadly at fault on that subject, and that
he could tell a story worth listening to, W
would hear it while supper was preparing
So we seated ourselves on the ground, an
at our bidding this most fluent talker mar
rated the tale, while his comrade went bac
with the water buckets.
He informed US that some half centur
back, there lived in the southern part c
: the province of Andalusia, an old an
proud family Of the name of De Castro
,Ons Of the younger members Of this fan
lily, named Emanuel, had conceived re
mantle passion for the daughter Of poe
musician, a most beautiful and interests,
girl, hs proffered her bis hand in homo
able marriage. When the matter becau
known to the friends Of the young mai
il occasioned great indignation, and
threat Of the severest vengeance from u
rich old Don, his father, should he pers1
in his foolish desires. The indeoende
young Emanuel gathered what money
sou.d command. secretly married the fl
Sonora, fed with her from his native pro
ince, and finally settled upon the We
spot where we were then sitting.
For three years Emanuel De casl