ssed himself
devoutly, and at last informed the crowd around him that he had the very
prayer, and the very remedy which had been prescribed. He then played
his fiddle, singing the prayer in a solemn chaunt; and then he pulled
out of his pocket a packet of little books and little boxes. They are
only one halfpenny each; and all that is necessary is, that they should
touch the figure of the saint on the canvass, to be imbued with the
necessary virtue. He sells them rapidly; each time that he puts them to
the canvass crossing himself, and insisting that the party who purchases
shall do the same. He takes his fiddle again, and sings the history of
the saint, pointing with his fiddlestick to the compartments of the
picture as he goes on; and now he pulls out more little books and more
boxes; and how fast they purchase them! The stock in trade in his own
possession is certainly of little value; but he possesses a fruitful
mine in the superstition of others. Ah, well! Are not those inside the
church setting him the example of mixing up religion with quackery?

Spa is beautifully situated, between abrupt hills covered with verdure;
the walks cut in these hills are very beautiful, and much pains have
been taken to render the place agreeable;--no wonder, when we recollect
how many crowned heads have visited the place: but the sun of Spa has
set, probably never to rise again; for whatever may be the property of
its waters, to be frequented, a watering-place must be fashionable.
There are many causes for its desertion. One is, the effects of the
Belgian revolution. During the time that Belgium was attached to the
Netherlands, the king, with the prince and princess of Orange, came here
almost every year, bringing with them, of course, a great number of the
nobility; but now the nobility have deserted the court; and when Leopold
came here, no one followed. He was disgusted, and remained but a few
days. The Prussians used also to resort very much to Spa; but the king
of Prussia finding that so many young men were ruined at the
gaming-tables, and so much distress occasioned by it, with a most
fatherly despotism, has refused all the officers permission to visit
Spa, and has forbidden the medical men to recommend the waters. The
Russians also flocked in great numbers to Spa; but the emperor, although
very indifferent about their losing their money, is very particular
about his subjects gaining revolutionary opinions; and Spa b