I therefore commit this book to the public once more with its imperfections on its head; with its prophecies unfulfilled, its hopes baffled, its observations in many instances rendered obsolete by the swift progress of events. A changed Europe--far different from that which I traversed twenty years ago--suffers in a new fever-dream of war and revolution north of the Pyrenees; and beyond those picturesque mountains the Spanish monarchy enjoys a new lease of life by favor of circumstances which demand a chronicler of more leisure than myself. I must leave what I wrote in the midst of the stirring scenes of the interregnum between the secular monarchy and the short-lived Republic--whose advent I foresaw, but whose sudden fall was veiled from my sanguine vision--without defense or apology, claiming only that it was written in good faith, from a heart filled with passionate convictions and an ardent love and devotion to what is best in Spain. I recorded what I saw, and my eyes were better then than now. I trust I have not too often spoken amiss of a people whose art, whose literature, whose language, and whose character compelled my highest admiration, and with whom I enjoyed friendships which are among the dearest recollections of my life. John Hay. Lafayette Square, Washington, _April_, 1890. Contents. The Pike County Ballads. Jim Bludso Little Breeches Banty Tim The Mystery of Gilgal Golyer The Pledge at Spunky Point Wanderlieder. Sunrise in the Place de la Concorde The Sphinx of the Tuileries The Surrender of Spain The Prayer of The Romans The Curse of Hungary The Monks of Basle The Enchanted Shirt A Woman's Love On Pitz Languard Boudoir Prophecies A Triumph of Order Ernst of Edelsheim My Castle in Spain Sister Saint Luke New And Old. Miles Keogh's Horse The Advance Guard Love's Prayer Christine Expectation To Flora A Haunted Room Dreams The Light of Love Quand-Même Words The Stirrup Cup A Dream of Bric-a-Brac Liberty The White Flag The Law of Death Mount Tabor Religion and Doctrine Sinai and Calvary The Vision of St. Peter Israel Crows at Washington Remorse Esse Quam Vlderi When the Boys Come Home Lèse-Amour Northward In the Firelight In a Graveyard The Prairie Centennial A Winter Night Student-Song How It Happened God's Vengeance Too Late Love's Doubt Lagrimas On the Bluff Una "Through the Long Days and Years" A Phylactery Blondine Distichs Regardant Guy of the Temple Translations. The Way to Heaven After Heine: Countess Jutta The Pike County Ballads. Jim Bludso, of the Prairie Belle. Wall, no! I can't tell whar he lives, Becase he don't live, you see; Leastways, he's got out of the habit Of livin' like you and me. Whar have you been for the last three year That you haven't heard folks tell How Jimmy Bludso passed in his checks The night of the Prairie Belle?