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these latest comers。
The Moorish cavalry； which proved to be three Spaniards on
horseback； drew up before the young crusaders。
〃So； runaways； we have found you；〃 cried one of them； as he
recognized the children。 〃Come； Theresa； what means this folly？
Whither are you and Pedro bound？〃
〃We were even starting for a crusade against the Moor； Brother
Jago；〃 said Theresa； timidly； 〃but our Infidel friend herewhy；
where hath he gone？says that there are neither Infidel castles
nor Moorish armies now； and that therefore we may not be
crusaders。〃
〃But I know that he doth lie； Brother Jago；〃 cried little Pedro；
more valiant still when he saw to what his Moorish cavalry was
reduced。 〃He is the King of Cordova； come here to spy out the
land； and I was about to cut off his head when you did disturb
us。〃
Big brother Jago de Cepeda and the two servants of his father's
house laughed long and loudly。
〃Crusaders and kings；〃 he cried； 〃why； we shall have the Cid
himself here； if we do but wait long enough。〃
〃Hush； brother；〃 said young Pedro； confidentially； 〃say it not so
loudly。 I did tell the Infidel that I was Ruy Diaz of Bivar； the
Cid Campeadorand he did believe me。〃
And then the cavalry laughed louder than ever； and swooping down
captured the young crusaders and set the truants before them on
their uncomfortable Cordova saddles。 Then； turning around； they
rode swiftly back to Avila with the runaways； while the old Moor；
glad to have escaped rough handling from the Christian riders；
grasped his staff and plodded on toward Avila and Valladolid。
So the expedition for martyrdom and crusade came to an
ignominious end。 But the pious desires of little Theresa did not。
For； finding that martyrdom was out of the question； she proposed
to her ever…ready brother that they should become hermits； and
for days the two children worked away trying to build a hermitage
near their father's house。
But the rough and heavy pieces of granite with which they sought
to build their hermitage proved more than they could handle； and
their knowledge of mason…work was about as imperfect as had been
their familiarity with crusading and the country of the Moors。
〃The stones that we piled one upon another；〃 wrote Theresa
herself in later years； 〃immediately fell down； and so it came to
pass that we found no means of accomplishing our wish。〃
The pluck and piety； however； that set this conscientious and
sympathetic little girl to such impossible tasks were certain to
blossom into something equally hard and unselfish when she grew
to womanhood。 And so it proved。 Her much…loved but
romance…reading mother died when she was twelve years old； and
Theresa felt her loss keenly。
She was a very clever and ambitious girl； and with a mother's
guiding hand removed she became impatient under the restraints
which her stern old father； Don Alphonso； placed upon her。 At
sixteen she was an impetuous； worldly…minded； and very vain
though very dignified young lady。 Then her father； fearful as to
her future； sent her to a convent； with orders that she should be
kept in strict seclusion。
Such a punishment awoke all the feelings of conscientiousness and
self…conviction that had so influenced her when she was a little
girl； and Theresa； left to her own thoughts； first grew morbid；
and then fell sick。
During her sickness she resolved to become a nun； persuaded her
ever…faithful brother； Pedro； to become a friar； and when Don
Alphonso； their father； refused his consent； the brother and
sister； repeating the folly of their childhood； again ran away
from home。
Then their father； seeing the uselessness of resistance；
consented； and Theresa； at the age of twenty； entered a convent
in Avila； and became a nun in what was known as the Order of the
Carmelites。
The life of these nuns was strict； secluded； and silent； but the
conscientious nature of Theresa found even the severities of this
lonely life not sufficiently hard； and attaining to a position of
influence in the order she obtained permission from the Pope in
1562 to found a new order which should be even more strict in its
rules； and therefore； so she believed； more helpful。 Thus was
founded the Order of Barefooted Carmelites； a body of priests and
nuns； who have in their peculiar way accomplished very much for
charity； gentleness； and self…help in the world； and whose
schools and convents have been instituted in all parts of the
earth。
Theresa de Cepeda died in 1582； greatly beloved and revered for
her strict but gentle life； her great and helpful charities； and
her sincere desire to benefit her fellow…men。 After her death； so
great was the respect paid her that she was canonized； as it is
called： that is； lifted up as an example of great goodness to the
world； and she is to…day known and honored among devout Roman
Catholics as St。 Theresa of Avila。
Whatever we may think of the peculiar way in which her life was
spent； however we may regard the story of her troubles with her
conscience； her understanding of what she deemed her duty； and
her sinking of what might have been a happy and joyous life in
the solitude and severity of a convent； we cannot but think of
her as one who wished to do right； and who desired above all else
to benefit the world in which she lived and labored。 Her story is
that of a most extraordinary and remarkable woman； who devoted
her life to what she deemed the thing demanded of her。 Could we
not； all of us； profitably attempt to live in something like a
kindred spirit to that helpful and unselfish one that actuated
this girl of the Spanish sierras？
〃Here and there is born a Saint Theresa；〃 says George Eliot；
〃foundress of nothing； whose loving heart…beats and sobs after an
unattained goodness tremble off and are dispersed among
hindrances； instead of centring in some long…recognizable deed。〃
But if a girl or boy； desiring to do right； will disregard the
hindrances； and not simply sit and sob after an unattained
goodnessif； instead； they will but do the duty nearest at hand
manfully and well； the reward will come in something even more
desirable than a 〃long…recognizable deed。〃 It will come in the
very self…gratification that will at last follow every act of
courtesy； of friendliness； and of self…denial； and such a life
will be of more real value to the world than all the deeds of all
the crusaders； or than even the stern and austere charities of a
Saint Theresa。
ELIZABETH OF TUDOR：
THE GIRL OF THE HERTFORD MANOR。
＇Afterward Queen Elizabeth of England； the 〃Good Queen Bess。〃＇
A。D。 1548。
The iron…shod hoofs of the big gray courser rang sharply on the
frozen ground； as； beneath the creaking boughs of the long…armed
oaks； Launcelot Crue； the Lord Protector's fleetest courser…man；
galloped across the Hertford fells or hills； and reined up his
horse within the great gates of Hatfield manor…house。
〃From the Lord Protector；〃 he said； and Master Avery Mitchell；
the feodary；＇1＇ who had been closely watching for this same
courser…man for several anxious hours； took from his hands a
scroll； on which was inscribed：
＇1＇ An old English term for the guardian of 〃certain wards of the
state；〃 young persons under guardianship of the government。
〃To Avery Mitchell； feodary of the Wards in Herts； at Halfield
House。 From the Lord Protector； THESE：〃
And next； the courser…man； in secrecy； unscrewed one of the
bullion buttons on his buff jerkin； and taking from it a scrap of
paper； handed this also to the watchful feodary。 Then； his
mission ended； he repaired to the buttery to satisfy his lusty
English appetite with a big dish of pasty； followed by ale and
〃wardens〃 （as certain hard pears； used chiefly for cooking； were
called in those days）； while the cautious Avery Mitchell；
unrolling the scrap of paper； read：
〃In secrecy； THESE： Under guise of mummers place a half…score
good men and true in your Yule…tide maskyng。 Well armed and
safely conditioned。 They will be there who shall command。 Look
for the green dragon of Wantley。 On your allegiance。 This from ye
wit who。〃
Scarcely had the feodary read； re…read； and then destroyed this
secret and singular missive； when the 〃Ho！ hollo！〃 of Her Grace
the Princess' outriders rang on the crisp December air； and there
galloped up to the broad doorway of the manor…house； a gayly
costumed train of lords and ladies； with huntsmen and falconers
and yeomen following on behind。 Central in the group； flushed
with her hard gallop through the wintry air； a young girl of
fifteen； tall and trim in figure； sat her horse with the easy
grace of a practised and confident rider。 Her long velvet habit
was deeply edged with fur； and both kirtle and head…gear were of
a rich purple tinge； while from beneath the latter just peeped a
heavy coil of sunny；