etween Galway and
Newfoundland--the shortest run to America--the captain was bribed on his
first trip, and tho' there isn't nothing but ninety fathoms of blue
say-wather betune Arran and Salthill, he wint out of his way to find a
rock, three miles out av his coorse, and--he found it. The Liverpool min
settled Galway."

"And didn't the cap'n cry: 'Port! d--n you, port!' and they turned her
nose right on us."

"But they were kind when they picked you up?"

"So far as talking gibberish and pouring whiskey into us, they were; but
whin they landed us, one dirty frog-eater sang out:--

"It's addiyou, not O revwar!"

* * * * *

Just a week after these events, that is, the Wednesday after my great
sermon, which is now a respectable landmark, or datemark, at Kilronan, I
got the first letter from Bittra. Here it is, brief and pitiful:--

Hotel Bristol, Paris, Sunday.

Rev. dear Father Dan:--Here we are in the world's capital. The air
is so light that you should sift the heavy atmosphere of Kilronan a
hundred times to make it as soft and exhilarating. We ran through
London, seeing enough to make one wish to escape it; and we are
boulevarding, opera-seeing, picture-gallery-visiting, church-going
since. The churches are superb; but--the people! Fancy only two men
at Mass at Ste. Clotilde's, and these two leaned against a pillar
the whole time, even during the Elevation. I had a terrible
distraction; I couldn't help saying all the time: "If Father Dan
was here, he'd soon make ye kneel down;" and I fancied you standing
before them, and making them kneel down by one look. But the women
are pious. It's all beautiful; but I wish I were home again! Rex is
all kindness; but he's a little shocked at our French customs.
"Are these Catholics?" he says, and then is silent. How is dear
father? I fear he'll be lonesome without his _petite mignonne_.
Mind, you are hereby invited and commanded to dine every evening
with papa, and also Father Letheby. Love to St. Dolores! Tell Mrs.
Darcy I inquired for her. What havoc she would make of the cobwebs
here!

Dear Father Dan,
Always your affectionate child,
Bittra Ormsby.

P. S. Remember you dine with papa every day. No ceremony. He likes
to be treated _en bon camarade_! Isn't that good French?

"You never know what a pitiful t