y in the priest's face; "I think it's best to make sure of it now,
in regard that in the evening, your Reverence--do you persave?"

"Yes," said his Reverence, "you're in a better frame of mind at present,
Phaddhy, being fresh from confession."

So saying, his Reverence--for whom Phaddhy, with all his shrewdness in
general, was not a match--went into his room, that he might send home
about four dozen of honest, good-humored, thoughtless, jovial, swearing,
drinking, fighting Hibernians, free from every possible stain of sin and
wickedness!

"Are you all ready now?" said the priest to a crowd of country people
who were standing about the kitchen door, pressing to get the "first
turn" at the tribunal, which on this occasion consisted of a good oaken
chair, with his Reverence upon it.

"Why do you crush forward in that manner, you ill-bred spalpeens? Can't
you stand back, and behave yourselves like common Christians?--back with
you! or, if you make me get my whip, I'll soon clear you from about the
dacent man's door. Hagarty, why do you crush them two girls there,
you great Turk, you? Look at the vagabonds! Where's my whip," said he,
running in, and coming out in a fury, when he commenced cutting about
him, until they dispersed in all directions. He then returned into the
house; and, after calling in about two dozen, began to catechize them
as follows, still holding the whip in his hand, whilst many of those
individuals, who at a party quarrel or faction fight, in fair or market,
were incapable of the slightest terror, now stood trembling before him,
absolutely pale and breathless with fear.

"Come, Kelly," said he to one of them, "are you fully prepared for the
two blessed sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, that you are about
to receive? Can you read, sir?"

"Can I read, is id?--my brother Barney can, yor Rev'rence," replied
Kelly, sensible, amid all the disadvantages around him, of the
degradation of his ignorance.

"What's that to me, sir?" said the priest, "what your brother Barney can
do--can you not read yourself?"

"I can not, your Reverence," said Kelly, in a tone of regret.

"I hope you have your Christian Doctrine, at all events," said the
priest. "Go on with the Confiteor."

Kelly went on--"Confeetur Dimnipotenmti batchy Mary semplar virginy,
batchy Mickletoe Archy Angelo, batchy Johnny Bartisty, sanctris
postlis--Petrum hit Paulum omnium sanctris, et tabby pasture, quay a
pixavit minus coglety a