before he ascended to
his Father; here is your old Protestant Bible, which your good mistress
used to read to you so long ago. I will find it in this," said May,
taking down the shattered old copy of the Scriptures from its shelf.
"First of all, our Lord established his Church on earth. It was the
object of his divine mission. Then he endowed his apostles with
heavenly gifts and authority to do even as he had done; and declared
that his Church was 'founded on a rock, against which the gates of hell
should never prevail.'"

"And his word and his promise never fail, honey, because he is the Lord
God," said the old woman.

"No, never, never fail," said May, fervently; "and now listen. Here
He, Infinite Truth, tells us himself _why_ this Church can never be
overcome, or err, or do wrong: 'I will pray the Father!' said Jesus
Christ to his disciples, 'and he will send you another comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever--_even_ the SPIRIT OF TRUTH;' and again
he says: 'When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you in
all truth.' And this spirit was the Holy Ghost--the Spirit of God!
Oh, Aunt Mabel, only think! the Spirit of the Eternal God--promised not
only to the disciples, but to the _Church for ever_! Do you understand
me?"

"I understand, honey; and it's the same now it was then, and will be
for ever. Oh, no, Satan, _you_ can't break up your master's
inheritance! You may worrit His sheep, and steal off His stray lambs
now and then, but, bless God, you'll get no furder, 'cause the Master
is thar hisself. Oh, Miss May, lead me in, quick as you please!" cried
the old woman, while tears streamed over her face.

"Dear Aunt Mabel, your wish will soon be gratified. I will see Father
Fabian to-morrow morning, after mass, and he will come to visit and
instruct you in many things, which it is necessary for you to
understand. Were you ever baptized?"

"No, honey; my mother was a Baptist, and they don't baptize babies; and
after I growed up, I didn't like 'em, somehow, and so it's never been
done."

"In this case, I am glad it was not done," said May; "for now, when,
after due preparation, you receive holy baptism, your soul will be
washed white and stainless as that of a Christian babe. You will have
a clean and beautiful banqueting room to receive the Lord Jesus when he
comes to you, under the sacramental veil; and, being near the end of
your pilgrimage, it is not likely that it will be again d