e well
pleased if it affords the former any pleasure or amusement during one or
two of such few hours of leisure as it took the latter to write it.
Regarding style, method, and arrangement of the matter, the author has
no apology to offer, except that the work has been written in great
haste, and by one who, in five years, has not had a single entire day
for recreation or unoccupied by severe missionary duty. Let not the
critics forget this.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
CHAPTER I.
A DEATH BED SCENE, 13

CHAPTER II.
GETTING THE MOTHER'S BLESSING, 23

CHAPTER III.
AN OFFICIAL, 32

CHAPTER IV.
THE POORHOUSE, 41

CHAPTER V.
THE O'CLERYS, 52

CHAPTER VI.
THE COUNCIL, 60

CHAPTER VII.
A RUDE LOVER OF NATURE, 69

CHAPTER VIII.
THE ORPHANS IN THEIR NEW HOME, 77

CHAPTER IX.
THE PRYING FAMILY, 87

CHAPTER X.
A RAY OF HOPE, 97

CHAPTER XI.
VAN STINGEY AGAIN.--HOW HE GETS RICH AND ENDS, 106

CHAPTER XII.
MASS IN A SHANTY, 117

CHAPTER XIII.
THE TEMPTER AT THE WOMAN, 129

CHAPTER XIV.
THE FRUITS OF THE CROSS, 136

CHAPTER XV.
THE CONVERSION, 145

CHAPTER XVI.
THE ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS, 155

CHAPTER XVII.
"HE AND HIS WHOLE HOUSE BELIEVED," 164

CHAPTER XVIII.
"TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION," 178

CHAPTER XIX.
WHAT HAPPENED TO LITTLE EUGENE O'CLERY, 187

CHAPTER XX.
THE SAME, CONTINUED, 201

CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS, 213

CHAPTER XXII.
THE DESERTED HOME OF THE ORPHANS, 223

CHAPTER XXIII.
IN WHICH THE SCENE OF OUR TALE IS CHANGED, 240

CHAPTER XXIV.
SHOWS HOW THE CROSS AND SHAMROCK WERE PERMANENTLY
UNITED AFTER A LONG SEPARATION, 251

CHAPTER XXV.
CONCLUSION,