ye were paupers, Irish,
and Papists; now, you and your sister and brothers are noble and likely
young people."

"O Murty," said Paul, "I can see the hand of God in all this. Where I
have lived for the last three years, several families, together with my
friend and former employer, Mr. Clarke, have been converted. The very
minister, Mr. Strongly, has embraced the true faith; and another parson,
Rev. Mr. H----, I am sure, only waits instruction to enter the gate of
life within the true church."

"Thank God!" said Murty O'Dwyer. "I thought these Yankees never could be
good Catholics, they are so fond of money, trading, cheating, and legal
swindling, such as assigning, and mortgaging, and the like."

"O, bless you, Murty, all Yankees are not alike. There are no better
Catholics on earth than Americans, when they once get the faith. Mr.
Clarke, and my friends in Vermont, who consider me as instrumental in
bringing them to the true faith, have paid for my education in the
college of G----, after they found that I was resolved to embrace the
clerical state."

"That was very generous of them, indeed, sir," said Murty, assuming a
little less familiarity; "those here, in this neighborhood, cannot be
much blamed for their bigotry; they know no better, imposed on for ages
by such fellows as Miller, Scullion, Barker, Gulmore, Grinoble, Scaly,
and the like."

"But it is not so in the cities, Murty," continued Paul; "and it will
not be so here long; for now railroads are building, light, and
liberality, and, I trust, charity, are extending their influence. We
must do our part, by being good, and virtuous, and prudent; try to gain
them by our good example, rather than by argumentative or angry
discussion. 'They know not what they do' when they contemn, or attempt
to stop the progress of, our faith. They are a naturally good and
kind-hearted people; as witness how they assist the sick and give
hospitality. Such virtues must ultimately gain for them the grace of
conversion. The greatest obstacle in their way is the low cunning of the
unprincipled parsons, who, from being peddlers, and poor, shiftless
mechanics, without any proper discipline or preparation, take to the
less laborious trade of preaching. Pray for them, Murty--pray for them."

"I have a far stronger inclination to curse them," said Murty.

"Fie, fie, Murty; that is not Christian."

"That I know," said Murty; "but have you heard that I have been cheated
out of nea