t young lad, for I want him."

"You do? Cynthia, my dear," said the parson, "we cannot have the lad in
our family. We _dare not_, without the consent of the trustees, who pay
us our salary. Do you understand _that_, my fair disputant?" said he,
triumphantly.

"Well, Burly, as soon as I recover the means my father willed me, I
shall have that young man--already almost fully educated, as you can
perceive--brought up for the church."

"O, _then_ you can try it, madam," said the man in white neckcloth, in a
sharp, sarcastic style; "but as for me, and I think my opinion is of
some weight, I tell you much can never be made out of that shrewd boy."
There was a solemn, ominous silence, for a moment, in the company. "Did
you remark the sort of dignified and independent motions of the fellow,"
continued he, "when you had him here just now?"

"Fellow!" said his wife, looking at her husband, in anger. "Is that a
proper term to apply to the child?"

"It is not an improper or inappropriate one, not more so than calling
him 'child,'" said he. "I was just going to remark the coolness of his
reply when you introduced my name as the parish clergyman. 'A Catholic
clergyman, I hope, sir,' said he; 'as such, I am very glad to see you.'
Did you observe how sad and demure he looked when told he was to be sent
to school, where he could read the Bible, and become acquainted with the
word of God?' O sir,' said he, 'much obliged to you; I have got a Bible
already, and other good books of devotion, which we brought from home. I
should be very glad to learn what is good,' said he; 'but I trust I have
got my catechism well committed to memory; and having made my first
communion and been confirmed, I was discharged from class, and appointed
a Sunday school teacher, by our good priest, Father Doyle.' And on my
telling him that he could be a teacher here of a better religion than
that of his country, he shook his head, declining the honor of the post
offered, and remarking that 'it was impossible to have a better religion
than that which had God for its author--the Catholic religion.' With
this bit he retired (ye all saw him, I need not repeat more) from our
presence, a blush of mental triumph playing on his smooth cheek."

"Sartain there was such a feelin'," said an old gray-headed Yankee, who
sat at the head of the table, and who was guardian of the establishment.
"You can't do nothin' with these Papists," continued he. "I have seed
the attempt