The Cross and the Shamrock

y, a dull, threatening atmosphere, together with almost impassable roads,-these are the chilling and uninv

the forests, groves, and woods themselves,-in a word, all nature seems as if conscious of the effects likely to result to the morals, habits, and projects of men, while some of your modern novelists are arranging their matter, sharpening their scissors, preparing pen, ink, and paper, and taking indigestible suppers to make way into the world for the offspring of their creative fancies. Ours bein

he streets of the city of T-- were almost entirely deserted of foot passengers, owing to the danger of walking over the slippery pavement; while cabmen and omnibus conductors had cautiously driven their teams to the stable or smithy, to have them "sharpened" for the frozen coat of mail which enveloped the earth. When about dusk, an aged gentleman, in a cloak, with

windows, at first seemed to be deserted, but which, from the description left by a messenger with his domestic

man is?" said he to an old

ecognizing the priest; "and thank God you are come. The

ne; for thus was named the sole past

r reverence say that you would be in the country till this day, we thought it no use to give

r-hearted priest, as he ascended to the

y they are in this two months; and it is easily telling they saw better days in the ould country

nded on her "pallet of straw." For a moment he stood on the threshold, for within an unusual and solemn sight presented itself to his view. A woman of fair and comely features, between about thirty and forty years of age, lay as described on th

on her," cried Pau

on her," answered

." R. "Pra

s and archangels."

of the just." R

God." R. "Make int

py death, from the pains of he

burial, by thy glorious resurrection, in the

vant from all danger of hell, and fro

as thou deliveredst Enoch and Elias from

hy servant, as thou deliveredst

ant, as thou deliveredst Abraham from

servant, as thou deliveredst Job f

nt, as thou deliveredst Isaac from bein

vant, as thou deliveredst Lot from So

t, as thou deliveredst Moses from the ha

servant, as thou deliveredst Danie

eliveredst the three children from the fiery furnace

ervant, as thou deliveredst Susanna

ant, as thou deliveredst David from th

servant, as thou deliveredst Peter

ost cruel torments, so vouchsafe, O Lord, to deliver the soul of this thy s

the Holy Ghost, who sanctified thee; in the name of the angels, archangels, thrones and dominations, cherubims and seraphims; in the name of the patriarchs and prophets, of the holy martyrs a

elming grief of the poor orphans. They "gave out" the short prayers of the litany very well, and without much interruption; but when they came to the more s

dside of a dying Catholic, and observe the piety and faith of the priest and people around the bed of the "soul departing;" and if he be not an atheist or a blasphemer of God's providence, it is impossible for him not to perceive the superiority of the Catholic religion to all other forms of worship that ever existed. But to be present at the death hour of a Christian is a privilege which Protestants and unbelievers seldom or never enjoy; their levity and want of devotion, with their impiety and irreverence, being sufficiently powerful obstacles to their admittance into such sacred places as the chamber in

o you act so?" said sh

his younger associates. "Silence Bridget, Patrick, and Eugene. Answer me distinctly, and hold your grief

ing this affecting scene; and the heavy tears might be seen steal

of the poor emigrant into a picture like this, that heaven itself must delight to gaze on. That's right, my darling son," said he, "you have finished well; y

whispered Bridget. "I

e of the venerable minister of religion. "The Lord is too good to me, not to let me die in a strange lan

eart,-for the extremes were cold and without feeling,-he ordered the children down to Mrs. Doherty's, while he heard the short and humble confession o

in her heart and lips, he departed, promising to call again as soon as possible, taking the precaution to leave two dollars in silver and a three dollar bill on the little stool that st

e of God and his angel. God b

, and mercy, accept my imperfect thanksgiving; save my soul, redeemed by thy precious blood, and make me worthy to see thy g

e beatific vision that faith promised her, and through the merits of Christ she expected to obtain. After this, the symptoms of her disease became sensibly less dangerous