The Cross and the Shamrock

letters to Father O'Shane in the city of T--, as well as to his uncle in Ireland; but from some cause or other, t

ir Irish friends in eastern or western parts, was ever ready to oblige, and with hearty good will entered into the views of, Parson Gulmore

e fidelity with which the business of "Uncle Sam" is managed, was not confined to the dete

uld come at their secrets; and thus the most sacred and secret concerns of life are liable to exposure, and to be sold for gain. We knew a postmaster who for years continued to rob with impunity the letters that were deposited in his "den of thieves;" and when he was exposed and disgraced through the instrumen

er, was in possession of their contents. On a certain day, however, a circumstance convinced Paul that he could not now expect an answer from his letters to Father O'Shane; for Miss Amanda ha

ing his eyes to heaven; "he was a go

h a frown. "Did I not tell you repeatedly, Pa

church teaches me the contrary? In fact, the Bible says it is 'a holy and a wholesome t

aul," said the vain old maid

"I beg pardon," said he, "miss; I must guard aga

ome here to me till I teach you the knowledge of God's word.

by the men who made your religion. The Catholic church, from which the Protestants stole

so foolish, this

n of creation, a third place; as, for example, the place where the souls of the just were confined before Christ, who was the first to ascend into heaven, as himself says in his gospel. Now, the Bible does

alleth, there it

f grace or in sin,-there it will lie forever; but those who go to purgatory die in a state of grace, and so their eternal destiny is he

ses for your mother's soul in purgatory? How do

ebrant merit. But, Amanda, how do you know that I wrote any such request to the priest? I know you are above reading my letters, though I should leave them open under your eye; but I am afraid that hypocritical-looking postmaster may have

ents of your letters. We Yankees are great at guessing, you know. Be silent; shut up, my goo

st conversation about some subject of an absorbing interest to those around him. In truth, any body, even Amanda, who never saw one, could have guessed that this personage, surrounded by so many of the Irish railroad laborers lately settled in the vicinity, was no other than the Catholic priest. Paul's eye, so lately kindled into passion from the hints dropped by Amanda abou

erence; and it would be a charity to do something

join the crowd to offer his respects to the representative of religion; and it was a

," said the priest,

th; "I can't but weep, 'tis so long

oung lad clung to the priest's hand, embracin

little," said the stalwart missionary. "P

ot touched his reverence's heart. "It would be the charity of God t

morrow, at six o'clock. We will have mass and confessions here in the shanty, as we could procure no better place. Give

answered a hundred voices,

ough, mow, cradle, and farm it, as well as any body of his age. He knew how to read, count, write, and even defend his religion, against all opponents, as he did last winter at the Lyceum; but what was to become of Bridget, Patrick, and little Eugene, who had yet many years to serve? This was what puzzled him. But now the priest had come for the first time to this remote region, and he knew what to do, and would not d

ious duties on the morrow. Let it not be said that it was superstition in Paul to thank God so fervently for having permitted him once more to converse with his priest. What can be imagined a more worthy