The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-16

alarm the conscience, and to employ the res
'ess faculties OF that ardent class of mortal.
whose pulse, to use the figure of Burns, is eve
on the gallop. Their members with us wer
ior the most part of that description. Some G
them relapsed to their former ways, but other
continued to be exemplary men, The story s
often told about the Methodist of county Derry
who, IN the middle of his prayer, seeing through
the window dog after his sheep, called GU,
shun, Hughey, yonder's that id dog O
nniy fIper's, after my sheep again him an,
MS master ought both to be in - O Lord
forgive our sins,' is probably true. We ar,
not to imagine, however, that because he wa
not consistent, he was not sincere. Who i
consistent?
:, The Quakers were mostly of English origin
They were all rich and no wonder-for indus
try, sobriety, and economy, are ordinarily fol
layed by wealth. Besides, they had ali tn,
| advantages of secret society, without it,
odlum Their peculiar garb and phraseology
ana their quiet demeanor, were to them signs
grips, and pass words, the world over They hac
fund, made up of their weekly contributions
which was kind OF insurance stock for them
selves, and source of charity for the need,
| outside. II a member met with any loss h,
| received a bonus out of this fund The amount
was generally left to his own discretion and 70,
| that reason less than if his brethren had spec
ned it. In time of famine, a committee dis
trlbuted of this fund to needy strangers. Their
reputation for honesty was also a fund which
had been accommodating for century, and was
OF more use to them than the other. A broken
merchant in Rathfriland joined the Quakers
In order to retrieve his fortune. Soon he want.
ed a little help, and the purse was handed to
HIM, to take what he wanted. After little,
ne was in need again, and got the purse.
Looking over what was in it, Well-l-be-
lieve-l need it all" said he, putting the whole
in his pocket. They smiled, and told him he
was a needy brother; but he was soon put out
OF the society, lest he might make as much
havoc OF their reputation as he had done with
their treasury.
With regard to Roman Catholics, although
they were numerous in our part, / knew but
little about them. l heard enough, indeed.
about drunken priests, lying priests, and tyran,
meal priests. But, even though such stories
were all true, it would be unfair to Judge the
whole by part. Those unfriendly to religion
circulate hard stories about priests of every de.
nomination, and we know that some of them
are highly exaggerated, and others untrue. NV
grandmother used to tell Of a woman to whom
the priest was applying the extreme JUNCTION.
he explained to her that these ceremonies
could not save her, unless she had faith in
Christ. She got well, and Joined the congre-
CATION to which my grandmother belonged, say
ing, that as she must be saved by the merits of
Christ, at all events she might as we'll belong
to church where there was a less burdensome
service.
Aheard of a man in county Derry, who sent
for the priest to attend him, as he thought, on
his death-bed. The priest anointed him, but
directed him to Christ, as the sinners only
refuge. But can't yoN save me 2" said the
sick man. No" replied the priest, "all we
do Is only help; salvation is of Christ" The
other answered, with curse, that his spiritual
guide had been deceiviDg him all his days, and
telling h ths isF ls em shs% !, was too
much of the marvellous, Z Is 81. +s..l-ald- no.
had it, however, from a respectable man, who
professed to know the subject.
We had one servant girl, who was a cOnsci-
entious Roman Catholic. Whether she was
fair specimen or not, ] cannot say. She was
a perfect compound Of cunning and simple
honesty, kindness and mischief. My mother
thought more of her than of any other girl she
ever had, for she was steady and industrious,
and in her presence the roguish black eye was
as sedate as her own. She attended mass with
the greatest punctualty. On Fridays, no meat
nor even soup, ever entered her lips. A little
milk to her potatoes was the only indulgence
she allowed herself; and on the last days of
Lent that meager retreshment was spared. AL
though eightpence a week was her highest
wages, she seldom failed to give haltpenny
for collection.
She could not read word, hut she listened
with great attention when she heard the Bible
read, although she was taught to look with sus-
81 tka fy,p lot, md hen
the first chapter of Luke and other parts
which spoke of the Virgin Mary were repeated,
her eye fairly dilated with interest. Yet no one
loved a trick better than she. To place the
water barrels so that somebody coming home
in the pitch night might jump off horse
back right into it, and then run with great con-
Germ to find dry stockings; to place the prickly
holly leaf under the sheets at such time that
some one else would be blamed with it; or to
place the rat-trap in dark closet, where it
would catch somebody by the fingers, was her
delight. Yet if even her enemy met with a
serious injury, no one had more real sympathy
The great mass of the Celtic Irish population
called themselves Catholics, and were so con
sidered But, according to their own phrase
ology, some were under priests rules, and others
were not. The former, it was said could be
trusted the latter needed watching.
The reader will permit me to supply the want
of personal observation by repeating story
have heard from report and can assure him
that it is every word true, for anything ] know
to the contrary. When Mickey Murphy went
one morning to confession, the priest wal
engaged, and he was shown into the kitchen tt
wait There he saw nice piece of bacon IL
the chimney corner, and. as there was nobody
present, the devil took the chance to temp
Mickey to stale it. "Ah,' says he, "what fin,
rashers that wud make to the praties, an It'll
meself hasent tasted the likes this many the day
Wudn't the childer lick their lips at the very
sight of it. All Mickey, take care the oult
boy is tempting We now to do sin. But, sure
the priest can spare it. Oh well, wudn't b.
thief for anything, an anyhow cudn't tak'
it, for it wudnt go into my pocket; let me see
All! there it's in. Oh! Tare an GUNS; there
the sarvint gerl comm to sen me to the priest
Och, Mickey, yere ruined now, both soul ant
body. But, by guineas. We must try and MAKE
the best You can of it. After confessng his com
mon sins, Mike cried out, in pitiful voice, Blu
/ have wan great big sin to tell ye, but trightet
to tell it." "Oh, tell it to me- said the priest
we'll pleased with the poor mans contrltion
"I'Il not be hard on ye.' WELL" said Mike
al was in a gentleman's house on little piec
of business, and, while waited in the kitchen
my teeth watered on a nice piece of bacol
hanging in the chimney. don't know how
come. suppose the divil tempted me to il
But, any way, I've got it along, an here, II
give it to you, if ye like" ooh no." said tn
priest, I'll not take it. Carry it back, AM
give it to the owner "Och, sure" say
Mike, 81 offered it to him the same day, an
he wouldn't take it. ooh, well, if he woul
not take it, carry it home, and eat it with you
family. So Mickey received absolution, an
came home rejoicing that he had saved bot
his soul and his bacon. [ should be sorry t
represent this story as Characteristic in ever
respect. but think it is in two points. FRS