The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-16
NEW STORY OF MIR. BEECHER.
How the Preacher Won the Warm
Regard Of Two Irish Girls.

From the New York Tribune:
Here is a new story OF Henry Ward
Beecher. which illustrates better than
many well-known anecdotes of the
great preacher his ready sympathy,
CHEEKY good humor and love for un-
usual incidents.
About ten years ago 4 young Irish
woman named Bridget Dowd. employ
ed as a servant in one of the families
in the Heights district, sent to the old
country for her cousin, who wanted to
try her fortune In the New World.
The cousin came accordingly, landed
in New York, and came over to Brook
lyn to find the address she had receiv-
ed. She reached the Heights, finding
her way by asking strangers, but when
she had arrived there she could not
find the street in which her cousin liv-
ed. The longer she wandered about
the streets the more hopelessly in
volved she became. Finally, in despair.
the determination to ring the door bell
of the nearest house. and ask.
She did so, and the door was opened
by noble-looking old man, with a
magnificent physique and wavy white
hair. She asked him the address, but
instead of answering her he asked In
a kindly way what she wanted. En-
COuraged by his manner, the young
Immigrant told him her troubles. and
explained why she wanted the ad-
dress.
well" said he, "you just wait till
I get my hat, and I'll go along and
show you the way"
In a moment he reappeared, and the
strange couple started off together. As
they walked. he asked her all about
herself. and her life and troubles in
the old country, and she told him ev-
erything. They chatted together like
cid friends, and the young woman. de-
lighted as she was with her new friend,
could not understand the reason Of the
puzzled glances that met them from
every one whom they passed.
At last they stopped before a hand
some house. and the old man said:
You stand here at the gate. while
ring the bell" He then went down
tn the basement door, when the servant
girl appeared at the door, and asked:
"pces Bridget Dowd live here?"
"Yes, SIR" said the servant: she's
the upstairs girl"
Well" said the visitor, chuckling to
himself, Twill you kindly tell her that
Mr.. Beecher would like to see her?"
The girl carried the message upstairs.
but on the way she met some of the
members of the family, to whom she
cured.
What" said one Of the ladies'. "Mr.
Beecher at the basement door? How
dreadful! Why didn't you ask him to
the front door? Go right down, you
foolish girl, and apologize to him. and
ask him to come to the other door,
But Mr.. Beecher firmly refused to
bulge from the basement door. He
wanted to see Bridget Dowd. and in a
few minutes that young woman. much
tlustered at the honor that was being
done her, came to the door.
Are you Miss Dowd?" asked Mr..
Beecher.
YES, SIR
"Well." said he. beckoning to the
young woman at the gate. who now
came forward, and was revealed for
the first time to her amazed cousin, do
you recognize this young woman?"
But there was no answer. The two
girls flew into each others arms. show
ering Irish greetings upon each other,
and Mr.. Beecher. his face wreathed in
smiles, turned away. They recovered
themselves enough to run after him,
and try to thank him. hut he would
listen to nothing. He bade them good
by in his kindly way, and though he
probably never saw them again, they
were two earnest young Catholics who
never considered II a sin. after having
been to mass, to go to Plymouth
church.. and hear a Protestant sermon
whenever they could get away from
their household duties.