Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-01-21
A STORY OF Mr.. BEEcHER.



How the Preacher Won the Warm Re-
gard of Two Irish Girls.
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 unusual
Incidents.
About ten years ago a young Irish
woman named Bridget Doxd, employed
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 BROOKLYN to
find h address she had received. 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 lived. The
longer she wandered about the streets
the more hopelessly involved she be
came. Finally, in despair, she deter
mined to ring the doorbell of the near
est house and ask.
She did so, and the door was opened
by a noble-looking old man, with a
piN SiluC anu WdNN ndtT.
She asked him the address, but instead
of answering her he asked in a kindly
way what she wanted. Encouraged by
his manner, the young immigrant told
him her troubles and explained why
she wanted-the address.
"Well," said he. you just wait till
l 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 old him every
thing. They chatted together like old
friends, and the young oman delight
ed as she was with her new friend,
could o 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 h gate till 1 ring the
bell" He then went down to the base
ment door, and when the servant girl
appeared at the door he asked: Does
Bridget Dowd live here?"
"Yes, sir" said the servant; .she's
the upstairs girl"
WELL" said the visitor, chuckling to
himself, will 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
told h astonishing thing that had oc-
Cured.
] WHAT" said one of the ladies'. "Mr.
Eeecher 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 Dovd, and in a
few minutes that young woman. much
frustrated at the honor that was being
| done her, came to the door.
Are you Miss Dowd?" asked Mr..
Beecher.
"Yes, sir"
"Well," said he, reckoning 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 with
smiles. turned away. They recovered
themselves enough to run after him
and try to thank him, but he would lis
ter to nothing. He babe them good
by in his kindly way. N though he
probably never saw them again. they
were two earnest young Catholics who
never considered it a sin. after having
been to mass. to go to Plymouth church
and hear a Protestant sermon when
ever they could get away from their
household duties.-N. Y. Tribune.