thropy; but
these fine traits of character are obscured, perverted, and rendered
abortive, whenever the demon of sectarian influence touches them with
her black rod. And, like the Jews, while they are persecuting the Holy
One of God in his humble members, they think they are doing a service to
God. Such is the effect of the poison, in the shape of religious
instruction, infused into the minds of this noble people by the lying
and ignorant teachers that they allow to instruct them. The American
people are generally so busy, so intent in making a fortune or a
livelihood, that they have not time, as they cannot have the
inclination, to pay much attention to religious training. Hence it is in
the science of the soul and salvation, as in that of medical science,
the number of impostors and quacks is infinite.

The following dialogue between an Irish Catholic servant and her
_evangelical_ mistress will serve faintly to illustrate what is the
weekly, if not daily, recurrence in tens of thousands of families all
over this "free country":

"You can't go, that's the amount of it, Anne," said Mrs. Warren to an
Irish Catholic servant maid of hers, who heard of the priest's being at
the shanties on this morning.

"Why so, ma'am?" said Anne. "All the girls of the country around are
allowed to go; but I never get a Sunday or holy day to myself. It is too
bad."

"Why don't you come with us to our meeting, where all the decent folks
go, and none of your Irish are present?"

"Many decent folks go to 'Old Harry!'" cried Anne, in anger. "Is that
the reason I must go too?"

"Anne, your obstinacy in refusing to join our family worship has made me
resolve not to let you go to hear the old priest. And your refusal to
attend to the sermon of our preacher, Mr. Scullion, has also displeased
me much. I mean to punish you according."

"Why should I go hear the old sinner's stuff," said Anne, "when your own
sons laugh at him and say he is a fool? Besides, I am told he is ever
abusing the Catholics, and I heartily despise his nonsensical, lying
cant."

"Well, Anne, I am determined to punish you for it," calmly replied the
mistress. "So you can't see the priest to-day. That settles it."

"I beg your pardon, ma'am; the priest I will see, please God, let what
will happen."

"You must leave this house, then."

"Small loss, madam. America is wide, thank God!" answered Anne.

"Don't you know Mr. Scullion is a brother of mine?"

"I don't c