nd a three dollar bill on the
little stool that stood by her bed. He had now, he said, to go about
forty miles into the country; and he would, after his return, call to
see how she was, and to comply with her request about the children.

"I commend you now to the care of God and his angel. God bless you,"
said he, departing.

"Into thy hands I commend my spirit. O Lord, receive my soul. Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me. O God of love, goodness, and mercy,
accept my imperfect thanksgiving; save my soul, redeemed by thy precious
blood, and make me worthy to see thy glory. I believe in thee, O Lord,
I hope in thee, and I love thee. O my God and my Lord, who am I that
thou shouldst visit me!"

With these and other fervent aspirations, this pure and exalted soul
prepared for the manifestation of the glory of her Lord, and sighed to
be dissolved, and to fly to the beatific vision that faith promised her,
and through the merits of Christ she expected to obtain. After this, the
symptoms of her disease became sensibly less dangerous than before the
visit of the priest; but this calm, this seeming relief, was only
temporary. Presently the impress of pale death was unmistakably settled
on her calm brow.

CHAPTER II.

GETTING THE MOTHER'S BLESSING.

When the priest departed from the precincts of "Oil Mill House," in
company with the impatient messenger that required his services in the
country, after a few words of encouragement and advice spoken to Paul,
Bridget, Patrick, and Eugene,--for so were widow O'Clery's children
named,--they returned to the bedside of their dying mother. Little
Bridget was the first to observe on the small bench by the bedside the
money left there by Father O'Shane.

"Paul," she whispered, "look here! This is money left, I suppose, by the
priest." Paul, who was acquainted with American coin, took up the eight
pieces, or quarters, in silver, and the bill, and examining them by the
candle, said, "O Bid, see how good the priest is! He has left us five
dollars, or one pound, without saying a word about it. Mother, how do
you feel? Look! the priest left us a deal of money here quietly."

"God reward him for it," answered she, with a hoarse and broken voice.
"Paul, darling, go on your knees, you and your sister and brothers, till
I give ye my blessing before I die. Quick, children, quick, while I have
strength."

"O mother! mother! sure you aren't going to leave us orphans? May be
you w