to understand the following statement of facts in relation to
the fate of poor Eugene O'Clery, it is necessary here to observe that,
just after Paul had, by means of the support received from his convert
friends in Vermont, been enabled to enter college, a gentleman, who
stated that he took a great interest in Paul, from what he learned from
the Rev. Mr. Strongly about him, wrote him a long letter.

The burden of the epistle was, that the writer was a minister, with
views not far removed from those of the Rev. Mr. Strongly, the convert
to the Catholic church; that he had heard a good deal about Paul and his
trials and success; that he lately visited at Mr. Reuben Prying's, where
his two little brothers now remained; that he pitied them, but
especially the younger, for that they lacked the opportunity of a better
and more _Catholic_ education; that, in fine, he, Dr. Dilman, if Paul
consented, would take the younger, Eugene, with him into the city, where
his education could be attended to, and where he, at least, might be
saved from the influence of the barbarous mannerism and irreligious
taint of these country "common schools." His reverence the doctor
furthermore added, that Mr. Prying had no objection to the arrangement
he proposed, and that he had conquered the repugnance that Mrs. Prying
had to the separation of the brothers by the very flattering terms on
which he offered _to do_ for the child.

In a postscript of this letter, it was stated by this veracious
_Christian minister_, as he signed himself, that he would send Paul
quarterly or monthly bulletins of Eugene's progress in science and
virtue, and, above all, that his faith should not be tampered with in
the slightest.

The effect of such an artful piece of diplomacy may be easily
conceived. The bait of the parson took, and Paul was for once
overreached. The unsuspecting youth took this gentleman to be a
clergyman of the same stamp with his friends Rev. Messrs. Strongly and
H----. And the fact that Parson Dilman was acquainted with the former
honorable men, was enough to throw Paul off his guard. The parson's
talk, too, about "_Catholic education_," and the "barbarous" common
schools, served still to deceive, not only Paul, but even the professors
of the college to whom the epistle of Parson Dilman was submitted for
advice and direction.

Paul was enthusiastic in the praise of his two reverend convert friends
in Vermont, (who were the only two Protestant pa