n himself.
This pious Christian was no other than Shaw Gulvert, who was known to be
a prodigy of sanctity, and had a world of zeal in reconciling obstinate
heretics, or pagans, (as he called all but his own sect,) to the true
standard of old Presbyterianism. He could boast of having most of the
Old Testament by heart, making a prayer or "asking a blessing" of one
hour's duration in the delivery; and by these virtues, and others he
knew how to practise, every person who lived in his house, or came
within the influence of his zeal, was sure "to get religion in no time."
'Tis true, he met some unlucky converts, and one or two very obstinate
Papists whom he did not convert at all; but he soon despatched and
discharged these latter. And he was especially mortified at the conduct
of one Tipperary man, named Burk, who had the audacity to bring the
priest to say mass in a house which the latter rented from him. The
house has ever since been locked up, the pious Christian, Mr. Shaw
Gulvert, preferring to let it rot and totter in ruin, rather than run
the risk of having a Catholic tenant, who, like Burk, would be wicked
enough to allow the priest inside the threshold.

This is the gentleman who is intrusted with the conversion of poor
Eugene O'Clery, the Irish emigrant orphan; and he set about the work in
right earnest fashion.

CHAPTER XX.

THE SAME, CONTINUED.

During the first two months, Eugene had comparatively but little to fear
from the bigotry of his protector at Greenditch; but he was not indebted
for this limited peace to the generosity of Mr. Shaw Gulvert. Indeed,
that ignorant and cruel man dared not to execute his designs regarding
the little confessor of the cross, while his two hired men, named
Devlin, were in his house to enlighten his ignorance and reprimand his
audacity. These two young men, brothers, were hired for a year by
Gulvert, under the impression that they were native born; but after the
contract between them was signed, and especially when Friday came on,
Mr. Gulvert found he was _gulled_, and ran off to the parson, one
Waistcoat, to see what was to be done. The young men told him not to be
alarmed if he thought their presence would endanger his peace of mind,
or that any dangerous consequences were to be apprehended from two such
formidable soldiers of the Pope as they were; that he could easily get
rid of them by paying them their year's wages, and they would go
elsewhere to work; but th