at, while in his house, they insisted on
perfect religious and mental independence. "And in future," said they,
"we expect to see cooked and on the table, on Fridays and fast days,
such food as we can partake of without scruple of conscience, or
violating the rules of the Catholic religion, of which we are unworthy
members."

"This is strange," said Gulvert; "why did you not tell me ye belonged to
Rome, and were Irish?"

"Why did we not tell you? Because you did not ask us. And besides, boss,
you hired us to work, and not to worship or believe according to your
notion."

"I have never before kept a Papist to work for me," said he, drawing a
heavy sigh.

"Well, boss, you can't know much about them, then. Perhaps you will be
agreeably disappointed, and find that, if we do not join your very long
prayers, we will _work_ as well as the most red-hot Presbyterian."

"I am much in doubt about that," said the boss.

"Why so, boss? Can we not handle the plough, use the scythe, or the
cradle as well as if we were of your school of heresy?"

"I allow; but the good book says that 'men don't gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles;' so I am afraid my crops would not prosper,
if religious men were not employed in my fields."

"O, you need not be alarmed, boss. God makes his sun to shine on the
good and the bad; and though we Papists appear very wicked in your pious
Presbyterian eyes, or in those of your amiable Methodist lady here, we
will guaranty your crops will be as good as those of your neighbors,
otherwise we will ask no pay. Ain't this fair?"

"Yes; but the good book, you know. The Bible says so plainly," answered
the wife, "that men gather not grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles."

"Bless you, madam," said the elder Devlin, "you are mistaken in the
meaning of that text, which has a figurative sense, and has no reference
to corn, pumpkins, rye, or any other crop that your farm produces."

She shook her head in dissent to this speech, and in a most sanctified
tone said, "Our minister, Dr. Waistcoat, always applied that text to the
Papists when advising us against employing Romanist hired help."

"That only proved him a booby, madam," said Devlin. "That text partly
alludes to the Presbyterian sect, and partly to the Methodist, to which
you belong."

"I would like to see how you can show that," said she, affecting great
learning in such interpretations.

"As clear as mud, madam," resumed Devlin. "The Presb