most
natural thing in the world. We know the Catholic religion is true. We
know it has God for its Author, and that through its teachings all men
must be saved that will be saved. Knowing this, we understand the merit
of supporting such an institution. What is the whole world to a man if
he lose his soul? and how can a man save his soul, if true religion be
wanting?"

"Ah, what a noble critter that Bridget O'Clery was!" said Calvin,
changing the subject to her whose image stood uppermost in his mind,
"What a pity," he continued, "that she should ever become a nun! Do nuns
ever get married, Murty?"

"Don't you know so much yet, Calvin? Certainly, they never do get
married. They vow to consecrate their hearts forever to God. In fact,
they anticipate, here in this life, what all the blessed do in the next
life--to live in God, and for God. I think the life of a holy nun," said
Murty, kindling into enthusiasm, "is superior to that of an angel, and
the merit far greater."

Here it is as well to state that Calvin Prying, of late years, lost all
that zeal for stiff Presbyterianism that possessed him in his younger
days,--an ordinary occurrence with American Protestant young men,--and
that, instead of his former zeal, he now had the utmost indifference, if
not contempt, for the teachers of the hard creed of his cruel namesake
of Geneva. He had a heart, too; and though a phlegmatic and a rude one,
it could not remain insensible to the chaste charms and virtuous beauty
of Bridget O'Clery. For years this feeling was growing on him--the
exhortations, and lectures, and advices of little Parson Gulmore to the
contrary notwithstanding. In a word, though she was "Irish" and a
pauper, in the slang of parsons and officials, and though the vulgar
little dominie was continually ridiculing the Irish and the Catholics,
Calvin saw that Bridget was beautiful in countenance, and light as a
humming bird in heart--circumstances which insensibly made an impression
on the rude material of which his own was made, creating there a feeling
of love bordering on admiration and distant esteem. No sooner, however,
did it reach his ears that the money was restored to the orphans, and he
was told that Bridget was likely to have a portion of some thousands of
dollars, than his former esteem and admiration, as if by magic art, was
turned into love. And now, who dare say word against her? and how low,
contemptible, and wicked the counsels of Parson Gulmore