d voice of one. Oh, it was kind
in your honour to come to us here in the Sabbath evening, in order that
you might bring us God."

"What do you mean by bringing you God?" said I.

"Talking to us about good things, sir, and instructing us out of the Holy
Book."

"I am no minister," said I.

"Then you are a priest; I am sure you are either a minister or a priest;
and now that I look on you, sir, I think you look more like a priest than
a minister. Yes, I see you are a priest. Oh, your Reverence, give us
God! Pull out the crucifix from your bosom, and let us kiss the face of
God!"

"Of what religion are you?" said I.

"Catholics, your Reverence, Catholics are we all."

"I am no priest."

"Then you are a minister; I am sure you are either a priest or a
minister. Oh sir, pull out the Holy Book, and instruct us from it this
blessed Sabbath evening. Give us God, sir, give us God!"

"And would you, who are Catholics, listen to the voice of a minister?"

"That would we, sir; at least I would. If you are a minister, and a good
minister, I would as soon listen to your words as those of Father Toban
himself."

"And who is Father Toban?"

"A powerful priest in these parts, sir, who has more than once eased me
of my sins, and given me God upon the cross. Oh, a powerful and
comfortable priest is Father Toban."

"And what would he say if he were to know that you asked for God from a
minister?"

"I do not know, and do not much care; if I get God, I do not care whether
I get Him from a minister or a priest; both have Him, no doubt, only give
Him in different ways. Oh sir, do give us God; we need Him sir, for we
are sinful people; we call ourselves tinkers, but many is the sinful
thing--"

"Bi-do-hosd;" said the man: Irish words tantamount to "Be silent!"

"I will not be hushed," said the woman, speaking English. "The man is a
good man, and he will do us no harm. We are tinkers, sir; but we do many
things besides tinkering, many sinful things, especially in Wales,
whither we are soon going again. Oh, I want to be eased of some of my
sins before I go into Wales again, and so do you, Tourlough, for you know
how you are sometimes haunted by devils at night in those dreary Welsh
hills. Oh sir, give us comfort in some shape or other, either as priest
or minister; give us God! Give us God!"

"I am neither priest nor minister," said, I, "and can only say: Lord have
mercy upon you!" Then getting up I flung the