parts, near the holy stations, are very rough and stony, and few could go on as I did. Oh, Andrew, I only wish you had been here in time to go with me to Lough Derg; you would then have seen what it is to do something for our salvation."

"But, Richard, you have not yet told me what hurting your legs in this sad way is to do for your salvation?" said I.

"Doing every thing on my knees was the most efficacious way," replied he, "and gained me some privileges; but the chief thing is the prayers to St. Patrick, who is the patron and protector of those who truly observe the rules of his purgatory-and there are some services you do not understand about yet. But, Andrew, when I came away from the edge of the Lough, I was as free from sin as the day I was baptized, and entitled to indulgences for many days. Ay, no wonder you look surprised. You may read the Bible, and believe a good while indeed, before you get any thing like this for doing so. But try our way, Andrew. You must perish for ever if you remain in yours. Dear Andrew," added he, earnestly, "what a happy journey this would be for you, if it brought you back to the true church !"

I could scarcely find words to answer Richard, I felt so concerned when I heard him speak so

earnestly, and saw him looking in my face with such love and kindness, and at the same time speaking such strange nonsense.

"Why do you not answer me, Andrew?”? asked he.

“I cannot answer you, Richard.”

“Why?”

"Because what you have just told me has brought such a damp over my heart that I cannot say a word.”

"Oh, you think you have been so long in the wrong way. Do not be discouraged. You have just come here to be put right. But it is late," added he; 66 we shall say no more to-night. Sleep sound, Andrew, and fear nothing. Even if you should die to-night, (which our Lady forbid,) if your heart is in the true church, I could tell Father Conelly, and he could baptize your corpse, and I would work hard for money to purchase masses for your soul."

"Sleep, Richard! I could not lie down in peace, leaving you in such an awful state of delusion, without warning you of your danger. There is but one name given under heaven, or among men, Richard, by which we can be saved,

-that is, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the declaration of the Most High God. There is salvation in no other; and, if your Priest teaches you that the things you have mentioned to me can take away sin, he is blinding

your eyes, and leading your soul to everlasting destruction."

"I know that we are saved by Jesus Christ," replied Richard, rather displeased. "Father Conelly tells us that continually. We do not need Protestants to teach us what every Catholic child knows."

"But did you not say, Richard, that, by going to Lough Derg, and walking on your knees till they were in that sad state, you had been made free from sin at the time, and got indulgences for many days?"

"To be sure I did; but we pray to St. Patrick to intercede for us with Christ. His prayers will surely be heard sooner than ours any day. But good night, Andrew-it is very late."

Immediately I was silent, as Richard seemed displeased, and yet unwilling to appear so, and we were soon asleep.

Next morning, Richard and I rose about the same time. He was in perfect good humour, and seemed rather desirous to renew our conversation of the night before. I was much pleased to find that this was the case; and on observing him carefully adjusting round his neck a little piece of dirty-looking brownish cloth, I said "Now, Richard, do not suppose I mean to offend you, but you seem to feel so much reverence for that queer-looking bit of cloth, I can

not help thinking it has something to do with your religion."

"Yes," replied he, "it is the scapular." "The scapular! What is that?"

"It is the scapular of the Blessed Virgin." "And what good does it do you?” asked I.

"I shall tell you all that is known about it in these parts when we have time, Andrew; but that would take many hours, and now I must not begin, for it is one of the privileges of those who have the scapular, that, if they daily repeat the offices of the Blessed Virgin, and attend to some other observances, our Lady has herself promised -I shall give you her own words. She has said, They that, out of devotion, shall enter my confraternity of the scapular, if, after their death, they go to purgatory, I that am the Mother of Mercies, will descend the first Saturday after their decease, and, by my prayers and intercessions, will help them hence, and conduct them to the mountains of celestial glory.' So you see, Andrew, I must take care not to forget repeating this office, and it takes a good little time." So, after he had hurried over the rest of his dressing, he knelt down carefully on his poor sore knees, and, with a book in his hand, began to read what he called the office of the Virgin. I could not help listening, while I slowly dressed myself; and indeed he seemed to wish me to

hear him, as he read pretty loud. I remembered a good deal, such as

"Now let my lips sing and display
The blessed Virgin's praise this day;
Oh, lady, to my help intend,

Me strongly from my foes defend," &c.

And then he repeated, in a kind of singing

voice

"Hail, lady of the world!
Of Heaven bright queen:
Hail, Virgin of virgins!
Star early seen!

Hail, full of all grace

Clear light divine!

Lady to succour us

With speed incline.

God from all eternity,

Before all other

Of the world, thee ordained

To be the mother.

By whom he created

The heavens, sea, and land," &c.

I

It is impossible for me to say how much I was shocked when I heard Richard repeat all this, particularly the last most blasphemous lines. felt as if I had been listening to the devotions of a poor heathen to one of his goddesses. And what was it better? Indeed it was worse; for the heathen has no means of knowing truth; but here was an immortal soul, with the knowledge of