by any human motives or selfish considerations, Paul wisely concluded that “he and his whole house” would become reconciled to the church.  And so they were.  Mr. Clarke was the first member of the “Literary and Religious Society of Vermont” who became a convert.  The next was the reverend president of the society; afterward one and another, till the entire society, consisting of some fifty members, submitted themselves to the sweet yoke of faith; and now there is a church, a resident priest, in that very locality, and using the very meeting house where the ex-Episcopalian minister preached.  Under God, all these conversions were owing to the tact, prudence, and other admirable virtues, as well as the thorough Catholic education, of Paul.  To this very day, Mr. Clarke, the Rev. Mr. Strongly, and many other members of the society acknowledge that it is to the circumstance of Paul’s living in Mr. Clarke’s family that he owed his conversion, and that the secession of Mr. Clarke from their ranks was what principally hastened the conversion of the whole society.  Thus God frequently makes use of what appears to us very inadequate means to the most glorious results.  Thus are the weak and humble of his church made use of, like David, to subdue her enemies, and bring them under the salutary sway of her dominion.  And while this servant boy and that hired girl are acting the hypocrite in attending this master’s meeting, or joining his long prayers, or eating meat on Friday, in violation of the precepts of the church, they are becoming stumbling blocks on his way to salvation—­resisting the design of God, who wishes all men to be saved, as well as ruining their own souls.  “He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little.”

While these events were the order of the day in Vermont, the proselytizers in York were not idle.  Amanda now, since Paul had not only left the house, but even went away from the neighborhood, thought she, and her coadjutors the parsons, would have little difficulty in converting Bridget.  But the latter now, besides having once a month an opportunity of hearing mass,—­the new priest, Father Ugo, having made it a rule to visit the railroad laborers as often as he could, and being pretty well grounded in the catechism,—­in addition to these very important aids to combat temptation, Bridget had also Murty O’Dwyer, who was hired in the house, to take up the cudgels for her against Amanda and Parson Gulmore.

“Prepare, Bridget, to come with me this evening to Sabbath school,” said the persevering Amanda.  “I want to show them how well you can read, and also I want them to admire these nice flowers of your hat, and your pretty new dress, to see how smart you look.”

“Why, miss, if that be all you want, I can’t go, for that would be a sin.  Vanity, you know,” said the little roguish girl, looking sarcastically at Amanda.

“I am the best judge of that, missy,” said the old maid.  “Go on and prepare:  you must come.  You are getting very ugly since you got the habit of seeing that old priest of late.”