once, for a mission priest was holding a station, and no one seemed
able to attend to anything else.

'He is a true saint! he is just about to preach,' said the landlady,
who had come out with her gayest apron, her whitest cap, and all her
gold chains. 'Ah! the poor lady, it would do her heart good to hear
him preach; and by that time the roast would be ready--an admirable
piece of venison, sent for the occasion. There he is, the blessed
man!'

And as I had just alighted from the carriage, for our mules had made
a double stage and could not go farther, I saw coming from the
prebytere three or four priests, with the sexton and the serving
boys. One of them, a spare thin man, with a little bronze crucifix
in his hand, paused as he saw the hearse drawn up, clasped his hands
in prayer, and then lifted them in benediction of him who lay within.
I saw his face, and there was in it an indescribable heavenly
sweetness and pity which made me say to my brother: 'I must go and
hear him.'

My brother was so glad to hear me express any wish, that I believe,
if I had asked to go and dance on the village green, he would almost
have permitted it; and leaving my little one to play in the garden
under Tryphena's care, he gave me his arm, and we went into the
church, crowded--crowded so that we could hardly find room; but my
deep mourning made the good people respectfully make place for us and
give us chairs.

Ah! that sermon! I cannot tell you it in detail; I only know that it
gave the strongest sense of healing balm to my sore heart, and seemed