"I guess, squire, you are in error there," said the sheriff. "My boy,
you know, Patrick, a very strict Catholic, every month at confession
with the priest, has a Bible with him in my house, which Bible the
priest gave him. I have read the book time and again. Nay, I heard the
priest preach out of our Bible last summer."

"Is it not astonishing," began Murty again, "that, though ye all differ
in opinion, ye agree in hating and maligning the church of Christ?
Though ye can't 'join in love,' ye know well how to 'join in hate.' Here
are unbaptized Quakers, groaning Methodists, blaspheming Presbyterians,
faithless Universalists and Unitarians, and humbug spiritual rappers;
and yet ye not only coincide in hating the pope, but ye are all
intolerant and cruel save this gentleman here," said he, pointing to Mr.
Walter. "Now, will any body tell me whence is this hatred?" said the
Irishman, pausing. "Is it grounded on knowledge or well-formed opinion?
No; for ye are all grossly ignorant of the principles and facts of
Catholicity, as ye have shown by your statements about the Bible. In
truth, it is impossible to evade the conclusion that ye hate the church
for the same cause that the devil envied and hated our first parents;
namely, because he saw them the heirs of that bliss which he and his
rebellious crew had lost."

"Take care what you say, my man; the law does not suffer any person to
disparage the Bible so," said the squire, threateningly.

"I am not afraid, sir, to speak my mind, whatever you, as the
representative of the law, may threaten. 'Tis really amazing that ye
should be so busy and troubled about Catholics, take such pains in
kidnapping Catholic children, and forcing Catholic servants to go to
listen to your disgusting prayers and bellowing preachers, when your own