man not to be turned aside from his resolution 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,