young boys like them from the contagious vice so prevalent in this
country; and, above all, so hard to preserve young boys in the
atmosphere of your "common schools." Bridget might be said to be safe,
for she could remove to a better and more Christian neighborhood, or
return to her friends in the old country; but Patrick, and, above all,
Eugene, who were in the hands of utter strangers, how were they to be
saved from the universal corruption, when deprived of the continual
guardianship of their faithful brother? These were the considerations,
and not the sole recovery of the money restored to him, that contributed
to the increase of the joy, and gratitude, and thanksgiving in the heart
of Paul that now pervaded it. Alas! that this joy and these pleasant
anticipations of future prospects were of such short duration!

In order to understand the following statement of facts in relation to
the fate of poor Eugene O'Clery, it is necessary here to observe that,
just after Paul had, by means of the support received from his convert
friends in Vermont, been enabled to enter college, a gentleman, who
stated that he took a great interest in Paul, from what he learned from
the Rev. Mr. Strongly about him, wrote him a long letter.

The burden of the epistle was, that the writer was a minister, with
views not far removed from those of the Rev. Mr. Strongly, the convert
to the Catholic church; that he had heard a good deal about Paul and his
trials and success; that he lately visited at Mr. Reuben Prying's, where
his two little brothers now remained; that he pitied them, but
especially the younger, for that they lacked the opportunity of a better
and more _Catholic_ education; that, in fine, he, Dr. Dilman, if Paul
consented, would take the younger, Eugene, with him into the city, where
his education could be attended to, and where he, at least, might be
saved from the influence of the barbarous mannerism and irreligious