punish you in a dark dungeon, darker than that room you are in, if you
do not do what I tell you?" added the persecuting parson.

All this talk was lost on poor Eugene, who continued chanting his little
hymn, or repeating the "Hail Mary" and "Holy Mary," for his father and
mother's souls. In a word, after a series of whippings, confinements,
and scoldings, after compelling him either to eat flesh on Friday, or
fast all day without any other food, Parson Dilman, out of sheer shame,
gave him up, and confessed himself vanquished by the Catholic child. He
did not give him up for good, however, but, by way of making more sure
of his victim, he sent him out into the country, to undergo the
treatment of a more zealous and perfect disciplinarian than himself.
This pious Christian was no other than Shaw Gulvert, who was known to be
a prodigy of sanctity, and had a world of zeal in reconciling obstinate
heretics, or pagans, (as he called all but his own sect,) to the true
standard of old Presbyterianism. He could boast of having most of the
Old Testament by heart, making a prayer or "asking a blessing" of one
hour's duration in the delivery; and by these virtues, and others he
knew how to practise, every person who lived in his house, or came
within the influence of his zeal, was sure "to get religion in no time."
'Tis true, he met some unlucky converts, and one or two very obstinate
Papists whom he did not convert at all; but he soon despatched and
discharged these latter. And he was especially mortified at the conduct
of one Tipperary man, named Burk, who had the audacity to bring the
priest to say mass in a house which the latter rented from him. The
house has ever since been locked up, the pious Christian, Mr. Shaw
Gulvert, preferring to let it rot and totter in ruin, rather than run
the risk of having a Catholic tenant, who, like Burk, would be wicked
enough to allow the priest inside the threshold.