a work which is recommended by the signatures of the first divines in Maryland, and clsewhere; I trust it will save you and dear mamma. "V. W.” Rowland could not but smile "Bravo! Virginia," exclaimed Mrs. Wolburn. "Do you know the book she alludes to, Mr. Rowland?" asked Louisa. "A work of an apostate friar," replied Rowland, "stored with misrepresentations and falsehood." "How then could it be recomended by the Protestant divines?" "Many of them either never read it, or were blinded when they read it; and when the blind lead the blind, you know the consequence-" "They will fall into the ditch,' subjoined Louisa: "for my part, she continued, no earthly consideration would induce me to act against my conviction: as much as I have learned of the Catholic church, I admire, I believe, and_am determined to prosecute the investigation. Dorson may pray as much as he pleases, and fret as much as he pleases, and Henry"- -Here she began to grow rather warm, but soon repressed her feelings. "You are affected, I perceive, my love," said Mrs. Wolburn. "Indeed, mamma, it is provoking to hear the language of Protestants on the subject of the Catholic religion." "It is trying, very trying," returned Rowland; "but let us have charity for all, while we do not suffer ourselves to be actuated by human respect. Many there are, who affect to despise our religion, because it is not the most fashionable in some parts of this country." "As to fashion," said Louisa, "it will not be my standard: I look to reason, to authority.And, indeed, who can be more respectable than the venerable Mr. Powell? and is he not a rigid Catholic?" "And is not the Catholic religion the religion of almost all the kings and princes of Europe?" added Rowland. "It is pitiful to hear persons talking about the respectability of religion, when ours was admitted, and practised, by all the nobility, chivalry, wealth, talent, and learning of Europe. In proof of this assertion, I need only refer you to the history of England alone, of which all the best, and bravest, and mightiest kings, were Catholics. Henry VIII. was the first to sever himself from the chain of Catholic succession." "He clung to it," said Mrs. Wolburn, smiling, "as long as he could." "Had the Pope granted him what he demanded, it is more than probable, that Henry would have continued a Catholic," said Rowland. "But it proves the virtue and integrity of the Pope," added Louisa, "to have resisted so firmly, and so courageously, the pretensions of the tyrant." "It was always a subject of astonishment to me," said Mrs. Wolburn, "how the descendants of the ancient Catholic nobility of England could have abandoned the religion of their ancestors, to embrace that of a king, who was a disgrace to his kingdom, and a scandal to the world." "It was not through a motive of virtue, but interest," returned Rowland: "the penal laws subjected the Catholic noblemen to disqualifications; deprived them of their birth-rights; and excluded them from the councils of their country. The Earl of Shrewsbury, whom I had the honour of being acquainted with in England, assured me, I remember, that if those penal laws were abolished, many of the nobility would return to the religion of their ancestors: and this, he avowed, he stated on good authority." The evening was now advanced, and the atmosphere was chill and heavy: Rowland, rising from his chair, reminded the ladies that it was time for him to return home. "It is very cloudy, my dear Mr. Rowland," said Louisa, running to the door, "and in all probability, we shall have a hard rain." "Well then, my dear, you must order the carriage," said Mrs. Wolburn. Louisa rang the bell, and gave orders to the servant to prepare the carriage: but she had hardly closed the door, before a torrent of rain began to pour down: in a short time it rattled tremendously against the windows, and through the trees; the yellow leaves were pelted to the ground, and the park, in a few minutes was stript. The lightning, with fierce and rapid flashes, gleamed, and the thunder pealed abroad. "It will be impossible for you to venture out in such a storm, dear Sir," said Mrs. Wolburn, "make yourself content at Wolburn-hall, till morning." Rowland was advancing to view the appearance of the weather, when the General entered. "The rain falls in torrents," said he, "I hope you do not think of turning out this evening, Mr. Rowland," taking him by the hand. "It was my intention, but I must submit to the will of providence, and to you, General." "The air is cold and bleak," added Wolburn, "there is a fire in the drawing-room, by the side of which, I have no doubt, we shall feel ourselves more comfortable." They then retired to the fire-side. "What is the result of your conversation with the ladies, Mr. Rowland?" asked the General. "We are almost Roman Catholics, papa," answered Louisa, with an expressive smile. "Act from conviction my dear, do nothing precipitately: if, after a mature investigation, you determine to embrace the Catholic doctrine, you will meet with no opposition from me. I respect the Catholics; Mr. Powell is my most intimate friend, and some of the officers of the revolution, brave and good men, were Roman Catholics." "I trust, the ladies will not be so imprudent as to declare themselves Catholics, unless from conviction," said Rowland. "There can be no other motive, surely," replied Mrs. Wolburn: "we can have no temporal interest in view." "Well, Mr Rowland," resumed the General in a loud and jovial tone, "make them good papists." The fire, which was now burning brightly, was as comfortable as in the bleak month of January: and who has not felt the charms of a winter-fireside, when the curtains are let down, the shutters closed, and the sofa drawn near the blazing hearth? There, the bosom that has been agitated during the storms of the day may calmly and happily repose: its throbbing may be stilled by the smiles of home, and its cares be forgotten in the converse of friendship and love. The fire-side! Oh, what associations linger around that scene! what reminiscences are recalled by that name! when we were young and artless, hanging round the blaze, or bending over the coals, listening to the sweet instructions of a mother, charmed by the music of her endearing voice. The fire-side! which, in the language of Cowper "Calls the past hour to our exact review, The dangers we have 'scaped, the broken snare, More to be prized and coveted than yours. Fire-side enjoyments! home-bred happiness!" Of this description was the scene which was presented at Wolburn-hall, by the General, his lady, Virginia, Louisa, and a group of young friends, who, every evening partook of the delightful enjoyment. The long evenings were spent in reading, pleasing and instructive conversation, and music. There "The poet's or historian's page by one The sprightly lyre, whose treasure of sweet sounds The touch from many a trembling chord shakes out." To one, whose fortune it has been to spend an evening in mid-winter, in the bosom of the family of which I am treating, it would appear, that Cowper had copied his beautiful picture from the original there presented. This evening there happened to be no company: Virginia_was_not at home: the General, Mrs. Wolburn, Rowland and Louisa, were alone and at liberty to discuss whatever subject might be proposed. The favourite topic of the General was the revolution, which had just been brought to a conclusion, and raised the colonies into a free, and since into a great and flourishing republic. He kept up a constant epistolary correspondence with all the worthies of the times, especially with General Washington, with whom he was upon terms of the easiest familiarity, and with whom he was accustomed to spend some time, every summer, at Mount Vernon. In describing the dangers which he had been exposed to, the risks he had |