FATHER ROWLAND.

CHAPTER I.

"By education most have been misled."-DRyden.

ON one of those beautiful evenings of autumn, for which the northern parts of America are distinguished, after the company had retired from a dinner, given in commemoration of his birth-day, by General Wolburn, Mrs. Wolburn had seated herself in a spacious portico, that overlooked the waters of the Potomac, and was watching the rising of the moon. The sun had sunk behind the brown tops of the mountains, the bosom of the river was still reflecting in its rays, the verge of the firmament was streaked with a variety of hues, and the twilight began to assume its peaceful reign. Her two daughters, Louisa and Virginia, were pacing up and down the lawn, engaged in a serious conversation.

The General had ordered his horse, the same on which he rode to the field of battle, during the revolutionary war, and which he was accustomed, in his merry moods to call "John Bull," probably from the circumstance of his having figured so nobly, charging against the English cavalry on the plains of Trenton. The old gentleman was accustomed every evening, to ride on "Bull," with his trusty servant Moses, around the limits of his farm: and often would he amuse himself in conversing with his "good man," as he styled

Moses, about politics, and the times, not forgetting to joke with him occasionally on the subject of religion; for Moses, the reader must know, was a Roman Catholic, and seldom suffered a night to pass without reciting his beads, and praying for his" master."

66 Well, Mosey," said the General, as he checked in the reins of Bull, "you don't forget your master at your prayers, I hope."

"God knows, massa, I don't," replied Moses. "Old men can't hope to live long, you know." "Yes, massa, we's all gwying fast-" "Whither?" returned the General.

"To eternity," answered Moses, as he cast up his eyes, and pointed, with a rude emphasis, to heaven.

"Mrs. Wolburn, you know, is half a Catholic, and frequently says she has reason to think-"

Here, as they ascended a rising ground, the view of the river burst upon their eyes and the moon in full bulk, appeared like a globe of solid fire, pausing in solemn silence, over the half conscious waves.

"What a magnificent prospect!" exclaimed the General.

"If dat's so grand, how much grander the Creator, massa," returned Moses.

"True," said the General, "but men are too apt to familiarize themselves with the wonders and beauties of creation, and to forget their author."

"Ah, massa, if you had hearde Fader Rowland, de great preacher, talk about dat, last Sunday, at de Chapel, you know.-He made us all cry. Misses was dere, she kin tell you all about it."

"I'll be bound for Susan," (this was the name of Mrs. Wolburn,) "did she kneel with the rest of you?"

"Dat she did, and cried with the rest, too," re plied Moses.

"I know now what has made her so pensive all day-"

"Miss Louisa was dere wid misses," continued Moses.

"Poor Lou," returned the General, she has too much sensibility! Virginia is less susceptible. "Where was Virginia, Moses?"

"You know, massa, Miss Virginy won't go to our church: tother day, she called me a hard name, and said I made Gods outen pictures-"

"Well is'nt it true," replied the General with a smile, and a significant glance.

"Oh, massa, dere's God," said Moses, pointing to the firmament-" up dere."

"Did you explain the thing to Virginia?"

"Me massa, Miss Virginy won't listen to Mosey, and won't go to hear Fader Rowland."

"Rowland is no favourite of her's, my good man," replied the General.

"No, massa, young misses talk too much about Dr. Dorson-you know what he calls us." "Idolaters, I suppose."

"Papists, massa, besides," replied Moses with a strong emphasis.

By this time they reached the gate, which opened into a delightful avenue, winding with a gentle sweep through a cluster of oaks and elms, his hereditary trees. With the activity of a young man, Moses unlatched the neatly painted gate, and the General rode through. Bull seemed conscious that he was approaching to his stable; he pricked his ears, now almost grey with age, and neighed, and hastened his pace. In a short time they reached the portico, and the General dismounted.

"Well, papa," exclaimed Louisa, running to her father," you have returned from a pleasant

excursion I hope. What a lovely evening, how balmy the air!"

"Is it not like declining age, the twilight of a virtuous and useful life?" said Virginia.

"By the by, my dear," said the General, looking affectionately on Louisa, "I hear that you had a sentimental sermon on Sunday last, and that you behaved so like a Catholic, that you might have been mistaken for one." Virginia envinced an expression of marked displeasure at the conduct of Louisa.

"Yes, papa," she said, "I know not what infatuation has seized on Louisa, nothing now will go down with her but Father Rowland. I should not be surprised to hear that she has been to confession."

"To confession!" exclaimed the General.

"You know the meaning of that word Louisa," said Virginia.

"I am not yet sufficiently instructed, my dear sister," returned Louisa, with an air of diffidence, which her father could not help noticing.

"Confess your sins to God, my child," said the General.

"But, papa, what if I am commanded by the founder of the church to confess them to man?" "Where was such command ever given, Louisa?" asked Virginia.

"Did I not read you, this very morning, a passage from the bible, shewing, that power had been given to the apostles to forgive sins?"

"Ah, my dear, you do well to read as much of the bible as you can before you turn Catholic, for then, it will be closed for ever."

"Strange prejudice! no later than last week, I found Mrs. Herbert, (you surely never doubted her orthodoxy,) busily engaged in reading her bible."