"I know not, my dear, what I might do, were I convinced that I am in error."

"What do you mean by error?" returned Virginia, with rather a contemptuous emphasis.

"If the Catholic religion is the only true one, then are we in error.-"

Virginia was about to make an observation, when the servant gave notice, that tea was on the table, and the General waiting.

The time, in which the facts occurred, on which this tale is founded, was immediately after the conclusion of the American revolution: the Wolburn family was originally English, but the General, at an early period, evinced a spirit of republicanism, in its proper acceptation, such as exists among us now; and often was he heard to say, and it was known, that he was of a determined character, that if his majesty George III. did not accede to the prayer of the colonists, he would be the first to sound the toscin of war. As regards his religious notions, he had been brought up in the principles of the Church of England, but, except for the sake of argument, or perhaps at times when maxims were inculcated not congenial with his temper and ideas, one of those liberal charitable men, who think that even Catholics may be saved.

Mrs. Wolburn's maiden name was Mansfield: she was a native of Maryland, but had received her education in England, where, of course, she became imbued with the princi

ples of the Episcopal church: but, from her childhood, she was fond of reading, and as she possessed an unusually acute mind, loved to investigate the subject of religious belief. Books explanatory of the Catholic doctrine were, however, cautiously kept from her reach; those filled with venom and misrepresentation recommended to her perusal and study. One point there was, which had always given her great uneasiness; namely, the separation of Luther and Henry VIII. from the mother church. Often, when alone, did she reason with herself, as she was afterwards wont to relate, if the Catholic church was the first, must it not have been the true church? Could it have fallen into idolatry, superstition, and error? If it could not have fallen, it could not be reformed: why then did Henry VIII. attempt to reform it? Besides, she never could satisfy herself about the cause, which induced that king to throw off all dependence on the Pope, since the Pope was bound by the laws of common decency, as well as those of the church, to oppose the divorce which he meditated, and condemn the marriage which followed.

Mrs. Wolburn was intimately connected with the family of the venerable Mr. Powell, and the light thrown upon all her doubts by the conversation of Mrs. Payson, who is still the ornament of society as well as of the church, was too brilliant and pure, not to induce her to believe, that the Catholic religion has much

to recommend it: or, to use her own expres sion, that "the religion of the Powells must be the true one." Her daughters, Louisa and Virginia, had been sent, at an early age, to New England, where they were educated in the puritanism of the Church of England. Virginia retained all her prejudices and rancour against what she termed, with an affectation, which her Catholic friends styled pedantry, the Romish religion. Louisa took after her mother; she was of a kind-hearted, open and benevolent disposition, more amiable, and though younger, more generally read than Virginia. From her childhood she felt a natural, unaccountable bias for the Catholic church; - and even when in New England, she was slow in accrediting the aspersions thrown upon its doctrines and its members. Virginia would seldom converse on controversial topics with the young Paysons, whose company, however, she courted, and whose queen-like manners she studied to imitate. Louisa was their constant and welcome visiter, as well in town as in the country; and the venerable Mr. Powell would often 66 run her," to make use of her own familiar expression, about religion:,,I hope to see you a good Catholic yet," would he feelingly say, "my dear Louisa."

CHAPTER II.

"Thus one, thus pure, behold her largely spread
Like the fair ocean from her mother-bed:
From east to west triumphantly she rides,
All shores are watered by her wealthy tides."

Dryden.

WHO has ever stood on the borders of the broad Potomac, when the morning first breaks over its waters, has seen the mist melting away before the aurora, has heard the deep forests, with which the river is shaded, echoing with the horn of the merry boatsman, and did not say to his heart, this is a grand and rapturing scene! At that lovely hour, and amid the beautiful scenery, Louisa was accustomed to take the air on the dew-scented lawn. At times she would admire the works of creation, cast her eyes now on the sparkling waves, now on the blushing heavens, then around the verdant fields, and then again on the deep shades of the woods. 66 Why," was she heard to repeat to herself, as she paused in profound reflection, "why have I been placed on this magnificent scene! been gifted with reason to meditate on what I see, and with a will to make whatever use 1 please of the works of creation! am I to act a while on this theatre of life, and then to fade away like the leaves which now begin to lose their verdure, and be forgotten! Exists there no region beyond the starry spheres, where immortal spirits are to mingle and live, and be happy! and is there no means

specified by the creator, by which, and by which alone I may attain to that happy abode! Is there no church to teach me truth? no tribunal to solve my doubts, no agent commissioned by the Redeemer to forgive my sins, and remove from a troubled conscience, the cause of its grief and depression! O my God!" did she exclaim, as she clasped her hands and rolled her dark-blue eyes to heaven, “teach me to love and to serve thee!"

After her morning walk, she was used to return to her room and read a chapter in the Bible. It chanced that to-day she fell on the following text from St. Matthew: "and I say unto thee thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it: and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth it shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven."* She read these verses over and over, paused, meditated, wept: "Is it not manifest," she reasoned, "that a church is here established on a ROCK! that is to say, it is never to fail: and secondly, is not confession plainly instituted, by giving the Keys' to the apostles? else, what mean these words: 'I give unto you the keys of heaven.'"

Overcome by this reflection, she closed the sacred book and pensively reclined her head

* St. Matthew, chap. xvi. 18, 19.