"Very kind of you, I'm sure, ma'am, though I don't know why you should take the trouble," and the glare of his eyes softened a little; "you're the first woman that's crossed that ere threshold since Molly was carried out. I ha'n't got no chair." "Oh, never mind. I did not come to make a long call," said Mrs. Allen. The lady looked around the wretched room in vain, for a shelf or table on which to deposit the contents of her basket. At last she saw a closet, and while placing the articles of food in it, talked to old Hoden as if he had been the most respectable man in the county. "Is Tom at home, Mr. Hoden?" "What d'ye want of him? I never know where he is." "I heard you ought to be a Catholic," continued Mrs. Allen, "and I thought you would not object to Tom's coming to my catechism class on Sunday." "He ain't got no clothes fit to go; besides I reckon it wouldn't do no good to send him, for he ain't never seen the inside of a church." "Well, Mr. Hoden, couldn't you come yourself?" "It is me, ma'am? I haven't been near a church or priest for twenty-five years. Poor Molly tried to make me go, but she gave it up as a bad job. You may try your hand on Tom for all I care." "I am much obliged to you for giving me leave to try," said Mrs. Allen, smiling; "I should not have asked Tom to come without your permission, Mr. Hoden. Good-bye, sir." The poor wretch seemed dazed, and did not reply to the lady's polite leave-taking. After she was gone, he said to himself "I wonder what that one is up to. I never heard such smooth talk in my life. Well it do make me feel good to be spoke to like I were a gentleman. I'd give a good bit to know who sent her here, and why she come." Ah, poor soul, it was the charity of Jesus Christ that prompted the lady to go to you; and many a fervent prayer she and her children will say for your conversion. "Mamma," said Bolax, on the way home, "that man is not so dreadful bad." "Why do you think that, dear?" "Because I saw a picture of the Sacred Heart pasted on the wall inside the closet; it is all over grease and flyspecks, but you know you told me Jesus gave a blessing to any house that had a picture of His Sacred Heart in it." CHAPTER II. THE WONDERFUL RIDE. "Hurrah! Hurrah!" shouted Bolax, "Amy where are you? 'Want to tell you something fine." Amy was watering her flower-bed, and did not pay much attention to the little brother who was always having something "fine" to tell. "What is it now, Bo dear?" "Oh something real splendid this time." "Please tell me then," said Amy getting a little impatient. "You'll be so glad, Amy. Mamma and auntie say they are going to have a party on the 21st because it is your birthday and St. Aloysius' birthday." "Did they? really truly!" exclaimed Amy; and the staid little lady danced up and down the porch wild with delight at the prospect of a "really truly" party.