Well, and what does this blight say to the Catholics--what does every potato cry (with the little voice that what they call tubercular consumption has left it)--what does it cry to the “Papishes,” but, “Change your religion, and henceforth be happy in your ’tatoes!” At first, I thought this change of religion a ticklish matter; but when I see how easily the nobs--the bright examples of the world--do it, why, it’s only conceit in smaller people to hesitate: for I’ve just read a long story about the Emperor Nicholas, who’s in Italy with his poor dying wife. (By the way, it seems that the Emperor, like many other folks, is such a good-tempered, jolly fellow when he’s out, that it’s a pity he should ever go home again.) The Emperor’s daughter, the Duchess Olga (a good playbill name, isn’t it?) was to marry an Austrian Archduke; but her father wouldn’t let her alter her religion from the Greek to the Catholic Church. Now, however, Nicholas has thought better of it,--and his daughter may change her religion for a husband, just as she’ll put on a new gown to be married in. When emperors and kings play at hustle-cap with creeds, isn’t it downright impudence in mere nobodies to be nice! When I think, though, that the Maynooth Grant has brought the rot in potatoes, I can’t help looking round about the world, and fearing what may by-and-by become of us for our friendship with heathens. We take tea of the Chinese--a people, evidently an insult to heaven--though long put up with, and mustering hundreds of millions. Doesn’t Mr Ferrie fear that some day all us men may rise in the morning with pig-tails, and the women get up with a little foot apiece? We buy rhubarb from the wicked Turk. A time may come when--for a visitation--the drug may deceive all the doctors, and Old Gooseberry only know what mischief may happen! We get tallow from Russia. How do I know that I mayn’t in every six to a pound, without thinking of it, set up a candle to the Greek Church! Will Flunky Ferrie think of these things?--for there are many of his kidney who’d like to be enlightened.