100 THE FLOWERS

some expression of regret, “it is a grief to me
to think the poor child was so insensible when
the priest attempted to administer the last
sacrament, that she knew nothing of what
passed: she was as insensible to the holy
anointing as the stillborn babe; neither did
she take the smallest cognizance of the holy
cross which was held before her—the Lord
have mercy on her soul! I am thinking,
father, could she have been a heretic? Was
she not from England?”

“Ah!” TI said, “was it so? tis true, she
was from England.”

The woman started at the manner in which
I spoke, and looked anxiously at me, saying,
“Do you doubt, sir; do you doubt of her
final happiness ?”

I interrupted her, “Ah, would to God,” I
answered, “that I were as blessed and happy
as that dear child now is! On whom did
she call in her dying hours, whom did she
live only to please, to whom did she give all the
glory, but unto the only true Saviour, he who is
above all saints and angels, the God incarnate,
he by whom alone the sinner can be saved !”

The poor woman crossed. herself as I spoke,
and assented to my assertion.