“Is this where the sick woman is?” said he to an old woman who opened the door.

“Yes, your reverence,” answered Mrs. Doherty, at once recognizing the priest; “and thank God you are come.  The Lord never deserts his own, praise be to his holy name.”

“Is she very ill?” said Father O’Shane; for thus was named the sole pastor of the city of T——­ in those days.

“That she is, your reverence, and callin’ for the priest this three days; but as we heard your reverence say that you would be in the country till this day, we thought it no use to give in the sick call sooner.  I myself gave it in this morning afore my poor, sick old man got up.”

“God help the poor!” muttered the tender-hearted priest, as he ascended to the third floor, where the dying woman lay.

“Amen!” answered Mrs. Doherty, aloud.  “You would pity her, your reverence, if you seen the misery they are in this two months; and it is easily telling they saw better days in the ould country.  It is easily knowing that, by the dacent, mannerly children she has around her, God help ’em.”

“Pax huic domui, et omnibus habitantibus in ea”—­“Peace to this house, and all that dwell therein,” uttered the priest of God, as he opened the latchless door of the room on the third story of the old “Oil Mill House,” where the patient was extended on her “pallet of straw.”  For a moment he stood on the threshold, for within an unusual and solemn sight presented itself to his view.  A woman of fair and comely features, between about thirty and forty years of age, lay as described on the floor, with four children kneeling around her.  The eldest, a lad of about fifteen years, read aloud the litanies and prayers of the church for the dying, while the three younger children repeated the responses in fervent but trembling accents.

“Lord, have mercy on her,” cried Paul, the eldest boy.

“Christ, have mercy on her,” answered the younger children.

“Holy Mary.” R. “Pray for her.”

“All ye holy angels and archangels.” R. “Pray for her.”

“All ye choirs of the just.” R. “Pray for her.”

“All ye saints of God.” R. “Make intercession for her.”

“From thy anger, from an unhappy death, from the pains of hell.” R. “Deliver her, O Lord.”

“By thy cross and passion, by thy death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection, in the day of judgment.” R. “Deliver her, O Lord.”

“Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant from all danger of hell, and from all pain and tribulation.” R. “Amen.”

“Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Enoch and Elias from the common death of the world.” R. “Amen.”

“Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Noah from the flood.” R. “Amen.”

“Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy servant, as thou deliveredst Abraham from the midst of the Chaldeans.” R. “Amen.”