“Oh, it’s hard, this,” said he.  “It’s hard upon me!  Yet I won’t be cast down.  I’ll trust in my good God; I’ll trust in his blessed name!”

His wife, on hearing that her son was returned without the priest, sat, with her face shrouded by her apron, weeping in grief that none but they who know the dependence which those belonging to her church place in its last rites can comprehend.  The children appeared almost distracted; their grief had more of that stunning character which attends unexpected calamity, than of sorrow for one who is gradually drawn from life.

At length the messenger entered the room, and almost choked with tears, stated that both priests were absent that day at Conference, and would not return till late.

The hitherto moderated grief of the wife arose to a pitch much wilder than the death of her husband could, under ordinary circumstances, occasion.  To die without absolution—­to pass away into eternity “unanointed, unaneled”—­without being purified from the inherent stains of humanity—­was to her a much deeper affliction than her final separation from him.  She cried in tones of the most piercing despair, and clapped her hands, as they do who weep over the dead.  Had he died in the calm confidence of having received the Viaticum, or Sacrament before death, his decease would have had nothing remarkably calamitous in it, beyond usual occurrences of a similar nature.  Now the grief was intensely bitter in consequence of his expected departure without the priest.  His sons and daughters felt it as forcibly as his wife; their lamentations were full of the strongest and sharpest agony.

For nearly three hours did they remain in this situation; poor Lanigan sinking by degrees into that collapsed state from which there is no possibility of rallying.  He was merely able to speak; and recognize his family; but every moment advanced him, with awful certainty, nearer and nearer to his end..

A great number of the neighbors were now assembled, all participating in the awful feeling which predominated, and anxious to compensate by their prayers for the absence of that confidence derived by Roman Catholics during the approach of death, from the spiritual aid of the priest.  They were all at prayer; the sick-room and kitchen were crowded with his friends and acquaintances, many of whom knelt out before the door, and joined with loud voices in the Rosary which was offered up in his behalf.

In this crisis were they, when a horseman, dressed in black, approached the house.  Every head was instantly turned round, with a hope that it might be the parish priest or his curate; but, alas! they were doomed to experience a fresh disappointment.  The stranger, though clerical enough in his appearance, presented a countenance with which none of them was acquainted.  On glancing at the group who knelt around the door, he appeared to understand the melancholy cause which brought them together.