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"It is almost incredible that they should ascribe such miraculous power to these little bits of painted canvas," replied Florence, gazing curiously upon the picture which was suspended with the face toward her

"No, not incredible, when you remember the quantity of relics annually exported from Rome, such as 'chips of the Cross,' 'bones of the Apostles,' and 'fragin's apparel,' which Papists conscientiously believe are endoith ical powers sufficient to relieve various infirmities I doubt not that those women confidently expect a favorable response to their petition; and if such intercession could avail, it was certainly never more needed Absurd as the practise appears to us, a doubt of the efficacy of their prayers never crossed their minds They are both devout and conscientious"

"But, Mary, such superstitious ignorance is entirely confined to the degraded and uneducated classes No really intelligent mind could rely on yonder picture to dispel these clouds, and win a ray of sunshine I think you are too hasty in supposing that the enlightened portion of the Catholic Church place such ies and relics"

"What do you terhtened portion of the church? Would not its prelates be considered as belonging to that class?"

"Most certainly they would, Mary: for doubtless reatest minds Europe has produced, were and are still to be found ay Yet you would not insinuate that these rely on the efficacy of such mum her eyes inquiringly upon her cousin's face

"Allow me to ask one question ere I reply Florry, do you believe the days of miracles have passed away, or do you suppose that the laws of nature are still constantly infringed, the harmony of cause and effect destroyed, and wonderful phenomena still vouchsafed to favored Europeans?"

"Of course I do not advocate the theory that miracles occur at the present day It is too preposterous to advance in this enlightened age There are perhaps natural phenomena, only to be explained by scientific research; yet in the coly declared that I believe none have occurred since the days of Christ and the Apostles"

"Then, Florry, your position is untenable, for Romish prelates of the present day do most unquestionably defend the theory of the annual occurrence of miracles Bishop ----, whose intellectual endowments are the constant theme of encomiums, has recently visited Italy On his return to Aht with hi the members of his church Florry, I can vouch for the truth of what I now say He declared hi the anniversary of the death of St Janarius Said he, 'I repaired to the place of histhe blood of the blessed saint, now decomposed As the hour rolled around I watched the holy dust in breathless anxiety; at the appointed e in its appearance, and while I held the vial in my hand the ashes liquefied and beca stone turned of a deep crimson' Now the bishop related thisat the altar repeated his words to their listening flocks Sanctioned by the exanorant masses of the Romish church should implicitly rely upon the intercession of saints, and place unbounded confidence in the ain, the Manuals placed in the hands of the laity, are compiled under the special supervision of these ecclesiastical professors, who necessarily indorse all we see there advanced In the Ursuline Manual I find this assertion: 'The Hail Mary was composed in Heaven, dictated by the Holy Ghost, and delivered to the faithful by the Angel Gabriel!' Now, Florry, does not this see on the absurd? What conscientious, honest, enlightened Christian would unblushingly defend such a declaration?"