THE HYACINTH. 193 



church. There, the cup of blessing, w;iiich his 

 crafty priests withheld from him, was put into his 

 hand ; and with what effect may be gathered from 

 an incident that his dear pastor repeated to me. 

 He went to visit a poor sick Irishman, in one of 

 the dens of St. Giles', and found Doghery seated 

 by his bedside, reading the word of God to him. 

 Mr. B. said ' I rejoice to find you sensible of the 

 preciousness of that sacred book.' Doghery re- 

 plied, ' I hope I am, sir; I feel much when I read 

 the scriptures here ; I feel much when you preach 

 to me in the church ; but when you gave me the 

 bread of life, in the holy sacrament, I feel, oh. 

 then I did feel, indeed !' — ' How did you feel, my 

 poor fellow V He looked up, with eyes that sparkled 

 brightly, and answered, with great energy, ' Sir, I 

 felt that it was the marriage ceremony, ^which uni- 

 ted my soul to my Saviour for ever.' 



On the Saturday following this, he went to his 

 old friend the reader, and said, ' I have many trials 

 at home : they never allow me to sleep, for curs- 

 ing me and blaspheming. They insist on my giv 

 ing up my bible, or else they will have my blood. 

 My blood they may have,' he added, with earnest- 

 ness, 'but this book none shall take»from me. It 

 is more precious than my life.' He then, related 

 how he was accustomed to answer their menace 

 and revilings, by reading or repeating to them the 

 blessed truths by which he was made wise wit J 



17 



