A LAUGHING INDULGENCE. 273 



ahead of them. Both laughed. One quickly suppressed 

 his, but the other, though covering his face with both 

 hands, fairly shook. As soon as he could control his 

 laughter, both rose and walked away. The others 

 ascending were more devout. O Rome ! 



I had intended asking some of my Roman Catholic 

 friends in Canada, what would become of those very 

 irreverent young priests who evidently were laughing 

 at the very ridiculous attitude of those above them ; 

 but now, when I think of it, their first step on their 

 knees covered that sin and many more, for if one step 

 is sufficient to secure seven years' indulgence, why 

 should they not begin by indulging in a good laugh 

 at the whole business. Little did they think that to 

 us outside the rail they were just as ridiculous as 

 those farther up. 



We were fortunate enough ' to secure a sheet of 

 health wafers, or rather a kind of postage stamp 

 bearing a picture of the Virgin, the " Madonna of 

 health." If you are afflicted with St. Vitus' dance, 

 which some people call the " magrums," or there is 

 anything very seriously wrong with your " in'ards," 

 as Sidney Smith would say, you roll up into the form 

 of a pill and swallow one of these little stamps, and if 

 you are not all right in a twinkling, you are in duty 

 bound, as a good, obedient child of ignorance and of the 



