The foster-sisters

by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

"Yes, I knew as much as that!" answered Amabel. "But I am not sure it was right to listen to them."

"There was no harm in them, that I could see," I answered. "They seemed to me very good prayers."

"They are heretical, and so they cannot be good," answered Amabel, in her mildly positive way. "They have no mass at all, and even what they call the communion, only once in a month, and you know Lucy, the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was instituted partly to atone for the affronts offered to it, by Protestants."

"How far away all that seems!" said I. "Does it to you?"

"Almost always. It is Sister Lazarus' turn at the post now!" said Amabel, with a far off dreamy look in her eyes. "It always came at this time on Sunday. I heard her tell Mother Prudentia once, that Satan always assaulted her at that time, by making her wonder whether or not Sister Anne was scorching the fowls, and letting the soup boil over."

"The dear mothers and sisters—how often I have wished I could send them some of the nice things we are always having to eat," said I.

"Sister Lazarus is a much better cook than Betsy," returned Amabel, jealous for the honor of her old friend. "Mrs. Thorpe herself said she never saw such cooking."

"Yes, but think how little she has to do with. I wish our own dinner was ready, but I think Mrs. Thorpe is later than common."

"There she comes now. Please fasten my kerchief behind, Lucy!"

"Well, my dears, did you think I was never coming?" said Mrs. Thorpe. "It is a Sacrament Sunday, and there was such a number of communicants as I never saw before. Almost all poor-looking people, too. The free seats were quite filled, and some of the men were rough-looking fellows enough. However, they all behaved wonderful well—a deal better than some of their betters, I must say. I don't want to set up to judge the quality, but I don't like to see all this curtsying, and bowing, and passing of snuff-boxes, and sugar plums. That sort of thing may do well enough at the theatre, but to my mind, 'tis very unsuitable to the church of God."