Call it mummery if ye like , but let me ask you why so many of your sheep stray into our fold ? It 's because they miss the warmth , the hearty , the maternal tenderness which all souls love and long for , and fail to find in your stern . Puritanical belief . By Saint Peter ! I 've seen many a lukewarm worshipper , who for years has nodded in your cushioned pews , wake and glow with something akin to genuine piety while kneeling on the stone pavement of one of our cathedrals , with Raphael 's angels before his eyes , with strains of magnificent music in his ears , and all about him , in shapes of power or beauty , the saints and martyrs who have saved the world , and whose presence inspires him to follow their divine example . It 's not complaining of ye I am , but just reminding ye that men are but children after all , and need more tempting to virtue than they do to vice , which last comes easy to 'em since the Fall . Do your best in your own ways to get the poor souls into bliss , and good luck to ye . But remember , there 's room in the Holy Mother Church for all , and when your own priests send ye to the divil , come straight to us and we 'll take ye in . '' `` A truly Catholic welcome , bull and all , '' said the sixth spirit , who , in spite of his old-fashioned garments , had a youthful face , earnest , fearless eyes , and an energetic voice that woke the echoes with its vigorous tones . `` I 've a hopeful report , brothers , for the reforms of the day are wheeling into rank and marching on . The war is n't over nor rebeldom conquered yet , but the Old Guard has been ` up and at 'em ' through the year . There has been some hard fighting , rivers of ink have flowed , and the Washington dawdlers have signalized themselves by a ` masterly inactivity . ' The political campaign has been an anxious one ; some of the leaders have deserted ; some been mustered out ; some have fallen gallantly , and as yet have received no monuments . But at the Grand Review the Cross of the Legion of Honor will surely shine on many a brave breast that won no decoration but its virtue here ; for the world 's fanatics make heaven 's heroes , poets say . `` The flock of Nightingales that flew South during the ` winter of our discontent ' are all at home again , some here and some in Heaven . But the music of their womanly heroism still lingers in the nation 's memory , and makes a tender minor-chord in the battle-hymn of freedom . `` The reform in literature is n't as vigorous as I could wish ; but a sharp attack of mental and moral dyspepsia will soon teach our people that French confectionery and the bad pastry of Wood , Bracdon , Yates & Co. is not the best diet for the rising generation . `` Speaking of the rising generation reminds me of the schools . They are doing well ; they always are , and we are justly proud of them . There may be a slight tendency toward placing too much value upon book-learning ; too little upon home culture .
Our girls are acknowledged to be uncommonly pretty , witty and wise , but some of us XXXXX they had more health and less excitement , more domestic accomplishments and fewer ologies and isms , and were contented with simple pleasures and the old-fashioned virtues , and not quite so fond of the fast , frivolous life that makes them old so soon .
brave deserted lingers placing reminding send shine signalized teach wish