CHAPTER IV.
THREE FRIENDS.
The roundest and happiest-looking priest in the city of New Orleans was a little man fondly known among his people as Pere Jerome.

He was a Creole and a member of one of the city's leading families.

His dwelling was a little frame cottage, standing on high pillars just inside a tall, close fence, and reached by a narrow out-door stair from the green batten gate.

It was well surrounded by crape myrtles, and communicated behind by a descending stair and a plank-walk with the rear entrance of the chapel over whose worshippers he daily spread his hands in benediction.

The name of the street--ah! there is where light is wanting.