Irish Monthly - Forgotten Books

IRI SH M O N THLY .

A flagagine of (general t itanium .

EDITED BY THE REV. MATTHEW RUSSELL, SJ

E I G HTE E N TH Y E A R L Y VOL UM E'

,

D UB L IN

M H. G ILL S ON,O ’

C ON N EL L S TR EET .

m an : m an n u) G ATES ; 3m m,1 1m m um cc .

CONTENTS.

STORIES.

Told in a Floren tine Studio . By th e Rev. David Bearn e SJ .

Bracke n Ho llow . By Ro sa.Mulh o llsnd

In a Quie t Str e e t. By M. E. Francis

Fathe r Pat. ByM. E. Francis

l ike Dam e’s Cure . By A . N .

Th e Orga nist’s Vigil . By th e Rev. David Be am e , SJ .

A Strikin g Con trast . By th e A uth or of The Miser of Kingwon rt .

CHA PTER I. Sylvia ’sHomeII. Sylvia ’

s Escort

III. Ou Board th e Cimbria

V. Cast up by th e Sea

VI. A Crue l Separation

VII. A Revelation

VIII. A Vo ice from th e Wilderness

X. A Bitter Disappoin tmen t

XI. A nxiousDaysXII. Put to th e Test

XIV . Wh o is SylviaXV. Lady A shfie ld makes up h er mindXVI. Lo rd A shfle ld makes a requestXVII. Madg e loses h er situation

XVIII. Dora ’s VisitorXIX. A n Un expe cte d Me e ting

XXI. Madg e is persuaded to be silen t

XXII. Don is tr ied beyond h er streng th

XXIII. Lady A shfie ld chang es h emtactics

XXIV. A t Bay

XXV. Do th ey spe ak th e truth

XXVIII. Wedding Be lls

Ho lly's Fortunes. ByM. E . h and s .

CHA PTER XXVI. Home A g ainXXVII. A Love Tokenxxvm . A rcadia

Con /e nls.

SKETCHES o r PLACES AND PERSONS.

m e n

Ir ish Jesuits s in ce 1 800 1

A Ske tch fr om L ife . By A lfred Webb 76

Items abo n tJr ish Me n a n d Wom en 1 00 , 441

i n Ulste r Po e t . By John Me G m th 1 49

Russian Fie ld . By D . m r ie ff O’Co nn o r 1 9 1

Plus L ife and In fluen ce o f \t A ugustin e . By th e Rev . P. A . Sh e ehsn 200, 242

l‘

h e Ifish (‘

i ste rcisns o f Me a n t Me lle ray. By Ro sa Mul h o lland 2 1 0

lh e Re v. 0 . P . Me e ha n . By th e Edi to r 2 1 8

Dr. Blake o f Dmm o re,a nd Fa th e r O

’Ne ill o f Ro stre vo r . By th e Edi to r 248, 320

lh e De h'

ds Ma ligawa . By M . S te nso n 276

LG lan ce a t th e La t te r Day Sa in ts By M. A . C . 309

[ie h se l Blake , Bish op uf Dromo re Pa r t X. By th e Edito r 369

ike te h e s 1 1 1 Ir ish Bio graphy . No . 1 9 .—John Co rn e l ius O

’Callaghan . By M. 4 1 1

inin te a nd Sigh t ~8e e in g a t A n n e oy . By L . M . Ken ny 427

Ph e Ser aph o f A ssisi . By th e Re v. P. A . Sh eehan 468

fardi n al Ne wma n . By th e Edito r 600

Inde r th e G o lde n Spe a rs. By M. E. Fran e is 606

}ood-bye to Obe r-Amm ergau til l 1 900 . By Kath arin e Ro ch e 636

it . Yves o f Br ittany. By Mrs . Ba rtle Te e l in g 644

10 1 1 1 1 Pius Le ahy, O .P B ish op o f D romo re . By th e Edito r 661 , 646

hr Ch arl es B e lle , th e Musicia n 688

tems from A ustra lia 698

[h e Kerm e sse a t A th . By M. Stenso n 609

Ao Austral ian’

s No te s atWiesbaden . By Susan G avan Dufiy 640

ESSA Y S A ND a mws.

ANow De scr iptive of Ch r istm astide . By R. E.

tn onymi ties Unve iled

Wa lter Uran e e nd Den ny L an e o n A rt Educa tion

A Mode rn Co n ver sa tio n . By M . W. L .

Lin en Wea vin g in Skibbe re e n . By Ro sa Mn lh o lland

The Two Civilisa tion . By th e Re v . P. A . Sh ee h an

Ne ms ON NEW BOOKS.

Fathe r Russe ll’

s Harp of Je sus .—Th e Po or Siste rs {o f Naz are th .

—A Book o f

G o ld , &c .—Ph ilip

's Re sti tutio n .

—L ady Fe rguson’

s Ire land befo re th e

Co nquest .

"- Ir ish Fairy To lea .

—L in da ’

s Task .—Th e A rmoure r o f

So linge n .—Wro n gful ly Amused .

—Ch ristmas Le g en ds.—Th e Jo lly

Ha rpe r .—Life o f Dom Ho soo .

—A Shr in e and a Sto ry, &c . , &c.

Fath er G al lway’s Sa lvag e from th e Wre ck .

—C . Patmo re’s Pr in ciple in A r t.

'

1 h e Poetry and So ng o f Irelan d.—Th e Irish in Bo sto n .

—Th e Review of

Reviews.?m ppy-

go-lucky .

—Flower s from th e Cath o licKinde rgarte n .

The Ligh t‘

oi Re ason .—Miss Peggy O

’Dillon . Songs in a Min or Key.

I‘wifie Co n t A lman ac.- Cstholio A nnual, &c.

Cmtten ts .

Blunders and Forge ries : Histo rica l Essays by Fa th ef Bridg e tt .—Isabe lla o f

Casfile - Sir J C. Barrow’s Mary of Naw e th .

—Ca.rdin a.l Man n ing on

Nationa l Education .—Works about St . Patrick , St . Jo se ph , and St .

Francis o f A ssisi . Miss Amy Fowle r’s Ta le s. Books an d Re ading .

St. Cecilia’s G ates .

—New Ame rican Publication s.—Souve rdr Co llege o f

Amen'

ee n Cath o lic Con g re ss .—Po litica l Prison e rs. Fath e r G e rard

’s

Natural History Pe pe rs.—On Re scue Ben t.—Th e Bugle Call , an d Oth e r

Poems,

MyTime and wha t I’ve don e

'

with it.—Rev. A rthur Ryan ’s Se rmons, 1 877

1 887 —Sce n es from th e L ife o f St . Ben edict—St Patr ick ’s Hymn Bo o k.

—G o ldemWo rds, &c.,&0 .

William Le igh ton’8 Po em s.

—Deve lopmen t of Old English Th ough t .-Dom

Boseo .—Re v . P. Dillon ’

s Se rmo n s.—Life o f St . Ja stm —Mar ie and

PanL—Snfie r ings of En g lish Ca rthusians.—F . Ch arle s Sire , S.J.

—ASh r in e and a Sto ry.

—Th e Church o f my Baptism

The On e Media tor .—Th e Passion Play at Ober Amm e rgan .

—Kathle e nMe voum e en .

- 1 79 1 : a Tale of St . Dom in go .—Carme l in America .

C‘h im e s for Ho lydays.

—Po ems and Ballads o f Y o ung Ire lan d.—Prin ciples

of Re lig ious Life .—No te s o n Electric L igh tin g .

- ~ a Le sso n s in

Co oke ry.—St. Brigid of Kilda re .

—Be n ediction Hymns Expla in ed ,Ireland

’s A n cien t Sch oo ls and Sch o lars .

—Lehmlmhl ’ s De Pon te .—Wild Birds

of Kille evy.—Odil e .

—In stitution e s Patro logiw.—~Eng lish Criticson

, Th e

Harp o f Jesus .

”—Thomas Rile tn n .—So cialism .

—Natur al Re ligion .

Wre a th s o f Son g.—Poems o f th e Past.—Am e rioe n Catho lic Per iodicals.

Sir C . C. Dnfiy’s Th omas Davis, &c.

Boss Mal h o lh nd’

s New Storie s.—Life of Th omas Davis .

—Bro th er A z arias onLitera ture .—A ids to Eloon tion .

- Th e Le per Queen .—F . Pe rry, th e

Jesuit A stron ome r .—Pla.in Sermons.

—Life of B. Margare t Mary.—St.

Madden on Hypn o tism

In dy Ma rgare t Domvill e’s In martin e .

—Eduoationa l G rie vance s o f Ir ish

Ca th o l ics .—Fo rgo tte n He ro in es .

—L ife of St. Th omas A quin as.—Maxims

of St . Ph ilip Ne ri .—Wild Birds of Kille e vy.- Il lnst mte d Cath o lic

Mission s, &c . ,

Judge O’Hagan

’

s Ch ildren’s Ballad Rosary .

—A Summe r Ho liday in

Euro pe .—Rosa Ma lh o lland’ s Fa th e r Math ew.

”—Ame rican Co n

fe ctio n ery Bo ok—Sayings of Cardinal Newman . Ch ildre n o f Ho lyScripture .

—mustrated Cath o lic Mission s.—Th e Lamp.

- Histo ry o f th ePasd om - Cath o lic Truth So cie ty

's Publica tion s

Re v. T . G ilmartin's Church Histo ry.

—Cardinal Mo re n’s Occasio n al Papers.

N . Russo , S.J., de Ph ilosoPhia Moml i . —Bake r ’sHo lyWisdom . Truth

o n Miss Mulh o lland ’s La test Volum e .—Mrs. Sig e rso n

's Ir ish Nove l .

C . T . 8 . Newe st Publ ica tion s .—Va le n tin e Rian t . G randfath e r an d

G randson .—In tt1e G ems frém Th omas a Kempis .

—Th e Pate rn o ste r

Wh ispe r ! by France s Wynn e .—Ve rse s along th e Way.

—Lehmkuh lMoral Th e ology.

—Dr . S. B . Smith’s Can o n Law.

—Tom in a Tang le .

Th e Se emed He ar t studied in th e Scr ipture s.—L itt1e He lpe rs of th e Ho ly

Souls .—A Cracked Fiddle .

—Cath o lic A nnual , &o . Cr iticisms on Judg e

O’Hsgan

’

s Ballad Rosary for Ch ildren

vi Cmcten ts‘

.

Posus A ND MISCELLA NEOUS PA PEas.

Eu A ttendan t . By FrancesWynn eComrades. By 8 .

Lu: in Ten ebris. By Kathe rin e Tynan

De thron ed. By E. S .

Th e R edbre ast . By D . B.

In th e Hospice fo r th e Dying. By Ka th e rin e Tynu i

Th e Prayer of St . A tty. By Patr ick J Co lemTh e Ch ildt of Fath e r Damien . By W. G .

Tvvo Unpublish ed Le tters of Dr . Livingston eTo a Sh ell brough t from Norway. By G . T .

0 1 1 readin g A ubrey de Ve re’s Le gend o f St. Patrick .

A Shamrock . By He le ne Culle n an

Mamh . By Mary Eliz abe th BlakeOth e rWo rlds. By T . E. B.

A Story o f a Sain t. By Clemen t J B. Carte net

Damian ns A posto lus Leprosomm . By E . A . HinksonLin es of St . Prnden tius. By T . E. B.

A G rove in Spring . By M. F. M.

Th e Bled ug of Dublin . By S .

Th e Pope’s Last Poem.

From Shore to Sh ore . By E. 8 .

Little Dorrit . By Mary FurlongA Ven e tian Ballade . By Eug e n e DavisTh e Childre n

’s Ballad Ro sary. By Judge O ’He gan

I.—'

1‘h e Joyful Myste ries

II.-Th e Sorrowful Myste ries

III.—Th e G lorious Myste ries

A Life’s Stren gth , By Te re se Boylan

Home -siclm e ss. By Kath ar in e Tynan

Mo th e r of G od , 0 Mo th er ! By th e Rev. B . O’Kenn edy

Unpublishd Le tter of D’Amy McG e e

Th e Priest . By D. B. Co llins

Providence . By Pa tr ick J. Co leman

Sick Calls. By th e Re v. Rich ard 0'Ke nn edy

A Sh eph e rd with out Sh e ep,By th e Re v . Jo hn Fi tzpa trick , QM.I.

Th e Highway to Fame . By Do ra Sige rsonKindn ess. By R . O

’K .

Dead—in New Y ork . By Magdal en Ro ck

A Pro of-re ade r’s A ct of Con tr ition

Martyrs. By S . H. 0 .

Membe rs of th e Congregation . By FrancesWynn e

A Twiligh t Vig il . By I. D.

Th e Me lanch o ly Ocean . By 0 .

Th e Irish Reaper’s Evensong . By Patrick J Co leman

To th e Night. ByHilaire Benoo

Contents.

A flooine . By Bose Kavm gh

‘lh e Mon th

’sMind st Edgbaston . By John D . Oolclon gh

To a Borrowing Moth e r. By G race Baiss

De Profundis.” ByMon tag e G rimn

Intm fing . By B . O’K.

Bonne t. By E. S.

Ellen 0 1 0 1 1 7 . By Rose Kavsnagh

To 5 Be e found dead in a Flower . By th e Rev . John Fitzpatr ick O .M.I

The Childre n . By G . N . P.

Sin ite Parm los. By th e Rev. David Beem e , SJ .

To Sister Mary Ben ign . By th e Rev . John Fi tzpatrick

Csptain Ve rn on Harris and“ Th e Irish Monthly

”

A Word in Memory

NOTICE .

Th e kind friends wh o take a in the

prospe rity o f th is Magaz in e can se rve it best by forwarding at once

th e ir subscription of Seven Shillings for th e year 1 891 , to th e

Rev. MA TTHEW RUSSELL, S.J., St . Fran cis Xavier

’s,

G ardin e r-stre e t, Dublin , wh o will be glad of th e opportunity of

I R I S H M O N T H L Y .

JA N UA R Y,1 8 9 0 .

IRISH JESUITS SINCE 1 800.

HE fo llowing sketch , founded o n some n ote s o f Fath e r

G ren e’

s (who died Feb . 4 , 1 887 , ag ed was drawn up

fo r a dom e stic publicatio n ,in te n ded on ly fo r m embe rs of th e

S ocie ty o f Je so s. Some of th e pe rso n s n am ed we r e kn own,o r ar e

k n o wn , to many o f our r e ade rs, wh o will also take a kin d in te r e st

i n som e wh om th ey h e ar of h e re fo r th e first tim e . Th e dom estic

c-haracte r of som e o f its de tails is, in de ed, an obvious obje ctio n tot h e publication o f th e ske tch in its pr e se n t fo rm ; but , on th e Oth e r

h an d, its simpl icity and un co n ve n tio n ality m ay h ave advan tage s of

t he ir own .

Ir ish h isto r y h as b e e n sa id to b e 1'

7we r tebr a to , wan tin g th e backbo n e

wh ich is furn ish e d to th e h istory o f En glan d (fo r in stan ce ) by th er e g ula r l in e o f k in gs, ar oun d wh om h isto rxan s

’

h ave foun d it co n

v e n ie n t to gro up th e succe ssive e ve n ts in to ch apte rs. In th e h isto ryo f th e Soci e ty o f Je sus a sim ilar purpo se is se r ved by th e succe ssio n

o f g e n e r a ls. Eve n in th is fr agm e n t o f th e h isto ry o f a sma l l pr o vin ce

o f t h e M'

m'

ma Sovie t“,th e fitte st item to be g in with is a list o f th e

Ir ish Pro vin cials. Str ictly spe ak in g , th e first o f th e se was Fa th e r

Jo seph L e n ta ign e ,wh o becam e Pr o vin cial o n th e fe a st o f th e Immacul a te

Co n ce ptio n , 1 860 . Ir e lan d was pr e viously a Vice -Pro vin ce from th e

y e a r 1 830, and befo r e th at da te a Missio n , bo th depe ndin g imm e di a te lyo n th e Fath e r G e n e ra l .

SUPERIORS OF THE MIBSION .

Pe te r Ken n ey, Septembe r 30 , 1 8 1 2 .

Ch ar le s Aylm e r , Septembe r 29 , 1 8 1 7 .

Barth o lomew Eamon de , A ugust, 1 820 .

Pe te r Ke n n ey (a second time ) , Septembe r 29 , 1 82 1 .

VoL . m u . No . 1 99.

2 l e

'

Irisk. Mon th ly.

VICE-PROVINCIA LS .

Robe r t St . Le g e r , May, 1 830.

Pe te r Ke n n ey (for a th ird time ) , A pri l, 1 834 .

Pa tr ick Br ack e n,May, 1 836 .

1

R obe r t St . Le ge r (second term of ofice ) , Fe bruary 1 84 1 .

Joh n Cur tis,March 1 9

,1 850 .

Jo hn Ffr en ch , Jun e 24, 1 856 .

Jo seph L e n ta ign e , February 2 , 1 858 .

PROVINCIA LS.

Jo sefih L e n taig'

n e,D e cembe r 8 , 1 860 .

Edmun d O’

R e illy, D ecembe r 8 , 1 863 .

N ich o las Walsh , A pril 20, 1 870 .

A loysius Stur z o , Mar ch 1 8 , 1 8 7 7 .

Jam e s Tuite, July 3 1 , 1 880.

Th om as P . Br own ; Apr il 2 1 , 1 883 .

Tim o thy Ke nny, February 3 , 1 888.

Th e chi ef link be twe e n th e Irish Je sn its wh o flour ish ed be fo r e th e

suppr e ssion o f th e So cie ty in 1 773 , an d th o se wh o r e sum ed th e ir wo rk

a fter th e r e sto r atio n , was Fa th e r Th omas Be tagh , wh o was bo rn a t

R o ll s,in Co . Me a th , in 1 738 . He was n o t th e youn g e st o f th e

e x-Je suits fo r Fa th e r Joh n Barr on was o nly 49 years o ld wh e n h e

d ied in 1 498, an d Fa th e r Be tagh was ove r 60 a t th at da te . Th e

fo ll owin g seven te e n ar e g ive n as th e survivo r s o f th e Ir ish Missio n ,a s

o ur Pr o vin ce was th e n call ed

Joh n Ward

Clem en t K e lllyEdwa rd Ke a tin g

Jo h n St . Le g e rN ich o la s Ba r r on

Jo h n A ustin

Pe te r Be rill

Jam e s Mo ro ny

Mich a e l Cawo od

Mich a e l Fitz g e ra ld

John Fullam

Paul Powe r

Jo h n Bar ron

Jo seph O’Hall o run

Jam e s Mulcaile

R ich a rd O’Ca lla gh a n

T h oma s Be tagh

Ir ish Jesuits since 1 800.

Th e se Fath e rs lo oked fo rward with bo nfide n ce to th e r e sto ratio n

o f th e belo ved So cie ty, an d th ey husbanded ca r e fully th e r e source s m

th e ir h a nds, co nfidin g th e m an ag em en t of th em to o n e o f th e ir

n umbe r wh o gave an accoun t o f th is fund wh e n th ey m e t from tim e

t o time . Fath e r Joh n Ward fill ed th is o ffice ve ry sa tisfacto ri ly, and,

a t hi s de ath in 1 7 75Fa th e r Fullam succe eded . Th e se funds we r e

k ept safe wi th th e h e lp o f Fa th e r Ma rmaduk e Sto n e , an d still m o r e

o f Fath e r Cha rles Plowde n o f th e En g lish Pr ovin ce .

Th e se Ir ish Fath e rs de vo ted th em se lve s to m issio n ary wo rk , and

a lso to educa tion in Dublin , with g r e a t succe ss,Fath e r A ustin and

Fa th er Be tagh be in g th e m o st distin guish ed . Se ve ra l youth s o f h igh

p ro m ise we r e tra in ed up with a view to e n te r in g th e So cie ty,e s pe cia lly aft er it h ad be e n r e sto r ed in Sicily, in th e ye ar 1 804, byP o pe Pius VI. Th ith e r th e se can dida te s fo r th e So ci e ty we r e se n t

f r o m Sto nyhurst , wh e r e th ey h ad b e e n placed fo r th e ir educa tio n .

A bo ut this tim e th e Fath e r G e n era l Br z o z owski wr o te to Fa th e r

B e ta gh a l e tte r , wh ich is pr e se rved in th e arch ive s o f th e Ir ish

P r o vin ce, and wh ich sh ows th e clo se r e la tio n s subsistin g be twe e n th e

m e m be rs of th e suppr e sse d So cie ty in place s so far apart as Dubl in

a n d St . Pe te rsbur g

Rsvnnmm n m Cnm sr o Pu ss,

P. 0 .

Cum summa an imi m e i vo luptate a Patribus n o str is qui sun t in

A n g lia e cce pi quam e g r e g iam ope ram quamque util em R eve r e n tia

v e s tra , quamquam se te te prove cta , pe n a t in ill a Domi n i No str i vin e a .

N o n dubito be n evo le n tiam qua Episcopi Hibe rni se pr o sequun tur

S o c i e ta tem pr oficisci a z e lo apo sto li co an tiquo rum n o str o rum Pa tr um ,

e a ndem aug e r i pe r labo r em in de fe ssum quem vide n t a R ev e r e n tia

v e str a in sa lute an imar am procuran da exan tla r i . G r atias ig itur R e ve

r e n tiee ve straa ag o qhan tas po ssum m aximas pr o h o c e rga Ma tr em

n o s tram amo re . Pe rg e , Pate r R e ve r e n de , e am tuis o rn a r e o fficiis e t

b e n eficiis . Para tui z e li e t spir i tus succe sso r e s ex i 1 s juve n ibus quii n A n glia in struun tur . Ce r tissimus e st con se n sus Summ i Po n tificis

quo ad vestram n o biscum un io n em, quidquid quidam a lite r di can t ve l

sc r iban t . Ho e co nse n su po sito , cum m e lius pr o fe cto sit e sse quamn o n e sse , j udica r em So cie ta tem in Hib e r n ia e tiam r e suscita r i po sse ,

lice t caute , prude n te r , e t sin e str epitu, n a scilice t ob h un c ipsum

co nse n sum San ctissimo Patr i n o vze cause n tur m o le stias . Ve n ie t

te mpus, e t br e vi quidem , quo Sa ncta Se de s e tiam can o n ice scr ipto

h a n c un io n em co nfirmabit . Si itaque m a tur e pr se pa r amus so cio s,

g a ndeb it tum e ccle sia Hibem e nsium , gaude bit So cie ta s , ade sse

o per ar io s e t mi lite szqui ad pm lia Dom in i prse lian da sin t para ti .

R . P . Ca llagh an virum apo sto l icum~ sa luto ac v e n e ro r . Utr ique

‘

4 TIM Ir ish Month ly.

o mn em divin am ben ediction em pr eco r , m eque So ci e tatemque utriusquesanctis sacr ificus comm e ndo .

Reve r e n tite Ve straa

Se r vus in Ch rista addictissimn s,

THADDJEUS a o z owsxr,

P. G ., S. JPe tr opo li , 1 4 Jumx, 1 806 .

Fa th e r Be tagh , wh o th e n filled th e o ffice o f Vicar - G e n e r al to th e

A rch bish op o f Dublin , h ad fo rm ed h igh e xpecta tio n s, in par ticular o f

Mr Pe te r Ke n n ey, th e n about 25 ye ars o f ag e . A fr ie nd said to h im

o n e day Oh Dr . Be ta gh , wh a t will b e com e o f n a a l l wh en you g o

to He aven No ma tte r ,’answe r ed h e , I e m o ld and stupid, but

th e r e is a youn g co ck comin g fr om Sicily th at will cr ow te n tim es as

l o ud as eve r I could do .

’

In th e n in th vo lum e o f th is Maga z in e , a t pag e 44 1 , an d aga in a t

pag e 500 (A ugust an d Septemb e r m ay b e found an a r ticle

e n titl ed To Pa le rmo an d Back , Se ve n ty ye ars A g o ,’wh ich de scribe s

th e voyage to Sicily o f th e fir st band o f youn g Ir ish Je suits o f th e

n in e te e n th ce n tury. A le tte r is th e r e given , da ted Sto nyhur st , July7 th , in wh ich th e R ecto r , Fath e r N ich o las Sewall , g ive s

‘ th e

R e v . Mr . Be tagh , Co ok Str e e t, Dub lin ,

’an accoun t o f th e depar tur e

fr om Liv e rpo o l in th e sh ip Lasce lle s o f Barth o lom ew Esmo n de o f

K ilda r e , Paul Pe r ley o f Dubl in , Ch a r le s A ylm e r o f Kildar e , R obe r t

Sr. Le ge r o fWa te rfo rd, Edm on d Co gan o f Co rk ,a nd Jam e s Butle r

o f Dubl in all youn g m e n o f ab il iti e s and lik e ly to do cr edit to th e ir

co un try.

’ N ext fo llows a m inute acco un t o f th e voyage by Ba r th o lomew

Esmo nde , th e n ag ed 1 9 ye a r s, and th e youn ge st o f th e little company.

Pe te r Ke n n ey a nd Ma tth ew G ah an h ad pr eceded th em to th e Kin gdomo f th e Two Sicilie s . England th e n o ccupied Sicily ag a in st Fran ce

a n d Fath e r Ke nney was se n t o n o n e o ccasio n to Civita Ve cch ia to act

a s in te rpr e te r be twe e n th e Pope and th e Eng lish A dm ira l , wh o h e ld

h im se lf in r e adin ess to g ive t o His Ho lin e ss th e pro te ctio n o f th e

B r itish fle e t .

Of th e little ban d m e n tio n ed abo ve Edmun d Co gan died aft e r a

ve e r in Sicily. Th e o th e rs a ft e r th e ir o rdin a tio n we r e fo rtun a te e n ough

to b e at Rom e o n th e ir h om eward journ ey wh e n th e Pepe r e sto r ed t he

Socie ty th r ough o ut th e wo r ld. Th ey we r e thus amo ng th e first to

r e sum e th e Je suit dr e ss. Ou th e 7th o f August , 1 8 1 4 , th e Bull o f

R esto ra tio n was publish e d at th e G e sfi, wh e r e th e Pope , in th e pr e se n ce

o f th e Sacr ed Co lleg e o f Cardin a ls, ce lebrated Mass at th e a ltar o f

St . Ign atius .

M e anwh ile Fa th e r Be tagh had died at 92 Co ok Str e e t, Dubl in ,

F e b . l 6th , 1 8 1 1 , ag ed 7 3 . He h ad kept an exce ll e n t SCh OUl be h in d th e

Ir islc Jesuits since 1 800. 5

h o use s in Fish amble Str e e t, an d am o ngst hi s pupils was Dan ie l

Mur ray, a fte rwards A rch bish op of Dublin , a nd e ve r a devo te d fr ie nd

to Fath e r Ke n n ey an d th e So cie ty. A n o th e r pupil o f h is was Mich a e l

B la ke , th e r e sto r e r o f th e Irish Co l le g e in Rom e, and subseque n tly

B ish op o f Drom o r e in Ulste r .

“F In a se rm o n pr e ach ed o n Pa lm Sun day,

1 8 1 1, wh ich was pr in ted with an o th e r in 1 82 1

, and wh ich n ow lie s

be fo r e us, h e pays a ve ry touch ing tr ibute to th e ve n e r able Be tagh ,

’

a s h e ca lls h im . Th e se rmon wasfo r th e eve n in g Fr e e Sch o o ls wh ich

Fa th e r Be tagh h ad foun ded an d suppo r ted, a n d whi ch to thi s day ar e

k n own as Dr . Be tagh’

s Sch o o ls . A lr e ady, in 1 8 1 1, m o r e th an thr e e

t h o usand boys ha d r ece ived th e ir educa tion in th e se sch o o ls, which

h av e b ee n co n tinui n g th e ir wo rk e ve r since . Dr . Blake spe aks o f

th e ma n wh o e stabli sh ed th a t In stitutio n , wh o ch e r ish ed th e o bj e ctso f it with th e a ffe ctio n o f a pa r e n t, wh o supe r in te n ded th e ir in struc

t io n , wh o r ewa rde d th e m o st prom isin g o f th em by a cla ssica l

e duca tio n, wh o a t th e ag e o f sev e n ty

- th r e e would sit down in a co ld ,

d amp ce lla r e ve ry n igh t to h e ar th e le sso n s o f th e se childr e n ,and

c o n tr ived to clo th e fo r ty o f th e m o st de stitute o f th em e ve ry ye ar a t

h is own expe n se .

’A fte r de scr ibin g th e pa tr ia rch

’

s h o ly de a th , th e

young pr iest—wh o h imse lf lived fo r fifty ye ar s a fte r—give s a won de r

1 1 1 1 accoun t o f th e grie f sh own by th e pe ople , th e cr owds wh ich , a t

a ll h o urs o f th e day a n d n ig h t, an d unde r th e m o st h e avy, in ce ssan t

m i n , we r e se e n pour in g in fr om e ve ry quar te r o f th e city to th e h o use

wh e r e hi s bo dy lay.

’ His fun e r a l te stifie d to th e extra o rdin a ry

v e n e r ation in whi ch h e was h e ld by a ll classe s .

But we h ave give n a n undue amoun t o f o ur space to Fath e r

B e ta gh . We do so be cause h e wa s th e ch ie f co n n e ctin g link be twe e n

t h e o ld and th e n ew So cie ty in Ir e la n d . A n o th e r o f th e Fa th e r s

d ur in g th e in te rr e gnum ,Fa th e r Mulca ile , tran sla ted Fe ll e r

’

s

P hi losoph ica l Ca te chi sm in to En gl ish . Fa th e r Ca l lagh an ,wh om

Fa th e r Br z o z owski , in th e le tte r quo ted be fo r e , salute s a nd ve n e ra t cs

a s a a ir ap ostolz'

cus,h ad suffe r ed fo r th e fai th in th e Phi lippin e

Isl ands.

A fte r th e ir r e turn fr om Sicily i n 1 8 1 2, Fath e rs Ke n n ey, D in an ,

a n d G ah an r e sided a t No 3 G e o rge’s Hill, Dublin , wh ich h o us e is n ow

a po rtion o f th e sch o o ls o f th e Pr e se n ta tio n Nuns .-

'l‘

h e Je suits, b e fo r e

a n d dur in g th e Suppr e ssion , h ad lo n g be e n co n n e cte d with th at par ish

o f St . Michan , and th ey officia ted in th e Pa r ish Ch urch , fo rm e r ly in

Ma ry’s Lan e , but r emoved lo ng sin ce to No r th A n n e Str e e t . Fa th e r

K e n n ey was~ Supe r io r o f th e Ir ish Missio n o f th e So cie ty. A n o th e r

pupil o f Fa th e r Be tagh’

s, Dr . Dan i e l Mur r ay, h ad be e n appo in ted

Se ve ra l papers in our N in th an d T e n th Vo lumes we re de vo ted to th is v e n e r

6 Tiae Ir ish Mo nth ly.

Co adjuto r to Dr . Troy, th e A rch bish op o f Dublin and ye t , in Jun e ,

1 8 1 2,h e was pe rsuaded by th e Bish ops to becom e pr e side n t o f

Mayn o o th Co ll e g e . He yie lded , it is sa id, o n condi tio n th at Fath e r

Ke n n ey sh o uld h e lp him as vice -

pr esiden t. In th e Co lle g e Cal e ndar

Fath er Ke nn ey’s appo in tm e n t is assign e d to th e fo llowin g Novembe r .

Th e ir te rm of o ffice was in te nde d to be brie f, but it le ft its m a rk o n

th e Co lleg e , an d n o doubt h ad a sh ar e in th e imm en se ve n e ra tio n with

wh ich Fath e r Ke n n ey’s n am e i s still r ememb e red amon g th e pri e sts

o f Ir e lan d. Th e m edi ta tion s wh ich th e Vice -Pr e side n t propo sed dur in g

th a t ye ar to th e stude n ts we r e e age r ly copied, and a r e n o t e ve n ye t

fo rg o tte n o r di sused.

Th e m on ey m e n tion ed be for e as h avin g be en car efully h usbanded

durin g th e Suppr e ssion wa s expe n ded o n th e purch as e o f Castle

Brown e,

‘o r LClo n g

-owesWo o d, in Coun ty Kil dare , 1 6 Irish m ile s, o r

2 7 En glish m il e s, fr om Dublin . It is n ow kn own by its o lde r n am e o f

Clo n gowe s, but a t th e tim e it was call e d Castle Br own e,fr om th e o ld

Cath o lic fam ily wh o h ad own e d it, and o f wh om th e h ead th e n was .

G e n e r a l Brown e,in th e se rvice o f th e Kin g o f Saxo ny. Capta in Wogan

Br own e is at th is pr e se n t m om e n t a Ca th o lic Office r in th e Br itish

a rmy. Th e Br own e s h ad be e n in po sse ssio n fo r two hun dr ed yea rs,

b e ing pr e ceded by an o th e r Cath o lic race , th e Eustaces, wh o se n am e

still survive s in th e small town o f Ba llym o r e Eustace n o t far distan t .

Th e purch a se o f Clo n gowes was compl e te d in 1 8 1 3, but som e tim e was

spe n t in pr epar in g it for its n ew de stiny. Th e first pupil en te r ed o n

th e 1 4th o f May, 1 8 1 4 . We sh ould g ladly m en tion th e boy’s n am e if

traditiou h ad h anded it down .

Th e r e lie s be fo r e us a fragm e n t o f a dia ry k ept by som eo n e at

Clo n gowe s two yea rs afte r . Som e little bits of in te rn al eviden ce se em

to po in t to Fa th e r Ch ar le s A ylm e r as its auth o r and compa ring th e

h an dwr itin g with th a t o f Fath e r A ylm e r’s Jo n t o sl o f a To ur in

Sicily,

’wh ich ch a n ce s to com e un de r our eye s at th is mom e n t, th e two

ma n uscripts se em to be wr itte n by th e sam e pe r son . Th e Sicilian

Journ a l is da te d thr e e ye ars e ar lie r , Sept embe r , 1 8 1 3 . We n o tice i n

i t th a t Fa th e r A ylm e r was alr e ady a pr ie st in h is 29th ye a r , h aving‘

b e e n bo r n in 1 784 . Th is fr agm e n t o f a j ourn al e nds with a lovin gly

m inute de scriptio n o f th e sh rin e o f St . Lucy, a t Syracuse a nd th is is

an o th e r pr o o f o f ide n ti ty be twe e n Fath e r A ylm e r a nd th e Clo n gowe s

D iar ist,fo r it expla in s wh at h ad pr e viously surpr ised m e—n ame ly,

why in th e Diary Decembe r 1 3th is ca l led St .Lucy’

s Day,’n o o th e r

sa in t o f No vembe r and Decembe r b e in g thus m en tio n ed, except, o f

course , St . Sta n islaus and St. Francis Xavie r .

Th e diary begin s o n Octobe r 1 st,1 8 1 6 , g ivin g th e statue dome s a t

full l e ng th . Fa th e r Pe te r Ke nn ey, Super io r o f th e wh o le Soci ety in .

Ir isk Jem’

ts 8 171 00 1 800. 7

Ir e land, pr e fect o f h igh e r studi e s

, pr e ach e s eve ry we ek to th e pupils

Fa th e r Aylm e r is th e Min iste r a nd Fa th e r Claudius Jauta rd is

Spir itua l Fa th e r—a Fr e n chma n

, wh o se em e d a pa tr ia rch in th e yo uth ful

m mmun ity, as an o th e r o ld scrap o f pape r te lls us h e was bo r n in

1 7 40, an d e n t e r e d th e So cie ty in 1 756 . b e fo r e Ch o ise ul an d Pomba l

a n d th e de v i l h ad go t th e ir will .‘ Fa th e r Jam e s Butl e r is Pr o fe sso r

o f Mo r al an d Do gmatic Th e o lo gy. Fa th e r Paul Fe r ley is Pro fe sso r

o f Lo gic and Me taphysics a n d curio usly e n ough it is a n n o unce d th a t

h e is to pr e ach o n th e n ext G o od Friday, still h alf a ye a r distan t ,

Fa th e r Ma tth ew G ah a n is de scribed as missio n e r in th e par ish o f St .

Nich o las , Fran cis St r e e t, Dublin , and con fe sso r to th e Nun s a t

Ha ro ld’s Cro ss a nd Summ e r Hill—th e fo rm e r still th e h om e o f th e Po o r

Cla r es, th e latte r th e first b egin n in gs o f th e Ir ish Siste r s o f Ch ar ity.

Th e four r ema in in g pr ie sts in th e Clo n gowe s Commun ity seve n ty

ye a rs ago we r e Fa th e rs R obe rt St. Le g e r , \V . Din an , Ba r th o lomew

Esm o n de (Supe rio r o f th e Sch o la stics), and Joh n Ryan ,a m issio n e r in

St . Paul’s Par ish

, A r ran Quay. Am o n g th e Sch o lastic-t, th e m aste rs

a n d pr e fe ct’

s we r e Bro th e r s Fra z e r , Le vin e , Co nn o r , Brack e n , Sh e r lock ,

Mo r an, Mul le n

, a nd McG lade . Seve ra l o f th e se we r e fo llowin g th e

th e o lo gica l classe s a t th e sam e tim e,an d o th e rs

.

we r e appli ed exclusive ly

to th e ir studi e s o f th e se la st two sur vived to o ur own tim e , dyin g

o nly two o r th r e e ye ar s ago , n o n ag e n ar ian s—Ro be r t Ha ly a n d Juh n

Cur tis . A thi rd was th e first o f a ll to di e , th e first burie d in th e

rus tic graveya rd o f o ld Ma inh am—Nich o las Fitz h ar ris, wh o had be e n

a Mayn o o th stude n t dur in g Fath e r Ke n n ey’s vice -

pr e side n cy, a nd

fo llowed h im wh e n h e l e ft th e Co lle g e .

Th e Diary b e g in s with A ll Sain ts’Day, 1 8 1 6 , m e n tio n in g th at th e

n umbe r o f sch o lars was th e n 1 94 . Ou th e fe ast o f St . Fr an cis

Xa vi e r i t is r e co rded, J. He an ey cam e to th e h ouse , an d comple te d

th e 200 sch o lar s wh o a r e i n a ll o n th e list 20 1 , in th e h o use

A m o n g th e se we r e Jo seph L e n ta ig n e , wh o wa s our first Ir ish

P ro vin cia l, a nd h is br o th e r , wh o died r e ce n tly, Sir Jo h n L e n ta ig n e ;

a lso Frank Mah ony Fa th e r and Jam e s Lyn ch , n ow Bish opo f Kildar e .

Th e m ann e r in wh ich Fa th e r A ylm e r’s opin io n is r epo r ted in th e

fo llowin g passag e is o n e o f my r e aso ns fo r th in k in g th a t Fa th e r

A vlm e r wr o te th e D ia ry.

‘Th e le t te r fr om Mr . Ke n n ey o n th e 3 rd

was to desir e th e opin io n s o f Fa th e rs Farl ey, Butle r , a nd A ylm e r

wi th r e gard to h is’

pr e ach in g a ch ar i ty se rmo n in Co rk, a t th e r e que sto f th e Bish op, Dr . Murphy, an d co n seque n t to h is accept in g th a t o f

Co rk , an o th e r in Lim e r ick . Th e two fo rm e r we r e o f Opin io n th a t

bo th ough t to be accepted ; th e latte r sa id h e did n o t e n tir e ly agr e e

He die d a t Clo ng owe s in 1 82 1 , ag ed 8 1 .

The Ir isk Mon th ly.

with th em, because h e th ough t th at Mr . Ke nn ey’s freque n t abse nce

fr om th e Co ll e ge . wh e re h e h ad so o fte n de cla r e d th a t a ll we r e to o

m un g an d n o t to b e depe nded upo n , was h igh ly i n jur ious. A s to

th e proprie ty o f pr eachi n g bo th se rmo n s, Mr . Ke n n ey h im se lf co uld

a lo n e de te rmin e , as h e a lo n e kn ew th e circumstan ce s an d situa tion o f

a ffa irs.

’

Th e Diary,whi ch r e co rds ve ry minute ly

’

eve ryth in g about th e

e xamin atio n s, a n d th e h e a lth o f th e boys, and sun dry o th e r ma tte rs ,

e n ds with th e 1 3th o f Decem be r . Ou th e sam e day it is sai d : XVe

h e a rd th at Mr . Ke n n eyh ad g o t po sse ssion o f Hardwick Str e e t Ch ape l.’

Th e se e n tr ie s r efe r to th e fir st Dublin San ctuary o f th e Soci e ty

a fte r its Re sto r a tio n . It was alr e ady a h o ly spo t. Th e Po o r Clar e s,

wh o ar e n ow se rvin g G od acco rdin g to th e ir h o ly sta te a t Har o ld’s

C ro ss, n e ar Dublin , car ri ed o ut th e ir voca tio n e ve n am idst th e te rr o rs

o f th e Pe n a l Laws. In 1 752 , som e o f th em wh o we r e livin g i n No r th

K in g Str e e t , r em oved to th e h o use of Maj o r Favi e r in Dr umco n draLan e ,

‘

n ow ca ll ed Do rse t Str e e t .

‘A ft e r a few ye a rs,’say th e ir

a nn als, fr om which th e Mo th e r A bbe ss h as copied th is extract fo r us,

th ey bui lt a n e a t ch ape l with e igh t ce lls o ve r it a t a co st o f £800 .

In th e ye ar 1 804, Octob e r 1 9th

,th e commun ity was tran sfe rr e d to

Har o ld’s Cr o ss an d th e ir ch apla in , th e R e v . Be rn ard McMah o n ,

t ook a le ase of t h e ch ape l , an d ce lebra ted Mass th e r e till h is de a th .

He h ad th e e igh t ce ll s pr epar ed fo r h is accommodation a s a r e side n ce .

Th e g e n tl em e n o f Clo n gowe s Co ll e ge ar e n ow in po sse ssio n o f it,th e

e n tran ce be in g in 38 Hardwick Stn e t, wh ich h as b e e n built o n t h e

site o f o ur kitch e n garde n th a t sto o d a t th e r ear o f th e co n ve n t .’

Th is,th e first public Je sui t ch ape l in Ir e la nd in thi s ce n tury,

is still e asily r e co gn ised in th e m iddle o f Ha rdwick Str e e t (No .

Wh e n St . Fr an cis Xavier’s Ch urch wa s o pe n ed in 1 832

,our Fa th e rs

use d th e Hardwick Str e e t Ho use a s a day sch o o l till 1 84 1 , wh e n

Be lvi de r e Co ll e g e was ope n ed a t No . 6 G r e at De nmark Str e e t . It

b ecam e subseque n tly a M e th odi st ch ape l , an d is n ow a Natio n al

sch o o l un de r Pr o te sta n t auspice s. It was h e r e th a t Fa th e r Ke n n eypr e ach ed som e o f h is fir st se rm o n s, with th a t m assive e loque n ce wh ichh as m ade h is n am e so pro foundly r e spected by th e Irish pr ie sts and

pe ople . N ext to him as a pr e ach e r was Fa th e r Esm o n ds, wh o b e ga n

in th e m ise ra ble l ittle th a tch e d par ish ch ape l o fMa in h am .

In 1 8 1 7 , Fa th e r Fide lis G r iv e l was se n t as a Visito r to En gland an d

Ir e land . He made Fa th e r A ylm e r R ecto r o f Clon gowe s, with Fath e r

Matth ew G ah an as Min iste r . In som e unpublish ed r em in isce nce s o f

Fa th e r Haly, we le a r n th a t Fa th e r Aylm e r ch an g ed th e din n e r h our

fr om h alf-past 1 2 to h a lf-past 3 o’clock . But afte r Fa th e r A ylm e r

’s

r e cto rsh ip th is impo rtan t e ve n t was ch ang ed back to th e e ar lie r h o ur .

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

1 0 Ti mIr is]?Mon th ly.

r e ca lls in particular th e ove rmaste r in g te n de rn e ss and ve h em e n ce o f

h is apo str oph e s to th e crucifix, wh ich h e de live r ed with str e am in g

eye s o n some occasio n s ; an d h e declar e s th a t h is vivid r e co ll e ctio n o f

Fath e r Ken n ey’s pr e ach in g h ad m ade h im un able to r e lish a ny o th e r

pre ach e r . h oweve r em in e n t, e ve n Fa ther Th omas Burk e h imse lf .

Fa th e r A ylm e r , himse lf a m o st e ffective pr e ach e r , used to say th at h is

g r e ate st h um iliat io n was to be oblig e d to pr e ach fr om th e sam e a lta r

steps fr om»wh ich Fath e r Ke n n ey h ad e lectr ified th e co n gre ga tio n th e

Sundayb e fo r e . Na tura lly th e cr owd o n such o ccasio n s ov e rflowed in to

Ha rdwick Str e e t . G r a ttan is sa id to h ave expr e ssed g reat admiratio n

fo r Fa th e r Ke n n ey’s e lo que n ce ; and an em in e n t lite raryma n de clar e d

th a t to liste n to o n e o f h is we ll -pr epar ed di scourse s was an exquisite

in te llectua l tr e a t . W e may emph asiz e th e ph r ase we ll -pr epa re d a s

a n excuse fo r r emarkin g th a t th e impr e ssio n s o f som e wh o h e a rd him

wh e n h e was fo rced to spe ak with out due pr eparatio n run coun te r to

th e se e n thusiastic te stim o n ia ls. Fa th e r Ke n n ey’s pe rso n al ch a racte r

h ad, n o doubt, a la rg e sh a r e in th e efie ctive n e ss o f h is wo rds. He

wa s th e tr uste d coun se ll o r o f ve ry many am o n g th e pr ie st a nd Bish ops.

o f Ir e la nd. His own A r ch bish op, Docto r Murr ay, place d un lim ited

co nfide n ce in h is l ife - lo n g fr ie n d . Wh e n h e wish ed to br in g th e

fam ous J K . L . r o und fr om ce rta in pe cul ia r opin io n s, Dr . Doyle and

Fath e r Ke n n ey we r e in vi ted to din e a t th e A rchbish op

’s h o use in

No rth Cumbe rlan d Str e e t“ wh e r e th e po in ts in que stio n we r e discusse dwith th e gr e ate st fuln ess an d cando ur (as we a r e assur ed) , an d with

th e r e sult de sir ed .

Howe ve r , we must n o t fo r g e t th a t th is r apid and unm e th odica l

sk e tch is n o t a b io graphy o f Fa th e r Ke n n ey, a n d we sh a ll o n ly

add th a t h e d ie d at R ome , Novembe r 1 9 , 1 84 1 , ag ed 6 2 .

Th e ve n e rable De an Me agh e r , in h is fun e ra l o ra tio n ove r A rch

b ish opMur ray, ca lled Fath e r Ke nn ey th e A po stl e o f Dublin . Fa th e r

Ma tth ew G ah an ,f wh om we h ave m e n tio n ed be fo r e , h ad a be tte r , o r

a t le ast a m o r e exclusive cla im to th e title o fte n g ive n to h im ,o f

A po stle o f th e Isle o f Ma n . Th is i n te r e stin g is land was a lto g e th e r

de stitute o f spir itual h e lp, a n d ful l o f str an g e supe rsti tio n s, wh e n h e

vo lun te e r ed fo r thi s lo n e ly m issio n in 1 826 . He labour e d h a rd,

built a ch urch a t Douglas, an d e s tablish ed sch o o ls,n o t , we may

be sur e , fr om th e r e source supplie d by th e h an dful o f in diffe r e n t

Qua n tum ma ta tua ab £1 10 Hectar e .

’ No t e ve n a curate wo uld lodg e in

Cumbe r land S tr e e t n ow. Dr . Mur ray so o n rem oved to Moun tjoy Square , wh e re h e

1‘ Neph ew to Fath e r Will iam G ah an , remembe red fo r h is popular

praye rbo o l: Ca th o lic Pie ty,”an d fo r h is co nn e ctio n with th e de a th bed o f L o rd

Dun boyn e .

Ir ish Jesuits since 1 800 . 1 1'

C a th o lics h e found o n th e island . Fa th e r A ylme r , by wh a t we ca ll an

a ccide n t, pa id h im an un expecte d visi t in th e e ar ly pa rt o f 1 837 , an d

was just in tim e to give th e so lita ry missio n ary a ll th e co n so la t io ns o f

r e lig i o n be fo r e h e di ed on th e 22n d o f February.

Th e se co n d visit o f th e ch o le ra to Dublin , in 1 834 (th e first visit

w as two ye ar s e ar li e r ) , car r ied o ff aft e r o n e n igh t’s

'

sick n e ss, Fath e r

Jo h n Sh in e , an d,four days 1ate r , Fath e r R o be rt O

’Fe rr e ll, in his

th ir ti e th ye a r . Th e latte r wa s bro th e r to th e R igh t Ho n . Rich ard

M o r e O’

Fe rra ll, wh o se be st title to r em embran ce is th a t h e r esign ed

t h e G o ve r n o rsh ip o f Malta as a pr o te st aga in st Lo rd Jo h n Russe ll’s

P a pal A gr e ssio n Bill . Fa th e r Sh in e was, pe rh aps, a fte r Fath e r

Ja me s Butle r, th e m o st e fficie n t o f th e first Clo n gowe s pro fe sso rs, a nd

h a d fo r four o r five ye ar s tak e n ch arg e o f th e day sch o o l i n to wh ich

t h e Ha rdwick Str e e t Ch ape l h ad b e e n tra n sfo rm ed afte r th e ope n in go f St . Fran cis Xavi e r

’s, G ardin e r Str e e t , Hé caugh t th e dr e adful

m a lady fr om a po o r pe rso n wh om h e wa s a tte ndin g . Se g r e at wa s

th e dr ead o f co n tagio n , th a t h e was bur ied by to rch light in G lasn e vind ur in g th e fo llowin g n igh t .

Be fo r e m e n tio n ing som e n am e s o f pe rso n s, it se em s r igh t to spe ak ,

e v e n with un fa ir br evity, o f a place in wh ich m any Ir ish Je suits h ave

d o n e g ood and h ard wo rk fo r G od . Th e Co lle g e o f St . Stan islaus, at

Tu llab eg , in King’s Co un ty, fo r ty

-n in e Ir ish m ile s fr om Dublin , was

o p e n e d n o t ve ry lon g afte r Clo n g owe s . It wa s, in de ed, a t first

in te n ded as a n ovitiate . and fo r som e tim e was applie d to th is purpo se

un de r its first R e ctor, Fa th e r Ro be r t St. Le g e r ; but it so on becam e

a sch o o l,at first pr eparato ry to

.

Clo ngowe s, an d subseque n tly vie in gw i th Clo n g owe s . Larg e additio n a l buildings we r e e r e ct ed bysubse que n t Recto rs

, e specia lly Fa th e rs Jo hn Ffr e n ch , Matth ew

Be a ve r, and A lfr ed Murphy. A fr e sh impulse was give n to th e

s tudies o f‘

th e boys unde r Fa th e r W illiam De lany, fr om th e ye ar

1 8 7 0 , an d th e Co lleg e o f St. Stan islaus sco r ed we ll in th e no

na tricula

t io n a t th e Un ive rsity of Lo n do n ,an d a lso in th e Ir ish In te rm e diate

Exam inatio n s . But in th e ye a r 1 886 it was co n side r ed wis e to com

b in e th e te ach in g powe r o f our two Co lle g e s, wh ich ar e n o t v e ry far .

apa r t, an d to give fur th e r deve lopm e n t to Clo n gowes , th e Mo th e r

Ho use o f th e So cie ty in I1 e lan d . La rg e additio n s to th e buildin gs .

h ad b e e n m ade by Fa th e r Euge n e Br own e , Fa th e r R o be r t Cai ban'

,

a n d o th e r R ecto rs . On th e 8 th of A pr il, 1 866, a fi1 e , caused by th e

n e g l ig e n ce o f a plumb e r a t wo rk o n th e r o of o f th e fin e study h a ll

e r e cte d by Fa th e r Aylm e r,spr e ad to th e r e fecto ry un de rn e ath , an d

dm troyed th e se ro oms,with m an yva luable pictur e s, bo oks an d pape rs .

A pl e n ti ful supply of wate r a nd e fficie n t e n g in e s k ept th e fir e with in.

its o rigin al lim it, and n o dan g e r to life o r limb o ccur r e d . Th e lo ss

1 2 The Ir isk Month ly.

was par tly cove r ed by insurance , an d it was mad e th e occas ion o f a

practical pro of of efie ctio n by fo rm e r pupils o f th e Co lle ge . Th e re sult

h as be e n h igh ly be n eficia l to th e e le gan ce a nd e fficie n cy o f the co l

l eg ia te buildings. May it be th e ope n in g o f a n ew e ra o f pr o spe rityfo r de a r o ld Clon g owe s unde r its pr e se n t R ecto r , Fath e r Jo hn Co nme e .

Th is sk e tch de a ls ch ie fly with place s an d pe rso n s. Th e place s

wh ich r ema in still to be comm emo ra ted must h ave e ve n sca n tie r

j ustice acco rded to th em . We h ave me n tio n e d inciden ta lly th a t th e

l i a rdwick Str e e t day sch o o l was tr an sfe rr ed to Be lvide r e Ho use , No .

6 G r e a t D enmark Str e e t, whi ch in some of its in te rn a l deco ra tions

g ive s o n e some ide a o f th e ma gn ifice n ce o f th e Ir ish n obility be fo re

th e Un i o n impove r ish ed Dublin . Ve ry fin e scho o l -r o oms and a

spacious l e ctur e-h a ll a nd th e a tr e h ave r ece n t ly be e n buil t by th e late

Recto r , Fa th e r Th om as Fin lay.

'

With th e n am e o f Be lvide r e wh ich.

is n ow a tte n ded by a bout th r e e hundr ed boys, a larg e n umbe r fo r an

Irish sch o o l—we may li nk th e n am e s o f.

som e of its fo rm e r R e cto rs,

such as Fa th e r Me agh e r (un cle to th e e loque n t Th omas Fran cisMe agh e r , o f

,

’48

,

'

an d afte r wards G e n e ra l in th e Am e r ican Army) ;Fa th e r Fran cis Murphy, still te ach in g boys in St. Patr ick

’s Co lleg e ,

Me lbourn e an d Fa th e r Mich ae l O ’Fe r r all

, wh o fo r some ye a rs afte r

1 864, h e lped our Fa th e r s o f th e dispe rsed Sardin ian Pr ovin ce in th e ir

pr o spe r o us exile n e ar th e G o lde n G a te . He di ed so on afte r h is r e turn

fr om San Fra n cisco .

Fa th e r Edwa rd Ke lly, and Fa th e r Th omas Ke lly, pr e sided also

o ve r th is e stablishme n t be fo r e an d afte r Fa th e r Stan l ey Ma tth ews,

who di ed compar a tive ly yo un g but th e ir wo rk in th e a rduous o ffice

o f Supe r io r lay ch i efly in Lime r ick . Th e ir n am e s, coupled with th at

o f th e ir e lde st br o th e r , Fa th e r Will iam Ke l ly,—o n e o f th e foun de rs

o f th e A ustra lia n Missio n , an d still exe rcisin g h is ve rsa tile gifts

in New So uth Wal e s*—sugge st a r emark th at h as som e

t ime s be e n made . Is th e r e any Pr o vin ce o f th e Socie ty, e ve n twice

o r th r ice a s la rg e a s Ir e land, wh ich h as amo n g its m embe rs so many

pa ir s an d tr iple ts o f bro th e r s?We h ave just n am ed t h r e e br o th e r s.

Oi an o th e r n am e (Hugh e s) we h ave th r e e also , and aga in two ; and

we h av e h ad two Fa th e r'

s e t . Le g e r , two Fath e rs Be llew, two Fa th e rs

Lyn ch , two Fa the r s Se ave r , two Fa th e rs Duffy, two Fath e rs Ke atin g ;a nd we sti ll h av e two Fath e rs Da lto n , two Fa th e rs Fin lay, four

Fa th e rs Daly, two Fa th e rs Co lga n , a nd some o th er fra te rn a l co uple s,

He h as sin ce be e n recall ed to te ach Hebrew an d Scr ipture in th e Th eo log ica l

Sem in a ry open ed r ece n tly at Milltown Park , n ear Dublin . Will it be indiscre e t to

add in th e seclusio n o f a fo o tn o te tha t th e only o th e r m embe r o f th e fir e side circle

h as be e n do in g th e h o ly wo rk o f 11. Siste r of Me rcy th ese th irty yea rs in Pe rth ,

Weste rn A ustralia , wh ith e r sh e brave ly we n t from h e r n o vie e sh ip in th e Mo the r

House in Bagg o t Str e e t .

Ir is]: Jesuits since 1 800. 1 3’

b e s ide s cousin s galo r e , th at is , to 1 : facto rs. But th e se de ta ils m ay,

pe r h aps, b e b e n ea th th e dign ity o f th e h isto r ic muse .

St . Ma n ch in’e Co ll e ge (afte rwards Co lleg e o f th e Sa cr e d He ar t )

wa s ope n ed in Lim e r ick , in Mar ch , 1 869 , with th e co rdia l san ctio n o i'

th e go o d o ld Bish op, Docto r Ryan . Fath e r EdwardKe lly was th e first

R e c to r . Th e Ch urch o f th e Sacr e d Hea r t was built by h is succe sso r ,Fa t h e r Th om as Ke lly, and open ed in 1 868

,th e dedica tio n sem e n

b e in g pr e ach ed by th e h o ly and e loque n t Domin ican Bish opo fDr om o r e ,

Do cto r Joh n Pius Le ahy. Th e n ext Supe r io r in Lim e r ick was Fa th e r

W i lli am Ro n an,wh o is kn own in th e Un i te d Sta tes fo r h is exe r tio n s

in e stablish in g th e A posto lic Sch o o l a t Mun gr e t , n e ar Lim e r ick,in

wh ich v e ry a rduous task h e was gr e a tly e ncour ag ed byDo cto r Ryan’s

succe s so r in th e Se e o f Lim e rick , Docto r G e o rg e Butle r . Dr . Butl e r

d ied in th e ye ar , 1 886, and h as b e e n succe eded by o ne o f th e fir st

L im e r ick pupils of th e So cie ty, Do cto r Edwa rd O’Dwr e r .

Our G alway h ouse was ope n e d abo ut th e sam e tim e as Lim e rick .

Fa th e r Rob e r t Haly was th e fir st Supe r io r , and h is exe r tio n s h a d th e

ch i e f part in building th e Ch urch o f St . Igna tius in th a t in te r e stin gbut n o t ve ry pro spe ro us town .

"

With G a lway sh o uld be link ed th e

n am e o f Fath e r Mich a e l Be ll ew,a

'

m a n o f sin gula r h o lin e ss . Hise ld e st b r o th e r , Sir Ch r istoph e r Be ll ew,

r e sign ed h is po si tio n in t he

w o r ld to be com e a v e ry de vo ut an d h umble m emb e r o f th e So cie ty,

dyin g o n th e 1 8th o f March , 1 867 . Fath e r Mich a e l Be llew died o n

th e 2 9 th o f Octobe r , 1 868 .

A ce r ta in m an o f th e w o r ld was on ce g r e atly struck by h e ar in g"

t h e ‘En glish Pro vince o f th e So cie ty’spok e n o i . He wa s de ligh ted

wi th th e ide a o f th e wo r ld -wide Ch urch lo ok in g down o n h augh ty

En g lan d as a m e re pr ovin ce . To ca ll Ir e lan d a Pr o vin ce wo uld n o t

be j udi cio us in a po litician ; but in th e So ci e ty Ir e land o n ly r o se to be

a P r o vin ce in th e yea r 1 860 . Eve ry such Pr ovin ce h as a n o vitia te

a n d a fo r e ign m ission attach ed to it . Th e Ir ish n o vitia te wa s ope n ed

in t h a t ye a r a t Mil town Pa rk , n e ar Dublin , unde r th e h o ly a nd

l e a r n e d Fa th e r Dan ie l Jo n e s ; but it h ad b egun its gr e a t an d m o st

succe ssful wo rk as a House o f R e tr e ats in 1 858, un de r Fa th e r

1311 d O’R e i lly,

‘ wh o de se rves pr e- em in e n tly th e sam e two epith e ts

we h a v e be stowed o n Fath e r Jo n e s. Fa th e r Je n e s’ e succe sso r s, a s

N o vi ce -Maste rs, we r e Fa th e r Stur z o , Fa th e r Ch ar le s McK e n n a ,

Fa th e r W ill iam O’Farr e ll, and th e pr e se n t Maste r o f No vice s, Fa th o r

Fa the r O’Re illy di ed No vembe r 1 0th , 1 878 . Th e fo llowin g issue o f th is

Ma g a z in e con ta i n ed a ske tch o f h is life , em bodying some impo r tan t te stim o n ie s to

h is g r ea t th e o logica l attainmen ts , and h is n o ble but m o st am iable ch a ract er .LOur

Mag a zin e also furnish ed last ye ar some accoun t o f Fath e r Joh n O’Car ro ll , with

m e opin ion s e xpressed by expe rts as to h is ve ry remarkable linguistic aptitude s

1 4 T11 0 Ir ish Mon th ly.

Jo hn Co lgan . Ou May 3rd, 1 884 , Fe ast of St . Joseph’s Patr o n ag e ,

th e n ovice s we r e r emo ved to Dromo r e , Co un tyDown , and subseque n tlyto th e appr opr iate ly n amed h ouse o f St. Sta n islaus, Tullabe g , in Que e n

’s

C oun ty. V e ry num e rously a tte nde d r e tr eats fo r pr ie sts an d lay

g e n tlem e n a r e g ive n th ro ugh th e wh o l e course b f th e ye ar a t

Milltown .

Th e fo r e ign m ission assign ed to th e Ir ish Province is so cong e n ia l

a fie ld fo r th e z e al o f Ir ish h e ar ts, th at it r equi r e s som e o th e r n am e

th a n fo r e ign m issio n—wh ich inde e d is h a rdly a Jesuit wo rd . Th e

son s o f St . Ign atius ar e a t h om e eve rywh e r e , in gue st'

s mamb'

p laga .

A cle v e r m an h a s ca lled th e Un ited Sta te s of Ame r ica ‘G rcate r Br itai n .

’

Th ey m igh t we ll be ca lled G r e a te r Ir e lan d and A ustra lia , also , is

fo r a n Ir ish pr ie st on ly Ir e lan d tr an spla n ted. In July, 1 865, Fa th e r

Jo seph L e n ta ign e and Fath e r XVilliam Ke lly l eft Dublin o n th e ir wayto Me lb o urn e . Th e wo nde r ful pro gr e ss made in twe n ty ye ars, th e

m any co ll e g e s an d church e s foun de d a t Me lbo urn e and Sydn ey, and

th e ir suburbs, ca n n o t be crush e d in to a par agraph . Th ey h ave n ow

th ir ty- six pr ie sts, seve ral sch o lastics and lay br o th e rs, an d a n o vitia te .

Th e Supe r io rs o f th e Missio n h ave b e e n Fath e r s Jo seph Da lto n an d

Fa th e r A loysius Stur z o .0

St . Pa tr ick’s House o f R e side n ce o f th e Cath o lic Un ive rsity,

Steph en’s G r e e n ,

Dublin , was comm itted by th e Bish ops to th e ca r e

o f th e So cie ty in 1 873,th e fir st Supe r io r b e ing th e Rev . Th om as

K e a ting , wh o h as sin ce di e d a t Sydn ey . Unde r a n ew a r ran g em e n t,

th e Ca th o l ic Un ive rsity Co lle g e is co n ducted by th e Je suit Fa th e rs,

Fa th e r D e lany be ing Vice-R e cto r sin ce th e l t D ecembe r , 1 88 1 , till

h e was succe eded by Fath e r Ca rbe ry.

Th o ugh we omm it ted it a t th e pr ope r place , we must n o t omit alto

g e th e r to m e n tion th e visit o f Fath e r Ro o th ae n , th e first G e n e ra l o f th e

S o cie ty th a t eve r se t fo o t o n Ir ish so il— th ough St Ign a tius did th e n e xt

b e st th in g in se n din g us two o f h is fir st compan io n s, Pasch a sius Br oue t

a nd Al ph o n sus Sa lm e r o n .

’Tis an ill wind th a t blows n obody g o od,

’

a n d th e Ita lian R e vo lutio n wa ftcd to o ur sh o r e s, pe rh aps, th e gr e a te st

o f th e G e n e ra ls sin ce Claudius A quaviva . He ar r ive d in Dublin o n

th e 1 9 1h o f Octob e r , 1 849 , accompan ie d by Fa th e r Vil le fo rt o f Fr an ce ,a n d Fa th e r Co bb o f th e En gli sh Pr o vince . He de ligh ted a nd

impr e ssed e ve ryo n e wh o cam e in co n tact with h im . Of th is we h ave

a str ikin g te stim o ny in th e fir st vo lum e o f th e Ir ish A nnual M'

swllany

(afte rwa rds c alled Essays, ch iefly Tkeo log z’

cal), by th e R ev . Patrick

Murr ay, Pr o fe sso r of Th e o lo gy in Mayn o o th Co lle g e . He de vo te s

a lo n g pape r to an accoun t o f Fa th e r Ro o th aan’s visit to Mayn o o th .

’

Ou h is part th e.

illustr io us visito r car r ied away th e best impr e ssio n s

o f our li ttle island. Th e cr owds th a t th r ong e d St. Fran cis Xavie r’s

Ir ish Jesuits since 1 800. 1 5

C h urch in Dublin , even on we e k days, an d th e imm en se n umbe r of

c o n fe ssio n s an d commun ions de ligh te d an d edified h im ; an d a t A vign o n

h e r emar k ed th a t our Ch urch a t Marse ille s was th e o n ly ri va l

h e k n ew fo r G ardin e r Str e e t, Dublin .

’ He wr o te back to Ir e lan d

fr o m th e Co n tin e n t : Multa ibi vidi e t audivi quae maximum m ih i

c o n so la tio n em attulerun t .’

W e h ave r e lucta nt ly put aside our in te n tion o f givin g som e de ta ils

a b o ut ce rta in o f our Fa th e rs gm’

do rmiun t in aomn o pacts fo r space

wo ul d fa il, a nd it is o fte n be tte r to le ave o n e’s se lf un de r th e guilty

c o n scio usn e ss o f a duty un disch arg ed th an to mak e an utte r ly

in a dequate a ttempt a t disch a rg in g it . Th e fo rm e r course give s th e

du ty 8. ch a n ce o f be ing pr ope r ly don e h e r e afte r .

On e o f th e items in this cata logue r aisonm‘o f th e Ir ish Pr o vince

w o uld h ave be e n Fa th e r Jo h n Ffr e n ch,uncle to th e pr e se n t Lo rd

Ffr e n ch , wh o was A ssistan t a t R om e fr om 1 858 till h is de a th in 1 873 ,

M a y 3 1 st . He was a man o f sin gular h o lin e ss, humility, pa ti e n ce an d

c h a r ity. Thirte e n ye ars la te r , h is grave h ad f or som e cause to b e

o pe n ed , a n d h is r ema in s we r e foun d e n tire . On e wh o h ad wo rke d

un d e r h im wh en h e was R ecto r o f St . Sta n islaus’Co ll e g e , Tul labe g

F a th e r Jo hn Cun n in gh am—die d in 1 858

, in h is fo r ty- se co n d ye ar ,

l e a vin g b e hin d h im a r eputa tio n fo r san ctity m o r e th an o rdin ary.

Th e co un try fo lk us ed to scrape away th e clay o f h is grav e . Fa th e r

Cu nn in gh am’s r em a in s we r e a fte rwa rds tak e n up and bur ie d in th e

C o ll e g e Ch ape l . A n o th e r wh o ough t to be m e n tio n e d is Fa th e r He n ryJ B e rk e , th e first of th at n am e wh ich h as se ve ra l r epr e se n ta tive s in

t h e So ciety, an impr e ssive pr e ach e r , an d a man o f gr e a t influe n ce o n

s o u ls.

Such ar e th e facts wh ich it h as occurr ed to us to j o t down co n

ce r n in g th e So cie ty of Je sus in Ir e land since its r e sto ra tio n . Our

m o tiv e s in drawin g up th is v ery simpl e sk e tch r e semble th o se o f 1 11 1 9

C is te rcian m o nk wh o wro te th e h isto ry o f th e m o n aste ry o f Vi lla r s in

in B raba n t, which is giv e n in th e th ird vo lum e o f Ma r tcue’s

Tlca aur us N ovas A n ecdo torwn . He be g in s th us

N ece ssa r ium r e o r milita tur is D e o in coen obic Vil la r ie n si dili g e n te r

d e scr ibe r e qua li te r o rdo ibidem viguit, quamque cepio sa bcn e dictio n e

pe rse uss domus hujus comple ctse fue r in t,sicut se n io rum n o str o rum

r e la tio n s didicimus, quate nus ii quo s in saeculis supe r ve n tur is divin a

g ra tia ad m o naste rium Villar ie n se voca r e dign a bitur , si h an cpar vita tis

L a rge additi ons and improvem e n ts h a ve be en made in th e Re siden ce and

Ch urch o f St . Fran cis Xa vie r by o n e wh o se n am e is n o t fo rgo tte n in th e Un ite d

Sta te s by th o se wh ose reco ll ection s g o back to th e War—Fa th e r Jo h n Ba n n o n .

[R e ve rsin g Dickens'

s title , th ese Irish n o te s we r e me an t fo r Am e r ica n circula tio n .]

1 6 Eu A ttendan t.

n o str zo pagin am le g e r e dignum duxe r in t, co n side ran te s quam n ob ili

r egum mammilla lactati sin t, em besca n t filu dege n e r e s inve n ir i .’

If th is accoun t h ad to be wr itte n in Latin , and if in th e fo r e go in g

par agraph Pr ovincc'

a Hibarm’

w we r e substituted fo r Monaste r ium

fi'

llar iam a, with wh a t m o r e appropr iate words could our sk e tch h ave

b egun?Le t it e nd with th em , th e r e fo r e .

EN A TTENDANT.

T'HIS m o rn in g th e r e we r e da z z lin g dr ifts o f da

isi e s in th e m e adows,

On sun ny slope s th e ce la ndin e s we r e gli tte r in g lik e go ld,

A cr o ss th e br igh t and br e e zy wo r ld r an sh iftin g sh in e a nd sh adow,

Th e win d blewwa rm ly fr om th e we st . Now all is ch an g ed and co ld .

He’s ha lf an hour la te ,

W ile he r e I wait and wa it.

We ll It is j ust my fata

Too p la in ly I can se e

1 1 0 n eve r car edfor

How cruel men can be

I wish th o se daffodi ls out th e r e would cease th e ir fo o l ish dutt e r ,

A nd k e ep th e ir bo bb in g ye llow h e ads fo r just a se co nd st i ll .

My eye s ach e sq Wo uld som e o n e ple ase to par tly clo se th e shutte r ,

A nd move th ose h a te ful hyacin th s fr om o ff th e win dow-sill

He’s half an hour la te ,

A'

o longe r I sha ll wa i t.

IIar/c,the r e

’s the garden gate

L ove , u th is you a! last

A h , (1 0 no t be downcast

I knew the clocks wer e fast.

FRANCES Wr sxn .

8 The Ir ish Month ly.

un n ece ssa ry, to m ak e sur e th at th e h e avy luggag e was n o t l eft

b eh in d. Fin ding th at no o n e h e e ded h e r fran tic e ffor ts to a ttract

a tte n ti o n , sh e clutch ed h o ld o f a po rte r wh o happe n ed to be sta ndin gwith in r e ach of

‘

h e r arm , and e n te r ed in to a de ta il ed de scr iptio n

o f Mo l ly’s boxes , beggin g h e woul d h imself put th em in to th e

train .

Sur e its th e company man ag es it , ma’am ,

” h e r epli ed , r emovin gt h e str aw which h e h ad be e n ch ewin g fr om h is m outh , and ga z ing at

h er in appar e n t amuseme n t . It’s th em do e s it in tir e ly, and if ye

was th e Lo rd L ifte n an t h imse lf, wid Dublin Castle at hi s back, ye

musn’t dar

’in te rfe r e .

”

Do you m e an to te ll m e we cann o t claim our own prope r ty

a sk ed Mrs. Mack e n z ie , som ewh at daun te d by th is dark a llusio n to th e

h i gh e r powe rs, and puz z led by th e m e taph o r whi ch sugge sted to h e r

m ind's eye a so rt o f vice -r ega l sna il .

Bedad,it

’s th e company do e s it, repe ated th e man ,

r eplacing

h is str aw,a nd walkin g away. A m inute la te r th e wh istl e sounde d,

a nd th e train we n t off.

I wonde r ,”said Mr s. Macke n z i e , slowly with drawin g h e r h ead,

if h e was spe akin g th e truth n ow. Th e re wa s som e th in g in h is eye Id idn

’t like . We ll, I suppo se we must trust to ch an ce . Now le t

me lo ok at you, Mo lly. Dear m e ! I can’t say you ar e loo lfing

we ll

Ne ith e r can I,”

obse rved Mr . Burk e , in th e seve r e ly dis

appro vin g to n e usua lly adopted unde r such circumstan ce s ; sh e

lo oks anythi n g but we ll. Wh a t h aye yo u b e e n do in g to yourse lf,

och ild

I’m so tir ed,

”pl eaded po o r Mo lly. How can yo u expect me to

l o ok o th e rwise I sh all be a ll r igh t wh e n I h ave r ested .

”

Oi co urse , o f course , agr e e d h e r aun t . W e ll, te ll m e Mo lly

lowe r in g h e r vo ice th at th e ir fe llow-

pa sse n g e rs m igh t n o t o ve rh e ar

h e r we r en’t you very much surprise d a t th e tur n afia ir s h ave take n

Wh at did you say wh e n you fir st h e ard

I was v e ry much surpr ised,”

an swe r ed th e gir l fa in tly ; sh e

fe lt to o much da z ed and exh austed to th in k o f a m o r e o r igina l

ph rase .

“ A nd we r e n’t yo u de ligh te d?co n tinue d Mrs . Mack e n z ie . Ce r

ta in ly you ar e a lucky g ir l . I n e ve r kn ew a nyo n e so fo r tun ate . IVh o

c o uld h ave suppo sedwh e n you we n t away, an dwe we r e a l l so mise rabl e ,

th at e ve rythi n g wo uld e nd so h appily?I am so ple ased , I do n ’t

kn ow wh a t to do with myse lf. A r e n’t you h appy?Isn ’

t it de ligh tful

to th in k th a t al l yo ur dr udg e ry is ove r , an d th a t you n e ed n e ve r go

b ack to th a t odio us ch atto again‘

P

Mo lly’s Fo r tun es. 1 9

Poo r Mo lly tr ied h ard to say some thi ng in tok en o f th e sa tisfaction

sh e was so far fr om fe e lin g , but th e wo rds stuck in h e r th r o a t, and

a t la st sh e to o k r e fuge in h e r fo rm e r excuse o f be in g so tir ed—so ve ry

t ire d : to -mo rr ow sh e would be able to talk mo r e .

Sh e lay back in h e r co rn e r and clo sed h e r eye s, h 0pin g to avo id

fur th e r que stio ning , but sh e fe lt th e whi l e th a t h e r frie nds we r e

e xch an g in g anxious g lan ce s, and mak in g te l egraphi c sign s to e ach

o th e r,expr essive of ama z em e n t an d distr ess. A fte r a few m in ute s,

th er efo r e , sh e ope n ed h e r eye s again , an d sat up, r e so lving i f po ssible

t o dive rt th e ir at te n ti o n fr om. h e r se lf .

How is Hugh sh e ask e d, lan guidly.

Eh oh , your cousin wo nde rfully we ll , a n ew man in fact

s ince h e made th a t disco ve ry. He h as acted ve ry we l l, h asn’t h

'

e

Thus Mr Burk e in to n e s o f patr on iz in g appr oval .

Ve ry,”agr e ed Mo lly, co rdially.

He in te nds to ca ll th is eve n in g , to se e h ow you ar e afte r your

j ourn ey,”sa id Mrs . Mack en z ie , tr an sfixin g h e r n iece with th at lovi n g ,

e a g e r—to o e ag e r

—glan ce o f h e rs. Po o r fe llow, h e will be shocked

t o find you such a wr eck . I dar e say th ough you will be to o tir ed to

s e e h im .

”

Oh , n o I sh an’t,”r e turn e d th e girl , with a sudde n acce ss o f

a n ima tio n . I wish you would ask h im to stay for din n e r . I sh ould

l ik e to se e h im—h e h as b eh ave d so we ll . I wan t to te l l h im ao, and

t o say h ow—gr ate ful I um .

”

Sh e fe lt th at th e pr e se n ce o f th e go od, babbl ing littl e ma n wo uld

b e an un spe akable r e lie f. Be for e h im n o embar rassing que stio n sw ould be ask ed , and po lite n ess would fo rbid th e expr e ssio n s o f r aptur e

o v e r h er alte r ed cir cum stan ce s, wh ich sh e found so h ard to li sten to,

an d so impo ssible to sh a r e .

Wh e n Hugh arr ive d, th e r e fo r e , h e was quite flatte r ed a t th e

p ressin g in vita tio n wh ich h e r e ce ived from Mr s. Mack e n z ie,a n d th e

warmth wi th wh ich h e r n i ece se co nde d it . But in spite o f all

M o lly’s efio rts, an d o f Hugh

’s un fai li ng flow o f co n ve rsa tio n

,th e

e ve n i ng was m e lanch o ly e n ough , an d th e la tte r with dr ew a t an e a rly

h our .

Mo llyih aste n ed to bid go od

-n igh t to th e o th e r two a lso , an d r e ti r ed,

t e ll in g h e r aun t sh e m e an t to go to bed a t on ce : th e truth b e in g th at

sh e was so r e ly afr a id th e latte r m igh t fo llow h e r to h e r r o om, to

r e sum e h e r asto n ish ed inqui rie s .

I kn ow I am ve ry ung ra teful an d unk in d,”sh e th ough t r emo rse

fully, but I coul dn ’t bear it to -n igh t.

L eft to th emse lve s, h er aun t an d th e lawye r star ed at e ach o th e r in

b lan k dismay. Ne ith e r spok e fo r some mom e n ts, but th e sam e th oug h t


was in bo th th e ir h ear ts what could be th e ma tte r with th e

chfld?0

Pe rh aps sh e is o nly tir ed, sa id Mrs . Mack e n z ie , all a t o nce .

Pe rh aps,”asse n ted Mr . Burk e , dubio usly.

I’ll find out to -mo rrow,

anyh ow,

”sa id Mrs. Mack e n z ie , e nde a

vour in g to r e an imate h e r co urag e .

I beg you’ll do n o th ing of th e so r t , r e to r te d th e lawye r sh arply.

Tak e my advice an d le ave h e r a lo n e , ma’am . Do n

’t ask any

que stio n s, and do n ’t pr e te nd to th ink th e r e is anyth ing amiss : th at

is th e be st ch an ce fo r h e r . A n d th e n we must distr act h e r th ough ts

a s much as po ssible— th e so o n e r we g e t h e r down to Castle O

’Ne ill

th e be tte r .

”

Mr . Burk e , wh ispe r ed th e lady, wh ose eye s h ad be e n gr owin g

r o und with awe str uck won de r dur in g th is spe e ch , do you th ink—is .

it po ssible th at Mo lly could be in love

Ble ss my soul, h ow can I te ll?r e to r ted h e r fr i en d te stily.

Wh at do I kn ow about love?I th ink I’ll say go o d

-bye n ow.

Do n’t ask any que stio ns, th at

’

s all—and g e t h e r out of th is as so o n as

po ssibl e .

Two days a fte rwards Mo lly and h e r aun t se t out fo r Castle

O’Ne ill . Th e gir l fe lt an odd m ixtur e o f pa in and pl e asur e as sh e

a ligh te d at th e r a ilway statio n , be in g r aptur o usly gr e e ted by th e fe w

o ld o fficia ls . He r own carriag e was wa itin g fo r th em , th e fat co ach

m an turn in g r oun d with a be ami n g face to bid h e r we lcom e . A s sh e

drove th r o ugh th e fami liar co un try. love ly even o n thi s dull , win try

day, sh e fe lt alm o st in a dr e am . How sad sh e h ad be e n a few sh o r t

m o n th s be fo r e , sayin g go od-bye to th e se be autiful sce n e s, th e se ki nd]y

pe opl e ; a nd n ow sh e was comin g back , n eve r , in a ll pr obability, to

l e ave th em fo r any l e n gth o f time again and oh , h ow li ttle th e

pr o spect e la ted h e r , h ow h e avy was th e we igh t dr aggin g at h e r

h e art !

Wh e n th ey we re a t a sh o rt distance fr om th e lodg e , a que e r

m edl ey o f sounds was h e ard ; fiddle s sque ak in g , drums b e atin g , a

bab e l o f vo ice s, wh ich e ve ry n ow an d th en swe lled to a gr e at

r o a r .

Th e co achman wh ippe d up h is h o rse s, and in an o th e r mom e n t th ey

cam e in sigh t o f a de n se crowd . Mo lly’s pe ople h ad flock e d from fa r

a nd n e ar to we lcom e h e r h om e ; ban n e rs we r e wavin g , ch ildr e n we r e

clappin g th e ir h an ds, triumph a l arch e s we r e e r e cte d, th e gateway

b e ing span n ed by o n e o f co lossal siz e , o n wh ich th e in scriptio n

Cead m ilk fa z’

ltke was se t fo r th in le tte rs of flowe rs. Eve r and

a n on cam e th e h o ar se sh out from h un dr e ds of th ro ats Hurrah ,h urrah .

”

Mo lly’s For tunes. 2 1

Wh e n Mo lly’s e quipage was se e n appro ach in g , th e e n thusiasm

k n ew n o bounds. Th e tempe ran ce ba nd from th e n e igh bourin gm ark e t -town struck up Come back to Er in ,

”wh ich h ad be e n

un an im ously vo ted appropr iate to th e occasio n , th e fli e s o ccasio n a llyfal te ring , but th e vigour o f th e drums l e avin g n o th in g to be de sir ed .

Th e sch o o lmistr e ss led fo rwa rd h e r little tr o op o f r o sy-face d, wh ite

c lad ch ildr e n , o n e o f wh om carr ied a large bouque t in h e r chubby

h a nds . Th e o lde st te n an t o n th e e sta te placed h im se lf in a comman d

ing po sition n e ar th e ga te , and pompously un fo lded a r o ll o f parch

m e n t , o n wh ich a co n gratulato ry addr e ss was blaz o n e d. He could n o t

r e ad , but th at was o f n o co n seque n ce ; h e h ad le arn ed hi s spe ech

by h e art , an d th e steward was at h is e lbow to pr ompt h im . But th e

h ubbub was so gr e at wh e n th e carr iag e dr ew up be fo r e th e e n tr an ce ,

th a t n o t a wo rd could be d istinguish ed ; eve n th e fli e s we r e dr own ed,

th ough th e face s o f th e playe rs gr ew purple with th e ir efio rts, o n ly

th e th ump, thump, thump, of th e big drum domin ated th e g en e ra l

Hi p, hip, hurrah sh outed th e pe ople ; scor e s o f h ands wer e

th rust out to clasp Mo lly’s ; oaubaem we r e to ssed wildly in th e air ,

m any o f th em fa llin g in to th e carr iag e , and be in g g ing e r ly fish ed out

a nd dr opped ove r th e side by Mr s . Macken z ie, wh o se face wo r e an ex

pre ssio n o f in ten se asto n ishm e n t . M e anwh il e ,Mo lly h ad be en smilin g

a n d n oddin g , sh ak in g h ands, an d trying to say a fewwords in tok e n

o f gra titude ; h e r ch e eks we r e flush ed,and h e r eye s full o f te ars.

Pr e se n tly Mr . Burk e e lbowed h is way th rough th e crowd .

Come , come , th e r e h as be en e n ough o f thi s,” h e said, afte r

a gla nce at h e r face . Miss Mack en z i e is bo th pl eased and grate

ful , an d h o pe s to spe nd many h appy ye a rs am o n gst you. Stan d back

n ow— stan d back . Drive on , co achman

Dr ive ou,in de ed ! Th e r e was a dive a t th e asto n ish ed h o rse s, a

sudde n , simultan e o us un strapping and unbucklin g o f h arn e ss, a vision

o f appar en tly e ndl e ss r ope s, an d Mo lly foun d h e rse lf advan cin g at a

r apid ra te towards th e Ca stl e , dr awn by about fifty o f h e r te n an ts.

I am sur e it is m o st gra tifyin g ,isn

’t it?sa id Mr s. Mack e n z i e ,

wh o h ad n ow r eco ve r ed h e rse lf in som e de gr e e , le an in g back in th e

ca r r iage , a nd bowing r igh t and l eft in a que e n ly man n e r . Y ou

sh ould be a ve ry happy gir l .”

But Mo lly did n o t an swe r ; sh e was strugglin g to pr ese rve h e r

co mpo sur e , which was se ve r e ly tri ed by th e exube ran t rapture

a r oun d h e r . Sh e was to uch e d, grat eful , ful ly r e spo n sive to th e

afiecti on lavish ed o n h e r , but—h appy ! Oh ,fo r a ce r ta in ca r ewom

face , fo r th e clasp o f som e body’s str o ng , br own h an d ! Wh a t was a ll

th is se emin g triumph , wh en h e r h e art wi th in h e r fe lt de ad?

22 The Ir is}?Mmdh ly.

Th e anxie ty o f Molly’s frien ds did n o t lessen as time wo r e o n

inde ed h e r h e alth th r e aten ed to suffe r fr om h er pen t-up sorrow. Sh e

could te ll n o o n e wh at was tr oublin g h e r ; th e r e se rve which h ad

preve n ted h e r spe aking h e r m ind ful ly to th e man sh e lo ved, cut h e r

o ff stillmo r e e ffe ctua lly fr om o th e r pe ople . Many a time , lo okin g back

o n h e r last in te rview with Raoul, sh e bewailed tha t unfo rtun ate

r e tice n ce .

If I could o n ly h ave spok e n sh e would say to h e rse lf. If Ih ad be e n a little brave r . Wh e n I [mow h e loved m e , th e r e sh ould

h ave be e n n o false sh ame . To think we we r e th e r e to g e th e r , lovin ge ach o th e r so much

, and th at o n e wo rd would h ave made n a bo th

h appy fo r a ll our live s—and I di d n o t say it Bo th our l ives m in e d

fo r wan t o f on e wo rd ! Oh , it is m addeni ng—madde n in g

Som e tim e s sh e would wo nde r dimly if h e suffe re d as much as sh e

did it was true sh e h ad se en th e an guish in h is face at th e mom e n t

o f th e ir par ting , an anguish wh ich sh e could n o t bea r to remembe r

e ve n n ow ; but h e , at l e ast, h ad n o ide a th at h e was sacr ificing h e r ;

h e acted from a n obl e mo tive ; wh ile sh e kn ew o f hi s lo ve , a nd sacr i

ficed h im to h e r g ir lish timidity.

But sur e ly h e m igh t h ave kn own—h e m igh t h ave gue ssed h ow

much I lo ved h im to o sh e -sa id to h e r se lf once , with a sudden burst

o f pite o us sobbin g . A h , if h e h ad o n ly trusted me a little m o r e , if

h e h ad o n ly un de rsto od h ow paltry e ve rythi ng in th e wo r ld is com

par ed to love .

”

Ma ny a go od g irl snfie rs fo r a lik e cause ; h e r wh o le li fe bligh te d

th rough th e scruple s of a to o h o n ourable man . His po sitio n do e s n o t

allow h im to come fo rward, h is pove r ty oblige s him to h ide h is

fe e lin gs— as if any woman wo r th h e r sa lt would we igh such tr ifle s

again st hi s h on est love ! I say trifle s—fo r tr ifles th ey ar e wh e n

th e affe ction s ar e th o r oughly e ngag e d. Wh at is th e lo ss o f a

few luxur ie s, o r wh at m igh ty sacr ifice afte r a ll is e n ta il ed in th e

exch an g e (l e t n a say) of th e n am e o f Ve r e de Ve r e fo r Smi th?andh ow much is th e lon e l in e ss, th e r e g r e t, th e h ope less lo ngin g to wh ich

th e punctil io us love r h as co ndemn e d h e r . He , me anwh il e , amid al l

h is so rr ow, h ugs h imse lf at th e th ough t o f h is own di sin te re stedn e ss,

is g lad th at h e h as h ad th e str en gth to sacrifice h imse lf, a nd do e s

n o t wo t th at h e h as sacr ificed h e r to o . In justice is to o o fte n pe rpe

trated unde r cove r o f th is sam e much -lauded se lf-sacrifice ; in th e ir

own pain , pe opl e ar e bl ind to th e suffe r in g o f o th e rs, o r , wh e n co n scious

o f it, on ly appear to con side r it fr om th e ir own po int of view,as in cr e a s

in g th e ir pe r son al m ise ry, and r e nde r in g th e ir struggle mo r e h ard .

So o th to say, e ve n outside rs a r e pro n e to lo ok at ma tte rs in th is

sam e ligh t, an d, in th e ir sympathy with th e sacr ifice r , to ove rlo o k

Molly’s For tunes. 23

th e sa crificed . In our admiration fo r A brah am , fo r in stan ce , we

a re apt to forg e t th at th e se n sations o f Isaac wh en boun d upo n

th e wo od must h ave be e n far fr om ple asan t, and th at'

sublim e as wa s

th e courag e o f th e fath e r , th e r e was n o sma ll h e ro ism in th e sub

missio n o f th e so n .

Mrs . Mack e n z ie and Mr . Burk e , afte r many co n sulta tio n s and

m uch th o ugh t, r e so lved tha t Mo lly must be r ouse d at any co st .

A n d as life at Castle O’Ne ill did n o t se em to r ouse h e r—co nscie n

tio usly as sh e se t about h e r duty, and pe rsiste n tly as sh e carr ie d out

h e r fo rm e r r outin e—th ey de cided th at. sh e must go away fo r -th e r e

ma in de r o f th e win te r .

“ Wh e r e sa id Mo lly, dr e a ri ly, wh en th is ide a was br o ach ed to

To Lo n do n , o r abro ad if you pr e fer i t ; Rome , Cann e s, Par is—yo ucan h ave your ch o ice .

”

Pa r is cr ie d th e g ir l , with sudde n an imation . Y e s, I th ink

I sh ould like to g o to Pa r is .

”

Sh e could n o t, o f cour se , se e k out Ra oul , but to b e o n th e sam e

s ide o f th e C ha n n e l , in th e sam e coun try with h im , was always som e

t hi n g . A n d th e n wh o kn ew— is i t n o t th e pr ope rty o f youth to h ope

ag a in st h ope—busin e ss might tak e h im to Par is, and if sh e wa s

stayin g th e r e th ey m igh t m e e t .

A n d so to Pa ris th ey we n t, Mo lly and h e r aun t, and th ough , to

th e la tte r’

s surpr ise , th e gir l did n o t se em to car e fo r sh oppin g , an d

wa s n o t pa rticula r ly e ag e r abo ut sigh t-se e in g , sh e was un do ubtedly

m used and in te r e ste d . Th ey wo ul d per ambulate th e pr in cipa l squar e sa n d bo ul e vard s. til l th e e lde r lady de cla r e d sh e was r e ady to dr op ; fo r ,

str a n g e ly e n ough , Mo l ly n eve r se em ed to ca r e about dr iving—and oh

h ow h ope le ss it was afte r a ll Oi co ur se sh e did n o t se e Ra oul,sh e

did n o t e ve n com e in co n tact with G a sto n , th o ugh o n ce sh e th ough t

sh e caugh t sigh t o f som ebody ve ry lik e h im dr iving with a lady.

Th e n sh e pr opo sed to h e r aun t to mak e a li ttle tour th r ough

No rma ndy ; it was r a th e r e ar ly in th e se ason to be sur e , but sh e

wa s tir ed o f Pa r is.

80 th ey wan de r ed th r ough ce r ta in qua in t o ld town s, Mr s Mack e n z ie

n o t fin din g much to adm ir e in th e n arr ow str e e ts, an d dim m aj e sticchurch e s, th o ugh th e pictur e sque ch a rm o f th e fo rm e r and th e so lemn

b e a uty o f th e la t te r would h ave g ladde n ed Mo lly’s h e ar t , h ad it n o t

b e e n to o full o f o th e r th in gs. Sh e we n t as n e ar as sh e dar ed toVir e ,

a lways h 0ping by some extr a o rdin ary ch ance to me e t Ra oul , butalways h opin g in vain .

I suppo se I m ust m ak e up my m ind n eve r to se e him again ,

sh e sigh ed, wo rn out a t last by lo ng expe cta tion an d pe r pe tua lly r c

24 The Ir ish Mon th ly.

n ewed disappo in tm en t. I can n o t fin d him , an d h e will n o t try to

find m e .

”

On e day, th er e for e , sh e suddenly ask ed h e r aun t to tak e h e r h ome .

Sh e h ad n egl ected h e r duti es to o lo ng as it wa s, a n d wan ted to r e tur n

to th em a t on ce .

Castl e O’Ne ill was lo okin g ve ry lo ve ly o n th e aft e rn o on o n which

th ey r e turn ed it was e ar ly in Spr in g , and eve ryth in g was begin n ing

to bud and blo ssom. Th e youn g lambs we r e just a t th e pr e tty stag e

o f th e ir existe n ce th e birds we r e ve ry busy with th e ir n e sts ; plough

in g , ahd sowin g , and po ta to sbtting we r e in full fo rce ; in fact, eve rythin g about th e place was astir , and ful l o f life .

I must tak e up my life to o ,”th ough t th e girl, as sh e sat down in

h e r own r o om to r e st afte r h e r arr iva l . I must b egi n to live fo r

o th e rs ; afte r all I em o n ly a un it in th is gr e a t big wo r ld my un h ap

pin ess is o n ly an un impo rtan t item in th e sum o f human sorrow.

But h e r e I may be much I am th e pivo t o n which many live s tur n .

I must r em embe r th a t, and do my ve ry be st : Castle O’Ne ill expects

Mo lly Mack en z ie to do h e r duty.

”

CHAPTER XXVII.

A LOVE TOKEN .

Pr esen tly th e h ousema id e n te r ed with a g r ea t bundle o f le tte rs o n

a salver . Mo lly’s mo vem e n ts h ad b e e n to o un ce rta in dur ing th e past

few we eks to admi t o f th e ir be ing se n t on .

Thi s r e giste r ed parce l cam e a fo r tn igh t ago , Miss, sai d th e

woman , layin g a small pa ck e t o n th e tabl e .

Mo lly glan ced at it, an d th e co lour rush ed to h e r face . It bo r e

th e Vauxm o n cour po stmark , an d was addr e ssed in th e coun te ss’s

cramped wr itin g . A n d stay ! Th e r e we r e o n e , two le tte rs, fr om h e r

to o . Wh a t could sh e h ave wr itte n about?Mo lly h ad de spatch ed a

n o te to h e r on first ar rivin g a t Castl e O’

Ne ill ; but sh e h ad tak en n o

n otice of it, an d th e gi r l in fe rr ed sh e did n o t wan t to k e ep up a co r

r e sponden ce with h e r .

A s soo n as th e h ousema id h ad l e ft th e r o om,Mo lly, with tr emblin g

fin gers, br ok e open o n e of th e le tt e rs, wh ich was writte n on th in

,

crackling pape r , and se al ed with an imm e n se co ro n e t .


h ad wr itte n to h is mo th e r , o n accoun t o f h is fiance e s co lo ssal fo rtun e .

but because o n th at accoun t hi s un io n wi th h e r becam e possible . Hadsh e be e n po o r , as h e said, h is own po ver ty would h ave fo rbidden h im

to addr e ss h e r , but, th anks to h e r dot, h e was e n able d to do so ; h e onlyvalued it o n th at accoun t . He h ad loved h e r lo ng , an d lo ve equali seda ll th ings a true man

’s h ear t was wo rth all th e mo n ey in th e

wo r ld.

”

He r e Mo lly sudde n ly la id down th e le tte r , and laugh e d til l sh e

a lmo st cr ied . G asto n was impayable . Ce rtainly h e kn ew h ow to m ak e

h is sto ck ph r ase s se rve h im o n e ve ry occasio n . Th e r e was much

mo r e to th e sam e e ffect ; a po stcript, beggin g Molly to be so g o od as to

r e turn th e m edalli o n m e n tio n e d in a fo rm e r le tte r , as th e wr ite r did

n o t wish it to be included in th e tr ink e ts wh ich we re to pass fo r th e

time b e in g out o f h e r h an ds .

Mo lly was un fe ign edly g lad at th e coun te ss’s n ews . Sh e truste d

th at th e co lo ssa l fortun e , o f whi ch , with th e tr iflin g additio n o f

th e h ea lthy, amiable , and quite pre se n table young lady, th e coun t wasso on to becom e th e own e r

,would in some de gr e e am e lio r a te th e co ndi tio n

o f th in gs a t La Pépim e r e . Raoul would a t le ast be fr e e fr om con stan t

anxi e ty about h is n eph ew,h is purse would n o lo ng e r be dra in e d , and

it was to be pr e sum ed, th at G asto n would supply th e m o th e r wh om

h e ado r ed”with th e little luxur ie s wh ich we r e n ow pr ovided a t so

g r e a t a co st . In th e me an tim e , Mo l ly was de ligh ted, fo r th e coun te ss’s

sake, to tran sact a l ittle ama te ur pawn br ok ing , fo r to such th e la tte r

’

s

r eque st th a t sh e wo uld b ecome th e tempo rary purch a se r”

o f h e r

tr ink e ts, vir tua lly amoun ted . Howe ve r , th e li ttle fo rmula sa ved

Madam e de Tr e ill e s’se lf-r e spect, wh ich wo uld h ave sh runk fr om

ope nly a sk in g h e r to le nd h e r m o n ey, a nd th e gir l was o nly to o glad

to k e ep i t up .

Sh e d r ew th e parce l towa rds h e r , and ope n ed it te n de rly an d

compassio n a te ly ; it must h ave b e e n h a rd fo r po o r Madame la Com

t e sse to par t with h e r li ttle tr e asur e s . Th e re th ey lay, car e ful ly pack e d

in a san’da l -wo o d box a few r in gs, a brace l e t o r two , an o ld fash io n e d

pair o f fin e diam o nd e ar rin gs- n o t ve ry much to r epr e sen t a fin e lady

'

s

j ewe lle ry. Pr obably th e r e st h ad be e n a lr e ady dispo sed o i . A t th e

bo ttom,in a l ittle case o f i ts own

,was th e much talked o f pe nda n t . A

r e a lly be autiful m in iatur e , se t in a so rt o f scro ll , ve ry fin e ly wo rk e d

with a l te rn a te tr e fo ils o f em e ra lds an d diam o nds. Th e pa in tin g t e

pre se n ted a yo un g man ; h is dr e ss,’

as much o f it as could b e se e n ,

be in g appar e n tly o f th e last cen tury. Th e expr e ssio n o f th e face , ih

deed th e wh o le th ing was stran g e ly fam il iar to Mo lly. Wh e r e h ad sh e

se en it be fo r e?Had th e coun te ss e ve r wo rn it dur in g h e r stay a t th e

chate au N eve r—o i th a t sh e was sur e it was Madame de Tr e ille s’

Mo lly’s For tunes. 27

custom to esch ew ornamen ts o f e ve ry kind. Wh er e , th e n , could sh e

h ave se e n it

Sh e turn ed it o ve r curi ously. On th e back was a qua in tly de sign e dm o n o g ram , surmoun ted by fanciful arabesques, with , unde r n e ath ,

som e wo rds engraved in extr em e lv small ch aracte rs. Wh a t a stran g e

bus in e ss it was someh ow Mo lly se em ed to r ecogn ise th e m on o g ram ,

an d to expect th e arabesques to be th e r e !Sh e carried th e locke t to th e ligh t, and slowly deciph e r ed th e tiny

wo r ds“ A . S. de R . G ag e d

’amour .

Th e m o nogram in th e middl e was fo rm ed o f th e le tte rs R . 0 . N .,

pe r h aps R . O’N . Was th at little flour ish m ean t fo r a n apo str oph e .

o r was it m e r e ly an appe ndag e to th e ce n tra l le tte r R . O’N .

M o l ly’s hand sh o ok so much th a t sh e we ll-n ig h dropped th e pr e cious

tr in k e t . Sh e rush ed acr o ss th e r oom ,and takin g a j ewe l -case out o f

h e r V &tdrobe , began hurr iedly to search amon g its co n te n ts. A sudde n

ide a h ad struck h e r—a mad an d r idiculous ide a o f co urse —th at sh e

mig h t h ave se e n such an o rn am e n t with Miss O’Ne ill . Was n o t th a t

br a ce le t , fo r instance , wh ich sh e used to we ar som e tim e s. se t with som e

wh a t simi lar m edallio ns?Now th at sh e th ough t o f it, was n o t o n e o f

th e m in iatur es missing ,and h ad n o t Miss O’

Ne il l sa id o n ce th at if it

we r e ev e r fo un d in th e posse ssio n o f a nyo n e calli n g h imse lf O’Ne ill ,

sh e wo uld de em it like ly that h e be lon ged to her family. A nd th is

ha d o r ig in a lly be e n th e pr ope r ty o f a de Roh an , wh o h ad m ar r ied a

fo r e ign e r—pe rh aps an Ir ishman , an O

’Ne ill . R . O

’M —why th o se

ini tia ls m igh t stand fo r Rode r ick O’N e ill ! Mo st o f th e m a l e O

’N e xi ls

o f th e e lde r li n e we re Rode r icks, just a s th e scion s o f th e yo un g e r we r eHug hs . A nd in th at ca se Madam e de Tr e ill e s would be de sce nde d

fro m th e O’

Ne ills,a nd Raoul would b e Oh , I um a g o o se t

dre a m o f it i It is absurd, impossible Sti ll I m ay a s we ll co n vin ce

myse lf th a t I em wrong .

”

Th e j ewe l-case co n ta in ed po o r Miss O’Ne ill

’s favourite o rn am e n ts,

wh i ch Mo lly h ad put away car e fully afte r h e r de a th , and wh ich h ad

n o t be e n to uch ed since . Sh e un lo cke d it tr emulo usly, and to ok o ut

its co n t e n ts o n e by on e . He r e was th e br ace le t . He r fin g e rs bun gl e d

cur io usly o ve r th e spring , but th e ve lve t case was Ope n a t last, a nd

Ho l ly co ul d place Madame de Tr e il le s’m in ia tur e b e twe e n th e o th e r

two . A be autiful r o sy co lour—th e flush o f in te n se joy— o ve rspr e ml

h e r h i th e rto pa le face . Th e ce n tr al m e dall io n r epre se n ted a yo un g

ma n , a nd th e o th e rs con ta in ed gir lish h e ads, but in o th e r r e spe cts th e

th r e e we r e pr ecise ly a lik e . Th e pa in tin gs we r e evide n tly by th e se nu

h an d, th e style be ing ide n tica l ; mo r e o ve r , th e r e was a s tr o n g fam il31

lik e n e ss in th e th r e e youn g face s, and th e se lf-sam e simpe r sa t o n a l l

28 The Ir isk Mon th ly.

th e pa in ted lips ; th e se ttin g was similar in eve ry par ticular , and th e

fanciful mon o gr am o n th e back alte r ed o nly in a sin gle le tte r o f e ach

J. O’N .,

M . O’

N .

, a nd n ow R . O’N .

“ Th a t do e s it m e an said Mo lly to h e rse lf ; l e t me th ink

wh at ca n it m e an

Th is was th e missin g m in ia tur e , o f th a t th e r e could be n o doubt

it h ad be e n in th e po sse ssion o f th e Sauvignys fo r fo ur g e n e ratio n s,h a ving b e e n o r ig in a lly brough t in to th e family by Mademo ise lle

Soph ie de R oh an , wh o h ad m arr ied a fo r e ign e r . Suppo se a ce rtain

Ro de rick O’N e i ll h ad l e ft h is coun try about th e e n d o f th e last cen

tury, h ad jo in ed o n e o f th e Ir ish brigade s—asMiss O ’Ne ill sa id so many

o f h e r fam ily h ad do n e —and h ad h ad ch an ced to be th at iden tica l

fo r e ign e r?Wh at m o r e lik e ly th an th at h e sh ould pr e se n t h isfia ncéewith h is own po r tr a it, yie lde d up fo r th e purpo se (it may be unwil

l in g ly) by h is m o th e r o r som e o f h is feminin e be lo ng in gs?If th iswe r e th e case , why Ra oul could pr ove h is de scen t from th e O

’Ne ills

o f Castle O’Ne ill, h is g ra ndmo th e r be ing doubtle ss th e da ugh te r of

R ode r ick o f th at ilk . Ra oul woul d h ave th e r igh t to cla im e ve ryth inga t pr e se n t in Mo lly

’s po sse ssio n , th e r igh t to claim Mo lly h e r se lf, if h e

we r e so minded —Rao ul was th e h e ir !Sudde n ly sh e fe ll on h e r k n e e s, so bbing out a br oke n praye r o f

th anksgi vin g , an d cove rin g th e li ttle m in iature with kisse s ; a slende r

l ink inde ed o n wh ich to h an g so g re at a ch a in of e viden ce , but Mo llyfel t it a ll -sufii cie n t. G aga d

’amour Oh , b le ssed wo rds ! did th ey say

h alf as much to th at pr e tty pr im yo ung demo ise ll e lo ng ago , as th eydid to th is Ir ish n in e te e n th ce n tury maide n Did sh e eve r we ep such

passion ate te a rs o ve r th em,o r r epe at th em with such rapturous joy

G aye d’amour—a love - tok e n in de ed, a pledg e th a t th e bar r ie r which

h ad so lo ng separa ted h e r an d Ra oul must n ow pe rfo rce be do n e

m ay with , th a t th e sile n ce wh ich bo th de em ed th emse lve s bound to

o bse rve must be br ok e n a t la st .

Oh , de ar , cleve r , go od Miss O’Ne ill

, h ow in spir ed sh e h ad be e n to

m ak e such a wil l h ow wo n de rful lywise to wo rd it in just such a mann e r ! Ra oul

, as a m an o f h o n our , wo uld h ave be e n almost bound to

g ive Mo l ly th e optio n o f r e fusin g h im , e ve n h ad h e n e ve r h ith e rto se e n

h e r ; but un de r pr e se n t ci rcumstan ce s Oh , th ank G o d, th an k G od,”

sh e so bbed o ve r a nd o ve r aga in ; and pr e se n tly Mrs Macke n z ie was

surpr ised out o f som e th in g ve ry lik e a n ap, by a rush in g figur e burst

in g in to h e r r o om ,an d a n e cstatic cry

Oh , aun tie , I am so h appy ! I h aven’t a pen ny in th e wo r ld th at

I can call my own .

”

Mr . Burk e , h astily summ o n ed on th e fo llowing day, h ea rd Mo lly’s

sto ry with anyth in g but r aptur e , and advised h e r , te stily e nough , to

put h e r ridiculous th e o r ies out of h e r h ead.

Mo lly’s Fo r tunes. 29

‘

“ Le t your coun t o r bar o n , o r wh ateve r h e is, hun t up h is in h e r it

an e e fo r h imse lf if h e wan ts it . I n e ve r h e ard anyth in g so absurd in

my li fe ; I em ce r tain ly n o t go in g to allow you to be disturb e d o n th e

e vide n ce of a trumpe ry baubl e th at m ay h ave ch an ge d h an ds a do z e n

tim e s afte r it l eft po sse ssio n o f th e O’N e ills .

”

Y e s but it h a sn’

t, de ar Mr Burk e ,”urg ed Mo lly e ag e r ly ; it h as

be en in Mo n sieur de Sauvigny’s fam ily fo r g e n e r a tio n s I fe e l—I kn ow

h e ca n pr ove h is r igh ts. Oh , I do so wan t h im to be th e h e ir , sh e

crie d , claspin g h e r h an ds.

D o you, in de ed ,”sa id Mr Burk e , so ft e n in g a l ittle , but stil l ve ry

much put out .

Y e s , an d I wan t you to prove it fo r h im , pl e aded Mo lly ve ry

ge n t ly.

Upo n my.wo rd I’ll do n o such thin g , de cla r ed th e lawye r , r ed

d e n in g wi th indign a tio n . On e would think I h ad n o th in g e lse to do .

but h un t up pe ople'

s grandm o th e rs . F irst th e r e wa s yo urs—n o , I

be l ie v e your s was a grandfa th e r , th at mak e s it a little mo r e r e spe ct

a ble ; th e n twq n o l e ss, fo r Hugh , o n e spur ious a nd o n e r e al ; an d n ow

this F r e n chman’s . I tel l you wh at it is , Mo lly, I dr aw th e l in e h e r e ;

a Fr e n ch grandm o th e r is a littl e to o str o n g—th e la st straw br e aks th e

cam e l’s back , you kn ow.

”

Oh , p lease , de ar Mr Burk e , pe titio n ed Mo l ly, h a lf laughi n g an d

h al f cryin g , just th is on e mo r e . Y ou sh all n eve r , n eve r b e ask ed to

fin d an o th e r .

A n d wh o do you suppo se I sh a ll fin d to se nd to Fra n ce?h e

grum bl ed . It is n o t eve ryo n e wh o would be equa l to th is

j o b .

”

I wan t you to go yo urse lf, said th e gir l simply. Do n’t th i nk

m e v e ry exactin g , but r e ally I would trust n o o n e but yo u. It is a

ve ry de lica te m a tte r , and must be ca r e fully de alt with . I wan t yo u

to spa r e n o pa in s, to le ave n o ston e un turn ed— o h,

”cr ied Mo lly, in a

vo ice tremblin g with e arn e stn e ss, I can’

t te ll you h ow much I h ave

this busin e ss a t h e a rt .

”

“ W e ll , we ll ,”sigh edMr Burk e , a sudde n m o istur e dimm in g fo r

a m om e n t h is sh arp littl e eye s, a wilful woman must h ave h e r way,

I suppo se . I’l l go an d e xam in e th is g e n tl em an , a n d se e if h e h a s a

mo l e o n th e sm a ll of h is back , an d a str awbe rry m a rk o n h is l e ft

arm—th e in fa ll ible m e an s o f ide n tifyin g th e r igh tful h e ir to a pr o

pe rty,I be li eve , wh e n h e ch an ce s to be m isla id, a s at pr e se n t.Havin g

th e an tique o rn am e n t r e ady to h an d is a gr e at po in t— o n ly it sh ould

h av e a

.

secr e t sprin g in it to be quite co r rect. Now a l l we wa n t is a

cask e t; —emph asiz in g th e wo rd with with e r in g sco rn and a

sco r e o r two o f le tte rs, fo r th e r omance to be compl e te .

”

3 0 The Im'

sh Month ly.

I dar e say you will find le tte rs e n ough a t La Pe'

piniere . I wish

you wouldn’t laugh l ik e th at

—it loo ks as if you di d n o t be lie ve in

my th e o ry, an d ye t eve ryth ing is so cl e ar .

”

Why didn’t your Fr e n chman r ecogn ise th e n ame o f O

’Ne il l

, and

r e al ise th at you we r e a conn e ctio n o f h is family, I sh ould.

like to

kn ow grumbled th e lawye r , turn in g a l itt le te sty aga in as Mo llywaxed m o r e and m o r e eage r .

Be cause I n eve r h ad o cca sio n to spe ak o f it. I o nly a llude d to

Miss O’Ne ill o nce , an d th e n i t did n o t occur to m e to m e n tion h e r

n ame .

Af te r a little m o r e par l eyi n g , an d many h in ts from Mo lly as to

t h e b e st m an n e r o f ca r ryin g out h is difficult task , Mr Burk e con se n te d

to se t out at on ce fo r Chate au de la Pepin ier e , th e r e to mak e en quirie s,to o ve r haul th e fam ily pape rs, an d, if Mo lly

’s th e o rypr oved co rr ect ,

t o an n oun ce to Rao ul th a t an inh e r itan ce awaite d him .

Y ou will be sur e to make h im un de rstand everyth ing , wo n’

t

y ou sa id Mo l ly d'

i ifide n tly, as h e r ose to g o I m e an , all about

Miss O’Ne ill ’s wi ll , and— and th e co nditi on s, you kn ow.

”

Don’t be afr a id,

”r e turned h e r fr ien d dr ily,

“ I’ll m ak e h im

un de rstan d. Am I to in fe r , th e n , th at you fo r your part ar e n o t un

will ing A h, th e little hussy sh e

’s gon e .

”

CHA PTER XXVIII.

A RCADIA .

Th e r e sult o f Mr Burk s’e r e se arch e s was em in e n tly sa tisfacto ry to

Mo lly. Th e br idegr o om wh o h ad som e six sco r e ye ars b efo r e led

Madem o ise ll e Soph ie de Ro h an to th e alta r , pr oved in truth to b e

Rode r ick O’Ne ill, Lieute n an t in th e Irish Brigade , wh ich fo ugh t so

brave ly un de r Lo rd Clar e . Ra oul’s gr andm o th e r , on th e m o th e r

’s

side , wa s th e o n ly daugh te r o f this couple , a po sthum ous ch ild, bo r n

afte r h e r fath e r was slain in battl e . Docum e n tary evide nce o f th e se

facts was foun d amo n gst th e pape r s wh ich R aoul put at th e lawye r’s

di spo sitio n , and th e r e was a lso , a s Mo l ly h ad suggested, a co n side r

able n umbe r o f le tte r s, wh ich would h ave fur n ish ed addition al pro o f

h ad such be en r equir ed .

Th e g irl’s in fe r e n ces we r e , th e r e fo r e , e n tir e ly co rr e ct, an d th at

Molly’s For tunes. 3 1

wh ich sh e so arden tly desir ed turn ed out to be th e case : Raoul

de Sauvig nywas th e h e ir of Castle O’Ne ill .

A ppa r e n tly Mr . Burk e succe eded in mak in g h im un de rsta nd h is

positio n very th o ro ugh ly, fo r a lo n g le tte r so o n fo und its way to

Ho lly, a l e tte r wh ich sh e r ead o n h e r kn e e s, and wh ich wa s carr ied

abo ut a ll day n ext h e r h e art , an d at n igh t la id unde r h e r pill ow.

Inn o cen t, te nde r , fo o lish youn g love ! o f wh at extravagan ce s is it n o t

capabl e ! Ve ry shyly, ve ry h appily, did sh e se t about h e r an swe r to

th is m issive , and afte r wr iting an d te ar in g up about a do z en , sh e des

patch e d on e wh ich o n ly co n tain ed a sin gle wo rd Coma

A n d so h e cam e . Partly in r em embrance o f h e r gi r l ish dr e am

a nd pa r tly to secur e undisturbed pr ivacy, Mo lly awa ited h im in th e

o ld ga rde n , le avin g dir e ction s th at o n h is arr iva l h e was to be sen t to

find h e r th e re .

It was th e n m id-A pr il , th e lo ve li est tim e o f th e love ly spr in g . A

th o usa n d de lica te , pal e-hued flowe rs, br igh te n e d th e te r r ace s an d

filled th e h o llow be n e a th ; lilac tr e e s, whi te a nd co lour ed, b e n t be n e a th

th e ir lo ad of bloom , a few littl e pin k buds of th e m on th ly r o se s

alr e ady sh o n e out amid th e vivid gr e e n th at h un g o ve r th e a rch ed

g a t eway, and yo nde r , fo amin g up b eh ind th e ruin ed castl e, was an

o cea n o f exquisite fruit blo ssom , wh ite , a nd cr e amy, and te n de r est

sh e ll -pin k . Mo lly’s favour ite s, th e birds, we r e pipin g a jubilan t

br ida l -so n g , e ach doubtl ess ce lebra tin g h is own pa r ticular raptur e ,

ye t appar e n tly castin g in h is m ite of ecstacy to swe ll th e sum o f

h e r imm e asurable joy. Th e l e ave s we r e dan cin g in a gle e ful

br e ez e ; th e sun was shin ing . ove r all . Oh , th is an cie n t wo r ld o f our s,

h o w it blossoms still ! o h , spr ing , h ow e v e r fr e sh , h ow e ve r n ew,

h ow e ver we lcom e is it, eve n afte r a th ousand win te r s ! oh lo ve , th e

o ld, o ld sto ry, will it e ve r pall on na , th ough coun tl e ss time s r e to ld !

A n d, o h l ove , an d youth , and spr ing- tim e a lto g e th e r , wh a t an Ede n

d o ye mak e o f th is wo rk-a -day wo r ld

80 Mo lly watch ed and wa ited at th e g ilded ga te , an d a t last sh e

h e a rd Ra oul’s foo tfall in th e di stan ce . To o shy to run to m e e t h im , sh e

sto od clasping th e topmo st bars,°

h e r blushi n g , expectan t face pe e r

in g down . How wonde rful was th e fulfilm e n t o f th at fo rm e r day

dre am o f h er s : th is was th e wayfar e r comi ng , th e wo rn and we ary

wayfa r e r , wh o h e r e was to find r e st a n d comfo rt fo r ove rm o r e .

Now h is figur e was disce rn ed rapidly appr o ach in g unde r th e sta te ly

co lo nn ade o f yews ; o n h e cam e,awh il e in sh adow,

n ow in ligh t, step

ping fo r th a t la st in to th e full bla z e o f sun sh in e .

But stay ! was th is h e r wayfa r e r?A gr e a t rush of wo n de r ing

d e ligh t swept ove r Mo lly’s h eart, so tr an sform ed, so tran sfigur e d was

th e fa ce uptur n ed to m e e t h e rs. He paused fo r a m om e n t,lo ok in g

32 Ti m Ir ial: Mo nth ly.

a t h e r . Th e fe ath e r ed o rch e stra piped loude r , and l oude r , and th e

br e e z e to ssed th e lilac blo ssoms h ith e r and thith e r , and wave s o f

th e swe e t sprin g sce n ts we r e waft e d to th em fr om th e garden b e

lo w—but Ra o ul was o n ly co n scio us o f Mo lly.

Ch ild,” h e sa id br ea th le ssly, is it a dr e am?Te ll m e , is it a

dr e am

Y e s, it is a dre am, answe r ed :Mo lly, with swe e t, tr emulous

laugh te r . Th is is a dr e am -wo r ld . Do yo u n o t kn ow — it is A r

cadia ,Ra oul .

A n d th e n oh , lo ve ! h e crie d , with swift impe tuous, str ide s

l e sse n in g th e distan ce be twe e n th e m ,— “ love , le t m e in

M . E. Pam e l a .

THE END

COMRADES.

I O

THE star s se n t fo r th a h o ly ligh t ,

Th e be lls we r e ch imin g cle ar,

Back swun g th e po r ta ls o f th e Nigh t

A nd sh owed th e fair NewYe ar .

In midst o f sn owy rays, th e pur e

A ll -spo tle ss youth de layed,

A s o f h is pr e se n t h ome se cur e

Oi coming h alf-afraid .

With timid eye s to pie rce h e strove

Th e myste ry o f th e glo oms,

His h and still lin g e r ed, with h is love ,’Mid paradisal blo oms .

On e beauteo us fo o t th e th r e sh o ld pre ssed ,

On e lo ite r ed in th e bowe r ,

Wh e n th e r e was laid upon hi s br east,Of flowe rs th e fa ir e st flower .

4 The Ir isk Mon ti:

He lo ok ed down on th e sun ny h e ad

Th in e eyes,” h e sa id, a r e clea r

I can n o t go a lo n e h e sa id,

Th e way is dim a n d dr e ar .

He caugh t th e ch ild up to h is br e ast,

Wh o sm il ed in swe e t amaz e ,

A n d th en as with on e fe ar oppr e ssed,

Se n t back a h om ewa rd ga z e .

His go ld h a ir m in gled with th e gray,His h an d waved, o nwa rd bo rne ,

Th e sn ow clo sed r o un d th em o n th e ir wayA nd I was left fo r lo r n .

A NOW'

DESCRIPTI'

VE OF CHRISTMA STIDE.

’

OW it is Ch r istmas week , an d Chr istmas Day falls o n a

Wedn e sday, wh ich , in th e opin io n of th e city cle rk and

o th e rs of h is kind, is th e n ext be st th ing to fallin g o n a Tue sday

fo r wh at tyran t , comme rcial o r o th e rwise , would compe l h is

re tain e rs to work o n th e e n suin g Friday an d SaturdayWe ll , th en , n ow are th e city o ffice s vo ice less and dusty ; n ow

are four -wh e e le rs rumbling and jo ltin g , an d han soms dash ing and

swaying , an d all th e ir summits are ove rloaded with h ampe rs and

baske ts, with lids bulgin g and strain ing agai n st doubtful kn o ts

and anyth ing but in fallible str ing . Now are cab-drive rs j0 1]y and

fr o sty, or th ey ar e jo lly an d foggy, fo r th ey are like th e we ath e r ,

and in separable from it , an d th ey take th e ir fare s without

grumbling (th at is to say,to an y appreciable exte n t) , fo r time s

are looking up, an d far e s are tumbling 1 1 1 .

Now do o ld ge n tlem e n buy n ew wo o lle n wrappe rs, and young

on es n ewwhite kid glove s and bo th o f th em purch ase in nume rable

Ch ristmas ca rds cove red with an ge ls, an d robin s, and h olly th ey

also spe nd fortun e s in postage stamps, and fe e l bored withI

addre ssing so many envelopes .

Now do e s th e baked-

potato-man , n e ar th e th e atr e door , o rde r a

double supply of co ld stock , and perh aps lamen ts in th e morn ing

Th e fo rm and title of this pape r are sugg e sted byLe igh Hun t, wh ose subject ,h owe ve r , is A Hot Day.

”

A N o wDescr ip tive of Ch r istmastide . 35

th at h e did n ot in vest furth e r ; and h isred h o t rival , th e ro astedche stn ut-ven dor , pokes h is fir e , and seems regardless o f econ omy

in ge n e ral an d profit in particular , as h e pil e s up an ew th e

fragm e n ts of coke .

Now do oran ge s r emi nd on e o f pits and amphith eatr es, and th e

A l i Baba and Puss in Bo o ts o f our youth ; and walnuts are

capt ivatin g to th e eye , and almonds and raisin s a glimpse of

N ow is som e favourite n o ok in e ach Cath o lic church tran s

form ed by de vout h ands in to a r eprese n tation of th e Crib o f

Be thl e h em ,and much pious ingenuity is lavish ed on eve ry de tail ,

from th e str aw-be strewn floor , and th e soft- eyed, dappled oxen ,

to th e glitte ring stars above ; and th ousan ds visit th e se cribs and

exclaim : How n atural ! an d some am ong th em gaz e with we t

eye s , an d ye t with al a joy in th em an d chi ldre n'

ask to be allowed

to st0p a few m om en ts longer to lo ok at th e Child Je sus and th eMo th e r o f Divin e Love .

N ow ar e public h alls an d private h omes de co rate d with a

pro fusio n of eve rgre e n s and flags, m otto e s and season able prove rbs ;

an d pe ople in th em walk about laughi ng and sin ging (at le ast inth e ir h om e s) and eve n th e dyspeptic se em glad, fo r n o oth e r r eason ,

we suppo se , th an th at otlze r pe ople are glad and it do e s n ot

surpr ise na ve ry much wh en we dete ct th em , de spite coughs and

co lds and oth e r addition al ailments, be stin g tim e on th e win dow

pa n e s with th e ir fin ge rs an d pur rin g G lorie s.

”

Now are sch o o lboys, red-ch e eked an d impuden t, fr esh h om e

fr om sch oo l . Now do they levy blackmail on n e ar r e la tive s of th e

m ascul in e o rde r , un de r th e de lusive plea of Chr istmas boxe s and

th ey are allowed greate r fre edom , e spe cially at th e table an d in

bed in th e morn in g , for now do e s n ot th e sch oo l-be ll bring th e ir

chubby little n ose s to th e surface of th e blank e ts, but th e ir siste rs

kn o ck ge n tly at th e ir doo rs and wish th em eve rythin g good , th e

m o rning in cluded ; and trust th ey slept we ll , an d will th ey come

acro ss to th e lake after bre akfast and se e if th e ice wi ll be ar To

wh ich th ey make wh at answe r th ey please , and n o on e is ann oyed ,

an d th e wh o le wor ld seems created fo r h ealthy sch oo lboys an d

ge n e rous, foo lish o ld fath e rs.

Now do so ldie rs in barracks draw th e ir pay an d obtain leave

for a we ek ; and th ey may be se en in railway-carriage s and steam

h oa ts , with the ir great coats on and th e ir kits unde r th e ir arms.

36 Nae Ir ish Mon th ly.

Now do th e can te e n r e ce ipts in cre ase imme asurably, th ough th e

barracks ar e mo re th an half- empty but many th e re are wh o remain

behind, n o t, maybe fo r ch o ice , but th at.

th e barrack-room is th e ir

h om e,and the can te en th e ir r e laxation ; an d e ach mess has been

savin g an d frugal dur ing th e lon g autum n mon ths , th at Ch ristmas,

wh e n it come s, may be fully h on our ed .

Now are sail ors arrivin g at coun try railway station s, and

exch an gin g gre etings with porte rs an d station -maste rs ; an d th e ir

trouse rs ar e wide r an d th e ir blue shi rt -arms sh o rte r th an usua l ,

alth ough th e we ath e r is bitte rly co ld— fo r th ey we ar th e ir h o liday

r ig , and de sir e to emulate a pe rson ified fre edom an d a ge ne ral

lo o se n e ss o f structur e— n o t to m e n tion exh ibiting to th e rustics th e

tato o ed an ch o rs and crossed h ags co n spicuous on th e brown wrist

r edde n in g in th e co ld, win try wi nd.

Now are th e ir h ardy co lle ague s abo ar d ships far away at sea ,

h ove rin g aroun d th e galley do o r , wh ilst th e dusky cook, in a sn owy

cap an d bar e arms, h an ds fo rth ste am in g dough-boys

”an d

plum-dufi,

”wh ilst th e spray is dre n ch ing th e we ath e r bulwarks,

aud th e gre en wate r is h issin g un de r th e le e ch an n e ls as th e

h e e lin g , can vas bede cked bark rush e s n ear er— still n e are r h om e !

Now ar e th e th e atr es cr amm ed, fr om th e r eg ime n t of fo o tligh ts

be low to th e blin din g lustre-deco rated g asalie r at th e r o o f and

o rch estras play m edl eys composed o f all th e catch -tun es o f th e

past year , an d ch oruse s are taken up by th e gods ,”an d e ch o ed

from th e pit, to be jo in ed in aga in in e ffe rve scin g , r e ckless jo llityby th e gre ate r part of th e h ouse ; th e few exception s ch attingin th e stalls, o r quiz z ing from the boxe s ; th e ir aristocratic blo od

o r immaculate sh irt-fro nts be ing som e impedime n t pe rhaps— but

the ir h e arts are sound, and many am on g th em hum to th emse lve s

o r be at tim e with th e ir pate n t-leath e r ed fe et .

Now do es th e pre tty little ball e tr gir l an d h e r m anglin g mo th e r

(excuse th e epith et, dear re ade r ) e at substan tia l suppe rs, and o rder

th e be st o f po r te r , and drink te a at thr e e sh il li ngs a poun d ; an d

pay o ff o ld-stan di ng debts, and con tract n ew o n e s, an d o th e rwise

m ake th e mo st of th e season . Not fo rge tful , of course , of th e po o r

little dwarf siste r wh o stays at h om e all day an d wo rks at man tle

m aking . Sh e is clo th ed afr e sh fr om th e seco nd-hand wardrobe at

th e co rn e r of th e stre e t (th e on e with a dark side -en tran ce ) and

th e m on thly h ir e o f h e r sewin g-machi n e is paid up to date . Now

a ll is ro sy, th er efo re , and th e ball et-

girl sings all th e way down

A NowDescr ip tive of Ch r istmastide . 37'

sta irs g omg to reh e arsal , an d all th e way again atmidn ight (alth oughtire d and limp afte r th e e ven in g

’s piroue ttin g) , sh e lter ed un de r

h e r m o th er’

s sh awl , in lieu, we suppose , of win gs.

N ow doe s h er sh ady fath e r , th e supe r ,”drink a little m o r e

tha n is custom ary, but con tribute s th e gre ate r part o f h is in cr e ased

mite to th e g e n e ral fun d, and, on th e wh o le , is n o t so bad as h e

m ig h t be at th is tim e of th e ye ar ; and h is e rstwhile gr e asy cap is

replace d by a fe lt h at of indubitable re spe ctabilty, and h is pape r

colla r is again bedigh t with a n e cktie we althy in colour . He

sh eds fewe r te ars in his be e r than e ve r,de spite th e in cre ased

po ta tio n s, and ta lks le ss o f th e o ld h ome in Hampsh ir e , and th e

birds -n es ting an d squirr e l -hun ting days o f h is youth , e r e h e cam e

to th e great m e tropo lis, and was swa llowed up in th e gapin g m aw

of th is huge Lon don— th is pan ting min o taur amo ng citie s ; n ow

h is laugh ter is mo re ge nuin e ; and dom e stic brawls se em th ings of

th e past .

N ow are poe ts wr iting ch e e rful lyr ics about sn ow, and be lls,

an d hymn s o f peace , and kin dr ed subj ects and few pe ople care to

r ead th em , be cause , we suppo se , th ey h ave r e ad such th in gs a

hun dr ed time s be fore , o r th ey pr e fe r th e re al , practical Chr istmas

to th e ideal fancie s of a rhyme r . But th ey (th e po ems) fill upodd co r n ers of we ekly journ als, and h e lp to make things ge n e rally

N ow are po stman , dustme n , lampligh te rs an d n ews-boys

extr ao rdinar ily civil ; fo r to-m orrow o r th e n ext day is Boxing

-day,

and th ey h ave an eye to th e main chan oe— or ye ste rday was th e

day , an d th e ir stock of gratitude has n o t ye t quite e vaporated.

Now, lastly, th e weath e r is se ason able an d frosty, and th e

gro ce rs’

sh ops lo ok ch e e rful and h om e ly, o r it is un se ason able and

foggy, and th e groce rs’

sh ops stil l lo ok h om e ly an d ch e e rful , and so

do r e d curta in s on parlour win dows. A n d pe ople in’

busse s and

tramca rs are n o t so cross an d mo rbid-min ded as th ey m ight be ,

con side r ing e ve rything th at h appen s to pe ople n owadays ; and

thin gs ge n e ral ly are as jo lly as eve r , and e verybody forgive s

e ve rybody e lse ; an d all but prie sts and milkm en rise la te in th e

mo rnin g and go to bed late r at night.

A nd, n ow, I th ink, that is about all an d you, de ar r e ader , are

tire d an d commen ce to fidget with th e page .

we arily, and long to

turn it ove r ; ao , now, pray do , with our be st Ch ristmas wish e s fo r

th e wh o le ye ar—o ld wish e s, inde ed, but ye t ever n ew

38 The Ir ish Jllon th ly.

LUX IN TENEBRIS.

AT n igh t wh at thin gs will stalk abroad

Wh a t ve iled sh ape s, and eye s o f dr ead !

With ph an toms in a lo n e ly ro ad

A n d vi sio n s of th e de ad.

Th e k indly r oom wh e n day is h e r e ,

A t n igh t tak es gh o stly te rro rs o n

A nd eve ry sh adow h ath its fear ,

A nd eve ry wind its m o an .

Lo rd Je sus, Day-Sta r of th e wo r ld ,

Rise Th ou, and bid thi s dark depart,

A nd a ll th e e ast, a r ose uncur led ,

G r ow go lden at th e h e ar t !

Lo rd, in th e wa tch e s o f th e ni gh t,Ke ep Th ou my soul ! a tr emblin g th ing

A s any m o th th a t in dayligh t

Will spr e ad a ra inbow wing .

KA THAR INE TYNAN .

TOLD IN A . FLORENTINE STUDIO .

A Y Jssus Christ be praised said Fran ce sco

Bandin e lli . A n d a ch orus o f ch ildren’

s vo ice s

an swered Fo r eve r and for eve r . A me n .

”

Y ou com e , dear chi ldren ,”said th e o ld p itto re , as h is h abitual

smile grew sun n ie r , an d h is eve r ch e erful vo ice be came more

an imated you come in th e train o f all th ings h o ly, brigh t, and

be autiful . How go od is G od ! A n hour before th e morn in g A ve

an an ge l whispe red, an d I woke . Th e gay, glad sun had an ticipated

me . Th e birds h ad re a ch ed th e third n o cturn of th e ir matin s.

Yon de r mass of blue an d scarle t an emo n e bent in adoratio n as th e

wind of Heave n swept by, h earing o n its bo som th e ange ls of th e

city. Th e mign on e tte se nt for th a breath of swe ete st in ce nse as

th e birds r each ed th e ir Ben edictus. I kn e lt and prayed .

”

To ld in a Flm ntine Studio . 39

Th e old man be n t lov mgly oy.

e r a fold of St. Fran ce sco’

s brown

h abit, touchin g it care ssingly with th e po in t of his brush . He was

pa in ting th e se raphio o n e o n Moun t A lve rno . Th e childr e n sto od

in an o rderly group aroun d th e ease l . A .n aure o le o f sun ligh t

flam ed about th e h e ad of th e Sain t, an d th e glo rious ligh t of ear lym o rn ing lit up th e little oratory n ear th e do or , and played upon

th e ho ld hands o f co lour th at gle amed h e re and th er e in that long

g arr e t , wh ich was at on ce th e studio sa lon and bed-chamber of

Sig n o r Bandin e lli .

Such an odd little rabble o f child-life in this Flo re n tin e

chambe r . Such a qua in t, ge n ial , be nign an t maestro in th e tall,

th in figur e at th e e ase l . Sixty-five years h ad ble ach ed th e o n ce

j e t black hair and he ard de ep wrin kle s h ad fall e n upon th e

sun ny face . But th e smile of pe rfe ct g ladn e ss with wh ich n atur e ,

aide d by grace , had e n dowed him , was o n e of th e gre ate st gifts th e

p itl o r e po sse ssed.

A r isin g artist at th e tim e Co rn e lius an d Ove rbe ch were at th e

h e ig ht o f th e ir fam e— a husba n d at th e age of twe n ty-two , and a

widowe r at th ir ity-Bandin e lli h ad give n up th e brillian t pro spects

th e n ope n ing out to him in th e Ete rn al City, to live an obscur e ,but use ful and h appy li fe in th e Flo re n ce wh e re h e was born .

He r e,within earsh o t o f th e be lls o f San ta Mar ia de l Fiore , h e

prayed and worked, este em ed by all , lo ved by th e ch ildren and th e

po o r .

Scarce ly a day passed but a tro op of e arth’s an ge ls in vaded

th e privacy o f h is studio n eve r a gloam in g fe ll but, in th e court

be low, th e represe n tative s o f Chr ist we r e conso led and re lieved.

N e ver a morn ing cam e th at did n ot find th e pain te r at th e altar of

h is G od n e ve r an h our passed in that upper room without its act

o f h omage to th e Que e n of Heave n .

But this e arly m o rn in g h our was th e ch ildre n’

s, and th ey kn ew

it. Y e t n e ith e r for romps n o r bon -bo n s did th ey gath e r , though

th e fo rmer would n ot h ave be e n frown ed upon ,while the latte r were

plen tifully bestowed o n fe ast-days—and oh

,h ow many patron

sa in ts and special fe asts th e m aestr o h ad ! The attraction , h owe ver ,

was Sign or Bandin e lli h imse lf.

Eve rywh e re ,”began th e old man , it is He aven outside

h ow, th e n , could my bambin i le ave th e sunsh in e

Y ou promised th e sto ry of little A le ssandro , sang th

ch orus.


On ly it is to o sad. It would dash your ch erry ch eekswith

rain -dr ops.

”

But th e mae str o’

s sto r ies are n e ver too sad.

An d a prom ise is th e mo st sacred thin g ,”added th e p ittore ,

layin g down h is brush , an d begin n ing to patch th e slope s of

Al ve rn o with h is pale tte-knife .

This was th e in var iable pre limin ary. Th e ch ildr en clapped

th e ir hands, and dr ew a little clo se r to th e e ase l , as th e artist began .

Th e little Al e ssan dro was th e o n ly so n of my e lde r broth e r .

On ly G od an d th e Mado n n a kn ow h ow I loved th e shy little ch ild.

I call him slay— it do e s n ot express it . So pre cocious , yet so simple ,

so loving , ye t so bashful so o ld-fash ion ed, yet so beautifully child

On e day, wh en h e was little mo re th an five ye ars o ld, I to okhim to th e Quarant ’ Ore at S. Maria de l Fiore . Ch ildren , you know

th e sce n e : it is supe rn al It is m o re th an a sh adow of th e Ete rn al

Paradise . IIe Himse lf is th e re : se raphs sing th e Iaudi of th e ble ssed .

A th ousand go lden sta rs twinkle about His th ron e . Al l is light,

co lour , beauty, an d swe e t so ng .

My dar ling was e n tran ced—wrapt in th e sacredn e ss o f a

ch ild’

s un spoke n praye r . On ce o r twice I glan ced at his pale ,

swe et face . He kn e lt r eve re n tly, con scious o f n ough t but th e

A dorable On e .

Half an h our sped quickly. I arose , inwardly chidin g myse lf

fo r n eglecting th e baby so lo n g . I touch ed his arm , but h e did

n ot stir . I ben t down and wh ispe red in h is e ar . He looked u p

pleadi ngly, and said so ftlyMay I go0 ye s, carissimo ,

’ I sa id, it is time .

’

To th e Bambin o San tissim o?O 250 ,"FHe is so love ly, and

He wan ts me to go .

’

I to ok th e laddie in to my arms, reproving myse lf se ve re ly

fo r allowin g h im , as I th ought, to sle ep th r ough we arin e ss.

L ie still , ch ild of my h e art , an d sle ep you are so tired’—I

said, as we stepped out in to th e coo l a ir of e arly spring .

But I h ave n ot slept— I am n ot sle epy : I wish on ly to playwith Him an d th e o th e r pretty ch ildre n amon g th e stars and

flowe rs.

’

Y ou have had bright dr e ams,my swe e t on e but te ll me

‘Un cle .

42 The Ir ish. i l l outlzly.

th e child’s simple faith wh en a be ll in th e n ear distan ce ran g out

fo r m orn in g sch o o l. In a m omen t th e ch amber was cle ared. A

fresh flo od o f sun ligh t poured itse lf in to th e ro om , as th ough to

con so le its occupan t for th e departe d ange ls.

”A gush of bird

music cam e thr ough th e ope n window. Th e pain te r re sumed h is

task . Th e labour of th e day we n t on unbroken ly in a place wh e r e

wo rk was praye r , an d praye r was work .

DAV ID BEA RNE .

DETHRONED.

HERE is a war like music in th e blast ;

Th e r ebe l winds h ave r ise n and discr own ed

Th e ag ed Ye ar , and str ewn upon th e groun d

Th e go ld an d cr imson o f hi s sple n dours past .

Po o r mo n arch ! h e h a th ca st h is h o n ours down ,

Sh ak e n with sto rm s an d pie rced with fr o sty spe ars ,

A nd fled to sa nctuary, and n ow we ars

In lieu of k in gly sta te th e fr iar’s brown .

De ath h ath en r o lled h im in h is h o use o f glo om,

Wh o fir st sto le summ e r from th e flowe r ing l e a ,

No r m uch , I th in k , h e ca r e s fo r life since sh e'

Was la id wi th a ll h e r r o se s in th e tomb .

But n ow kind He ave n do th ave n g e h is wo e s,

Co n fo un din g th o se wh o ca ll ed h im Fo r tun e'

s fo o l

Fo r , wh e r e h e dyin g l ie s, com e s h o ly YuleT o blanch h is m em o ry with sa in tly sn ows.

ANONYMITIES UNVEILED .

VL—FEM IN INE N ome de P lume IN CURRENT LITERA TURE .

HE care take n to make Haz e ll’

s A nnual wo rthy o f its se cond

n ame , A Cyclopedic R ecord o f Me n and T0pics of th e

Day ,

”is sh own in th e additions made in 1 889 to in formation

give n in 1 888 o n such a small matter as lite rary pseudonyms.

Th e pe rson re sponsible fo r this item h as n o t ove rlo oked th e

con tr o ve rsy which has e stablish ed that th e prope r Fr e n ch te rm is

n om de gue r r e , an d that th e more common fo rm has o n ly at mo st

bee n adopted fr om with out amon g Fr en ch write rs. Many also ar e

added to th e thre e hundr ed pe n-n ame s explain ed in th e 1 888

e dition . This list m igh t ve ry we ll h ave confin ed itse lf to mode rn

wr ite rs , as it purpo rts to do ; but it in clude s Swift and A ddiso n .

Is it r igh t to give“ Cl io ,

”as A ddiso n

’

s sign atur e He m arked

his con tr ibutions to The Specta tor by o n e of th e le tte rs which make

up Clio .

”

Haz e ll include s th e maiden n ame s used in auth o rship by som e

mar r ied ladie s. L e t us se lect a few of th e se , r epr e se n tin g bo th

ar t an d lite ratur e . Miss Doro th ea G e rard, o n e o f th e auth ors of

that fin e ta le , Re ata ,”is n ow Madame de L az ouski. The ar tist

wh o is still kn own as Mary Elle n Edwards (to be di stin guish edfrom Miss Be tham Edwards) marr ied twe n ty ye a rs ago Mr . Fr e e r

,

and afte r his de ath sh e be came Mrs. J C . Staple s. A n o th e r ar tist ,

wh o se il lustra tion s in th e magaz in e s, &c., ar e credited to A de la ide

Claxton ,

”has be e n fo r seve ral ye ars Mrs. Turn e r . Miss A lice

Have rs, th e artist, is n ow Mrs. Morgan ; an d h e r n o ve list-siste r ,

Miss Do ra Have rs, is Mrs. Bo ulge r , though bo th h e r maiden and

marr ied n ame s are disguised unde r th e curious pseudo nym o f

Th e o G ift —wh ich probably allude s to th e G r e ek m e an in g of

the se co nd half of h er full baptismal n ame , Th e odo ra ,”as th e

Basil o f Mr . Rich ard A sh e King ce rta in ly r e fe rs to his

sur nam e . Miss Braddon is Mrs. John Maxwe ll ; Miss Flore n ce

Kan ya t h as bo rn e two oth er n am e s in private life ; and Miss

Mabe l Co llin s ismarried . Th e commun ica tive paragraphs“ Ma inly

A bout Pe ople ,”in Th e Star , give us th e se particular s, but n o t th e

married n ame s of th ese two last . Th e privation is n o t ve ry tryin g .

44 The Ir ish Monthly.

L e t us cull from Haz e ll’

s late st list“ (which co n tain s some four

hundred name s) and from oth e r m isce llan e ous sour ce s, som e lite

rary n ame s of women , ch osen more o r le ss arbitrarily. To se cur e

som e degre e o f m ethod in our madn e ss, we group toge th e r , first, th e

ladie s wh o have taken masculin e n am e s. G e orge Sand (Madam e

Dudevan t) was, pe rhaps, th e first to s e t th is‘

exemple ; an d sh e an d

h e r n amesake G e o rge Eliot (Mrs. Cross, n ée Marian Evans) are th e

most famous. A n o th e r fem in in e G eo rge is Miss Jul ia Fle tch e r ,wh o , unde r the n am e of G e org e Flemin g , did some fin e lite rarywork .

Th e th re e Bron te siste rs to ok such n ame s as would have the same

in itials as th e ir r ea l n ame s, Cath e rin e , A n n e , and Emily be comin gCurr e r , A cto n , and Ellis Be l l. Th e first of th e se is hard to

r eco gn ise as Mrs. Nich o ls. Ire lan d h as some claim upo n h e r ; fo r

h e r fath e r was o rig in ally Patr ick Prun ty, a n ative of coun ty

Down— n am e supposed'

to be civiliz ed by th e ch ange , just as th efath e r o f Sydn ey Owe n so n (Lady Mo rgan ) was on ce McKe own ,

th e n Mao Owen , and, as Mac m ean s Son ,”fin ally Owe n so n , in

th e sam e way th at ce rtain Mcshan es h ave become Johnson s.

Fe rn an Caballe ro is th e masculin e -lo oking n ame of a true and

gifted woman , Ce cilia Boh l de Faber , th e Maria Edgeworth of

Spain , and pe rh aps some th in g m o r e . Raoul de Nave ry, an

e difyi ng write r of safe tales o fn o high orde r of m e rit, was a Fre n ch

lady, n o t long de ad, wh o se n am e we fo rget . Edward G arre tt is,

it se ems,Mrs. Isabe lla Mayo (n e

'

e Fivey) . We h ave re ad n on e o f

h e r wr itin gs but we h ave r e ad, with ke en pleasure , some of th e

A m e r ican ta les of Charles Egbe rt Craddock , wh o is in r e ality Min

Mary Murfre e (n o t a variation , we fear , o fMurphy, fo r we sh ould

be glad to claim for th e Irish race som e sh are in Th e Proph e t of

th e Smoky Mountains En n is G raham h as be e n sometime s

used as a n ame by Mrs. Mo le swo rth , but sh e is kn own best by h e r

r e al name,whe r eas Ho lme L e e is much be tte r kn own than

M iss Harriet Parr . Lucas Malet is Mrs. Harr ison . A n oth e r

very g ifted woman wh o has ch ose n to wr ite unde r a mascul in e , o r

No,n o t th e latest. Th e n ew edition fo r 1 890 appe ared o n D ecembe r 6th ,

1 889, an d ye t ch roni cle s facts wh ich o ccurre d o n Decembe r 3rd. Th e sketch o f

Ma rtin Farquh ar Tuppe r in th e body o f th e wo rk , me n tion s hi s de a th , which o nly

occurred o n No vembe r 26th . Th e Pa ll Ma ll G a ze tte , o f Decembe r std , repo rts an

in te rview with th e Rev . E. G . Price , wh o h as edi ted a ll th e vo lum es since

1 886 , and it oblig in g ly in forms us th a t h e is six fe e t four inch e s in h e igh t , an d fo rty

years o f ag e . He refe rs with spe cia l complacen cy to th e article o n wh ich our

pre se n t pape r draws with (we h ope ) sufficien tly explicit ackn owledgm en t .

A non 1,mities Um ai led. 45

no t o pe n ly fem in in e , n am e is Leade r Sco tt —MissLucy Barn es

(n ow Mrs . Baxte r ) daughte r o f th e fam ous Do rsetshir e p oe t, th e

Re v . ‘Villiam Barn e s.

O f Irish lite rary women , LadyWilde is, pe rhaps, mo re widely

known as Speranz a th an as the mo th e r o f Oscar Wilde .

Am o n gst th e n ame-disguises caused by marriage is th e ch ang e of

Miss Mary Laffan in to Mrs.Hartley. E . Owen s Blackburn s is

kn own in pr iva te life as Miss Casey. Our r e ade rs h ave long be e n

awar e that Mary o f Th e Na tio n was El le n Down ing , of Co rk .

Th e credi t of som e of Miss Rosa Mulh o lland’

s e ar ly sto rie s was

g ive n to an imagin ary Ruth Murray.

” Me lusin e is Miss

Skefli ngto n Th ompson . Almost th e o n ly n oms de plume am ongth e co n tri buto rs to THE IRISH MONTHLY are

“ M . E . Fran cis,

Eve lyn Pyn e ,”and A lice Esm onds .

”Th e first two wish to

main ta in th eir pse udonym ity but th e r e ce n t publica tio n o f

So n gs o fRem embran ce ,”allows us to r ecog n ise A lice Esm o nds

”

as Miss Mar gare t Ryan . Howeve r , a key to th e sign atur e s o f

write r s in th is Magaz in e , as far as its g en e ra l po licy o f sign ed

ar ticle s h as left an ope n ing fo r th e se r vice s o f a key, will be

fur nish ed in som e specml in stalme n t o f th e pr e se n t ser ie s ; an d th e

subj e ct n ee d n ot n ow be pursued furth e r . Y e t we can n o t r e frain

from in te rpre tin g th e in itials of two o th er gifte d wom e n , an English wom an an d an Ir ish woman . B . N th e autho r o f an ex

ce lle n t Histo ry of th e Je suits, is Miss Barbar a N e ave , n ow m arr ie d

to a Fr e n ch ge n tleman ; and Mrs. A tkin so n is th e S. to

whom we owe Th e Life of Mary A ikenh e ad, an d a gre a t de a l

m ore o f adm irable lite rary wo rk .

VIL—N oms de P lume OF LIT ER A RY MEN .

In th e preceding section we m en tio n ed m any wom en wh o

thoug ht fit to wr ite un de r th e disguise of mascul in e n am e s. We

do n o t re cal l, o n th e oth e r han d, any promin en t in stan ce of a

li te ra ry m a n ch o o sing to wr ite un de r th e clo ak o f suppo sed femi

O n e o f our late st discove rie s in this departm e n t co nce rn s th e

a uth or o f A Poe t’

s Praise ,”wh ich we comm e n ded warm ly be fo re

we h ad any idea that our homage was offer ed to a Cath o lic bish op.

The fo llowing paragraph in The A ve Ma r ia was a surprise to us

46 T he Ir ish Mon th ly.

He n ry Ham ilton ha s just brough t out th rough h is publish e rs, Me ssrs. G

P. Putnam So ns, New Yo rk , a m e trical translatio n of th e first four books of th e

JEn e id It is n o long e r a secre t , we be lie ve , th a t Hen ryHam ilto n is th e pen -nam e

o f th e Righ t Re v . Bish op Spal ding , o f Pe o ria , wh o h a s publish ed also two vo lume s

of or ig in a l verse—“ A me r ica and A Poe t

’

s Pra ise .

” His late st wo rk has be e nm o re favourably r ece ived by th e cr itics . He h as n o t a im ed at lite ralne ss, but ra th e r

to bring o ut th e spirit of Virg il’s imm o rtal poem in Engli sh form , and to th is end

h e h as wise ly ch osen di ffe ren t ve rse -fo rms.

Of som e two or th r e e hun dred false n ames and in itials which

can be tran slate d in to th e full n am e s of th e auth ors in que stion ,

th e fo ll owin g may be taken as sufficien tly nume rous samples.

A n stey, auth o r of Vice Ve rsa , isMr . G uthr ie ; B”

(of The Times) ,Lo rd Bramwe ll Cuthbe rt Bede

”

(auth or of Ve rdan t

R ev. Edward Bradl ey Lewis Car ro ll” A lice in

R ev . C. L . Dodgson Hugh Conway wasMr . F . J. Fe rgus ;

A r thur Lo cke r ,”it se ems, is in re alityMr . J H. Forbe s ; Owe n

Me r edith”is of course th e pr ese n t Lo rdLytton Shir ley

”is John

Ske lton Toby, in Punch , is Mr . He n ry W. Lucy ;Patr icius Walke r

”was th e prose sign atur e o f the poe t, William

Al lin gh am ,wh o has just died. It is hardlyworth wh ile picking out

any o th e rs o f th e se pseudonyms. Most wr ite rs wh o ar e wo rth

kn owin g , make th emse lve s kn own unde r e very di sguise .

VIII.—REAL NAMES o r AM ERICAN HUMOURISTS.

Th e Ph ilade lphia P r ess gives th e fo llowin g list, from which we

h ave blotte d out two that h ad got in to it by som e very stupid mis

tak e Pe te r Plymley [Sydn ey Smith ] , and Jam es Ye llow

plush [Thackeray] . Pe rhaps th e A me rican pape r in te n ded to furn ish a list o f all th e be st humourous write rs, and th ough t th ey all

be lon ged to th e Un ited State s except th e se two . A ny such list

sh ould in clude Emmanue l Kink ,”an e arly sign ature of Richard

Dowling , th e n ove list, wh o began by be in g an admir able humour

ist ; an d also A rthur Ske tch ley,”n am e ly, Mr . G eorge Ro se , wh o ,

with al l h is wagge ry, was se rious e n ough to sacr ifice An glican

e cclesiastical pre fe rm en t to become a Catho lic

Josh Billi ngs, HenryW. Shaw.

A ndrew Jack Down ing ,”Seba R . Smith .

A rtemus Ward,”Ch ar les Farrar Browne .

Bill A rp,”Ch arle sH. Smith .

G ath ,”G e orge A lfred Townsend.

A nonymities Unce iled!

Fat Con tributo r , A . Mi n er G r iswo ld .

Hawkeye Man ,

”R obe rt J Burdette .

Howadjii,”G e orge Wil liam Curtis.

Ike Marve l Don ald G r an t Mi tch e ll .

John Paul , Ch arle sH Webb.

John G e o rge H. De rby.

Mark Twa1 n Samue l L . Clem e n s.

Max A de ler , Ch arle sHeber Clark .

Eli Pe rkin s,” Me lville D . Lan don .

Pe tr oleum V . Nasby,”David Locke .

Bill Nye ,” Wil liam E . Nye .

Nym Crynli le , A ndr ew 0 . Wh e e le r.

Old Si,”Samue l W . Sm all .

Orph eus 0 . Ke rr,

”Robe rt H. N ewe ll .

Fe lig Wale s,

” William A . Cr o ffut .

Th e Dan bury Newsman ,

” J M . Bailey.

Mile s O’

Re il ly,”Char le s G . Ha lpin .

Pe te r Par ley, Samue l G . G o odr ich .

Ned Bun tlin e ,”Co lon e l Judso n .

Br ick Pome roy,” M . M . Pome roy.

Jo siah A lle n ’

s Wife ,” Mari e tta Ho lley.

O . K . Ph ilande r Do e sticks,” Mo rtim e r Th ompso n .

Mrs . Partin gto n , Be n jam in P. Sh e llabar .

Spo ope n dyke ,”Stan ley Hun tley .

Uncle R emus, Jo e l Ch an dle r Harr is.

Hose a Bigelow, Jam e s Russe ll Lowe ll .Fanny Fe rn ,

”Sarah Payson Willis.

G randfath e r Licksh in gle ,”Robe rt WV. Cr iswe ll .

M . Quad,”Ch ar les B . Lewis.

Hans Bre itman ,

”Charles G . Le land.

On ly a do ze n of th e se can , we thi nk , h e sa id to have mo re than

A m er ican reputation . Th e first of th em ,Mr . He n ry Shaw,

at o n ly Josh Billin gs,”but also Un cle Esek ,

”wh o se ve ry

wise an d grave sayings we have occasio nally h on our ed with a place

amo n g th e Winged Words”whi ch th is Magaz in e h as utte r ed

at close in te rvals during th e last e ighte e n ye ars.

THE REDBREA ST.

F my fr ie nds it we r e fo lly to te ll

Wh ich is de ar est, if de ar e st th e re be ;O f th e birds o f th e a ir , I kn ow we llTh a t th e R edbr e ast is de ar e st to m e .

Swe e te r music I n e ve r h ave h e a rd

Th an th e R ob in’s m ir aculo us powe rs ;

I fe e l like th e Mo n k with th e Bird,

Wh e n a h un dr ed ye ars se emed a few h ours.

N e a r ly a l l o th e r birds o n ly sing

Wh i le th e sun sh in e e n live n s th e e a rth

Joyo us m in str e ls, th ey fo llow th e ir k in g

Min e a lo n e h as n o music fo r m ir th .

So h e sigh s an d sings so r rowful stra in s,

Wh e n th e l ilie s a n d r o se s a r e fle d,

A nd th e lave n de r o n ly r ema in s,

Le n din g A utumn h e r sce n ts fo r th e de ad.

\Vh e n th e golde n l e ave s dr op o n e by on e ,

Or ar e swept by th e wind o ff th e spray,

\Vh e n th e fruit th at was h id from th e sun

Ha ngs un ripe o r sh runk up from decay

\Vh e n th e m ist, co ld a n d g ray,l ike a sh r oud,

Clin gs in fo lds r oun d e ach sk e le to n tr e e ,

A n d th e wh o le sky is o n e dism a l cloud,

Un til dusk se tt le s down o n th e le a

'

Wh e n o ur spir its, in Summ e r so h igh ,

A r e depr e ssed by th e se sad A utumn days'

Wh e n th e brigh te st gr ow g rave , an d a sigh

Th e fo r e bo din g o f so rr ow be trays,

L e t n a find out th e favour i te h aun ts

Wh e r e th e n o te s o f th e Ro bin a r e h e ard,

Fo r th e h e a r t g e ts th e comfo r t i t wa n ts

Fr om th e vo ice o f tha t inn o ce n t bird .

Th e r e’s th e blackbird pipe s boldly in Spr ing ,

A n d th e thr ush br ave ly se co nds h is so n gTh e n th e la rk m oun ts an d sin gs o n th e win g ,

A nd th e swal low,whi le da r tin g a l on g

—g

The Ir ish Month ly.

But , wh e n tr ia ls and so rr ows com e down ,

Wh e n th e de ar e st and be st must depart,And our life n eve r mo r e will we ar crown

Oh , h ow lon e ly th ey l e ave th e poo r h e art !

So rrow-laden , we wear ily wen d,

Ben t with sadn e ss, to h ide in th e wo ods,

Fo r we dr e ad our m o st in timate fr ie nd

Wh en oppressed with th e se te rr ible mo ods.

Wh e n th e h e a r t br e aks, its foun tain s a r e dried,A n d th e wo rn eye s deman d te ars in vain

G od al on e kn ows th e gr ie f we woul d h ide ,

He h as fe lt th e h e art’s bitte r e st pa in

He , wh o h id to b e sad and to pray,

Marks th e place o f our an guish and praye r ,

A nd He wi ll n o t r epr o ve , if we say

It is He bids th e Redbr e ast sing th e re .

R obin R edbr e ast , thy son g m ak e s us fit

Toc

’r e turn to our we ar isom e strife ;

A t thy vo ice we r e so lve to submit

To th e b itte r -swe e t ch alice o f l ife .

Th e r e a r e m e rcies an d pity divin e ,

Th e r e ar e te nder compassio n s un se en ,

A n d to sing o f th e se m e rcie s is th in e ,

A t th e seaso n wh e n so rr ows ar e k e en .

I h ave loved th e e , tam e bird, fr om th e fir st,

From th e time I str ewed crumbs fo r thy fo od ;

Th o ugh a r o ugh , cr ue l ch ild, a t th e wo rst,

Un to th e e I was g e n tl e an d go od.

0 my m o th e r’s de ar , favo ur ite bird,

With th e blo od o f th e Cro ss o n thy br e ast

Little fr ie n d, all thy plain in gs we r e h e ard,A s we wa tch ed h e r departur e to r e st .

G e n tle bird, it is we ll th ou h ast sigh s.

Fo r th ou br inge st to m in d th e dark bie r ,

A n d th e h o lie st m em o r ie s r ise,

Still bedewed with th e h e art’s saddest te ar .

Notes on N ew Books. 51

Ce ase Ce ase No r epin e r em I,

A n d th e tim e fo r such gr ie f is lon g o’e r ;

G o d, wh o died , le t Hi s own m o th e r di e ,

A n d abo ve th e r e a re par tings n o m o r e

Swe e test so n gste r , sin g ou—pay n o h e ed

To m y murmurs : fo r pe ace comes a t last ;

Th ou h ast sigh s, and thy br e ast se ems to ble ed

Fo r th e pa in s o f th e pr ese n t an d past .

Eve ry mourn e r wh o h ears th e e can te l l

How thy so n g , whi le its m e lody flows,So o th e s th e h e ar t with divin e m e rcy

’s spe ll ,

With a m e ssag e fr om He aven’s r epo se .

D . B .

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

l . Pr eceden ce must be gi ven thi s mo n th to a little bo ok wh ich

cann ot be criticised but on ly ann oun ced in th is Magaz in e , as it is

wr itten by th e Edito r . It is n o t a large o r profoun d wo rk , be in gm e r e ly a praye rbo ok in ve rse , which has tak en th e to o da r in g n am e o f

1 7m Ha rp of Jews fr om th e an agr am whi ch turn s th e word

I'h ch ar istia in to th e wo rds Cith ar a Ie su.

” It is th e first o f its

exact kin d, as fa r as we ar e awar e . Th e r e ar e bo oks of hymn s and

m e dita tio ns in ve rse ; but a r egul ar praye rbo ok , g ivin g morn in g

abla tion , Pate r , A ve , Cr e ed, Confite o r ; A cts o f Co n tr ition , Faith ,

Hope an d Cha rity Pr aye rs be for e and afte r Co n fe ssion and Com

mun io n ; th e Ro sa ry, th e Statio n s o f th e Cro ss, e tc. e tc.—th is h as a t

l e ast th e m er it o f n ove lty. Th e wr ite r,of course , n eve r a ttempted th e

ve rsifica tion of th e pr aye rbo ok as a se t task ; but th e various praye rs,

fo r th e mo st par t, found th emse lve s compo sed fo r o th e r purpo ses, and

many o f th em h ave a lr eady be en wide ly used . Th ey have be en

g ro uped to g eth er in th e ir pr e sen t fo rm by an afte r th ough t, which

mi gh t h ave be e n suggested (but was n o t) by th e fo llowin g ch aracte r

istically kin d n o te r e ce ived fr om Lady G e o rgian a Full e rto n after th e

n ublica tio n o f th e wr ite r’s e ar li e st bo ok o f ve rse , Emmanue l

27 Chape l Stree t

Park Lane , W.

Du n Fu m Ro san a ,

I have just rece ived th e l ittle vo lume you have kin dly sen t m e . Th e con ten ts

mam like ly to prove a treasure to many devout wo rsh ippe rs. I h ave already m et

52 The Irish Mon th ly.

in it with prayers easy to lea rn and th at will be very h elpful to devotion . Withmany grateful thanks for this we lcome g ift ,

I rema in

Yours sin cem lyG nom n z u m rcs .

Jame 7th

Four days late r , Kathl e e n O’Me ara wro te from Paris Your

Station s’h ave be e n copied in to th r e e praye rbooks

—o n e fo r e ach

m embe r of th e family—as an swe r in g a wan t th at we we r e expr e ssin g

o nly a day o r two ago som e sh o r t epitom e o f th e Way of th e Cro ss,

wh ich would save o n e’s h avin g to carry a la rg e bo ok in o n e

’s Visit in

th e afte rn o on .

”Th e praye rs h e r e re fe rr ed to by th ose two gi fted and

sain tly souls may be found with ma ny o th ers in The Harp of Jesus,which is publish ed in a ch eap, n e at, and co n ven ien t fo rm by Messrs.

M . H. G i ll an d Son , Dublin .

2 . We agr e e with Punch th at th e be st Chr istmas-bo ok o f th e

se aso n , th e on e th at ch ime s in be st with th e true Ch r istian Ch r istma s

spir it , is Th e Po o r Siste rs of Naz ar e th , an Ill ustrated Re co rd o f

Life at Naz ar e th House , Hamm er sm ith,Lo n don

,

”drawn by G e o rg e

Lambe rt , wr itten by A lice Meyn e ll , an d de dicate d to my littl e

daugh te r , Mo n ica . Th e publish e rs ar e Burn s an d Oate s, wh o

furn ish a h a lf-crown and a h a lf-guin e a edi tio n . Th e fo rm e r is a

mar ve l o f ch e apn e ss, but th e la tte r is we ll wo r th th e extra e igh t

shillin gs. Th e illustra tio n s a r e wo r thy o f th e ir g o od fo r tun e in be in g

e xpoun ded in Mrs Meyn e ll’

s pr o se . Th ey se t e ve ryph ase an d in ciden t

of co nven t life b e fo r e us as it is lived at Na z ar e th House—ch o ir and

kitch e n and infirmary an d wo rk -r o om , wash in g day an d ir on in g day,

oo al -skuttl e and co ll e ctin g van . How many go od th ough ts th is be auti

ful bo ok wil l put in to h e arts fo r wh om th e h o ly Siste rh o ods o f th e

Cath o lic Ch urch ar e n o t commo nplace th r ough a ble ssed fami liar ity.

3 . A n o th e r da in ty vo lum e is A Bo ok o f G o ld, and o th e r

Sonn e ts,”by John Jam e s Piatt (London : Ellio t Stock ) . Th e cove r

adds as a sub-title , A Quar te r Cen tury o f Son n e ts,”

and th e se lf

den ia l th at r efuse s to go b eyon d so sma ll a numbe r as twen ty-five is

a go od om en fo r th e pe rfe ctio n o f th e ch o sen few. Th e e ar li e r on es,

in subj e ct an d to n e , m igh t r emind us o f th e So nn e ts fr om th e

Po rtugue se .

”Pur ity a nd r efin em e n t br e a th e in e ve ry lin e . But our

favour ite out of all is, we think , th e te n th , th ough probably few wi ll

agr e e with us. Tha t bo ok of dual auth orship”

r e fe rr ed to could

h ardly be sen t fo rth m o r e grace fully.

4. Chr istian Re id is th e pe n-n am e of an Am e r ican lady, Miss

Fish e r, wh o , if our reco llectio n o f sun dry par agraph s in Am er ican

Notes on New Books. 53

newspapers do e s n o t play a s false , h as la te ly ch an ged th at n am e also

for an oth er in r e al life . Sh e r anks ve ry h igh amo ng th e Cath olic

write rs of h oti e n“

in th e Un ited Sta te s ; an d, th ough sh e do e s n o t h ide

her Ca tho lic pr inciple s in th e deve lopme n t o f h e r plo ts, h e r sto rie s ar e

real stories, wi th life lik e ch aracte r s we ll wo rk ed out . On e o f th e la te st

of th ese is Ph ilip’s R e stitutio n ,

”which will mak e many fr ie n ds for

its autho r in th e se coun tr ie s in th e e xce lle n t type an d pape r with

which M. H. G ill and So ns h ave produced thi s Dublin e diti on .

5. Wo r th m any do z e ns o f n ew bo oks th rown tog e th e r is th e

second, e nlarg ed an d rev ised e di tio n o f Lady Fe rguson

’s Sto ry of

th e Irish Be fo r e th e Co nque st” (Dublin Se aly, Bryors, an dWa lk e r ) .Th e work itse lf is adm irable in its co n ception and exe cutio n , tr acingIrish h isto ry fr om th e mythi ca l pe riod to th e in vasio n un de r Str o n g

bow, givin g th e best of th e le g e nds in vivid prose o r in th e m e tr ical

form in wh ich th ey h ave be en clo th ed by th e po e ts, such as D’A rcy

M‘G e e , A ubr ey de Ve r e , an d e spe cial ly th e wr ite r’s illustr ious

h usband, Sir Samue l Fe rguson , wh o se Co ngal”h o lds th e h igh e st

r ank in th e po e try o f our n atio n . Th e n ew edi tio n h as b e e n pr oduced

exce eding ly we ll by its Dublin prin te rs . Sever al maps o f an cien t

Ir eland e n able us to fo llow th e ba ttles and to ide n tify th e chur ch e s

and mo n aste r ies . Lady Ferguso n e nds th e pr e face to th is n ew edi tion

with th e wo rds I desir e to dedicate th is bo ok to th e be lo ved

mem o ry o f my husband.

” Th e m an wh o did so much fo r Ir ish

lit e ratur e sin ce h e wr o te Th e Fo rg in g o f th e A n ch o r”wh e n littl e

mo r e th an a boy would de sir e n o be tte r m em o ria l . It is a wo rk o f

imm en se r ese arch , de ep e n th usiasm , true e loque n ce an d po e tic fe e lin g ;an d th e wr ite r h a s dese r ved we ll o f h e r coun try.

6 . Ir ish Fairy Ta le s by Edmun d Le amy,M .P . (Dublin M . H.

G ill an d So n ) co n sists o f seve n sto r ie s,illustrated by abo ut twice as

m an y pictur es , te llin g us all abo ut th e Pr in ce ss Fin o la a n d th e

Dwarf, th e House in th e Lak e , th e L ittle Wh ite Ca t, th e G o lde nSpe a rs , th e Fa iry Tr e e of Do o r o s, th e En ch an te d Cave , a n d th e

Hun tsm an’s Son . A few n o te s a t th e e nd r e fe r to th e Old Ce ltic

Roman ce s”o f Dr . P. \V. Joyce , an d to Euge n e O

’Curry

’s Ma n n e rs

an d 0 1 15m o f th e A n cie n t Ir ish but th e se auth o r itie s affo rd a

v e ry scan ty po r tio n o f th e mate r ials wh ich Mr Le amy h a s wove n in toth e se th r illin g n ar ra tives . His fan cy is in exh austible , a nd h e se ems

to h av e i n pe rfe ctio n th e kn ack o f sto ry- te lling . On e peculiar ity of

his style is th e di r ectn ess an d r apidity o f th e n a rrative , wh ich do n o t

a llow digr essio n s and de scr iptio n s, an d which make th e substa n tive s

d escr ibe th em se lves with out th e aid o f a se t o f adj ective s . Th e li te r a ry

m e r it of th is ch ildr en’s bo ok is ve ry con side rabl e ; but in our day


some of th e be st of our lite r atur e is th at wh ich is in te nded for th e

youn g . A s far as we kn ow, th is is th e first title pag e which h as bor n e

th e n ame of Mr . Edmund Le amy, M .P . It will n o t be th e last .

7 . W e must group toge th e r th r e e bo oks, wh ich h ave th is in

com mo n, th a t th ey a re tran slated tal es. Siste r Mary Fide lis, a n

En g lish nun,wh o h as a lr eady give n us an exce ll e n t tran slatio n of a

cour se o fm edita tio n s e n title d G rowth in th e Kn owl edg e o f our Lo rd ,

”

tran sla te s f rom th e Fr e n ch Linda ’s Task , o r th e De bt o f Ho n our

(Lo ndo n Burn s and Oate s ) . Why n o t m e n tio n th e Fr e n ch auth o r

Th e tr an sla tio n is n o do ubt we ll don e , a id th e ta le is eminen tlym o ral but we h ave n o t b e e n much caugh t by it, th ough we h ave

given it a fa ir ch ance . Prin te r and binder bo th de se rve a spe cia l

vo te o f th anks . Mr . He n ry J. G ill,M .A .

, tran sla tes fr om th e G e rman

o f Wilh e lm He rch en bach two ta l e s, Th e A rm our e r of So lin g e n”an d

Wron gfully A ccused”(Dublin : M . H. and So n ) . Th e sto r ie s ar e

full of in cide n t, o f a kind th a t catch e s th e atte n tio n o f th e youth ful

r e ade r . In th is ve rsio n th ey r e ad ple asa n tly and n atur ally, with o ut

any unple asan t r em inde rs o f th e aph o r ism wh ich ide n tifie s traditor e

an d tr aduttor e . Larg e type an d ample margin h e lp to mak e out o f

th is Irish edi tio n quite a po rtly vo lum e , wh ich , we suspe ct, would

th row th e G e rman o rigin a l in to th e sh ade , e ve n with out th e e igh t

illustratio n s with wh ich W . C . M .

” h as embe ll ish ed it . Y e t many

youn g pe ople will pr e fe r—and we ar e in clin ed to agr e e with th em

— a

small e r vo lum e be a r in g o n th e title page th e n am e s of th e sam e

tran sla to r,an d th e same publi sh e rs and inde ed we .ve n tur e to add

th at th is is a case o f th e o ld sto ry, th e two Maguir e s is o n e”— th e

sam e g e n tl eman is tran sla to r and publish e r , n am e ly th e ex-M .P . fo r

Lim e r ick . Th e se co n d vo lum e from hi s pe n is Ch ase d byWo lve s,

a nd o th e r in structive Sto rie s, ch iefly tra n sla te d fr om th e Fr e nch ,

G e rm an , a nd Ita lian .

” Th e sto r ie s a r e th ir ty fo ur in n umbe r , wh ich

pr ove s th at e ach do e s n o t cla im a larg e sh a r e o f th e th r e e h un dr ed

pages . Th is var ie ty wi ll mak e th e bo o k m o r e popul ar , we ar e sur e ,

and its popul a r ity o ugh t n o t to pass away with th e Ch r istmas-box

se ason . Do e s th e adve rb chi efly”o n th e t itle -

pag e imply th at som e

o f th e se pr e tty little sto r ie s a r e o rigin al May’s Ch r istm as Tr e e

”

h as probably com e stra igh t from an Ir ish h e ar t. We e nd th is

par agraph with Ch r istmas Leg e nds,”tran sla ted from th e G e rman

by 0 . S. B . (Lo n don Washbo ur n e ) . Th e r e a r e se ve n o f th em ,ve ry

pious an d ve ry pr e tty, and bro ugh t out with th e g o o d ta ste th a t we

h ave l e a rn ed to expe ct from 1 8 Pa te rn o ste r Row. But , afte r e ndin g ,

we must add still an o th e r sto ry-bo ok Th e Jo lly Harpe r and h is

good fo r tun e , and o th e r amusing tal e s” (Dublin M . H. G ill and

Notes on NewBooks. 55

Son ). Th ere ar e th irty-seve n of th em , with pl en ty o f amusem e n t fo r

the reade rs fo r wh om th ey ar e in te nded. We ar e n o t to ld anyth in g

about th e misce llan e ous auth o rsh ip o f th is pleasan t Ch r istmas bo o k .

8. Since se ndin g th e fir st o f th e se bo ok- n o te s to th e prin te r , we

have re ce ived Th e Life o f Dom Bo sco , Foun de r of th e Sale sian

Society,”tr an slate d from th e Fr en ch o f J M . Vill e fran ch e by Lady

Martin (Lon do n Burn s an d Oate s) . 0 A few wo rds o f pr e face dated

from Mer r io n Square , Dublin , woul d n o t h ave be e n out o f place . Th e

name o f an o th e r Lady Ma r tin h as quite late lyfigur ed o n a ti tle pag e ;

but inde ed th e publish e rs and th e th em e o f th e pr e se n t wo rk sh ow

that it is n o t wr itte n by th e wife o f th e Que e n ’s l ite ra ry advise r

,Sir

Theodo r e Mar tin , but by th e wife o f an Ir ish Ca th o lic baron e t, Sir

Richard Martin . On e k n ows e n ough a lre ady o f th is h o ly Ita lian

priest, wh o did so much fo r th e young , to b e anxious for th e full in

formation g ive n in th is we ll writte n an d we ll arran g ed biography.

Nothing co uld be m o r e satisfacto ry th an th e g e t-up o f th e vo lum e .

The ch apte rs r ead ve ry n a tur ally and ple asa n tly, with n o th in g to r e

mind you th a t th ey a r e tran sla ted fr om th e Fr e n ch, except a n

occasion a l n am e whi ch th a t tyran n ical lan guag e turn s in to Fr e n ch , but

which ough t h e r e to be gi ve n in th e Ita lian fo rm . Th e Se raph ic

Saint is fo r us Fran cis o f A ssisi (n o t Ca n Cha teaun eufbe n ear Turin N ay, we doubt if outside Fra n ce Dom be a nyth in gbut a Be n e dictin e pr efix. I P romessz

'

Spast'

h as made us a ll familiar

with Do n A bbo ndio a nd we th ink th at th e subj ect o f Lady Mar tin’s

exce ll e n t wo rk was Do n Bo sco .

9. A n exce edingly in te re stin g l ittl e bo ok o f sixty pag e s is A

Shrin e a n d a Sto ry”by th e auth o r o f Tybo rn e ,

”Irish He ar ts

and Ir ish Hom e s, e tc . (Lo ndon Ca th o lic Truth So ci e ty) . Th e

five ter se a nd br igh tly wr itte n ch apte r s a r e full o f in te r e sting n am e s,

familia r e spe cia lly to Dublin Ca th o lics : Dr . B lak e, o f Dromo r e ,

Fath e r He n ry Youn g , Mr Jam e s Murphy, Lady G e o rgian a Fu il e r to n ,

and Miss Ell e n Ke rr . A gr e a t m any in te r e stin g a n d edifyin g par

ticula rs ar e gi ve n about m o st o f th e se , wh o se bo n d o f un io n wa s th e ir

conn e ctio n wi th St . Jo seph’s A sylum fo r Virtuo us Sin gle Fema le s

,in

Portlan d Ro w, Dublin . Th is is th e sh rin e” in que stio n

,a n d its

sto ry is ch armin gly to ld by th e A uth o r of Tybo rue ,”wh o in a n o th e r

sph er e of labour is kn own to h e r ch ildr e n as Mo th e r Magdale n

Taylo r .

1 0 . Th e large st an d, in its own way, th e b e st bo ok th at h as pr e

sented itse lf be fo re our tribunal th is Ch r istmas is o n e publish ed byth e Cath o lic Publicatio n Socie ty o f N ew Yo rk , an d ca llin g itse lf, with

perfect truth , G o od Th in gs fo r Ca th o lic R e ade rs : a Misce llany o f

Cath o lic Biography, Trave l , e tc., con ta in in g po r tra its an d sk e tch e s o f


em in e n t pe rso n s, and e n gravings r epr ese n tin g th e church and th e

clo iste r , th e state an d h ome , r ema rkable place s con n e ct ed with r e li

gio n , an d fam ous eve n ts in a ll lan ds and time s. Th e le ave s ar e so

ample , th at e ven th is l en gthy e num e ra tio n do e s n o t o ve rcrowd th e

title -

pag e . It is call ed seco nd se r ies ,”and it will provok e many de

mands fo r th e first se r i es . Th e pr e se n t vo lume , th ough printed in a

r oun d, r e adable type , co n tains a vast numbe r o f ar ticles, pr ofuse ly

illustr ate d . Bio g raphy is o n ly o n e o f th e m any ite ms, but we may

n ame som e of th e biog raph ica l sk e tch es : Mrs. A ike nh ead, St. Th oma s

A quin as, Mr s. Ba ll , Ba lme s, Madam e Ba rat, Bar on ius, Bayard,

Fath e r Be ckx, Ca rdin al Be to n , Bo ssue t, Fa th e r Th omas Burk e , Jam e s

Burn s, th e publish e r , Calde ro n , Car tie r , A rch bish op Oo rr igan , Cardi

n al Culle n , A ubr ey de Ve r e , Ken e lm Digby, R ich ard Doyle , Fath e r

Fabe r , Lady G . Full e rton , Mo th e r,Hallah an , A rchbish op Harm an ,

Dr . L in ga rd. D en is Flor e nce MacCar thy, Lo rd O’Hagan , R ev. C. W .

Russe ll , D .D .,Louis Veui llo t, Dr . Walsh , A rch bish op o f Dublin . W e

h ave r e ach ed th e e nd o f th e a lph abe t, but we h ave do n e so by jumping o ve r m any tim es. Th e po rtra its whi ch i llustrate th e se sk e tch e s

a r e , in th e five o r six in stance s in wh ich we a r e qua lified to judge , extr em e ly succe ssful . G ood Thin gs

” furn ish e s also in fo rmatio n on a

g r e a t va r i e ty o f in te r estin g to pics. It is a valuable and in te r estin g

additio n to a fam ily library.

1 1 . Fr om th e Un ited State s also come Vo lume s 1 3 and 1 4 o f th e

Ce n te n a ry Edition o f th e A sce tica l Wo rks o f St. A lph o n sus Liguo r i,admirably e dited and admirably prin ted and bound. Th e sam e in

de fa tigable publish e r s, th e Ben z ig e rs, h ave se n t n a th e seco nd vo lum e

o f th e Se rm o n s o f Fa th e r Julius Po ttg e isse r , S.J., tran sla ted fr om th e

G e rman by Fa th e r Jam e s Co nway, SJ . Thi s vo lum e co n ta in s se rmo n s

fo r fe stiva ls, fo r Le n t, and fo r th e Quaran t’Or e . Th e se disco ur se s a r e

full o f so lid ma tte r , pr opo sed with gr e at vigour . Be n z ige r h as a lso

pub lish ed m in ia tur e tr e a tise s o n Th e G o lden Praye r”

a n d o n Th e

Powe r o f th e Memo r ar e .

”A n o th e r pr e tty little bo okle t is St .

Th omas A quin as” by Fran cis 0 . P . Hays (Lo ndon R . Washbourn e ) .Mr Wash bo urn e is a lso th e publish e r o f Al l Souls

’

Fo rg e t-m e -n o t,

a praye r an d m editatio n bo ok fo r th e so lace o f th e sculs in purgato ry,tran sla ted from th e G e rman by Can on Mo se r . We must spe ak again

o f two v e ry diffe r e n t bo oks Fath e r A lbe rt Barry’s

“ Life o f Ble ssed

Marga r e t Ma ry”

(Lo ndon : Burn s an d Oate s), and So n gs in a Mino r

K ey by W . C. Hall, B.A . (Dublin Sealy, Bryors, and Walk er ).Th ey h ave o n e po in t in common—n ame ly; th at th ey ar e produced

with exce ll e n t taste .

58 Th e Ir ish Month ly.

j e cting arm, curved round th e margi n o f th e dark water , wi th its

lullaby music murmur in g pati e n tly fr om th e Bar , its lappin g waves

flingin g diam o nd circle ts pe rpe tua lly a t th e fe e t o f th e r ocks, an d

with its un ce r ta in glimpse s in to th e soft g lo om o f sil e n t gle n s,

sh e lte r ed fo r many a m ile un de r th e str on g arms o f th e m oun

tain s.

Th e r e draw th e cur ta in . G o back to yo ur rug , o ld dog . Wh a td o you kn ow abo ut it Th e se a is n o thi n g to y ou but a bro ad

sh in in g fascina tio n , towards whi ch your la zy spe cul a tin g eye s tur n

and r e turn . Y ou kn ow n o th i n g o f spir its cro ssin g , o f th e fata l

h o llows be twe e n wave s, o f th e wh ite cur l o f a squa l l spr e adin g , lik e

a pla gue-spo t , on th e br e a st o f a fair o ce a n . Ne ith e r do you k n ow

a nyth in g o f th e unsoun ded depth s o f th e h uman h e ar t, o f th e sh oals

a n d wr e cks in th a t sea , o f th e tr e ach e r o us r ocks an d diz zym a e lstroms ,

wh ich , at e ve ry br e a th we dr aw, be at out, and suck in,m o r tal an d

a las ! immo rta l lif e . A n d ao , th o ugh yo u sit th e r e , lo oki ng thr ough

m e , with th e a lm o st h um an sympa thy o f your eye s, you ar e o n ly a

dog , o ld fr ie nd, and th e o ld man must patch h is sto ry, and say h is say

a lo n e .

Mar gar e t A von and I we r e o ld man an d o ld wom an to g e th e r , and

ye t wh e n sh e wa s th e wedded mistr e ss o f Brack e n Ho llow,I was but

a yo un g lad g o in g to sch o o l , and used in vacatio n tim e s to r ide my

po'

ny ove r th e h ill s and h o llows o f G le n a rifie fo r a cup o f swe e t te a a t

Mistr e ss A vo n ’

s r oun d te a - tabl e,an d a g e n e r ous sh ar e o f th e cake s

an d m armal ade with wh ich th a t h o spitable bo a rd was wo n t to be

spr e ad fo r my de le ctatio n . But at le ast h alf my e rr an d th e r e wa s

to g e t a glimpse o f tiny Mary A von’s sl e epin g face , so fair a nd

plump, un de r th e blue can opy o f h e r co t . Fo r baby Mary A vo n

was th en to m e th e myste ry o f myste r ies, as sh e was in ye a rs afte r

wards th e pe ar l, th e ve ry sun be am ,th e blush - r ose o f wom an

h o od .

I will tr e ad ligh tly, an d but a few steps of thi s so litary by-

path o f

my sto ry. L e t th e r o se s m oul de r th e r e wh e r e th ey fe ll, sn apt fr om

th e ir stems so m any ye ars ago , and th e passio n-flowe rs sh r ive l in to

dust, an d th e de ad le ave s lie in sh iftin g m oun ds, stir r ed o n ly by th e

whi spe r o f m e lan ch o ly winds, undisturbed by th e fa ll o f e ve n th e

h o lie st fo o t . Mary A vo n fled fr om h e r h om e to be th e wi fe o f o n e

wh o brok e h er h e art and de se rted h e r ch i ld. Th e r e a r e days upo n

wh ich m any of th e ag ed can lo ok back , wh e n wo rds an d sce n e s wh ich

a r e burn ed in to m em o ry we r e first bran de d th e r e . Such o ld sca rs still

stin g , wh e n th e se dulled eye s g lan ce again to th e h our wh e n , a str ong

and be arded man,I almo st kn e lt to Margar e t A vo n in th at o ld r e d.

drawin g-ro om at Brack en Ho ll ow, and sued for Mary

’

s m emo ry an d

B racken Hollow. 59

Mary’s ch ild. But th e cr ags o f Lurg e don a r e n o t to b e toppled in to

th e vall ey by peckin g bi rds, n o r was th e we dge o f stem r e so lve to be

wrench ed from Margar e t A vo n’s soul by praye rs. Mary was go n e ,

and,as th ough sh e h ad n ev e r be e n , th e existe n ce o f h e r ch ild was to

r emain un r e co gn ise d . I to ok th e little o rph an h om e , an d if Hughwas wr on g ed, I a t le ast was a ga in e r by hi s lo ss .

Up to this da te I h ad kn own Marg a r e t A von as a larg e , come ly

matron , with pr o spe rity lyin g smo o th o n h e r br o ad fo r e h e ad, an d a

helpful mag ic lurkin g in th e palm o f h e r str on g , whi te h and wi th

all h e r actio ns, impulse s o f char ity, o f pr ide , o r of an g e r but th at

blow struck to th e r oo t o f h e r life . Th e tr e e did n o t fal l , n o r to tte r

it sto od o n, but th e sap was go n e . Ye ar s we n t by, an d brough t de a th

twice aga in to th e th r e sh o ld o f th e o ld h ouse , m akin g h e r a widow,

and be r e ft o f h er o n ly so n . Th e n th e str o ng lin e s h ad h arde n ed, th e

s oft curve s tigh te n ed, th e go od-hum our ed eye s gr own co ld, an d th e

firm mouth ha rd. Sh e becam e a gaun t woman , with a ben t masculin e

figure , an d a h arsh coun te n an ce . A s such I kn ew‘

h e r , still as a

friend, an d o fte n as pa tien t, about th e th e wh e n, a middl e -aged

bach e lo r,I foun d myse lf se ttl ed down unde r th is ro o f

, with th e

physician’s practice o f th e gle n s a nd vi llag e fo r my work , a n d with

Mary’s ch i ld fo r some thi n g to lo ve , some thi n g to k e ep my h e a rt

gr een . Fo r Ma rga r e t A vo n ,sittin g ste rn ly in th a t r ed drawing

-r o om

at Brack e n Ho ll ow, with h e r face from th e wo r ld, and h e r eye s fixed

pe rpe tua lly o n h e r desola te h e ar th , would n o t fo rgive th e de ad . Th e

o nly tie sh e r eco gn ised was th e ch ild o f h e r de ad son . Th e little girl

had be en bo rn in Ita ly, wh e r e h e r fath e r h ad passed all th e late r

years o f h is life . In th is gran dch ild, wh om sh e h ad n e ve r se e n,a ll

the wom a n’s sympath ie s with life we r e bound up. Th e ch ild was

said to b e de lica t e , an d lest sh e sh ould inh e r it h e r fa th e r’s dise a se ,

consumptio n , th e anxio us gran dmo th e r h ad de cr e ed, with bo ld se lf

denia l,th at sh e sh ould r e ma in abr o ad wi th th e Engli sh lady to wh o se

care h e r fath e r h ad e n trusted h e r educa tio n ,—sh ould be sun n ed and

ripe n ed by Italian sk ie s, ti ll th e dawn o f h e r womanh ood,an d th at

then , and th e n o n ly, sh o ul d G le n ar iffe be h e r h om e . A nd ye t th e o ld

woman’

s ye a rn in g to se e th e ch ild was pite ous, and I k n ew th at sh e

dreaded le st de a th migh t se a l h e r eye s befo r e th ey could b e sa tis

tied.

Ye a rs pa ssed . I was gr ey.

’

Hugh was a m a n , an d would so o n be

a docto r . A n ava l life would suit h im . I fe lt th at h e would go o ff

in a sh ip on e day an d l e av e m e . He h ad b e e n studying to o clo se ly.

I had sen t fo r h im ,in sistin g o n a h o l iday. We we r e ch a ttin g to g e th e r

in th e garde n . It was a brigh t May eveni n g , th e h awth o r n blo ssoms

wer e n o t ye t do n e , th e lilacs we r e in blo om . Th e sun was r ed o n h is


face , an d th e le d was as glad as a child at h is n ew fr e edom ,

Obse rvin g him with pride , I th o ugh t him m o r e r ema rkabl e fo r an air

o f in h e r e n t powe r an d a da sh o f frank n e ss, th an fo r m e r e h andsom e

l o oks. I th ough t I saw hi s ch a racte r in h is be ar ing and co un te nance .

pur e h on our e n n oblin g th e br ow,fide lity to truth we ll - ope n in g th e

eye , th e h o t g en e r ous tempe ram e n t ligh tin g th e wh o l e face with

e l e ctr ic glows an d Sparkl e s an d th e ca r e l e ss g a ie ty o f youth dan cing

i n l igh ts and sh adows o n th e to ssin g brown cur ls un de r h is straw h a t .

Som e on e spok e to m e at th e ga te . It wa s a m e sse n g e r fr om Brack e n

Ho llow,r eque stin g m e to visit Mr s A vo n . I le ft Hugh amusin g him

se lf with som e little fe llows on th e be ach,and we n t . Marga r e t h ad a

r e que st to m ak e . G race was o n h e r way h om e, was in En gland .

Fr i e n ds r e tur n in g from Italy h ad brough t h e r as far a s th e ir h ome in

Lo n do n . W ould I go an d fe tch h e r to Brack e n Ho llow

I th o ugh t, Mar ga re t A vo n fo rg e ts th a t I e m n o t still th e boy wh o

use d to e at h e r'

m a rmalade at yo n de r table fo rty ye ars sin ce , and

car ry h e r fo o tsto o l . an d g o o n h e r e rr an ds wh ith e r so e ve r sh e ple ased .

But th e n ext m om e n t I fe lt th is to be a ch ur lish th ough t fo r o n e o ld

fr ie nd to h a rbo ur towards an o th e r , a nd I pr omised to go .

Ne xt day I we n t . A few wo rds m ade Hugh unde r stan d th e

purpo se o f my journ ey. Beyo nd th o se few wo rds n o thi n g was sa id

b e twe e n us o n th e matte r . Of co urse th e lad k n ew a ll th e de ta ils of

h is own sto ry, but h is po sitio n was a subj ect wh ich h e n e ve r

appr o ach e d, n o r did Iwish to h e a r h im spe ak o f it. Iwas sur e o f h is fast

a ffection h e was eve n to o gr ate ful fo r a nyth in g I h ad don e fo r him

but I kn ew th at th e pr ide o f th e A vo n s sm o ulde r ed in th e depth s o f

h i s n a tur e . I saw i t wh e n h e co ur te o usly un co ve r e d h is h e ad to hi s

g ra ndmo th e r o n Sundays a s sh e cam e fo rth fr om th e villag e chur ch to

h e r carr iag e , with h e r eye s fixed on th e gr o und l e st sh e sh o uld se e

h im . I de te cted it in th e gn awing o f th e lip an d co n tr actin g o f

th e brows wh e n we sto od to admir e som e r ich bit o f wo oded landwith

a traditio n o f th e A vo n fam ily scr awle d o ve r th e gn a r led trunk o f

e ve ry o ld tr e e . A n d eve n m o r e fo rcibly h ave I se en it wh e n , bych ance , h e h as h e a rd h imse lf a lluded to by th e k indly pe asan ts

wh o compassio n a ted h im a s po o r Mr Hugh .

” I kn ew h e fe lt th e

stin g o f th e fir e h imse lf, an d dr e ade d th e o ccasion wh ich m igh t

stir it to a bla z e . I kn ew th a t h e wish ed a ll th e wo r ld to r eco gn ise

h im a s o n e wh o fe lt h imse lf sufficie n t to ca rve h is own fo rtun e ,

a n d was to o h igh-spir ited to claim any r e la tionsh ip wh ich was so

c rue lly ig n o r ed .

1 we n t upo n my mi ssio n . I made my way to a gay h ouse in a

fa sh io nable par t o f Lo ndo n . I a r rived th e r e in th e m idst o f a br illian t

e n te rta inm e n t . I was expected, and we lcom ed . It was all out o f my

Bracken Ho llow. 61

way, and I sh ould h ave yie lded to th e inclin ation o f fatigue and r e

t ir ed quie tly an d a t o n ce , but th at my curio sity to se e G race woul d

n o t re st ti ll m o r n in g . Wh e n I made my appe ar an ce amo n g th e

gue sts, I found‘

th em e n gage d in witn e ssin g th e pe rfo rman ce of

charade s. I to ok my place as a spe cta to r , an d quick ly h ad MissG race A vo n po in ted out to m e am ong th e pe rfo rm e rs . Th us

,fo r th e

fir st tim e , I saw h e r in wh om afte rwa rds I h ad so stran g e an in te r e st.

M em o ry h as odd wh ims i n h e r de a lin gs with th e m a te r ials

furn ish ed to h e r . Som e sh e lays by in dim scr o lls , se ldom to be

Ope n ed an d with di fficulty. Oth e rs a r e spr e ad, faul tle ss ch a rts, pe r

pe tual ly visible , and ye t ma rk ed o ut in such dull in k th a t th ey a r e

li ttle b e tte r th an b la nks . Wh i le , a ga in , som e tr ivia l ch an ce be come s

at o nce a pictur e , pa in ted in impe r ish a ble co lour s, glowin g with un tad

ing life , r e fus in g to g row pa l e with tim e, o r to be dark e n ed by

sh adows .

I s e e h e r n ow distin ctly. It was a th o rough ly Ital ian face , dark

and cl e ar , with br igh t l ips a nd a r ich ch e ek . I h ad n e ve r se e n anyth in gs o som b r e ye t so lustr ous as th e eye s. Som e br i llian t dr ape ry was

fo lded r ound h er h e ad lik e a turban, g iving an o r ie n ta l efie ct . I do

n o t kn ow wh a t th e ch arade was ; I n e ve r th o ugh t o f askin g . Th e

idea m ust h ave b e e n som e th in g about a slave a slave lo aded with

sple nd o ur , a n d ye t ch afing un de r a se n se o f de grada tio n an d captivity.

A t l e a st so sh e , in h e r actin g , se em ed to r e nde r it . Sh e we n t th r ough

a str a n ge pan tomim e , wr e n ch in g at th e g ilde d ch a in s th a t sh ack led

h e r wr ists, flin gin g h e r j ewe ls passio n at e ly o n th e g ro und, an d spe ak

ing fo r th sh am e and de spa ir fr om h e r dumb face with te r r ible r e a li ty'

.

I fe lt i t un accoun tab ly str an g e to se e h e r th us fo r th e fir st tim e,acting

with such a pite ous mim icry o f truth in th is gay cr owd, dr e sse d with

such m agn ifice n ce , and expr e ssin g so vividly h e r h a tr ed o f h e r se lf,

h e r b e auty, and h e r ado rnm e n ts. I sa id,h ow can this g ir l act so

un le ss sh e fe e ls it 7 Wh a t tr oubl e s h e r Why is sh e so wr e tch ed

A n d th e n I smi led a t myse lf fo r a fo o lish o ld man o f th e m oun ta in s,

wh o was be h ind th e ag e , and k n ew n o th ing o f th e cunn in g o f such

cle ve r di splays. But, my be autiful Miss G race , I sa id, h ow will th e se

fan ta stic accomplishm e n ts th r ive a t Brack e n Ho llow?I saw h e r n ext at a di stance in th e ba llro om ,

afte r th e pe rfo rman ce

h ad e n ded . Sh e was th e ce n tre o f a g roup o f evide n t adm ir e r s, and

was l aughin g and spark ling a ll o ve r with m e rr im e n t . He r dr e ss was

a ro b e o f som e thi ng wh ite , which flash ed about h e r a s sh e m o ved

an d I r emembe r th at h e r h air was boun d with some th ing blo od-r ed,

li ke co ra l . I saw our h o ste ss .m ove towards h e r , fo r th e purpose , I

kn ew, o f acqua in tin g h e r with th e fact o f my arr iva l. He r ch e eks

h ad be e n flush ing , h e r lips sm iling , but all at on ce flush a nd smil e

62 The Im’

sh Mon th ly.

v an ish ed, le avin g h e r pa l e and still . Sh e turn ed abruptly away from .

th e disappo in ted gr oup, and slowly fo llowed th e lady m e sse n g e r from

th e ro om . A minute afte rwa rds I was in tro duced to h e r in a dim

a n te - r o om , wh e r e th e so ftly- sh ed ligh t was ye t sufficie n t to sh ow m e

th e shr inking step, th e pa in ed lip, th e whi te ch e ek , and th e o n e rapid

t e rr ified glan ce fr om eye s th at we r e in stan tly ave r ted and obstin ate ly

r e fused to m e e t mi n e aga in .

Wh a t was it Co n scie n ce win ced . It was true th at I h ad ia

dulg ed an unwa rran table pr e judice aga in st th is gi rl and could it b e

a lso true th at th e r e may arise , with out th e commun ica tion o f a wo rd,

with sca rce th at o f a lo ok , som e swift subtle in stin ct, passing from

o n e spir it to a n o th e r , warn in g o f th e existe n ce o f di slik e o r distrust ,

e ve n as such an in stin ct is sa id in o th e r in stan ce s to h e rald th e

appro ach o f fai th o r o f love

Our gr e e tin g was sh o r t an d embarr assed . I h ad lo ng sin ce for

g o tte n th e m o r e po lish ed fo rms of addr e ss be twe e n ladie s and

g en tlem e n o f th e wo r ld. I could h ave spok e n a k in d wo rd to thi s

frigh te n ed ch i ld h ad I m e t h e r a t h om e amo ng th e m oun ta ins, but

h e r e in th ese courtly ch amb e rs th e m e r e spo n tan e ous go od-will o f

n a tur e se em ed out o f place . I saw h e r glide back to th e ba ll- r o om

with a blan ch ed, cowed a spe ct, but wi th a som e th in g o f pr o ud r e se rve

th at fo r e bade obse rva tio n . Sh e se a ted h e rse lf at a di stan t table an d

afie cted to turn ove r som e drawin gs, but h e r face was o fte n ave r ted

to th e sh utte r ed win dow be side h e r , as th ough sh e studi ed som e

r eco rd o f abso rbin g in te r e st wr itte n o n th e blank o f th e pain te d

wo od . A nd so , de spite my fo rm e r de te rm in ed in diffe r e nce to eve ry

thi n g co n ce rn in g Miss G r ace A von , I r e tir ed th a t n igh t hl led with a

troubled pe rplexity, an d str an g e ly in te r e sted in th e own e r o f th e co ld,

damp, li ttle h an d th at h ad fo r a m om e n t touch ed m in e , and th e

sombre eye s th a t h ad sh unn ed m e with an expr e ssion so much lik e

pain and fe ar scarce ly h idde n un de r th e ir l ids.

We accomplish ed our jour n ey in safe ty, but with out efiectin g

much m o r e pr o g r e ss towards fr i e n dsh ip th an we h ad m ade o n th e

e ven in g o f our first acqua in tance . A n impe n e trable r e se rve sh e a th ed

th e g ir l . On ce o r twice I de te cte d h e r studyin g my face with a wist

ful, que stio n in g e xpr e ssio n in h e r eye , a s th ough som e burde n som e

se cr e t h ove r ed o n h e r to n gue , an d sh e tr ie d, un se e n , to soun d m e,to

discove r wh e th e r o r n o t I m igh t be trustwo r thy to r e ce ive th a t wh ich

sh e h ad to te ll . Thi s wa s th e ide a wh ich impr e ssed m e at th e tim e ,

an d from wh ich I could n o t fr e e my th ough ts. It se em ed an absurd

fan cy, fo r wh at tr oubl e coul d sh e h av e?A n d ye t th e impr e ssio n

would n o t be sh ak e n o ff, but clun g to m e with a n n oyin g te n aci ty.

I assur e d myse lf th at sh e was on ly timid, an d shy o f appe ar in g .

B racken Ho llow. 63

among n ew fri e nds . It will we ar away, I said ; an d I tried to win

her confide n ce and to be as kindly towa rds h e r as th e th o ugh t o f

Hugh would suffe r m e to be .

I th ough t th e wo ndr ous visio n o f our gl en s will wak e h e r up, fo r

I fee l th a t sh e h as a soul z and wh o h a s e ve r se e n our G le n ar ifie

wi thout e n t husiasm , with its m ists and br e ak e rs, i ts h e a th e ry crags

and mossy kn o l ls, its vivid r a inbows and thunde r in g fa lls— e ve n

in its win te r aspect, wh en eve ry m oun ta in th at se a rch e s its sky

is wh ite fr om base to cr own , wh e n e ve ry pur e pe ak stan ds lik e

a sinl ess so ul expe cting its palm , and wh e n th e cry o f h un ted

waters le a ps from crag to crag , an d is lo st in th e appa llin g gusts

blown la n dwar d fr om th e lips o f implacable se a sto rms. A nd h ow

much m o r e in summ e r , wh e n th e go lde n sh e ave s stan d upo n th e

sunny slope s, l e a ni n g th e ir h o t sh oulde r s again st o n e an o th e r,an d

waiting' fo r th e h a r ve st-h om e wh e n th e cun n in g b lackbird scarce

knows h is way th r o ugh th e labyr in th s o f fo l iag e , an d wh e n th e r e is a

hidde n par a dise in e ve ry fa r n o ok wh e re th e youn g a sh e s be nd to th e

wate r un de r th e ir secr e t, an d dr ip, dr ip th e ir myste r io us whi spe rs a ll

day, till th e sun g e ts tir ed se a rch in g fo r th em am o n g th e th ick e ts, an d

the mo o n se nds a silve r tok e n flo a ting down th e be ck , o n th e cr e st o f

a t iple t .

A s we e n te r ed th e gle n s in th e fading sun se t, th e h ills smil ed

seren e ly, a nd th e se a u s a str e tch o f pale go ld . Th e cry o f th e

moun ta in e e r,as h e passed from h e igh t to h e igh t skyward, se ar ch in g

fo r str ay l ambs, fe ll in dr e amy ech o e s th r o ugh th e e th e r , an d we

could h e ar a t in te r vals th e an swe r in g bl e at o f a sh e ep fr om som e

perilous le dge alo ft, wh e r e it lo ok ed to our upturn ed eye s l ik e a sn ow

flake dr ifted wh ite upo n th e br illian t h e rbag e . It wa s to m e a

mom e n t o f exquisi te be auty a n d pe ace but th e n in my ca r th e h o r se s’

fe e t we r e tro ttin g to th e music o f Hom e, swe e t h om e 1

”wh e r e as

Miss G r ace A vo n h ad be e n nur sed un de r Ita lian skie s, a n d b eh e ld

our wi ld h igh la nd sce n e ry with a*

stran g e r’s eye s . So I fo r ebo r e to

distur b h e r m e dita tio n as sh e sa t, quit e s till , h e r ve il just fo ldedabo ve h e r brows, h e r pa le lips fast sh ut, an d h e r h e avy dark eye s fixed

blindly o n th e dimm in g h o r iz o n .

A r rived a t Brack e n Ho llow a touch in g pictur e m e t our eye s. Out

in th e purple twiligh t. sown with bla z in g sta rs, gr owin g fr om th e

heavie r sh adows be h in d, an d fr am ed by th e fr own im,r do o rway, a tall

ben t figur e sto od. A sh ak in g , with e r e d h a n d g r a spin g a s tick , a

rugged face so fte n ed with ye arn in g lo ve , a h a rd- lin e d m outh nu

wontedly r e laxed an d quive r in g , and fr o z e n eye s m e l tin g with fo r e ign

mo istur e . So I saw Ma rgar e t A vo n , a nd in spite o f fide li ty to Hugh ,Iwas to uch ed to compassion fo r th e woman wh o , h avin g withi n h e r


r ills of ten de rn e ss so warm, could h ave snfie red pride to pe tr ify h e r

l ife , and turn h e r to th e th in g o f ston e I h ad kn own h e r fo r th e man y

past ye ar s.

So sh e sto od with h e r on e sh r ive l led h and str e tch ed fo rth in e ag e r

g r e e tin g . I fe l t G race’

s fin g e rs slip from my a rm , and be fo r e I could

pr eve n t h e r th e stran ge g ir l h ad sun k upo n h e r kn e e s a t h e r grand

mo th e r ’s fe e t,with h e r face to th e flags o n th e th r e sh o ld.

My ch ild, my de ar , my dar li ng I wh a t is th is quave r e d fo rthth e po o r o ld rusty vo ice , whi le th e sh ak in g h and tr ie d to drag upward

th e be n t dusky h e ad fr om wh ich th e bo nn e t a nd ve il h ad fa llen . Be

n o t fr igh te n ed, my lo ve , but we lcom e , a th ousand tim e s we lcom e,to

yo ur po o r o ld grandm o th e r’s h om e ,

—your po o r o ld grandm o th e r .your

poo r o ld lo n e ly grandmo th e r 1”

sh e k ept o n r epe atin g , wh ile G race ,

cr e epin g to h e r a t las t with a so b, suffe r ed h e rse lf to be ga th e r ed to

th e o ld wom an’s h e ar t . I le ft th em sittin g o n th e h e a r th in th e r ed

drawin g- r o om , G r ace with h e r face bur ied in Margar e t

’s go wn , and

th e o ld h and passin g fo n dly ove r th e thi ck cur ls.

Two m o rn in gs a fte rwa rds I wa s sittin g by th e ope n win dow in th e

sun , r e adin g th e L ance t. Hugh was stan din g at th e bo okcase ,

po r in g in to a bo ok . Th e pa r lour do o r was ajar , and th e h a l l doo r

wide ope n ,as it is th e fashi o n fo r G le n ’

s h all do o rs to sta nd during

th e day. I saw a ph a e to n , wh ich I kn ew,dr aw up a few pe rch e s

away, an d in it I saw two figur e s, wh ich'I a lso r e co gn ise d . Th e

youn g e r spr an g fr om th e step, an d cam e quickly towa rd th e co ttage .

Sh e passed in a t th e ga te , in a t th e ope n do o r ; a tap cam e o n th e

pan e l outside , a nd th e r e sh e sto od be fo r e us G r ace A vo n .

N eve r h ad anyth in g so br igh t g ladde n ed o ur sobe r little parlour .

Th e whi te dr e ss,th e black g o ssam e r sh awl h an g in g fr om h e r arms,

th e slouch ed h at, with its r o se -co lour ed r ibbon , crown in g th e r ipe face

a n d clo udy cur ls, a ll made up a pictur e wh o se r ich swe e tn e ss was a

fe ast to th e eye . A glam our o f e n ch an tm e n t se em ed to e n te r th e ro om

with h e r , a south e r n br e e z e stir r ed in th e m o tion of h e r g own , a

str eak o f Itali an sun sh in e se em ed to fo llow in h e r wak e th r o ugh th e

do o r . I th ough t Ma ry’s h a ir was just o n e sh ade dark e r th an th e

laburn um blo ssom s,an d Mary

’s eye s we r e th e colour o f fo rg e t

-m e

n o ts ; but thi s is a be autiful woman .

”A s sh e e n te r e d, Hugh star ted,

an d lo ok e d up with a h asty glan ce o f h one st and arde n t admira tion ,

wh o se warm th surpr ise fo rbade h im to mode ra te . Th e yo ung lady

se em ed to r e se n t thi s in vo lun tary h omage o f po o r Hugh’s ; sh e dush ed,

r e tur n ed hi s bow stimy, a nd h avin g de live r ed h e r m e ssag e , fo llowed

m e fr om th e r o om .

Wh o is h e sh e ask ed, abruptly, in th e Ha ll .I was angry fo r Hugh , and fe lt h ar sh ly towards h e r at th e

momen t . I an swe r ed brusque ly

66 The Ir ish Mon { h /y.

h an d and placin g it firmly on my own a rm ,

“ my de ar ch ild, you must

n o t distre ss yo urse lf so de eply abo ut th is, it is n o t your fault .

”

Sh e gave m e a pite ous glan ce , be n t down h e r h e ad , and bur st in to

a passion of te ars,sobbing vio le n tly, with h e r fo r eh e ad again st my

sle e ve .

It is a stran ge , waywa rd, an d I be lie ve g e n e r ous n atur e , I

th o ugh t. as I we n t o n my way, h avin g se n t h e r back to th e h ouse .

R e turn in g past th e gate s, and hudin g myse lf in a diffe r e n t m o od

fr om th a t in wh ich I h ad r e fused Ma rgar e t A vo n’s invita tio n , I tur n e d

into th e ave n ue , an d walked al o ng by th e soft, n o ise le ss turf. So on I

was sta rtled fo r th e seco nd tim e th at n igh t by se e in g a sligh t figur e

m o ving amo n g th e tr e e s. It was passing to and fr o , to and fro upon

th e gr ass quite n e ar me . I stopped wh e r e a tr e e h id m e fr om th e

dan g e r of be ing se e n . He ave n kn ows I di d n o t m e an to be a spyupon th e po o r g ir l , but I was de eply in te r e sted in h e r . Th e m o o n

sh on e larg e an d cle a r down th r o ugh th e br an ch e s o n th e mo ssy r o o ts

an d trunks, a n d o n th e r ich wilde rn e ss o f th e un de rwo od, th rowin g

dim flittin g sh adows ove r th e impatie n t wh ite figur e th a t paced and

paced, and wo uld n o t we ary n o r r e st . Wh ile I sto od, wi th a fe ar an d

a; fo r ebodin g o f I kn ew n o t wh at ste a l ingupo n m e an d m ingling with

th e sympathy wh ich h ad be e n k e e nly awak en ed, th e figur e suddenly

pause d in its wa lk , th e arms we r e dun g abo ve th e h e ad in an attitude

o f abando nm e n t, an d a loud groan ing wh ispe r r e ach e d m e thr ough

th e cle ar sti ll a i r

No t my fault—n o t my fault O G od, pity m e

I we n t h om e .

PA RT II .

Th e n ext tim e th at G race came to th e co ttage sh e gave h e r h an d t o

Hugh with an e ag e rn e ss th a t m ade th e brave fe ll ow blush an d

tr emble lik e a g ir l . He r vo ice was ve ry swe e t th a t day, a nd h e r

ma n n e r v e ry so ft and subdued . A fte r sh e h ad g o n e , Madge , my o ld

se r van t, gav e it a s h e r emph atic opin io n (de li ve r ed to th e ea t o n th e

ki tch e n h e ar th ) th a t Miss G r ace ’s sm ile would co ax th e birds 0 11 th e

bush .

” Th at e ve n ing Hugh sat fo r a lo n g , lo n g tim e sta ring out a t

th e bay with an expr e ssion o n h is face wh ich I h ad n e ve r se e n th e r e

b e fo r e . A n d I th o ugh t Oh , Hugh , Hugh , my de ar lad ! is it fa te d

th a t th is wom a n sh a ll br in g e ve n ye t m o r e tro ubl e upo n us

A bo ut th is time Margar e t A von h ad a slicg h t illn ess, and G r ace

Bracken Ho llow. 67

had an errand to th e villag e o n h er h o rse almo st e ve ry day—fo r

books, fo r m edi cin e , or fo r th e gra tificatio n of som e wh im o f h e r

grandmo th e r , wh o in sisted o n th e gir l’s ridin g e ve ry m o r n in g , lest h e r

health sh oul d suffe r fr om th e clo se a tte ndan ce upo n h e r wh ich G rac

m disposed to give . But Marga r e t did n o t k n ow th at Hugh was a t

the co ttage , o r sh e would a ssur edl y n eve r h ave se n t G race can te rin g

up to its po rch m o rn in g afte r m o rn ing , with ch e eks g lowin g , lips

sta rlet, an d eye s sparklin g with th e h e a lth ful exe rcise . I sh ould h ave

spoke n of h is be in g th e r e , o n ly fo r th e fe a r o f agitatin g h e r

dange rously by m e n tio n ing a n am e wh ich fo r so many lo n g ye ars h ad

been a fo rbidde n o n e be twe e n us. A n d so G r ace cam e and we n t, an d

I soon saw h ow Hugh’s eye s flash e d wh e n th e cla tte r o f th e we l l

known h o o fs soun de d in o ur e ars th r ough th e ope n wi ndow, an d h ow

eagerly h e h urr ied to th e ga te to h e lp h e r fr om h e r saddl e .

A t last I said to h im o n e day

Hugh , my lad I th ink you h ad be tte r g o back to your wo rk .

He , kn owin g ve ry we ll wh at I m e an t, m e t my eye s fran kly, an d

a id

Y es ; I th ink I bad.

A nd h e we n t .

Ou Ma r g ar et’s r e cove ry h e r first ca r e was to in vite v isito rs to

Bracke n Ho llow. Th e h ouse was so o n fille d,a n d ba l ls an d pic

-n ics

and boa tin g partie s passed th e summ e r days and nigh ts ga ily fo r its

inmate s. I n e ve r j o in ed in th e ir amusem e n ts, but I lo o ke d in n o w

and aga in ,just to se e h ow our yo un g Ita lia n r o se b lo om ed o n th e

mounta in - side and, findi n g h e r pa l e a n d we a ry- lo ok in g , an d subj e ct

to her o ld str an g e m o o ds, I o rde r ed h e r to r e n e w h e r exe rcise o n h o rse

back. But h e r gay gue sts fr om town di d n o t car e fo r r idin g , th eyfound th e G l e n r o ads to o ro ugh .

“ We ll, th e n .

” I sa id, you must r ide a lo n e . We ca n n o t h ave

gmndmamm a br e akin g h e r h e ar t a bout th o se pa le ch e eks .

”

An d a ft e r th at I h ad m any an e a rly visit fr om G r ace , wh o would

arrive a t my do o r o f m orn ings wh en I was sittin g down to my e igh t

O’

clock br e akfast, an d flash in to th e r o om , cryin gWill you give m e a cup o f your te a , do cto r Th o se la zy pe opl e a t

the Ho ll ow wil l n o t h ave br e akfast fo r two h o ur s to com e .

”

Sh e h ad som e sui to rs am o n g h e r gay vi sito rs . Ou o n e o f th e se

a han dsom e, wea lthy fe llow

—I th ough t Ma rga r e t A vo n lo o k ed with

favour , th ough I sca rce ly imagin ed th a t sh e co uld co n templa te pa r t

ing with h e r pr e cious ch ild so so o n . But a ll th e se fin e pe ople se em e d

only to we ary G race , and sh e evide n tly r e garded as so ma ny bo oms

the stray h ours spe n t with me an d Madg e and R ough .

Hugh h ad be e n gon e two m o n th s, wh e n o n e m o r n in g I h ad a n 0 1 e

‘68 Th e Ir ish Mo nth ly.

to say th at h e h ad tak e n a dislike to h is wo rk , h ad g ot h eadach es,a nd must h a ve a day

—ii o n ly a day— in th e G le n s to r e fr esh him . I

sh o ok my h e ad o ver th e le tte r . Ne v e r h ad Hugh tak en a wh im lik e

th is be fo r e . I l ifted a vase of flowe rs arranged by G race yeste rdaym o r n in g , lifted th em

, br e a th e d th e ir swe e tn e ss, and sh o ok my h ead

a ga in . Da n ge rous, I sa id ; dan g e r ous 1” But; fe el in g th at I

c o uld do n o th in g, I was fa in to apply myse lf to th e Lancet, and try to

fo rge t my pe rplexitie s.

La te th a t e ve n in g . in th e m idst o f th e first sh owe r o f a th un de r

sto rm, G race’s ste ed flew to th e do o r , an d G r ace h e rse lf cried with

comica l distr e ss

Docto r docto r wi ll you tak e m e in an d dry m e

I l ifted h e r , laugh ing , fr om th e saddle , and car r ied h e r in a l l

dr ippin g wi th r a in . Madg e , with many Me rcy m e -s l"and He ar t

a live s l”h e lped to fr e e h e r fr om h e r dr e nch ed h abit, an d afte r sh e

h ad r e - appe ar ed to m e , ar rayed in a wr appe r o f pink pr in t be lon gin gto Madg e

'

s daugh te r , wi th h e r limp h a ir brush ed we t from h e r fo r e

h ead, and h e r face as fr esh as a n ewly-wa sh ed r o se , afte r this I sa id

Now, my de ar , you a r e sto rm -stayed fo r th e n igh t. I h ave sen t

back th e se rvan t to say so to your gr an dmo th e r . L e t Madg e se t fo rth

h e r be st te a -cups an d pr epa r e h e r m o st de lectable g riddle-cak e s, an d

le t us mak e ourse lve s as so ciable as possible . Your gay fr ie nds mustspar e yo u to a s till to -m o r r ow.

Sh e laugh ed, a n d te a rs flash ed in to h e r eyes, wh ich A pril-lik e

con tradi ctio n o f m o o d was a tr ick o f h e re wh en much ple ased. Th e

n ext m inute sh e sa id abruptlyDocto r

,if I we r e to b e tur n ed out by my g randmo th e r , and to

c om e to yo u a be gga r , wo uld you call m e my dea r ,’and g ive m e a

n igh t’s lodg in g til l I sh ould find som ewh e r e to go to

“ Y e s,”said I, laughi ng a t h e r e arn e stn ess and pe rh aps a cup

o f te a , to o , if you we r e a g o od g ir l . A nd wh o kn ows but I m igh t

s e nd you to fe tch my slippe r s, a n d in sta l you beh ind my te a-

po t-

a s

h ousek e epe r an d sto ck in g-dar n e r to a sin g le o ld g e n t leman

Sh e sa id, e ag e r ly, Would you and th en turn ed away and

we n t o ut of th e ro om . No t lo n g a fte rwards I h e ard h e r putting much

th e sam e que stio n to Madg e , in th e kitch e n .

Madg e , if I we r e a beggar a nd cam e to th e back do o r , would

.you give m e a bit o f th at cak e , an d call m e Miss G race , dar ling ,’an d

l et m e sit h e r e and nurse pussy o n my kn e e

A nd th e n I h e a rd Madge’s sta r tled r e jo inde r ,

Fo r th e Lo rd’s sake , Miss G r ace To be sur e I would, with a

h e art e u’ a -h a lf 1”

Wh at can fill h e r bra in with such fan cies I th ough t. How could

Bracke n Ho llow.

h e r g ra n dmo th e r eve r turn aga in st h e r Un le ss,inde ed—and th en

m y th o ugh ts wande r ed away to th in gs po ssible in con n ectio n with

Hugh . But, n o h e r own two gran dch ildr e n

He r e my r edaction s we r e in te rrupted by a kn o ckin g at th e do o r . I

sta r te d to my fe e t, an d flun g away my pape r . It was Hugh’s kn o ck .

I saw th e ir m e e tin g th at n igh t o n th e brigh t sanded h e arth o f

Ha dg e’

s kitch e n , whith e r Hugh h ad rush ed to sh ak e o ff h is we t

g r e a tcoa t, an d fr om th at h our I m ade up my m in d to o n e th in ga in e vitable . G race m ade our te a th at n igh t and butte r ed our cak e s

,

a n d a fte rwards th ey two r e ad po e try to g e th e r a t th e table , lik e a pa ir

o f yo un g fo o ls (I give th e n am e in a ll ten de rn e ss) , a pair of wise ,h appy fo o li sh ch ildr e n .

But th e n ext day br ough t th e cavali e r be fo r e -m e n tio n ed to con duct

M iss A vo n h om e . He tr e a ted m e an d Hugh with th e a ir o f a supe r io r

b e i n g , an d I co uld n o t but sm ile as Hugh , h avin g co n ducted h imse lf

t owa rds th e visito r with much dign ified h auteur,fin a l ly flun g th e

g a te , an d mutte r ed som e th in g fie rce be twe en h i s te e th wh ich I could

n o t h e a r .

A ft e r th at little adven ture th e r e was an e n d o f G race’s visits to th e

co tta g e . He r g randmo th e r h e ard o f Hugh in cide n ta lly fr om th e

c av a li e r , and G r ace was o rde re d to tur n h e r h o r se’s h e ad in a diffe r e n t

d ir e ction from th e village wh e n sh e we n t o n h e r r ide s. So we saw n o

m o r e o f h e r fo r som e tim e but Hugh h ad h is co n so la tio n in h e ar in go f th e dismissal o f th e cavali e r , wh o , fo llowed by th e r e st o f th e

v isito rs, to ok h is way from Br a ck e n Ho llow soo n a ft e r .

Hug h’s day

”le n gth e n ed in to som e we eks

,and h e h ad n e ve r

o n ce se e n G race sin ce th at n igh t . Mar ga r e t was gr owin g ve ry we akly,

a n d I was obliged to visit th e Ho llow r e gul a rly. Ou th e se o cca sio n s

it st ruck m e th at G race was lo ok in g ill an d de j e cte d, I in var iablyfo un d h e r se a ted patie n tly by h e r grandmo th e r

’s side . Po o r Marga r e t

sa id h e r ch ild was th e best o f nurse s. On e eve n in g sh e accompan ied

m e to th e h all -do o r . A utumn wa s wan in g fast, th e sun se t g la r ed upo n

th e m oun ta ins wi th a fr o sty fir e , th e air was disturb ed by th e con stan t

r ust l in g of de ad le aves h aun tin g th e e a r th in se a r ch o f a grave . G race

wo r e a pa le gr ey dr e ss, and th e br igh t co lour was g o n e from h e r

ch e e ks and lips as sh e sto o d o n th e th r e sh o ld ga z in g towards th e

h o r iz o n , with dull da rk eye s just lit by a r e d r efle ctio n from th e

we s te rn sky. A lth ough n o t o f a po e tic tempe ram e n t, I could n o t but

th in k sh e lo ok ed m o r e lik e a spirit th an anyth ing e lse much to o lik e

a spir it to pl e ase my pro fe ssion a l eye s .

I th ough t it r igh t to te ll h e r th at h e r gran dm o th e r’s disease was

such as m igh t extinguish life sudde n ly a t any tim e . I th ough t it on lyn a tura l th at sh e sh o uld cry, but we h ad n o sce n e . Th e tr oubl e was

70 The In ah Mo nth ly.

str o n g and g en uin e , but con tr o lled. A s sh e gave m e h e r h and a t

partin g , sh e sa id

Do cto r , if sh e we r e go n e , migh t I n o t do as I pleased wi th th e

prope rty wh ich sh e says will be min e

I said I be lieved sh e mi gh t .

A nd if I ch o se to give it to some o n e wh o h as a be tte r r igh t to it

th an f h ave , would you h e lp m e to r e tur n to Ita ly I be li e ve I coulde arn my br e ad th e r e o n th e stag e .

”

I to ld h e r sh e was a fo o li sh child, and h ad be e n m ope d to o much

in th e sick r o om . I made h e r promise to tak e a lo n g walk o n th e

m o rr ow.

Next e ve n in g I found Margar e t on h e r co uch in th e drawin g -ro om

a lon e . Sh e h ad se nt th e de ar ch ild fo r a r amble,sh e said. Sh e h e r

se lf fe lt m uch be tte r . I sat a lo n g time by h e r sofa . Th e po o r o ld

lady was in a go od h umour and commun icative . Sh e discussed with

m e th e afia ir o f th e cavali e r,in wh ich , as I h ad gue ssed, G r ace h ad

pr ove d unman ag e able .

Do n o t wo n de r ,”sh e said, a t my a nxie ty about it. I am ve ry

o ld. I may go any day. I sh o uld lik e to se e th e de ar ch ild h appily

se ttled be fo r e I clo se my eyes. He is a fin e youn g fe llow,and it would

be a suitable con n e ctio n fo r th e A vo n fam ily. But h e will come again ,

h e will come aga in . Sh e will so o n tir e o f th is dull l ife . It must

come r igh t . I h ave se t my h e a rt o n it . A nd th en

A y l” I th ough t , and th e n But that th en th e futur e was

destin ed n e ve r to brin g fo rth .

G ive m e your arm , de ar fr ie nd,”sh e sa id, an d tak e m e to th e

doo r . I lon g fo r a br e a th of th e fr e sh air .

”

We we n t to ge th e r to th e do o r , and sto od quie tly lo oking out in to

th e mild fr e sh dusk , th e de eply tin te d sh ade s o f a h ighl an d twilig h t .

Impalpabl e e ch o e s flo ated dr e amily in th e air , stray n o te s from dr owsy

birds dr opped down from sta rtl ed n ooks a loft th e tr e e s se emed

wh ispe r in g an audible h ush o n e to an o th e r , and n o w a nd aga in a

brown le af h o ve r ed r e luctan tly to th e gro und .

My eye s we r e b e tte r th an Margar e t’s, and I was th e first to se e

two figur e s com in g slowly from am o ng th e tr e e s. I passed my h an d

o ve r my eye s, and lo ok ed aga in . Y e s,th ey we r e sur e ly comin g , G race

a nd Hugh . Quick ly I saw th at h e was a lmo st carryin g h e r , and th a t

h e r a rm h un g h e lple ssly by h e r side . A s th ey appro ach ed th e h ouse ,

I saw wh a t was th e ma tte r . Th e gi rl’s l e ft a rm was broke n . I

b e li e ve th at surpr ise at se e in g Hugh a t first pr eve n ted Margar e t ofr om

o bse rvin g G race’s accide n t. In my own anxie ty I did n o t h ow

h e r face gr e e ted h e r g randso n ,but pre sen tly I h e ard h e r say in a

h usky vo ice—th at pitiful , quave rin g vo ice wh ich a lways will be tray

B racken Ho llow. 7 1

t h e em o tion o f th e ag ed, n o ma tte r h ow str on g o r ste rn m ay be th e

May I ask , sir , wh o ar e you

I gla n ced a t Hugh . Hi s eye s we r e wide an d brigh t, h is m outh

pa l e a n d firm . N eve r h ad h e lo ok ed n oble r n eve r h ad h e lo ok ed

m o r e lik e h i s mo th e r : Som e touch in g ech o in th e o ld lady’s vo ice

b a d e m e h ope , despite th e h ard un cour te ousn e ss o f h e r wo rdsf How

w o uld Hugh be h ave

H e u ncove r e d h is h e ad de fe r e n tially, a nd an n oun ced h imse lf as

Hug h D e sm o nd .

A t th e n am e h e r mouth twitch e d omin ously. Po o r o ld Marga r e t

sh e h ad a strugg le be fo r e sh e an swe r ed .

Th e n , sir , I will tro uble yo u to com eZn o fur th e r you ar e n o t r e

quir e d h e r e 1”

He saved m e,mo an ed G r ace ; but fo r h im , I sh ould h ave

be e n br ough t dead to yo ur do o r .

”

D e a d dead Mar g ar e t r epe a ted in a h urr ied,te r r ified vo ice ,

an d I.

th ough t sh e gla n ced wistfully a t Hugh . But th e lad lo ok ed

d efia n t, an d th e o ld spir it would n o t b e so e asily que n ch ed . I think

i t d r e w a n acce ssio n o f bitte rn e ss a nd str e n gth fr om Hugh’

s car e le ss

in d ep e n d e n ce o f be a rin g . Sh e sa id gr im ly : Y ou h ave do n e we l l,

sir , b ut you h ave do n e e n ough . We will trouble you n o m o r e . Y ou

m a y g o .

I will fir st place myco usin G race in a le ss pa in ful po sitio n ,sa id

th e b o y, bo ldly, an d a t th e sam e tim e h e carr ie d th e girl past h e r in to

th e p a r lo ur , an d laid h e r o n th e so fa .

A n d n ow I wil l o bey your h o spita ble comm an ds,m adam

,h e

sa i d ,bowin g to h e r with th e sam e sli gh tly sco r n ful de fe r e n ce , wh e r e

sh e s to o d tr embl in g by, with th e frown gath e r ing black e r on h e r

bro w s e ach seco n d .

G o I”

sh e wh ispe re d h o ar se ly, po in tin g to th e do o r with h e r

sh a k in g fin g e r .

Oh f wait, wa it l”m o an e d G race . But h e was go n e .

Sh e r a ised h e r h e ad . Sh e sa t up, le a n in g upo n h e r so un d a rm .

He r h a n d, wh ite an d damp with th e dew o f ag o ny, g r a sped th e

cush i o n s wi th fie rce e ffo rt . He r suffe rin g s m ust h ave be e n a lmo st

in to l e rable , but th e r e was som e th in g in th e wi ld, da rk eye s lo okin g

from h e r palli d face , th at to ld o f m e n ta l pain to wh ich m e r e physica l

to r tur e wa s little .

Wh a t h ave you do n e sh e cr ied in a k in d o f passio n a te wa il .

Y o u h a ve dr ive n away th e o n ly cr e atur e wh o h as a r igh t to r e st

unde r yo ur ro o f, your o n ly grandchi ld. Fo r m e , I am n o th in g to you

n o th in g , n o th ing ! I so lemn ly swe ar th at I am n o t G race A vo n . G rac e

A vo n died twe lve y e ar s ago 1”

72 The Ir isia Mon t]: lg/

Sh e go t up with h e r wh ite we t face , a nd br ok e n a rm sh e waved

m e o ff sh e shr ank away, a nd cr awled r a th e r th an wa lked fr om th e

r o om . I l ed Marg ar e t to a ch a ir . Sh e did n o t spe ak , but h e r face

wo rk ed pite ously. Sh e h ad g o t a so r e , so r e blo w. I ra ng fo r a trus ty

se rvan t, an d fo llowed G race . A t th e bo ttom o f th e sta ir s I found my

po o r ch ild, str e tch ed stiff an d in se n sibl e , with h e r face buri ed in th e

mat . I ca r r i ed h e r up to b ed. It was lo n g be fo re th a t swo o n gav e

way.~ Wh e n it did, th e r e wa s vio le n t i lln e ss and much da n g e r . La t e

th a t n igh t I sto od by Ma rg ar e t’s b edside . It sh oo k m e with troub l e

to se e h ow my po o r o ld fr i e nd h ad ag ed and a lte re d dur in g th e pa st

few h ours. Fr om th a t be d I kn ew sh e wo uld n e ve r r ise aga in .

Don’t se nd h e r away sh e wh ispe r ed. No t ye t. I would n o t

tur n out a do g with a br ok e n l e g . L e t h e r g e t we l l . But tak e h e r

away wh e n sh e is b e tte r . I can n o t see h e r . My h e a rt is br o k e n .

”

A nd sh e turn ed h e r po o r fa ce to th e wa ll. Oh , ste r n so ul Oh ,

in exo r abl e will th e r e tr ibutio n h ad com e .

I fo und m yse lf wo nde r ing much just th e n th at Ma rga r e t sh ould

h ave so quick ly adm itted a n d compr e h e n de d G ra ce’s str a n g e co n fe ssio n ,

th a t sh e h ad n o t r e cc-ived it slowly and un de rsto od it with difficulty .

But I afte rwards kn e w th a t sh e h ad lo ng suspe cted th e g irl o f h avin g

som e se cr e t troubl e , som e th in g th at pr e ssed h eavily on h e r co nscie n ce ,

wh ich sh e , Margar e t, co uld n o t an d da r e d n o t divin e . There fo r e i t

was th a t G r ace’s sh o r t ve h em e n t de cla r a tio n cam e upo n h e r , a s upo n

m e , with all th e crush in g we igh t o f truth .

I we n t back to G race , and th e r e , in th e de ad o f th e n igh t, with

th e lamp be twe e n d e burn in g dim , an d th e sh adows lurkin g black in

th e co rn e rs o f th e big o ld- fash io n e d ro om , I h e a rd all th e ta le o f thi s

po o r g ir l’s life and suffe r in g , a n d unwi llin g wr o n g

-do in g . Th e pa in

could n o t fo rce h e r to k e ep sile n t till to -m o rr ow ; sh e must spe ak, sh e

would co nfe ss. Sh e wr ith ed upo n h e r pill ow,sh e bit h e r po o r lip, but

sh e would go ou.

I was a po o r little hungry, wr e tch ed, h a lf—n ak ed ch ild

,sh e sa id,

be ggin g in th e str e e ts. A kind- lo o king Eng lish lady to ok me by

th e h and and br ough t m e h om e to h e r h o use . Sh e clo th e d and fed m e,

a n d k ept m e with h e r . Sh e taugh t m e,an d I love d to l e arn , and I

was v e ry h appy. Sh e a lways spo k e o f my k ind grandmo th e r wh o pa id

h e r fo r takin g ca r e o f m e , an d wh o supplied a ll my pr e tty fr o cks, an d

toys, an d swe e tme a ts a nd to ld m e th a t o n e day I sh ould go acro ss

th e se a , and live with th a t go o d gran dm o th e r . Sh e se eme d ve ry

a nxious th at I sh ould fo rgct aa ll about my ch ildh o od be fo r e com ing to

h e r , an d about th a t day wh e n sh e first found m e in th e str e e t and

brough t m e h om e . But I could n o t fo rg e t. I r emembe r ed it a ll

di stin ctly, and, as I gr ew o lde r , th e m emo ry o f th at par t o f my life

74 The Ir ish Mo nth ly.

will cling to h e r fa ithfully, and n urse h e r an d lo ve h e r ; and wh en sh e

is gon e I will g ive up eve ry pe nny wh ich sh e be que ath s m e to th e

r igh tful h e ir , and go away and try to e a rn my br e ad upon th e stag e

and pe rh aps th e docto r will pity and fo rg ive m e , and h e lp m e to car ry

out th e plan o f my n ew life .

I was th inkin g o ve r a ll this to -ni gh t o n th e r ocks. I was sitting

o n th e edg e o f a ba nk ; it gave way, and I fe ll from a go o d h e igh t

down upo n th e sto n e s . I must h ave fa in ted fr om th e sh o ck a nd pain .

Wh en I r eco ve re d I th ough t myse lf dyin g , and I was n o t so rry. I

h ad suffe r ed so much , an d I th o ugh t, n ow my tr o ubl e s must e nd, a nd

th a t G o d would pa rdo n m e fo r th e wr o n g I h ad so unwilli n g ly do n e .

A n d just th e n I saw Hugh’

s face . My eye s an d se n se s we r e bo th dim ,

a nd I th ough t it was lo o k in g at m e down from th e sky, a nd th e n it

cam e h ove rin g n e ar e r and pla in e r , an d a t last I saw it be side m e . He

lifte d m e up ; I sca rce ly kn owh ow we g o t h e r e . Y ou kn ow th e r e st .

It was ve ry wr o ng to spe ak so sudde n ly ; but I coul d n o t ke ep si le n t

wh e n I saw h im tr e a ted so .

”

Th is was h e r pitiful sto ry.

Fo r lo n g I scarce ly le ft th e h ouse , passin g co nt in ually from o n e

sick r o om to th e o th e r . A t last o n e day I ca r ried G race down to th e

ph a e to n , an d dro ve h e r qui e tly to th e co ttag e , wh e r e Hugh a nd Madge

wa tch ed fo r n a. A nd th en G r ace lay fo r m any days o n o ur little

par lour so fa,with h e r bandag ed a rm an d h e r wh ite ch e eks. an d a ll

h e r th ough ts filled with th e po o r o ld lo n e ly lady lyin g ill a t Brack e n

Ho llow. A n d Hugh wen t abo ut th e ro om li k e a woman , a nd m e n de d

th e fir e , with out n o ise , and r e ad h is bo ok qui e tly in th e co rn e r , a nd

wh e n sh e was able to e n joy it, r e ad it alo ud to G race . A n d G race

sa id to m e o n e day, Do cto r , Hugh do e s n o t kn ow a ll . o r h e wo uld

n o t be so go od to m e . I h ad ra th e r you would te l l h im . A nd I sa id,

My de ar , Hugh k n ows e ve ry wo rd th at yo u to ld m e . He r e h e is

I will l e t h im spe ak fo r h imse lf .

”

A n d a s Hugh came in I we n t o ut, ca llin g Ro ugh fr om h is lazyh aun t be side th e so fa . A s I put o n my gr e a t

-co a t,an d tur n ed my

face towa rds th e gle n , I kn e w ve ry we ll wh a t would h appe n b e fo r e I

cam e back . Ou my r e turn Madg e m e t m e a t th e do o r with a wa rn ing\Vh ish t, sir !

”a nd o n e n te r in g th e pa r lo ur I fo un d it filled with

de ep r e d ligh t fr om th e pe a t fir e , th e cur ta in s drawn , th e so fa a r ran g e d

by a te nde r h an d, a nd G race sle epin g so ftly, with a lo ok upo n h e r face

wh ich caused m e to co n gra tulate myse lf upo n my gift o f pr oph e cy.

N o t v e ry lo n g afte rwards Hugh an d G race we r e wed, an d a day

was fixed fo r th e ir depa r tur e fo r India , Hugh h avin g go t an appo in t

m e n t th e r e . Marga r e t A vo n lay expe ctin g h e r de a th but sh e would

n e ith e r se e n o r fo rgive h e r grandch ildr e n . Sh e would n o t e ve n ye t

In flee Hospice for Me Dying . 75

re lent. G race sto le in o n e daywh ilst sh e slept, an d k issed h e r with e r ed

cheek ; and th e n ext day th ey le ft m e a lo n e .

They h ad be e n go n e some we eks wh e n o n e e ve n ing Ma rgar e t se n t

fo r me . Sh e was ve ry we ak a nd ve ry g e n tl e .

Dear fr ie n d,

”sh e sa id, I h ave be e n dr e am in g much abo ut

Mary. I fe e l de a th com in g , an d Iwan t to se e th o se ch ildre n . Se nd

them to m e .

”

Alas, a nd a la s ! th ey we r e fa r away, and I h ad to te l l h e r so .

It is my pun ishm e n t,”sh e sa id . My life h as be e n a ll wr on g .

God forgive m e 1”an d sh e tur n ed h e r face to th e wal l .

Q0

l fl fl

He r grave is gr e e n . Fo r two ye ars th e o ld h ouse h a s b e e n dark

and deso la te , a nd n ow it will aga in b e fill ed with life . Th a t l e tte r is

not a dream ; it is th e re with its se a l and its many po st-ma rks . Th ey

are coming h om e .

I h ave scr ibbled away th e n igh t . I draw th e curtain . Darkn e ss

vanes, and th e se a g rows visible . Red ligh ts ar e strugg lin g in th e

east . G od be wi th th e past It is an o th er day.

R . M .

[We are glad o f th e oppo rtun i ty wh ich a n acciden t affo rds to us of re s

cuin g from th e pa g e s o f a fo rg o tte n Ma g a z in e on e o f th e ea rli e st ta le s o f a n ove l ia

wi th who se ma ture wo rk our reade rs a re h appily familian—Ed. L IL ]

IN THE HOSPICE FOR THE DY ING.

TO Mary

’s Ho ste l com e str an g e trave lle rs,

Out o f th e ni gh t, out o f th e n igh t an d ra in ,

Stumbl in g and fa in t , an d sick to de ath with pain ;

Each br in g e th h e r e h is cr o ss th at n o o n e sh a r e s

A nd r e sts h im h e r e so swe e t, a nd fo rthwith fa r e s

Out in th e n igh t, th e sta r le ss n igh t aga in .

On ly, I thi n k , His Face m ak e s dayligh t pla i n

Wh o tr ave ls down b e side th e se wayfa re rs .

Je sus, 0 Life , it is th e tim e o f Birth !

Th y Sta r is in th e Ho use o f B ir th fo r Th e e ;

Thy Mo th e r’s Expecta tion drawe th n igh .

Slay Th o u th is de ath th at slaye th all th e e ar th ,

Or ope n G a te s o fHe ave n ,th a t we may se e

How De ath isBir th , an d th o se n ew-bo rn wh o die

KATHAR INE TY NA N .

De cembe r 1 3th , 1 889.

TIze Ir is}: Mon th ly.

A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

T was some m o n ths sin ce I had se e n o r h e ard o f h e r . Th e

repo rt of h e r iln ess, an d th e n , a few days afte r , th e n ews o f

h e r de ath came upon me as a sh o ck . Sh e was about th e las t

pe rso n with whom I asso ciated th e ide a of de ath .

I me t th e fun eral at th e cem e te ry. Unl e ss wh en close ly

r e lated to th e de ce ased, o r wh e re I can be o f som e use to th e

familyy l h ave a r epugn an ce to atte ndi ng fun e rals in a carriage .

Th e quie t o f on e’

s own th oughts is mo st fitting o n such occasion s .

In a carri age , ofte n with th o se o n e do e s n o t kn ow, th e co n ve rsatio n

quickly falls from a few commonplace s r egardin g th e ch aracte r,

prope rty, and fam ily o f th e de ce ased , in to gen e ra l to pica

busin e ss o r po litics ; an d laugh ing and jokin g o fte n supe r ve n e , o r

th e n ewspape rs ar e produced an d r e ad .

Th e m o rn ing was harsh and co ld. We warm ed ourse lve s a t

th e stove s in th e waiting ro om at th e ceme te ry gate , and looked a t

th e ph o tograph s o f m onume n ts th at hun g on th e walls. We we r e

a mixed company se ve ral o f th e Ho spital nurse s (som e o f wh om

h ad wre ath s to lay on th e coffin ) , a few of th e comm itte e , two

Catho lic cle rgym e n , alth ough sh e was a Pro te stan t, and it a

Pro testan t ceme tery, several gen tlem e n I did n ot kn ow. Withth e fun e ral cam e m or e o f th e committe e an d som e o f th e docto rs .

Th e re was som e th in g awful to m e about fun e ra ls, wh e n first , as

a boy, I atte nded th em . Now, unl e ss wh ere my fe e l in gs ar e close ly

co n ce rn ed, I fear th ey h ave be come te rribly commonplace . I have

n ow wa lked be hind such an army o f re lative s and fr ie nds to th e ir

last bodily r e sting place s, ye t through a ll th ey have n o t lo st th e ir

so lemn ity, an d th e con ve rsation that go e s on at th em grate s upo n

m e . I do n ot unde rstan d why it is upo n such occasion s that pe o ple

cann o t ke e p th e ir m ouths shut, if e ve n o n ly for a few m in ute s. If

it is con ve rsation th ey wan t, and n o t th oughts about th e de ceased,

why do th ey atte nd Emme t’s words co n stan tly recur to me on

such tim e s G ran t me th e charity of your sile n ce .

”Y e s, ough t

we n ot at le ast to gran t th e de ad th e ch ar ity of our sile nce Sile n ce

is on m ost of th e so lemn occasions of life th e expre ssio n o f th e

d eepe st fe e ling .

A Sketch from L ife . 77

The morn in g was, as I h ave sa id, h arsh and co ld. A s th e

clergyman re ad th e se rvice , we sh e lter ed ourse lve s fr om th e bitte r

wind as be st we could behin d th e tombsto n es r oun d th e grave .

She had died o f typhus, caught in th e disch arge of h er duty, an d.

it was no t th ought safe to h ave th e ce rem ony in th e ch ape l .

What a r eve r e n ce we sh ould h ave fo r all th ose rite s, h owe ve r

diverse th ey m ay be , by wh ich pe 0p1 e of diffe r e n t cre eds,and in

diflerent to ngue s, and of diffe re n t race s, and diffe re n t n ation alitie s,

console and support th em se lve s as th ey lay th e ir lo ved on e s in

the ground.

The se rvice was soo n ove r , th e grave filled ih , such of us as

were intimate e n ough said a few words to th e be r e aved re latives,

and we hurried o ff to our da ily life .

Howe ver . it is n o t th is fun e ral I de sir e to dwell upon , but th e

fresh , bright pe rson ality of th e pe rson wh o had be en take n from

as. 38 was on th e co ffin : sh e must h ave be en about 26 wh e n

first I kn ew h e r . Sh e was L ady Supe rin tende n t of a h ospital in

which I h ad be e n on e of th e committe e .

I think I se e h e r n ow—with h e r fre sh bright complexion , blue

eyes, go ldeu h air , th e ple asan t expr e ssion o f h e r face , th e at tim e s

saucy to ss o f h e r h e ad. Sh e dr e ssed simply an d in good taste ; o n

the h ospita l premise s invariably in som e n e at wash in g m ate r ial ,spotlessly cle a n . Sh e was a pleasin g pictur e as

,in answe r to our

summon s,sh e cam e in to th e bo ardr o om fo r a few minute s

’conve r

sation an d coun se l at th e clo se of e ach of our m e e tings.

How h e r eye s wo uld dilate , what a surprised tur n sh e would

give h e r h e ad , if we had anything to sugge st in th e dir e ction th at

it was just po ssible som e thing m ight be go in g n o t altoge th e r to

our min d in h e r departm en t . Rusty o ld fogie s, and m arr ied m e n

aswe we re fo r th e m o st part , it was impo ssible e n tir e ly to ste e l our

hearts an d pre se rve a Spart an firmn e ss, if, as at tim e s it was

perceptible th at th e blue eyse we re g e ttin g mo ist. Must I con fess

that a t tim es it is just po ssible that sh e man aged us as much as we

managed h e r

Y e t, upon th e wh o le , h e r man agem e n t was everythin g that

could be de sired, and, upo n h e r death , th e uppe rmost fe e lin g was

how difficult it would be to fill h e r place . Wards, laun dry, sto re

moms, kitch en , e ve rythin g was kept in th e be st of o rde r . Inde ed,

we often had to complain th at, in h e r de sir e for comple te n e ss,

she led us in to un n ece ssary expen se . He r con tro l o ve r th e

7 8 The Ir ish Mon th ly.

nurse s, if at time s arbitr ary and wayward, was complete an d

co n siderate .

Sh e was exce lle n t in h er tr e atm e nt of th e cases o f po o r gir ls

that had go n e astray, wh ich in evitably cam e be fo r e h e r in such a

mixed in stitutio n . On e swe e t, attractive,foo l ish cr e atur e , I

r emembe r , wh o was wh e edle d in to a marr iage ,”wh ich turn ed out

to be n o marriag e at all , and wh o was th en de se rte d. How our

Lady Supe rin te n de n t stood by th at gir l , an d tr ied to sh ie ld h er ,

and lo oked after th e child, and th e n to ok h e r in to h e r se rvice .

It was in th e wards , an d amon gst th e sick an d (lying , th at sh e

sh o n e m o str—m or e particul ar ly with ch ildr e n ,fo r wh om sh e occa

sion ally bought toys out o f h e r own po cke t. He r fre sh , brigh t ,

ch e e ry pre se n ce was in itse lf e n ough to wo rk a cure in th e

patien ts— th at is, wh e n som e n egle ct by a nurse , o r provoking act

o f in subordin ation did n o t call out h e r quick tempe r .

A n d sh e was abso lute ly fe ar le ss— n ow tuckin g th e clo th e s r oun d

a patie n t lyin g in sm al l-pox o r typhus again , liftin g th e h e ad o f

a ch ild to ssing in scarlatina an d se ttlin g th e pillows unde r it. I'

h ave se e n a stray lock fr om h e r h a ir fallin g on th e feve r ed face o f

o n e as sh e be n t ove r it.

In th e patie n ts sh e h ad o fte n a provoking en ough se t to dea l

Sur e , wh at do you m e a n Onl v fo r th e like s o f us you

would’

n t be h e re ,”was th e r e j o in de r o f on e to h e r r emo n stran ce

regardin g th e un n e ce ssary trouble be in g g ive n .

Wr e tch ed, disso lute wom e n , me n broke n down afte r debauch e s,

r icke ty ch ildre n , th e o ffspr in g o f vi ce ,— a life o f m ise ry be fo re

th em , and th e probability th at th ey we re , pe rh aps, m o r e like ly to

h and on th e ir idiosyn crasie s than to brin g up vir tuous ch ildr en ,

such we r e tho se with wh om sh e h ad too ofte n to deal,and for

wh om som e of th e m ost valuable live s 1 n th e commun ity ar e n eces

sar ily be in g stake d. It was in th e pr e se rving o f such lives, in

case s o f typhus, that sh e lost h e r own .

How h ad sh e e ve r come to immure h e rse lf in h o spita l life 5"

Sh e pro fe ssed to sco rn the o rdin ary se ekin g of women afte r

sph e re s, and used jokingly to declare , that to be cour te d and m arried

was woman’

s o n ly true place . Re forms an d so cial questio n s, weree n tir e ly outside th e circle o f h e r sympath ies . Sh e did n o t trouble

h erse lf about doctrin al matte rs ; and as fo r po litics, sh e kn ew

n othing about th em . A t h eart, I imagin e , sh e was a con se rvative .

A Ske tch from L ife .

‘

79

She visited Englan d o fte n , and o nce th e'

Contin e nt , and e ve n

the Antipodes, par tly fo r busin e ss purpose s. I ce rtain ly n e ve r

expected to see h e r back from th e se lon ge r excursion s. I fe lt sur e

she would captivate som e on e . But back sh e always came , and

settled down quie tly to th e dul l routin e o f h e r dutie s.

She was fo nd o f th e th e atre an d music. He r parlours we re

mode ls of da in ty, refin ed comfo r t. He r salary was go od I o n ce

urged he r to lo ok fo rward to th e future , and to save . In de ed,

Ihave n o n o tio n of it,”sh e said . 1 will e n joy myse lf wh ile I

can ; and th e n , you m ay depe nd, I’

ll get some on e to take care

ofme .

”

Y et sh e did save seve ral hun dr ed pounds, I was to ld ; but sh e

left n o will , and I be lieve it we n t away from th ose n ear e st to h er ,

to re latives wh o cared, pe rh aps, l ittle about h e r .

.

She spe n t mor e th an on e e ve n in g a t our h ouse . Sh e was plea

sant company, a go od talke r , an d played th e pian o in an o tf-hand

mann e r—n o t ve ry de ep music, but live ly waltz es and th e like .

Iwill n o t so on fo rg e t o n e o f h er an e cdo te s, of an e n counter

with a cabman . He demurr ed afte r sh e h ad e n te red th e cab and

told him wh e re to dr ive ; h e was sorry, but th e truth was, h e was

engaged . Sh e to ld h im n o t to be fo o l ish ; po sitive ly declin ed to

leave , and to ld him to dr ive ou. Wh e re at h e sulk ily shut th e

door with a bang , and grumblin gly exclaim ed : Oh , I se e you

are on e of th e cle ve r o n e s,”and dr ove off.

She h ad appear ed so comple te ly pro of against in fe ction all h e r

life, that it appear ed alm o st un n atural that sh e sh ould succumb to

it at le ng th .

I o fte n th ink o f h e r ; wh e n I do , it is n o t in conn e ctio n with

fllness or fun e rals . I like to th ink of h er in h e r best days, as sh e

lit up th e feve r-str icke n wards of th e h o spital with h e r pre se nce ,

as she lean ed ove r chi ldr e n and sm o o th ed th e ir pillows.

In summ e r eve nin gs, lo n g be fo r e I kn ew h er , sounds of music

and sing ing used to com e pl easan tly from th e Ope n win dows of a

house on our road. I afte rwards le arn ed th at it was sh e and h er

broth e rs and sisters that we r e th e musician s. Th ey re sided th e re

with th e ir m o th e r . Th e tr ouble s of life h ad n o t ye t scatte r ed th e

family. I like to th in k of h e r wh e n I h ear music waited out o f

open windows on summe r e ve n ings.

A LFRED WEBB.

80 The Ir ish Maui]: 131 .

THE PRAYER OF SAINT ATTY.

‘

A LEG END OF A CHONRY .

ING Co n n o r made an edict o ld

A r oyal palace I will bui ld ;

Tr ibute I o rde r o f th e g o ld,

Fr om e ve ry clan and craftsman’

s guild

Tith ings of scarl e t an d o f silk ,

Curtain and scr e e n o f r e gal wo o f,

De ep-udder ed h e ife rs, r ich in milk ,

A n d bron z e and timbe r fo r th e r o o f.

From L eyn ey’s lo rd, in tok e n due

Of fe alty, I wil l o rda in

A hundr ed masts o f ash an d yew,

A hundr ed o aks of pithy gra in .

Sain t A tty, k e ep us safe fr om sca th ,

A n d sh ie ld us in th e ba ttle crash !

Fo r r o of o f r oya l h ous e o r r a th

We will n o t r e n de r o ak o r ash !

Th us lowly prayed th e Layn ey clan ,

Wh il e san g th e birds in bush an d brak e ,

A s fast th ey muste r ed, h o r se and man ,

To face th e fo e by G a ra’

s lake .

Fo r , wr o th'

at h e ar t, cam e Co n n or’s clan

A h , Ch r ist th ey m ade a h o r r id fr o n t,

With r ed spe a rs br istling in th e van ,

A nd sh ie lds to brave th e battl e -brun t.

Fr om win g to wing in wrath th ey r o lled,

Cr e sted with h e lme ts all afir e ,

Of burn ish ed bro n z e o r bur n ing go ld,

To mar tial m e asur e s o f th e lyr e .

Sain t A tty is th e lo vin g name of th e people of A ch o nry fo r Sain t A ttracts ,

th e patron ess of th e diocese .

82 Tim 1 l?l Mon th ly.

Y e a , ble ssi ngs bro k e from eve ry lip,

To G o d and to His sa in ts abo ve ,A n d h ands th at came fo r de adly gripWe r e m in gled in frate rn al love .

G a in st sca th o r scar our battle -sh ie ld

Is A tty, sa in t o f Layn ey’s clan

Th ey san g ,as h om eward from th e fie ld

Th ey h ie d, un sca th ed, h o rse an d man .

Fo r in h e r ch ape l in th e wo o d

Th e bodin g wa r h ad A tty se e n ,

A nd fo r th e pe ople o f h e r blo od

Made praye r amid th e fo r e st gr e e n .

A n d m e n do say that on th at daySh e save d th e Leyn ey clan from sca th

,

Such po we r th e r e is wh e n lowly pray

Th e pur e o f h e a r t and k e e n o f fa ith .

A nd still wh e n autumn g ilds th e l e a ,

A nd scyth e s a r e sh r ill in m e ado ws r ipe ,

Th e rur a l pag e an t yo u m ay se e

Spo r tin g with j o cund dan ce a nd pipe .

Th e villag e wome n you may ma rk

In L eyn ey, a t Sa in t A tty’s we ll ,

Er e ye t h a th tr i ll e d th e r ise n la rk

In g o lde n m e ad o r dewy de ll .

Pu mas J Com ma .

WA LTER CRANE A ND DENNY LANE

A RT EDUCATION.

HERE is hardly any edito r ial san ctum wh e r e th e in te lligen t

scissors departme n t is such a comple te blan k as th at from

w h ich our Magaz in e issue s. Th is indepen de n ce o f bo rr owed

m a tte r is due , par tly to th e lim ited n umbe r o f its pag e s, and partly

to th e un lim ited n umbe r o f its fr ie n ds. N e ve r th e le ss, we h ave

o c ca sio n a lly co n de sce n de d to r e scue fr om oblivio n obse r vatio n s

th a t se em ed to us sufficie n tly n o tewo rthy for such a distin ctio n ,

e v e n th ough th ey m igh t h ave pre viously be e n in pr in t in th e

e ph em e ra l co lumn s o f som e lo ca l n ewspape r . Such an exceptio n

m us t be m ade in favo ur o f a le tte r and a.

spe e ch in co n n e ctio n with

th e distr ibution o fpriz e s last De cembe r , at th e Crawfo rd Mun icipal

S ch o o l o f A rt , in Co rk . Th e He ad Maste r , Mr . W . A . Mulligan ,

h ad in vite d Mr . \Valte r Cran e , an d, wh e n th e latte r was un able to

com e from Lo n do n , Mr . Mulligan sugge sted that a le tte r fr om h is

pe n would be th e n ext be st e n courag em e n t in place o f th e wo rds o f

h is lips. Mr . Cran e complied with th e r e que st . A f te r expla in in g

th e se circum sta n ce s,an d e xpr e ssin g h is be lie f th at th e wo rks th at

wo n pr iz e s in th e Co rk Sch o o l of A rt we re o f a h igh stan dard, Mr .

Cr a n e proce eds

Now, I am n o t on e of th o se wh o ar e at a ll satisfied (a s po ssibly

y o u m ay be awar e ) with th e pr e sen t state of th in gs, e ith e r in A r t,

Po lit ics,o r b o cicty, and if, as r egards A rt, I W e r e a sk e d wh at was

th e be st way to le arn som e th in g about A rt, I sh ould say in th e

wo rksh op of a g ood craftsman , o r in th e studio o f a go o d a r tist ;

fo r A rt of any kin d r equir e s actua l dem o n str at i o n ; 1 t can n o t be

ta ugh t by rule o r pr ecept— it is n o t a m atte r o f in var iable and

abso lute pr in ciple— th e r e is always r oom fo r individual ch o ice , and

fo r th e deve lopm e n t o f ind ividual th ought and fe e lin g . Natur e

is n o t a fixed quan tity. Pe ople o ften say such and such a wo rk is

l ike n ature but n ature is always chan ging if it we r e n o t so I

d oubt if th e re would be any art. But, as th e se aso n s ro ll by, an d

w ith th em th e page an t of life with all its in te n se human in te r e st,


though ts and ide as are kindled in th e m ind so we would cast

th em in som e graphic o r plastic sh ape befo re th ey fade . Nature is

impartial ; in diffe ren tly sh e give s yo u n oble and base , tragedy and

com edy, sign ifican ce an d in sign ifican ce . It is for th e artist to put

th e puz z le to ge th e r , to brin g h armony out o f discord, o rde r out o f

chao s, and to tran sfigur e with th e light of beauty and po esy th e

commo n e st things.

It was sa id (I thin k by John Ruskin ) of Rembrandt, that h eh ad qualitie s by wh ich h e could m ake a h ay barn sublime . It is

ve ry much a questio n of tr e atme n t. In fact,in tr ea tme n t and

se lectio n m ay be sa id to lie the who le secr e t of A r t. I look upo n

A rt, in its true se n se , as a lan guage wh ich is capable of expressin gth e high e r life , thoughts, an d aspiratio n s of a pe ople , as we ll as

its fam iliar joys and so rrows. No r is this powe r of expressio n

limi ted to ce rtain forms, such as pain ting an d sculpture , but may

be asso ciated with th e things o f daily use and circum stan ce s— the

fe e ling for h om e and our h ouseh o ld go ods—th e sacr edn e ss o f our

h e arth s—wh ich , alas , h as be e n so rude ly an d ruthle ssly ign o red o f

late in so many case s by th e powe rs that be—wh ich , in fact, our

mode rn e co n om ical system can find but little r o om fo r anywh e re ,

it appears to m e .

Now Ir e land has a gre at future be fore h e r . My fr ie nd

William.

Morr is h as we ll sa id that tim e s o f go od A r t h ave be e n

time s o f h ope and, bear in g in m ind that n e ith e r n atur e s n o r

men live by bread alon e , and th at th e h igh e st expre ssion o f

individua l life—as of social and n ation al life—must be fin allysough t in A r t , we shal l se e h ow impo rtan t a matte r it is, wh at is

life without be auty and refin eme n t A nd h ow can we have be auty

and refin em e n t without se curity o f living and some le isure and

fre edom Even am id th e anxious and fe ve rish existe n ce o f th e

pr e sen t , th o se of uswh o h ave eve r kn ocked at th e go lde n gate o f th e

House o f A rt kn ow what a san ctuary is th e re . Havin g re gard to

th e tra in in g of eye , h an d, an d mind, which th e practice o f any

form of A r t n ece ssitates , and th e qualitie s o f patie n ce , o f fo resigh t,o f m e th od, of care , and o f pe rse ve ran ce , wh ich it calls fo rth in

dealin g with de sign or mate rial of any kin d or even in th e many

problems th at have to be so lved in th e process o f simply an d

hon e stly drawing from n ature ; h avin g regard to its m o ra l and

in te lle ctual e ffe ct , and to its be ar in g o n th e h appin e ss an d social

we lfare o f individuals or pe eple s. I do n o t h e sitate to say th at an

educatio n in A r t is th e be st of education s.

A r t Educa tion . 85

Mr . Cran e’

s le tte r e n ded with som e grace ful expr e ssio n s of

goodwi ll , and th en Mr . De n ny Lan e proposed a we ll de se rved vote

o f thanks in th e fo llowin g appropriate te rms, o f wh ich we are -

glad

to make our own . we r e it on ly fo r th e sake of g ivin g h is h igh

opinion of th e Ir ish sculptor , Mr . Lawlo r , o f wh om many o f h is

countrymen h e ar n ow for th e first tim e . But, be side s, th e auth o r

of Kate of A raglen”has th e kn ack of m akin g such th in gs

lite rature :

Y ou h ave h e ard to -n igh t th e wo rds in wh ich Mr . Cran e has

sent us a gre e tin g acro ss th e se a,and I can n o t r e fuse th e r eque st of

your maste r to thank h im fo r h is ki nd th ough t o f us, an d , in

re turn , in th e o ld-fash io n ed way,which h e lo ve s so we ll , to wish

him A‘m e rry Ch r istmas an d a h appy N ew Ye a r .

’A lthoug h I

have n eve r m e t Mr . Cran e , I h ave lon g kn own h is wo rks, an d

spent many an h our with th em—with h is I’ r m P ippa , and h is

Masque of F lowe rs, with h is F airy Ta le s, and e ve n with h is Baby’s

Opera . Pe rhaps it may be that a seco nd ch ildh o od r e semble s th e

tin t, for I know it is ve ry ple asan t , th ough youm ay h ave lo st your

admira tio n o f bre ad and jam , th at you can still re ta in your

love o f pictur e bo oks—a love wh ich h as n e ve r wan ed with m e , an d

o f th e se bo oks n o n e h ave g ive n m e gr e ate r. ple asure th an tho se

which have sprun g from th e fe r tile fancy o f h im who has wish ed us“ G od spe ed to -n igh t . If humour which is fan tastic witho ut eve r

being fo rced , if grace of form an d ch arm o f mo tio n,if an o ld wo r ld

sentimen t, wh ich h as lo st n o th ing o f its se ntime n t be cause it is clad

in a garb o f an tique qua in tn e ss, if h arm o ny o f hue and simple

schemes o f co lour , wove n to ge th e r in to a h a rm o n ious tape stry , ar e

to be va lue d. wh e r e ar e we to find th e se qualitie s be tte r un ite d thanin the wo rks of Wa lte r Cran e A g a in and ag ain h a ve I go n e

back to his books,wh ich I bought ye ars ago fo r my ch ildr e n , an d

every tim e I swa ll ow draugh ts from th at Fo n ta c’

ne (1c Jouve nce , that

pere nn ia l foun ta in of youth ,wh ich , I trust, bubble s up ye t amon gst

the o lde st o f us. A nd, turn in g my eye s away from th e se, my

memo ry flies back to th e pictur e bo oks o f sixty ye ars ago . I

mngratula te , an d I a lmost e n vv th e chi ldr e n of th e pr e se n t day,

who have prepared fo r th em such a grate ful fe ast, in place of th e

meagre and unwh o le som e far e pr ovide d fo r th em at th e tim e I

speak o i .

Perhaps in some co llectio n o f a n tiquities, you m igh t still find

86 The Ir ish Mo n th ly.

copie s o f th e ch ap-books of th re e sco re ye ars ago

—th e thre e

pe n ny pla in , an d sixpen ny co loured h isto rie s of Obi,o r Thr e e

F iugmwl Jack, o r o f Bamfl/ lde Mo o r e m c,th e 31 130 13 o r , mayh ap,

th e Histo ry qf’

B rwma n,th e R obbe r

,o r Napo leon

’s Ifook of Fate , by

which you could fore te ll with ce rta in ty what was go ing to h appe n

an art wh ich e ve n sto ckbro ke rs h ave lost, and by which a m an

m ight se cure a fo rtun e out o f wa te r-gas o r e lectric sugar . One

lo n g fo ldin g plate , co loured by a h an d that wande r ed un co nfin ed,

and o cca sio n ally le t th e blue o f th e co at stray in to th e apex o f th e

n ose , an d th e red o f th e pe lisse r ise as far as th e pupil o f beauty’s

eye . Bo ldn e ss an d br e adth we re n o t wan ting in th e to uch o f th e

artist, wh o re ve lled in th e primary co lour s ; but th ey ar e gon e ! and

n e ve r aga in can I we ep o ve r th e so rrows o f a Black-eyed Susan

who was prin cipa lly ye llow och re , as she par ted from a Swe e t

Will iam wh o was a ll Prussian blue , and wh o was regarde d with

e nvy an d j e alousy by an A dmiral o f th e Re d, who , regardless o f

expen se , was all ve rm ilio n . A las ! they a re gon e ! but in our

s orrow fo r th e ir lo ss le t us be co nso led by th e th ough t that a ll

pictur e-bo oks are n o t go n e , an d th at our we ll-wish e r to -n igh t h as

furn ish e d our ch ildr e n and ourse lve s with a pan orama whe re in a

long pr oce ssion passe s a lo ng . Our o ld fr ie nds, th e Sle eping Be auty

dan ce s alo ng with0

Blue Be ard, and th e Thr e e Be ars ga llan tly

e scor t Cin de re l la and G oody Two Sh o e s.

On e remark o f Mr . Cran e’

s h as struck m e much—o n e which

to a ce rta in exte n t gain s my assen t, an d, to a ce rtain exte n t

provoke s my disse n t. He says th e be st way to learn som ething

about A rt is in th e wo rksh op of a goo d craftsm an , o r th e studio of

a good artist.’It m ay be th e best way, but it would be un to t

tun ate for us if it we r e th e o n ly way. G o od A rt craftsmen can

h ardly rema in am on g a s ; wh e n th ey becom e capable th ey are

attracte d away to th e gr e at ce n tre s o f wo rk an d we alth , and so it is

with n e arly al l our pa in te rs and sculptors. On e of th e latte r h as

com e back amo ngst us, and I e m proud that I have 'be e n instru

m e n tal in wo o ing back to hi s'

n ative land my fr ie nd Mr . Lawlo r,

wh o stan ds in th e fr on t rank o f m ode rn sculpto rs, and who has

ge n e rously promised to aid us in our sch oo l ; but, as a ge n e ral

rule , th e m agic magn e tism o f we alth draws towards its cen tre

ta len t o f eve ry kind.

In o th e r tim e s it was n ot always so . A great artist we n t to

r e side at a co n ven t, wh ere h e re ce ived little more than bare

A r t Educa tion . 87

mhsistence , and e n joye d th e pr ivilege o f de co rating th e Chur ch

with works wh ich h ave r ema in ed a posse ssio n for e ve r . Many

such wo rks h ave I se e n , fo r instan ce , in Nurembe rg , wh e r e

Adam Krafit an d h is th r e e compan io ns, fo r th e lo ve of G od and

St. Laurence ,’de voted se ven years to carving th at won de rful

Sacraments Hans , an edifice o f ston e wh ich se ems to grow like

a beautiful plan t un til its topm o st frond expands its le aflets amidst

the gminin g o f th e roo f. Or in th e sam e city wh e re Pe te r Visch e r'

and his five so n s wrough t fo r e leve n ye ars at th at br on z e and silve r

shrin e of St. Sebald, a'

wo rk which h ad r emain ed un surpassed for

ce nturies. So , in th e Campo San to , at Pisa , did Be n o z z o G o z z o li

work fo r sixte e n ye ars to produce th e twe n ty- four wa ll pictur e s, fo r

each of which h e r e ce ived 66 lir e , o r £2 1 58 . So , in an e arlie r

day, did Duccio pain t th e fron t of th e gr e at a ltar-

piece of Sie n a ,

receiving wage s o f 1 6 so ldi, o r 8d . a day, un til h is e mploye rs put

him on pie ce wo rk, an d,wish ing to save mate r ia l

, got h im to

paint thirty- e igh t pictur e s on th e back o f th e pan e l , fo r wh ich h e

rece ived th e prin ce ly pr ice o f g o ld fior in s, o r e igh t sh illin gs

apiece . How diffe re n t from th e pa in te rs o f this tim e , wh o build

palaces, an d are paid fo r a pictur e by so many strata of go ld piece s

laid on its surface , and wh e n th e h igh e st artist, at th e in stigatio n

of Mr . Pe ars, blows opale sce n t bubble s m o re co stly th an th e

genuin e m o o n ston e s of th e min e .

Y e t , alth ough our city can se ldom r e tain a first-rate craftsm an

in the se n se used by Mr . Cran e , our sch o o l can te ach many of th e

principles whi ch unde rlie all ar ts and crafts, an d can prote ct us

from som e o f th e dan ge rous example s of wo rthle ss and un lo ve lycrafts. I n e ed n o t go back e ven so far as th e pe riod of sixpe n nycoloured chap

-bo oks to r e fe r to o n e art on wh ich m any an h our o f

precious tim e and many‘

an oun ce o f m o r e pr e cious wo o l was

wasted—I me an Be r lin woo l-wo rk . I shudde r as I th ink o f the

penaltie swh ich I suffered wh e n I saw, an d th e wron gs I did to myconscie n ce wh e n I h ad to praise , th e wo rks o f an am iable daughte r

presente d fo r my admir atio n by an ado rin g mamma . In th ose days

Iv as m ore o r le ss of a din e r - out, an d I h ad to praise , o r e lse Iwould n eve r be aske d aga in . No son g , n o suppe r .

’

To this daythere remain de eply grave n in my m em ory th o se wo ndr ous pro

duction s o f patie n t in eptitude . Th e troubadour with a se rrate d

nose who se r e n ad ed a love ly maiden ,wh ile h e accompan ied h imse lf

on an instrume n t of music wh ich puz z led th e beh o lde r . On e could

88 Tile Ir is/t Mon th ly.

n eve r make up h is m ind as to wh e th e r it was a str in ged instru

m en t o r a wind in strum e n t, fo r it was ce rta in ly e ith e r a gui tar

o r a be llows. A nd th e lo ve ly m a ide n h e rse lf, with a ch eve lure

that o utr ivall ed,though it ce rta in ly did n ot outstr ip , that lady

wh om we se e on all th e h oardin gs, an d wh o has fe rtiliz ed h e r h a ir

wi th Mrs. A lle n’

s h air r e sto r e r . Th at love ly maiden I can n e ve r

fo rge t as sh e displayed fr om h e r balco ny a ch e ek de eply pitte d

with madde r -lake an d an eye like th e ace o f clubs. I can n eve r

fo rge t h e r Sh e haun ts my m emo ry still L e t us h ope that th e

pr inciple s we te ach in our sch o o l , an d th e example s which we ca n

sh ow, will fo r th e future pro te ct the eye s of beh o lde rs and th e

co n scien ce s o f co rrupt cr iti cs fr om th e spo tte d feve r of co loured

wo o l .

Y ou ar e all awar e , as in de edMr . Cran e con fe sse s, that h e an d

h is frie nd Mr . William Mo rris, ar e a lmo st so cial democrats but Imust say that in th e ir A rts and Cr afts Exh ibition

’

last ye ar I

saw little with in the r e ach o f shallow purse s. Ne ar ly eve rything

was de sign ed fo r th e rich , an d, with th e exception of som e bo oks,

most of th e wo rks we r e me an t for th e we althy. I must con fe ss Iwas disappoin ted at th is, fo r I h ad h oped that in th e ir h an ds , at

least , art would have come down from th e ra ised dais of rank , and

h ave placed be low th e sa lt m any a fo rm in wh ich be auty was com

bin ed with use , wrough t in pewte r an d n o t in go ld: But I suppo se

it is on ly an o th e r in stan ce of th e truth that extrem e s touch .

’

Mr . Cran e h as spoke n o f our e ra in Ir e lan d as an e ra of h epe . G od

gran t his ome n may be true We are passin g th rough wh at ,

if n o t de eply troubled, are at be st turbid tim es. We ar e in fact

passin g th rough a r e vo lutio n,and le t us h ope that th e turbidity

we se e is on ly th at wh ich a lways accompan ie s fe rm e n tation,th roug h

wh ich th e juice o f th e purple grape h as to pass be fo re th e trouble d

must clarifie s in to th e ruby win e . Of th e capacity o f our pe ople

fo r art I h ave n o doubt ; of th e ir pati en ce and de votion I h ave

much . Th e se ar e qualitie s wh ich ar e fo rm ed, a nd co uld n ot h ave

grown up am o ngst our fo r e fath e rs, vexe d with pe rse cutio n , un able

to r e ap wh e re th ey h ad sown . G e n e ratio n s, with wh om r e ligion

was tramm e lled an d education pro scribed, le ave beh in d th em

t race s of th e e vils fr om wh ich th ey have suffer ed. L e t us ho pe

that a n ew day is dawn ing , that th e shadows are passing away,

a n d that as with o th e rs, in th e words o f Mr . Mo rr is, the e ra o f

h ope m ay also be th e e ra of a

90 Ti mIr ish Mon th ly.

I h ave a stro n g impre ssion th a t th e Jcen it m issio n ar ies wh o labour ed in th is

coun try pre vi ous to th e ir expulsio n by th e Ma rquis o f Pomba l , h ad tr an slated bo oks

in to th e lan guag e o f Se n n a an d Te tte ,fo r I fin d th at amon g som e o f th e o lde st

n a tive s po rtio n s o f praye rs—th c Cre ed ,

&c .—are rem embe re d in th e ir own t on gue ;

a nd th e se are always re fe rr ed to th e te achi n g o f th e Jcsuits—n o t to th e pr ie sts wh o

succe eded th em . I tr ie d to in duce th e pr ie st a t T e tte to se a rch fo r an y bo oks th a t

may exist a t G o a , but som e th in g pre ve n te d h im from visitin g h is n a tive place . I

th e n e n g ag e d a m e rch an t o f G o a to try and pro cure th e lo an o f any bo o ks, a nd

o ffe r ed to be a t all th e e xpe n se o f co pyin g th em but in t h is ca se to o I h a ve be e n

d isa ppo in ted . I fe e l anxio us to po sse ss som e m em o r ia ls o f th ese de vo ted pion e e rs

o f Ch rist ia n ity in th is la n d. Th is is o n e r e aso n fo r my se a rch an o th e r is , to im

pro ve myse lf in th e lan gua g e . I am n ow o n my way up to L ake Nyassa ,and h o pe

t o place a ste am e r on it , an d do som ewh a t to sto p a str e am o f slave s th a t

a n n ual ly flows from th a t re g io n towards th e Red Se a and Pe rsia n G ulph .

Y o u can sca rce ly co n ce ive wh a t diffe re n ce in influe n ce it m ake s wh e th e r o n e

spe aks th e n a tive la n gua g e we ll o r n o t . A n d th e h e lp o f a bo ok in m aste rin g th e

pa rticle s is ve ry g re a t . It h a s o fte n o ccurr e d to m e th a t, pro bably,

wh a t I fa il ed

to re a ch in G oa m ay be in e xiste n ce in th e L ibra ry o f th e Va tica n ,if I o n ly kn ew

h o w to g e t a t it. I da r e say you wi ll sm ile a t th e ide a o f my wr itin g to yo u o n

such a subje ct an d , to te ll th e truth , I h ave th ough t o f. writin g to you aga in an d

a g ain , an d as o fte n put th e th o ugh t a side . Now I do it a t la st , with som e th in g o f

just to e ase my co n scie n ce , an d po ss ibly you may be ab le to g ive m e a clue to

o bta in i ng wh a t I wa n t . A n } th in g pr in ted in th e lan guag e s o f Te tte , Se n na , o r th e

Ma ravi would be a g re a t bo o n . an d I wo uld take g o o d ca r e to prin t it , a nd re nde r

a ll h o n our to th em to wh om it may be due . Th e m iss io n o f th e En g lish Un i ve rsit ie s

is wo rkin g a t th e lan guag e , but it ta ke s a lo n g se r ie s o f ye a r s to r educe a diale ct

a ccura te ly. It to o k Mr . Mo ffa tt , o f Kur nman , a t le a st se ve n ye a r s o f h a rd labour

but n ow th ose wh o po sse ss h is bo o ks can spe ak flue n tly i n se ven m o n th s .

h h ould it be in co n ve n ie n t , pray do n o t tr ouble yo urse lf to wr ite any an swe r ,

a nd , in a n y case , e xcuse th e libe rty l h a ve t ake n in addr e ssin g yo u.

A nyth in g se n t to Mr . L e nn o x (‘

ouyn g h am ,Fo re ig n Oth e e , flown in g Stre e t ,

L o ndo n , will be fo rwarded .

I um, de a r Sir

Yo ur humble S e rvan t ,

Du nn L rvm o sr oxn .

Th e o th e r le tte r is date d from Lo rd Byron’

s o ld h om e,wh e re

Dr . Livin gsto n e lived fo r e igh t m o n ths,writing h is se cond accoun t

o f h is trave ls, the gue st o fMr . lVebb, th e A fr ican hun te r

Newste ad A bbey .

Man sfie ld,No tts .

,8th Ja nuary, 1 865.

MY DEA R Sm ,

Y ou we re k ind e n ough to m ake some e n quir ie s re spectin g tr an sla tio n s

m ade by Ca th o lic m issio n a rie s in Ea st A fr ica , and , fe a r in g t ha t you m ay h a ve be e n

un succe ssful , I take th e libe rty o f e n clo sin g pa rt o f a pro o f sh e e t , wh ich can ye t be

a lte r ed if you th in k th a t I h ad be tte r n o t s ay wh at I h ave advan ced . I tr ied a

Mo n sig n o r wh o visited G o a , th rough a m embe r o f th e fami ly with wh ich I am

l ivin g ,and h e , th in kin g th a t th e Po rtugue se h ad de stroyed a ny manuscripts th ey

m ay h ave foun d , gave me n o h ope o f succe ss . I th ink th a t th e unblush ing state

To a Sea -She ll . 9 1

m a ts o f th e Po rtugue se o ugh t to be n o ticed, o n th e sco re o f justice to th e memo

r ie s o f th e ea rli e r missio na r ie s . I fe a r th a t th e Po rtugue se th em se lve s we re

w o r t h le ss. No t a ve stig e o f m em o r ia l o r tradi tio n co uld I disco ve r a t Mo z ambique

o f S t . Fra n cis Xa v ie r ; and th e i r own deficie n cie s m ay h ave in duced th em to vilify

be tte r m e n . But if you th in k th a t I m ay do m o re h arm th an g o od by n o t icin g

th e m a tte r a s I do , I sh a ll e ste em it a favour if yo u kin dly m a rk o ffe n sive parts .

Y o u will , I trust , e xcuse my troublin g yo u th us ; an d if yo u can re turn

th e p r o o f a t a n e a r ly pe r io d ,I sh a ll e ste em it a favour to

Your s m o st sin ce re lyDav mm o sr om z.

Th e pro o f is pa r t o f an o th e r bo ok like my last an d I do n o t fo r a m om e n t

a sk y ou to e n do rs e anyth in g , but o n ly to say if my sta tem en ts a re to hea fl

'

e n sive to Ca th o l ics h e r e a t h om e .

”

TO A SEA -SIIELL

BROUG HT FROM NOR‘VA Y .

Y thy lips k iss’d m in e e a r do th list

To spir its o f th e se a

Th at lo n e ly dwe l l, O be aute ous sh e ll ,

Fa r fr om th e ir k in— in th e e

Th e ir vo ice s swe e t, secr e ts r epe a t,

Se cr e ts’twixt th em and m e .

Lo n g bur ied th i n gs th e ir wh ispe r br in gsBack fr om th e tomb , th in gs I

Have h e a rd an d se e n in th e ir dem e sn e

In blissful h our s go n e by,

Ou m o o nl it wave s, in dim se a -cav es,

By sh o r e s’n e a th No rway

’

s sky.

Me it de l igh ts to h e a r th e se spr ite s,

Th e wh il e th ey lo ve to te ll

Oi th at o ld tim e in th e ir de a r clim e

It sadde n s bo th as we ll

My br igh t dr e am’s o

’e r , th ey

’ll se e n o mo r e

Th e ir h om e and th in e , se a -sh e ll

G . T .

92 The Ir ial: Mo n th ly.

A MODERN CONVERSATION.

IWA S staying a few we eks ago with my fri e n d, Mr . Russe ll ,

n e ar Dublin . A m ong th o se wh o we r e staying in th e h ouse

were se ve ral th ough tful , cul tivated pe ople , so th a t I h e ard m any

i n te r e stin g subj e cts discussed . On e e ve n in g th e co n ve rsation

turn ed o n social que stio n s. I h appe n ed to be sittin g n e ar Mr .

Ta lbo t,an En glish Membe r of Par l iam e n t . Wh at a mun ifice n t

g ift th is is of Sir Edward G uin n e ss l”I said to him . It se ems

t o m e to sh ow th at pe ople ar e ge ttin g out o f th e way o f th inkin gwith th e Man ch e ste r Sch o o l . Th irty ye ars ago , in th e go od o ld

days o f la isse z-fa ir e , th is would h ave be e n rank h e r e sy.

”

Oh,o f course , we ar e a ll becom ing mo re socialisti c sa id

Ta lbot . But, you se e , h e is n o t go in g to paupe r iz e th e pe ople ;

th e fun d j s to be laid out an d th e lodgin gs h ir ed on str ictly busi

n e ss prin ciple s.

”

I do n’

t like th e th in g at all , said Hum e . Th e re was a

gr eat de al o f truth in th o se do ctrin e s of la zissoz-fa ir e . A s you say

tr uly, Ta lbo t, we ar e rapidly be com in g State So cial ists, and we

a r e for fe itin g our comm e rcial supr emacy at th e sam e tim e . Wh atm ade us great was h on e st e n e rgy an d in depe nde n ce , an d it is

thr ough efiemi n ate,sen tim e n tal ph ilan th r opy th at we are lo sing

o ur gr e atn e ss. Th er e is a Russia wa itin g to conque r us, whichh as n on e o f th is sickly se n tim e n t about it. Of course , I must ad

m ire Sir Edward G uin n e ss’

s g en e rosity ; but I can n o t h e lp con

n e cting th e gift in my m in d with th at sil ly h asco of th e dockmen’s

str ikes. It se em s to m e l ike a propitiatory sacrifice to appe ase an

in satiable demo cracy.

”

If you call it co n scie n ce -m on ey to o late pa id for ga in gotte n

from th e m ise ry and drunke n n ess o f th e po o r , you would be n eare r

th e mark ,"

sa id Woulfe,a young , pale

—lo okin g m an , wh o sat a

l ittle way o ff— at wh ich fe ro cious rem ark th e ladie s n e ar sh rank in

h o rror , as th ough fr om an e scaped co n vict .

My de ar Hum e,

”sa id Russe ll

, you ar e quite a pagan in

your views. Sure ly“

so cie ty is con stituted fo r th e go od o f all.

En e rgy and indepe nde n ce are adm ir able qua litie s, but th ey are

th e gifts of th e stron g th e weak have a place in socie ty as we ll .

Th e fortun ate and succe ssful in l ife’

s struggle r e ally h ave dutie s

94 Th e Ir is/e Mo nth ly.

No on e e ve r r e ads in Ire land, sa id Hume ; it would be

be n e ath our dign ity to be indebted fo r o ur ideas to o th e rs. But is

n o t your Land Le ague take n up with such problems, Miss

Mo o r e

Oh , ye s, po litician s an d lan d le ague rs doubtle ss h ave pr ob

l ems but I m e an,we do n o t se em to h ave any like wh at you have

in Lo n do n ,wh ich in te re st e ve ryo n e . I thin k we m an age things

be tte r h e re .

”

Y ou are quite r ight, Miss Mo o r e , sa id Russe ll . A part

from th e lan d que stio n ,our so cial co nditio n is much m o re simple ,

an d I th ink m o re h e althy, than En g lan d’

s. Y ou se e th e r e ar e n o t

th e huge m asse s o f populatio n in th e town s— an agr icultural com

mun ity is a lways much le ss complex th an a comm e rcia l o n e .

”

I o fte n th ink ,”sa id Mrs. F itz ge ra ld, h ow much h appie r , as

far as th e se th in gs ar e co n ce r n ed,'

pe op1 e we re in th e m iddle age s.

Th e n , o f course,th e r e we r e n o t th e se huge town s, a nd life was in

th e m ain rustic an d agr icultural .

Still,

”sa id Talbot, you co uld h ardly put back th e dial n ow.

Howe ve r m uch you m igh t wish it , you could n o t turn Birm in gh am

in to plough lan d an d Sh e ffie ld in to m e adow.

Th o r o ld Roge rs pr o ve s,”sa id lVo ulfe , by ca lculation o f th e

r ate of wag e s an d th e pr ice o f fo od, th at in th e fo ur te e n th ce n tury

th e labour e r s we r e fa r be tte r o ff than th ey ar e n ow .

”

1 a lways h ave my doubts about th e se. statistics, ca lculated so

lo ng afte rwards,

”sa id Talbo t. I do n

’t kn ow much about th e

m atte r ; but I h ave th e sam e doubts about th e h appin e ss o f th e

m edimval artifice r th at I h ave as to wh e th e r h e in te nde d all th e

symbo l ism we are taugh t to se e in h is sta in ed g lass win dows an d

m e tal wo rk .

”

Y ou ar e a sceptic, Mr . Talbo t , I se e,

sa id Mrs. Fitz ge rald .

Fo r my part. sa id IIum e,wh o h ad se eme d v e ry impatie n t

o f th e last r em arks, I um sur e th at a state o f war,l ike tha t

wh ich lasted r igh t th ro ugh th e fo ur te en th cen tury,and inde e d

dur in g th e wh o le m iddle ag e s, could n o t be a g o od o r n a tural

th ing fo r any class o f th e commun ity. Comm e rce and agr icul ture

we re a t a sta n d- still,an d n o on e ben efitte d but th e Fre e Compan ie s

a nd such r obbe rs. Fo r myse lf, I am grate ful to civi lization fo r

few th in gs so much as fo r th e security we a l l n ow e n j oy.

”

I suppo se all th e se th in gs ar e true ,”

sa id Mrs. Fitzge ra ld,

wh o se em ed distr e ssed atHum e’s impe tuo sity ; but I was re adin g

A 211 o dem Conve rsatlon . 95

th e o th e r day such a ch arm in g bo ok on Jack Cade’

s R ebe llion ,by

W il liam Mo rris. His picture is ve ry diffe re n t fr om your s, Mr .

IIum e . A n d th e n th e r e we r e th e mo n a ste rie s, wh ich did so much

g o o d to th e po or . Th ey we r e a sad lo ss. It se em s as th ough

pe o ple r e al iz ed i n th ose tim e s wh at Mr . Russe ll said just n ow about

bo th th e Sta te and th e r ich h avin g dutie s to th e poo r . Fo r th e

kin gs a nd th e gre at n oble s e ndowed an d suppo rted th e mo n aste rie s,

w h ich acted ,as it we re , as truste e s fo r th e po o r . In th is way, th e

ch a r ity ,h oweve r large ly, o r e ve n impro vide ntly, give n by th e r ich ,

w a s n o t impruden tly spe n t .

"

I wish I could be lie ve that, mutter ed Hum e to Talbot .

I almost th ink ,

”sa id R usse ll

, that we m igh t le ar n two

lesso n s from th e m iddle age s. First, th at e ve ryon e sh o uld r e cogn ise his duty towards h is fe llow

- citiz en s, and try to fulfil it h im

se lf, a n d n o t lea ve it o ve r to th e State to do and, se con dly,that

c h a r ity will be be st carr ied o ut by o rgan iz atio n s o f m e n who make

it th e ir vo ca tio n , and n o t by r an dom in dividual e ffo rt, o r e ve n di

re ctly by th e Sta te . Thank you,Mrs. Fitzg erald, I n e ve r th ough t

o f th a t be fo re . But I se e you are an en th usiast abo ut th e m o n as

te r ies . Do es n o t your fr ie n d, Mr . Ruskin , h o ld your views to o

Oh , ye s, inde ed h e do e s. He use d to say h e h ope d to die a

F r an ciscan friar at A ssisi .”

I always th ink Ruskin is like a m ode rn Plato , said Russe ll,

pre aching h igh ide als to a mate ria listic, soph istical wo r ld. Plato

puts th e se th ings we are talkin g about , so we ll . On ly,h e h ad n o t

th e sam e difficult pr oblems. Mo st of th e labourin g classes in h is

d ay we r e sla ve s that save d so much trouble . I was just r e adingth e R epublic

’

wh en you cam e,

”h e added, turn ing to m e

Russe ll always puz z le s m e,

said Hume to Ta lbo t, a man

o f h is se n se quoting Plato , an d a man of h is age r e ading G r e ek

But, se r iously, Mr . Russe l l,”h e con tinued, you do n

’

t accept

Ituskin’

s Po litical Econ omy, do you It is so puz z le-h e aded. He

takes a scie nce th at can be made almo st math ematica l in its accu

ra cy , and twists it about with quite po e tic disr egard o f facts and

ur e s .

'

A n d h is fun dame n ta l assumption s an d defin itio n s are

Th e re is some th ing in wh at you say, said Russe ll , th ough

n ot so much as yo u th ink , as Plato says. I quite admit that

Ruskin may be a poor ma th ematician,an d th at, as a system , h is

po litical eco n omy is weak . I lo ok upon h im as a proph e t,— with

9 6 Tbe Ir is): Month ly.

o ut h on our, as it se ems

, in h is own coun try,— wh o

, through var ious

figur e s an d allego ries, as I th ink th em,o r as you may say, with

a ll h is exagge ra tion an d hype rbo le , still se e s an ideal to wh ich h e

tr ie s to le ad us. Sure ly it is a gre at th ing in th e se days o f mate

r ialism to h ave s uch a man,wh o se face is ho t ben t down to e arth

l ike th e face of th e brute be asts, but is ra ised up to h e ave n , to th e

re g io n o f pur e ide als . Y ou must n o t quarre l with h is m eth od ,

but rath e r co n side r th e truth s h e te lls us o f, th ough on ly ha lf

se e n

hIigh ty Proph e t 3 Se e r b le st 3

On wh om th o se truth s do r e st .

W'h ich we are to ilin g a ll o ur l ive s to find .

’

I am sur e you ar e r igh t, Mr . Russe ll. sa id Mrs. Fitzgerald

e age rly ; th at is th e impr e ssio n h e a lways g ive s m e wh e n h e

ta lks. It is ve ry cur ious th at , in a ll h is wo rk in A rt an d such

th ings, h e se ems to be,like Wo rdswo rth ,

h e a r in g o fte n tim e s

Th e still , sad music o f hum an ity ,

No t h a rsh n o r g ra tin g ,th ough o f ample powe r

To ch aste n an d subdue .

’

He re ally th inks h is vo catio n is to spe ak to th e world on th e se .

so cial matte rs.

”

Y e s, sa id Russe ll , it is th e still , sad music of human ity

th at tr ouble s h im . Th e r e h e is diffe r e n t fr om Plato ,— inde ed a ll

m odem s ar e so diffe r e n t from th e G r e e ks. Th ey h ave n o t that

pe rfe ctly n atural , ch ildlike de ligh t in a ll th ings ar oun d th em wh ich

th e G r e eks h ad. But we can’

t go back in th e se th in gs th e wo rld

has be e n growin g o lde r,an d its ch ildish joys n o lo n ge r satisfy it .

We fe e l our in cr e ased r e spo n sibilitie s, an d I am glad to th ink that

we try in som e way to m e e t th em .

”

A s th is conve rsation wen t o n , I, n o twith standin g that I was

ke e n ly in te r e sted in it, fe lt m or e an d m o r e we ary from con stan t

trave llin g fo r se ve ra l days. Al th ough I h e ard wh at was sa id, I

could n o t ke ep my atte n tion fixed, an d many th in gs I h ave sin ce

fo rgo tte n . A bout th is tim e , to o , som e o n e began to play th e pian o , .

a n d Noctur n e s o f Chopin an d So n a tas o f Be e th o ve n alte rn ate ly

m in gled with th e vo ice s o f th e spe ake rs.

On e thing I am sur e o f, sa id Russe ll, th at

9 8 TIre Ir is]!

th e influe n c e o f fa ir sigh ts and sounds,’as Plato says. Childre n

a re a ll so much al ike , th at I th in k it we could ward off all bad

influe n ce s from th em , th e ch ildre n o f the po o r m ight e asily be

turn ed in to g e n tl eme n—g en tleme n in th e ir ide as and fe e lin gs, I

m e an , as m a ny o f th e pe a san ts ia th e coun try parts o f Ire land are

a lr e ady. I h ave se e n e oun trym e n in G a lway wh o se co n ve rsatio n

is r efin ed e n ough fo r a court .

But do es that m ake th em h appy said Miss Mo ore . I

e xpect fo r m o st of th em ig n o ran ce is bl iss ; wh ile I am sur e th e r e

a re som e wh o wo uld put th is educa tion you ar e g iving th em to

ve ry bad use . It is a dan g e r ous we apo n to fo rg e , r e ady for th e ir

h an ds. A n d as fo r th e ir refin em e n t, you m ay put a ve n e e r o f

culture o ve r th em, but th e o n ly e tfe ct .will be to de str oy th e ir

simplicity, a n d make th em awkward inste ad o f in te r e stin g .

”

But do yo u r e a lly th in k ,”

sa id l tusse ll , that they we re

m ade to pass th e ir live s in th ough tle ss ign o ran ce Th e re are few

th in gs to m e m o r e te rr ible th an to se e an En g lish laboure r with

th e sh ape , and pre sumably th e in te lle ct o f a m an,le ading th e life

o f an an ima l . Man is to o n oble a creature to be degraded in tha t

way. It is n o t th e work that is de grading , but th at wh e n wo rk

is ove r h e sh ould h ave n o th in g le ft to do . A t lea st h e m ight

k n ow th at h e h as a m ind an d soul . Eve ryo n e n e e d n ot be a

philo soph e r , but e ve ryo n e is th e be tte r fo r th inkin g a t time s ; and

fo r any impro vem e n t in th e labouring classe s, I am sure it is

e sse n tia l . t e n th ey be g in to th ink , th ey can be gin to impro ve

themse lve s, and such an impro veme n t will be lastin g . Y ou

unde r s ta nd, o f course , th at I m e a n by educa tio n ,

n o t a cr amm in gwith kn owledg e , n o t much bo okle arn ing , but g o od m o ra l and

i n te lle ctual influe n ce s. I wan t th e ch ildr e n to th ink we ll, and

though t is to be drawn o ut o f th em, n o t fo rce d in to th em . A ll

will depe nd o n th e characte r o f th e te ach e rs, and th e wo rk o f

te aching would n o t be to o humble fo r So cra te s h imse lf. I am so

c o n vin ced that go od influe n ce s will do e ve ryth ing With childr e n ,

that I sho uld like to take som e o f th em , t h ose o f th e crim in al

classe s at any rate, bodily o ut of th e slums o f th e citie s, and to

se ttle th em in sch o o ls in co un try place s, wh e re th ey could n e ve r

be brough t un de r th e e vil influe nces of h ome . Howe ve r , you wil l

th in k th is Utopian .

”

I em a fraid I do,

sa id Miss Mo o re . Th e ide as are

ch arming , but th e m e ans to r e aliz e th em se em ve ry in adequa te .

Th e In s]; Mon th ly.

ITEMS A BOUT IRISH PERSONS.

JA MES GILLAND ,

“ L OUG H IN E, J. C. D EA DY,\V. P. M t

’

LCHl NOCK ,

BA RTHO LOMEW Dowu n e , ETC .

,EH‘

.

1 . We we re about to place th e fo llowin g am ong our A n ony

mitie s Un ve iled,

”fo r n o an onym ity is mo re secure ly ve il ed than

th e auth orsh ip o f a poem wh ich is attri buted to th e wr on g man .

In th e sh illin g vo lume in wh ich G avan Dufiy, m ore th an fo rty

ye ars ago , co n de n sed with supr em e skill an d taste th e be st o f Th e

Ba llad Po e try o f Ir e land,

”h e gave Dr . Dr e n n an as th e auth or o f

“ R o ry O’Mo o r e

,an Ulste r Ba llad

,

” just as he assign ed to h im

Wh e n Er in first ro se,

”an d h e prefixed to th e po em wh ich fo l

lowed n ext,Samue l Fe rguso n

’

s Un a Ph e limy,”

an argume n t

drawn from th e fact o f two No rth e r n Pro te stan ts”wr iting , as

th e se did,a bout th e Irish affa ir s o f 1 64 1 . But this was a mis

take , wh ich I find ackn owledg ed in th e fo rty-first edi tio n . Y e t

h e do e s n o t n am e th e auth o r o f Rory O’Mo o re ,

”wh ich we n ew

claim auth or ita tive ly fo r Mr . Jame s G illan d, o fDun gan n o n . Many

o f his po ems appe ar in T/Je Uh tcr Magaz in e in 1 830 ; but th eyare assign ed to th e late Jame s G illand.

”Th ey o r ig in a lly ap

pe ar ed in Tim Bdfilxt Commem ia l Chr on icle , betwe e n 1 804 and

1 8 1 2 , and we r e sign ed Z . X .

”On e o f th e be st o f th e se is Th e

G rave o f Russe ll —n ame ly, Thomas Russe l l, who was e xecuted

tor h igh tre aso n at Downpatr ick o n th e?l st Octobe r , 1 803 . Wh e n(‘

rillan d died in h is e ar ly m an h o o d, in 1 8 1 1 , many warm tr ibute s

pa id to th e am iable ch ar a cte r and br igh t promise o f th is

youn g po e t o f Tyro n e , wh o h ad sung so we ll o f tho se th at placed

the ir trust o f o ld

In G od a nd Our L ady an d Ro ry O’Moo re .

2 . We m ay add h e re , tha t an o th e r swe e t Ir ish ba llad , LoughIn e , h as be en attr ibute d to th e Re v. Ch ar le s Davis, P .P.

,Bal ti

m o r e . We h a ve h is auth o r ity, fo r de nyin g th is. He attribute s

th e l in es to a Co rkman n amed O’

Brien ; but on th is a lso we h ave

h e ard doubts thrown .

1 02 T1)?Ir ish Mcn t/zly.

ah why was h e n o t bur ied like a Chr istian man in th e A bbey o f

A ssaro c , be side th e win ding sh o re s o f Ern e Th e th ird n ame is

Fan ny Fo rre ste r , daughte r o f Mrs. Elle n Fo rre ste r . Both o f

th em livin g in England, h ave sh own de ep po e tic fe e lin g and

warm Irish h e ar ts. we sha ll be g lad of an oppo rtun ity o f in tro

ducing th em to our re ade rs.

6 . s e N ation o f Decembe r 2 1 , 1 889 , ended an in te re sting re

view o f th e Irish Fa iry Ta le s o f Mr . Edmund L e amy,M ,P . ,

by puttin g fo rward th is bo ast fo r Wa te rfo rd To Sexton th

o ra to r , to Dowling th e n o ve list, to Down ey, th e succe sso r o f Lo ve r ,IVate rfo rd h as added an o th e r so n in Mr . Le amy, wh o will in cre ase

th e sto re o f our lite ratur e . But R ichard Dowling is a n ative o f

o f Clo nm e l . Can “Wate rford claim h is kin sman,Edmund Down ey ,

a lias F . M . A lle n

7 . Th e futur e biograph e r o f A ubr ey de Ve re will find copious

a nd va luable m ate r ials in th e A utobiog raphy of Sir He n ry Taylo r

a nd in th e Life o f Sir William Rowan Ham ilton . A n o th e r Irish

man wh o figure s we ll in Sir He n ry Taylo r’

s page s is Rich ard

Fle ekn o e , bran ded in Dryde n’

s satire , ye t capable o f thus apo stro

ph isin g Sile n ce

Sacred sil en ce , th e n wh o a rt

Flo odg a te o f t he de e

pe st h e a r t .

Byron was n o t an Ir ishman , th ough h e sh owed an Ir ish spir it

i n on e o f h is two fin e spe e ch e s. Howe ve r , we may h e re se t it down

that h ardly anywh e r e can th e r e be foun d a juste r o r m o re discr i

m in atin g appr e ciation o f Lo rd Byro n’s gen ius an d its lim itatio n s

th an in Sir He n ry Taylo r’

s in tr oductio n to h is Philip van A r te

r o ldc -wh ich , by th e way, Th om as Davis. in on e of th o se le tte rs

first publ ish ed in th is Magaz in e , sa id was be tte r wo rth studying

th an any play sin ce Shake spe are .

9 . In th e th ird part o f “ A n o nym itie s Un ve iled , in our

Numbe r fo r last Novembe r , pag e 6 1 0. Mr . D . Cr illy, M .P.,ma de

e nquir ie s about”

William Pembroke Mulch in ock and Barth o lom ew

Dowlin g afte r th e ir remova l to th e Un ited States. Kind corres

pe n de n ts have give n us inform ation about bo th .

Th ere are go od reason s fo r ce lebrating our day o f baptism

Pigeon lzo le Pa rag raphs. 1 01}

u th e r th an our birthday. The m em o randum about William Mul

ch in o o k says o n ly th at h e was baptiz ed o n th e 5th o f Ma rch, 1 820

le ft T ra le e fo r A m e rica in 1 849 ; r e turn ed to Ir e la nd abo ut th e ye ar

1 8 55 a n d died in Septembe r , 1 864 .

1 0 . A n o th e r co rr espo n de n t state s th a t Barth o lom ew Dowlin g ,

auth o r o f Th e Br igade at Fo n te n oy,

”we n t fr om Lime rick to

Boulo gn e in 1 848 , an d was in Co rk in th e two fo llowin g ye ars, an d

fo r so m e ye ars afte rwards in L ive rpo o l . But h is la st ye a rs we r e

passe d in Ca lifo rn ia , an d h e died o n th e 20th o f No vembe r,1 863 ,

in St . Ma ry’

sHospita l , San Fra n cisco , a tte n de d by Ir ish Siste rs o f

Me rcy, o n e o f th em a n ative of L im e r ick,like h imse lf

,th e ve n e r

able lady , Miss lteddan , aun t o f th e late Mo th e r Fran cis Br idgman , o f K in sa le .

PIG EONIIOLE PARA G RA PHS.

l . Th e fo llowin g appe a l com e s from th e Co n ve n t o f Me rcy, .

Cla r em o r r is

Th e r e is some th in g in the suffe r in gs o f fe e bl e o ld ag e , an d in th e

th e h e lple ssn e ss o f l ittle ch i ldr e n ,wh ich appe a ls stro n g ly to th e

te n de r sympa th ie s o f compassio n a te and g e n tle h e a r ts , wh o wo uld

pro cur e—fo r th e fo rm e r

,a quie t r e st a t th e clo se o f th e ir wea ry ba ttle o f

life ; fo r th e la tte r , a fr e edom from ca r e a n d so rr ow, in wh ich to

e n joy th e ir br ie f pe r iod o f un co n scio usn e ss o f th e str uggle th a t is

be fo re th em . To th e se te n de r h e a r ts we n ow appe a l o n be h a lf o f

piti ful l ittle cr ea tur e s, with pin ch ed an d pa llirl face s, sh ive r i n g , h a lf

clo th ed limbs, ba r e fe e t, blue an d bliste r ed with co ld, com in g , m a ny o f

th em ,m ile s to sch o o l , wh e r e th ey m ay spe n d som e h o ur s}in a wa rm

ro o m,a nd r e ce ive each th e pie ce o f br e ad wh ich we strugg le h a rd t o

pro cur e fo r th em . W'

e appe a l to th em o n be h alf o f ag e d po o r , lyin g

un m o uldy straw,a few rags th e ir bla nke ts, a tub b e side th emf in

th e ir be ds to ca tch th e ra in wh ich dr ips th rough th e ro ttin g r o o f o f

tha tch , th e ir o n ly a lte rn ative th e wo rkh ouse , wh o se g la r in g wh ite

wa lls h ave , in too many casos, added blindn e ss to th e ir o th e r suffe rin g s .

To pr o vide som e m e an s fo r t l. e ir i e l ie t, we h ave a n an nua l Baz aa r ,

1 04'

.Th e Ir ish Mo n th ly.

but th e place is s o o ut- o t- th e -way, and th e pe 0p1 e fo r th e m o st par t so

po o r , th at we h ave to depe nd ma in ly fo r i ts succe ss o n h e lp from

o utside . A ll o ffe r in gs o f m o n ey, fa n cy wo rk , o r pr iz e s fo r th e Baz aar ,o r g ifts o f cast o ff clo th in g , will be m o st g r a te fully r e ce ived .

”

a a s

2 . Te n nyso n’

s la te st vo lum e co n ta in s th e se l in e s to th e sn owdr op

Th e same th em e wa s sun g by o n e wh o a t th e time was ve ry n e ar ly

se ve n ty ye a rs yo un g e r th an th e L aufe a te , un de r circumstan ce s

th a t will b e found r e co un ted m in ute ly a t pag e 650 o f th e e igh th

vo lum e o f th is Maga z in e , in th e fo ur te e n th ch apte r o f “ Flowe rs fo r

a Ch i ld’s G r ave .

”I am fo nd o f co n tra stin g th e diffe r e n t tr e a tme n t

o f th e sam e subj e ct in th e h an ds o f diffe r e n t pe r so n s— sueh as Th omas

Mo o r e , a n d He n ry Kirk e \Vh ite To my Mo th e r —and,th e r e fo r e

,

side by side with th e o cto g e n a r ian’s sn owdr op, I place th e sn ow

drop o f an Ir ish ch ild wh o h ad h a rdly be gun h e r te e ns wh en sh e

wr o te th e se lin e s

A swe e t l ittle th in g is th e sn owdrop in Spr in g

In its sn owy wh i te r obe dr e ssed

A pe a rly g em o n an em e ra ld stem ,

W ith a dewdrop o n its bre ast.

Oh . a brave we e th in g is th e sn owdr op in Spring ,

Fo r th e Win te r'

s sca rce ly go n e ,

it lifts its h e ad from its fro z e n bed

A nd says , Br igh t Spr in g ,com e on 3

A n d a we lcom e we e th in g is th e sn owdrop in Sprin g ,

Fo r it h e ralds th e summ e r sun .

A t th e h t at wa rm ray it m e lts away

A n d th e sn owdro p’

s ta sk is do n e .

i i

3 . Nve la te ly r e fe r r ed to Mr .

"

Wilfr id Blun t’s n ewe st vo lum e , wi th

i ts -br ill ia n t but lax th e o ry a nd pr actice o f son n e t-wr itin g . It se em s

v e ry de sirab le to g ive th e coun te r -view o f a we igh ty auth o ri ty in

The We ekly R eg i ste r , of No vembe r 23 , 1 889

Ma ny , m any we lcome s,

Fe bruary fa ir-m a id ,

Eve r as o f o ld time

So lita ry firstl in g ,

Com in g in th e co ld tim e,

Pro ph e t o f th e g ay t im e,

Proph e t o f th e May time ,

Pr oph e t o f th e r o se s.

Man y, m a ny we lcom e s,

Februa ry fa ir-ma id.

’

1 06 The Im h Mon th ly.

Tim o thyHarringto n ,?M.P Mr Harri n gto n is a bo rn o rgan iz e r .

He h as much o f th e ir on spir it o f th e Am e rican boss,’da sh ed with

th e kin dli n e ss of a go od-h um our ed Irishman . His fr am e , h a rdy,

firm -se t, is capable o f any amoun t o f physica l o r m e n tal e ffo r t.

Throughout h is who le life he has never once tasted stimulan t, and this

p erhaps accoun ts to some exten tfor h is sp lendid he alth .

”

6 . A s la te as thi s Jan ua ry, 1 890, se ve ral ye ars after h e r de ath , I

n oti ce in T7143 A rgosy an it em call ed simply So nn e t, by Julia

Kavan agh .

” A Cath o lic Ir ishwoman , livin g ch iefly abr oad, Mi ss

Kavan agh , as far as I em awar e , sh owed h e r Cath o lic fai th o n ly

indir ectly by th e purity and wh o le som e n e ss of h e r fictio ns, an d h e r

n atio n ality n o t at a ll . But thi s last r e lic of h e rs, th e o nly piece o f

ver se th at I h ave se en fr om h e r pe n , . ta rus out to be a pious pictur e o f

th e A nnunciation , an d fo r h e r th e Ble ssed Virgin is n o t m e r e ly a

h igh ly favour ed on e ,” but full o f grace

A lon g th e mo rn in g sky th e A n g el cam e ,

A n d thr ough th e window like a sun beam passed ,

Silen t and brigh t. A sta rtled look sh e cast

Upon h is lon g wh ite wings and brow of flame .

Hail, full of g race sa id h e . Th e blessed name ,

L ike long-expecte d music com e a t last ,

By earth was h e ard . But wh e n with virgin sh am e

Pure Mary sh rank ben e a th th e h eave ns vast ,A ll throug h th e sad, long

-sufier in g world th e re ran

A th rob o f fear an d awe lest th is poo r ma id

Th e g re at bo o n sh ould den y to sinful man .

Beh o ld th e h andma id of th e L o rd ! sh e sa id .

Th en gladn e ss like a be lt th e e ar th did span

Th e A nge l smil edand back to h e ave n fled.”

Th is is n o t as po e tical as Ro sse tti’s so n n e t o n th e sam e subj ect,

but it is m o r e r eve r en t and m o r e full o f fa ith . A fte r a ll , Can ova did

n o t gr e atly exagg e rate wh e n h e said Th e re is n o r e al sublim ityo utside th e Ch r istian Faith ; n o r eal be auty wi th out th e Madonna.

”

OH READING AUBREY DE VERE’S “ LEG ENDS OF

ST. PA TRICK .

”

I

RIN sto od we epin g by th e wild se ash o r e ,

We epin g be cause h e r ba rds we r e passed away,

Th e ir h a rps all sile n t. Th r ough lo ng ye a rs n o r ay

Of ligh t h ad pie rced th e cloud of g r ie f sh e wo r e

Wrapped as a garm e n t r ound h e r . To deplo r e

De ep ca use sh e h ad be side h e r van ish ed day

Of so n g and music ; ye t fo r o n e swe e t lay

Sh e ye arn ed th e wave s a lo n e r epli ed No mor e

L o o n e ar o se , we ll skill ed , an d to ok th a t pa r t

Fo r h e r de ar sak e . He r glo ry br ie f, h e r wo e s,But m e e t h e r spir itua l life h e sh ows

In swe e t de ep-flowing so n g . Dr awn by h is art,

A s gl ides h is vo ice up thr ough h e r van ish ed ye a rs,

Hope with so ft win gs wipe s fr om h e r eye s th e ir te ars.

I r e ad, and, as I r e ad, upo n my e ar

A r o se a swe ll o f music. Thr ough th e wh o le

Sounded a de ep ful l ch o rd wh ich dr ew my soul

Past e arth un to h e r G od. Thy j oy, thy fe ar ,Thy h ope fo r futur e ye a rs, 0 Ir e lan d ! h e r e

A r e sun g to th a t de ar h arp wh ich lay so lo n g

In sil e n ce . Th is thy so n his g ift of so n g

Has pour ed aroun d thy sh o r es. Oh e ve r de ar

Sh all b e h is n am e to th o se wh om th ou do st ca ll

In truth thy so ns and daugh te rs . L e ! a smile

Be ams fr om th in e eye s e’e n as th e te ar -dr ops fal l .

Joy in thy so rr ow th a t th o u h ast th e wh ile

A Po e t still , wh o se vo ice fr om out th e past

Calls fo rth thy trust in G od, and bids th e e h o ld it fast .

M. F . M .

1 08 The Ir ish Monthly.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

l . Salvage from th e Wr e ck ,

” by th e R e v . Pete r G a llwey, SJ .

(London 2 Bur n s a nd Oate s), is a wo rk o f r em arkable o rigin ality an d

a ttractive n e ss, and at th e sam e tim e ful l o f edifica tio n a n d instructio n .

Pe rh aps th e title is n o t quite h appy, and ce r ta in ly it stands gr e a tly in

n e e d o f th e explan atio n furn ish ed by th e sub-title : A FewMemo r ie s

o f Fr ie ndsDepar ted, pre se rved in Fun e ral Discour se s. It iswe ll kn own

th at Fa th e r G a llwey is an Ir ishm an wh o se wo rk h as la in in En g land ,

a nd ch icfly in Lo ndo n , W . Wh e n anyo n e ve ry emin e n t in Ch r istia n

vir tue and in de vo tedn e ss to th e Ca th o lic Faith h as be e n ca ll ed to h is o r

h e r r ewa rd, h e h as be e n ve ry o fte n in vite d to po in t th e m ar o f

th e life th us brough t to a clo se . Lady G e o rg ian a Fulle rton , be fo r eh e r turn cam e to be h e rse lf spok e n o f in th is way, expr e ssed

e arn e st de sir e th at Fa th e r G allwey wo uld publish a se le ctio n o f th ese

ve ry un co n ve n tio n al an d ve ry un fre n chy orac’

som funébr ea. He h as at

last do n e so,ch ichy th r o ugh th e pe r suasio n o f Fa th e r He n ry Co le ridg e ,

S.I ., o f wh om h e says m o st justly, th at h e may we ll be put a lo ng side

th e late Fath e r Fab e r o f th e Ora to ry as pr e- em in e n t in th e divin e wo rk .

of prom o tin g th e A po stle sh ip o f G o od Bo ok s. Fa th e r G a llwey may

n o t be quite pl e a sed with us fo r th inkin g , th a t th e pag e s th a t h e h as

found it n e ce ssa ry to add in puttin g th e discourse s to g e th e r ar e th e

m ost in te r e stin g a nd va luable po r ti o n o f th e vo lum e , wh ich con tai n s

n o th in g m o r e edifying th an th e la st twe n ty pag e s o f th e in tr oductio n .

Will th e auth o r dr aw th e pr o pe r co n clusio n fr om th is un doubte d fact,

a nd mak e up h ism ind to do h imse lf wh a t h e urg e s e a rn e stly o n o th e rs

L e t h im se t down o n pape r an d put in to pr in t, by i n sta lm e n ts, a s many

pe rso n a l sk e tch e s as po ssible , such a s fo rm th e substan ce o f Sa lvag e

fr om th e Wr eck .

”A s som e r e ade rs will sh ar e our disappo intm e n t at

be in g cut down to in itia ls in th a t par t o f th e in troductio n to wh ich we

h ave just r e fe r r ed, we h aste n to sh ar e with th em a lso a di sco ve ry th at

we h a ve made . In a subse que n t par t o f th e wo rk we fin d th at

“ M . to wh om we owe th e exquisite ly devo tio n a l bo okle t, A n

Hour b e fo r e th e Ble ssed Sacram e n t,”wa s Miss Mary lun in gh am e ,

an d h e r fr ie nd was Blan ch e Lady Fitz g e rald, wh o died an Ir ish

Siste r o f Ch ar ity. Mr G ladsto n e h as just sa id in The Sp eake r I am

dispose d to thin k th a t ladie s ough t n o t to be n am ed in pr in t with out

th e ir previous co n se n t .” Th is do e s n o t apply in th e pr e se n t case . Th e

subjects of th ese ske tch e s and fun e ral wo rds a r e ch iefly Eng lish m en

1 1 0 The Ir ish Mon th ly.

sk e tch e s o f n e arly all th e po e ts r epr ese n ted. It is n o t lo n g since we

r e comm e n ded to our r e ade rs Mr Dan i e l Co n n o lly’s House h o ld

Library o f Ir ish Po e ts”

an d h e r e come to us fr om th e sam e N ew

Y o rk a n o th e r large tom e devo te d to th e sam e subj e ct . Th ey diffe r

wide ly, h owe ve r , in th e ir co n te n ts an d we sh all so o n tak e occasio n to

compa r e th e po in ts in which o n e h as th e advan tag e ove r th e o th e r .

Th e pre se n t wo rk is th e se co n d editio n , gr e a tly e n larg ed, of a co ll ec

t iOn edi te d by Joh n Boyle O’R e il ly. W e sh a ll r e turn to it aga in .

4 . A n o th e r ve ry larg e and h an dsom e vo lum e is Th e Sto ry o f th e

Ir ish in Bo sto n ,

”e di te d an d compiled by Mr Jam e s Be rn a rd Culle n ,

an d publish ed in luxurio us styl e by th e firm of wh ich Mr Cull e n is th e

h e ad . Eve ry in cide n t and eve ry pe r son lin k ing to g e th e r Bo sto n and

th e Ir ish r ace h as be en sough t out with e n thusiastic dilige nce an d

ske tch e s an d po r tra its a r e g ive n o f a ll th e distin guish e d Ir ishm e n an d

Ir ish wome n con n ected with Bo sto n . It is an in te r e stin g , an d, in m any

r e spe cts, an am a z in g bo ok . We in te nd,with a ll due ackn owl edgme n t

,

to dr aw o n its abun da n t sto r e s fo r bio gr aph ical par ticul ars about a

gr e at m any o f o ur Ir ish r ace .

5. To a ttempt a r eview o f Th e R e n ew o f R eviews would be to

car ry r e vi ewin g to o far ; but we fe e l boun d to o ffe r a we lcom e to No . 1 ,

bo th fo r its own sak e , and fo r th e promise it h o lds fo rth fo r th e futur e

o f th is m arve llous sixpe n cewo r th . On e item o f th e first numbe r , in

wh ich it h as th e advan tag e o ve r its succe sso r s, is th e r epr oduction in

fac aimile o f autog raph le tte rs of a gr e a t m any o f th e mo st distin guish ed

m e n o f th e day. Th e m o st talk e d-abo ut bo ok just a t pr ese n t is LadyG . Full e rto n

’

s first n ove l Ellen M'

ddleton th e m o st ta lk ed- about man

is Mr Stan l ey. Th is bo ok an d th is car e e r a r e co nde n sed by Mr Stead

with adm irable sk ill, so as to sa tisfy th e cur io sity o f m o st pe opl e ; an d

th e se a r e o n ly two o f th e ch i e f dish e s in a ve ry g e n e rous and var ious

menu. A ye a r ly vo lum e o f The Review of Reviews, we ll in dexed, willbe a tr e asur e -h ouse o f co n tempo ra ry li te ratur e and o f in fo rmatio n o f

a ll k inds .

6 . Miss Mary Cath e r in e Cr owley is rapidly acquiring a h igh r epu

ta ti on as a wr ite r o f sto ri e s fo r ch ildr en . In an in te r e sting sk e tch o i‘

h e r g ive n in a wo rk wh ich we h ave just comm e n de d to our r e ade rs,

Th e Ir ish in Bo sto n”— a sk e tch m ark ed by in itials wh ich we ar e

g lad to ide n tify as th o se o f Miss Kath e rin e Co nway, acco rdin g to our

usua l po licy o f unve ilin g an o nym itie s—we find th at Miss Crowl ey

’s

lite ra ry activity is ve ry gr e a t and ve ry var ious ; but th e depar tm en t

in wh ich sh e is m o st favourably kn own is th a t o f ch ildr e n’s sto r ies.

We we re able last ye ar to g ive a co rdia l wclcom e to h e r Me rry

Notes’

on N ew Books. 1 1 1

He a r ts an d True ; and n ow an o th e r to o brigh t-co ve r ed bo ok con ta in s

Ha ppy- G o -Lucky, and Oth e r Sto rie s (N ewYo rk : D . J. Sadl ie r

a nd A m on g th e Pr e ss n o tice s at th e e nd, we n o tice th is Maga

z in e q uo ted as sayin g o f th e pr e vious vo lum e Th e r e a r e just h a lfa do z e n sto r ies in th is h andsom e qua rto , with its b ig type , a nd cove r

o f r e d a n d go ld .

”Th is h o lds go od pr e cise ly o f Miss Cr owley

’s n ew

b o o k, al l except th e '

co lour o f th e bindin g o f th e part icula r copy th at

l ie s b e fo r e n a . Th e style is as b righ t as th e cove r , and th e in cide n ts

a s n um e ro us as th e pag e s . W e h ope th is go od bo o k wi ll m ak e its

way in to a g re a t many Ir ish libra ri e s .

7 . Mr T. J. Live sey h as tr an sla ted ve ry w e l l from th e G e rm an ,

Fl o we r s from th e Cath o lic Ki n de rgar te n , o r Sto ri e s o f th e Ch ildh o o d o f th e Sa in ts

”by Fath e r Hattl e r , SJ . (Lo n do n : Bur n s Oa te s) .

Som e th i rty ch apte rs o f h o ly a n e cdo te s , n o t o n ly about th e youn g

sain ts wh o n eve r grow o ld, but a lso about th e e a r ly days o f o ld sain ts

wh o o n ce we r e yo un g . Th e bo ok is br igh te n ed with m any pictur e s

but it n eeded n o such h e lp to a ttr act youth ful eye s and to m ove

youth ful h ea rts .

8 . Th e Ligh t o f R e aso n , by Sebastian Wyn e ll Mayow (Lo ndo nKe ga n , Paul , Tr en ch is a so lid and o rth odox tr e a tise o n th e

fun dam e n ta l truth s of th e existe n ce o f G od an d th e divin e r eve latio n .

In th is ag e , in England and in th e Un ited Sta te s, such disse r ta tion s

must be tran sla ted out o f th e lan guag e o f th e o logy. A n exam in atio n

o f such a tr e atise would be o ut o f place in our pag e s ; but we can

gua ran te e th e exce ll en t spirit in whi ch it is wr itte n , an d expr e ss our

be li ef th at it will be o f use in g iving peace to many a doubtin g soul .

9 . A very difie r en t bo ok com e s n ext o n our li st Miss Pe ggyO

’Dillo n , o r , th e Irish Cr itic, by Vio la Wa lda (Dublin : M . H. G ill

an d So n ) . It is a live ly a ttack o n th e we akn e sse s e spe cial ly o f th e

wr ite r’

s fe llow-coun trywom e n . We h ave n o t be e n ve ry much im

pra sad by Miss Walda’s r efle ctio n s,—such o f th em as we h ave r e ad

in our bo ok -tasting capacity.

i 0 . So ngs in a Min or K ey : 8. Sma ll Vo lum e of Ve rse . By

William C. Ha ll (Dublin : Sea ly, Brye rs 85Walk e r ) . Thi s is on e o f

th e m ost taste ful pieces of Dubl in typo graphy th at we h ave eve r se e n .

Th e r e is a ce rta in r efin emen t in th e po e t’s ch o ice of th eme s, an d e ve n

in h is diction but we cann o t fin d anyth ing to praise ve ry warmly in

th e po ems th emse lves.

1 1 . Th e Pacific Coast Cath o lic Alm an ac”(San Francisco Dispen

1 1 2 Th e Ir ish Mon th ly.

br o ok and Co .) is exce lle n t. Th e lite rarymatte r is va ried and in te r e st

in g and th e i llustratio n s r emarkably we ll don e , e special ly th e

po rtraits . In som e r e spe cts it r iva ls th e admirable Ca th o lic FamilyA n nual

”

(N ew Yo rk : Cath o lic Publ ica tio n Socie ty), wh ich is far th ebe st th in g o f th e k ind in th e En glish la n guage . Th e h andsom e and

valuabl e vo lum e br o ugh t o ut in Lo ndo n by th e Cath o l ic Tr uth Socie tyb e ars almo st th e sam e n am e , but it is a wo rk of a diffe r e n t kind . It ,

to o , is e xce l le n t in its way, and do e s gre at credi t to Mr Jam e s Br itte n

and all o th e rs co nce rn ed in it .

1 2 . W e ca n on ly ca ll atte n tion to th e pr evious co ll e ctio n o f Th e

Pr o se Wr itin gs o f Th omas Davis, edited , with an In troductio n , by T .

W . Ro l le sto n , wh ich forms a r e ce n t vo lum e o f th e wo nde rful Sh illin g( lam e lo t Se r ie s (Lo ndo n Walte r Sco tt) . Th is book must se ll by th e

th o usand . It is produced admirably. Th e mo st str ikin g th in g in th e

wh o l e co lle ctio n se ems to be th e v e ry fir st—th e A ddr e ss to th e Dublin

Histo r ica l So cie ty in 1 840 . Th is bo ok will in cr ease th e we lcome fo r

Th e Life an d Le tte rs o f Th om as Davis,

” bySir Charle s G avan Duffy,wh ich is n ow passing th rough th e pr e ss.

1 3 . Th e Cath olic Truth Socie ty h a s added to its lon g list o f

pub lication s th r e e mo r e of Fath e r G e rard’s th o r ough ly de ligh tf ul

pape r s o n Nation al Histo ry in co n n ectio n with Scien ce a nd Fai th . It

h as a lso issued pe nny se le ctio n s from th e famous Fio r e tt i o f St .

Fran cis. With th at be loved n am e we may link Th e Francisca n

Tr e asury,”(Dublin : Jam e s Dufiy and So n ) . It is a ve ry b e autiful

co ll e ction o f praye rs and de vo tio n s edited byFath erJar lath Pr e nde rgast,

O .S.P .

1 4 . Me ssrs. M . H. G ill and So n h ave issued a shilling edi tion o f

Th e Po e t’s Purgato ry, and o th e r Po ems

” by Fath e r H. I. D . Ryde r ,

o f th e Or ato ry. It is wor th a gr e a t m any o f th e vo lum e s o f R ecen t

Ve rse”cr iticised occasion a lly in The A them m and The A cademy.

1 5. A t th e last m ome n t we r e ce ive two impo r tan t A ddr e sse s o n th e

Ir ish Un ive rsityQue stion , by th e Mo st R eve re nd Dr . Walsh , A rch

b ish op o f Dublin , r epr in ted (and r emarkably we ll prin ted) in a

p imph l e t of a hundr ed page s. Me ssrs. M . H. G ill and So n a r e th e

publish e rs .

1 1 4 The Ir ish Month ly.

Sylvia dr opped th e ch ain , andwith a crow o f de ligh t toddled to th e

o th e r side of th e ve randah , wh e r e th e m o r n in g glo rie s twin ed th e ir

graceful stems round th e ba tte r ed po sts . Ra ising h e rse lf o n tip- to e ,

sh e tried to r each th e pr e tty blossoms . But th ey gr ew to o h igh ; and

as sh e str e tch ed above h e r h e ad, sh e lo st h e r ba lan ce , and ro lled ove r

o n th e flo or . Sh e utte r ed a loud cry, and big te ars h opped down h e r

ch e eks .

Po or little m ite , you h ave in de e d falle n low, cr ied h e r fath e r ,

rush in g fo rward an d ca tch in g h e r in his arms. But you must be

plucky, de ar , an d n o t cry so e asily. Se e , papa will g ive you th e

flowe rs. So dry your eye s, my pe t.”

He gath e r ed a few glo rie s, and placed th em in h e r h ands .

Papa dea , papa de a , oh , o o dea ,”whi spe r ed Sylvia softly ; and

n e stlin g up to h im , sh e kissed and patted h is face . He pressed h e rl ovingly to h is br e ast, a nd warmly r e turn ed h e r ca r e ss.

My litt le g ir l must be brave . It is n o t go od to cry so easily.

Th e ch ild smil ed th r ough h e r te ars.

Me do od n ow, wa'

y do od .

”

Th at is r igh t . A nd n ow my pe t r e allymust go to bed.

‘

A n n e !

A do o r ope n ed, a nd a n e at-lo oking young woman e n te r ed th e

ve randah .

Y e s, sir . Sh all I tak e Miss Sylvia?” sh e ask ed . It is past h e r

usual bed-time .

Y es, tak e h e r , pl e ase . Sh e is tir ed and sle epy. A nd wh en sh e

is in bed, A nn e , I sh ould lik e to speak to you. I h ave som e thing

impo r ta n t to ask you.

”

Ve ry we ll , sir . Com e,Miss Sylvia .

Th e ch ild spra n g in to h e r arms, laugh ing and crowing with de ligh t .

Nigh t, n igh t, papa , sh e cr ied, sh akin g h e r little h and . Nigh t ,

m

He r fath e r k issed h e r again . G o od ni gh t, dar lin g ; and go to

sle ep quickly, fo r I wan t nurse .

”

I’

ll be back ve ry so on,sir

,r epli ed A n n e . Sh e

’s n eve r long

about go in g to sle ep.

”

A s th e baby disappe ar ed, and th e la st sound o f h e r m e rry prattle

died away, th e youn g man sigh ed h e avily, and flun g hims e lf down

upon a ch air .

“ Po o r dar ling ! It will be h ard to part with h e r . Sh e grows

m o r e e n gag in g , m o r e winn in g , e ve ry day. It will be a sad tr ial to

se nd h e r away, But it must be don e—it must be do n e .

”

He sigh ed again . His h ead sank upon his br ea st, and h e be cam e

lost in th ough t .

G e o rge A th erston e was th e on ly so n o f an English baron e t, and

A Str iking Con trast. 1 15

h e i r t o a fin e o ld place , and a co n side rab le amoun t of prope r ty in Lan

a ah i r e . But, unfo rtun ate ly, th e A th e rston e s h ad be e n fast-living ,

e xtr a vaga n t pe ople , and wh e n G e o rg e’s fa th e r succe eded to th e title

a n d e state s, h e found th e latte r h e avily mo r tgaged, and yie lding an

i n com e upon whi ch it was impo ssible to live in a nyth ing lik e th e style

b efitt ing his ran k . Fo r h imse lf, h e was n o t . ambitious ; but h e was

a n xio us tha t h is son sh ould o n e day pay o ff a ll debts, and tak e hi s

pla ce am on gst th e we l l-to -do . By go in g in to trade h e b e lie ve d h e

m ig h t accomplish this, and wh e n G e o rg e le ft college h e to ld h im h is

plan s , an d implo r ed h im to e n te r a m e rch an t’s 0 6 09 . But th e yo un g

man would n o t liste n to h is praye rs . He wa s n o t anxio us to m ake

mo n e y. He co uld n o t be ar th e drudg e ry o f th e city. His taste s didn o t l ie tha t way. He loved a fr e e , r o vin g l ife , and long ed to se e th e

wo r ld . His fath e r was bitte r ly disappo in ted, a nd b egg ed h im to

o m side r th e m atte r we ll . But G e o rg e was firm . So , findin g h im be n t

o n fo llowin g his own will, Sir Eustace gave h im wh at mon ey h e could

spa r e , an d a llowed h im to go wh e re h e wo ul d. Th e sum was n o t

larg e , but with it th e young man was we ll ple ased, and ce r ta in o f

tur n i ng it to good accoun t in th e distan t land to wh ich h e was g o in g .

80 b e th anked h is fath e r wa rmly, sa idf

go o d bye to h is m o th e r a n d

fr ie n ds, and sa iled fo r A ustralia .

On bo ard sh ip h e m e t Sylvia Ke nyon , daugh te r of an A ustral ian

se tt l e r . Sh e was Just e igh te en , with pale go ld h a ir , a de licate com

plexio n , an d so ft, appea ling blue eyes . Sh e was an in te r e stin gcompa n ion , a sympath e tic frie nd ; and in a few days G e o rg e

A th e r sto n e grew to love h e r ve ry de arly. Sylvia so on r e turn ed hi s

afie ctio n with a ll th e ardour of h e r fre sh youn g n atur e ; and th ey

be cam e e ngag ed. Th e m arriag e was so lemn iz ed som e six we eks la te r

at Melbourn e , and th e h appy couple sta rted a t o nce fo r th e Bush .

Th e h om e to wh ich G e o rg e A th e rsto n e carried h is br ide was pr e ttye n oug h in its way, but lo n e ly, an d iso lated from o th e r h abitatio n s.

Th e h o use was o ld, and h ad be en patch e d and r epair ed o n a ll sides .

Th e ro of was cove r ed with sh e e ts of bark , h e ld down by la rg e wo ode n

g irde r s . A h ug e vin e spre ad its le afy bran ch e s ove r th e wa lls, te n de rly

co ve r in g th e ir n ak edn ess an d de fe cts. A wide v e ran dah r an a lo n g

th e wh o l e fro n t o f th e dwe lling , a nd was th ickly g rown with go rg e ous

cr e epe rs . Be low th is was a h owe r garde n , its beds br igh t with m any

dowe rs . A row of bro ad- le aved tropica l plan ts sur rounded th e l ittl e

e n clo sur e , wh e r e som e o f th e tr e e s h ad be e n fe lle d and stumped, whi lst

oth e rs had be e n spar ed fo r sh ade and e ffe ct . Th en , beyon d, a s fa r as

eye could se e , we re vast pra irie s, with h e rds of cattle g ra z ing qui e tly,

o r lying campe d unde r th e tr e e s, and a be autiful ch ain of blue -pcak ed.

m oun ta ins str e tching away in th e distan ce .

1 1 6 The I r ish Month ly.

With in th e h ouse th ere was but a sma ll supply of anyth in g lik e

luxury. Th e walls we re cove r ed with illustra tio n s from picto r ia l

paper s. Th e fur n itur e was scan ty, and of th e poo r e st de scr iptio n .

But wh en Sylvia hun g up th e wh ite m osquito curta in s, and'

spr e ad

about th e many dain ty objects sh e h ad br ough t with h e r from

En glan d ; wh en sh e filled h e r bowls with flowe rs, and th e co rn e rs o f

h e r r o oms with plan ts an d fe rn s, th e place impr o ve d rapidly, an d ve ry

so on assum ed a comfo rtable an d h ome ly aspect .

Th e fir st yea r o f th e ir married life passed quickly by. A n d 1 1 1

spite o f many pr ivatio n s, and e nfo rced iso latio n fr om th e ir frie nds ,

th e young pe ople we r e extr em e ly h appy. G e orge was h ard wo rk in g

a nd industr ious . Sylvia h ad plen ty of occupa tio n , del igh te d in h e r

h o use , and fe lt proud o f h e r big , kind husban d. Th e fr e e coun try life

suited th em bo th th ey car ed n o th in g fo r socie ty, and h ad littl e to

t r ouble o r an n oy th em .

But all to o so o n th e r e cam e a ch an ge . Sylvia gr ew de licate . Sh e

lo ng ed fo r a fema le fr ien d ; and a s G e o rg e was obliged to le ave h e r by

h e rse lf fo r h our s to ge th e r , whi l e h e lo o k ed afte r hi s sh e ep, o r rode

o ve r h is farm , sh e be came lo n e ly an d disco n te n te d .

Th e n young A th e rsto n e and a n e ighbour in g se le ctor quarr e lledabout a pie ce o f lan d th at th e la tte r wish ed to se iz e and m ake h is

own . G e o rg e was fur ious but as h e h ad n o m on ey to buy

th e fie ld, h e was obliged to l e t it go . Th is in cide n t cause d

much an n oyan ce an d irrita tio n , a nd pe ace se em ed ban ish ed from

th e h om e ste ad . Th e n baby Sylvia was bo rn an d fo r a tim e

A th e rsto n e fo rgo t a ll outs ide wo rr ie s in th e joy o f po ssessin g

h is little daugh te r . Th e h appy m o th e r was n o lo n ge r lon e ly;

an d so o n gr ew stro ng aga in . Th e quarr e lsom e se le ctor be cam e

frie ndly, an d offe r ed to g ive back th e land a t a mode ra te pr ice . Thi s

ple ased G e org e , and h e wro te h ome fo r m on ey. Th e m an pr omise d to

wa it and e ve ryth in g lo ok ed brig ht o n ce m o r e , wh en sudde n ly th e

youn g wife caugh t a feve r , and afte r a sh o r t illn e ss expir ed in h er

husband’s arms. G e o rg e was wild with g r ie f, an d fo r som e time co uld

n o t be ar to lo o k upon h is ch ild . But by de gr e e s hi s h e art warm ed to

th e littl e creatur e ; an d h e soo n cam e to lo ve h e r with te nde rn e ss and

de vo tion .

G e o rge A th e rsto n e h ad, as we kn ow, go n e to A ustralia much

aga in st h is fa ther’s will ; an d eve ry ma il brough t le tte rs implor ing

h im to r e turn . But th e young man was obstin a te . Th e life in th e

Bush suited h im be st. He was h appy, so was his wife . He would

n o t go back to Eng lan d. But afte r Sylvia’s death eve ryth ing was

ch an ged . Th e littl e h ouse fe lt lon e ly. His h om e was n ot wh at it h adbe e n ; and h e was str ongly tempted to leave it all , and set sail for

1 1 8 T he Ir ish .Mo nth ly.

A cco rdin gly, a le tte r was wr itten an d de spatch ed to Sir Eusta ce

A th e rsto n e , an n ouncing h is grand-daugh te r

’s spe edy arriva l .

But afte r th is th in gs wen t o n as be fo r e . G e orge put o ff th e ev il

h our , and linge r ed o n amon gst th e h ewe rs, h is little on e a t his kn e e .

The th ough t o f parting with h e r was an guish , and h e k ept it away

from h im as lon g as po ssible .

A t last h e h e ard of an explo r ing party go in g far in to th e coun tr y,

an d h e gr ew fe ve rish ly anxious to jo in it. Be fo r e h e could do ao ,

h oweve r , it was n ecessary to place h is ch ild in saf'k e eping . He could

n o t tak e h e r with him ,n o r co uld h e l eave h e r a lo n e in th e Bush . He

de cide d, th e r efo r e , to se nd h e r with out furth e r de lay to England .

But wh o was to tak e h e r He h ad so few friends. He kn ew o f n o

o n e go ing to Europe . Wh at was to be do n e He r e was a di lemma

th at h ad n o t o ccurr ed to him be fo r e . A nd as po o r little Sylvia fe ll in

tryin g to r e ach th e m o rni ng glo ri es, h e sudden ly r e aliz ed wh at a h e lpless atom sh e was.

If A nn e woul d go with h e r , all would be we ll ,” h e sa id

, as h e'

gaz ed out ove r th e th ick sh o rt couch grass, gre en with summ e r thunde r

sto rms. I h ave watch ed h e r we ll, as sh e sat th e re , h our aft e r h our ,

with my dar lin g in h e r lap, o r played with h e r r ound th e ve randah .

an d sh e h as a lways se em ed k ind, watch ful and trustworthy. My dea r

wife loved h er . Sylvia ado r e s h e r . I fe e l I migh t trust h e r ; if o n ly

sh e would go . But sh e may h ave fr ie nds th at will r e fuse to part with

h e r Sh e may

Y ou wish ed to spe ak to m e, sir . Baby is asle ep,

so I came at on ce .

G e o rg e lo ok ed up at th e speak sr , and grave ly n o ted e ve rypo in t o f

h e r fo rm and face . Th e sur vey pl e ased h im . Sh e was exactly wh a t

h e th ough t : str on g and we ll -built, n e ith e r to o o ld n o r to o yo un g .

Sh e h ad a fr e sh , wh o le som e compl exion , a kindly smile , and an afie c

tio n a te m o th e rly expr e ssio n . Sh e will do , I thi nk ; and, if sh e will

o n ly co n se n t to go , I may safe ly trust my dar lin g to h e r car e ,” flash ed

quick ly th rough h is m ind as h e bade th e woman sit dhwn .

A n n e,

” h e said ge n tly, you a r e ve ry fond of littl e Sylvia, I

be li eve

A n n e’s co lour de epen ed ; h e r eye s grew br igh t.

Fo nd o f h e r?I love h e r as if sh e was my own ,Mr . A th e rston e .

I loved h e r swe e t m o th e r , an d on h e r de ath -bed sh e gave h e r to m e,

sayin g : A n n e , you h ave be e n a fai th ful se rvan t, b e tr ue to mych ildn eve r le ave h e r—tak e car e of h e r and love h e r .

’ I vowed to do it,

an d do it I will as lo ng as I live .

”

G e o rge lo ok ed at h e r gr ate fully. Th ank you. Y ou ar e a go od

woman,and—and—your words, your man n e r , encourag e me to ask

you a favour .

A Bir th ing Contrast. 1 1 9

A favour ! Oh , sir , it is gran ted be fo re youask it. Th er e is

no th ing I would n o t do for you and Miss Sylvia .

”

Th en will you be r eady to unde rtak e a lo n g journ ey to pleaseWill you leave your fr i e nds in Austr alia and go to En gla nd by

th e n ext steam e r fr om Melbourn e

An n e startled and tur n ed pa le .

To England ! Oh , Mr . A th e rston e , th at is a lon g , lon g way ;

and wha t woul d my littl e pe t do with o ut m e

I do not m ean you to go alon e . Sylvia sh all go with you.

Sylvia go with m e ! Would you oh , sir , would you par t with

your ch ild?“ Y e s, A n n e , I must. But on ly fo r a time . My fa th e r is lon e ly,

and implor es m e to send h e r to h im . I am go in g away from h e r e

far up coun try—and I cann o t tak e Babywith m e . So I h ave r eso lved

to se n d h e r h om e . Will you go with h e r?If you do , your wage ssha l l be doubled . I will bind my fath e r to k e ep you with my ch ild

always. No m a tte r wh at turn s up, h e must n o t par t with you o r

dismiss you from h is se rvice . Will th ese co nditio n s suit you Will

you tak e ch arg e o f Baby Sylvia

A n n e turn ed h e r h e ad aside . Te ars gath e r ed in h e r eyes, and h e r

lips trembl ed with em o tio n .

My dear maste r ,”sh e stamm e r ed pr e sen tly, you are to o go od .

Ev en if I did n o t love th e ch ild as de arly as I do , I would fe e l bound

to accept your ge n e rous offe r , fo r‘

I h ave a sick mo th e r depende n t o n

m e fo r h e r en tir e suppo r t, and I am anxious to e arn all th e m on ey I

am .

”

Th e n you will tak e my ch ild to En gland?In de ed, I will . Wh e n an d h ow yo u ple ase . A n d be h ave m e ,

sir , my wh o le life and stre n gth will be de vo ted to h e r , n o t because o f

your g en ero sity, but because I love h er , th e tr e asur e co nfided to m e

by my dying m istr e ss .

”

G e o rg e grasped h e r h and, and sh o ok it warm ly.

Th a nk you, A n n e—th ank you. Y ou ar e , inde ed, a goo d an d

fa ith ful se rva n t .”

I trust I am , sir , sh e sa id e arn e stly. An d if e ve r I se em to

fa il in my duty to you o r your chi ld, it will n o t be my fault. I sh a l l

n e ve r do so o f my own fr e e will .

I b e lieve you. I h ave full co nfide n ce in you.

Th ank you, sir .

A n d An n e cour tseyed and withdrew.


CHAPTER II .

S Y L V I A ’S x s c o a r .

On a h o t summ e r day, about a we ek late r , G eo rge A th erston e

stro lled le isur e ly down Burke stre e t . He , Baby Sylvia , and A n n e th e

fai th ful nur se , h ad arrived in Me lbourn e th e eve n in g be fo re .

A th e rston e h ad n o t visited th e m e tropo lis o f Victo r ia sin ce th e

h appy day o f h is marr iage an d h e fe lt sad and lo n e ly as h e we nded

h is way th ro ugh th e busy str e e ts,and r ecognised th e var ious po in ts o f

in te r e st th a t h e h ad se e n fo r th e fir st tim e in company with h is

be loved Sylvia . He gaz ed at th e impo sin g pile s o f masonry, church e s,

institute s and war eh ouse s, an d wo n de red at th e groups o f humble

li ttle sh ops, de vo ted to th e sal e o f fruit, toys and sugar-

plums, tha t

in te rven e,an d ar e a ll t h at r emain o f th e e ar ly shan ty days o f

Me lbourn e . He admi r ed th e lo fty dom e of Me ssrs. G o ldsboro ug h

an d Co .

’s wo o l pa lace , and th e n th ough t joyfully th at ve ry so o n h e

should le ave a ll th is glar e an d magn ifice n ce , th is push an d bustle , to

r eturn to th e de ligh tful so li tude o f th e Bush .

A s h e turn ed down Co llin s str e e t o n h is way to h is h o te l, h e h e ard

a quick step clo se b eh in d, and som e on e ca lled h im by h is n ame . He

l o o k ed r ound in surpr ise ; fo r in a ll th is busy cr owd h e did n o t

e xpe ct to m e e t a sin gle acqua in ta n ce .

A n e lde rly m an with a ca r e -wo r n face , th in and sh runk en in fo rm

a nd figur e , appro ach ed him e ag e r ly, and h e ld out h is h and.

My de ar A th e r sto n e , I am glad to se e you. Y ou look r emarkably

Ne il Can it r e al ly be you

Y e s, I do n o t wo nde r at your n o t kn owing m e . I am much

ch ang ed , A th e rsto n e .

”

Ch an g ed I sh ould just th ink you we r e . Wh at h ave you be e nd o in g to yo urse lf

No th in g . But th e fate s h ave be en again st m e . Eve rythi n gh as gon e wro ng with m e . I h ave so ld my h ouse an d land, and am

g o in g back to Englan d .

”

Is tha t wise

I am n o t sur e th at it is. But my wife is e ag e r to go .

Your wife—is sh e in Me lbour n e

Y e s. Sh e and my two ch ildr en a re at a sma ll h o te l just out o f

Bourk e str e e t . \Ve sai l fo r England to -m o rrow.

”

“ My de ar Ne i l,”cr ied G e o rg e , I am glad . I was lon ging to

m e e t a friend go ing in th e Cimbr ia .

1 22 T he Ir ish Mo nth ly.

sam e ste am e r as my Sylvia . Your fa te is in h er hands . Sh e will plead

foryou with grandfa th e r . Kindn ess to h er will be a powe rful pass

po r t to h is favour .

Th e n my life will be a brigh te r on e th an I eve r h oped fo r fo r

th e re is n o th in g th at can be do n e fo r yo ur chi ld th at I sh all n o t do .

But h e r e we ar e at our h o te l . I h ope you do n’t object to stair s, fo r

we have to moun t a good many. I’ll lead th e way.

Th e sta ir -case was n arrow and ste ep ; an d th e ro om in to wh ich

th e two g en tleme n walk ed un an n ounced was sma ll and dark . Th e

blinds we r e drawn down to k e ep out th e sun , and so close was'

th e dayth at th e wh ite mo squito curtain s we r e undisturbed by th e bre e z e ,

a lthough all th e windows we r e wide Ope n . Trunks o f eve ry sh ape an d

siz e we r e rang ed ro un d th e walls and th e ch airs and so fas we r e

str ewn with garmen ts larg e and small . Th e r e was n o o n e visible . But

sudden ly, fr om beh ind a tall scr e en , th e r e ro se th e swe e t, fr e sh vo ice

o f a ch ild, singing a pr e tty lullaby

Oh , hush th e e , my baby,

Thy sire was a kn igh t ,

Thy mo th e r a lady,

Bo th ge n tle and brigh t .

Th e r e, th at

’s my Madge , wh ispe re d Mr . Ne il . Just pe ep

roun d, and se e h ow sh e is takin g ca r e o f h e r siste r .

”

G e o rg e did as desired, and was ch arm ed with th e pictur e th at h e

saw be fo r e h im .

On e a low se a t,h e r lon g , we l l

-sh aped legs, an d n ea tly sh od fe e t,

str e tch ed out be fo r e h e r o n th e flo o r , sa t Madg e . Sh e wo r e a white

co tto n fr o ck , with sh or t sle eve s and low n eck . He r br own h air , wh ich

was th ick and wavy, was to ssed back from h e r face wi th out comb o r

r ibbon to co nfin e it, and h un g lo o se ly .over h e r sh oulde rs. Ou h e r

kn e e , h e r eye s clo sed, but h e r l ips smi lin g , lay a be autiful child o f

about two ye ars o ld.

G o to sle ep, dar lin g ; my Do ra must go to sle ep, cr ied Madge ,

in te rruptin g h e r so ng to r em onstra te with little wide -awak e . Po o r

Sissy h as wo rk to do . Se you must go to sl e ep.

”

Th e baby laugh ed an d pulled h e r siste r’s h air . Madg e h ugg ed

h e r to h e r br e ast and cove r ed h e r with k isse s .

Y ou se e ,”sa id Mr . Ne il, Madge h as th e tempe r of an ange l .

No matte r h ow th at ch ild to rme n ts h e r , sh e is a lways kind. Sh e h as

a h eart o f go ld, an d a wise little h e ad of h e r own .

”

Be for e G e o rg e h ad time to an swe r , th e baby caugh t sigh t o f h e r

fa th e r , and struggling off h e r siste r’s kn e e , ran fo rward to me e t h im .

A Str iking Contrast. 1 23

Naughty Do ra , n o t to go to sle ep,” h e cried, to ssing h e r in th e

Madg e ough t to wh ip you.

”

Madge gave a gro an o f h o rro r , and sprang to h e r fe e t .

Oh , fath e r , wh a t an ide a'

! I wouldn’t to uch th e darling fo r th e

I sh ould th in k n o t,” h e an swe r ed gaily. I kn ow you love our

put to o de arly fo r tha t . But you must n o t spo il h e r .

”

Y ou are mo re lik e ly to do th at, fath e r ,”sa id Madge grave ly.

Per h aps so . But it would n o t be won de r ful if we all spo iled h e r .

Isn’t sh e a be auty, A th erstone

Sh e ce rta inly is, sa id G e o rg e wa rmly. I don’t th ink I eve r

saw such a pr e tty ch ild.

”

“ Wh a t No t eve n your own?No t even my own . Sylvia is fair and da in ty lo oking . But th is

ch ild is a be autiful little cr e atur e .

”

So sh e i s ,”cried th e de ligh ted fath e r , and we ar e sll ve ry proud

of h e r . A r en’t we , Madg e

I em quite sur e you ar e, said A th e rsto n e , and I h e ar you are

a first-rate little mo th e r in your way, Miss Madg e . Now my po o r

Ba by is go in g to Englan d in th e sam e ste ame r with you. Will yo ube go o d to h e r Sh e is a lon e ly ba irn , and will h ave n e ith e r fath e r

no r m o th e r to lo ok aft e r h e r .

”

Ma dg e ra ised h e r la rg e grey eyes to h is face , an d'

lo ok in g at h im

I will be kin d to h e r . Sh e sh all be an o th e r littl e siste r . But

ar e yo u n o t afr a id to sen d h e r away from you

Afraid Oh , n o . Th e r e is n o th in g to fe a r .

Now, Madg e , don’t make us n e rvo us,

”cr ied h e r fath e r . Th e

fact is; A th e rsto n e , with all h e r wisdom ,my little gir l is a bit of a

cowa rd . Sh e h ate s th e sea .

”

Madg e shi ve r ed sh’

gh tly.

I do n’t lik e lo ng journ eys,

”sh e sa id . An d I do n

’

t wan t to go

to En gland . I lik e A ustra lia be st .

So do I,”an swe r ed G e o rg e . But I suppo se your fath e r h as

go od r e ason s fo r go in g .

”

Th e ch ild cla sped h e r h a n ds tigh tly toge th e r ; and as Mr . Ne il

mov ed away to th e window with Do ra , sh e wh ispe r ed sadly

He th in ks h e’

ll g et wo rk to do . a nd e arn mo n ey th e r e . But

h e’ll n eve r g e t it, po o r fa th e r

—n eve r . He r e com e s my m o th e r . So,

hush , n o t a wo rd to alarm h e r .

” An d puttin g h e r fin g e r to h e r l ip,

sh e we n t after Do ra , to ok h e r in h e r arms, and carr ied h e r out o f th e

Wh at a stran g e ch ild,”th ough t G e o rge . Sh e

’s ce rtai n ly o ld

1 24,

The Ir ish Mon th ly.

b eyo nd h e r ye ars. A nd as h e r fath e r says, sh e m igh t safe ly b e

trusted to tak e ca r e o f h e r baby siste r . Sh e is kind and gen tle , a n d

se ems wo n de rful ly grave and seda te .

A th e rsto n e , h e r e i s my wife ,”saidNe il , in a low vo ice .

wi ll find h e r much ch an ged. But do n o t pr e te nd to n o tice it.”

G e o rge bowed h is h ead to sh ow th at h e un de rsto od, and we n t fo r

ward to m e e t Mr s. Ne il. He lo ok ed a t h e r smilin gly ; but as h e put

h is h and in h ers, h e could scarce ly co n ce al th e so rrow h e fe lt a t th e

t e rrible ch ange th at h ad tak e n place 1 1 1 h e r sin ce h e h ad last se e n h e r

f our ye ars be fo r e . Coul d th is wan , th in cre atur e be th e h n o buxom

woman , wh o h ad be e n th e life and soul o f th e company o n bo ard sh ip?Cduld th is n e rvous, sh r inkin g lady be th e dash in g , m e rry Mrs. Ne il ,wh o h ad ch ape ro n ed h is Sylvia, smo o th ed away a ll difi cul ti e s, an d

h aste n ed h is m arr iage

We h ave h ad many tr ouble s, Mr . A th e rsto n e,

sh e sa id, and h e r

vo ice tr embled as sh e spok e . I dar e say my h usband h as to ld you.

”

Y es. But th e r e is a go od time com in g , cried G e orge e age rly,

wh e n you re ach Engla n d

A h ! If we e ve r do .

My de ar lady,”G e o rg e laugh e d n e rvously, Pray do n o t sug

g e st such a th ing . No wo nde r th e ch ild is fr ighte n ed a t th e idea o f

th e lo ng Jo urn ey, h e th o ugh t .“ With such a m o th e r , go od h eavens ,

it is n o t extrao rdin a ry sh e sh ould be pr ema tur e ly o ld .

”

“ I sugge st n o th in g , sa id Mrs. Ne il slowly. I lo ng to b e 03

to l e ave th is h a te d coun try. I h ave kn own co n stan t grindin g so rrow

a nd anxie ty e ve r since my r e turn to i t,th e ye a r you we re marr ied.

But you, to o , h ave b e e n in trouble . I h e ar yo ur swe e t youn g wife is

de ad . Why was sh e tak e n , I wo n de r , wh ilst I, a use less, wo r th l ess

in va lid, h ave be e n l e ft as a bur th e n to my po o r un fo r tun ate h usband

Ka te cr ied Ne i l r epro ach fully, My da r ling , do n o t ta lk so .

\Veak and de lica te as you a r e, yo u h ave be e n my comfo r t .

”

No,n o

,Joh n ; yo u would h ave be e n far be tte r with out m e . I

h a ve but incr e a sed your trouble s.

”

Kate , Ka te , I kn ow n o t wh a t to say to you. A nd, wringin g h is

h a nds , th e po o r h usband turn ed away.

Y ou h ave a ch ild, Mr . A th e rsto n e ,”

sh e r emark ed pr e se n tly.

An d sh e is com ing with us to En gla nd. Y ou lo ok surpr ised . But

I was in th e adj o in ing r o om th e fo lding do ors a r e sligh tly ope n , and

I h eard a ll you sa id to Madg e . Whyar e you se nding h e r h ome

To comfo rt my fa th e r , wh o is lo n e ly.

”

Quite r igh t . He h as grown r ich , I h e ar . Sh e will be his h e ir e ss.

I n eve r th ough t o f th at ,”sa id G e o rg e smi lin g . But I suppose

1 , h is son , will com e first . Sylvia wil l sure ly come afte r m e .

1 26 The Ir ish Month ly.

Madge an d Dora we r e walk in g up and down th e promen ade deck ,

watch ing with much in te re st all tha t was go in g ou. Wh en Madg e

saw A th e rsto n e and hi s ch ild, sh e smiled , an d takin g h e r siste r’s h an d

wen t to m e e t h im .

Do ra ,”sh e said, h e r e is a fr ie nd fo r you, a de ar little gir l to

play wit

Sh e to ok Sylvia fr om h er fath e r , kissed h e r te nde rly, and put h e r

down be side Do ra .

Th e two ch ildr e n stare d ‘

at e ach o th e r fo r a m om e n t, th en Sylvia

r an fo rward, put h e r r o sy l ips to Do ra’s, and str ok ed h er curlin g

h air .

Oh , you de a , sh e cr ied. Y ou pitty de a

Sylvia h as an eye fo r b e auty,”said G e o rg e smiling . I think

th ey will be fr ie nds .

”

Y e s, I em sur e th ey will, said Madg e . Sylvia lo oks a swe e t

l ittle cr e atur e , a nd Dora , th o ugh ra th e r passi on ate , is a lo vin g , afiec

tion ate chi ld.

”

“ I em sur e sh e is, and you a r e kindn e ss itse lf. A n n e , h e said.

turn in g to th e n ur se , wh o sto od b eh ind h im,arm ed with packages

an d wraps. Th is isMiss Madg e Ne il . He r fath e r is a n o ld fr iend

o f m in e ; and I wish Baby to be with h e r and h e r siste r as much as

po ssible .

Ve ry we l l, sir , r eplied A n n e , wh o se eye s we r e r ed with much

we epin g . It will be pl e asan t fo r me to h ave fr ie nds o f yours on

bo ard .

”

A n d it will be n ice fo r m e to h ave yo u, sa id Madg e with a frank

Mo th e r is an inva lid, and will be almo st a lways in h e r

Th at is sad fo r you. But I trust sh e will so o n grow stro ng e r ,

sa id G e o rge k indly. I h ope n urse and Baby may h ave a cabin n ear

your s.

”

Th ey a r e n ext to us, sh e r eplied . Will yo u le ave Sylvia withm e

,an d tak e A n n e down to se e wh e r e sh e is Sh e h ad be tte r g e t th e

be r th s r e ady a nd a rr a nge a ll h e r parce ls be fo r e we star t.”

Wise little wom a n, your advice is exce lle n t . But I th ink I

’ll

tak e my dar lin g with m e . Our mom en ts toge th e r ar e pr e cio us n ow.

Com e , A nn e .

Th e n liftin g Baby Sylvia , h e hugg ed h e r to h is br e ast, and carr ied

h e r down sta irs.

An d n ow, A n n e ,”h e sa id, wh e n h e h ad made all possible

a rr ang eme n ts fo r h is ch ild’s comfo r t, tak e car e o f my dar lin g.

Wa tch h e r n igh t an d day, and se e th at sh e wan ts fo r n o thi n g .

”

Trust me , sir ,”answe r ed A n n e with em o tion . I will do my

A Str iking Con tract 1 27

duty . Yo ur ch ild will be m o r e pr e cious to m e th an my own li fe . I'

ll

wa tch o v e r h e r we l l.

I b e l i eve you wil l . A n d n ow,I think , you h ave all you r equir e

Y e s , sir . Eve ryth in g .

V e ry we ll . A nd h e r e is a le tte r fo r my fa th e r , with h is addr ess

in ful l , l est by any ch an ce h e sh ould be pr eve n te d m e e tin g you. I

h av e t e l eg raph ed and wr itte n , but in case of accide n t it is we ll to h ave

th i s wi th you. A nd h e r e ,”takin g a lock e t and ch ain from h is n eck ,

is a po r tra it o f my de ar wife . Se e , I will put it o n Sylvia . Sh ow it

to my fa th e r , th a t h e may kn ow wh at my darling was lik e . But l e t

th e ch ild we ar it always.

”

Y e s, sir . An d I’ll te ach h e r to love h e r mo th e r

’s m emo ry.

Do . A nd may G od ble ss you.

”

A h e ll was h ea rd above . Mr . Ne il rush ed to th e cabin do o r .

A th e rsto n e , you h ave bar e ly time to g e t away. We are just 03 .

Co m e al o ng .

”

G od bless and pro te ct yo u, my pe t, cried G e o rg e in bro ke n

acce n ts. G o od-bye , my dear little Sylvia , my swe e t ch ild . Talk to

h e r o f m e , A nn e . Do n o t le t h e r fo rge t m e .

”

He pr essed th e little o n e to h is h e art o nce m o r e , k issed h e r ove r

and o ve r again . Th e n rush in g upstairs sa id a h asty go od-bye to Mr .

Ne i l an d Madge , and hurri ed o n sh o r e .

Th e ga n g-way was with drawn , th e an ch o r raise d

, th e rope s

pul l ed in , and th e go od sh ip Cimbr z'

a ste am ed o ut o f th e h arbour .

Th e n ext few days we r e passed in th e usual fash io n o n bo ard sh ip .

Th e wind was h igh ; th e ste ame r pitch ed an d r o lled, and almo st a ll

th e passe nge rs we r e laid low. Th e decks we re fo rsak e n ; th e di n in gm om but littl e fr eque n ted. A fte r a tim e , th ings lo ok ed br igh te r .

Th e wind we n t down ; th e sun sh on e ple asan tly an d th e h andsome

sa loo ns, a nd comfo r tabl e se a ts o n de ck we r e filled with a gay company,

a nxious to e n joy life , and mak e th e ir days o n bo ard th e Cz'

mbr c’

a pass

as quick ly as possible .

On e o f th e fir st to com e fo r th fr om th e se clusio n o f h e r cabin was

Madg e N e il . Sh e h ad suffe r e d much , and lo n g e d fo r a br e a th o f

fresh a ir . In th e passage sh e m e t h e r fa th e r .

W'

e ll , my‘

de a r . I am g lad to se e yo u,”h e cri e d

, kissin g h e r

tende r ly. Th ese h ave be e n m ise rable days . How is yo ur mo th e r

A nd my swe e t Do ra , h ow do e s sh e se em

Mo th e r and Do ra a r e bo th m uch be tte r, papa . Th ey a r e asle ep.

Will yo u tak e m e fo r a wa lk

Ce rta in ly, de ar . Come alon g .

He dr ew h is daugh te r’s arm wi th in h is own ; an l th ey wen t up o n

deck toge th e r .


A bout an h our late r , A n n e , lo ok ing as whi te as a gh ost, came up

th e sta irs carryin g Sylvia o n o n e arm, a nd Do ra on th e o th e r .

Madge flew to h er side in an in stan t.

How go od o f you to th ink of Do ra, A n n e . I th ough t sh e was

asl e ep.

”

Chi ldr en don’t sle ep fo r eve r any mo re th an big pe opl e , Mi ss

Madg e ,”

sh e an swe r ed pe ttishly.

Oh , I’m so so rry,

” began Madge .

Y ou n e ed n o t be . It was n o tro uble to bring h e r up, po o r lamb .

Pe rhaps th e se a-br e e z e s may do h e r and Miss Sylvia go od . Th ey’ve

brough t a fin e co lour to your ch e eks .

”

Y e s, h ave’n t th ey cried Madg e , kissm g h e r baby siste r .

I do n’t th ink I e ve r fe lt so we ll l n my life . 1 po sitive ly love th e se a

to -day.

”

We ll .we ll, I can’t say as I do ,

”r epli ed A n n e do le fully.

oh , de ar , Eng land’s a te rrible way ofi.

”

Oi course it is . Why, we h ave we e ks and we eks be fo r e n a ye t .

De ar , de ar ! How sh all we eve r ge t th rough it all I wish I’

d

n eve r le ft A ustralia .

”

Madg e laugh ed m e rr ily, and be gan to dance th e little girls about

o n h er kn e e . Po o r A nn e , but you’ll so o n ch an ge , I um sur e .

lo ok a t m e ! Wh e n I started, Iwas in such bad spirits . I h a ted go ing

to England. I was afraid o f th e se a . I fe lt th at som e th in g dr e adful

would h appe n to us if we le ft our h ome to wande r a im lessly ove r

Europe . I h ad a pe rfe ct h o rro r o f comin g o n bo ard. But n ow”

Y ou se em gre atly ch anged , ce rta in ly. Y ou lo ok br igh t and

me rry. Just as if you h ad h e ard some ve ry go od n ews.

”

Madge h id h e r face fo r a mom e n t ; th e n un cover ed it with a cry o f

He r e I am to th e babies .

”

Th ey laugh ed and crowed, and ca lle d Da in , da in .

Th e ir o rde rs we re obeyed ; and a live ly game e nsued . Th e n th e

littl e on e s g rew tir ed and r o lled o ff h e r kn e e , on to th e deck , wh e r e

th ey sa t bl issfully con te n t, munch in g a couple of h ard biscuits .

Wh at a pre tty pictur e th ey mak e,

”said Madge .

” “ I n eve r

saw such a pa ir of dar lings. Bo th so lo ve ly and ye t such a con trast ;

I h ope th ey may always be fri e nds.

”

Th a t’s n o t lik e ly,

”r eplied A n n e , sh aking h e r h e ad wise ly.

Your m o th e r says th e ir live s will be as gr eat a co n trast as th e ir

lo oks . Miss Sylvia is go ing to a splendid h ome . Sh e will be a g re at

h e ir e ss.

Wh ilst my poo r Dora’s fam ily is cer ta in ly n ot rich ; and sh e will

n eve r h ave any for tun e , but h e r own bon n ie face .

”

A nd a righ t h andsome on e th at wil l be . But I would n o t despa ir ,

1 30 Th e Ir ish Month ly.

0

I kn ow n o thin g o f h er h isto ry, said An n e , re le asin g th e

strugglin g Sylvia from h e r arms . Wh en I kn ew h e r sh e was ve ry

h appy, but h ad a sad expr essio n , po o r de ar . Sh e was an o rph an ,I

fan cy, fr om wha t I h ave h e ard . So , un le ss o n h e r fa th e r’s side ,

Sylvia h as but few r e lation s . No n e , in de ed, th at I eve r h e ard o f

I’m afr aid we h ave n

’t any e ith e r ,

”sa id Madge sigh in g . If

a nyth in g we r e to h appen to papa and mamma , Do ra and I would be

utte r ly fr iendl ess and forlo rn .

”

Why, Madge , h ow so lemn you lo ok ,”cr ied h e r fath e r , comin g

up at th at m om en t . I left yo u smil in g and br igh t. I fin d you

Laugh in g and me rry, papa dear ,”sh e exclaim ed . Eve ryth in g

lo oks pr om ising fo r na n ow ; ao , o f course , I em gay. A nd se e , a re n’

t

th o se ch ildr e n we ll?Th ey ar e as r o sy as possib le .

Th ey ar e , de ar ,” h e an swe r ed, sm il in g . A nd e ven A n n e lo oks

fr e sh e r th an wh e n sh e came o n board. Your m o th e r, to o , h as

improved mar ve llously. We sh all h ave h e r quite str o n g be fo r e we

r e ach En glan d.

”

Quite cried Madg e joyfully. A se a journ ey is a wonde r ful

cur e fo r fain t h e ar ts and tir ed bodie s. But, papa , take A n n e round

an d sh ow h e r al l th e be auties o f th e sh ip.

”

Ve ry we ll . Com e a lo ng , A n n e .

”

But Baby Sylvia ,”cr ied A n n e . I can

’t carry h e r abo ut . I am

to o un ste ady on my fe e t, and I do n’t like to le ave h e r .

”

I’

ll tak e ca r e o f th e pe t,”said Madge . Se e , we th r e e sh a ll h ave

fin e gam e s tog e th e r . Pe ep—o—Sylvia ! Pe ep

— o—Do ra ! Run o ff

and practise your se a- le gs , A n n e .

80 A n n e wen t away to explo r e th e sh ip, and Madg e m oun ted

guard ove r th e babies.

(To be con tinued. )

A SHAMR OCK.

(FOR A Fa rarm’

s A LBUM .)

THERE ar e th ough ts swe e t pe rfum e br ea th in g ,Brigh t and sag e and full of be auty,

Culled fr om past and pr ese n t ag e s,

O’er thy album ’

s pag e s str ewn .

From th e rich domain s of fan cy

Lovin g h ands with ca r e h ave gath e r ed

Eve ry bud o f swe e te st m e a n in gTh ey we r e plan ted a ll to o so on .

Else I migh t fin d some stray blossom

With fr esh dew o f th ough t upo n i t ;

Y e t I fa in with thy fa ir ga rland

Would o n e tiny fie ld-fiowe r twin e

On e gre e n spray o f n ative sh amrock ,

Fragran t with h isto r ic mem’r ies,

Ou e ach l e af in le tt e rs go lde n

Fa in I’d wr ite a gift divin e .

Faith , firm Faith , br igh t , stro n g , e ndur ingFaith , th at life

’s fie rce sto rms and passion s

Sha l l pass by, and le ave un clo uded ;

Be th is blessin g th in e fo r aye .

Hope , th a t glimmer e th th r ough darkn e ss,Ch arms th e pr e sen t, gilds th e future ,

With warm rays o f He ave n'

s glo ry,

Imagin g ete rn al day.

Lo ve , G od’

s crown of bliss, outsh in ing

A ll th e joys e’e r kn own o r dr eam ed o f,

Pe rfect as thy fair e st vision ,

Be th is tr e asur e thin e , to ke ep.

In thy inmost h eart close fo lded ,

May it eve r walk be side th e e ,

Safe wi th out r egr e ts or sh adows,

Fears to frigh t, o r tears to we ep.

In th e pages ye t ungarn ish e d

W’

ilt th ou g ive my sh amr ock we lcome

On ly fo r th e fe rven t wish e sFo ndly wre a th ed r ound th e stem

Tribute to thy grace and beauty,

A nd th e m e llow ligh t of kin dn ess

Th at illum e s thy gen tle spir it,

A nd thy h eart, thy pur e st gem .

HELENA

81. Patr ick’s Ere

,1 887 .

The Ir ish Jl o n fh ly.

IN A QUIET STREET.

AVING arrived at th e time of life wh en on e’

s own in di

vidual comfo rt appe ar s to be th e chie f atta in able go od,

be in g by n atur e bilious and som ewh at, irritable , and by pro fe ssion

scien tific an d literary, I have made up my m ind that quiet, th em o st abso lute that can be pro cured with in e asy re ach o f e ve ry

wh e r e , is th e on e th ing n e edful for m e . It was afte r due de libe ra

tion ,th e re fore , th at I de cided o n giving up my comfo rtable but

n o isy quarte rs in Pall Mall , and accepting th e o ffe r o f a fr ie nd o f

m in e , who assur ed m e that his quie t little h ouse in th e quiete st of

quie t stre e ts was abso lute ly mad e for m e .

This desirable r e siden ce h as bee n let to m e (furn ish ed) fo r six

m o nths o n appr oval, th at I may e n sure its sui ting m e befor e

fin al ly agr ee in g to take it o ff my fr iend’

s h ands. (N .B .- Though

I em a man of scien ce , I kn ow how to ke ep my eye s ope n . )Th e re is a little library at th e back— th e very th ing fo r a

lite rary m an— with cupboards an d bo ok-case s, and a be autiful

place for my be loved wr iting- table in th e window. It h as ,

h oweve r , o n e dr awback , which , to a pe rso n o f my age , tempe ra

m en t, and requirem en ts, is somewh at se rious : th e r e is n o ligh t .

My n e ighbour on th e le ft, wh o is of an artistic turn of mind, h as

built a large studio at the back o f his h ouse , wh ich e ffect uallyshuts out fr om th e back o f m ine any gleam o f sun sh in e th at doe s

man age to filte r through th e grime an d fog of a Lo ndon win te r .

We ll, th er e is n o th in g for it but to m ove my wr iting

-table to th e

di n in g-ro om be ing , thank h e ave n a bach e lo r , I have only my

o wn con ve n ience to con sult,and th e stre et is so quie t I am n o t

l ike ly to be disturbed. It is qui e t ; th e distan t r oar an d rattle o f

th e oute r world sound fain tly in o n e’

s ears, like far away waves,

a nd make o n e r e lish all th e m o re o n e’s own pe ace an d se cur ity.

Hal lo wh at’

s that A stre e t-sin ge r , by all that’

s h o rr ible !

Two str e et- singe rs, men , e n to n ing a patr io tic, o r rath e r incendiaryd itty, e ach to th e tun e th ey love be st , and with a n oble disregard

o f time of any kind. Th ey are both extreme ly h o arse , but, with a

laudable de sir e to aton e fo r th is, ye ll with all th e ir m ight, th e

v o ice o f o n e o f th em giving way with a pe cul iar quave ring crack

a t all attempted h igh n ote s. Th e re is a ch orus to o , som e thing

1 34 The Ir ish Mo n th ly.

Jackson bows grave lyI desir ed them , sir , to le ave this n e ighbourhood, and th ey

m ade answer that this were a fr e e oouatry, sir-that were what

they said.

”

Th e re’

s the oborus again , th is time the singe r with th e cracked

vo ice two go od bars ah ead, and seve ral semi-ton es above h is com

pan ion . I explode“ Te ll th em to be 0 11 th is ve ry in stan t, or I

’ll give th em 1 11

e harge as public nuisances.

Jackson retire s somewh at pre cipitate ly, and ste rn ly lo oking out

o ver th e blind I have th e satisfaction o f se e ing my pe rse cuto rs

slowly shuifle off with many a lowe ring glan ce in my dire cti on .

I bre ath e fre e ly o nce m or e and re turn to th e kn o tty po in t

which I was revo lving in my brain wh en first ann oyed by th is

in te rruptio n . Con found it all ! th ey’re at it again ,

in th e ve ry

n ext str e e t, th e wo rds indistinguishable , it is true , but th e tun e , or

tun es, distinctly audi ble , and th e ch o rus r ecurring with m adden ing

pe rsisten cy. Oh ! for th e ro ar and racke t of a th ousand cabs and

carriages to drown th e ir abomin able voice s ! Oh ! to be for on e

brie f de lir ious momen t a special Co nstable with a go od stout

tnm ch eo n , and to come face to face with those fe llows in an unruly

m ob ! Wouldn’t I pay th em out, th at

’s all I

’

d make the ir h eads

ache fo r th em ,I kn ow, as th ey h ave made min e do tod ay.

Som ewh at sooth ed by th e se r eflections, I lay down my pen and

se ek oblivion in a cigare tte an d th e m orn ing pape rs. I come upon

som e rath e r alarmin g statistics wh ich fo r a m omen t excite a languid

in te rest : on ly so many th ousan d po l ice in London to so many

hundr eds o f thousands of th ie ve s, vagabo n ds, roug hs o f al l den omi

n ation s . G racious me ! hundr eds of th ousands of rascals like th ose

outs ide th ere—high time som e th ing was don e .

Th ey are gon e at last ; n ow to wo rk again . A h me !

th e re is n o pe ace for th e wicked . Be fore an h our has passed, th ere

is an o th e r o f th em ; a woman th is time , with a wre tch ed ch ild in

h e r arms wh ose fe eble wai l m ingle s with h er singing . Singing do

I say Th e r e is 'n o distinguish able tun e , and n o in te lligible

words, but a sort of low exh austed be llow—yes, that is th e on ly

te rm for it—like a fog-h orn h e ard a long way off, or like an an imal

in pain .

I appro ach the window in wrath , in tending to dispatch h e r

myse lf ; sh e looks up eage rly. Her rags flutter in th e cutting

In a Quie t Str ee t. 1 35

N o vembe r blast ; h e r face , and that of th e child, are pin ch ed a nd

blue with co ld, and with a slow m on oton ous making to an d fr o ,

a nd an appe aling glan ce at my face , sh e con tinue s to em it tho se

un utte rably do le ful sounds. Ipause for a m ome nt with a shudder

tha t thin g out th ere is a woma n , a woman as truly as is th e Que eno n h e r thron e , o r as was my blessed young mothe r wh o died

'

so

lo ng ag o , and wh ose memo ry to me is so sacred ! Still gating at

th e wr e tch ed face , out of which th e m omen tary h ope is begin ningto fade , stran ge th oughts come to me . There is a picture o f

mate rn ity, I say to myse lf, ther e is a moth er with h er child, to

som e pe ople th e beau ideal of al l that is beautiful , and charmin gan d (I had almost said) divin e . What has h e r mo th erh ood be e nto this cre ature A n addition al burde n , a hard, unwish ed-for ,

un l ove ly care . What will be th e fate o f h e r wretch ed o ffsprin gTo struggle onward, through pain , and dirt, and sin , and shomi

n a tio n of e ve ry kind, till it become s a repe titio n o f its m o th e r .

Woman’

s weakn ess, I say to myse lf agai n , a little sardon ically,

wh at capital is made out of woman’

s weakn ess in our wo rld, bo th

by th e de er creature s th emse lve s, and th e ch ivalrous o f our sex !

They must have th e best of eve rything , and take preceden ce eve ry

where , and be con tradicted in n oth ing—because of th e ir woman ’

s

weakn e ss. A ve ry difie ren t sto ry h e re , I trow. This woman ,

be ing a woman , is th e refo re th e e asie r to hustle , and bully, an d

in sul t—if a thing so degraded is con scious o f in sult. Sh e take s

prece de nce of n o on e , except th e po licem an wh en h e de sire s h e r to

mo ve on ; and stay—that is a ve ry ugly bruise upo n h e r ch e ek ,

the h an diwork of som e cowardly. brute of a husband, I fancy.

Evide n tly woman’

s we akn ess is at a discount in h e r class ,o i life .

We ll, th ese are ve ry fin e se n time n ts, and I em co n scious that th ey

do me h on our , but th ey are rath er embarrassing all th e same . A fte r

th is I can n o t ve ry we ll th re ate n h er with the po lice , which was my

o r ig in a l in te ntion ; and n e ith e r can I stand h e r be llowing unde r

mywin dows constan tly as sh e ce rtain lywill do if I give h er alms

what is to be don e A fte r some reflectio n I ring again .

Jackso n , th ere’s th e re

’s an oth er stree t-sin ge r

Jackso n looks at me with a que stion ing glan ce , th en out of th e

window at th e woman , th e n at m e again .

I wan t to ge t rid o f h er ,’I re sume fain tly, and I th ink th e

be st way would be to g ive h e r h alf-a-crown on condition that sh e

promise s n e ve r to sing in th is stre et again .

”


This is weakn e ss enge nde red by my reflecti on s of a little wh ile

Jackso n r etire s slowly, cre aking th e doo r as h e closes it in a

mo st irritating fash ion . Sudde n ly, just as. I begin to breath e

fr e e ly, h e ope n s it again .

Did I understand you to say’m;f-a -cr own , sir

Y e s, sharply, h alf-a -crown , an d be quick about it.

Th e doo r close s, th is time mo re promptly, and I fe e l th at I

h ave fall en for eve r in Jackson ’s estimation . He n e ve r had any

opin io n of my tailor , I kn ow, n o r o f my win e-merchan t, but fo r

myse lf pe rson ally h e had a ce rtain regard ; n ow I em convince d

th at h e con side rs m e a foo l .

We ll , so I em . Oi course , th e woman turns up in about a

we ek , and the infliction is a te rrible on e . Sh e lie s in wait for m e

wh e n I go out, and follows m e half-way down th e stre e t, begging ,

be side s makin g th e air hideous with h e r vo ice at a ll tim es an d

season 3 . I h ave thr eate n ed th e po lice se ve ra l tim es an d sh all be

obliged to ca ll th em to my assistance , I se e , be fo re I can ge t r id bf

h e r ; an d yet I hardly like . Po oh , n on se nse I

A s to th e ban ds and barre l- organ s, and Italian gir ls with

accordian s an d tambour in e s, th is would appe ar to be a favour ite

r e so rt of th e ir s. I dare say th e r e we r e just as many in'

Pa ll Ma ll ,

but someh ow th e din and clatte r th e re was so un ive rsal I did n o t

n otice th em .

Be side s, th is’e re stre e t is so quie t th ey like s it, sir , obse rve s .

Jackson , to wh om I make th is remark . Th ey th inks th ey can

be’e ard better and th at it ain

’t so fatiguin

’on th e vo ice .

”

Th e deuce th ey do

Y e s, sir , it’

s th e quie tn e ss as do e s it, adds Jackson , with a

grim pleasure in th e kn owledge th at th is statem e n t—r eflecting as

it do e s o n my pe rspicacity— is un palatable to me .

Howeve r , n o twithstanding all th is, my life would be be ar able

if it we re n o t fo r my n e ighbours. Th e gen tleman on th e left is,

as I say, of an artistic turn, and h is studio re nde rs my library

practical ly use le ss, but h is taste s ar e in n ocuous, n ay comm e ndable,

in compariso n with th ose of th e fam ily o n my right . Th ey are

musical (save th e m ark a ll of th em , and be in g a large family,

my e ven in gs ar e in con seque n ce , pe rfe ct burde n s to m e . I don’

t

like go in g out much at n ight n ow un le ss som ebody o r some thingmake s it worth my wh ile ; I catch co ld rath er e asily of la te

,


way that is n o t on ly irritatin 3 , but positive ly lowerin g to on e’

s

s e lf-r e spect . A nd ye t I do n’

t eve n know th e ir n ame , and as fo r

th em , I don’t suppose th ey are awar e of my existen ce .

Re turn ing h ome on e afte rn oon at dusk, and walkin g o n th e

side o f th e str e e t opposite to my own house (as it is very muddy ,

and th e crossing is a little way down ) all of a sudden som e thin gcatch e s h o ld of my leg with an e cstatic exclamation of de ligh t. I

say some th ing , but I ought to say somebody, th ough th e perso n is so

extrem e ly small that my mistake may be excused. I lo ok down ,

startled and considerably put out if th e truth be to ld, and see.

wh a t

appears to me to be a little bundle o f white fur affection ate lyembracing my kn e e .

What is all this P I cry crossly.

Th e n t h e bundle , promptly de tach ing itse lf, reveals a little

round chubby face with two large , startled eye s.

Oh , please e jaculate s th e own e r of the face , Ifought you

was my papa . I was go ing to k iss you,”sh e adds ser iously.

A t this jun cture, a bre athl e ss n urse arr ives with a sim ilar

bundle of white fur cling ing on to h e r, and m ingle s pro fuse

apo logie s to me with scoldin gs to h e r litt le ch arge .

I fought,”

re ite rates th e child, that he was my papa

po in ting a m inute finger at m e but,”

after a pause durin g

which shescrutin ises m e n arrowly, I’m very glad h e isn

’

t .

”

Oh , fo r shame , Missy ! Y ou se e , sir , sh e do set such sto re

by h e r papa , and h e do make such a fuss with h e r .

”

He re, th in king th e sce n e h ad lasted long e n ough , I mutte r

s ome th ing indistin ctly and pass o n ,but h ear , as I withdraw,

the

n urse’s in dign an t commen t o n my ungraciousn ess

Oi all th e cro ss-grain ed, ill-tempered

-well, Missy how you

co uld take such an ugly o ld ge n tleman fo r your papa bea ts me

A n oth e r man would ha ve tr eate d th is little in cide n t difie r en tly,

a nd would ve ry like ly have put in fo r the kiss in te nded for the

much -be loved papa , but n o t I. Faugh l Fan cy, kissing a th re e

year- old babyNext m o rning , as I em at breakfast, I see th e nurse ry de tach

m en t from ove r th e way sallyin g forth two nurses, two pe rambu

lato rs, and, gracious go odn e ss ! thr ee children , al l apparen tly th e

same age , o r ve ry n e ar it . I fee l a sort o f con temptuous com

passion fo r my double Oppo site . Po or wre tch I would n o t be in

h is sho es for some thing , an d to th ink that I migh t have be en ,

In a Quie t Str ee t.

if n o t in h is sh oe s, at least in some o f th e sam e sort, h ad I be e n

weak -m in ded and so ft-h earted as many are

A s , cup in h an d, I um sti ll abse n tly lookin g out o f th e window,

somebody ste ps h ast ily out o n th e balco ny of No . 1 3 and call s out

an in jun ctio n to th e nurse s be n e ath—a ve ry pr e tty somebodyt hough I em a wom an -h ats r , I can se e that. Big eye s, and pink

and -wh ite face , and sun ny-lo ok in g h air th at falls in to charmin g

r ing s a n d little cur lin g ten drils about a love ly brow. Tongs o f

I say to myse lf, but som e how I don’

t fe e l quite so so rry

for my double as I did just n ow.

My double inde ed Why, the r e h e is be side h e r , waving h ishan d and gr in ni ng at his progeny. Ugh No t a bad lookin gfe llow

,in your bro ad

-sh ouldered style , but n o t a bit like me a

good twe n ty ye ars young e r to begin with , I must con fe ss.

Now h e sa llies fo rth , and my atten tio n is again distracted from

my bacon and e ggs and my Sta nda rd ; the sun ny h e ad is in th e

drawin g-room window n ow, an d gives a little sm iling no d as th e

husban d looks up from th e stre e t. Sickening sen tim en ta lity I call

it wi th a ll tho se childre n to o , th ey ough t to be ashamed of th em

se lve s I get used to this pe rfo rm ance in time , h owe ve r , as it is

repe a ted e ve ry morn in g . In th e afte rn o on about h alf-past four

the h e ad appe ars in th e win dow agam—I can just se e it defin ed

again st th e red blin d th rough wh ich the lamp sh in es so ch e e r ily.

Th e shutte rs o f tha t win dow are n e ve r clo sed at th is time of day.

Pre se n tly th e lord and maste r may be disce rn ed comin g down th e

stre et and th e pan tomin e of th e morn in g is repe ated— upward

glance , downward smile (mo st l ike ly—it is to o dark to se e cle arly)then a flash o f lamp

- ligh t as th e blind is push ed to on e side , and

the h ead van ish es.

It is irrita tin g , the way in wh ich I watch th is performan ce

‘

day

after day, almost lyin g in wa it for my bro ad- shoulde red n e ighbour

as his spouse do e s, and fe e ling vexe d an d surpr ised if h e is late . I

sit in the dusk rath e r th an allow my blinds to be dr awn before th e

customary pe rfo rman ce has take n place . I flatte r myse lf, n ow

that I am so lving kn o tty que stio n s with in myse lf, n ow th at I em

resting my overwrough t m ind, and I am 1 n r e ality do in g n e ith e r

the on e n or th e oth e r , but idly speculating about my o pposite

In fact th e co n founded quie t o f this stre e t is th e cause of the .

change in my characte r . Livin g , as I used to do , in a crowded


th oroughfare , I n oticed n obody because I couldn’t n otioe every

body. He re , on th e con trary, everybody and e ve rythin g force

th emse lve s upon my atte n tion , and excite my in te re st be cause th e re .

is so little to distract m e . A s, for in stan ce , that wre tch ed singingwom an . I read with th e greate st complacen cy th at hundreds suchare starvin g in Lo n don . I brush with abso lute oe llousn ess past a

sco re of th em perhapswh en I take a sh ort- out through a by waybut because this miserable un it come s under my immediate n otice

in this empty stre e t, be cause in th e stilln e ss h e r wre tch ed quave ring vo ice is distin ctly h e ard, I become a ve ry m ilk-sOp.

To re turn to th e pe ople at No . 1 3 . Comin g h om e on e n igh t

from th e th e atre , I obse rve th at th e husband- I have to call h im

so because I don ’t kn ow h is n ame—is walking down th e stre et

imm ediate ly in fr o n t o f m e . He has a latoh -key , and I have n o t,

co n seque n tly, wh ile I am waitin g for Jackson to let m e in I watchh is m ovemen ts with my usual vulgar curiosity. He is a p e at

youn g man ,I perce ive , for afte r h e has ope n ed th e do or h e remain s

a considerable time po lish in g h is fee t on th e mat at th e thr e sh o ld.

Here come s a little flying figur e down th e stairs, flutte rin g wh ite

drape ries, h air ve ry brigh t by gas- light, outstr e tch ed arms, fao e

sparklin g with smiles —h an g it all ! How glad sh e is to se e h im

A nd h e, gre at ove rgr own cre ature , push e s th e do or to , or partly to ,

with o n e arm and rece ive s h e r in th e o th e r . Th ey don’

t n o tice

me , but I se e them .

~

Humph ! That so rt of th in g aggravate s m e

ao , turn ing round, I tre at Mr . Jackso n to a rousing peal of th e

be ll th at br in gs h im to th e do o r with a spe ed ve ry un like h is usual

maj e stio tre ad .

Curious h ow a tr ivial in cide n t like that take s h o ld of mym ind .

A s I step in to th e h all , a vague fe e ling of lon e lin ess come s o ve r

me . Th e primn e ss, and tidin e ss, an d sile n ce of th e h ouse ar e

more n otice able than usual . I pause for a mome n t and gaz e at

my n eat, tr im ,n ewly

- oarpe tted sta ircase with a ce rta in disgust.

N0 flyin g figure Iwr e to be gladde ned by my approach . Th e re is

n o on e in this h ouse to take n o tice of my go ings and com ings

e xcept Jackso n , an d Ice is n ot like ly to fall upon my n e ck . Ha !

ha ! I laugh grimly at my own wit , and re tire to my san ctum

somewh at con so led .

A bo ut a mo n th or so afte r th is occurren ce I n otice th at th e

daily prog ramm e of par tin g and gre e tin g is n o t carried out as

usua l. It is true my bro ad-sh ouldered fr ie nd or e n emy, for

March . 1 43

andshe we re fir st conscious of th e tremors and wonder and de lir ium

i f their young lo ve ;'

the strains o f that ve ry waltz , or one like it ,a ny have h e lped th em to discove r th e ir tendern ess on e fo r the

«her. We ll,we ll , h e is alon e to h e ar it n ow. Kn e e ling by th e

batwhere on sh e lie s, h e may h o ld h er han d, but it will rest pas

sively in h is , and th e te nder clin ging clasp o f th e little finge rs is

nowon ly a m emory. Not a quiver of th e eye lids , n o t a motion o f

the lips in r e sponse to h is passio nate kisse s, his e cstasy of gr ie f ;

al

l still an d sil ent as th e grave which e ve n n ow is waiting for h e r .

h er fellow , po or fe llow, G od h e lp h im !

What an o ld foo l I am ! Wh at do e s it matte r to me A r e

there no t sco re s o f such dea ths eve ry day, and did I e verye t taker-ne of th em to h eart He re I am po sitive ly un happy about pe o ple

to whom I h ave n ever spoke n on e word in my life . A l l this ismandlin , sim ply m audl in—living in th is abominable little stre e t

has don e it . I sh all be fit for n o th in g if I stay here much longe r .

Confoun d it ! I’ll give up th e h ouse an d take rooms in Piccadilly

M. E. FRANCIS .

MARCH.

IE ! with your bluste r in g !

Ho ! with yo ur fluste r in g !F ie on you, thi nking of fr ig hting us, March

Scowl if you dare n ow,

Little we ca r e n ow,

Wh e th e r you’r e loving o r sligh ting n a

,March !

Sur e wh e n your brow is all dark with th e frown

Sull e n and black , an d th e te ars dr oppin g down

Wh e n you wa lk with a flin g an d a toes of th e h e ad,

A nd th rough din t o f h o t tempe r yo ur ch e ek flush e s r ed

Kn owing you we ll n ow,

Faith we ca n te ll n ow

Th e re’s little cause to be gr ievin g us, Ma rch .

Unde r your whin in g

Your blue eyes ar e sh in in gY un th ie f of th e world fo r dece ivin g na, March !

1 44 Ti m Ir isk Mon th ly.

Bo lde r a nd bo lde r n ow,

Turn th e co ld sh oulde r n ow,

Sn owing and blowing—O sh ame on you, March

,

But it’s your n atur e ,

Y ou obstin ate craytur e ,

I’ll n o t h e th r owing th e blame on you, March !

Som e times, in spite o f th e wrath in your eye ,

Th e smile o n yo ur lip g ive s bad tempe r th e lie

A n d sh amin g th e gr owl in your vo ice wh e n you spe ak,

T h e dimpl e s o fme r rime n t dan ce in your ch e ek

0 but yo u’r e cute n ow,

Hiding th e truth n ow,

C utting your cape rs a nd givin g n a, March ,

Sco lding a nd ple asin g ,

Warn ing and fr e e z in g,

Y o u th ief of th e wo rld fo r dece iving us, March !

Up from th e ir n arrow beds,

Rai sing th e ir pur ty h e ads ,

T hough your we t blanke ts you th row o n th em ,March

Se e th e smal l posie s n ow,

Lifting th e ir n o se s n ow,

Sn iffing th e sun be ams ag low o n th em ,March .

Migh ty and proud as th e kin g o n h is th ro n e ,

Th e r e'

s a swe e t co axing way that you h ave o f your own ,

L ike a play-acto r takin g th e win te r

’s dark par t,

\Vith th e sm ile o f th e summ e r asle ep in h is h e a r t

So you may blow,n ow,

Ra in , h a il , and sn ow n ow,

L ittle your tr icks will be g r ie vin g us, March

\Ve kn ow your way n ow,

Sure it’s a ll play n ow,

Y ou th ie f o f th e wo r ld fo r de ce iving us, March

MA RY ELIZABETH BLAKE.

46 T he Ir ash Mont/dy.

dre am , and promised to se e wh e th er it could n ot be turn ed in to a

re ality. Some time passed, and th e arde n t nun was begin n in g to

fear that th e li ttle se ed thus sown would n eve r r e -appe ar abo ve

ground, wh e n an imme nse mass of corresponden ce was placed in

h e r h and, sh owin g that h e r fri e nd had be e n busy meanwhile in

obtain in g e ve ry scrap of in fo rmation sh e required fr om e ve ry

available quarter . Many difficultie s appeared in th e way, but

finally all van ish ed under th e h e lpful h and o f th e late Sir

Will iam Ewart, a gre at lin e n me rch an t, o f Be lfast, wh o , though a

Prote sta n t of th e Black No rth , was yet th orough ]y in sympathy

with th e pro je ct of th e South e rn Siste rhoo d. From h im cam e the

lo oms which we saw at work in a ple asan t uppe r ro om of th e con

ven t, and h e se n t a skilful wo rkman to se t th em up and to explain

th e ir myste r ie s to th e Siste rs. This fir st sce n e in th e Skibbe re e n

industr ial drama was sure ly a curious and de ligh tful me eting of

orange and gre e n , North and South , ve ry curious to those who

kn ow what Pro te stan t pre judica is in th e North of Ire land. Th e

looms we re se t up, and th e question r emain ed of a te ach e r to take

a we ave r’s class in h and. Th e nun s wish ed to h ave a wom an to

teach th e ir gir ls, an d a woman was produced wh o unde rsto od th e

art of we aving , but sh e pro ved le ss capable than was n e edful , and

in th e e nd a man arr ived fr om Be lfast to take th e matte r in hand

and ste e r th e bo at of th e adve n ture , which se emed in dan ge r o f

foun de r in g . From th e mome n t o f h is arr iva l th e m o vem e n t

march e d forward, th e lassies and e lde rly women learn ed to throw

th e shuttle and make th e prope r rhythmic m o tion with their fe e t,

and lin en cloth grew on th e lo oms to th e in te n se de light o f th e

Siste rs, the pride of th e ir pupils, an d th e edification of SirWi ll iamEwart, wh o pron oun ced th e specim e n s fo rwarded to him as

exce ll e n t beyond all h is expe ctat ion s.

On ly last May th e lo oms began to wo rk , and alr eady a good bit

o f mo n ey has be en e arn ed,an d h ope has sprun g up in many a po o r

h ome—th e h 0pe of e scape fr om hun gry po ve rty by m e an s of th e

flying shuttle and the go ld th at it will win . Th e de ath o f b it

William Ewart was a sad sh ock to th e commun ity h e h ao l

befr iended, but happily h is son has adoPted th e cour se his fath e r

h ad so n obly take n to h e art, an d prom ise s eve ry assistance in h is

powe r to th e weave rs o f Skibbe r e en . He will dispose of all th e

cloth s th ey produce , but, at th e sam e tim e , advise s them to try to

pro xi de a marke t fo r th emse lves outside th is coun try,a s

,in that case ,

th ey may, of course , h ope for h igh e r th an trade price s.

L inen We aving in Skibbe r em , 1 47

T h e prese nce o f this h ope ful industrial work m ake s a little

flutt e r o f joy all th rough th e ple asan t con ven t. A . refle ction o f it

se e m e d to be in th e ve ry sun shin e th at lay ye llow on the flo ors,

an d sh on e in th e faces of all th e sm ilin g Sisters, wh o e ach had some

fre sh accide n t o r in cide n t to te ll about th e daily expe r ie nces de

ve lo pe d in th e course of our we aving .

”One little de ta il o f th e ir

l arg e e n te rprise is th e conve rsion o f th e teach sr from Be lfast, th e

m ascu l in e perso n who was admitted in to the workroom o f th e con

ve n t w ith some awe , as be ing a man an d a h ere tic, but who h as

succe e ded in gain ing the respe ct and confide n ce of th e whole com

m un i ty . He,o n h is side , appears quite satisfied with h is position ,

an d is like ly to se ttle down under th e shadow of th e co nven t

wal ls , an d end his days in th e se rvice of th e Papist Siste rho od.

His co n ve rsio n m ay be regarded as doubtful , judg ing by th e sly,

compa ssio na te sm ile with wh ich , wh ile we examin ed h is clo th , h e

r e ga rd e d the mo vemen ts of on e o f th e Siste rs, wh o h ad brought a

fre sh flowe r fr om th e garden , and was placing it in th e arms of th e

ta ll statue of th e G ood Sh eph e rd, wh ich stood in a commandin g

po sit i o n at th e e nd of th e pleasan t, sun ny little facto ry.

“r

e must hope , h owe ver , that all th e de sires of th ese pur e and

h o ly h e arts may be gratified, an d that e very co ttage in th e n e igh

bourh o od o f Skibbe re e n may so o n have its lo om and its we e klywag e s fo r wo rk produced. Irish sisterho ods ar e at pre sen t eu

cour aged by th e Comm issio n e rs of Nation al Education to devote

the ir e n e rgies to industr ial objects. Some time ago th ey we r e

oblig ed to give all the ir efforts to th e task of con fe rr ing high-class

education on th e ir po or pupils, wh o , except in the case of a few

de stin ed to be te ach ers, were thus re ndered unfit to e arn th e ir

br e a d by the on ly means eve r like ly to come with in th e ir re ach .

Th e pupils le ft sch oo l , th e ir h eads a little turn ed, at th e be st, by a

sm a tte ring of'

m ental acquirem en t, an d with hands deplorably usc

le as , quite in capable of maintain ing th em in th e position of l ife

th e y cove ted . Now, th e evils of that state o f thin gs have l) ( e n

re co gn ised , and are to be coun te racted by th e en couragem e n t o f

industr ia l works i n co nn ection with th e Nation al Schoo ls. In th e

B lue Book for 1 888 , issued by th e Comm ission ers of Natio n a l

Ed uca tion , Miss Prende rgast’

s r epo rt o n industrial wo rk in th e

sch oo ls give s a gre at deal of in tere sting information as to th e pro

g r e ss already made . Th e Nation al Sch oo ls, to which a grant o f

sa lary in aid of special industrial instruction is available , ar e 425in

1 48 T[20 Ir ish Mon tkly.

n umbe r . A but 1 200 girls atte nd th em . Depar tmen ts of Industrial

Sch o o ls in con n e ction with th e r e co gn ised Nation al Sch oo ls numbe r

about 33, and are atte nded by n e arly 3000 pupils, 230 of wh om are

boys. Th e re ar e such departm e n ts in ch arg e of th e Siste rs o f

Me r cy, at Crum lin - ro ad,Be lfast ; at St. Malachy

’

s,A n trim ; at

C an al - str e e t, N ewry ; an d a t Ro stre vo r . A t Ca rrickmacross the

con ducto rs are lay te ach e rs. In Munste r th e re are industrial

cen tre s at K ilm sh, Kan turk, Kin sale , Skibbe r e en ,

and Passage

We st , a ll unde r Siste rs o f Me rcy. In Lim e rick, at SS. Mary and

Mun ch in’

s (St . Joh n’

s—squar e ) , and at A dar e , Mo un t St . Vin ce nt,

Braflf, St. A n n e’

s (Rathke ale l , and at St. Cath e rin e’

s (Newcastle

We st) . A t B lackro ck,Co rk , th e Ursulin e Siste rs conduct th e

in dustrial depar tm e n t, an d a t Bruit th e Siste rs o f th e Orde r o f th e

Faith ful Compan io n s. Th e re are ce n tr e s at Fe th ard and G a rr ick

o n -Suir . In Le in ste r th e industr ia l ce n tr es ar e Car low, Dublin ,

Warr e npo in t, Blackr ock , Bo o te r stown ,Roundtown , A thy, Kil

k e n ny, G o r e sbr idge , Clara , St . Jo seph’

s (L o ngfo rd) , Co o te - str e e t,Moun trath , Marybo rough , Moun tm e llick , Stradba l ly, and New

R o ss. Th e industrial ce n tr e s of Co nn augh t ar e a t N ewtown Sm ith ,

O ranm o r e , St. Vin ce n t’

s (G alway) , G o rt , and Ballinaslo e , all co nducted by th e Siste rs o f Me rcy an d th e Pr e sen tatio n Siste rs.

ROSA Mt'

m l o nm xn .

OTHER WORLDS.

NI) a r e th o se glo r io us sta rs unpe o pl ed a l l?

L i ve s th e r e n o th o ugh t o utside o ur h uman r ace?Me n scan th e h e ave n s do e s n o ce le stia l face

Turn wo nde r in g

‘

to o ur plan e ta ry ba ll

\Vh o kn ows if ye t to scie n ce it m ay fa ll

To fin d a br idg e o’e r in te r ste lla r Space ,

Th a t we th o se lo rds o f o th e r wo r lds m ay tr ace .

A n d m e ssag e se n d r e spo n sive to th e ir ca ll

O e r edulo us, yct in cr e dulo us He a r th e wo rd

By G o d r e ve al e d—Beyo n d th e fa r th e st star ,

In h igh e st h e ave n ,m o st lo vin g fr ie nds th e r e a r e ;

By o ur r epe n tan t sigh s th e ir joy isstirr’

d ,

W'

s strik e o ur br o aste,th e e ch o wak e s th e ir pra ise ,

A nd th ey h ave ch arg e to h a llow a ll o ur ways.

1 50 Tim Ir ish Mon th ly.

pre n tice at th e carpen te r’

s ben ch . He was twen ty ye ars o f age

wh e n h is first po‘

em , G ood-bye , was published in th e Be lfast

Examiner . He call ed th is h is “ lite rary baptism ,

”and yea rs afte r

wards h e wro te to me th at th e day on which th e m ode st little lyr ic

appe ared was th e h appie st'

of his life .

Some young fe llows, wh e n th ey take to po etry, affect lo ng ha ir

a n d an abstracted lo ok , and walk much by themse lve s. Th iswasn o t McManus

’

s way. Prosaic as it may appe ar , h e was a very

e n thusiastic Lan d Le aguer , and a membe r o f th e Nation al Band ;

a nd amon gst all th e boys th e re was n on e more willin g than

Paddy (as th ey ca lled h im ) to jo in in any good h e ar ty fun that

was go ing on . I have se e n h im ,in a battle o f sods, le ad h is side

with rare co o ln e ss and courage ; an d altoge the r h e was kn own to~be all th e re and a mo st de te rmin ed ch aracte r in e n gagem en ts

o f th is n ature . His e n joymen t of real , h e arty, br ee zy, rbugh-and

tumble life amo ngst h e althy, re ady-h anded boys was in te n se . I

r emembe r witn e ssin g a sce n e on e n igh twh ich gave h im great de light.

Th e Band h ad split into two h ostile camps, and o n th is particular

e ve n ing both parties we n t out o n th e Lough , e ach in a bo at of its

o wn , to e n te rta in th em se lves and th e town sfo lk with music on th e

wa te r . Th e boats co llided : a n aval e n gagem en t e n sued. Rud

de rs and flo or -bo ards, rowlocks, se ats an d o ars— all th e m ovable

fur nitur e of th e boats was immediate ly called in to r equisition , anda despe rate attempt was made by e ith e r side to swamp th e en emy.

It was n e arly comin g to hard blows, but th e humour .

of such a sea

figh t proved too much fo r some of th e combatan ts, and it ended in

n o thin g wo rse th an a un ive rsa l dr e n ch ing , th e temporary disap

pe aran ce of two fiddle s, an d an adjournme n t to te r ra firma,whe re

h ostilitie s we re n ot r en ewed. In th e m idst o f all you m ight have

se e n our po e t thirstin g fo r fight as much as any o f th em , and

de r ivin g from th e m imic warfar e th e kee n e st en joymen t imagin

able . A ll th e wh ile , though h e kn ew it n o t, M‘Manus was laying

in a sto r e of mate rial fo r future use , eve n as Ban im and Carle to n

and Kickh am in th e ir day. He to ok in stin ctive ly to th e study o f

human n atur e , as h e saw it ar oun d him ; and you m ight o ften

h ave com e upon him talking to o n e o f th e many ch aracte rs o f

th e town and distr ict, dr awin g h im out, and n o ting h is humorous

po in ts.

Th is was n ot h is o n ly study by any m ean s. He was a

passion ate lo ver of th e be autie s of e arth and sky to be see n al ong

A n Ulster P oe t. 1 51

t h e sh ores of Strangfo rd Lough . A nd th ey ar e n o m ean beautie s

t h ese . Th e sce n ery o f Stran gfo rd Lough , th ough th e wo rld do e sn o t se em to kn ow it, is among th e best in Ire land. Po rtafe rry

i s quite a place for a poe t to spend h is youth ia. Th e re is h ill and

va lley th e re , and wo odlan d and swift runn ing lough , twice as wide

a n d twice as n ice as th e Rh in e at many o f its be st place s ; an d

g re e n l ittle islands and o ld castle s, datin g away fr om De Courcy’s

t im e , dotted over th e sho re s ; and wild sea-bir tls, an d thre e m ile s

o ut th e re to th e e ast th e wave s o f th e Chan n e l rol lin g again st th e

r o cks o f A rdullah . Th ese th in gswere n ot lo st on young M‘Man us.

He dra nk th em in with th e wild thirst that th e Muse g ive s to eve ry

yo un g po et wh en sh e first wakes h is pe rceptive facultie s to all

t h in gs beautiful and true . Some o f his swee te st little bits we r e

i n spir e d by th ese . sce n es. Fo r in stan ce , h e thus de scr ibe s a lo ve lysum m e r

’day wh en h e paid a visit to Killyleagh , n o t un kn own to

th e r eaders of th e L ife of A rch ibald Hamilto n Rowan

A lo n g Lough Cuan 's castled sh o re ,

‘

A roun d th e win din g sapphire bay,

Th e wh ite -win g e d se agulls ca lmly so ar ,

The summe r .bre e z e s g e n t]y play ;

A nd blue smoke cur ls abo ve th e town ,

Flo atin g in eddyin g wre aths afar

Beyo nd th e distan t m oun ta in s brown ,

A cro ss th e wa il in g , wave -swept bar .

En ch an tin g Na tur e do n s to -day

He r fa irest robe s in Killyleagh .

Th e soft clouds, tin g ed with ame thyst ,

A cro ss th e br ig h t blue h eave n s pass

Th e pla cid o ce a n ,n ow sun -kissed ,

A ppe ars a mo lte n silver mass,

A n d ch ildre n o n th e g o lden sand

Play joyously in wild de ligh t ,‘Vh ile up th e sunn y sea - l wept strand

Th e star tled h e ro n wan ds his fligh t ;

A nd me ek -eyed ca ttle browse and stray

A m o ngs t th e fie lds of K illyleagh .

Is n o t this a pre tty pictur e o f a lazy summer even ing in som e

From th is o ld name of Stran gfo rd Lough th e writer of th is pape r to ok h is m m

ptume wh ich h e h ad at fir et appen ded to th e ve ry to uch in g e le gy In Memo ry

o f A n n ie ,”at pag e 36 of our se ve n tee n th vo lume (January, —Ed . I. M ;

1 52 T11 0 Ir ish Mon th ly

pe aceful se aside Irish village It is fr om a po em called The

Ruin ed Town

Ove r th e m oun tain'

s cr imso n cre st

Qui ve r t he sha fts o f th e sin kin g sun

So ftly th ey re ach to th e billow’

s bre ast

A pa rt ing kiss e re th e day is do n e .

1' i

Ple asan tly fa ll th e slan tin g be am s

Down o n th e stre e ts o f th e se a side town

\Vin dows mirro r th e 3 10win g g le ams ,

Ch imn eys ch a n g e to a go lde n bro wn .

Far in th e garden s th e sparro ws bide ,

Ch irpin g , ch irpin g amo n g th e le a ve s

Pro digal swallows in rapture s h ide ,

Twitte r in g , twi tte r in g un de r th e e ave s .

Th e re are som e ve ry fe licitous scen ic touch es, to o , in a’98

ballad, en titled Th e Dawn ing o f th e Day

It is e ven in g in th e summ e r , an d t he r ed departin g rays

Of th e sun’

s ma je stic g lo ry quive r in th e ambe r h az e ,

A nd th e wi ld-fowl h aste n h om ewa rd to th e ma rgin o fith e br o ok,

A n d th e sile n t so ng-bird n e stle s in th e le af- embowe red n o o k .

No t a spe ck o f fieccy vapour sh ades th e blue expo n se abo ve ,

No t a so ftly-bre a thin g z ephyr stirs th e tre e - tops in th e g ro ve

But th e fir st fa in t dew fr om h e ave n m o iste n s m eadow,h ill

, and bra e ,

A n d all n a ture is be toke n in g th e wan in g o f th e day.

Hark ! wh at so und is th is wh ich wake n s ro llin g ech oe s in th e g le i

Breakin g th rough th e so lemn sile n ce?"l‘

is th e tre ad o f ma rch in g m e n .

Se e th e dusky fo rms de sce n din g , mi rro r ed’

g a in st th e a zur e sky.

Wh er e th e ch asm -ch an n e ll ed m oun ta in lifts its h augh ty fo re h e ad h igh 3

See th e ma rsh a lled pikcs and muske ts, with th e g re e n fla g o ve r a l l ,

In th e bro ok - in de n ted vall ey wh e re th e sh iftin g sh adows fa ll ;

Se e , th rough h e a th e r , fum e , and ma rsh lan d, da rk de tachm en ts we nd th e ir way,

Round th e ban n e r brigh t to ga th e r a t t he wan in g o f th e day !

But why g roup th ey by th e moun ta in foo t with we apo ns wild an d rude

Wh at e n ch an tin g spe ll allur e s th em to th at stirle ss so litude ?"l‘

is th e blissful h our fo r re stin g , and wh a t ple a sur e se e k th ey th e re ,

Wh e n th e m a id awa its h e r lo ve r , an d th e ma tr on we eps a pray( r

A h , th e an swe r you may h ear it in th a t fa th e r’s stifled sigh s

Y ou m ay re ad it in th e blaz in g o f th a t pe e rle ss pe asan t’

s eye s"f ins to listen to th e ir le ade r , e re th ey pit th e ir dark ar ray’G a inst th e spo ile rs o f th e ir coun try a t th e dawn in g o f th e day .

Th e re fere n ce to th e stars in th e following ve rse of th is po em

1 54 TM Ir ish Month ly.

Kn ow you truly, kn ow you truly.we re sh e n e ve r to be fre ed ,

Sh e is wo rthy o f your wo rsh ip, wo rthy of your br igh te st dead .

But it is n o ordin ary de ed n o r any cold-bloo ded wo rsh ip that

will satisfy him

Th ink upo n h e r , th ink upon h e r , t il] th e blo od bo ils in e ach ve in ,

So th at , we re it spill ed to save h e r , it would me lt a circlin g ch a in

T ill th e te ars wh ich fill your eye li ds a t th e sto ry o f h e r wr o ngs

Fa ll as dr ops o fm o lte n iro n on h e r lash e s a nd h e r th ong s.

”

I pre sume to h az ard th e r emark th at we h ave h ere a po e t. No

m e re ve rse -wr ite r could h ave co n ce ived th e se darin g figur es.

It h as struck m e m o r e th an on ce that th e re was a r esemblan ce

be twe e n M‘Manus an d Da lto n Williams, e specially as th e com ic

an d th e tragic muse we re equally at th e service of bo th . Slieve

Do n ard, h owe ve r , had n ot th e light n imble to uch of Sh amrock .

”

He was m or e succe ssful in h is satirical pie ces ; but th ese are ch iefly

a imed at pe rsons o n wh om we are n ot disposed, e ven in such a

con text, to be stow th e immortality of th ese page s.

Our youn g Ulste r po e t on ly wr ote dur ing th e last two or th re e

ye ars o f h is br ie f life . A . se lection o f th e be st o f th e wo rk

h e h as le ft behind h im would make a dain ty little vo lum e ; and

th e pre se n t write r has n ot give n up th e h ope of such a m emorial of

Slie ve Don ar His ve rse s may be sought in th e files of Tim

B e lfast Examin er , Til e c elcly N ew, Y oung Ir e la nd, and T11 0

N a tio n ; but many of th em n eve r cam e un der th e eye of an edito r .

A mon gst th e se last may be reckon ed h is con tr ibution s to a lo cal

publicatio n kn own at diffe r en t pe riods as Tim Ce lt, Til e Por tafnrm'

N a tiona l Bann e r , and Tile L ough (Juan Month ly. McManus, th e

pr e se n t write r , and a mutual frien d, Mr . Hugh Doyle , n ow on th e

staff o f a Be lfast n ewspape r , we r e th e jo in t editors of th e se several

j ourn als wh ich , it is scarce ly n e ce ssary to say, h ad a brief th ough

brillian t existen ce . Th e po et- edi tor was by n o me an s to be de

pended on fo r pfin ctuality in fur n ishi ng his quo ta .

I think it was in th e win te r of 1 884 th atMcManuswen t to Be lfast

to wo rk at h is trade . He had be en ve ry h appy among th o se of

wh om h e h ad sun g in on e of h is lyr ics as th e boys of th e n o isy

town ; but som e of h is frien ds wonde r ed h ow h e would like th e

busy, bustlin g life o f a city. He did n o t ke ep th em long in sus

pe n se , for in a few we eks h e se n t a m e ssage h ome in on e o f h is

favour ite journ als

A n Ulste r P or t.

Oh , t ake me away to my own lo ved h ome

By th e soun din g se a .

t

Oh , take m e away to my lo n e ly co t ,

From th e o r im e -sta in ed town ,

Fo r I would n o t dwe l l in th is sin ful spot

Fo r a kin g ly crown ,

A n d a m o n arch’

s wea lth would a llure m e n o t

From th e sh aded sh o r e s an d th e h ills o f D own .

He suite d th e action to th e word and r e turn ed h om e . He

wo uld rath er have e nded h is days in Po rtafe r ry th an anywh e re e lse

in th e wor ld. But that would h ave be e n to o gre at luck fo r a po e t .

A h , po o r MoManus’s last days did n ot be lie th e n ame we h ave

ve n tur ed to g ive h im . How is it th at so m any of th ese so ns of

so n g have gon e down to th e ir grave s in so rrow much de epe r than

th a t wh ich usual ly accompan ie s th e de ath o f th e o rdin ary so lid,

so rd id citiz e n Think o f Sco tt dyin g broke n-h ea rted in h arn e ss,

Sk e l ly pe rish in g in th e waves o f th e G ulf o f Spe z z ia , th e suicide s o fTa n n ah ill and Ch atte rton ,

the dark r eason le ss closing ye ars of

Co wpe r . Th in k to o o f th e sad e n ding o f Po e , and o f th e pit

a by smal , th e gulf an d gr ave of Magin n an d Burn s.

”But Ir e land

h a s h ad m ore gulfs and grave s”o f th is sort of sorrow o ve r th an

th a t o f Magin n . What o f Man gan h imse lf,an d o f Callan an be for e

h im— Davis re sting to o e arly in Moun t Je rom e , Williams in th efa r clay o f Lo uisian a , an d th e grave th at r ises o

’

e r thy sward,

D e viz es Is th e re n ot some th ing h e r e to drop a te ar over It

is with wh ispe ring breath th at I n am e our humble n orth e rn oar

pe n te r in such go odly company ; but if h e h as n o claim to sit in

T a ra’

s h all with th e min str e ls, h im gran t a grave to , ye pitying

n o ble ,”

am on g those true souls wh o pour ed out th e ir ve ry h e art’

s

b lo od in so ng for Ire lan d.

Her e h e h ad hoped an d prayed to live and die

I wo uld rath e r live in Ire land—and th e th ough t com e s from my h ea rt

wo uld r a th e r to il in Ire la nd , o n th e ba re st , ble ake st part ,

Spurn ed by e ve ry villag e m ag na te , sm o te by e ve ry m in io n’

s h an d,

Th a n abide in pomp an d pa n oply in any o th e r la n d .

I wo uld ra th e r l ive in Ire land th a n wh e re pa lm s and o live s g row,

Noddin g g e n tly to th e music o f th e so fte st win ds th a t blow

Th a n wh e re any silke n lo rdl in g'

a fte r fle e tin g ple asure ro ve s,'

M id th e citron s an d ban anas, th rough th e sh ady o ran g e g ro ve s.

Tim Ir ivla Moutlzly.

I would ra th e r l ive in Ir ela nd —ay,a hun dred th o usand tim e s

Th an in a ll th e tropics’

lustre o r in be auty-h aun te d clim e s

Th an in a ll th e sta te ly sple ndo ur o f th e citie s in th e We st ,

O r wh e re temple s ca st th e ir shadows o n th e Tibe t'

s sto r ied br e a st .

I would ra th e r live in Ire la nd : fo r , al tho ugh th e spo ile r’

s bre a th

L ocust -like may swe ep h e r va lleys , spre ading ruin , dearth , and de a th ,

Still it can n o t ch ill th e sunsh in e , an d it can n o t ye t—th a n k G od I

s h th e murmurs o f th e r ive rs,ch ase th e sh amrocks from th e s od.

I would ra th e r live in Ir e land, th ough I live a life of ca re ,

A nd my e a rs fo r e ve r h e arke n to a pity-

ple ading‘

praye r

Th ough my eye s a re we a ry wa tch in g th e depa rt in g co wa rds'

fligh t ,

A nd iny brain is e ve r burn in g in th e n o o n -day and th e n igh t .

I would ra th e r live in Ire lan d , fo r my de a re st dre am s o f fam e ,

A ll my fo nde st aspira tio ns, we re comm in g led with h e r n a me

Pictured visio n s bo rn with boyh oo d and in h ope ful manh o o d pr iz ed .

Y e have kept yo ur n a ta l br igh tn e ss th ough ye n e’

e r we r e re a l is e d 1

I would ra th e r live in Ire land fo r th e fr ie nds you make ar e true

A h’tis sad to th ink I

’

ve bade to som e a lon g a nd last adieu)Th ough th e spe ctral gaz e o f fam in e bids all e a r th ly joys de pa r t ,It can n e ve r

ch ill th e kin dn e ss in a te nde r Ir ish h e a r t .

A n d I’

ll live in outrag ed Ir e la n d—po o r and h ate d , crush ed an d ban n ed

Th a t’

s a r igh t by He ave n g ran te d to th e lowli e st in th e la n d

But I'

ll wa it with g rowin g trustfuln e ss fo r th a t appro ach in g day

Wh ich will wake de ar Erin'

s sm ile , a nd wipe h e r te ars away.

N o t only to live in Ir e land but to die and be buried th ere . So h e '

h ad prayed in a po em which h e called My G rave , pro bably n o t

fo rge tting that that was the n am e wh ich Th omas Davis gave to h is

we ll kn own lin e s publish ed at th e ve ry outse t o f h is car e e r , in th e

third n umbe r o f Tire N ation (Octobe r 29, Forty ye am

late r McManus thus pictured th e grave h e would ch oose fo r

himse lf :

A way, away from th e dusty town ,

Wi th its woe ful wan t a n d its crime -cause d ca r e,

From th e g able s da rk a n d ch im n eys brown ,

Fr om th e sh adowed stre e t and th e stony squa re ,

Is a still , swe e t spo t wh ich th e ro se pe rfum e s ,

I‘Vh e re th e yew- tre e s wa tch and th e mo sse s cre e

p

o h th e re ,’n e ath th e br igh t laburnum bloom s

I h ope to r e st in my la st , last sle ep

A way from th e gla re

Oi th e str e e t an d squa re ,

In th e depth o f my ca lm , unbro ke n slecp.


A STORY OF A SAINT.

ALONG th e love ly Umbrian ways

St. Francis strayed a t e ve n tide,

Whi le li ttle birds sa n g ro unde lays .

Fra Pao lo , wa lkin g by h is side ,

With eyes full of love’s ge n tle be ams

,

G a z e d o n th e valley str e tchin g wide

Beyo nd Ch ias1 s limpid str eams,

Vl'

indin g'

from’

n eath th e moun ta in’s fe e t,

Like bro okle ts in a ch ild’s fair dr e ams ,

Wh e r e , sh imm e r in g in th e Summ e r h e a t,

A bove Subaso’s o live wo od,

G leam ed wh ite A ssisi’s stragglin g str e e t ,

With quain t o ld r o o fs, as r ed as blo od,

Sh e lvin g with in its crumbling wall,

O’e r wh ich th e lo fty be ll towe r sto od.

Sa in t Dam ian’s so ft and silve ry call

Th e A n ge lus in so lemn ch im e,

Swept down th e slope lik e dew’

s h ush ed fa ll

“Iith in a bindwe ed

’

s cups sclimb,

A r o un d th e ma iz e’s ripe n ing blade ,

A nd sigh in g th rough th e scen ted th ym e,

It floated o’

e r th e myr tle glade ,

Haun ted by ye llow-be lted be es,

A nd died am id th e pin ewoo d sh ade .

Th e Sa in t sank low upon h is kn e e s ,

Fra Pao lo kn e lt with clo sed eye

A n igh tinga le am id th e tr e e s

Broke in to little m e llow crie s,

A s if it kn ew tLe h our o f praye r

A n d fa in woul d add its liquid sigh s .

A sudde n glo ry fill ed th e a ir ,Its radiance stre am in g cle ar and br igh t

A r ound th e two m en kn e e lin g th ore n

A Sto ry of a Sa in t. 1 55)

Wh e n Fran cis, r ising inth e ligh t ,Saw flock s o f go ats a h e rdsman l e d,

A nd in th e ir midst a lamb , sn ow wh ite .

0 visio n o f G od’s Lamb , h e sa id,

Wh o m idst th e crue l crowds fo r m e

W'as m ock ed, an d spat upo n , and bled

But Pao lo spake Nay bro th e r , se e ,It is a little lamb outca st

Spendin g its days full dr e ar ily.

80 quick acr oss th e br idg e th ey passed ,

A n d h e wh o lo ved dumb thin gs th e be st

Bar te r ed his raim en t till at last

He bough t th e lamb , and o n h is br e ast

So ft placed th e tiny, tr emb lin g th in g ,

A s in a warm an d pe aceful n e st ,

A nd makin g e ach dusk coppice r in g

Love ’s Lamb , my loving th ough ts in spir e ,

"

His own swe e t so n g , h e’

gan to sing .

Uba ldo gle am ed a go lde n pyr e ,

A nd th e n swift darkn e ss hi d e ach h e igh t

A nd quen ch ed th e sunse t’s ruby fir e

A lad wh o th r ough th e purple n igh t

Th rummin g upon h is mando lin ,

San g joyously o f lo ve’

s de ligh t,

He ard th at rapt vo ice , th e g r ove with in ,

A nd,hush ed am id th e acacia blo om ,

Kn e lt ’

n e ath th e burde n of h is sin .

So this still eve , fr om out th e glo om

Th at r ests around th o se dista n t ye ar s,

Swe e t Sain t, th ou passe st through my r o om ,

Th e lamb stil l n e stling fr e e from fe a rs,

A nd, lik e th a t car e l e ss pe asan t lad,

Min e eye s fill ed with a m ist o f te ars,

I h ear thy caro l clear and glad.

CL EMEM ' J B . G a nr snm

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

1 . Blunde rs and Fo rg e ri e s : Histo rical Essays by th e Re v . T. E.

B ridg e tt! o f th e Co n gr egatio n o f th e Mo st Ho ly Rede eme r”

(Lo ndo n :

Ke gan , Paul, Tr e n ch , T rubn e r is a n extr em e ly valuable

additio n to th e l ite ra tur e o f h isto ry. Mr . G ladsto n e late ly expr e sse d

h is adm ir a tio n fo r Fath e r Br idg e tt’s extra o rdin ary acum e n an d

r e se ar ch ,”and h e pa id h im th e fur th er complim e n t o f be in g co n v me ed

by h is argume n ts and withdrawin g publicly a statem e n t h e h ad m ade

about a n inciden t in th e life o f Blessed Joh n Fish e r . But few h ave

such ca n dour a nd la rg e n e ss o f mirid and we fe ar th a t sim ilar

r e tractatio n s h ave n o t be e n m ade by Can o n Pe rry, Dr . Lyo n Playfa ir ,a nd o th e r wr ite r s wh o a re co nvicted o f h avin g blunder ed th r ough th e ir

ign o rauce o f Ca th o licm atte rs an d th rough r ash n e ss and se lf-sumcien cy.

Th e am o un t o f pa in stak in g r e se a rch tha t h as go n e to th e m aking o f

th is bo ok is in ca lcul ab le ; an d fo rtunate ly th e se stor e s o f m inute and

a ccura te le arn in g ar e se t fo rth in an admirabl e style th a t exactly suits

th e subj e ct- a cle ar a n d ple a san t style , equal ly r emoved from duln ess

and flippan cy. Th e first part o f th is wo rk con sists o f five e ssays o n

ce rta in “ blun de r s ” comm itted by wr ite rs g e n e rally of h igh auth o r ity ;

a n d th e se co n d pa r t is de vo ted to th e expo sur e o f ce rta in “ fo rg e r ie s.

”

Th e l o n g e st a nd in som e r e spe cts m o st impo r tan t discussio n in th e

vo lum e is th at with wh ich it co n clude s Robe rt Wa re , o r a Ro gue

a n d h is Dupes .

” Th is is particul a r ly in te r e stin g to Irish r e ade rs, fo r

m any o f R o be r t lVa r e’s fo rge r ie s r e gard Ir ish affa irs, an d th e man

h im se lf was th e unwo rthy so n o f th e we ll kn own Ir ish a n tiquar ian an d

an n a list, Sir Jam e s Wa r e . Fa th e r Bridg e tt fo r h is labo r ious in ve sti

ga tio n s de se rve s th e gra titude o f a ll wh o wish th a t h istory sh ould n o t

h e wh a t a famous wr ite r r epr e se n ted it as h avin g be e n fo r th r e e

ce n tur ie s— a co n spiracy again st th e truth . Th is ve ry le a rn ed and

in g e n ious vo lum e is in m any r e spe cts th e m o st use ful an d ce r ta inly

th e m o st g en e ra l]y in te r e stin g o f th e many wo rks th at Ca th o lic lite ra

tur e owe s to th e in de fa tigable R edempto rist wh o se ems to h ave tak en

th e sam e vow as h is i llustr ious Fo un de r about th e di lige n t employ

m e n t o f eve ry m om e n t o f

A s we wish th is n am e to be fam iliar to any r eade rswh o h we n o t a lready learn ed

to associa te i t with so lid le arn in g an d pie ty, we ven ture to a llude to a m istaken

n o tio n th a t we h ave kn own to h ave be e n e n t erta in ed th a t Fath e r Bridg e ttwas called

so in th e same way th at th e Ho n . an d Re v . G co rg e Spe n ce r was kn own as Fath e r

Ign atius. But n o . th is unusual fam ily n am e was bo rn e by h im as a Pro te stan t

stude n t a t th e Un ive rsity o f Cambr idg e , wh ich h e le ft to e n te r th e Cath o lic Church ,

a nd so o n afte r th e Re dempto r ist Orde r , so dear t o Lime rick and a ll Ire land.

1 62 The~

Im rk Mon tidy.

quatr a in s and o th er fo rms. Th r e e o r four branch e s of th e subj ect a r e

\

a lso tr e a ted in sh o rt lyr ical pie ce s, as was do n e a lso in Parts I. a n d

II. Inde ed, we.

a r e n o t sur e th at th e po e t was we l l advise d i n

s epar ating , by lo n g in te rva ls th e publicatio n o f th e th re e po rtio n s o f

h is n o t ve ry lo ng po em . Ma ry of Naza r e th can n ot be sa id t o

thr ill th e h ear t ; but it ple ase s bo th th e spir itual and ar tistic taste .

4 . Seve n article s o f Cardin al Man n ing on Nation al Educa tion a r e

j o in ed tog e th e r in a small but va luable bo ok—a r ticle s m ain ly, by

wh ich , dur in g th e last nve ye ars, His Em in e nce h as de scribed th e

un equa l an d in adequate state o f th e l e gal pr ovisio n s fo r Natio n a l

Educa tion in Englan d. Th e vo lum e is pub lish ed by Bur n s a n d

O ate s .

5. Mr . R . Washbourn e h as br ough t out with h is usual ca r e a n d

g o od taste a tr an slatio n by M. 0 . IL, o f Fa th e r Je n n e sse aux’s m ode r n

e di tio n o f an exce lle n t tr e atise o n Th e D ivin e Favours g ran ted to

Sa in t Jo seph ,”wr itte n with gr e at un ctio n a nd discr e tio n by Fa th e r

Steph e n Bin e t, S.J. , th e sch o o lfe llow an d l ife - lo n g fr ie nd o f St .

Fr a n cis o f Sal e s . Th e devo ut clie n ts of St. Jo seph , an d th o se wh owish to becom e such , will find so lid n ourishm e n t fo r th e ir de vo tio n in

t h e se 1 50 page s, divided in to fifte e n sh o r t and cle ar ch apte rs . Th e

t ran slatio n is ve ry go od. A n o th e r March Sai n t is th e Apo stle o f

Ir e la nd . It is e n ough to an n ounce a n ew e dition o f th e popular wo rk

o n St . Patr ick by th e Ve ry R e v. T. H. Kin an e , De an o f Cash e l (Dubli n : M . H. G ill and So n ) . Fr om th e sam e D io ce se an d th e sam e

Publish e r s come s St. Pa trick , Apo stl e o f Ir e land,” by th e Rev.

Ar th ur Ryan , Pr e side n t o f St . Pa tr ick’s Co ll e ge , Th ur le s. A brief,

a gr e e able , and ye t le arn ed sk e tch o f th e Sa in t’s life is fo llowed by a

n ove n a o f m edi ta tio n s, and commo n to a ll th e n in e days a ve ry e arn est

a nd practical praye r an d a ve ry m usica l hymn , with ple n ty o f rhyme

a nd rhythm , and r e ason a lso . With St . Jo seph a nd St . Patr ick we

m ay jo in St . Fr an cis o f A ssisi . Th ough h is feas t is n o t in Ma rch ,

but as far away as Octobe r , seve ra l bo oks abo ut h im h ave made th e ir

way to our libra ry table th is mo n th . N ewcastle - o n -Tyn e (Wa rburton

a nd se nds th e Encyclical o f L e o XIII . o n St. Fr an cis o f A ssisi

a n d th e Pr opagatio n o f h is Th ird Orde r , fo llowed by th e life of

Ble ssed Lucius, its fir st m embe r ; an d Lo ndo n se nds five bo oks

r e latin g to th e Se raph ic Sa in t. Mr . Washbourn e h as issued new

e di tion s, bo th o f Miss Lo ckh ar t’s exce l le n t tran slatio n o f St. Bonac

ve n tur e’s life of h im

, and o f a transla tio n of h is Wo r n amely,

h is le tte rs, m on as tic co nfe r ence s, can ticle s, praye r s and familiar

co ll oquie s. Th is last is a par ticul arly h o ly a nd be autiful book.

Fin ally, th e Cath o lic Truth Socie ty, in penny pamph le ts, furn ish es na

Notes o n New Books . 1 63

with Le gen ds o f St. Fran cis (from th e Fioratti ), th e Sayings o f

Bro th er G il e s, o n e o f h is fir st fo llowe rs, and Leg e nds o f Br oth e r

Juniper , an o th e r o f th em .

6. Th e Wo rlds Fa ir which is to be h e ld in 1 892 in Chicago , St .

Louis o r N ewYo rk“ , in h on our o f th e fourth cen te n ary o f th e disco ve ryof th e N ew Wo r ld

, will probably outstr ip a ll simila r ce l ebratio ns th at

our ha lf ce n tury h as eve r se e n . Th e fir st bo ok publish ed in con n e cti o n

with i t is Isab e lla o f Castile , 1 492 by Eliz a A ll en Star ,’Chicag

-o C . V. Wa ite and It is publish ed unde r th e auspice s

of th e Que e n Isabe lla Association , wh ich h as be en founded to secur e

for Isab e lla o f Spa in h e r prope r r e cogn itio n as th e patro n o f

Co lumbus , o n e o f its special obj ects be in g th e e r ection o f h e r statue ,which h as ve ry appr opr ia te ly be e n e n truste d to a woman sculpto r ,Harrie t Ho sme r

, wh o would be gr e atly surpr ised if sh e saw h e rse lf

styled th e Ma ry Redmond o f th e Un ited Sta te s. Th is mon ograph o n

Quee n Isab e lla h as be en wr itte n by th e m o st compe te n t of h e r sex,

Miss Star r ’ s ar tistic taste is se e n in all th e exte rn als of h e r bo ok . Th eycertain ly do th e se th ings we ll o n th e o th er side of th e A tlan tic.

7 . Bro th e r A z arias is th e r e ligious n am e of an Irishman , wh o , as a

Bro th er o f th e Ch r istian Sch o o ls, h as do n e som e n oble wo rk fo r Ca th o li c

educa tio n in th e Un ited Sta te s. In Ca th o lic li te ratur e h e h as made

himse l f fe l t ch i efly th rough h is co n tr ibutio ns to 2750 Catho lic Wor ld, a ndThe A me rican Ca tho lic Quar ter ly. To th e r ecen tly dece ased edito r o f

th e la tte r R e view Bro th e r A z ar ias dedicate s his latest publica tio n

Bo oks an d R e ading , which.

is so ld a t twen ty-five ce n ts fo r th e

houent o f th e Cath edral Library o f New Yo rk, and is n ow in a seco nd

editio n . It is a so rt o f h and-bo ok fo r th e R e ading Circles wh ich ar e

be ing o rgan ised amo ng Am e rican Cath o lics. This pamphle t of seven ty

pages is an e xce l len t piece of lite ra tur e , ful l of in te r e sting facts and

remark s, and marked by far mo r e n o ve lty and fr esh n ess th an it migh t

be supposed po ssible to l e n d to such a th em e . Th ose a t h om e h e re

who h ave anyth ing to say to th e guidan ce of youn g pe ople in th e ir

reading would do we ll to pro cur e th is lectur e o f Bro th e r A z ar ias a nd

a rece n t bo ok o f Maurice Fran cis Egan , o n English Lite ra tur e . Bo th

of th o se Ir ish Ame r icans pr a ise e arn e stly a bo ok by an Ir ishman ,

almost utte r ly unkn own at h om e , bo th man and bo ok Dio n and

th e Sibyls,”by Miles G e rald Ke o n . We a re so rry to say th at Br o th e r

Az arias is mistak e n in namin g A n n ie Ke ary among Cath o lic write rs.

Th e spir it of h e r Castle Daly and o th ers o f h e r stor ies is so go od as to

deceive o n e in to th in kin g h e r on e o f ourse lves. He r de ar e st friendbecame a Cath o lic a nd a nun , and r ema in ed h e r de arest frien d ; but

1 64 The Ir ish s th ly.

M iss Keary n e ver foun d h e r way into visible un io n with th e Cath o lic

Ch urch .

8 . Sa in t Cecilia’

s G a tes,” by Esm e ralda Boyle (Dublin : Jame s

Duffy is an o th e r link be twe e n th e o ld and th e N ewWo r ld .

M iss Boyle is a n ative o f th e Un ited Sta te s , with Ir ish blood and an

Ir ish n ame and h e a rt . He r da in ty l ittle quar to is full o f po e tic fe e l ing ,

a n d r eca lls vividly many h o ly sce n e s a ndmany h o ly m o ods . A gr e a t

m any of th e piece s ar e ve ry sh o rt an d n e ed a go od de al o f sympathy

t o e n able th e r e ade r to in te rpr e t th e wr ite r’s full m e a n ing .

9 . Th e se n o te s o n n ewbo oks a r e co nfin ed to th o se bo oks wh ich ar e

s en t expr e ssly fo r thi s purpo se by th o se wh o a r e co n ce r n ed in th e ir

succe ss. Th is m o n th th e m ajo r ity o f th e se n ew Publica tion s com e to

us from Am e rica . Be n z ig e r se n ds th e fifte e n th vo lum e of th e gr ea t

C e n te n ary Editio n o f th e A sce tical Wo rks o f St . A lph o n sus Liguo r i ,wh ich compr ise s th e tr e atise s th a t may be g rouped un de r th e titl

Th e Pr e ach in g o f G od’s Wo rd.

” Th e sam e e n e rg e tic firm ,as if to

sh ow n a th at th e ir e n te rpr ise is n o t co nfin ed to asce tic wo rks, h as sub

mitted to o ur in spe ctio n spe cim e n s o f th e ir sch o o l bo oks, a“ New

Prime r , an d a New First R e ade r ,” bo th compil ed by a Cath o lic

Bish op, Dr . G ilm our o f Cleve land. Th e pictur e s and th e artful

g ro uping o f small wo rds se em admirably adapted to coax th e youn g

s tude n t fo rwa rd. A n o th e r firm th at h as o n e fo o t in G e rmany an d

a n o th e r in th e Uni te d Sta te s—a wide r str e tch th an th e Rh odian

co lo ssus was able to compass—isHe rde r , o f Fr e iburg , in Bade n , and o f

St . Lo uis, in Misso ur i , wh o se nds us a r a th e r larg e Illustrate d Bibl e

Histo ry o f th e Old a nd N e w Te stam e n ts,

”tran sla ted from th e

G e rman o f Dr . Schuste r , an d r e vised by se ve ral cle rgyme n .

1 0. A n o th e r se t of Am e r ican publica tio n s, whi ch , as th ey h ave

trave lle d so fa r , must a t le ast b e m e n tio n ed,fo r th is is e n ough to

r e comm en d th em . Th e seve n th th o usand o f th e R ev . Th omas J

Je n k ins’

Ch r istian Sch o o ls (Murphy : Ba ltim o r e ) ; Th e Span ish

Inquisitio n , by Dr . Dwe n g e r , Bish op o f Fo r t W'

ayn e (Be n z ige r

Br o th e rs) ; and an extr em e ly e loque n t an d in te r e stin g l e ctur e o n

Cultur e a nd Practica l Powe r by an Ir ish -Can adian M.P . ,Mr . Nich o las

Flo o d Davin , publish ed a t R e gin a , in th e No r th We st Te rr ito ry. To

o ur frie nd, Mr . W . J On ah an ,C ity Comptr o lle r o f Ch icago , we owe

ve ry m any favours, th e la te st be ing copie s o f th e omcial r ecord o f

Th e Dedicatio n a nd Ope n in g o f th e Ca th o lic Un ive rsity o f A m e rica ,

Ncv . IS, an d of th e magn ifice n t

“ Souve n ir Vo lum e Illustr ate d”

(De tro it Wi lliam H. Hugh e s), wh ich is a wo rthy m em o r ial of th r e e

g r e a t eve n ts in th e hi sto ry o f th e Ca th o lic Church in th e Un ited

1 66 Th e Ir ish Mont/ dy.

Monday Mo rn in g in th e Po lice Courts, and A Day in th e Ofiico

o f th e Cath o lic Pr otection and Rescue Soci e ty, wh ich th rough th e

z ea l and en e rgy o f Dr . Vaugh an and th e e arn e st me n wh o ca rry o n

th e wo rk, is do in g much to save th e po o r Cath o lics o f th at gr e at

En g lish City,most o f th em o f course from our own de ar la nd . A n d we

a t h ome—ar e all o f n a acco rdi n g to our abili ty o n re scue b en t?"Do we do e n ough to support th e various in stitutions e stablish e d fo r

r e scuin g th e fa llen and savin g th e youn g from th e sad n e e d o f

r e scue

1 4 . Th e Secular oflice , be ing No te s compiled as a ge n e ral guide

to th e Divin e o ffice extra by th e R ev. E . J. Ryan (DublinM . H. G ill and So n ), will h ardly be in te lligible to any but th o se wh o

ar e accustom ed to th e r ecitation o f th e Divin e o ffice , and to th em it

will n o t be o f much in te re st o r utility.

1 5. Th e Bug le Call , an d Oth e r Po ems,”by A ugusta Clin ton

Win th r op (Bosto n W .H. Cla rk e and Cc.) is o n e o f th e m o st da in tily

produced vo lum e s th at eve n Bosto n h as e ve r se n t fo rth . On e is

furth e r pr e judiced in its favour from se e ing i t lovingly dedica ted

to a m an wh om we all r e ve r e , Olive r We nde ll Ho lm e s, and to LouiseCh andle r Moul to n

, wh om m any o f us admir e fo r h e r r ar e ch arm o f

style 1 n ve rse and pro se . In Miss Win th r o p’s po ems th e r e is g r e at

var ie ty of th em e and tr e atment . We pr e fe r th ose wh ich tak e th e ir

in spirati o n from pie ty. In m any o f th em th e auth o r , th ough an

A m e rican , sh ows a warm Ir ish h e a r t, G od ble ss h e r ! If we could

in dulg e in th e luxury o f quo tati o n s, we suspect th at our first ch o ice

wo uld fall e ith e r o n Swe e t Frie nd o r o n Th r e e Souls.

1 6 . A n o th e r Am e r ican bo ok must be our last th is mo n th . It is,

we th ink, th e first th a t h as come to n a fr om Milwauke e—“ R atio n a l

R e lig io n ,” by th e R e v . Joh n Co nway, Edi to r o f Th e No r th We ste rn

Chr o n icle . With a styl e as cle a r and bo ld as th e type in wh ich

{ Iofiman n and Company h ave se t up th e bo ok , Fa th e r Co nway

discusse s all th e que stio n s th at in te r e st a r e lig io us e nqui re r in a com

mun ity such as h e live s amon g—G od, th e Tr in ity, th e Divin ity o f

Chr ist, Miracle s , Fai th and Re aso n , Fa ith an d Physics, Faith and

Evo lutio n , th e Church an d th e Bible , th e Ve n e r a tio n o f th e Blessed

Virg in , and many o th e r po in ts o f do ctr in e a nd practice . Pl e ase G o d,

th e bo ok will be a h e lp to many an h o n e st se a rch e r after truth , and

will e n able its Cath o li c r e ade rs to give a r e ason fo r th e faith th at is in

th em .

1 7 . It is but r igh t th at we sh ould o ccasion a lly g ive a kindly

N otes on N ew Books. 1 67

g reetin g to th e magaz in e s and o th e r pe riodical publication s th at tak e

the trouble o f visitin g our e di to r ial san ctum m on th afte r mo n th, o r a t

o th er sta ted pe riods . Th e m o st dign ified o f th e se is The A me r ica n

Catho lic Quar ter ly Review (Philade lph ia : Hardy a nd Mah o ny) . In

th e late st numbe r th e pape r o f m o st ge n e ral in te r est is o n e in wh ich

Mo n sign o r Be rn ard O’R e illy de scribe s th e diplomatic e ffo r ts o f th e

British G ove r nm en t in its r e lation s with th e Ho ly Se e som e sixtyye ar sago . Many in te r estin g and importan t l e tte rs o f th e th e n R ecto r o f th e

Irish Co lleg e a t Rom e , wh o was afte rwards to be Ca rdin a l Culle n ,and seve ra l o th e r o rigin a l docum e n ts, ar e give n in th is a rticle

, wh ich

is only th e fir st o f a se rie s. Two o th e r Amsricau maga z in e s ar e mo st

punctua l in th e ir visits, The Catho lic Wor ld an d Tim A ve Ma r ia . Th e

fo rme r will allow n a to say th at it h as h ad a g r e a t lo ss in Fath e r

Hecke r , an d th e latte r wi ll a llow us to say th a t it h as h ad a gr e at gain

in Mr . Maur ice Egan . Fr om a gr e ate r dista n ce th an any o f th e se an d

a t rare r in te rval s com e s to na Our A lma M ate r, wh ich is n o t a m on th ly

n or even a qua r te rly, but a sch o o l a n nual e dited by th e stude n ts o f

St . Igna tius’Co lle ge , S.I .

,R ive r view.

”Th is is th e Je suit Co lle g e o f

Sydn ey, N ew South Wa les, wh ich , if we m ay judg e by th e picture s

given h e re o f th e co ll eg e buildin gs, ch ape l , cottag e h o spita l, swinn

ming ba th s, and e spe cia lly th e be autiful view of a ll to g e th e r as se e n

from th e r ive r , must be wo r thy o f . th a t vast A ustral ian co n tin en t .

Even to b e n igh ted Eur ope an outside rs th is vo lum e is o f gre a t in te r e st ;but wh a t must i t be to th e Rive rvi ewe rs th emse lve s, past, pr e sen t, and

futur e? Th e G e e lo n g G rumble”adds con side rable piquancy to th e

prese n t issue , which , we trust, will be abse n t fr om th e te n r emain in g

years of th is ce n tury : fo r we n e ed n o t ye t se nd our wish e s so fa r fo r

ward as th e Twen ti e th Ce n tury. It st r ik e s na th a t R ive rvi ew h as h it

on th e pr ope r m aximum (and m in imum ) of aca demic journ a lism .

Even 7 7m Fordham Mon thly and o th e r Am e rica n visito rs, with a ll th e ir

mer its, do n o t co n vin ce us th at such fr eque n t appe a rance s ar e use ful .

Theymust in te rfe r e with be tte r th ings. But inde ed we kn ow ve rylittle abo ut th e matte r . A t any rate it would se em th a t e ve ry larg e

schoo l, l ik e Clo ng owe s h e r e a t h om e , sh ould a t l e ast o nce each your

issue som e such r eco rd o f its proce edin gs. Th e se r eco rds m ay acquir every gre a t value in afte r tim e s. Our A lma Ma te r se ems to n a a n

e xce llen t mode l fo r such a co llege an nual . But, with a ll due r e spe ct

for Fo rdh am and R ive rvi ew and th e r e st, The Stonyl mrat Magaz in e

bears away th e pa lm for th e in te r e st it co n tr ive s to th row r o und its

local surr oun din gs. Howeve r , som e G e e lo n g grumble r would obj e ctthat th is m e r it is n o t due to “

a bon dfida sch oo lboy.

” Mo st decide dlynot

, and so much th e be tte r . Th e edito r ial ch air is to o sacr ed a n

institutio n fo r sch o o lbovs to m eddle with except un de r prude n t

1 68 Tile Irisk Mon th ly.

striction s. A s th ose wh o a r e in te sted in L ipp incott’s Magaz ine h ave

tak e n th e tr ouble to fo rward th e Janua ry and Fe bruary pa r ts, we mayseco nd th e ir wish to exte nd th e ir Eur ope an circula tio n , as Harp er

’s

Mantbly and The Oentm‘

yM a

gaz ine h ave do n e , by expressin g our wo nde r

a t th e vast quality of exce lle n t m atte r th at thi s Am e r ican pe r iodica l

furn ish e s for a sh i llin g . Th e m ost n o tice able co n tr ibution s a re from

Jul ian Hawth orn e , wh o inh e rits a gr ea t deal of his fath e r’s ge nius .

Indeed Nath ani e l Hawth o rn e is h imse lf a con tr ibuto r , h is sk e tch o f o n e

o f hi s sto r ie s be ing an n o ta ted and filled up by h is son . Our last wo rd

will be g ive n to Commercial Ir eland, an extr eme ly we ll pr in ted and we ll

e dited journ a l, which is true to its n am e and sticks to i ts prope r pur

po se . Busin e ss and adve r tisem en ts ve ry pr ope r ly o ccupy n e arly a l l

th e space ; but th e o ccasion al scraps of li te ra tur e ar e go od in th e ir

way, like th e grass wh ich gr ows in th e cr evices o f th e r ocks th at cove r

a fie ld in som e parts o f Co nn augh t, wh e r e sh e ep fatte n we ll, we ar e

to ld, o n wh a t se ems to be n o thi n g but ston e s.

DAMIANUS APOSTOLUS LEPROSORUM .

ORTE jace s victus, Damian e , invicte labo rum !Fato fun ctus abe s quo n unquam dign io r al te r

Vita pe rpetua , n e e te r e vo car e pe r emptum

Vo te .val en tve pr e ce s, n e e luctum tempus abegit,

N e e deside r ium m o ll it m ise rabil e n o strum .

Tu pa tr iam linquis, tu m o e sto s linqui s am ico s ;

Tu fe rs auxi lium quaar e n s confin ia mun di

Qua m ise ri m o rbo con fe cti epoque car e n te sMarceban t h om in e s passim , m edicin a n eque ullaN ec r equie s e rat usque ma li . R epe r ir e n equiban t

Co rpo ra qui cur e t m o rbo jam dedita m o r ti .

Hue solato r ades fe ssis suocur r e r e doctus

Et mul ce r e malum ,tam en omn e r e cide r e n e scis

—Nec da tur e t le n is vim l e n tae m o r tis amaram,

Temple De i monstr an s se cur aque te cta pio r am ,

Et Crux, una Salus, cwois spem r eddit ce cllis .

Se n e te , val e , pate r , h as h unquam r editurus ad e r as

Lux ce cidi t vi ta , famte tibi g lo r ia vive t

E te rnumque tuum r e co len t pia se cula n om e n .

H. A . m sox.

G lasgow“ Wood Co llage.


a ripple o n th e wate r . On e b eautiful star twin kl ed br igh tly at Madg e

th r ough th e po r t-h o le , an d myr iads bf little o n es co ver ed th e blue

firmam en t .

But sudde n ly a h a z in e ss cam e o v e r th e atm o sph e r e , a h e avy cur

ta in o f m ist fe ll abo ut th e sh ip, an d th e sh in in g plan e ts we r e h idde n

from vi ew.

“ How stran g e ,”th o ugh t Madg e . Is it a fo g?Or um

I g e tting sle epy?Pe rh aps a li ttle of bo th . Now,I must r e ally try

to fo rg e t e ve ryth in g an d go to sle ep.

”

Sh e clo sed h e r eye s , an d pr epa r ed to r est . But at th is mome n t a

crash wa s h e a rd—a h o rr ible gr in ding so un d , and th e n th e imm e n se

ste am e r sto od stil l,shudde rin g th rough a ll its par ts . Th en th e place

e ch o ed with crie s o f h o rr o r , and shr ie k afte r sh r iek r e sounded o n a ll

side s .

Wh ite with te r ro r Madge sprang fr om h e r be r th“ Mo th e r ,

”sh e cried,

“som e th in g dr e adful is go in g on . G e t up,

g e t up.

”

Mr s. Ne il star ed a t th e ch ild . But b e fo r e sh e could answe r a wo rd

th e cabin do o r was flun g ope n , and a wi ld te rr ified vo ice an n oun ced

th e awful tidin gs

Quick—to th e bo a ts—th e r e h as be e n a co llision—we ar e sink

in g fast.”

Madge th r ew h e r ulste r on ove r h e r n igh t-dr e ss, wrapped th e n ow

we eping Do r a in a clo ak, and clasped h e r in h e r arms .

Mo th e r,

”sh e cr ied in a vo ice of an guish ,

“r ouse yo urse lf, fo r

pity’s sak e r ouse yourse lf.

”

But Mr s. Ne il made n o r eply. He r wh ite face was set ; h e r eye sfixed and staring .

Madg e ! Madg e scr e am ed A n n e rush in g in with Sylvia .

Th e r e is n o t an in stan t to spar e . Se e , your fa th e r will h e lp your

m o th e r . Save yourse lf—com e , com e .

Mr . Ne il be n t o ve r h is wife and kissed h e r lovingly, th e n sta r ted

aside with a groan o f h o rr o r .

My dar lin g ,

”h e murmur ed in a ch oking vo ice , we can do

n o th ing fo r your po o r mo th e r n ow. G od h as tak en h e r to Himself

th is sh ock h as ki lled h e r .

”

Oh ! th at can n o t be, th at cann o t be . Mo th e r , spe ak to m e

spe ak An d, sobbin g bitte r ly, Madge dung h e rse lf upo n th e dead

woman’s br e ast .

To th e bo ats—ch ildren and wom e n fir st, cr ied th e Capta in .

Fo r G od’s sak e

, be quick . Br in g n o th ing—th ink o nly o f your live s.

Quick , we ar e sinking fast .”

0

Mr . Ne il caugh t Do ra in h is arms, an d , r a ising th e a lmo st nu

co nscious Madg e , bo r e h e r out o f th e cabin up to th e deck .

A Str iking Contrasf. 1 7 1

Th e re a ll was in wild confusion . Th e fog e nve loped everyth inglik e a pall, an d n o th in g could be se en at two yards

’distan ce . Th e

l owe r decks we r e co ve r ed with wa te r . Pe ople we r e run n in g about

d istr a cted with te r ro r . Me n1

fand wom en gr ew de l irious as th ey clun gto th e r igg ing . implo r ing th e sailo r s to h e lp th em .

Th e capta in alo n e r ema in ed ca lm . He n eve r fo r an instan t fo rgo th is duty. Th e bo ats h ad all b e e n lowe r ed ; an d by th e gle am o f th e

Be n gal ligh ts, bur n ed by th e ch ief e n g in e e r , h e saw th a t th ey we r e

fill e d as fast as possible with th e un fo r tun ate wome n and ch ildre n .

A s Madg e appea r ed o n th e sce n e clin gin g to h e r fa th e r’s arm

, sh e

was quickly se iz ed and flun g , m o r e de ad th an al ive , in to th e n e ar est

bo a t

He lp, h e lp,”

sh r iek ed A n n e . A n d, r e lie ved o f hi s daugh ter’s

we igh t, N e il turn ed, and taking Sylvia fr om h e r, dragged h e r up th e

In a n instan t sh e was h urried away. Th e r e was just r o om -fo r

o n e m o r e in a h e avily lade n bo a t, and in to it sh e was thr own .

Th e ch ild—my maste r’s ch i ld,

”sh e scr e am ed. I cann o t go

Wi th o ut h e r .

”

Mr . N e il made a step fo rward,tr ipped o n a rope , was jo stled ruth

les sly by th e cr owd, and fe ll on th e slippery deck .

Th e chi ldre n—th ey must go in th e se bo ats, cr ied a sa ilo r ; and,

ca tch in g th em roughly,'

h e dung o n e to A nn e and th e o th e r to Madge .

Fath er , fa th e r , come with us,”

cri ed Madg e , as by th e flar e o f a

to rch sh e saw poo r Ne il str ugglin g to hi s fe e t . Oi wh at use is life

to us wi th out fath e r o r m o th e r?Oh ! com e . L e t him com e, I pray,

I implo r e . My fa th e r , myBut th e sa ilo rs h e eded h e r . n o t, and push ed quickly ofi to sea .

Th e th ick fog h id th e sinking sh ip from view ; an d with a shr iek o f

an gui sh Madg e fe ll fa in tin g to th e bo ttom o f th e bo at.

Th ank G od we ar e gsafe , murmur ed A n n e , wr appin g h e r clo ak

close ly ro un d th e ch ild wh o clung to h er in spe ech less te rr o r in th e

o ther boa t . “ Th ank G odjwe ar e saved.

”

“ 80 youmay say,”answe red o n e o f th e m e n . We we r e th e last

to le ave th e sh ip. Sh e is gon e—all on bo ard h ave pe rish ed.

”

Row for your live s,”cr ied an o th e r ; dimly th rough th e fog I se e

a ligh t. It is a steame r . Row, boys, if we r each h er we ar e safe ; if

n ot, we must pe r ish of co ld and hung er .

Th e men fe ll to wo rk , r owing wi th a ll th e str en gth of th e ir brawny

a rms. Fortunate ly th e sea was comparative ly smoo th , o r th e bo at

wo uld h ave be e n swamped . Th e m e n pull ed fo r th e ir live s, an d n o t

a wo rd was spok en . An n e , with th e baby clasped to h e r bre ast, two

oth e r women , and a boy of ten , cro uch ed in th e ste rn .ve e r ing anxiously

fo r m e signs of th e savin g sh ip.

The Ir ish Mo nth ly.

Fo r some tim e n o thing could be se e n ; and, imagin in g th ey ha d’

be e n de ce ived, th e m en hurle d curse afte r curse at th e ir comr ade s.

Th en all a t o n ce a cry o f joy we n t fo rth . Clo se be side th em ,

r isin g like a gh ost o ut o f th e fog , was a large ste ame r alm ost m o tio n

le ss upon th e ca lm wate r s .

Th e sh ipwr eck ed party sign alled wildly. Th e ir sign als we r e se e n .

R0pes an d ladde rs we r e lowe red, an d m e n , wom en and chi ldr e n we r e

so o n in safe ty o n bo ard a h om eward boun d ve sse l .

Th ey we r e all kindly tr e ated, pro vided with fo od and clo thin g , an d

se n t to bed .

Much exh austed, we ak and numb with co ld and te rr o r , A nn e gav e

th e baby to th e stewarde ss ; an d, beggin g h e r to a tte nd to its wan ts,

stagg e r ed to a be rth , wh e r e sh e so o n fe ll in to a de ep sle ep.

Ea r ly n ext mo rni ng sh e awoke , and sittin g up, ca ll ed loudly fo r

th e ch ild .

Pray do n o t be un e asy, sa id th e stewarde ss, sh e is fa st asle ep

just be side yo u. Se e .

”

Sh e r a ised th e coun te rpan e o f th e n ext be rth , and sh owed a love ly

in fan t fast asl e ep, with o n e little rounded arm thr own above h e r h e ad .

But th e h air was a rich auburn th e lo n g eye lash e s th at swept th e r o sy

ch e eks we r e dark ; th e n o se was sh o rt and dain tily fo rm ed ; th e pout

in g m outh was like a cupid’s bow. In o n e wo rd

, it was n o t Sylvia

A th e rsto n e th at lay befo r e th e distracted nur se , but little Do ro thy

Th e r e was an o th e r , gasped A n n e , clutchi n g th e woman’s h an ds .

A n o th e r—fair—de lica te . Oh , say. th e r e was an o th e r .

”

A las ! n o , my po o r soul , th e r e was o n ly o n e . Th e o th e r must

h ave be e n drown ed . Th is is th e o n ly baby brough t o n board last

n igh t. Th e r e we r e ch ildr e n of six,e igh t , an d te n . But o nly o n e

baby, and h e r e sh e is.

”

Dr own ed—mype t—my Sylvia . Oh , maste r—maste r !Wh at sh a llI do

A n d, wild with grie f, A n n e flun g h e rse lf back , we epin g o n h e r

pillow. Hour afte r h our sh e to ssed fr om side to side in passio n a t e

de spa ir . Wh a t was to be don e?Wh e r e could sh e go to with th is

m o th e r le ss, fath e rle ss, pe nn ile ss babe?Sh e h ad n o mo n e y , n o

clo th e s, n o h om e . If sh e we r e to go with this little stran ge r to h e r

ma ste r’

s fath e r , and te ll him th at hi s g randch ild was de ad, wh at

would h e say?Wh a t woul d h e do?Cast th em bo th from h is do o r

- and th e n We ll , th ey m igh t se ek a r e fug e wh e r e th ey could

starve by th e road-side , o r go to th e wo rkh ouse .

Th en a te rrible tempta tion to ok possession of th e un fortunate

nurse ; and in h er h our of extr eme n e ed, sh e yie lded to it.

1 74 Ti m Ir ish Monticly.

" He r e,sir , h e r e .

A nd a woman , as whi te as de a th and tremblin g in eve ry limb , .

stagg e r e d fo rward and placed a love ly little g ir l in lh is arms .

My Sylvia , my swe e t little pe t,” h e cried with em o tio n , a nd

pre ssin g th e chi ld to h is h e ar t h e co ve r ed h e r with k isse s.

" We lcom e ,

my da rlin g—a hundr ed tim e s we lcom e .

”

Th e n turn in g to A n n e , h e sh o ok h e r warmly by th e h a nd .

Th ank you, th ank you fo r your love and car e . In th e midst o f

dang e rs and sh ipwr eck you h ave n o t fo rgo tte n my little o n e . I sh a lln e ve r fo rg e tyour goodn e ss, n eve r . Com e , your troub le s ar e at an e nd .

Y ou sh all live with an d nur se my pr e tty Sylvia as lon g as sh e r equir e s

you an d th en—we ll th e n you may do wh a t you ple ase—live as you

l ik e ; I will always lo ok afte r you and give you a ll you m ay r equir e .

G od ble ss you, an d th ank you.

”

A nn e could n o t spe ak fo r emo tio n . Sh e was touch e d. by Sir

Eustace’s k indn e ss, and lo n g ed to te ll h im th e trouble . But sh e dare d

n o t do ao . It would be r isking to o m uch . Se,sh e sa id n o th in g , an d

fo llowed h im quie tly on sh o r e ; and th us sh e and th e o rph an ed Dora

found a comfo r table h ome .

CHA PTER V.

CA ST UP BY THE SEA .

Me anwhi le , Madge an d Sylvia we r e suffe ring sadly. Th ey clun g

to ge th e r so bbin g an d sh ive ri n g . Th e fo g was damp an d co ld, an d

th ey we r e th in ly clad. Madg e , always un se lfish , pr essed th e little

o n e to h e r br east, an d cove r ed h e r with h e r ulste r . In th e dr e adful

dar kn ess th at surr ounded th em , sh e kn ew n o t wh ich o f th e ch ildr e n

sh e h e ld in h e r arms. But itmatte r ed little wh ich—sh e loved th em bo th ,

a nd fe lt ce rta in th at th e o th e r was som ewh e re n e ar with A n n e Dan e .

Th e ide a of th e boats be in g separated an d th e ir inmate s losing e ach

o th e r, n eve r e n te r ed h e r h e ad . Sh e was stun n ed, daz ed with mise ry,

a nd th ough t n o t o f th e futur e .

Fo r many lon g h ours th eypitch ed about upo n th e sea . It was co ld

a nd dark . No friendly sa il cam e -n e ar th em th ro ugh th e n igh t . A

barr e l o f biscuits and a k e g o f wa te r was all th ey h ad to k e e p th em

a live ; an d th eywer e probablym iles an d m ile s fr om land. Th e sailo rs

cursed and swo r e and quarr ell ed amongst th emse lve s, and po o r Madge’s

h e art was sick with in h e r as sh e liste n ed . Th en by de gr e e s sh e be gan

to r e aliz e th e sad fate th at was h e r s—th e utte r de so latio n th at h ad

fa lle n upon h e r , h e r mo th e r de ad, h e r fath e r swept away to a wate ry

g rave , an d sh e left alon e to face th e crue l wo rld o r per ish of co ld and

A Sh i ft ing Con trast. 1 75

hunge r , with a baby in h e r a rms—a fa ir , de lica te baby. Fo r as th e

morning dawn ed sh e saw it was n o t h e r siste r sh e h e ld to h e r h e art,

but Sylvia A th e rsto n e . With th e m o rn in g l igh t th e ir m ise ry be cam e

mo re in te n se . A ga le spran g up, th e fo g cle ared away, a nd th e

sea , tha t h ad be e n so ca lm , gr ew sudde n ly wild and tempe stuous . Th e

trail bark was to ssed unm e r cifully fr om side to side . Wave s br ok e

over h e r an d fill ed h e r with wate r . Th e n it se em ed as th ough all was

over—as th ough all must pe r ish . Som e on e flung a life -be l t ove r

l lsdge’s h e ad, a nd in a mome n t sh e was strugg ling fo r li fe in th e m idst

of the ang ry b il lows.

Tha t day, at n o o n , two ladie s sat o n th e be ach at a little se a -side

place som e m ile s from Plym outh . Th ey we r e o ld and thi n , with car e

worn face s tha t spok e of much suffe r ing a nd gre a t anxie ty.

“ We ll , siste r ,”sa id sh e wh o from a ce rta in a ir o f comman d se em e d

to be th e e lde r o f th e two , th e re is o n ly o n e way out of our difi cul ty.

We can n o lo ng e r do th e wo rk ourse lve s a nd a ttend to our sh op. Since

that and h o ur wh e n we h eard th a t we h ad lo st our fo rtun e s th r o ugh

the dish o n e sty o f our guardian s, and came to ek e o ut an existe n ce in

this lo n e ly v illag e , I have n o t fe lt so we ak and in capable ; you to o

are fail in g in h e alth ; and so th e o n e th in g se rtain is, we must tak e

a servan t .

I suppo se so , Ma tilda ,”r eplied h e r siste r sigh in g . But wh e r e

shall we g e t o n e fo r th e mo n ey we can ofie r?Th e ma ids about h e r e

ask such e xo rbita nt wag e s.

”

“ Se th ey do ,de ar . But we must wa it a nd watch . Wh o kn ows

someth in g may turn up.

Th is was a lways Miss Matilda’s cry n o mat te r wh at h appe n ed, n o

matter wh a t wen t wro ng—som e th in g would sur e ly turn up. A n d so

these two kind-h e ar ted ma ide n s h ad go n e th r ough l ife , livin g o n li ttl e ,

pinch in g and scr ewin g , always h o pin g th at som e th ing would turn upthat th e ir squan de r ed fo r tun e—squande r ed by wick ed and di sh on e st

guardian s—m igh t on e daybe r e sto r ed to th em , o r th at th ey by th e ir own

on efio rts sh ould becom e r ich and prospe rous . But in spite o f th e ir

industry a nd a tte n tio n to th e ir sh op th in gs did n o t n o t m end, n o th in gof any co n seque n ce e ver turn ed up ; and n ow a s th ey gr ew to o o ld and

feeble fo r th e ir wo rk , th ey wer e as po o r and un succe ssful as on th e

first day wh e n th ey h ad take n up th e ir abode in th e little villag e bythe sea .

“ Le t us go h om e , Barbara , said Ma tilda afte r a tim 9 . It is

dinn er-h our , and some o f th e village rs m ay come ro und to th e sh op .

”

Barbara sigh ed, b ut r o se imm ediate ly. It is so r e fre sh in g h e r e ,

Matty. Th e se a lo oks grand to-day.

”

“ G rand . Y e s ; but dang e ro us . Th ink o f th e sh ips and

1 76 m Ir ish Month ly.

But wh at is th at sh e cr ied in suddeu exciteme n t. Wh at ar e

th o se m e n ca rryin g?Bab , Bab ! It is some on e wh o h as be e n

drown ed . Wh o can it be?”Th e fish e rm en laid down th e ir burde n as Miss Matilda pr esse d

fo rward to que stion th em .

’Tis a little lass, Ma’am

,sai d o n e , dr awing down th e clo th th a t

co ve r ed th e gi r l . A little la ss, with a baby in h e r a rms.

”

Poo r ch ild ! Is sh e dead

No , n o . Th e life’s in h e r ye t.

Th e n , why do you waste tim e in r e sto ring h e r?Bring h e r in too ur h o use . Carry h er in at once . Come , you can lay h er o n my

be d

Y ou ar e a go od woman,Mi ss Matilda . G od will r ewa rd you.

Com e ; waste n o time .

”

Th e m e n rai sed th e str e tch e r and fo ll owed th e o ld lady in to th e

co ttag e . Th e bed was wa rm ed, r esto ra tives appl ied, an d in a sh o rt

tim e Madge an d Sylvia we r e sle epin g pe ace ful ly, wh ils t Miss Ma tilda

wa tch ed be side th em with lovin g anxi e ty.

Matilda ,”wh ispe r ed Ba rba ra , ste aling up to th e bed

-side an d

g az in g a t th e ch ildr en in alarm,

it was fo o lish to tak e th em in .

W e ar e po o r . How can we fe ed an d clo th e th e se un fo rtun a te waifs?”Miss Ma tilda raised h e r eye s towards h eave n . A be autiful smile

played r ound th e corn e rs o f h e r mouth, and illum in ed h e r with er ed

coun tenan ce .

G od sen t th em to n a,

”sh e sa id simply. I em glad ; h appy to

sh e lte r th em and save th em fr om star va tio n—o r th e wo rkh ouse . We

a r e po o r , as you say ; but be lieve m e , siste r , G od is goo d—som e th in g

will sur e ly turn up.

”

CHAPTER VI.

A CRUEL su m mon .

In a few days Madg e was h e rse lf aga in . Th e damp n igh t air ,

th e te rro rs o f shipwr e ck , and th e crue l struggle with th elan gry waves,h ad do n e h e r but small in jury. Th e o ld ladi e s wh o h ad so k indlytak e n h e r ia , tr eated h er with such te nde r car e and con side ratio n

,

th at in a sh o rt tim e sh e was o n ce mo re r e stor ed to h e r usua l h ealth

a nd str e ng th . But poo r little Sylvia dr o oped and pin ed. Th e co ld

a nd fa tigue , th e lon g expo sur e sh e h ad endur ed, h ad sh ak en h er

de l icate fram e and left h e r v e ry fr agile . Th e chi ld g r ew pale and

My de ar , we must, and beh ave m e it will be fo r yo ur go od an d

Oh ,h ow h ow?sobbed Madge .

In thi s way. Y ou will be able to wo rk an d e a rn yo ur br e ad.

a nd a t th e sam e tim e educa te yourse lf, wh ilst sh e wil l be h appy and

we ll tak e n car e o f.”

But wh e r e is sh e to go

To th e Orph an ag e a t Plymo uth .

Madg e gasped .

To th e Orph an ag e . Oh , Miss Barbara .

We ll , de ar , it is a ll we can do fo r h e r . A n d it is on ly th ro ugh

th e kind influe n ce o f th e Squire ’s wife th at we can man a g e e ve n th at .

Y o u te ll us th e ch ild be lo n gs to r ich pe opl e-th a t h e r g randfa th e r is

we althy, but yo ur in fo rmatio n is vague ; b eyo nd th a t, a nd th at h is

n am e is A th e rs to n e , yo u kn ow n o th ing . Se h ow a r e we e ve r to g e t

a t h im P

We must find h e r g ran dfa th e r in tim e .

In tim e, pe rh aps. But th a t m ay m e an ye a rs, o r n eve r . A dve r

t isem e n ts h ave be e n put in th e pape rs . But n o n o tice h as be e n tak e n .

A nd sur e ly if anyman we r e in doubt as to th e fa te o f h is g ra ndch ild ,

h e would h ave made a fuss, adve r tised, put de tective s o n th e track,

a nd”

He th inks sh e is de ad, I suppo se . But o n e day we sh all fin d h im

o ut . How I wish I kn ew h is n am e and addr e ss ! But papa a nd A n n e

a lways spok e o f h im as Mr . A th e r sto n e’s fa th e r

, an d I. n eve r th ough t

o f a skin g wh e r e h e live d. He was in En glan d, th at wa s e n ough fo r

m e But n ow,Miss Barba ra , I

’d g ive th e wo r ld to kn ow mo r e .

Y e s, it wo uld be a ble ssin g , de ar . But n ow,as yo u do n

’t , a nd

as we can n o t fin d h im , th e ch i ld must be pr ovided fo r . Se Mati lda

and I h ave ar ran g ed to tak e h e r to th e Orph an ag e at o nce , to mo r rowo r n ext day.

”

Po o r little Sylvia , po o r little pe t.

A nd Madg e be n t h e r h e ad an d wept bitte r ly ,

My de ar , sh e is n o t go in g to pr iso n . Sh e will be k indly tr e a ted,a nd ca r e fully tra in ed. Y ou will be allowed to visit h e r a t ce rta in

tim e s, an d you will be a ble to tak e h er little th in gs b ough t out of

your wag e s.

”

My wag e s

Y e s . Siste r an d I h ave be e n th in kin g th at , wh e n th e ch ild is

g o n e , you wo uld be an xious to e a rn som e m o n ey, an d so we th ough t

yo u m igh t be o ur se rvan t . A t le a st , yo u m igh t h e lp n a in our wo rk .

”

De ar Miss Barba ra , I’ll do anyth i n g you wan t,

”cried Madg e ,

with str e am in g eye s . Y ou and Miss Ma tilda h ave be e n so go od to

A Str iking Con trast. 1 76‘

me . I’ll wo rk all day

— an d—an d—n ow— I se e my da r lin g must go

But, oh , it is h ard—so h ard, fo r sh e is a ll I h ave .

”

It is h a rd , I kn ow,de ar e st . Sh e h as tak e n th e place o f fa th e r ,

mo th er , siste r ,”r eplied Miss Ba rba ra , g e n tly. But liste n , ch ild ; if

yo u wo rk we ll in th e m o rn in gs a t our h o use wo rk , you sh a l l g o to

sch oo l in th e afte rn o o n s . Th e o rgan ist wi ll te ach yo u music, if h e

fin ds yo u h a ve ta len t, and th e Squir e’s daugh te r , Miss Tranm e r e , h as

o ffer ed to te ach you Fr e nch . Y o u ar e a lady bo r n , we se e ; an d we

a r e r e so lve d to do a ll we can to give you a lady’

s educa tio n . Our

fr ie nds are m o st g e n e r ous, and a nxious to h e lp n a .

“ Y ou ar e goo d, yo u a r e go o d,”murmur ed Madge . Miss Bar

b ars , h ow can I eve r th an k yo u

By wo rking we ll , an d givin g up your little siste r as ch e e rfully

a s yo u ca n . A n d th a t r em inds m e, de ar , o f som e th in g I must te ll

yo u. We all th in k th a t baby’s sto ry n e ed n o t be to ld at th e Orph an

a g e , or in th e vill ag e . It is us e l e ss, and may cause h e r an n oyan ce as

sh e grows o lde r . It is e n ough to say sh e is an o rph an ,with out

m en ti on in g h e r r ich gran dfa th e r . Fo r wh o kn o ws if th e auth o r iti e s

h e a rd o f h im , th ey migh t r efuse to admit h e r , an d th en wh a t sh ould

we do

Just as you ple ase . I don ’t suppo se it m a tte rs.

A n d th en th is m in iatur e an d go ld ch a in . Y o u h ad be tte r k e ep.

th em fo r h e r till sh e g rows up, an d yo u t e ll h e r h e r sto ry.

Till sh e grows up?Is my da rlin g to be po o r all h e r life th e n

Pro bably. I se e n o ch an ce o f a nyth ing e lse .

Po o r little Sylvia

A nd , Madge , th e Squir e’s wife thin ks Sy lvia to o grand a n am e

sh e says we sh ould ca ll th e ch ild som e th in g m o r e simple .

”

Madg e dr ew th e baby to h e r br e ast, and kissed h e r passio n ate ly.

V e ry we ll ,”

sh e said . We ar e two lo n e ly, de so la te wa ifs .

S h e h as take n my siste r’

s place— sh e sh a ll tak e my siste r

’s n am e ,

Th a t is simple e n ough , e ve n fo r a pen n ile ss o rph an .

”

Do ra Ne il . Y e s, th a t will do adm irably.

”

Th e n Miss Barba ra bowed h e r h e ad, an d le ft th e ch ildr e n alon e .

Th e n ext day Sylvia was carr ie d to Plym outh , an d admitted to th e

O rph an age as Madg e’s siste r , little Do r o thy Ne il .

CHAPTER VII.

a s nvsm n ox.

A fte r th is Madg e becam e in valuable to th e two old ladi e s . A t

n o o n , eve ry day, sh e we n t to th e village sch o o l ; o n ce r tain e ve n in gs


sh e r e ce ived music lesso n s from th e o rgan ist, and fo r thr e e h ours e ach

we ek sh e studied Fr e nch with Miss Tranm e r e , th e Squir e’s a e com

plish e d daugh te r . But th e r e st o f h e r tim e was de vo ted to th e se rvice

o f h e r kind be n e facto r s . Sh e made th e beds, and swept th e flo o r s ;

sh e co ok ed th e din n e r , and wash ed th e pla te s an d di sh es—did eve ry

th ing , in fact, th a t a ma id- o f-al l -wo rk migh t do . But Miss Barbar a

h e lped as much as po ssibl e . A nd ao , th ough o fte n tir ed and weary,

th e girl was n eve r taxed beyo nd h e r str e n gth .

Madg e was cle ve r,an d m ade r apid progre ss wi th h e r studie s.

Sh e was br igh t , in te ll ig e n t, an d o rde r ly ; and as sh e gr ew o lde r a nd

str o n g e r , sh e to ok upo n h e r th e e n tir e man agem e n t o f th e cottag e an d

its fe eble inm ate s . He r employe rs be gan gradual ly to lo ok to h e r fo r

dir e ctio n . Wh a te ve r sh e wish ed was r igh t . Wh ateve r sh e wan teddo n e was do n e .

Unde r h e r car e ful a rr ang em en t th e little sh op n e ar th e b e ach

b ecam e m o r e attractive ; th e sto ck - ia -tr ade m o r e use ful and like ly to .

s e ll . Th e o ld ladie s th emse lve s se em ed to grow youn g e r , in ste ad

o f o lde r . an d quit e e n joyed pape r ing up th e m any parce ls th ey we r e

ca lled upo n to mak e . Fo r th ey we r e do in g a go od busin e ss,a nd

to ok mo r e m o n ey in a we ek n ow th an th ey h ad do n e in a mon th

be fo r e Madg e cam e to live with th em .

A n d th e g ir l h e rse lf wa s ve ry h appy . Sh e led a busy, active lil e ,

and kn ew th a t sh e was lo ved by h e r de ar o ld fr ien ds .

A nd so th e tim e passe d quickly by. A n d wh en Madge was twe n ty,ta ll

,stro ng , and straigh t, sh e h ad but on e troub le in th e wo rld, an d

th at wa s th at sh e was still fo rce d to l e ave h e r siste r—h e r darlin gDo ra— in th e o rph an ag e .

True , sh e saw h e r o fte n ,and Do ra se em ed we ll car ed fo r an d con

t e n t. But sh e lo n g ed to h ave th e child with h e r , to surroun d h e r with

th e m an y comfo r ts th a t lo ve a lo n e can sugg e st.

Thi s, h oweve r , was impo ssible ; an d sh e tr ied n o t to r epin e . Till

Do r a was o ld e n ough to e arn h er br e ad som e way, it was be tte r sh e

sh ould r ema in wh e r e sh e was ; and th is fact Madge made th e littl e

g ir l un de rsta nd as so o n as sh e was capabl e of do in g ao .

Th e e ven ts o f th at awful n igh t, wh e n th e ch ildre n h ad lost eve ryo n e an d e ve ryth in g be lon g in g to th em ,

r o se fr eque n tly in po o r

Madg e’s m ind an d fill ed h e r with so rr ow.

If we co uld o n ly h ave found my darling’s grandfath e r , h ow

d ifie r en t would h ave be e n h e r lo t,

”sh e would th ink e ach t ime sh e

l e ft th e o rph an ag e .

’Tis crue l to se e h e r be in g brough t up in such

a seve r e séh o o l , wh en sh e sh ould h ave eve ry luxury tha t m o n ey could

buy. Howeve r th e ch ild, if n o t actua lly h appy, is co n te n t . Sh e

k n ows n o th in g o f wh a t m igh t h ave be e n—I h ave spar ed h e r that pa in ;

1 89, Tlee Ir ish Mon thly.

pan io n s ; subj ected to a tr ea tme n t wh ich , th ough n o t actually crue l o r

se ve r e , is trying to on e of h e r fr a i l con stitution .

”

Pl e ase ,”

sa id a swe e t vo ice ,“coul d you te ll m e th e n am e o f

th is sto n e

Madg e lo ok ed up, h e r eye s fill ed with te ars, but could n o t spe ak

fo r a m omen t . Sh e was struck~dumb wi th aston ishmen t.

Be fo re h e r sto od a da in ty little lady o f about te n ye ars o ld. Sh e

h ad a b e autiful face , large lumin ous dark eyes, th ick ch e stnut h a ir ,

th a t gr ew in cluste rin g cur ls r o un d h e r fo r eh e ad ; a clea r,fr e sh com

plexio n , an d a m e rry laugh ing m outh . Sh e was dr e ssed in pur e

wh ite . A br o ad Le gh o rn h at and dro oping fea th e rs sh aded h e r fromth e sun . He r pr e tty fe e t we r e co ve r ed with th e n e a te st o f bo o ts ; h e r

tiny h ands in th e so fte st o f Swe di sh g love s.

Madg e was filled with won de r . Such a fa iry as th is was an un

usual sigh t in Oldpo r t, a nd sh e could n o t imagin e wh e r e sh e h ad

com e fr om . Som e th ing in th e little girl’s expr e ssion se em ed familiar ;

ye t n eve r in h e r li fe h ad sh e e ve r se e n h e r be fo r e . Sh e was abo ut

Do r a’s h e igh t and ag e , but much m o r e h e althy. A nd, alas ! h ow

(l ifie r e n tly attir ed . A n d as a visio n o f th a t be lo ved ch ild,clad in h e r

co ar se o rph an’s un ifo rm ,

r ose be fo r e Madge , sh e sigh ed h e avily.

Y ou se em sad,”said th e li ttle stran g e r ge n tly. I am so rry I

disturbed yo u .

”

No , n o ,”cr ied Madge , you on ly sta rtled and surprised m e . I

d id n o t kn ow you we r e n e ar m e till you spo ke . Wh at did you ask

m e

I wan ted to kn ow wh at th is ston e was called .

Madg e sm iled.

I do n ’t. th ink th a t is a sto n e . It is only a pie ce o f glass, or o f a

soda wa te r bo ttle , probably, th at h as be e n kn ock ed about in th e sea

and wash ed ov e r th e sto n e s an d r o cks till it h as g o t wo rn in to th at

sh ape .

”

R e al ly. Th at’s ve ry cur ious. Th ank you ve ry much . I will

put th is am o n gst my tr e asur e s . G o od-bye . I se e nurse beckon ing tom e . I must g o . May 1 k iss you

A nd be fo r e Madg e h ad tim e to r eply th e ch ild sto oped and kissed

h e r o n th e lips ; th e n , with a sm ile a n d a bow, flitted o il ove r th e

shingle .

Madg e turn ed to lo ok afte r h e r ; an d just above th e beach , on th er o ad, sh e saw a carriage a nd pai r . Clo se b e side it sto od an e lde r ly

woman , wavin g h e r h and and ca llin g to th e l ittle g irl .

Miss Sylvia , we ar e late . Com e quickly, ple ase .

Madg e gr ew pal e as de ath , and started to h er fe e t .

Sylvia Wh at did th e'

woman m ean?Why did sh e ca ll th e

ch ild by th at n ame

A Str iking Confirmi t. 1 83

M iss Sylvia , de ar m e , do h ur ry. Th e r e is g o in g to be a thunde r

s to r m . Quick , quick .

"

Y e s, A n n e . I’m comin g . But A n n e

,A n n e

, th e sto n e s h ur t my

Th e woman stepped down upo n th e be ach , and gave th e chi ld h e r

h a n d .

M adge h ur ri ed fo rward, an d gaz in g at th e nurse , said fa in tlyA r e you

— ca n yo u b e A n n e Dan e

Th e stran g e r looke d a t h e r in ama z em en t .

Y e s . Why do you ask

B e cause —Madg e tr embled , an d h e r to n gue se em ed tied to th e

r o o f o f h e r m outh h e r vo ice was low an d h o ar se , h e r wo rds indi stin ct

Beca use , if yo u ar e Ann e Dan e wh o was wr ecked in th e Cimbria ,wh o , o r wh a t is th at child?

A n n e becam e livid, and ga z ed wildly r ound. Th e rain cam e down

sudde n ly in gr e a t th ick dr ops .

Miss Sylvia ,

”sh e cried, jump in to th e carr iag e—quick .

Th e little gir l did as sh e was to ld . An n e fo l lowed h e r a t o nce ,

a nd as sh e clo sed th e do o r , sh e sa id to Madg e“ I am A n n e Dan e . I can n o t th ink why you ask ; but I was

w r e ck ed in th e Cimbria . A n d th is ch ild is Miss Sylvia A th e rsto n e .

”

No,n o , sh ri eked Madg e , run n in g towards h e r with o utstr e tch e d

a rms, sh e is n o t—sh e can n o t be—Sylvia isBut sh e talked to th e wind. Th e carriag e h ad wh ir led o ff do wn

th e r oad, and sh e was alo n e . Th e ra in n e w fall in to rr e n ts, th e

thun de r crash ed loudly o ve r h e r h e ad ; and, fe e lin g da z e d a n d

bewi lde red, sh e ran o n to th e co ttag e .

Th a t e ve n in g Madge could th ink o f n o th ing but th is stran g e

m e e tin g . Sh e r e lated a ll th at h ad h appe n ed to th e two o ld ladi e s,and to ge th e r th ey ta lked it ove r . a nd wo nde r ed wh a t it a ll m e an t .

Miss Ma til sa id Madg e , th ough tfully,“ I h ave h ad a

r ev e la ti o n to d ay I n ow kn ow wh a t I n eve r befo r e suspe cted . A n n e

Dan e was sav e d from th e wr eck , an d is do ing we ll . Th a t is e vide n t ,

a n d is n o t, afte r all , so ve ry wo nde rful . But th e ch ild—Sylvia— th a tis wh a t I can n o t, can n o t unde rstan d .

’

We ll , de ar ,”an swe r e d Miss Matilda , it is po ssible th at th er e

may be an o th e r Sylvia A th e rston e , daugh te r of an o th e r son . Sh e , o f

co urse , woul d be th e o ld ge n tl eman’s g ran dch ild as we ll as our po o r

darlin g , and

Th at is n o t probable , fo r sh e is, I sh ould say, just th e same ag e

—and—but, oh , Miss Ma tilda , a wild, a str an g e ide a h a s ta ke n

pesse ssion o f m e . A nn e h as dece ived Mr . A th e rsto n e , defrauded th e

r ea l Sylvia of h e r r igh ts, andput an o th er—a str an ge ch ild in h e r place .

”

My dear Madge . But wh at ch ild Wh o

T/l t’ 1 m}; Mon th 131 .

Y ou kn ow I to ld you th a t my little siste r Do ra was th e sam e ag e

as Sylvia

Y e s. But sh e was drown e d, r emembe r .

How do we kn ow \Ve th o ugh t A n n e Dan e was dr own ed , but

sh e’s n o t .

”

Th e n you th ink

I th ink , I be li e ve , cr ied Madge in great excitem en t, th a t

Do ra was n o t dr own ed, but th a t A n n e an d sh e we re saved to ge th e r

an d th a t th is ch ild , th is pr e tty little gir l I saw with h e r to d ay, is n o

o th e r th an my siste r , Dora N e il .”

De ar,de ar ,

”cried Miss Barbara ,

“ wh a t a str an ge ide a But h ow

can we pro ve such a th ing , e ve n if we kn ewwh e r e to fin d th ese pe ople

Madge paced r e stle ssly up an d down th e little parlo

How,inde ed How,

in de ed sh e murmur ed . But it sh a ll

b e do n e . Fr om this h our I sh all devo te my life , my time,my

e n e rg ies , to fin di n g Mr . A th e rston e , and pro ving th at h e h as be e n

de ce ived. My dar ling Sylvia sh all be r esto r ed to h e r r igh ts . Justice

sh all be do n e , an d

Th a t will be a difficul t task , de ar , sa id Miss Ma tilda .

h ow,livin g in th is sma ll , quie t place , ar e you to accomplish it

I sh a ll le ave th is quie t place . G o

Miss Matilda lay back in h e r gh a ir , and burst in to te ars .

Will you le ave n a, Madg e?Le ave us, wh o love you, to r un

o ve r th e wo r ld afte r such a sh adow?Madg e kn e lt be side th e o ld lady, and puttin g h e r arms r ound h e r ,

kissed h e r te nde r ly.

No,de a r . I

’ll n eve r le ave you. Do n o t fre t . So lo n g as you

r equir e m e , I’ll stay with you h e r e . But I kn ow—I fe e l ce rta in th a t

som e day o r o th e r I must, I will r e sto r e my poo r dar ling to h e r

prope r positio n in life . Th e th ough t th a t my siste r, my pr e tty

inn oce n t Do r a , is usurpin g h e r place an d defr audin g h e r of h e r r igh ts

is bitte r—ve ry bitte r to m e .

But you ar e n ot quite ce rta in th at it is so , dear . Do n o t wo rryabout i t, an d some thin g will sur e ly turn up.

”

Th e yo un g gir l smiled, an d pr e ssed Miss Matilda’s h and.

Th a t is n o t th e plan I go o n, ge n e ra lly. I am n o t fo nd o f wa it

ing fo r som e th in g to turn up. But I must be con te n t to do so n ow.

My fir st duty is to you and Miss Barbar a . Th e r efo r e we must fo rge t

th is stran g e episode , and go on as if it h ad n eve r h appen ed .

”

Miss Ma tilda dr i ed h e r eye s, and lo oked lovingly at Madge .

G od ble ss you, dar lin g . Your wo rds r e lieve me gr e atly. I

th ough t you we re go in g to leave us, and I fe lt sad an d sick at h e art

Y ou a r e th e on e brigh t spo t in our lives, Madge . With out you wesh ould di e .

”


to -day—I and—my poo r Dora —and n owyou are go ing to le ave us.

A nd bowin g h e r h e ad th e gir l sobbed a loud.

Madge .

” A pair of arms sto le about h er n e ck , and a little face ,

surrounded with a h alo o f sh o rt go lden cur ls, was laid fon dly again st

h e r br e ast. Y ou must n o t we ep, dearest. Miss Matilda is h appie r

than we ar e .

Why, darlin g? A nd Madge clasped th e spe ake r tigh tly in

h er arms.

Because sh e is leaving th is we ary wo rld, and go ing h ome to

G od. Sh e looks so h appy, so peaceful, since sh e r e ce ived th e last

sacram en ts, I em sur e sh e is go ing straigh t to h eaven . Oh , Madg e ,Madg e , wh at a h appine ss it would be to go in h e r place

—o r with h e r .

”

But, Do ra, you ar e n o t unh appy, love?No t n ow,

Madge . No t wh en I am wi th you.

Madge sigh ed, and kissed th e girl passio nate ly.

Would that I could k e ep you always, pe t. A nd, pe rh aps, so on

I may be able to do ao .

”

I could wo rk, dear . I em small and th in . But I can sew

be autifully.

" A nd, with a shudde r , I do so ha te th e orph an age .

”

But th ey ar e n o t un kin d to you th e r e?No , n o t exactly ; but th ey ar e rough and rude . A nd you se e I

em no t lik e th e Ioth e ra, Madge .

"

No , de ar e st , n ot at all lik e .

Th ey ar e , for th e most par t, big , h ea lthy girls , str on g and ta ll ,

and well made , wh ilst I,” —and th e poo r chi ld h id h er blush in g

face . I—oh , Madge , I em deformed .

My dar ling , wh o to ld you so

Th e gir ls. Th ey laugh a t m e and call me humpy.

Wh at a sh am e cr ied Madge , with damin g ch e eks. But do .

n o t m ind th em , da rlin g ; it is n o t true . Y ou are small an d fragile .

Your sh oulde rs ar e a little round because you ar e weak . Th at crue l

sh ipwr e ck in jur ed your poo r spin e ; but th e docto r says if you could

lie you would outgrow it an d become as stra igh t as anyon e . Th a t

n igh t upon th e sea was—n ear ly kill ed you, my de lica te ch ild ; and

so

But Madg e could say n o mo r e . Th e sigh t of th ose appealing eye s, .

th e sad spectacle o f Do ra’s th in , ben t little frame , was mo re tha n sh e

could be ar , an d sh e so bbed bitter ly.

“ Eve n you, with all your love , cann ot dece ive me , sa id Dora sad]y .

I kn ow I em n o t like o th e r gir ls. I used n ot to mind it so much .

But n ow, sin ce you to ld me wh o I am—sin ce I h ave h eard wh at I

ough t to be , eve rythin g se ems h arde r . I kn ow it is G od’s will , and

I try to be ar it ; but still


Oh , Do ra, Do ra , I would die to make you h appy. But wh at can

I d o A nd Madge pressed th e gir l to h e r h e a rt .

L e t m e stay with you,”

ple aded Dora . Do n o t se nd me back

to th e o rphan ag e .

”

My darling , if it laywith m e , Iwould n ever par twith you again .

But yo u see our po or o ld fri e nds.

”

A r e we qui te depe nden t on th emQuite . We have n ot a penny in th e wo rld except wh at th ey g ive

But you work we ll fo r th em , Madge—swe epin g and dusting and

co okin g , wh e n you ar e fit for much bette r th in gs. Th e ma tro n says

yo u are ve ry we ll educated, and th at you are wastin g your time h e re .

Sh e says you ough t to go out as a gove rn ess.

”

Do ra,”

said Madge gravely, I am n o t wastin g my time . I do

werk for my dea r frie nds ; but th at is because I th ink it r igh t. Th eywe r e go od to me in my ch ildh ood—th ey took me in wh e n I was

re scued an ppy waif from th e se a , and loved and car ed fo r me

a ll th ese y Th e r efo re , I can n o t - I must n o t dese rt th em in th e ir

o ld age . We r e it n o t so—h ad I n o t th is sacr ed duty to pe rfo rm, I

sh o uld cer tain ly be out in th e wo rld se eking fo r some trace o f th at

crue l , dece itful woman wh o h as robbed you, my pe t, o f your birth

Bn t sh e do es n o t kn ow I am alive , perh aps. Do n o t be too hard

on h e r , Madge .

”

Sh e must kn ow. I fe e l sh e kn ows. Th er e was guilt in h e r face

tha t day o n th e beach . If sh e h ad n o th in g to fear , Do ra , why did sh e

n o t spe ak to m e?Why did sh e hurry th e chi ld away Sh e kn ows,

o r fo r som e r easo n dr e ads to kn ow, th at you are a live . But som e

day som e happy day, sh e sh all be unmask ed, and you, my pe t, sh all

be r ich an d“ I don ’

t wan t to .be rich , Madge . I only wan t to be with you.

And and—th is fin e rich g e n tleman , my g randfa th e r , would n o t ca r e

to ackn owledge a po o r li ttle cr eature bro ugh t up in an o rphanag e as

his gra nddaugh te r . I em sur e h e would n o t .”

But h e must. He sh al l, cr ied Madge fie rce ly. If on ly I

could find him—if o n ly I could fin d h im . But I am ti ed h e r e , Do ra ,

and kn ow n o t wh at to do .

”

Do n o th ing , dear est. Forge t th e wh o le affair . Forge t th at such

persons as A n n e Dan e and th e se A th e rs to n es exist ; and le t us co nside r

what we ca n do to earn mon ey and be independe n t. I am n ea r ly six

teen , Madg e ; an d I long—I cann o t te ll you h owmuch—to leave th e

omhm sefi’

Iwill spe ak to Miss Barbara in a day o r two . For th e prese n t,

1 88 The Ir is]; Month ly.

wh ilst Miss Ma tilda is ill, you a r e use ful, a nd sh e l ik e s to h ave you.

Sh e sen t fo r you, Do ra—I would n o t h ave da r ed to do se , my dar lin g .

”

“ I sh all go up to th e Cour t to -m or row mo rn ing , an d ask Miss

Tranm e r e for som e wo rk . I can sew be autifully, Madg e ; an d I

in te nd to be a dr e ssmak er .

”

Po o r little Do ra—po o r little Do ra, murmur ed Madg e , h ow

d ifle r e n t—h ow diffe re n t sh ould h ave be e n your fate .

Y ou must n o t complain , Madg e ; G od h as, a fte r all , be e n ve ry

g o od to n a . He gave us k ind frie nds ; fo r a lth ough poo r , our de ar

o ld ladie s h ave loved an d wa tch ed ove r na we ll .

Y ou h ave a swe e t lovin g n a tur e , my dar ling , cried Madg e ,

dr awin g th e gir l towards h e r and kissin g h e r te nde r ly. Y ou a r e

a lways goo d and patie n t . But I fe ar your life a t th e o rph an ag e h as

n o t be en a h appy o n e .

”

Y e t n o t un h appy. Had I b e e n—we ll , stro n g e r”

- Do ra blush ed

d e eply an d a l ittle r ough e r , I would sure ly h ave g o t o n be tte r .

Still, de ar , I was n eve r un k in dly tr e ated .

”

“ Y e t you lo n g to le ave th e place , e ve n a t th e r isk o f wan ting

much and wo rking h ard. Oh,Do ra . Do ra , you h ave suffe r ed much .

But be lie ve me , de a r e st, I wa s po we r le ss to pre ve n t it .”

Of course . I kn ow th a t we ll , my dar li ng siste r , sa id Do ra

ca r e ssin gly.

“ A n d n ow th a t I am a lmo st a wom an,I fe e l I must wo rk

a nd do wh at I can fo r myse lf. So if you will a llow m e , I’ll stay with

you h e r e , and se ek wo rk in th e villag e .

”

Y ou sh all do so if I can m an ag e it , de ar e st ; an d I kn ow our

frie n ds will k e ep you if th ey can . Miss Tra nmo r e would h e lp you to o .

Howeve r , we sh all se e . I must g o in n ow,Do ra ; Miss Ma tilda m ay

be awak e , pe rh aps.

”

Y es, sh e h as slept lon g this afte rn o on . But stay fo r a mom e n t.

Madg e . Th e r e com e s th e postman—h e m ay h ave some th in g fo r you .

”

I th ink n o t, dear , sa id Madg e smi lin g . A le tte r fo r m e is an

un h e a rd of e ve n t . We ar e utte rly fr ie ndl e ss, you and I, Do ra ; out

s ide th is sm all villag e th e r e is n o t a cr e atur e kn ows o f our v e ry

e xiste n ce .

”

Th e n An n e Dan e is n o t th e crue l h ard-h e arted woman you som e

t im e s make h e r out,’said Do ra r o guish ly. If sh e do e sn

’t kn ow

A nn e Dan e . I fo rgo t h e r fo r th e mome n t. But sh e do es n o t

car e to r emembe r . In fact“ A le tte r fo r Miss Madg e Ne il,

’said th e po stman , a r egiste r ed

l e tter . 80 , ple ase to sign th is pape r .

”

Th en , as th e gir l complied with his r eque st, h e touch ed h is ha t,

sm iled at th e lo ok o f surprise o n h e r face,and bidding h e r g ood

e ve n in g ,”passed on .

1 90 The Ir ish Mo nthly.

b e en be fo re . To live with you h as be e n th e dre am o f my life . Th is

co ttage always se emed a small paradise to m e . So , Madg e , Madge ,

A n n e Dan e is my be n e facto r afte r all . A nd Dora’s swe et silve ry

la ugh te r rang out on th e e ven in g a ir .

I am th an kful to h e r fo r h avin g made you h appy, da rlin g ,

a nswer ed Madg e grave ly. But, oh, th e years of h appin e ss sh e h as

r obbed you o f.”

Do n o t be un just, de a re st . It h as n o t be en a lto ge th er h e r fault ,

r ememb e r .

”

Oi course n o t . Sh e did n o t caus e th e sh ipwr eck , o r our separ a

tio n in th e bo ats. Howe ve r , some day we sh a ll kn ow a l l. Come

n ow, dea r , and se e if Miss Matilda still sle eps.

”

A nd Madge kissed little Do ra’s ea rn e st, pleadin g lips, and dr ew

h er in to th e co ttage .

(To be con tinued.)

LINES BY ST . PRUDENTIUS.

St. Prude n tius, wh o h as be en called by Be n tley th e Chr istia n

Horace ,” was bo rn in Spain in 348,but h e did n o t e xe rcise or , pe r

h aps, discove r h is po e tical g ifts un til h e was ove r fifty. He h ad be e na gr e a t bar riste r , and h e ld h igh mi litary command . He dedi cated

hi s la tte r ye ars to th e de fe n ce o f Ch r istian ity and th e glo ry o f th e

ma rtyrs. Th e fo llowin g stanz as ar e th e last of a lon g hymn to th e

m ar tyr , St . Eulalia

Carpite purpur eas Vio las, In your te eming baske ts bringSanguin e osque cro oos m e tite ; Flow ’

re ts o f th e ea rly spr ing ,

Non care t his g e n ia lis hyems, Wh ile th e th aw un binds th e fields ,

La r a t e t arva tepens g laciss A n d th e g e n ial win te r yie lds

Flo ribus n t e nm n le t oa la th o s. Blood-red crocuse s to view,

Min g led with th e vio le ts blue .

But, whi le youth s and ma iden s vie

Mun era Virgo pue rque da te ; Wre aths of bloom in g flowe rs to tie ,

A st e go se r ta , ch em in medic , I, amid th e joyous th rong ,

Te xts fe ram pede dae tylo , Wil l pre sen t my wr ea th of songPoo r and with er ed it may be ,

Y e t a festive g ift for me .

Sic ven er ar ier ossa libe t , Wh ile we thus with n ature’

s bloom

D eck h e r bo n e s and alta r -tomb ,

Illa , De i sita sub pedibus , Sh e , be n ea th th e fe e t of G od ,

Pro spicit h aze , populosque sue s G ua rds th e land th at once she trod ,Pl eased our simple fa ith to se e ,

G ladde n ed by our me lody.

T. E. B.

Russian F ie ld .

RUSSIAN FIELD .

WHEN Brown in g , in more th an on e memorable passage ,described music, h e did it as much with th e exactn ess and

knowledg e o f a musician as th e inspiration of a po et. A nd, o n‘

the oth e r hand, in many o f Schumann’

s cri tiques we have as fin e

a n e n thusiasm o f th e post as an e stimate and precision of a com

poser . But in his we ll kn own descr iption of a Chopin Nocturn eA rthur O

’

Shaughn essy conveyed rath er th e effect produced than

the esse n ce of th e th in g . His attempt to embody emo tio ns

awaken ed by a fascin ating musica l fo rm ,in which

, to use Sh e lley’s

line , music and m oo nligh t and fe e ling are on e ,”was clever . By

a re ve r ie full o f poe tic vistas, h e produced someth ing o f th e fan

tastic image ry o f a No eturn e , at once wistful and wayward ; se iz in gits evan e scen t ideas of be auty and evolvin g from its cade n ces a

though t or an emblem. In a dre am , picture sque in sugge stion , h e

wove an arabesque of fancy, de licate as frost-work carved in ivory ;

fixing in words an ill usion of delight, or subtly tran sfigur ingemo tio n in to metaphor . A refin ed po em was th e re sult, a po em of

colour , pe rfume , some witch e ry, and e ven ecstasy.

’

But as reflex of a Nocturn e th e co lour is n ot glowing , th e per

fume to o little se nsuous, th e witch e ry n o t we ird, th e e cstasy to o

calm. N e ith er ChOpin’s en igmatic in te rwe aving of languor and

frenz y,n or h is tende rn e ss of r epose and re stl e ssn e ss of un fulfil led

desire : n e ith e r th e pathos of his yearn ing n o r th e ardour of h is

appea l are brought n e ar to na in th e po em . O’Shaughn e ssymissed

that touch of th e impassion ed joy in Love of Claroh en’s song in

Egmon t, and th e full -h earted anguish of G re tch en in Faust, which

a re eve r pre se n t in true Nocturn es. Nor di d h e compass Chopin’

s

masterful pe n e tr ating me lan cho ly, fraught with a reckle ss vivacityunequa lled in poe try or music, save in th e Son atas of Bee thove n .

Music and Moon ligh t con tains an exquisite allego ry of perfect fulfilmen t

41nd immo r tality, unde r th e symbo l o f th e phmn ix and th e aloe . It hasbe en objecte d

t hat myr rh mo re corre ctly symbo lise s th e Bird-bride th an an alo e . It would have

be e n tr ust to th e A rabic fable , but sacrifice d ha lf th e fable . O’Sh sngh n essywish ed

t o de clare , n ot on ly th e immorta lity of Chopin’s fame , but also th e perfection to

wh ich h e had br ough t th e Nocturn e . To presen t th e se two ideas h e grafted, on

sh e A r abic, an A frican myth in wh ich th e aloe is an emblem of th is consummation .

1 92 The Ir ish Mo nth ly.

Perhaps few who have be en moved by th e e n chan tment with :

which Prin ce Karo l won and lost Lucr e z ia Florian i,’remembe r

th at th e form which Ch opin e laborated, with th e de ep art of a e on

summate musician , h e owed to the child of a bruta l fath er , th e

pupil of a rapacious maste r , th e victim of a crue l mise ry—to an

Ir ishman wh ose h ome was Russia .

On e th ousand e igh t hun dred and e leven was a come t year ; o n e

th ousand e ight hun dr ed and e le ve n was th e cradle year o f many

gre at men of Europe ; it re-e ch oed with th e sounds of Lyr e and

Sword, an d an n oun ced pion e e ri ng spirits to th e future . This ye ar

appe ars in th e histo ry of Europe an spir it-life rich with promised

splendour . On e th ousan d e ight hundred and e leven was th e fata l

year of Fr an z

Th e birth o f John Fie ld was brough t about, it would appe ar ,

with out aid o f e ith e r com ets or cradle years, n o r any special ove r

flow of a spirit-life

’s bespe akin g sple ndour . Rath er was it like

un to th at of a great musician and piquan t write r : Pe ndan t lea

mo is qui précédér en t ma n aissance , ma mere m e réva ~

po in t, comm e

oe lle de Virgile , qu’

e lle allai t me ttr e eu m onde nu ram eau de laurie r

Que lque douloureux que so it ce t aveu pour mon amour-propre , jedo is ajouter qu’

e lle n e crut pas n on plus, comm e Olympiss, mere

d’A lexandre , porta dan s son se in nu tiso n arden t . Ce la e st fo rt

extraordin air e , j’e n conviens

, mais ce la e st vrai . Js vis le Jour

tout simplem en t, de s sign e s précurseurs eu usage dan s

le s temps po étique s, pour an n on ce r 1a ve nue des prédestin ée de la

glo ire . Se rait-ce que n o tre époque man que de po ésie P”i

In such wise , mode stly, John Fie ld, on th e 26th July,

put in a person al claim on th e e arnings of a Dublin vio lin ist, h im

se lf th e so n of a church o rgan ist. Th ey we re a family of musica l

tradition s, and th e pro spect of a prodigy which Joh n’

s e arly talen t

fore shadowed dete rmin ed th e par e n ts to push possibil itie s to th e

utmost. Th e grandfath er to ok th e ch ild in h and for teach ing , th e

fath er moun tin g guard o ve r practice . Th e practising was r igorous,

con tinuous, exh austing ; th e le ssons in ce ssan t, prolonged, and

severe . Rebe llion on ly in tensified th e exactions, un til th e lad put

G eo rg e Sands’study of jsalouey in to wh ich it may n o t be impe rtin e n t to read

Ch opin in Prin ce Karo l , th e A bbé L isz t in A lban i , and th e ladyhe rse lf in a t asia . .

‘l' Ramann : L ife of Lisz t , VOL ] , 1 1 . l .

I Be rlio z : Mémo ires, vo l . 1 , p . 1 .


from a se n sitive lad’s dread of be ing alon e in a fore ign capital wh ose

language h e did n ot. kn ow. In any case , once se ttled in St. Pe ters

burgh , Clemen ti se ems to have treated h im less as a pupil'than as

a musical automaton to sh ow off th e value of instrumen ts in the

sh op‘

h e h ad open ed. A nd at th is hackwork h e was made a drudge

r ath e r than a servan t. Th e shr inking , dre amy youth was scan ti lyc lo th ed, kept indo ors for we eks for wan t of a hat, suffe ring acute ]y

through th e Russian win te r for wan t of a top-ooat, wh ich Clemen ti

would n ot buy h im . A n d this while h e was r e ce iving large sum

for dutie s h e left Fie ld to fulfil .

We would gladly e scape be lief in this, yet Spohr , in his Se lls

biog ,’ is unmistakable . Speaking of 1 802-3 : I have a recolle ctio n

o f th e figure of th e pale ove rgrown lad wh o had out-run his

c loth es. A t th e pian o h e stretch ed his arms ove r th e key

bo ard, till th e sle eve s shrunk up to his e lbows, h is wh ole attitude

awkward and stifi in th e high est degree ; but, as so on as his touch

i ng instrumen tation began , everyth ing e lse was forgo tte n and we

be came all ear . Unh appily I could n o t express my emotion and

thankfuln ess o th erwise than by a silen t pre ssure o f th e hand, for he

spo ke n o oth er language than his own .

”A nd after this Spohr

h appen ed upon teach e r and pupil, with upturn ed sle eve s, to iling at

th e wash ing tub, scrubbin g stockings and oth e r lin e n ; an o ccasio n

C lemen ti improved by exh orting th e vio lin ist to do likewise for its

e con omy and saving of th e mate rial .Wh ere was e ve n th e flow of th e ill -favoured lad

’s spir it life

in such surroundings P What supple ness di d th e wr ists acquire inthis numbing co ld ; what se nsitive n ess o f touch h is finge rs gain in

a serubbing-tub P What artistic insight could h e gath e r from be

labouring out such an Italian’s idea of e con omy P Y et th e gen ius

o f Fie ld burst th e tramme ls of th ese days. During Clemen ti’s

absen ce in England, th e young player sh owed h e had talents that

would n ot be h idden , in somuch that on his re turn in 1 804 th e

maste r found his pupil had already become a teach e r .

Th e long year s of train in g we re at an end ; but o n ly at th e

beginn ing were th e spirits of reckless eman cipation and bitte r'

cynicism th ey left in trail .

His lessons brough t h im mon ey ; his playing fame ; but of

n e ith er th e on e n or th e othe r had h e be en fitted to appraise th e value

Vo l . 1 , p . 43 .

Russia n F ie ld. 1 95

I[i s success be came rapid, th e rewards bril liant an d e asily seized,

u n til from about 1 806 to 1 823 h e fe lt th e golde n ground ben e ath

h is fe et was so lid, and sto odwithout a rival in th e Russian capita l .

Though from Clementi he h ad the secre t of exquisite legato

playing , a fin e de licacy of touch and an unfailin g ce rtain ty in rapid

e xecutio ns, n e ithe r th e system of education h e unde rwe n t n or h is

n atural aptitude fitted him for th e large r forms of musical expre s

sion . Inde ed, h e se emed rath e r to breath e upon th e n otes th an

fing e r th em , eve n wh en playing with a strength that left h is

n uan ce s cle arly defin ed. His varie ty ofm odificatio n wasun limited ,

a nd h is resources of embe llishmen t exh aust]ess. To th is techn ical

pe rfectio n h e added a po etic en thusiasm wh ich , un ited to a dr e amy

m e lan ch oly, compe lled a fascin ation pre-emin e n tly h is own . He

led o n e , in th e wo rds ofHe in e , in to“a dre amland of po esy wh ere

t h e in te rpreters o f visions dwe ll .”Thus Fie ld ma de fo r himse lf a

styl e n o le ss th an Clemen ti had don e , but o f a difie r e nt o rde r . In

th e latter it was o f in te ll ectual pleasure in musica l th ough t—olear ,

r eg ular , correct ; in th e forme r it was a style of da in ty de light in

se n suous emotion—vivid, sen sitive , seducing a un io n of tenderness,

po e try, and charm . Th e full est expre ssion of th is h e pour ed forth

in his Nocturn e s, some doz e n of which even Chopin will n ever

quite obscure . Though a pian ist more than a compo se r , ye t th e se

de licious re ve r ie s will quicke n th e memory of him when His son atasan d e ve n h is co n ce rto s fall in to a nme r ite d n egle ct. Th e latte r we re

em in e n tly popular dur ing Fie ld’s life time , and o f the seven t h

Schumann wrote in hi s Neue Ze itschr ift : We are de lighted with

it ; can do n oth ing more re ason able than praise it e ndlessly”

I would allow th is artist to cover my eye s and bind my h ands, andw ould say n o th ing , save th at I ch oose to follow him blindly. .

A bo ve all , thou last movemen t, in thy divin e tedium , thy charm ,

thy de lightful awkwardn ess, thy soulful be auty, bewitching e n ough

t o kiss from beginn ing to end.

But th ere we re ash es in th e cupwealth h e ld to h is lips, thorns in

t he rose -crown fame pre ssed upon his he ad. R en own an d luxurywer e at command ; th e inte llect o f th e capital crowded his con ce rts,

its beauty thro nged his rooms, as a vampire sucked de adly at h is

h ea rt’s~blood. Dr ink marred and sloth ruin ed th e fair fulfilmen t .

A t the pin n acle o f his ambition h e cast his gen ius to th e winds , his

wed th to harpie s wh o made h is gen e ro sity a crime . For a

time his fame withsto od th e sh ock of his disso lute n ess. It

1 96 The‘

Ir ish Month ly.

se emed too strong to be shake n ; fo r his pupils waited while

h e drank, and th en played while h e slept. Suddenly, in 1 823

,

h e left for Moscow, wh ere again his ge n ius was victorious,

eve n more so than in St. Pe te rsburgh . Pe ople underto ok long

journ eys to he ar h im play, students, at twen ty roubles an h our

crowding his days and n igh ts fo r le ssons at h is h ands . Tho ugh we

do n ot h e ar o f ladie s makin g brace le ts o f th e str ings of his pian os,

as whe n Lisz t’s perso n ality proved as powerful as h is music, to be

a pupil of Fie ld was th en th e rage of young Russia . Still

firme r and more swiftly th e Syre n bound h er to ils about th is god

of th e mom en t. Th e spirit of re ckless eman cipation grew fie rce

with eve ry fe ll excess, till n atur e proving less lasting than his fam e ,

his h ealth broke down , and disease struck h im without remo rse .

He h ad mar ried a Mademoise lle Ch arpe n tie r , but th ey we re

separated with in a year . Te ach ing became impossible , friendsh ipimpracticable , as, n egle cted by everyth ing but h is debts, life laysh atte r ed in his grasp. A soured reckle ss man h e turn ed h is steps

towards home . Oh ! h ow sad it must be to die in a fore ign

land,”Chopin wro te .

Wh e n afte r twen ty-five ye ars

’

abse nce h e re appeared in Lo ndon rMosch e ler wro te His legato playing de ligh ts me , but h is

compo sitions are n o t to my taste .

‘ Noth in g .

is in mo r e glar ingcontrast than a Fie ld

’s Nocturn e an d Fie ld

’s man n e rs, wh ich

‘

are

ofte n cyn ical . A t a party he dr ew from his po cke t a m in iature o f

his wife, with th e r em ar k th at h e h ad o n ly marr ied h er because as

h is pupil sh e had n eve r paid h im , and h e kn ew sh e n e ve r

Th e n ce forth Fie ld was a.wan de re r . Le avin g London ,he wen t

to Par is in 1 833, th e ye ar in wh ich Chopin made h is impression i n

private circle s th e r e , Paris still vibrating with th e demon iac

powe rs of Pagani n i . But th e ch arm of his spe l l was broken . His

g e n ius was passing in to n igh t with n o star to illume it. The

morn ing of de eper harm on ic utte ran ce , of techn ical wo nde rs, was

dawn in g . Berlio z was girt for th e fray with classical fo rm alism ,

in wh ich fre e dom o f form and movemen t was to be wo n . Withall th e be auty o f his touch and e legance of exe cution , th ough h is

music cam e with h is h eart be twe en h is finge rs, Fie ld lacked spirit,

“ It is to be r emembe red that Mo sch eles co n fe ssed h e n e ver compreh ended.

Ch opin’s music

,n or could in te rpre t it, till th ey had me t. and h e h eard h im play it.

i Life an d Co rre spo nde n ce , vo l . 1 , p. 251 .

1 98 T140 Ir ish Month ly.

by h is use of th e damper pedal and an extended accompan imen t

o f scattered ch ords, which give th e playing a distin guishin g

peculiarity. Mr . Fin ch , in Ch opin , and oth er Musical Studi es ,

carried away by h is loyalty o f devotion to th e gre at Po le , h as

ascribed th e se two features to th e in ven tion of Chopin . In pre

se n ting this claim , which Chopin n eve r made for himse lf, h e ove r

looks th e un doubted fact that Fie ld repeate dly sustain ed h is

m e lody by an harmon ious substructure ofpro longed ton e . A nd n o

less was h e before Ch opin in th e harmon ies h e discovered in th e

use of wide spread in place o f massed chords, the in te rvals o f

which , h owever wide , h e completed by continuous use o f th e

pedal.

So far pe rfe ct, th ere fore , was th e n octurn e wh en th e younge r

o f Th e Dioscuri rece ived it, to embro ider it with his exotie

colour ings and his wonderful arabesque s ; gracing it with ex

e nriching it with n ew modulations, and de epen ing it with dr amatic

spirit .

But it was al re ady an ide alised musical dr eam wh e n h e

rece ived it from th e most pe rfect pian ist of his time .

”

D . Mon om e r s O’CONNOR .

A CALIFORNIA N ROSE.

NLY a ro se -tr e e blo omin gIn th e sco rch ing h ea t of Jun e ,

Dusty, and fain t, and dr o opingIn th e glar e o f th at summer n oo n ;

But a min e r’s eye s grew misty,

A nd his th ough ts far backwards flew,

To wh er e , by a co ttag e in Ire lan d,

A n oth e r such ro se -tr e e grew.

He pluck ed a blo ssom slowly,

A n d th e ye llow ar id plain

Faded—an d h e was stan ding

Ou Ir ish so il again ;

L isz t an d Ch opin .

A Ca lifornian R ose .

Wh ile inste ad of th e woode n statio n ,

Th e can on an d gulch be twe e n .

He saw his m o th e r’s co ttag e

A t fo o t of th e o ld bo r e en .

Th e bro ad plain lay be fo r e h im

In th e sun ligh t bare and r ed,

But h e saw th e h ill side r isingBehin d h is h ouse instead ;

A n d th e scen t of h awth o rn blossom s

Cam e fa in tly on th e br e e z e ,

A n d h e saw, wher e th e pin es gr ew thick ly,

A lin e of rowan tr e e s.

Harden ed h e was, and r eckless,

In tha t fierce , mad str ife fo r go ld ,

Since h e saw th e rose s climbin gTo th e th atch so brown and o ld ;

Y e t a th ough t lik e ligh tnin g pie rced him

Oi his mo th er , with eye s grown dim

With watchin g , an d praying , and wa itin gIn vain for n ews o f him .

i

On e Sun day in Moyrh chur chyard,

A fter last Mass was sa id,

A group o f n e ighbours lin g e r ed

To h ear a le tte r r ead ;

Read ofte n thr ough th at mo rn in g ,

Now on ce aga in begun

A ddr essed to th e WidowNo lanFrom h er long un h ea rd-o i son .

A nd sh e , inside th e ch ape l ,

Th an k ed G od with praye rs an d tears.

Wh o h ad given n ews from h e r wande r e r

Afte r so many ye ars ;

But sh e smiled o’e r th e m e ssage se n t h e r ,

Se like hi s spe e ch o f yo r e

Fo r th is dr aft ple a se se nd a r osebud

From th e tre e be side th e doo r .

”

Macu nxu ROCK .

200 T11 9 Ir ish Mon th ly.

THE LIFE AND INFLUENCE OF S h iN l‘AUG USTINE.

PA RT I

0 th ose wh o will n o t, o r can n o t unde rstand, th e supe rnatura l

wo rk o f th e Church o f G od, th e r e appe a rs to be a dull

u n ifo rmi ty in th e l ive s o f o ur Ca th o lic Saints wh ich to th em is

un spe aka bly r e pulsive . Th a t sayin g o f St. Paul ’s, th e r e is but o n e

spir it , but man y ope rations o f th e sam e spiri is quite un in te l lig ibleto th em . No r can th ey b rin g th emse lve s to be li e ve that th e san ctifi

ca tion o f a soul is a wo rk o f infinite de sign , and th at th at de sign

v ar ie s in.

b e auty a nd o r ig in a lity acco rdin g to th e n atur e of th e soul

itse lf, an d th e m ission it is se n t to accomplish amongst m en . He r e

th e spir it bre a th e s, a nd beh o ld a z e al th at se ts a con tin e n t o n fir e—o u

th is soul th e spir it de sce n ds, an d b eh o ld a ch arity th a t search es out

a nd co n sum e s a ll g rosse r th in gs, an d like a flame po in ts ste adily

upwards—and h e r e again b eh o ld th e wh ite ve sta l lamp o f pur ity,

e n kin dled and k ept a live by th e sam e D ivin e br ea th . In o n e sa in t

th e spiritual and m o ral e leme n ts ar e so expanded and de ve loped th at

th e ope r atio n s o f th e in te llect appear to b e suspe nded ; and in an o th e r ,

you pause in un co n scious suspe n se to decide wh e th e r th e m o ra l and

spir itual beauty o r th e in te lle ctua l gr an deur r eflects mo r e glo ry o n th e

G ive r o f bo th . To th is la tte r clhss m o st ce rta in ly be lon gs th e gr e a t

Sa in t , wh o se n am e con se cr ate s thi s pag e—a saint wh ose love fe r G od

l ifted h im a lm o st to th e leve l o f th at be loved discipl e wh o saw th e city

o f G od in th e He avens, as A ugustin e saw th e city o f G od on th e

ea rth—a sa in t, wh o to d ay, afte r th e lapse o f fifte e n ce n tur ie s, wh ich

h ave blo tted out th e n am es of a ll h is co n tempo raries, except th ose

wh o h ave sh ar ed h is imm o rta lity by h aving be e n associate d with h im ,

is t e ach e r , pr oph e t, and in te ll ectual guide to le ade rs o f th ough t

th r ough out th e un ive rsitie s o f th e wo r ld—ah

, e ve n to fr am e rs o f laws

an d sove r e ign s o f m e n , wh o se wo rds mak e o r mar th e h appin e ss o f

n a tio n s . A n d h e r e at least n o compla in t can be made o f tha t wh ich

th e wo r ld calls m o n o to n ous and slugg ish tamen ess, which we ca ll th e

ca lm , un br ok e n pe ace , whi ch is th e r eward o f hi gh and sus ta in ed

sa n ctity ; fo r th e life o f St . A ugustin e is ma rk ed by such stri kinge ve n ts, an d h is gr e a t soul passed th r o ugh such extr eme s o f passio n

a n d doubt, th at th e pious can draw in spiration from h is h o lin ess, th e

sin n e r h ope fr om h is co n ve rsio n , th e ph ilosoph e r o r divin e, wisdom

fr om his le arn ing , and th e stude n t o f h uman ity will pe rpe tua lly fe e l

fr e sh in te r e st in th e strugglin gs o f a soul to disen thral itse lf fr om th e

fie rce promptin gs of passion and th e seduction o f in te ll e ctual pride .


pe rfection of iniquity, for th e h osts of darkn ess wer e marsh allin g th e irfo rces fo r th e last conflict with victo r ious Chr istian ity. Young ,arden t, impe tuous, A ugustin e was thr own in to th e midst of th e .

dissipation and vice of that A frican city, which , whilst R ome was

gradually be ing ch an ged in to a city of san ctity, bo rrowed its wo rst

vices, and made itse lf th e h om e o f its lascivious worships, and flun g'

Open its temples to th e de iti e s wh o se very n ames we re po lluti on , and

se t itse lf in angry an tagonism to th at r e ligion of sacrifice and pur itywhich a lr eady had lifted its conquerin g standard on th e se ven h ills o f

its an cien t rival.

It is rath e r dificult fo r us to un derstand th e exce sses to wh ich

men yie lded th emse lves fre e ly in th e se pagan citie s. Th ey we r e

demoniac ra th e r than human . A Ch ristian pre ach e r dar e n o t spe ak

o f th em in de tail , n or can th e imag ination dwe ll on th em with out sin .

We h ave som e picture s left us o f th e licen tiousn e ss an d sen sual ity,

th e fe stiva ls of blood and th e orgies o f unutte rable last, that charac

te riz ed ancie n t Rom e ; ye t Carth ag e was an o th e r and a mor e wicked

Rom e . Th e civiliz ation o f th e la tte r h ad pen e trated to th e conque red

province , an d unde r a warm e r sun h ad given bir th to vice , which even

to accomplish ed Rome was unkn own . A carn ival of vice in th e str e e ts

—vice de ified in th e templ es—vice in carn ated on th e stag e

—po e ts

con secratin g th e ir divin e ‘tal en t, and orato rs devo tin g th e ir sacr ed

gifts to th e embe llishm en t o f vice : such was th e n ormal condition o f

a city whi ch , in th e just judgmen t of G od, is to -daybut a n ame , wh ilst

its great r iva l assum es with justice th e proud title of e te rn al . In to

Car th age , thus se e thin g in sin , young A ugustin e was plun ged ; an d

in a sh ort M e , as h e path e tical ly te lls na, h e was ash am ed wh en h e

h eard h is compani ons boastin g of fiagitious actions, th at h e was le ss

guilty th an th ey. A nd ao , at th e e ar ly age of n in ete en , a victim o f

two de adly vices—ambition and se nsuali ty—h is fath er dead, h is

mo th e r we epin g and praying , A ugustin e commen ced to tr ead th e

win epr e ss o f th e sorrow th at is born o f sin , n ot kn owin g th at h e h ad

any hi gh e r de stiny th an to become famous in th e sch oo ls and law

courts—n o t kn owin g th at th e r e wer e high e r an d loftie r de ligh ts th an

ar e to be found in th e pursuit of sin . A nd so h e wasted th e mo st

blessed gift of G od—th e ye ars of youth , and th e stre n gth of buddin g

man h o od— in a little study and much ple asur e , dre ams of fam e and

de sir es th at rag ed an d could n o t be que nch ed, “a little folding o f th e

h ands to r est,

” in a sensual paradise ; and n ot a th ough t of h is

imm o r tal soul , n o r of th e G od in wh om as ye t h e be lieved, n o r of th e

tre asures of wrath h e was layin g up for himse lf against th e day th a t

was to come .

It was just at th is time , to o , th at h e embraced th e Man ich ean

The L ife and Influe iwe of St. A ugustin'

e .

h e r e sy, on e o f th e most singular inven tions of human fo lly that e ve r

cla imed th e creden ce of men . Its founde r , Man es, an e aste rn mystic,a slave by bir th , a painter by trade , a proph e t by pro fe ssio n , cla im ed,lik e Mah om e t in later time s, th at h e was specially deputed byHe ave n to br in g a fr esh r eve latio n to m e n . A n d as th e la tte r sh owed

his discipl es a cer tain bo ok wh ich h e de clared was writte n in Heav en ,so th e cr e den tia ls ofMan es wer e cer tain pictur eswhich h e pr e tended

we r e pain te d in th e ski es. He pe rish ed in a fea rful dea th ; but h is

discipl es, with all th e en ergy and en thusiasm of fa lseh o od, fill ed eve rycha ir o f rh e to r ic in Carth age , an d cla im ed as co nve rts some o f th e

m o st distinguish ed men o f tha t city. Th ey spok e of th e Fath er , th e

So n , and th e Paracle te , but with some myster ious mean ing in th ose

wo rds which n o Ch ristian could accept ; declar ed th e marr iage tie to be

im nmral , and win e th e in carn atio n of e vil and inve n te d some

th e o r ies of na tur e , which wer e to l e ra ted pa tien tly, because th ey we r e

to o gr o te sque to be refuted ; and lik e al l r e ligious ch ar la tans, th eywe r e fo r eve r cryin g truth , truth ,

”wh en th e truth was n o t in th em . a

If on e did n o t kn ow th e infin ite capacitie s fo r fo lly that lie laten t in

th e h uma n mind, we would be surpr ised to h e ar th at such a gr ea t

in te ll ect as th a t of St. A ugustin e n o t on ly em‘

braced th is stran ge

r e ligio n , but becam e for n in e ye ars its most able and z e al ous profe sso r .

But th e secr e t was th at th ese Man ich e an doctrin e s we r e ve ry flatte r

in g to h is pride , and ve ry favour able to th e indulgence of th e passion s

th a t con sumed him . Th e ir false h oo d and soph istry affo rded h im

ampl e ground fo r exh ibiting all th at logical power and rich e loquenceo f wh ich e ven th en h e was a maste r . Th e sever e doctr in e s o f

Chr istian ity left n o ro om fo r con ce its and sophism which h e coul d

build at pleasur e around th e loo se and ill -defin ed e rro rs which h e

pro fe ssed ; and h e n ot on ly h ated th at auste r e r e ligio n , eve ry syllable

o f wh ose doctr in es and di sciplin e upbraided him an d made h im

a sh am ed, but h e disliked th e simplicity o f th e Scriptur e , n o r would

h e be li eve th at th e wisdom o f th e Most Hi gh was r evea led in

la n guag e th at would n ot be to le rated in th e grammar sch o o ls o f

Ca r tha g e . He cr ied aloud fo r wisdom ,and wisdom fled far fr om

h im , for h e would n ot put his fe e t in to h e r fe tte rs, n o r h is n eck in to

h e r ch ai ns.

”

But it must n ot be supposed fo r a momen t th at A ugustin e dr ifted

h e lplessly al on g with th e to rr e n t o f in iquity with out a struggle . A

gr e a t soul lik e h is do es n o t yie ld itse lf wh o lly to abas eme n t with out

pro test ; th e h igh e r facultie s o f th e min d, n ot ye t destr oyed, declar ed

aga inst th is an imalism , and th e gr e at in te ll e ct was str ivin g with a ll

its m igh t aga inst th e darkn ess which e nve loped it. I kn ow n o thin g

mo re pitiable than th e spectacl e of a fin e soul warring against i ts


l owe r n atur e , if it be n o t th e spectacle o f a lo fty mind str iving vain lyto br eak th rough its spiritual darkn ess , and em e rge in to th e ligh t .

To kn ow wh a t is r igh t, and ye t be unable to do it to h ate wh at is

wro ng , and ye t b e unable to avo id it ; to lift o n ese lf brave ly out o f

th e slime , and th en to fall back h e lplessly—to figh t again st ove r

wh e lmin g passio n , and th en to yie ld sh am efully, and afte r a m ome n t

o f fie rce de ligh t to te ar and r e nd on ese lf with a r emo rse th at is h ope

l e ss and a de spair th at is h e lpless—snr e ly this is th e sadde st o f fates.

Y e t it finds its para ll el in th e spectacl e of a soul h o ldin g its h ands

fo r eve r befo r e its eyes to pe e r in to th e darkn ess, and search its way

in to th e li gh t, ye t eve rmor e turn in g away de spair in gly to a glo om th a t

is all th e de epe r because o f th e sudden gle ams o f fitful sple ndour . Y e t

in e ach sense such was n ow th e co nditio n o f A ugustin e’s soul . Lo ve

a nd ligh t ! love an d ligh t ! th is was th e e te rn a l cry o f hi s lips and

h e art. Love fo r an obj ect so h igh and sublim e th at th e in te ll ect

sh ould n eve r we ary in co n templatio n of its transcenden t exce llence

love fo r an obj ect so pe rfect th at th e co nscie n ce sh ould n e ve r scruple

its warmest attachm e n ts—love so stro ng th at eve ry fibr e o f th e h ear t

sh oul d cling to th e loved objse t, so th at De ath itse lf could n o t bre ak ,n o r tim e dim in ish , th e str en gth of its afiection—love so vast th at th e

soul m igh t e ve r wande r th rough i ts h appy r e alms with out exh austion ,

an d th e r e find its pe rfect r e st and fruition—an d 1 0 ! in an swe r to th is

hi gh demand th e r e was only th e love o f a pe r ish ing cr eatur e , and th e

l ow leve ls of sin an d de ath . Th e r e was som e ideal be auty for eve r

be fo r e him , be ck o n in g to him , attractin g him ,almost madden ing him

with th e impo ssibility o f r e ach ing it, and beh o ld ! wh e n h e str e tch edh is h ands towards it, it was a ph an tom ,

an d h e ~touch ed on ly th e on e

vo id o f wisdom , th e r iddle o f So lomon , Sitting o n a sto o l at th e doo r

and saying : Com e an d e at willin gly th e br e ad tha t is hidden , and

dr ink o f th e swe e t sto le n wate r ! A nd ligh t ! ligh t ! to unde rstand

himse lf, an d th e dr e ad e nviro nm e n t o f Natur e . Wh o was h e Wh atwas th is awful myste ry of life , in whi ch th e un se e n G od h ad placed

h im Wh at was th e secr e t o f th e grave?Wh o we r e th ose around

h im with th e marks fo r eve r on th e ir face s, and th e ve ils ove r th e ir

h e ar ts ; go od and evil, r igh t and wro ng , wh o h ath stated th e ir limits,wh o h ad defin ed th e ir na tur es?Would h e eve r se e cle ar ly Would

h e e ve r kn ow ce r tain ly?Would th is r e stle ss in te ll ect eve r r e pose

i n th e se r e n e co n templation o f truth so pe rfect th at it would admit n osh adow o f doubt o r de n ial?But to all th is impo rtun ate questio n ing cam e as an swe rs only th e

last wo rds o f a dyin g ph ilosophy, th e de vilry o f impo rted Roman

wo r sh ip, th e we ll-co in ed phr ases th at slippe d from th e lips of se ph ists

a nd po e ts. A nd with all th is hun ge r in his h ear t, th is wild unr est in

206 1 718 Ir ish Monthly.

conversion h ad n o t yet come—th e go ld was yet to be mor e tr ied and

search ed by fir e before it could r ece ive th e impre ss of its Kin g .

A nd day by day, n igh t after n igh t, prayers were asce ndin g befo re

G od’s thr on e for h im, prayers th at we aried and did vio le nce to

Heaven by th e ir strength and persistence . Th e re is som e th ing

almost supe rnatural about a mo th e r’s love . It is th e str ongest

reminder we h ave of G od’s boun dl e ss m ercy. It is so weak , yet so

powe rful ; so patien t and so pe rsisten t ; it h as such a supe rb con tempt

for th e logic of facts, and th e conseque nce of sin and punishm en t ; it

is so r eady to tur n vice into virtue , and to accept th e fain te st ave rsio n

fr om sin as th e promise of th e h igh est perfection ; it is so fai thful, so

per fect, so unse lfish , so true , th at n ext after G od’s love for us, it is th e

be st and h o li est thing we mortals possess. An d if eve r this be autiful

l ove existed in human soul, it sur e ly was in h e rs wh ose n ame is fo r

e ver inseparably conn ected with th at of St. A ugustin e—his sainted

moth er , Monica . How sh e watch ed ove r him in his childh ood and

boyh ood—h ow sh e strove by h e r example an d te ach ing to destr oy th e

e vil effects of h e r husband’s bad example on th e ch ild—h ow de eply

sh e sufie r ed as th e first r epo rts of h er son’s pe rversity came to h er

e ars—h ow fe rven tly sh e prayed th at h is h eart migh t be touch ed and

r en ewed un to pen ance—all thi s St. A ugustin e himse lf te lls na

, addin gh is own high appr eciation of h is m o th e r

’s unselfish devo tio n . A n d a

ce rtain r emorse was added to th e mo th e r ’s praye rs, fo r sh e

r em ember ed that sh e , too , h ad sinn ed by ambition , and pe rh aps had

be en instrum en tal in sacrificing th e purity of h er ch ild to th ose

longings afte r futur e fame wh ich sh e h ad sh aredwith him . Oh , if sh e

h ad on ly kn own h ow A ugustin e would be tempte d, if sh e could o n ly

h ave fo r ese en th e dan gers th at ar e str ewn in th e path o f th e young

and th e pitfalls th at ar e dug fo r th e ir eve ry foo tstep. We ll, it is use

less to be r egr e ttin g a past th at can no t be re call ed, an d, afte r all,

He aven is m e rciful, and sh e h as se en a ce rtain vision , in which sh e

h as be e n told th at th e migh ty gulf be twe e n h er and A ugustin e shall

be bridged ove r , and h e sha ll sta nd side by side with h e r , and th eysh all kn e e l to ge th er , and th e ir praye rs sh all mingl e , and th e m e rits o f

th e Migh ty Sacr ifice sh all be shar ed be twe e n th em , and h e sh all be h er

almon er , and th e peace o f th e futur e sh all wipe out th e m emo ry o f

th e past . Th e n sudden ly sh e is to ld th at A ugustin e , tir ed of G arth

ag e , is about to depart for Rome , a nd al l h er h ope s are in a momen t

sh atter ed, because now sh e be lieves th at h e is lost to G od, and lost to

h er for ever .

A nd ye t this step of qui ttin g Carth age , al th ough accomplish ed in

secrecy (Augustin e h avin g left in th e n igh t tim e , wh en his mo th e r

was praying in a n e ighbour in g church ), was th e first gre at step to h is

The L ife and Influence of St. A ugustine . 207

c o n ver sion ; for h aving open ed his sch oo l at Rom e , afte r : r ecoveri n gfr om a vio len t feve r , h e was so disgusted with th e conduct o f th e

s tuden ts and th eir h abits of deception and dish on esty, th at h e applied

fo r a cha ir of rh e to r ic in th e city ofMilan , and th e r e was r e jo in ed byhi sm o th e r . Now in this city was a man of G od,

”ch ose n like A n an ias

o f Damascus to teach and illumin e this great dark en ed in tellect th at

Attracted by th e fam e o f St. Ambrose as a preach e r , A ugustin e

w e n t to h e ar him and havin g h eard him and adm ir ed h is e loquen ce ,th e de ep truth s which h e preach ed, and against wh ich A ugustin e

wo uld h ave closed his e ars, gr adual ly sank in to his mind, and gave

th e fir st gr eat sh ock to th ose pr e ja dicea h e h ad conce ived again st

C a th o licity. Fo r , like all th ose wh o rag e again st th e truth , h e little

un de r stood it, and h e foun d th at it was n o t against th e Cath olic

r e lig ion th at h e h ad bark ed, but again st a ch ime ra inven ted by its

e n em ies.

’A nd th e r e , Sunday afte r Sunday, wh en St. Ambrose .

a scen ded th e whi te marble pulpit th at still is sh own at Mil an ,h e saw

b e n e a th h im th e widow and h er child, sh e calm, pati en t, praye rful

and th e young professo r , wh o se lectur es h alf th e youth o f Mil an we r e

a tten din g , mode st, externa lly humble , but pride fo r e ver stiffen in gh is n eck and ste aling his h ear t against th e first great act of lowly

a basem en t.

Ir r e ligion and vice , th ose twin gian ts th at eve r work in unison ,

gua rded th e por tals of his h ear t. If on e yie lded for a mom en t, th e

o th e r was a ll th e mor e al e rt . If th e powerful e loque nce of St.

A mbro se sh atte r ed eve ry argumen t wh ich in th e se cr e cy of his h e art

A ug ustin e h ad fashi on ed, h e r e was th e sad compan io n of his guilt to

yr o test against h is embracing tha t re ligi o n wh ich glo r ifie s pur ity and

vir gin ity and if eve r , and it was often , h is soul, ragin g un der its

base subje etion , clamour ed to be fre e from th e degradation of vice ,

h e r e was th e vain phi losophy th at captivated him and made h im

a shame d of th e simplicity of th e G ospe l, and th at doctr in e o f

h umility wh ich is a lwaye th e stumbling block to in te lle ctual pride .

Was th er e any h ope for him at a ll He r e , o n th e on e h and, was th e

h e r e sy which h e n o t on ly be lieved but pr ofessed pr ide th at waxed

str o ng er wi th every year of succe ss th e strength o f manh o od a lli ed

with th e str eng th of sin and above all, this illicit love , which was

c o iled around h is h eart lik e a se rpen t and on th e o th e r , on ly th e

pr aye rs o f his mo th er and th e Sun day sem e n of St. Ambr o se But

I am wr ong . Th e re was On e , omn ipo te n t, a ll wise , also with h im

a n d He wh o bade th e win ds and waves be still on th e se a o f G a li le e

wa s n ow about to calm th e tumul t of this migh ty min d. A nd in Hiso wn simple , Divin e way, He ch oose as His ministers a Pagan and a

208 1 714: Ir ish Monthbp

ch ild. A lipius, a dear bo som frie nd of A ugustin e’s, was a yo un g

Pagan , wh o in th e midst o f infamy had always worsh ipped puri tyand kn owing th e te rr ible to rtur e th at A ugustin e sufier ed, h e would

r e ason with h im. pre ach to him , exto l th e be autiful vir tue , pain t in

darkest co lours th e ha te ful vice . Madde n ed by his own h e lplessn ess,tor tur ed by h is passiona te de sir e to be fr ee , Augustin e would liste n

pa tien tly for a wh ile , and th en would rush away fr om h is frie nd,

cryin g : Le ave m e ! leave m e ! No t ye t ! n o t ye t An d hi s friend

would star e and wonde r at him ,an d b e sile n t in th e face o f such

an guish . Th e n th e r e cam e to th e soul of A ugustin e a ce lestia l visio n

o f Ch astity, clo th ed in whi te ligh t, with a glitter in g band o f childr e n

a round h e r—pur e , e th e re al, and divin e—and sh e po in te d to h e r '

ch ildr e n and sa id Beh o ld, wh at th e se are do ing , why canst th o u

n o t do lik ewise Th eyfth e un le arn ed—you, th e accomplish ed ; th ey,so weak in na tur e—you clo th ed in th e str ength of your manh o od“th ey so fr ail—you, so powe rful and th e visio n van ish ed an d le ft

h im in an agony of sh ame and so rrow. A t last, o n e day a trave lle r

cam e , Po n timanus by n am e , and to ld o f a wonderful sigh t h e h ad

see n—a dese rt pe opled with men , wh o led th e lives o f an g e ls, wh o

sacr ificed n o t on ly all sin ful love , but all legitimate h uman affecti o n

youn g m e n, ca lmly saying far ewell to th e ir aflian ced, and passing

'

fr om

th e gay citie s to th e silen t sands, and th e br ide s th at we r e to be , to

mo rrow e spousing th emse lves in mystica l uni on with th e Lamb, le av

in g al l th in gs to fo llowHim . A nd A ugustin e , n o t able to co n ta in

his emo tio n , fled in to h is garde n an d cr ied to Alipius Wh at ar ewe do in g Did you n o t h e ar Th e ign o ran t, th e un l

'

earn ed carry

th e kingdom of h eaven by sto rm , and we with our boasted scien ce

grove l o n th e ear th Is it n o t a sh am e th a t we h ave n o t th e cour age

to imitate th em Noble wo rds, A ugustin e , at last at last ! A nd

h e flings h imse lf under a fig tr e e in an guish , and h e , th e phil o soph e r ,

th e o rato r , th e professor , sobs as if his h eart would br eak wi th un

accoun table grief. A nd h e h ears th e vo ice of a ch ild in a n e ighbour

ing ga rden , sin gin g its play son g but h e has n eve r h e ard th a t

ch ildish m e lody be fo re . He listens, an d ca tch in g th e sin gular re

frain To lls, lege—to lle , lege Wh o eve r h eard a ch ild utte r

such stran g e words befo re But, gre a t G od !wh o kn ows, can it be

that th e se words ar e a h eavenly m e ssage to himse lf A nd, tremblin g

all over wi th emo tion , h e tak es up a book lyin g on th e gr ass be for e

A lipius, and open ing it by ch ance h e r eads Let us walk h on estlyas in th e day ; no t in r eve ll in g and drunkenn ess, n ot in chambe rin gand impuri ties but put ye on th e Lo rd Je sus Ch rist, and make n o t

provision fo r th e flesh in its con cupiscences A nd sudde nly, as wh e n

i n tr opical clim es th e sunshafts break upon th e darkn ess, and chase »

2 1 0 TIM Ir ish Month ly.

THE IRISH CISTERCIANS OF MOUNT MELLERA Y .

AMONG th e poemswhich th e Mother Prioress of Ston e Conven t

1 n Stafiordshire (Mrs. Dran e ) n ames Son gs 1 n th e Night,1 8 on e , 1 20 Return Qf tlw Flock, enshr in ing a very love ly and

mystical idea . Th e words of its name always come into my mind

wh en I think o f our Ciste rcian monks of Moun t Me lle ray, St.

B ernard’s monks, wh o ,wh en th eywere obliged to fly fr om Fran ce ,

brought to an Irish moun tain -side a rich store of blessings, equalto th ose rece ived from th e Island of Saints in early Christian days

by the fore fath ers of th e ir Order . In 1 831 th e monks of La

Trappe ar rived in Ire land se ekin g for a h ome , and they found it

o n th e side of the Kn ookme ildown mountain in Waterford, on th e

It has always been th e peculiar and ben eficent meth od of th e

Ciste rcians to se ek for a wildern ess, and h ere with praise and

prayer and un ceasing labour to weave th e ir holy spells

swamp, and rock, and barren tract, un til th e beauty and fruitful

n ess of th e prim eval Paradise is won back to th at particular spot

o f earth which has happily become subjeat to th eir to ils and th e irbe n edictions. St. Bernard n eve r ch ose a site more characte ristic

o f his in te n tion than did his followers wh en th ey first plan ted

cross and spade on the slope of th e greatWate rford moun tain . A

wealth of wild beauty, a splendour of form and colour ing were

th er e ; and th e high crags, round which th e eagles hung and

swooped, towered in that a eria l skyey region towards which th e

souls of G od- loving men yearn as sh owing mystic paths and

open ings in to th e high er and fairer regions in which th ey have

built th e ir eve rlasting home . Suggestive in th e very baren ess and

ruggedn ess of its n oble features, th e harsh mountain was more

de lightful than gardens and pastures to th e simple an d laborious

ascetic, and h e wen t to work upon its possibilities with an indomi

Th e difficulties most like ly to beset h im in th e very beginn ing

we re providen tially smooth ed out of his path . Th e courage and

e arn e stn ess, and perhaps even a touch of fascinated in te rest such

as a large-min ded Protestant migh t fe e l in the poetic tradition s 05

th e se devoted men , influenced Sir Richard Keane , th e landlord of

The Ir ish Cistercians. 21 1

t h e distr ict, to afford th em an opportun ity of becoming an

i ndustr ial power in th e coun try by giving th em a lease o f. six or

s e ve n hundred acre s of apparently un cultivable land on which to

e stablish th emse lve s under cloud and crag and be twe en bog and

sto n y wilde rn ess. But having n o mon ey, credit, or worldly goods

o f any description , in wh at way did th ey in ten d to proceed 1”

Wi th out visible weapon or instrument h ow were th ey to e ngage in

th e strugg le which was to cast out th e demon o i barren n e ss from

th e magn ifice n t Nature wh ich th ey had ven tured to approach

Every Ir ishman wh o can sh oulde r a pickaxe o r sh ove l can answer

th e question . A t a sign from th e ir parish prie st, th e big-h earte d

Waterford men and th e ir lads forgot th e sad truth th at it requireda ll th e ir own to il , humanly speaking , to ke ep th e wolf fr om each

par ticul ar cabin do or , and th ey rose up in a swarm ,and left th e ir

own fie lds behind th em to labour on th e moun tain on beh alf and

un der dir ection of th e pale-faced strange rs wh o had come to th em

for h ospitality in Christ, and in th e n ame o f th e early Sain ts of

Er in who had fasted and prayed with th em in th e ir fo re ign h omes

a s bro th e rs in th e days wh en Chr istiani ty was young .

Th at is more th an fifty years ago , and th e miracle h as been

wrought. Long patien t skill, unbroken endurance , h oly forbe ar

an ce , saintly frugality, h ave won again st th e savage force s of

Natur e ; spir it has conquered matte r ; rock, and m orass, and

sh ing le h ave dowered an d multiplied fruits unde r th e mystic sway

o f th e ir gentle and indefatigable maste rs ; and th e truth is made

man ifest that lie s hidden in th e reveal ed Word, assuring an

in credul ous wo rld that if it h as but faith it may move th e

m oun tain . Th e Waterford moun tain , with th e quain t n am e ,

th oug h n o longe r a savage mon ar ch , is still a kin g , enfoldin g in

h is purple a cultur e an d civiliz ation wh ich would put many a

n aturally te eming valley to sh am e . Th e wilds of Kn ockm e ildown

a re become th e gardens of Moun t Me lleray, acres of pasture and

cornfie ld, a land fl ewing with m ilk and hon ey.

Th'

e vocation of our Irish monks of L a Trappe in clude s manybran ch es of u se fuln ess and ben evolen ce . Our St. Be rn ard prays

for th e world, wh o e ith er cann ot or will n ot pray for itse lf, o r

which , praying and be in g anxious to pray, has n o t time to pray

e n ough ; prays for th e sui i ering , th e sad, th e shipwr ecked, th e

doubting ; for all especially wh o cry out to h im for th e alms o f h is

prayers. He is like th e watch -tower and th e beacon -light to th ose

2 1 2 The Ir ish. Mo nth ly.

o n th e high se as, who will soon er o r late r be on th e sh oals or th e

rocks, e ve n if n ow th e tide run s merrily and th e ship is tigh t and

safe . He is, be side s, cultivato r of th e so il, employe r of labour ,

teach er of youth , in structo r an d comforter of tho se who com e to

seek gh ostly coun sel of him , to wh om his h ouse is eve r open and

h is h ospitali ty with out stin t .

A t Cappoquin , thr e e mile s distan t from Moun t Me ll eray, th ere

is a comfortable in n , under good man agem en t ; and from this place

a de lightful car-drive on a summe r day will brin g on e to th e gate s

o f th e Mon astery, th rough th e ripe ni ng wh eat , on the go lde n

borde rs of which extends th e yet un tamed moo r , dark and for

bidding , or wayward, gracious, and invitin g , lavish of its crimson s

and purples, and tawny brown s to th e co lour -loving eye . On th e

ve rge of th e gre en pasture-lan ds th e mo or -fowl cry, and the bog

l ie s in all its suggestiven e ss, sul len , and path etic, and strong , as if

conscious of its own in trin sic worth and th e wealth it cove rs, unde r

a rugged exterio r , with all its po o ls of wate r alive and gaz ing in

th e sky lik e eye s that are n ow wistful , n ow m irthful , and n ow

shadowed with profoundest glo om .

Working in th e fie lds ar e foun d th e monks and th e ir agricul

tur al pupils. Outside th e gates you will se e th e guest-h ouse ,

wh er e a respected matron r ece ives ladi es wh o may come to se ek

spir itual h e lp . Th e Mon aste ry itself is a large , quadrangularbuilding , and th e church , th ough n ot remarkable in poin t of

arch itectur e , is in tere sting an d ven e rable as a r e ligious in terior .

Th e buildings are 1 62 ft . in length , 30 ft. in bre adth , 32 ft . high ,

a nd in clude dorm ito rie s, kitch en , chapte r-ro om , sacristy, and o th e r

apar tme n ts. Th e fourth side of th e quadran gle is filled in by th echurch

,1 80 ft. lo ng , 30 ft. wide in n ave , 52 ft. in tran sept, 30 ft .

h igh . Th e towe r is surmoun ted by a spire of wood sh e eted in

copper , and rises 1 40 ft . fr om th e ground.

Th e first thing th at stri kes on e on e nte ring th e door of Moun t

Me lle ray.

Mon aste ry is th e h ospitality of th e se frugal monks, wh o

th emse lve s n eve r e at but twice in twe n ty-four h ours, and whose

un varied m eals con sist of vege table s, po rridge , and brown bread

on ly. A r ece n t trave lle r up Kn ockm e ildown re late s that h is first

glimpse of a Trappist monk caught that gen tle asce tic in th e act

o f h astening fr om kitch en to guests’refe ctory with a te apot in h is

hand. Inde ed , th e ar rived gue st h as only to walk upstairs and sit

down at a plen tiful table , wh er e h is hunger will be satisfied before


Every class is represented in the Community, and all n eeds are

supplied from within . Th ey are farmers, tailors, masons, slate rs,bakers, brewers, shoemake rs, e tc. e tc. On e hundred stude n ts are

in th e boarding-scho o ls, coming from France and America , as we ll

as from all parts of th e thr e e kingdoms. Th e pension is only £30

a y ear . Music, art, elocution , are n ot overlooked in th e education

by th e monks is redacted eve n outdde th e Mon aste ry gates, as on e

se es by th e aspect of the usual Nation al schoo l , th e conven tio nal

baren ess and barre nn e ss of which is h e re a little relieved by th e

prese nce of a few flowerin 3 plan ts in th e windows and oth er little

signs of civilisation . A s a rul e n o thing is more dismally unsug

gestive o f r eal education than th e aspect of an Iri sh National sch oo l

scrupul ously conducted on th e prescribed principles.

I cann ot leave Moun t Me lle ray with out on e more backward

glance at Kn ockme ildown moun tain . Th e view from th e summit

ft. h igh ) I know to be magnificent as far as eye can reach

on every side , taking in th e rock of Cash e l, and th e ruins of th e

an cien t cath edr a l and home of its kings, the ocean and harbours o f

Youghal an d Dungarvan , and a vast extent of winding and pictur

e sque an d ch ar acteristic sea-coast . A bout th e middl e of last ce nturyred deer pastured on th e side s of Kn o ckme ildown , but th ey are

gon e . Wild plants and flowe rs grow about it, and on th e ve ryhigh est poin t is th e grave of a man , h is dog , and horse : a lover of

ligh tn ing and e le ctricity, a scien tific discover er—He nry Esleswh ose last r equest craved that h e might be so buried, close to the

clouds, th e h ome of his be loved lightn in g.

Wh en you visit Moun t Me lle ray and ascend Kn ockme ildown ,

the re 1 8 on e spot on which I kn ow you will pause and h old yourbre ath , wh ere a deep lake or tam ,

thre e -quarters of a mile in cir

cumfere n ce , li es m a basin sco oped out of th e moun tain wh ich rises

over it pe rpendicularly to a h e ight of 600 ft . Th e wate r is de ep,and dark , and co ld—n o sapphir e was ever darke r , bluer , co lde r

the sun do es n ot reach it on th e warmest summer day ; its chill is

so de adly that to bath e in it extinguish es life . Only th e eagle , asif fascin ated by its de ep

-set gleam, hove rs over it, dips and swoops,

but quickly rises again , and scre aming , soars in to the sun .

ROSA MULHOLLA ND

The Blessing of Dublin .

THE BL ES S ING O F DUBL IN .

FROM THE IRISH OF ST. BENEA N .

HILL and de ad

Lies th e Kin g o f Dublin’s son ,

A t his h ead

Sits gr ey A lpin , stem and still ;

N e ith e r eat n o r drink h e wi ll ,

Till th e earth h ave h ad h e r fill,

A nd Valh a l be won .

Patr ick came ,

Lauding loud of h o lie r things,

Flash ed th e dame

From th e Vikin g- eyes Can He ,

Make r of all thin gs, mak e be

Th at which is n o m o r e fo r m e

Thy Kin g of Kin gs

Speak th e word

L e t th e sove re ign de ed be don e ,

Th e n thy LordLord o f min e is—Lo rd of a ll ,Each a liegeman at his ca ll ,

Bows in battle , go ld in h all ,

For Iu'

m—my so n .

”

Patr ick prayed,

Moving as th e sun move s r ound,

Naugh t dismayed

Kin g and jarls thr ice fo llowed h im ,

Heard, with unde rstandin g dim ,

Oi th e mystic murmur ed hymn

Th e stran ge we ird sound.

Th en great dr e ad

Cam e upon th em , and, beh o ld !

Sto o d th e De ad

In th e ir midst, e r e ct, with ga z e

Fixed on th em in mute amaz e

Lit with r ed r e turn ing rays

Th e visag e co ld.

Th e Ir ish Month ly.

Sa id th e Kin g ,Standing with his wa rmen n igh ,

Fo r th is th in gWe ar e va ssals to thy Lo rd,Fo ll owe r s fast by fie ld and fiord,

True at trystin g , staunch at sword

Sea , sh o r e , o r sky

I pro n oun ceTribute to th is King of thin e ,

Each an oun ce

We igh ed a r igh t o f ruddy go ld

Eve ry ye ar sh all be th r ice to ld

From th e No r thman ’s Dublin h o ld

A t Mach a’s sh r in e .

”

Pa tr ick raised

His r igh t h an d in be n ediction ,

G od be praised !

If th e to ll be pa id each year ,No t th e wo r ld n e ed Dublin fear ,

Else , th r e e times th e G ae lic spea r

Sh all bring emiction .

G ift s e leven ,

G ue rdon s, in r e turn , sh a ll fall

Ih om h igh h e ave n

G o odly wive s th e wive s sh all b e ,

Th e m en live manful an d di e fr e e ,

Beauty still th e maiden s’ 1 9 0

Oi th e pur e proud G a ll .

Feats o f swimmin g

Mark th e youth , se a-loved, se a -stro ng ,

Brigh t h o rn s br immi n g ,

We lcome all to boun te ous boa rd

G ift o f war -tr iumph an t swo rd,

G ift o f trophi e s, many a h oard,

Mak e its '

glo ry long .

Champions brave ,

G allan t Ki n gs to b ear th e crown ,Ou land o r wave ,

G i ft o f comm e rce fr om all parts,

G ift o f eve r -wide n ing mar ts,

G ift in Church of r ever en t h earts

Ble ss stout Dublin town .

2 1 8 The Ir isk Month ly.

th e date assign ed to th e poem , it is man ifest tha t it is a te stimon y and tr ibute ,

bo rn e by Ir ish Churchme n , to th e early Ch ristian ity an d h igh quali tie s o f th e g re a t

Hi berno -No rse race , so g en e ra lly and so un scrupulously ma l ign ed .

Th e Black Bo ok o f Chr ist Church”te lls th a t St. Pa tri ck sa id mass in

c e rta in vaults, and fo re to ld th e e rection of th e Church . C h rist Chur ch was built

o ve r th e se vaul ts by th e No rse Kin g Sitt io , 1 038 . Th e existe n ce of St .

Patr ick’s we lls sh ows th at tradi tion co nfirms th e accoun t of his pre se n ce in Dublin .

Th e stran ge re fe r ence to th e last th re e fire s o f Erin is a po e tic allusi on to a

fin e wh en all Irelan d sh ould be a dese rt , save th r e e inh abited place s, of which

Dublin would be on e . Th is probably is th e m e an in g o f th e th r e e fires, born e on

t owe rs, in th e arms o f Dublin .

REV. C. P. MEEHAN .

R .I.P .

THIS learn ed priest and true -h earte d Irishman died on th e 1 4th

of March at th e Pre sbyte ry, SS. Mich ae l and John ’s, Dublin ,

in th e 78th ye ar of h is age and th e 55th o f his sacr ed min istry .

Th e n ewspape r obituaries h ave given an additio n al ye ar to hi s

prie stly life ; but h e certain ly was n ot o rdain ed before h is 23rd

year , and h e h imse lf read , with out co rr ectin g , th e date that we

a ssign ed to h is ordin ation—1 835— ia a som ewhat extended accoun t

o f his life and writings, which appe ared last A ugust in thi s Maga

z in e (volume xvn , page 427 ) That pape r dispenses na from th e

n ece ssity of dwe ll ing at prese n t at any le ngth on Fath er Me ehan’s

m o st useful lite rary labour s, and it also saves us fr om th e regre t

e xpr e ssed by som e po e t wh om th e A uth or o f Lo rn a Doon e

quo tes in dedicating a bo ok to a deceased friend

Prom itti man ibus , submitti Man ibus, iste

Lug e t , e t imm emo re m te m emin isse , libe r .

Th e fo llowing humble and amiable little n ote regards th e

a rticle in que stionDEA R F . Rnssmm,

Man y than ks fo r th e kind n o tice o f a ve ry in sign ifican t indi vidual . O i late

I h ave h ad in ce ssan t a ttacks o f dyspepsia , which make s m e r e ga rd your m emo ir as

m y epitaph—n o t wr itten with a pen o f iro n .

Eve r gratefully yours,

July 27th , 1 889 . C . P. M

We may quote an o th er o fFath er Me ehan’

s le tte rs wh ich be longs

to an e ar lie r date , fo r it implies that h is co rre sponden t was till th en

ign oran t of th e n ame o f th e A uth or of Th e Monks of Kilcrea ,”

o f whom a full account is given at page 325 o f our thirte en th

v o lume . The Feb . 20 of th e following le tte r must, th e refo re ,

b e five or six years ago . It r efe rs to some do cumen ts and verse s

a ppen ded to o n e of Fath er Me ehan’s works, probably h is Irish

F r an ciscans.

”Th e r e fe re nce to Cardin al Moran as Bish op o f

O m ry puts th e date still furth e r back .

Th e A uth o r of me Monks of K ilcr ea is Mr . A rthur G e rald G e ogh e gan ,

fo rme r ly an e xcise o ffice r , but n ow livin g re tir ed in Lo ndon .

Dr . Mo ran , Bish op o f Osso ry, h a s a copy o f Lyn ch’s L ive s of th e Ir ish

B ish ops.

’Th e la te Dr . Todd , foun d th e o r igin a l , if I mistake n o t , in th e

L ibra ry of R om e . His copy was, I think , purch ased by Dr . Mo ran .

I tr ansla ted th e epicedi um . Wh e n I was a chap in th e Roman Co ll eg e un de r

Padr e Divice (G od re st h im I tur n ed lo ts of Ovid’s Tr istia (th en our class-bo o k )

in to Italian ve rse . wh ich ple ased my be loved teach e r . Y ou kn ow th at th e Roman

m fi an s cast him out . I m e t him in L ive rpo o l wh en h e was g o in g to Ame rica ,

broke n -h ea r te d and pe rsecuted by th e villa in swh o ca ll ed th emse lves th e Battag lio n e

This is by n o means th e last time th at Father Me eh an will be

m e n tion ed in th e se page s ; but at prese n t we sh all o nly put o n

re co rd th e edifying fact that h e was pre emin en t fo r h is charity to

the poor , giving large ly out of his scan ty in come , an d fo r th is

purpose r efrain ing from expe n ses in which h is li te rary and an ti

qas ria n taste s m ight have e ngaged him . Thi s may be mo re to

h is advan tage n ow th an even the auth orship of The Flight o f

the Earls,”th ough such labours also are use ful and m e ritori ous.

May h e rest in peace .

INNOCENCE .

WHITE r o se must di e all in th e youth and be auty of th e ye ar ,

Th ough Nigh tin gale sh ould sing th e wh o le n igh t th ro ugh ,

Th ough summ e r br e e z e s wo o ,

Sh e will n o t h e ar .

Too de licate fo r th e sun’s kiss so h o t and passion a te ,

Or fo r th e rude car esses o i th e wind,

Sh e dr ooped and pin ed

Th ey m ourn ed to o late .

B irds car o l cle ar

Summ e r h as come ,”th ey say,

0 , joy o f livin g o n a summe r’s day

Wh ite r ose must die a ll in th e youth and be auty of th e ye ar .

DORA me an so s .


THE POPE ’S LAST POEM.

Th e Osserm to re Romano h as late ly be en allowed to publish

some verses which L e o XIII. wrote upon th e death of h is Jseni tbro th e r

,C ardin al Jo se ph Pecci . Th e po em take s th e fo rm of a

dialogue be twe e n th e living broth er and the dead . A nd first

dcfunctus loqm'

lur

Josm n .

Iustitiaa factum sa tis e st ; admises piavi ;

Iam cae li me templa te n e n t ste llan tia ; sed tu

Cum to t sustin e as, tam gran dis mun ia , debe s

Tan ta plura De o , quan ta ma jo rs tulisti .Sum e an imum fiden s cymbam duc aequo r in altum

Num in e propiti o tibi sin t cum fe n o re multo

Fe lice s in i ti pro re llig ion e labo re s !

A ttam en ut vale as o lim sublimis cae li ,

Ul tr ice s fugien s flamm as,attin g e re , pruden s

Mor ta li Ie sch in ,vi ta e dum ve sce ris aur a ,

Quidquid pe cca tum e st , lacrimis de le t e m emen to .

Joscn n t .

Dum vivam , fe sso sque re gat dum spir itus artus,

En i tar g em itu lacrimisque abste rge re culpas.

A t tu, qui Supe rum securus luce he arie ,

Con fectum ae rumn is , de vexa asta te laban tsm

Erig e , e t usque mem o t de cae lo re spice fratz en ,

Quem turbo h e n dudum pr em it h o n'idus , h o rrida da dam

Fluctibus in medii s commo ta proce lla fatig at .

Th ese lin e s h ave be en tran slated in The Table t, T he Da ilyChr on icle

,and Th e G lobe . By a str an ge oversight th e Editor of

The Tablet appe ar s to h ave admitted th e attempt of a fore ign er

wh o kmows English we ll e n ough to imagin e that past rhyme s

with be e r’st,

”an d that e stranged my past is se n se and a fair

e quivale n t for admissa piavi in what h e calls in prose th e

n e ce ssar ily stifien ed language of a ve rsed tran slation .

” Mo re

cur ious than th e phrase while th ou draw thy bre ath is th e lin e

so th e n may’st co o l thin e eye s in h eaven

’

s bree z e ,”wh ich stands

fo r th e Pope’

s simple expression that th oumaye st at le ngth beable to re ach th e h e igh ts of h e aven .

Th e Da ily 0 1mm icle has , it se ems, discovered in th e se lin es a

glar in g false quan tity -n ot me re ly false but glar in gly false , and


JoaomY ea , wh ile th e bre ath ye t fil ls th is fee ble fram e ,

Sh all gr oan and tear assoil my soul o f blame .

A n d do th e n , bro th e r , th e n in G od’s blast ligh t ,

Rai se m e low-dro opin g to thy spir it’s h e igh t ;

From Heaven lo ok down upo n me , bro th er de ar ,

Suppo rt my wearin e ss, my sadn ess ch e e r ,

While th e rough tempest’s powe r and wild se a

’

s

Toss my fra il bark an d drive me o nward still .

Th e allusion to purgatory in th e first lin e might be be tter

r epre sented thus

Ja stice is satisfied, clean sed e very stain ,

A nd n ow th e starry cour ts of h eaven I ga in .

FROM SHORE TO SHORE.

ORROW h a th built a palace in my soul ,

With windows givin g on Ete rn ity,

A nd th e nce I se e Tim e’s dr e ary wave s dr ift by,

Swo ll en with human tears , and onwards ro ll

To chi lling sh o r es of De ath , th e ir fina l goa l .

Dark bur th ens o n th e h e aving wa te rs lie ,

To ssed to and fr o be n e ath an iron sky,

Wr eck e d h ope s, wre ck ed h ear ts, wr eck ed live s th at o n ce

we r e wh o le .

Poo r ships ! so so o n de str oyed by envious wave s,

80 so on to foun de r e nvious ro cks be twe e n ,

Or e lse becalm ed fo r aye o n ar id san d

Ne ar th o se dim ga rdens fil led with nam e l e ss grave s

W’

h e r e in we lay to r e st wh at migh t h ave be e n

A n ch or n o t h e r e : th e r e is a Be tte r Land .

No tes on N ew Books . 223

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

1 . “ My Time a nd wh a t I’ve don e with it,

”by F . C. Bur nand

(L ondo n : Bur n s an d Oa te s) is a ve ry cleve r , a ve ry inter e stin g , but a

v e ry stran g e bo ok . A s fo r its cleve rn ess, th at is sur e ly to be expected

f r om th e A uth o r o f Happy Th ough ts, and th e Edito r of Punch .

T h er e is plen ty of wit an d plen ty o f in te r estin g in cidents. On e

w o nders h ow far it is an autobiography, as it is call ed o n th e title

page . Som e of th e ch ang e s in th e h e ro’s fo rtun e s agr e e with wh at is

k n own of Mr . Burn and h im se lf, wh o se po r tr ait is th e fro n tispiece o f

th is n ew popular edi tion . Th e story o rigin ally r an th rough o n e o f

t h e Lon do n maga z in es—Tcmple Bar , we th ink—an d th en r e appear ed

a s a th r e e -vo lume o r two -vo lum e n ove l . Th e publish e rs’adve rtise

m en t of th e. pr ese n t e ditio n r epre sen ts it as con ta in in g sk e tch es of

Public Sch o o l an d Un ive rsity life , and al so A nglican Semin ary life .

Th e public sch oo l in que stion is 1 16 doubt Eton , call ed Ho lysh ade bya n a llusio n to G ray

’s famous ode

He r Henry’s h o ly shade .

Bulfo rd and Cowbr idge ar e evide n tly Oxfo rd and Cambridge . G od

b le ss th e auth o r fo r th e unwo rldl in e ss an d cour ag e that h ave turn ed

t h e last pages of th is bo ok in to an explicit act o f faith .

2 . The Catho l ic Wor ld is giving e arn est e ncourag em en t to th e

formation o f Cath o lic Re adin g Circle s in th e Un ited Sta te s. Som e o f

t h o se in ter e sted in th e movem en t h ave drawn up a list o f go od sto r ie s

publish ed by Am e r ican Cath o lic publish e rs. Urie by Mo th e rR apha e l (A . T. Dra n e ) , wh ich is out o f pr in t a t h ome in Bur n s and

O a te s’s catal ogue , is h e r e assign ed to th e Vatican Library, New

Yo rk . A s th is list is co nfin ed to Am e rican publica tions and r epubli

ca tio n s, Miss Ro sa Mulh o l land is r epr e sen ted, n o t by Mar ce lla G race,

o r any o f h e r we ll kn own sto rie s, but by Hetty G ray, or Nobody’s

Bao'

m . With thi s sto ry two o th e rs ar e ascr ibed to h e r wh ich ar e n o t

h e rs at all Victo r’s L aur e l and Kathleen

’s Motto . How h as th is

m istak e occur red?Our Am e r ican fr iends ough t n o t to suppr e ss our

Ir ish auth o r’s n am e al to g e th e r

—as we h ad o nce to complain o f Mr .

N o o n an of Boston—n o r to ascribe to h e r bo oks wh ich are n o t h e rs,a s se ems to h ave be e n don e in th e pr ese n t in stance .

3 . It wo uld h ave be en an addition al r ecomm endation fo r an

A m e rican bo ok comm ended in our March n o tice s Rationa l R e li

g io n ,” by th e R e v . Jo hn Conway, Mi lwauk e e—ii we h ad m e n tio n ed

t ha t th e A uth o r was o n e of th e Dunboyn e students o f Mayn o o th n o t

m any years ago .

4 . A n oth e r Irish pr ie st, th e Rev . A r thur Ryan , Pr eside n t o f St.

224 The Mon thly.

Patrick’s Co lleg e , Thurles, h as given n a in a h andsome vo lume of

some th r e e h un dr ed pages,“ Se rmo ns 1 877- 1 887 (Dublin : M . H.

G ill and So n ) . Th ese thi rty disco urses ar e on a gr eat varie ty o f

sub] ects, and th ey a re all an imated by a ve ry e arn e st and practica l

spirit. Th ey ar e by n o m e an s e ith e r co ld o r commo nplace , and th ey

will furn ish use ful and pl e asan t spiritual re ading in Cath o l ic h o use

h o lds. Fath e r Ryan h as ve ry few compe tito rs in th is fie ld. Th e

po sth umous se rmons of th e R ev . Jo seph Farre ll (th e Ce r tain Pr o

fesso r a r e almost th e on ly o n e s we h ave h ad of late ye ars fr om a n

Ir ish pr ie st, till th is n ew vo lume from th e Pr esiden t o f Thurles . A n

Ir ish pri e stly h e art speaks th rough al l . Writin g on St .Pa tr ick’sEve ,

we must again r e commend an o th e r bo ok by Fath e r A rth ur Rya n

which we ann ounced last mon th St. Patrick , Apo stle o f Ir e land

(Dublin : M . H. G ill) . It co nsists o f a Life and a Nove n a . Th e

fo rm e r g ive s in fifty pag e s a v e ry car e ful and vivid summary o f al l

that is kn own o r pruden tly co n jsota r ed about th e car e e r o f our gre a t

A po stle . Th e praye rs o f th e Nove n a are ve ry fr esh and unconve n

tion al, an d could only h ave be e n wr itte n by a warm -h e ar ted Irish

pr ie st .

5. Scen e s fr om th e Life o f St. Be n edict, dramati z ed by a Be n e

die tin e Nun”(Lo ndon : Burn s and Oate s), is th e best piece o f lite ra ry

wo rk of this particular kind th at we h ave se e n fo r a lon g time . Th e »

conven t dr amas and edifyin g plays th at we h ave examin ed se em to

us ve ry poo r . Th is Ben edi ctin e Nun h as r each ed a h igh e r degre e o f

li te rary m e rit . It is a pity wh en go od th emes ar e spo il ed by pe rso ns .

who , n eve rth e less, will h ave a r eward on accoun t of th e ir go od in te n

tio n s . He r e,in additio n to go od in te n tions, we h ave conside rabl e .

capacity fo r dramatic blank ve rse .

6 . Th e be st collection of hymn s th at we kn ow is St . Patrick’s

Hymn Bo ok (Dublin : Brown and No lan ). It h as be en compil ed bya Missio n ary Pr ie st fo r th e use o f A ssociation s of th e Sacr ed He a rt,

Sodalitie s o f Ch ildr en of Mary, e tc. Be sides all th e be st hymn s o f th e’

usua l co ll ection s, it h as some th irty b e autiful hymn s th at h ave n o t

be fo r e made th e ir way in to a popular hymn-bo ok . Th e extr eme ly low

pr ice sh ows th at th e publish e rs r e cko n o n a verywide circulatio n .

7 . How is it th at in some small En glish town s exquisite specimens .

o f typography ar e produced, wh ich th e th r e e capita ls can h ardly r ival

To rquay furn ish e s th e latest example . Th e dain ty bo ok , wh ich Mr .

F . H. Hamilto n , using Dr . Crui se’s gr e at work with full ackn owledg

m en t, h as de vo te d to th o Imita tion of Christ and Th omas a Kempis, is

pr in ted a t To rquay. In e ve ry r e spe ct it is ve ry e legan tly produced,

and it is wo rthy of such car e . Th e fifth edition h as just be en publ ish ed byM .H. G ill and So n s, Dublin ,

and Burns and Oate s, Londom

226 The

.

Irish Month ly.

A l l th e se arrang em en ts to ok som e time to mak e ; but at la st th e y

we r e compl e te . Eve ryth in g was so ld . Th e co ttag e passed in to th e

h ands o f stran g e rs ; and Madge an d Do ra , h avin g pack ed up a ll th e ir

b e lo ngings, we re lo okin g fo rward e age r ly to th e ir much -talk ed- o i

Dur in g th e days o f th e sal e , and whi lst Madg e woun d up h e r

a ffairs, th e two gi r ls stayed at th e h ouse o f a r e spectable woman , wh o

h ad kn own th em from th e ir ch ildh oo d. Sh e h ad a mar r ied siste r wh o

l e t lodgin gs in Lon do n , and to h e r Madg e wr o te askin g if sh e could

give h e r a couple o f ro oms in h e r h ouse .

But wh en Mrs. Shin n e r’s r eply came , th e gir l was h o rr ified at th e

sum demanded for th e small accomm oda tion sh e r e quir ed It was

mor e than Miss Matilda h ad pa id fo r th e co ttage in which th ey had

a ll lived comfortably, and sh e fear ed sh e coul d n o t afford to spen d so

much upon h e r r o oms al on e .

Lo r’ble ss you, th at

’s n o th ing fo r Lon do n , said th e ir h o stess .

Just you wait, Miss Madge , till you se e h ow dear eve rythi ng is.

Y ou’ll be as to n ish ed .

”

But th e r e must b e ch e ape r place s th an thi s, sur e ly, r epli ed

Madg e . I must try and find on e, Mrs. Fle e t . I must, in de ed .

”

We ll , miss, tak e my advice and go th e r e first ; it’s a r espectable

place . A n d my siste r’s an h on e st woman . Y ou didn

’t ough t to go

wande r in’thro ugh Lon don , pr omiscuous lik e , you an

’ Miss Do ra .

Y ou didn’t ough t to , inde ed .

Pe rh aps n o t, Mrs. Fle e t, sa id Madge , sigh in g . It is a large

r en t, but I suppo se I’d be tt e r tak e th e r o oms fo r th e pr e sen t.

”

A n d sh e wr o te off e ngagin g th em at o n ce .

A nd n ow, my dar ling ,” Madg e said to Dora o n th e m o rn in g o f

th e ir departur e from Oldpo r t, we have two far ewe ll visits to pay.

On e to th e cem e te ry to place our last flowe rs upo n our fr ie nds ’ greys ;

th e o th e r to Miss Tranmo r e . Ar e you n ear ly r eady to start

Y e s . I h ave just fin ish ed,”°

answe red Dora . And sh e h e ld up a

b e autiful wr e ath of prim ro se s an d vio le ts. Is it no t pr e tty?Love ly, dea re st. Y ou h ave th e fin ge rs of a fairy. Y ou could

m ak e anyth in g , I be li eve .

”

“ I wish I could, Madg e . A nd I do h ope th at Mdm s . G arni tur e ,

o f London , may think as h ighly o f m e as you do . Miss Tranmo r e

says sh e h as promised to give m e ple n ty of wo rk if sh e finds I can doit we ll .

”

I am n o t un e asy about th at, Do ra . But I’

m afra id th e wo rk

r o om will try you. It is sur e to be h o t and stufiy. A nd you are n o t

stro n g , my pe t.”

No . But I th ink I sh all be able to be ar th e h eat o f th e ro om,

A Str iking Con trast. 227

f o r th e sak e o f wh at I sh a ll e arn , a n swe r ed Do ra , smiling .

l o n g in g to m ake pile s o f mo n ey for you, Madge .

”

A nd I am ben t o n g e tting you a fo r tun e befor e th e ye ar is out .

N o t by wo rk , but by r e sto rin g you to your r igh ts. Some th in g te lls

m e I sh all so o n find A n n e Dan e .

”

I am n o t so sanguin e , de ar ; A nd if you did fin d h e r , it would

pr o bably be of n o use . We h ave n o pr oo fs, r em embe r .

Th at’s wh at Miss Tranm o re always says. Sh e declar es A n n e

Da n e would n eve r confess o r ackn owledg e you as th e lo st child, and

th a t I may just as we ll n o t lo ok fo r h e r .

A nd I th ink sh e is righ t. Al th ough , I must say, I’d lik e to fin d

h e r , e v en if it wer e only to kn ow wh a t sh e h as be e n do ing all th ese

ye ar s, and h ow sh e was r ich en ough to sen d you fifty po un ds ; also

wh y sh e sen t it , and ye t will n o t wr ite an d let you kn ow wh e r e sh e is.

”

I kn ow wh e re sh e is, sa id Madg e qui e tly. I h ave kn own ita l l a lo n g .

”

Madg e ! Dora look ed at h e r in asto ni shm en t .

W e ll , de ar , do n ot open your eye s so wide . We bo th kn ow.

W e fe e l ce rta in that A nn e Dan e must be with Mr . A th e rston e . So in

th a t way we kn ow indi r ectly wh e r e sh e i s.

’

Y es, indir ectly. But th e r e m ay be any numbe r o f A th e rsto n es

in L on do n . Miss Tranmo re says it is an e n ormous place—a wilde r

n e ss, and th at people don’t kn ow th e ir n ext -do o r n e ighbours . In fact,

sh e says it’s like look ing fo r a n e edl e in a bun dl e o f h ay to se t out

to find anyon e th e r e , unl e ss you r ea lly kn owwh e r e th ey l ive an d wh o

th ey a re .

”

Pe rh aps so . But I may as we ll live in London’

as in Oldpo rt ,

A n d I am de te rmin ed to fin d An n e Dan e . If I could o n ly m e e t h e r

a n d co nfron t h e r with you, and th a t po r trai t o f your mo th e r , Do ra ,

s h e would be obliged to r ecogn iz e you as Sylvia A th e rsto n e . Th at is

th e o n e pro of we posse ss. A nd I don.

’t th ink it

’s a bad on e .

No ,”sa id Do ra, drawin g out th e m in ia tur e whi ch sh e always

wo r e roun d h er n eck since le avin g th e o rph an ag e , I can se e myself

th a t I em like it . Dear little mo th e r , you we r e pr e ttie r th an I.

Y our sh oul de rs we r e straig h t, your figur e we ll-fo rm ed . But still

your ch i ld is wo nde rfully like you. Wh at was my fath e r like ,Madg e

n

“ Tall an d n oble look ing , with , oh , such'

a k ind face and swe e t

g en tle eye s,”sai d Madge , with much an imation .

“ I was o nly a little

g ir l wh en I saw him, Dora , but I sh a ll n eve r fo rg e t h im . He was so

g o od to us all—so—so kind to fa th e r . 0 h , if I could but le t him se e

you, our trouble s would soo n be at an end, darling .

”

228 The Ir ish Month ly,

I wonde r wh er e h e is, Madge

Somewh e r e in th e Bush , dear . Fath e r said h e e n joyed h is fr e e ,car e less life th er e so much th at n o th ing would tempt him to g o

»

h ome .

”

It se ems strange th at h e sh ould lik e it so much .

No t at all , de ar . It is a glo rious coun try. If you o nly saw th e

flowe rs, Dora—th e exquisite fe rns, th at only grow in h o t-h ous e s

h e r e , growing by th e roads ide th e go rg e ous sca rle t lilie s thirty fe e t

h igh , th e sple ndid tr e es, th e be autiful birds. Oh , my de ar , if you

saw all th is, you would n o t wonde r th a t pe ople sh ould love A ustralia .

”

Pe rh aps n o t,”said Dor a th ough tfully. But if I we r e a fath e r

and h ad a littl e daugh te r in En gland, I think I would le ave eve n

th e mo st be autiful lan d to se e h e r , and tak e h er in my arms .

”

But h e may h ave h e ard you we r e dr own ed.

”

So h e may. But wh o th en is th e ch ild you saw with A n n e

Dan e I th ough t you beh aved sh e h ad taken my place—th at sh e

was

Th e r eal Dora Ne il . I some times th ink ao . But I may b e

wron g . I h ope I am . I could n o t be ar to th ink o f my siste r

usurpin g your place .

”

“ A nd I woul d rath e r th ink sh e did, de ar . I o fte n wo nde r wh at

th at littl e girl was lik e , Madg e , wh o se fate was so curiously mixed up

with min e . It would mak e me ve ry h appy to thi nk o f h e r grown up

tall and be autiful , en joyin g th e comfo r ts o f my grandfa th e r’

s h ouse ,

inste ad o f lying co ld and de ad at th e bo ttom o f th at crue l se a .

”

Y ou h ave a te nde r , loving h e art , my pe t . But r emembe r th at

if my siste r is r e ally in your place it will mak e it much h arde r for m e

to prove th at you ar e Sylvia A th e rston e , and pun ish A n n e Dan e .

”

Y e s. I kn ow th at, but e xcept th at I sh ould h ave mon ey to h e lp

you, I don’

t wan t to be Sylvia A th e rsto n e . I am n o t fit to be . a fin e

lady, and I am quite h appy with you.

”

G od ble ss you, my darlin g . Your love is ve ry pr ecious to m e ,

said Madge , drawin g th e fair h ead upon h e r b re ast, and kissin g th e

sen sitive lips. Your h appin ess is th e on e th ing I wish for . But I

h ave a duty to pe rform , Do ra , and do it I wi ll .”

De a r, stro ng , de te rmin ed Madge , an swe r ed Dora smilin g .

But come , de ar . Le t na go to th e ceme te ry at o n ce . Our h our s ar e

passing , and we h ave much to do .

”

Quite true , dear . We h ave n o t much time , and I must se e Miss

Tranmor e . I h ave seve ral thin gs to ask h er . So come alon g . I’ll

carry th is. A nd takin g th e wr e ath , Madge dr ewDora’3 h and with in

h er arm , and th ey left th e h ouse tog e th e r .

It was a warm day. On e o f th ose close , h e avy days th at some tim es

230 The Ir isk Month ly.

some way of! still , but, from th e mad action of lth s h o rse s and th e

swift pace at which th ey we r e go ing , sh e quickly r e aliz ed th at th eywe r e run n in g away.

Dora spr ang to h e r fe e t, an d, runn ing in to th e field wh e r e th e

plough was at wo rk , called loudly to th e men to come and stop th e

r un away h orse s .

Y ou ar e dr e aming , young lady. Th e r e is n o such a th ing about

h e r e ,”said on e o f th e labour e rs r ough ly. G o a long and leave us to

o ur wo rk .

Y e s, ye s, th ey ar e comin g down th e r oad. Quick , th e r e is n o t a

momen t to lo se .

” A n d catch in g hi s a rm sh e tr ied to drag him a lo ng .

He r esisted, an d push ed h e r aside with an oath . Th en , as th e

carr iag e turn ed a corn e r and came in to vi ew, sh e started away with a

cry of h orro r .

Th e r e , se e . If you will n ot stop th em ,I must.

” A n d sh e sped

G o od G od ! sh e’ll be kill ed,

”crie d th e man . G o back , miss ,

go back .

In a few stride s h e ove rto ok th e te rr ified girl , and th rustin g h e r

out o f hi s way, r an on to th e r o ad .

A s th e h o rses came madly o n, th e carr iage swayin g to an d fr o , its

o ccupan ts callin g loudly fo r h e lp, th e man jumped sudden ly from th e

h edge . Th e an imals swe r ved a little ; th e ir pace becam e l ess r apid ;

and m akin g a vio le n t e ffort h e spran g at th e ir h e ads, and se iz ed o n e

of th em by th e bridle . A t first h e se em ed powe rless to st0p th em ,

and was dragg ed al on g in th e dust . But h e h e ld on brave ly ; and o n

his fe ll ow wo rkman comi ng to h is a id, th ey at last brough t th e fran tic

cr e atures to a standstill .

Th e co achman , wh o h ad dropped th e r e in s an d was h oldin g on to

his se at lik e grim de ath , so on r ecove r ed h imse lf, an d jumpin g to th e

groun d, ran to th e h orse s’ h eads .

With in th e car r iag e we r e an e lde rly lady an d a young man o f

about twen ty o r twen ty-on e . Th ey we r e bo th wh ite and fr igh ten ed,

and th e ir vo ices sh o ok with emo tion as th ey th ank ed th e ir de live r e rs

Come up to Ashfie ld Park th is even in g , my m en , sai d th e lady .

Y ou h ave beh aved n obly. We owe our live s to you. My so n and

I ar e grateful , de eply grate ful ; an d we th ank you fr om our h e ar ts .

But youwe must give you som e r eward, some substan tial r eward, fo r

wh at you h ave don e fo r us.

”

Than k you, my lady, an swer ed on e of th e m en , bowi ng and

touchi ng h is h at r e spectfully. We only did our duty.

”

We ll , you did it n obly, brave ly,’ fsh e r epli ed smiling . A nd I

am inde ed th ankful for our e scape .

”


Y es, Lady A shfie ld. I am truly th ankful th at my'

comr ade and

m e was able to save you an d hi s lo rdsh ip,” h e said. But h ad it n o t

b e e n for this little lass, your ladysh ip, we’d n eve r h ave se e n o r h e ard

a n yth in g till to o late , n o t with th e n o ise o f th e plough a nd th e

distan ce from th e r o ad.

R eally?cr ied th e lady, str etch in g out o f th e carriag e and

sh akin g Do ra warmly by th e h and. Th ank you, de ar , th ank you.

But you look ve ry wh ite . We r e you frigh ten ed?Y es ,

”sa id Do ra fain tly, and claspin g h e r h ands tigh tly tog eth er .

But , but, thank G o d you ar e saved . I did ve ry little , I assur e you.

I was to o weak and small to stop th e h or ses, an d I only just ca ll eda n d m ade th e men com e .

Y ou sh owed wonde rful pre se n ce of mind, de ar . Didn ’t sh e ,

Ch a r li e

Y e s, mo th e r , sh e ce rta in ly did . But I em afra id,”said th e

youn g m an kindly, that th e effort h as be e n to o much fo r h e r . Sh e

l o ok s il l an d fain t . If sh e is n o t to o n e rvous to trust h e rse lf in th e

car r iag e with na , afte r wh a t sh e h as se en , I th ink we sh ould dr ive h e r

h om e . Sh e se ems un able to walk , and th e h o rses ar e qui e t n ow.

A r e n’t th ey, Sm ith

Y es, my lo rd,”r eplied th e coachman . Th ey are r igh t en ough

Will you ge t in to th e carr iag e be side my m o th e r ask ed Lo rdA shfie ld, tur n in g to Dora . An d we

’ll drive you wh e r eve r you wish

Oh , please , I can’t,”sh e answer ed.

Wh at A r e you n e rvous?No . But I am waitin g h e r e fo r my sist er , and if sh e came and

fo un d me gon e sh e would be alarmed . I must n o t g o , ple ase . I can

sit an d r e st till sh e com es. So pray, pray do n o t m ind m e .

”

But th ese men would te ll h e r .

”

Oh , n o , n o , I would rath er wa it. I would in de e d.

"

Ve ry we ll . Y ou sh all do as you like . But I h ope you will

co me and se e my moth er to-mo r row.

Y es,”sa id Lady A shfie ld, ple ase do .

But I cann o t . We—Madge an d I go to Lon don this afte r

To LondonY es. We ar e go ing th e r e to live and work .

Is Madge your siste r

Y es, th at is .

” Dora blush ed as it sudden ly dash ed across

h e r th at afte r all Madge , h e r dar lin g Madg e , was n ot h e r siste r . Fo r

ye ar s, all h er life , in fact, sh e h ad called h e r by th at swe e t n am e , an d

232 1 756 Ir ish Mo nthly.

h ad forgotten that sh e was n o t so in r e ality. But n ow, with Lo rdA shfie ld

's inquir in g eye s fixed upo n h e r , sh e remembe r ed th at sh e

was n ot spe akin g th e truth in sayin g th at sh e and Madge wer e

Wh at is your n ame , dear asked Lady A shfield, wonder in g at

My n am e .

” Do ra paused, th en smilin g , sh e rai sed h e r beautiful

eyes to th e lady’s face . I am cal led Do ro thy Ne il .

”

Have you be e n long in Oldpo rtNo t long . I was bro ugh t up at B o rph an age . Madge

l ived in Oldpo rt with Miss Matilda an d Miss Barbara Par ry.

Th en you ar e o n e of th e ch ildr en saved from th e wr eck of th e

Cimbr ia som e fourte en years ago

Y es . I was a tiny chil d at th e fims.

Th e Cimbr ia. ! cr ied Lo rd A shfie ld. Why, th at was th e nameo f th e steame r in wh ich Sylvia A th e rston e was wr e ck ed.

”

Do ra star ted and grew wh ite to th e lips.

Y es, th e very same ,”r eplied hi s m o th er . Sh e and h er nurse

wer e for tun ate ly pick ed up by a passin g ste amer . This ch i ld and h e r

siste r we r e wash ed ash or e a t Oldpo rt . I h ave lived so much abro ad

th at I only h e ard of th em th e o th e r day. If I h ad kn own soo n e r , I

would ce r ta in ly h ave to ld Sir Eustace . He would sur e ly h ave h e lped

th em ,h ad h e be en to ld. Th e ve ry fact of th e ir h avin g be e n in th e

same wr eck with h is beloved grandchi ld would h ave made h im love

Y es, I am sur e it would, sai d Lord A shfie ld smiling .

truly h e ido liz e s hi s beautiful Sylvia .

oh , pray te ll me ,”asked Do ra in a sh akin g voice , do you kn ow

Sylvia A th erston e Oh , ye s, ve ry we ll .

But is sh e r e ally th e Sylvia I m ean , my Th e chi ld that

cam e h om e from Australia?In th e Cimbria . Y es.

An d,”con tin ued Dora e ag e r ly, was h e r nurse A n n e Dan e

Ce rtain ly,”an swe r ed Lady A shfie ld sm iling . But you cann o t

r em embe r e ith e r o f th em . Y ou ar e just about Sylvia’s ag e .

”

I am Sylvia ,”ro se to th e girl

’

s lips. But sh e sudden ly r eflected

h ow foo lish it would be to mak e such a statemen t to str ange rs, wh o

woul d pr opably th in k h e r mad . So sh e ch oked back th e words, an d

sa id in a lov vo ice :

Y e s, th e same exactly. I was sixte en my last birth day.

Y ou look youn ger ,”said Lady A shfie ld. But th en Sylvia i

tall and

34 1 713 Ir ish Month ly.

Oh , th ank you, cried Do ra , smilin g br i gh tly, Madg e will beso gla

A nd n ow, dear , te ll me , wha t is Madge gomg to do in Lon

Teach music. Sh e is so cl eve r .

” Th e gir l’s eyes sh on e wi th

'

proud deligh t. Miss Tranmo re says sh e plays mo st exquisite ly.

”

Wh o taugh t h e r?Th e o rgan ist o f th e ch urch and Miss Tranmo r e .

Th at is very go od . I may be able to ge t h e r some pupils . So

te ll Madge to come to se e me in Lo ndon n ext we ek . I sh ould like to

h e lp h e r an d you all I can .

”

Th ank you so much . Y ou a r e too kind, to o go od.

No t at all . Y ou saved our live s, rem embe r , by your pr e sen ce o f

mind. I wish I could be of r eal assistance to you. Wh at are you

go in g to do

Do ra blush ed de eply, and te ars rush ed in to h e r eye s.

Al as ! th e r e is n o t much I can do ,”sh e sa id sadly. I le arn ed

but little at th e o rph an age . But I am de te rmin ed n o t to be a burde n

upon Madge . I can sew we ll . I sh all try to be a dr essmak e r .

A dr essmake r ! cr ied Lo rd A shfie ld in a to n e o f h o rro r . Such

a thing is qui te impo ssible . Th e a ir o f th e wo rk ro om would kill

you. An d association with th e appr e n tices would b e tor tur e for you.

Y ou ar e n o t fit fo r such a life .

”

It is th e o n ly th ing I can do ,”sa id Do ra grave ly. It will be

tortur e I dar e say. But it must be don e .

But sur e ly th e re must be o th e r ways,” h e cr ied impe tuously.

It is n o t r igh t th at a young lady sh ould lowe r h e rse lf, and mix with

comm on work g ir ls.

”

Do ra laugh e d m e rri ly.

I don’t th ink I sh all mind th at, sh e s aid . Th e ch ildr en at

th e o rph an age were n o t ladies, and I go t on ve ry we ll with th em fo r

n e arly fourte e n ye ars .

”

Y e s, but th e n coun try gir ls ar e quite difier en t from th ose in

town . I do n o t th ink you sh oul d lowe r yourse lf in such a mann e r ,”

h e said e arn e stly. I do n’t, inde ed.

”

I sh all n o t lowe r myse lf, Lo rd A shfie l r eplied Do ra with

much digni ty. My fath e r was a g e n tleman , my m o th er a lady. I

sh all n o t fo rg e t wh at I cwe to th e ir n ame . But did I r e fuse to do

wh a t lay in my powe r , in o rde r to h e lp Madge ; did I sit idly by, lest

I sh ould lowe r myse lt bywo rkin g as a dr essmak e r , I sh ould fe e l

myse lf unwo rthy to be th e ir ch ild.

”

Brave ly spok en , de ar ,”sa id Lady A shfie ld appr ovingly. A nd

you ar e quite r igh t. No h o n e st wo rk can lowe r anyon e . A lady


bo rn remains so , n o matter wh at h e r employme nt is. I always r espect

and h on our a poo r lady wh o wo rks fo r h e r own indepe nden ce , in ste ad

o f livin g in idl e n ess a t th e expe n se o f some h ard-wo rking fr ien

Why, mo th e r , you ar e quite e loque n t,”

cri ed Lo rd Ashfie ld .

A nd Imust co nfe ss I stand r ebuk ed. But all th e sam e , I do n o t

th i nk Miss Ne il ’s ch o ice of wo rk a go od o n e . Th e life will n o t suit

h e r .

”

Well, we must con sider wh at is to be don e , sh e an swe r ed.

Come an d se e m e soon , de ar ch ild, and I will h e lp you all I can .

An d n ow, A shfie ld, we must say go od-bye to our de live r e r . It is

la te , an d we have a long drive b efo r e us ye t. G ood-bye , little Dora ,

til l n ext we ek .

”

A n d drawin g th e girl towards h e r , Lady A shfie ld kissed h e r on

th e for eh e ad.

G ood-bye , Miss Ne il ,”sa id A shfie ld, ra ising h is h at , an d h o lding

Dora’s han d for a momen t with in h is own . I em ve ry grateful to

yo u fo r your go odn e ss to na th is afte rn o o n . I h ope we m ay so o n m e e t

aga in . Do n o t forge t my mo th e r’s addr ess, 1 6 Be lgrave Str e e t.

G o od-bye .

”

G ood-bye , said Dora fa in tly, and as sh e ra ised h e r large

e a rn est eye s to h is face th ey we r e full of te ars. G od must h ave se n t

yo u and Lady A shfie ld to m e to d ay. It will make eve rythin g easy

fo r Madg e an d m e , wh en we h ave such fr iends to lo ok afte r us in

L o ndon . G o od-bye .

”

Th e n Lo rd Ashfield stepped in to th e carr iage b eside h is mo th e r ,

a n d th e h o rses, n ow perfectly quie t, started at a b risk pace down

th e r oad .

Wh a t a swe e t face th at ch ild h as, sa id Lady A shfie ld, lo okin gb ack an d wavin g h er h and to Do ra . Sh e is r eally quite pr e tty.

Pr e tty ! h e cried earn e stly. Sh e is be autiful .”

Be autiful . Oh , n o .

”

Oh yes, mo th e r , sh e is be autiful,” h e in sisted . Th at simple

child has th e face o f an ange l .

CHAPTER X .

A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT .

Dora’s accoun t of th e run away h o rses. and h e r co nve rsation with

Lady A shfie ld and h e r son , was liste n ed to with much in tere st byMadg e .

Th at afte r all th ese ye ars of waiting th ey sh ould at last com e

across pe ople wh o kn ew th e A th erston es and A n n e Dan e , was gr e at

2 36 The Iris}; Month ly.

h appin ess fo r th e g irl . A nd th e promise of h elp fr om a lady of

po sition filled h e r with h ope fo r h e r own success in th e arduous life

sh e was about to e n te r upon .

Sh e lon ged to se e Lady A shfie ld a t o nce to que stion h e r close lyabout A n n e Dan e ; to ask mo r e par ticular s about th e suppo sed Sylvia ;a n d if sh e sh oul d fin d it n ecessary o r use ful in car ryin g out th e gr eat

o bj ect sh e h ad in vi ew, to tak e th e lady in to h er confide n ce . But as

sh e an d Dora we r e obliged to go to Lo ndon th at aftern o o n , and LadyA shfie ld r emain ed a we ek lon ger in th e coun try, sh e was forced to

po stpon e th e much desir ed in te r view wh e th e r sh e wish ed it o r n o t.

Miss Tranm o r e h ad give n Madge a le tte r o f in troductio n to 8.Mr s.

Prim , wh o kept a sch o ol a t Ke n singto n , and r e quir ed a gove rn e ss to

h e lp h e r with h e r pupils. To this lady, th e r efo r e , th e gir l we n t on

h e r arr ival in town , and was imm ediate ly e ngag ed a t a very m ode ra te

sa lary. For th is sh e was obliged to tak e a larg e par t in th e teach in go f th e sch o o l . Sh e taugh t music to th e o lde r gir ls, and eve ryth inge lse in cludi ng th e e l emen ts of Fr en ch to th e small ch ildr en .

Th e h ours at Pen e lope Lo dg e we r e n omin al ly fr om n in e to four .

But wh en th e be ll rang fo r th e sch o lars to go th e ir way, th ey h an ded

th e ir fin ish ed exe rcises to Madg e , and whilst th ey rush e d chf ga ily to

th e ir h om e s, th e we ary gove rn ess had to sit down to co r r ect th e ir

wo rk , and m ak e up th e m ark bo oks acco rdin gly. An d so th e po o r

g irl so on fo und th at sh e h ad but little spar e tim e , as fo r o n e r eason o r

a n o th e r sh e n eve r l eft th e sch oolr o om till past se ve n , and it was

g e n e rally e igh t o’

clock be fo r e sh e go t h ome to Do ra an d supper .

So th e days passed qui ckly by. and it was with de ep r e gr e t th at

sh e was obliged to de lay still lo nge r h e r visit to Lady As hfie ld.

But a t last on e day, at th e e nd of h e r fir st mon th in th e sch oo l,

sh e was in fo rmed th at sh e migh t le ave e ar ly on th e fo llowing Saturd ay afte rn o on . Thi s was ple asan t n ews fo r Madg e , and sh e r e solved

to tak e advan tag e o f h e r h o liday and g o to Be lgrave Str e e t . 80 at

th r e e o’clock Do ra call ed fo r h e r a t Pe n e lope Lodge , and th e two gir ls

s e t out to g e th e r to pay th e ir m uch -talk ed- of visit to Lady Ashfield.

Th ey we r e bo th in g ood spir its an d much excited . Madg e h ad

d e te rmin ed to te ll Lady A shfie ld th e true sto ry of th e wr eck , and fe lt

ce rta in th a t in a sh o r t tim e h e r dar ling would be r escued fr om h er

pr e se n t wre tch ed life and r e sto r ed to h e r pr oper position .

Fo r much as Madg e h ad suffe r ed in h e r badly-

paid situation , po o r

Dora h ad suffe r ed infin i te ly mo r e . Th e h ours in Mdm e . G arn itur e’s

dr e ssmakin g e stablishmcn t we r e long and wear isom e , th e wo rk

m on o ton ous, th e r o oms h o t an d stiflin g , th e g irls vulgar, co ar se an d

fr ivo lous. An d swe e t de licate Dor o thy pin ed and gr ew thi n in th e

m wh ole som e atmosph er e . But sh e n eve r complain ed. He r h e art

238 Tim Ir ial), JIon f/zly.

anyon e I e ve r saw. Your sh oulde rs from we akn ess ar e round—o n e

pe rh aps a tr ifle , m ind I say a tr ifle h igh e r th an th e o th e r . But th at

is n o t r em arkable , and would disappe ar ve ry so on if you could r est

an d grow str o n g . Th e n your face , my pe t, mak e s up fo r eve rythin g ;

it is love ly.

'

Your eye s a r e th e pur est o f blue , your h air lik e

th r e ads of go ld.

En ough , Madge , cried Do ra , laugh in g . In your anxi ety to

comfo rt m e you a r e go in g to o far . But n o th in g you can say will

ch ange my opin io n o f myse lf. I h ave kn own it,

”— sighi.ng fo r

many ye ars . But I n eve r fe lt it so k e en ly as on th at day wh e n LordA shfisld spok e to m e , a n d I r e ad pity in hi s eyes.

Wh at a sh am e ! He is n o t such a h e ro a fte r a ll, th en , my dar

l in g . It was we ak and stupid.

”

Hush , Madg e , I cann o t liste n to you. Such words do n o t

de scribe h im . Th ey sh ould n eve r be used wh e n speakin g of him .

”

We ll , de ar e st, wh e n you ar e r e cogn i z ed as Miss A th e rsto n e

Th a t would make n o di ffe r e nce . I am as n e ar him as Do ra Ne ilas eve r I could be . But oh , Madg e , wh en I h e ard th at Sylvia

—fo rsh e will always be Sylvia to m e

—was tall and be autiful, I put'

h e r

n ext h im in my m ind, and I th ough t sh e wi ll lo ok we ll by h is side .

Sh e , if sh e is as go od as sh e is sai d to be b eautiful , will be worthy to

be h is wife .

”

‘Do ra , you ar e a dr e am e r . A nd in your dr eams you h ave given

this youn g m an to o h igh a place . Y ou kn ow n o th ing of h im , andye t

you h ave e ndowed h im with all k inds o f virtue s th at, pe rh aps, h edo e s n o t po ssess. Wh e n you m e e t h im aga in , you will probably fin d

h im full o f faul ts, a m e r e frivo lous wo rldlin g .

”

No ,”

r epli ed th e youn g g ir l gr ave ly, th a t could n eve r be .

With such a n oble face h e could n o t be th at . If we e ver m e e t

But h e r e we ar e at Be lgrave Str e e t. Oh , Madge , h ave you courage

to go in‘

P

Ce rtainly. I cam e to se e Lady A shfie ld, a n d if I can man age it

I will do so .

”

A n d wal k in g bo ldly up th e steps sh e ran g th e be ll , Several

mom e n ts passed and n o t a soun d was h e ard withi n th e h ouse . No

o n e appear ed to ope n th e do o r .

How stran g e ! sa id Madge . Wh er e can a ll th e se rvan ts be‘

r'

Perh aps th e b e ll did n o t r ing ,”sugg e sted Do ra . Try again ,

de ar .

Madg e did ao , and thi s tim e mo r e succe ssfully, fo r almost imm e

diate ly fo o tsteps wer e h eard com in g up th e h a ll . A chain rattled

n o isily, a bo lt was wi thdrawn , and a dir ty lo oking o ld woman put out

h e r h ead.


Wo t does ye r wan t sh e inquir ed, star in g h ard at th e visito rs.

We wan t to se e Lady A shfie ld, ple ase ,”said Madg e

Lady A shfie ld ain’

t at’om e . Sh e

But sh e would like to se e na. Sh e to ld us to come .

I te ll ye r’e 1

'ain

’t at h om e . Sh e

’s in turrin

’

parts .

Wh e r e?ask ed Madg e .

“ I’m blest if I kn ow. Mrs. Downside , th e

’

ousek e epe r , kn ows,

but sh e’s h out. Sh e sends pape rs a nd le tte r s an d ca rds to some out

lsndish tur r in’

place . But I’m n o t much o f a sch o lard . So I don ’

t

righ t r em embe r it. Will you leave a card, m iss

Oh , n o , it do e sn’t ma tte r ,

”cr ied Do ra . We h ave n o cards.

But wh e n did Lady A shfie ld go abr oad?“ N ea r ly a mo n th ago .

’

Er fath e r took ill , and sh e we n t o ff all o f

a sudde n .

”

Wh e n will sh e be back sa id Madg e .

Do n’t kn ow. Not fo r many a mon th , I

’

m th inkin’. Pe rh aps

more n o r a ye ar .

”

Oh , Madg e , wh at a pity we did n o t come h er e at once , th e ve ryday afte r we ar r ived in Lo ndon ,

”cr ied Dora . I am so so rry.

”

Se am I, dear . But we could n o t h e lp it. I was obliged to go

to th e sch o o l first,”said Madge sadly. It was a cer ta in ty. Lady

Ashfie ld’s promised h e lp was n o t. Sh e h as probably fo rgo tten

'all

about n a.

”

“ I ca nn o t beh av e th at. A nd Lo rd A shfie ld—h e would n o t, h e

could n o t fo rge t .”

But , my de ar , h e could do n o thin g fo r na—a t le ast, pe rh aps afte r

all h e m igh t . Thr o ugh him ,Dora , we migh t fin d th e A th er sto n e s.

Te ll me , Madg e sa id, turn in g to th e o ld woman , is Lo rd A shfield in L o n don

No .

’E

’s a t Oxbridge o r o n th e co n tin o n g . I don

’

t r igh tlyknow,

”sh e r eplied . But

’o’s n o t in Lunn in ,

I kn ow th at .”

“ Th ank you,”sa id Madge . G o od morn in g . Com e , Do ra , th e r e

is no m o r e to b e do n e . L e t us go h ome .

”

oh , Madge , I am so disappo in ted .

” A nd , fo rg e tful of time and

place , Do r a bur st in to tears.

Com e, darlin g , you must n o t we ep, said Madg e so o th ingly.

I, to o , em bitte r ly, k e e n ly disappo in ted . But we must n o t give wayto de spair . We may com e acro ss th e A th ersto n e s som e o th e r way

A lways th ose A th e rston e s , Madg e ,”cried Do ra impatien tly.

hate th e ir n am e . I don’

t car e if I n eve r se e th em . But“ My dear ch il d

, you fo rg e t h ow much depe nds o n our findingth em . Of wh a t value ar e th e se A shfie lds exce pt as a m e an s to atta in

the end we h ave always h ad in view?If I th ough t th ey could n o t

h elpme to tha t, I sh ould n eve r wish to se e th em , I assur e you.

”


Madg e

Do ra’s vo ice was full of indignatio n , and h er eyes flash ed an grily,

as sh e lo oked at h er siste r . Th e n h er lips trembled sligh tly, and a

fain t co lour r ose to h e r pale ch e eks. But, o f course ,”sh e added

softly, th at is n o t wonde rful . Y ou do n o t kn ow th e A shfie lds as I

do .

”

We ll , dar lin g, we must bo th forge t th em as fast as we can ,

said Madge ch e e rfully. Come , Do ra , dry your eyes, de ar , and l e t

us go h om e to tea .

”

A s th e two g irls turn ed away and disappeared in to th e G r o sve n o r

Ro ad , a h a nsom dash ed up to 1 6 Be lgrave Str e e t, and a young man

spran g out an d r an up th e steps .

Th e o ld woman was standing at th e do or gaz ing about h e r , but on

se e in g th e cab stap, sh e fled in to th e h all, and began scrubbing h er

face and h ands with h e r apr o n .

’Is ludship, as I live . G o ody, G o o dy, an’ Mrs. Down side h out

for th e day. Wo th e ver sh all I do

Wh e r e is th e h ouseke epe r ask e d Lo rd A shfie ld as h e en te r ed .

Te ll h e r I wan t to se e h e r fo r a mom e n t.”

Pl e ase , ye r ludsh ip, sh e’s h out,

”said th e o ld woman , making a

low cur tsey. S-h e’s gon e fo r th e day.

”

Lo rd Ashfie ld walk ed up an d down th e h all .

Th at is mo st awkward. I h ad a m e ssag e to give h e r , a most

impo rtan t m e ssag e fr om my mo th e r .

Sh e’ll b e in by e igh t or h alf

-

past, yer ludship.

To o la te . I can n o t wai t. My grandfath er is dying . I h ave

many thin gs to do this afte rn oo n , and I must go by th e eve n in g m ai l

to Paris. I am ve ry so r ry n ot to se e Mrs . Downside . It maymake a

considerable diffe r en ce to th o se po o r gir ls, h e murmur ed . I can

n ot ge t th at ch ild’

s love ly, pal e , sad face out of my th ough ts. Sh e

h aun ts m e , and ye t I am powe rle ss, utte rly powe rle ss. Our gra titude ,our se emin g fo rge tfuln ess, is te rr ibl e , an d yet. But th ey maycom e . I must give th is woman my me ssage . Pe rh aps sh e mayde live r it pr ope rly. A n d to mak e quite sur e I’ll write from Paris.

Lo ok h e r e , Mrs.

”

Partr idg e , my lud.

We ll, Mrs. Partr idge , I wan t you to give a'

Ime ssag e to Mrs.

Down side .

Y e s, my lud.

Y ou ar e to give h er thi s pack e t, and te ll h e r th a t Lady A shfie ldwish e s h e r to give it with h e r love to two young ladie s wh o m ay call

h e r e any day. My moth e r do es n o t kn ew th e ir address, anIs on e dark and th e o th e r fair , my lud

On e is fair , certain ly. Fa ir as a lily


THE LIFE AND INFLUENCE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

PART II.

I am Thy se rvan t, O Lo rd, and th e so n of Thy h andmaid : Th ou

h ast brok e n my bon ds asunde r . To Th e e will I otte r a sacr ifice o f

praise .

” Such ar e th e Ope n in g words o f th e Fifth Book of th e Co n

fe ssion s.

” Eman cipated at last, as David fr om h is sin , as th e ch ildr e n

fr om th e furn ace , h e must sin g a can ticle o f g ratitude to hisDe live re r ,

and lay upon th e altar an oblatio n o f pra ise and praye r . An d sur e ly

it eve r a human oblatio n could be an aton emen t to th e Most High fo r

sin , it was th e n oble o ffe r in g th a t St. A ugustin e n ow made . He la id

h is h e ar t and in te llect on th e altar o f th e Lo rd. Pur ityfill ed th e on e ,

faith exalted th e o th e r . He h ad found th e Be auty, e ver an cien t, eve r

n ew,after wh ich h is soul h ad thi rsted ; and except th e in spir ed me lodies

o f th e Psalmist, conve rt to o like A ugustin e , th e r e is n o r e co rd o f human

spe ech so b eaut iful , so exalted, so sublim e , as th ose so liloqui es an d

m editation s in wh ich h e pour ed fo rth th e e cstasi e s o f h is soul towards

th e gr e at Invisible Be in g , wh om unkn own h e h ad wo rsh ipped an d

loved . I do n o t know if th e r e be any r e co rd th a t the ve il o f th e

Unse en was lifted fo r St . A ugustin e as fo r St. Paul and St. Joh n . But

I find it difficul t to un der stand th at anythi n g less th an th e vision of th e

Ete rn al could h ave in spir ed a human h e art with such seraph ic love

as th at whi ch cle ar ly bur n t in th e h e ar t of our sai n t, an d winged with

ce le stial fir e e ve ry lin e h e wr o te , every wo rd h e utte r ed. A nd, ye t som e

h ow,we are a ttracted mo r e by th e oblatio n o f h is in te ll ect th an by th e

sacr ifice of hi s h e art, an d by th e stupendous wo rk th at in te ll e ct aecom

plish edwh en th e ligh t o fDivin e Faith was sh ed upo n it. Th e hi sto ry o f

th e Ch urch is full of examples o f m igh ty m inds th at we r e barr en and

fruitl e ss til l th e sun sh in e o f Fa ith fe ll upon th em ; but St. A ugustin e

stan ds fo r eve r as th e m o st brillian t te stim o ny o f th e powe r of pur ity

a nd faith to br ing fo rth th e dowe rs an d fruits o f g raceful e loque nce andso lid wisdom wh ich th e Church o f G od tr e asur e s e ve n m o r e ca re fully

th an h is co rpo r al r e lics, and wh ich an un be lieving wo rld would n o t

willin gly le t pe rish . A nd th e sin gul a r fact is o n r eco rd th at, alth ough

St . A ugustin e spe n t th e b est years o f h is life in h e re sy, wh e n h is m en ta l

powe rswe r e fr e sh and vigo r ous, th e r e h a s n ot b e e n pr e se rved fo r n a on e

sin gl e lin e th at h e wro te durin g th at pe riod—n o t o n e utte rance fr om

fo rum o r platfo rm ; but th e r ipe r products o f hi s g e n ius ar e m ost

j e alously guarded . Fo r , afte r all , wh at with out faith is h uman wisdom

Or wh a t is th e tinkling cymbal”o f human e loque n ce compare d with

th e trumpe t to n e s of a vo ice r e son an t with Divin e power and vibrating

with th e con sciousn e ss o f th e truth and impor tance of its utterances?

Tbe L g'

fe and Influe nce qf St. A ugustine . 243.

A nd so A ugustin e , th e licen tious stude n t, is comple te ly fo rgo tte n , and

w oul d be unkn own we re it n ot for h is own m o st truth ful and path e tic

Co n fe ssio ns ,”as Augus tin e th e o rato r and pr ofe ssor is comple te ly

h idde n by th e glo r ie s th at surr oun d his n am e as a docto r and a sain t .

F o r , as an eagle of th e m oun ta ins, born and r ear ed in a stron g cag e ,i s ut te rly un abl e to fe e l o r exer cise h is str en gth , and be ats its win gs

f e e b ly a nd is blin ded by th e fa in te st ray of l igh t, an d b egin s to love

i ts captive degradation but on ce fre e it fe e ls n ew str en gth with eve ry

n ew pulsa tion o f its wi ngs, and soars at last in to th e empyre an , an d

plun ge s fear le ssly in to th e mo st frigh tful abyss, and po ise s itse lf

o ve r th e r o ar in g to rre n t, and lo oks ste adily o n th e face of th e sun itse lf :

so th e soul of our sa in t, imprison ed in th e den of vice an d irr eligion ,

wa s utte r ly un able to exe rcise its mo ral and m en ta l en ergies, but, o nce

em a n cipated, it r o se in to th e ve ry h igh e st sph e r e s of th ough t ,

a n d plung ed in to th e de epest and da rk e st pr oblems of existe nce , an d

lifte d itse lf in to th e r ealms of ligh t inacce ssible ,”and gaz ed ste adi ly

o n th e myste ry th at sh rouds th e m aj e sty of th e Ete rn al .

No th in g was to o gre at, n o thi n g to o small , fo r thi s se archi ng in te l

l ect . It swept ca lmly ove r a ll th o se m ixed que stio n s th at to rtur e th eso uls o f m e n— tim e a nd space , fr e ewi ll and D ivin e fo r e sigh t, th e

e xi ste n ce o f evil an d o f a b en evo l e n t and all -wise Provide nce , th e

in spir a tio n o f Scr iptur e—all passed in r e view b efo r e h im , and h e

k n ew wh at th e lo fti e st in te llects h ad sai d a bout th em , an d th en

t o uch ed an d tran sfigur ed th em by th e magic o f hi s own gr e at min d.

N 0 on e h as e ve r to ld th e wo rld th e limi ts o f human kn owledg e and

th e infin i ty o f Divin e Fa ith in cle ar e r language th an h e . Plato to ld

h im a ll abo ut G od—to ld him even o f th e Wo rd On ly-bego tte n , wh o

r e po sed from ete rn ity in th e bo som o f th e Fa th e r , l ed h im to th e ve ry

b o un dary lin e of th e Ch ristian R eve lation , but stopped th e r e . Th e r e

wa s th e gulf th at n o pagan in te ll ect could br idg e ove r— th e r e was

th e abyss acr o ss wh ich fo r th ir ty ye ars h e h ad stra in ed h is eye s in

v a in for a way wh e r eby h e coul d pass o r a guide wh o would tak e h im

by th e h and and le ad him , un til a t last h e saw in Ch r ist th e Wo rd

m ade fle sh ,”and cam e to th e kn owl edg e o f G od th r ough Him wh o

i s th e way, th e truth , and th e life .

” An d th at kn owledge o n ce

a ttai n ed. b eh o ld eve ryth in g un de rwen t a transfo rm ation in h is eye s.

Th e Scr iptur es, wh ich h e h ad de rided fo r th e ir simplicity, sudde n ly

un fo lded th e ir sacr ed maj e sty in wo rd and m e an ing . Th e ph ilo sophy

h e h ad ado r ed b ecam e th e dark , obscur e parchme nt scr o ll, acr o ss

wh ich , invisible but to Ch r istian eye s, th e n ame of G od was wr itte n ;

a nd Nature unfo lded h e r th ousand ch arms to him,and with h e r

th o usan d vo ice s ech o ed th e pe aceful exul ta tion th at fill ed h is h e a rt.

Fo r n ow,like th e gr e at Sa in t o f A ssisi in la te r tim e s, h e began to lo ve

244 T11 0 Ir ish Mon th ly.

h is life an d th e wo rld, wh o se eve ry aspe ct an d acciden t r eve al ed th e '

g e n tle pr e se nce of its Ki n g . He te lls na in th e City o f G od th a t

in th e co lours which ble nd and min g le on th e bo som of th e gr e at de eph e saw th e love o f G od always con side rate fo r His waywa rd ch ild ;

a n d in th e sle nde r filame n t wh ich binds to ge th e r th e glo ssy plumag e

o f th e do ve , h e r eco gn ised th e h an d of Omn ipo tence wh ich h as

fash ion ed th e soul o f th e se raphs.

I h ave passed ove r by de sign th e va luable'

se rvices r ende r ed by St .

A ugustin e to th e Church in his co n tr ove rsie s with th e Don atists an d

Pe lag ian s ; fo r alth ough it must always be r emembe r ed th a t h is

writings about th e Church’s dogmas and disciplin e we r e an d ar e o f

’

suprem e impo rtan ce , I pr e fe r to lin ge r on th e se wide r issues, wh e re

h e come s dir ectly in to co n tact o r co ndict with mode rn th ough t ; fo r ,

wh e r e as th e wh o le tenden cy of mode rn th ough t is to dissociate ph ilo

sophy and r e lig io n , it was h is con stan t task , as it is h is h igh est glo ry ,

to h ave un ited th em . A nd it wo uld be quite impo ssible to exagg e r ate

h is spl en did se rvice s, n o t o nly to th e Church , but to r e ligion , in th is

gr e at depa rtm en t o f scien ce . His wo rks ar e a sto r eh ouse of info rma

t io n and r e ason in g , fr om whi ch eve ry succe edin g ge n e ration h a s

bo rr owed ma te rial fo r a ttack o f de fe n ce . On e by o n e th e Ch r istian

apo lo gists h ave appr o ach ed h im , and bowin g be fo r e h is lo fty g e n ius,

h ave tak en fr om h is h ands th e mate r ial fr om which th ey h ave con

structed works which make th e ir n am e s m emo rable amo n gst m e n .

A nd th e se,n o t o n ly Ca th o lic write r s, but such m en as Pa ley, Butle r ,

Cha lme rs, MacCullogh , wh o e ach in turn wro te o n Na tural Re lig io nand sh owed th e r e ve latio n o f G od, n o t in Scr iptur e on ly, but in

Natur e itse lf. From St . A mbr o se , hi s maste r , down to th e gr e a t

state sman wh o to -day h o lds a h igh an d un ique place n o t on ly in

po litics but in lite ratur e , e ve ry gr e a t illum inative in te lle ct h as be e n

in debted to o ur Sa in t ; and if we h ad n o o th e r answe r to th a t e te rn a l

impe achm en t th at our Ch urch is oppo sed to r e ason an d in quiry, th en ame of St . A ugustin e alo n e ough t to be accepted as a sufficien t

r e futation .

We ar e quite fam il iar with th e de r ision an d sco rn which men tryto pour on wh a t th ey a r e ple as ed to con side r a decayin g fa ith , with

n e ith e r vir il e th ough t, n o r fan atical e n thusiasm to pr e se rve it. We

a r e gr own quite accustomed to th e cry your day is o ve r ; your to rch

is extin guish ed ; be h o ld we ligh t it an ew at th e fir e o f r e aso n , and

lik e th e athl e te s in th e o ld lamp-b e ar in g race of G re e ce , we sh al l nass

i t on fr om h and to h an d to th e e nd o f tim e .

”Our an swe r com e s cle ar

a nd defian t . Tak e your tiny lamp of r eason , and go se arch th e

abysse s ; make your m in ds a blank fr om wh ich a ll tradi tio n ary ide as

axe blo tted out, and go find th e truth . We mak e yt u a pr e se n t of all

246 The Ir islz Mouthgy.

upon h is wo rks, and g ive s th em to th e wo r ld with h e r migh tyimprc

'

matur . Eve ry succe eding Pon tifi wh o is compe ll ed by th e

exig e n cies o f his time to n o te th e pe culiar and eve r-sh ifting e rro rs th a t

ar e put be for e th e wo rld disguised unde r th e n ame o f ph il o sophy,

po in ts to St. A ugustin e , and h is gre at pupil an d successo r in th e

sch o o ls, as th e expo n en ts of h e r ph ilosoph ica l cre ed. A n d well sh e

may. Fo r in th e suppo sitio n th at sh e h ad n o t th e gre at e te rn a l

pr omise s wh ich ar e th e suppo rt of h e r pr e r ogative s an d th e cr eden tia ls

o f h e r migh ty m ission , sh e mi gh t sh e lte r h erse lf beh ind th e wo rks o f

St . Augustin e and A quin as, and con side r h e r positio n impr e gn able .

If Iwer e n o t spe akin g of a sa in t wh ose ch ar ity was so wide and de epas his l earn ing , I am afr a id I sh ould say with ange r to th ose we ak

li n gs in th e faith , wh o se m inds ar e di sturbed by e ve ry ch an ce

con ve rsation with a sceptic, eve ry ch an ce r e adin g of a padded ar ticl e

in a mo n th ly r eview : th e se th ings to o occur r ed to St. A ugustin e ; h e

saw th r ough th em ; h e r e j e cted th em ; wh e r e h is gre at mind was a t

r e st, you h ave n o r ea son to be disqui e ted .

A n d n ow, fo r o n e mom en t, le t n a go back to on e calm sce n e ,

imm edia te ly afte r h is conve rsio n , wh e n hi s m o th e r and h e pour ed

th e ir souls fr e e ly to o n e an oth e r afte r th e lo n g ye ars o f spir itual

separation . Th e r e is a famous pictur e by A ry Sch efie r , familiar to us

a l l in ph o to graph s and e n gravin gs . It r epr e se n ts th at e ve n in g at

Ostia wh en St . Mon ica and St . A ugustin e quie tly talk ed o ve r on e o f

th o se subl im e pr oblems th at always o ccupied h is m ind ; m o th e r and

so n ar e sea ted to ge th e r— th e mo th e r

’s h ands fo lded in h e r lap, and

h e r ch ild’s h and clasped be twe e n th em . On th e wo rn featur e s o f th e

mo th e r , and th e we ll -ch ise ll ed, in te ll e ctual fe a tur e s of St . A ugustin e , is

pe ace , de ep pe ace—th at pe ace wh ich th e wo r ld n eve r give s. But

in sen sible to th e be autie s o f Na tur e around th em , in th at coun try

wh e r e e ve ry landscape is a subl im e pictur e , th e eyés of mo th e r and

so n ar e fixed o n th e skie s. Be h in d th e blue dom e o f imm e n sity is th a t

B e in g , wh o se love h ad surr ounded th em , wh o se m ercy h ad exa lte d

th em , se e in g o nly th e te a r o f th e mo th e r , a nd blind to th e in iquitie so f h e r ch ild . It is a be autiful pictur e

—a pictur e th at to lo ok at is to

pray. But we must n o t ling er ove r it . We , to o , must lift our eye s

an d h e arts to th e skie s. To Him , wh o is o n h igh , wh o se h um ili ty h as

exalted and g iven Him th a t n am e wh ich is above a ll n am es, our

th ough ts must so ar , our love be dir ected, o ur affection ce n tr ed, if we

h ope to en joy th e pe ace of St. A ugustin e a n d Mon ica h e r e , and to call

th e fo rm e r o ur fath e r and our fr i end, in th e pr e sen ce o f h is Maste r

and Fri e nd, in th e sin le ss bliss, th e pe rfect pe ace , th e calm joys o f

our h eave n lyHom e .

P. A . Snmmw .

A Ven etian Ba llade . 247

A VENETIAN BALLADE.

LA G OONS m ay tempt mo r e pens iv e eye s,

But give m e life o n Lido ’s strand

Th e glo ry o f its opal skie s,Th e tr opic lustr e of th e land,

Th e wide waste of th e wave s wh e r e , fann ed

By balmy br e e z es, wan de r fre e

Brigh t cr imso n sails in state ly band

Fa ir is th e br o ad Ven e tia n Se a .

Lik e blo cks o f burn ish ed go ld, th ey rise

Th ose hi lls by fa iry vapours mann ed,

Swe e t ar e th e ir cygn e ts’m e ltin g sigh s,

A n d swe e t th e sh e ll’s song on th e sand

Th e isle ts in a be auty bland

Spr in g from th e wate rs dr e amily,

Evok ed by som e m agician’s wand

Fa ir is th e bro ad Ve n e tia n Se a .

A nd as th e saffr on sun ligh t dies,

A silve r str eak o n e ith e r h an d

In swan -lik e m o tio n h ith e r h ie s,

Pa le r eflex of th e moon . I stan d

By sple n dour such as this tr epan n ed

Fa r from th e car e s o f m en , and fle e

To Fan cy’s we lcom e Vate r land

Fa ir is th e bro ad Ve n e tian Se a .

Elwo r.

0 ohms by glo ry’s arch es span n ed,

No n oble r n o ok,it se em s to m e

,

Have eye s o f po e ts eve r scan n ed

Fa ir is th e bro ad Ven e tian Se a .

EUG ENE DAVIS.


DR. BLAKE OF DROMORE,AND FA THER O

’

NEILL

OF ROSTREVOR .

T ce rtain tim es in o n e’s life it is we ll to perform an Oper atio n

similar to what is kn own in parliam en tary jargo n as th e

Massacr e o f th e Inn ocen ts ; that is, wh e n th e G ove rnm en t try t o

r educe withi n workable bounds th e ir proposed attempts at legisla

tion by giving up ce rtain measur es which th ey se e th ey have n o

ch an ce of passing . Our ide as of what it is possible for us to

hi e ve vary a go od deal with th e various stage s on life’s jour n ey .

It was a ve ry young man , a marve ll ous boy,”wh o wrote

Th e foo lish word Impocsible

A t once fo r aye disda in .

We com e after a time to le arn that m any thin gs ar e impo ssible ,

a nd to de em it a part of wisdom to aim on ly at th e possible .

Th ese r eflections n e ed n o t go furth er , for at pre sen t th ey on ly

po in t to th e modifications th at editorial plan s and purpose s must

unde rgo in th e course of e ighte en ye ars. Wh ate ve r our plan s an d

purpo ses may h ave been or igin al ly, it hastur n ed out th at on e o f

th e chi e f fun ction s of THE IRISH MONTHLY h as be e n an d will be

to preser ve th e m emorie s o f Ir ish m en and women wh o in dive rs

ways may h ave earn ed a right to be r emembe r ed. Th ere fo re in

th e o fficial sta tem en t publish ed in The P r ess Dir ectom/ th e lastwords are It make s Irish biography a spe ciali ty.

”

Many mate rials are at our disposal for biograph ical sketch es

whi ch , we are sure , will in ter est many of our r e aders for th e sake

o f th e ir subjsets ; but be for e drawin g upon th e se r esource s we

de em it a duty to bring to som e sort of con clusion‘a sketch , of

which n o l owe r th an seve n instalm e n ts have appe ared in our pages,

th e late st of th em be ing as far back as A ugust, 1 882 (Im sn

MONTHL Y , vol . 1 0, pag e Th o se wh o h ave it in th e ir powe r

to r efe r back to th e begin n ing of this sketch may find th e reason s

why out of all th e m embers of th e Irish hi e rarchy this Magaz in e

has ch osen to te ll th e rath er un e ven tful story o f Dr . Blake o f

Dromor e .

Se e Pig eo nh o le Paragr aphs o f our pr esen t Num be r fo r th e br ief conclusio n

o f on e o f our sto r ie swh ich was left unfin ish ed in our pag es.

250 The In ish Month ly.

Sch o o ls of St. Cathe rin e’

s parish , by th e Re v. Dr . Whitehead,Pr ofessor of Natural and Mo ral Ph ilosophy in Mayn ooth Co llege—a n ame which it will in tere st some o f our re aders to find in thi s

unusual context, for th ey have n o t h eard o f him be fo re as a

Dr . Blake was co nsecrated by h is prede ce sso r in th e Se e o f

Dromo re , Dr . Ke lly, th en A rchbish op o f A rmagh , assiste d by Dr .

Edward Kern an , Bish op of Clogh e r , Dr . Brown e , Bish op of Kil

m o r e , an d Dr . Cro lly, Bish op o f Down and Co n n o r , who was so o n

to be Pr imate . Dr . Cr o lly pre ach ed (says th e r eporte r) in h is

own peculiar an d h appy style a m ost appmpriate , impr essive and

e loquen t discourse .

”Th e n ew Bish op e n te rta in ed th e Bish ops

and cle rgy at Trayn o r’

sHo te l—Newry re ade rs will be puz z led by

th is little bit of an tiquarian lo re—and, stran ge to say, th e cle rgy

e n te rtain ed the bish ops and th e ir own Bish op in re turn on the

fo llowing day.

Wh ile putting th ese n ote s toge th e r , an acciden t place s in o ur

hands an o ld copy of th at Newry n ewspape r that we h ave justquo ted The N ewry Te legraph still live s, th ough its Numbe r1 653 was dated Septembe r 1 6, 1 828 ; and, as it on ly appear ed

o n Tue sday an d Friday, it must th e n h ave be en mo re than e ight

hundred we eks o ld. A s Newry was th e nceforth to be Dr . Blake’

s

h ome , we ve n ture to m ake th is an excuse fo r quo ting from th e o ld

n ewspaper th e appo in tm e n t o f th e first Town Commission e rs. A t

a public m e e ting con ve n ed fo r th e purpo se , with Isaac G le n ny in

th e chair, Tr e vor Co rry

-histo rical n ame s th ese fo r th e on lyr eaders wh o will lo ok at th e se lo cal de tails Trevo r Corry propo sed

a list of 2 1, wh ich may be give n h ere D e n is Maguire , Smi th

son Corry, Ar thur Russe ll, Th omas G ibson He n ry, Matth ew

D’A rcy, Will iam Hancock, Char le s Je n n ings, John H. Wallace ,

Pa trick M‘Parlan , A ndrewHalyday, John Carah e r , A dam Co rry,

Jam es Spen ce , Jam es Lyle , P. C . Byrn e , William Carter , Pe te r

Murphy, Rowan M‘Naghtau, Con stan tin e Maguir e , Samue l Boyd,

and Jo hn A rthur O’Hagan .

” Why quo te th e se n ame s, som e o f

wh ich n o doubt have in te re stin g associatio ns for th ose wh o dwe ll

o n th e banks o f th e Clanrye , but n o t for th o se wh o live n ear th e

Le e or th e Lifiey Fo r th e purpose o f n oting that, thohgh Dr .

Blake’

s cath edral town was the fron tie r-town of th e Black North ,h e re we have

,th e ye ar be fore Emancipation , th e Comm ission e rs

ch osen alte rn ate ly from Catho lics and Pro testants . Th e first is a

Dr . B lake of Dromore , and Fathe r O’

N e ill of R osfr ewr . 251’

Catho lic, m ember of parliam e n t fo r a short time afte r Cath o lic

Eman cipation , th e only Cath o lic M .P. till th e pre sen t m embe r ,

Mr . Justin Huntley M‘Carthy. Eve ry alte rn ate n ame is that o f a

Cath o lic, e nding with th e fath e r o f a gr e at Ir ish Cath o lic lawye r ,

as th e third on th e list was th e fath er o f an oth e r Irish Cath o lic ‘

lawye r , distinguish ed n ot at th e Ir ish but th e En glish bar .

From th e day Dr . Blake came to Newry h e n eve r afte r le ft h is .

di oce se except on th e most urgen t busin e ss. To be sure Newry

was then much furth e r away from Dublin th an it is n owadays.

Th e Post Olh os A n nual Directo ry fo r 1 833 lie s beside me , and

i t informs us that in th ose days th e Newry Lark started from

th e Londonde rryHo te l , 6 Bo lton Str e e t, Dublin , at se ve n o’

clo ck

in th e m orn ing and r e ach ed Newry at four o’

clo ck in th e afte rn oo n .

In th ose days th e po stage o f a le tte r from Dublin to Newry was

se ve n pe n ce—ve ry m ode rate . compared with e le ve n pe nce for a

C ork lette r , sixte en pe n ce to Yarmouth in Englan d, and twe n ty

p e nce to Kirkwall in Sco tland . Compar e th at with our pe n ny

postcard to San Francisco . An d ye t we are n o t happy.

”

l O fi

Thus far I h ad wr itten con ce rn in g th e commen cem e n t of Dr .

B lake’

s conn e ction with th e dio ce se o f Dr om ore , wh e n , sudden ly

and un expectedly, n ews comes of th e death o f th e Dromor e prie st

wh o h e lped h im be st and wh om h e valued mo st . Non e o f h is

fe llow-

pr ie sts will demur to th is de scr iption of th e Ve ry R e v .

Pa tri ck O’Ne ill , parish pr ie st of Rostr evo r , wh o se de vo ted curate ,

th e Re v. A ndrew Lowry, te legraph s to me on th is 1 7th o f A pr il ,

Fath e r O’

Ne ill , afte r a br ief illn e ss, died.

last n ight .”

Th e se biographica l n otes we re partly re sum ed for th e purpo se

o f making use o f some le tte rs of Dr . Blake’s whi ch Fath e r O

’

Ne ill

h ad len t to m e . Th e rem ainder of this paper sh all link toge th e r

th e n am e s o f th ese two sain tly m e n .

A lth ough to on e wh o at th e e arliest possible age became a

m embe r of his lordsh ip’

s flock in th e secon d ye ar of h is episcopate ,

th e ven erable Bish op se em ed to have alre ady be e n am on gst us

from time immemo rial wh en Patrick O’

Ne ill became o n e o f h is

prie sts, in fact on ly a doz en years, half of h is te rm , had gon e by

sin ce th e Conse cration Se rmo n preach ed by Dr . William Cro lly.

F ath er O’Ne ill (or Mr . O

’

Ne ill ,”as we used th e n to say pr e tty

g e n e rally in th e Black North ) was n ot a n ative o f th e Drom o re

dioce se , but o f Kilmo r e . He had made h is studi es in th e Ir ish

252. The Ir isli Mon th ly.

Co llege o f Rome . B e at on ce from th e begin n ing of h is pr ie st

h o od gain ed th e r eputatio n of be in g in a remarka ble degr e e a

h o ly, z ealous, and e fficie n t prie st and th e e ste em and afie ctio n in

wh ich h e was h e ld in cr eased with every year o f th e life that h as

just e nded .

His work lay first in N ewry fo r a long te rm o f ye ars, and

th e n in Ro stre vo r . Be twe e n th e se two division s o f h is sace rdotal

car e e r , th e state o f h is h e alth induce d Dr . B lake to g ive h im a

sh o rt ye ar’

s re st, wh ich h e spe n t in Rome . Th is was th e o ccasion

o f the fo llowin g le tte rs, wh ich we find wr itte n in a cle ar , firm,

n e a tc , andm in ute h andwriting , whi ch makes it h ard to be lie ve that

th e write r was e igh ty years o ld. A mid th e go od o ld Bish op’

s o ld

fa sh io n ed fo rmality h is affectionate h eart be trays itse lf

V io le t Hill , Newry,

Novembe r 1 4 , 1 855.

Re v AND Dam Sm ,

Wh en you we r e leavin g Ire lan d to pro ce ed towards th e Ho ly City, on e of th e

wish e s wh ich I had mo st a t h e art was th at G o d would pro tect you o n your way

th ith e r . Th at wish , th rough th e D ivin e G o o dn e ss, h as be e n accomplish ed g lory

a n d e ve r la stin g th a nksg ivin g be to His h o ly nam e . A n o th er wish I e n te rta in ed

was th at your sta y in Rom e woul d be co n ducive to th e stre ngth en in g of your con

stitutio n and to your advan cem e n t in wh a te ve r mi gh t ren de r you still m o re use ful

to th e gre a t purpo se s of our sacr ed min istry, an d still m o re de se rvin g o f th e Divin e

pro te ctio n ; and I n ow lo ok fo rwa rd with h ope fo r th e r e a l iz a tion of th at ch e r ish ed

se n tim e n t . Your e scape from th e immin e n t dan g er s o f sh ipwr eck an d de a th I

r e g ard as a spe cia l fa vour from G o d . I h ave had re ason to be we ll acqua in ted

w ith th e pe r i ls o f a voyage fr om Mar se ille s to Civita Ve cch ia . Twice I h ave

be en expo sed to th em , wh e n la n d carr iag e was mo re expen sive an d un commodi ous

th an it is n ow ; and twice Iwas with in a h a ir’s breadth o f be in g dr own ed . Th e

se a th e re h as always be e n r ema rkable fo r its n ume rous a nd dan g e rous rocks and

sto rm s,an d fo r th e acciden ts wh ich we re apt to occur in it , th e dr e ad o f wh ich

wh e n I was re turn in g from Ro m e in th e years 1 829 and’46 , in duce d me to prefer

th e G en o a r o ad an d th e Simplo n to th e passag e by se a , and I r ecomm en d th e sam e

pre caution to you .

I pe rce ive from your le tte r of th e l oth Sept . th at you wer e th en in Tivo li ,

e n joyin g , I suppo se , th e de l igh tful ch a rms o f tha t place , and re n ovated in spir its by

th e frien dly h ospita l ity o f th e a lways am iable and kin d Dr . Kirby. From th e

9th to th e 22nd o f Septembe r you h ad scarce ly tim e to grow fa t upo n th e figs and

g rape s , wh ich , n o twith stan di n g th e g e n e ral fa ilur e o f th e vin tag e , we re still n o t

e xh auste d but if h e a lth h a s be en impro ved , I da re say your on ly re g re t on

a cco un t o f th e bligh t is be cause , as you remark, th e pe ople h ave becom e som ewh at

d iscon ten ted by i t . Y ou h ave n o t m e n tion ed wh e th e r you in te n ded afte r th e

R e tre at to b ecom e a m embe r of o n e of th e classe s wh ich we re to comm en ce o n th e

4 th o f Novembe r . I would wish to kn ow tha t , and if th e an swe r be in th e affirma

tive , I woul d like to kn ow wh at course o f studi es you m e an to pursue . Co n side r ing

th e sh o rtn e ss of th e time be twe en th is an d th e first o f May, I think you m igh t


co n side red in th e begin n ing almost in credible . Miss Russe ll ’s pro fe ssion on th e

Tuesday afte r Domin ica in A lbis, an d th e Righ t Rev. Dr . Leahy’s instruction s and

influe nce , have added powerfuny to th e z ea l and exer tions of th e Re v . Mo th e r

Supe rio re ss of th at commun ity. With in th e last two o r th ree weeks po stulan ts

h a ve be en rwe ived in to it , and o n this day two postulan ts have applied to m e .

We lam en ted , a t th e commen cem en t , th at we would wan t subjects for itsduties ; our difficulty n ow is to h ave ce lls en ough for th eir re ception , and com

m odious sch oo ls, and , above all , a d ecen t an d n e at , if n o t a fully be comin g ch ape l ,

for th e siste rs and inmate s. To pro vide a littl e mo r e room fo r th e sacred ofi ces and

duties of a re ligi ous commun ity , th e rev . mo th er has conve rted on e o f th e parlours

in to a ch ape l o f aid , and ha s e ndeavoured to do th e best sh e can for th e o th e r local

wan ts o f th e institution . In th e m eanwh ile , a we ekly subscr iptio n h asbe en kept

up but I fea r it will re quire too much tim e to make it sufi cien tly productive fo r

th e wan ts o f th e place . Infirm itie s pre ve n t me from th e active exe rtion s I would

be incl in ed to m ake fo r so useful an in stitution ; and I em lo th to sugg e st to Dr e

L eahy anythin g but wha t h e may find i t co nven ien t to execute . His go od will Iamfully se n sible o f, an d I th e r efo re leave h im to his own discre tion and judgme n t.But wha t I have sai d will enable you to unde rstan d th at we n e ed addi tiona l co rdial

h e lp

Y ou rem embe r , I suppo se , th at wh e n you we re on th e eve of your depar ture

from Ire lan d , I gave n o t ice to our cler ica l bre th re n o f Newry th a t th e appo in tmen ts

I th e n made we r e o n ly pro visio n a l , an d I have taken care since to repeat tha t

n o tice , so th at as so o n as you re turn you wil l be exactly, as to ofiice , r ig h ts ,

privil eg e s, and em o lumen ts, as you were befo re th o se appo in tme n ts we re made .

I fe e l mo st g ra te ful to th e ven e rable supe r io rs of our Irish Co lleg e in Roms

fo r th e kind con side ra tio n th eypaid to my re comm enda tion in your favour . Ikn ow

n o t wh at h ad be e n do n e with r egard to th e pe rson on wh ose beh a lf Dr . Jame sBrown in te re sted h imse lf , and th e re fo re am de sirous of kn owin g from yo u any

particulars you may be able to commun ica te . I h ave n ow in my little seminary

four o r five very promisin g can dida te s, o n e o f wh om is a bro th e r of th e Rev . Mr .

M ‘G ive rn , wh o studied in Rom e , and is n ow a valuable cura te in th e par ish of

Ba llyn ah inch , unde r Re v. Dan ie l Sha rkey. A s I h ave men ti on ed R e v. Mr .

M ‘G ive rn with pra ise , and do ve ry much e ste em h im,it may n o t be am iss in o rder

to pre se rve g ood tempe r and to pr eve n t cavillings amongst our cle rgy, tha t th e t itle

o f Docto r , th ough a righ t to it may have be en leg itima te ly obta in ed in th e most

approved man n e r , be n o t assum ed by th e individual wh o h as obta in ed it un til h e is

e ith e r a bon a -fide pro fesso r o r auth o r , o r dign ified by his stati on in th e church over

h is compe e rs. I h ave le arn ed from practica l obse rvation and rema rks th e ex

pe di en cy of adoptin g th is sugg esti o n , but I state it only as a matte r o f private

o pin ion , and would n o t atte mpt to o ffe r it as r esting upo n any auth o r ity.

I would h ave fo llowed your example in con tributin g towards th e e recting of

th e m ag nificen t co lumn n ow in prog ress in R ome as a public te stimon ial o f th e

pre- emin e n t h o n our due th e Imm acula te an d e ver to be ven erated Mo th er o f G od,

but th e extr eme po ve rty of th e majo r ity o f our people re nde red it impo ssible for

th em ,wh ile pro visio n s were so de ar an d pro pe rty taxe s en fo rced

,to co n tribute as

fo rm e rly to th e prope r support of th e ir cle rgy. But be tte r times are , I h ope , before

us and th ough , as you kn ow,I have reduced my income by on e -h alf o f its fo rme r

amoun t , ye t I am dispo sed to con tr ibute towards th e column , and also towa rds our

Co ll ege in Rome aft e r a little wh ile .

I be g you will in th e mo st re spectful te rms presen t th e assurance of my ve ry

Dr . B lake qf Dr omore, and Fa the r O

’

Ne ill of Rostr e vor . 255

h umble and mo st h ear tfe lt r e spe ctful respects to our ven e rable pro te cto r , th e Most

Em in e n t Cardin al Prefect of Propagan da , an d m o st re spe ctful an d affe ction ate

e ste em to th e Very Rev . Dr . Ki rby and any o th ers wh o still h on our m e by th e ir

I n e ed n o t repe a t it , but sti ll I am often ch arged to a ssure you of th e constan t

a n d co rdial este em of your o ld frien ds h e re , cle rgy an d laym en .

I n ow pray G od to ble ss and pro te ct and brin g you safe h ome to us again ,

a n d I rema in

Re v. and de ar fr ien d,

Eve r yours mo st faith ful ly,

M. Bu n .

Th e Re v. Pa trick O’

Ne ill .

Vio le t Hill , Newry,May 30th , 1 866.

Km . m Dm Sm ,

I assur e you I woul d fe e l grea t re g re t in de clin in g to gran t any favour which

you would be anxious to rece ive from m e , be cause I apprecia te ve ry h igh ly your

pa st service s in th e par ish of N ewry ; but if you will co n sul t your own soun d and

fa ith ful m em o ry, you wil l pe rce ive th a t I cann o t acce de to th e reque st co n tain ed inyo ur le tte r of th e 1 9th instan t , with out appe ar in g to fall o ff from my e stimate of

y our ackn owledg ed wo r th . Y ou will rem embe r tha t in obtain ing my co nsen t to

y our visit to Rom e fo r th e ben efit o f your h e al th an d th e re creatio n o f your m ind,

y ou promised to re tur n in May and, re lyin g o n your wo rd , an d th e so licitude you

h abitually fel t for th e we lfare o f th is dioce se , I re fused to make any pe rman e n t

a ppo in tme n t for th e disch arg e o f th e dutie s we owed to our Newry flock un til th e

t erm ina tio n of th e pe riod m en ti on ed by yourse lf. In co n sequen ce o f th at pro

v isio n al arran geme n t , many thin gs fo r wh ich I sh ould be anxious, have sin ce

rema in ed in abeyan ce , our improvem en ts h ave be e n somewh a t suspe nded , your

cle r ical bre thr e n o f this parish , th ough full o f e ste em fo r you, h ave fe lt th em se lves

som ewhat disappo in ted , espe cially with in th e last few wee ks , an d n e ith e r th ey n or

I we re prepared fo r your reque st to h ave leave of absen ce un til September . Yoursta te o f h ea lth be in g n ow re n o va ted, makes you perfectly able to resume your

m e ri to r ious function s, an d I n e ed n o t obse r ve to you th a t in this di ocese we have

n o o ve rflowing of missio n ary h e lp of any kin d, and , least of a ll , o f such h e lp as we

I da re say it wi ll surprise you to learn from m e th at I in te nd to go to Dublin

n e xt week , in o rde r to purch ase vestme n ts an d o th e r article s n ece ssary o r use ful fo r

th e divin e se r vice in Newry. I um n o t en tir e ly fr e e from th e g rasp o f my o ld

to rmen to r th e rh euma tism . My limbs are st ill affected by it , and I am unable to

dre ss o r un dress myse lf, o r to walk wi th out two sticks ; but th e m a in vita l o rgans

a re still soun d in me , and th oug h I e m ve ry weak , my spir its are sufi cien tlybuoyan t and ch e e r ful . I would scarce lyfe e l th e we ig h t o f 8 yea rs spen t m la bour

a n d difi cultie s but fo r th e n e ve r -ce asin g accompan im en t of rh eumatism .

My stay i n Dublin must be sh o rt , fo r th e visita t ion s o f th e dioce se have be en

a lr eady ann oun ced , and o nlyye ste rday, th e Octave of Co rpus Ch risti , I admin iste red

th e Sacrame n t o f Co nfirmatio n to 365 we ll prepared ch ildre n , and I pre ach ed to

to th em and a.

large co ngre gati on in our cath edral o f Newry. His lo rdship ,

D r . Leahy, my partn e r in labours, wil l commence h is apo sto l ic exe rtion s o n n ext

256 l e Ir ish Month ly.

Sunday. Thus , you pe rce ive , we are all o n th e ale rt ; th e sign a l has be en g ive n

th e trumpe t callin g na to action h as soun ded . To th e fie ld of action tha t

wi thout delay Haste n to stirmi la te , as yo u h ave don e be fo re , your ven e rable

a ssocia te s by your example . A life o f case woul d n o t be come you. Sur e ly I n e ed

n o t add on e wo rd m ore .

Our youn g studen ts in this semin ary are progre ssin g adm irably in th e ir

studie s an d in ecclesiastical discip lin e . Th ey a lmost a ll are un able to me e t th e

e xpe nse o f a journ ey to our co lle g e in Rom e th e re is o nly o n e amo ngst th em wh o

i nfo rms m e tha t his pare n ts could afio rd to sen d him . Will you be so [go od as to ]g ive me your opin ion wh e th e r I sh ould se n d him o r n o t. I prayyou a lso to pre se n t

my mo st re spe ctful affe ction ate wish e s to th e ven erable pre siden t , Dr . Kirby, and

a ny o th e r fr ie n ds wh o still h o n our me in Rom e wi th th e ir remembrance .

Be lie ve me to be eve r fa ithfully,

Re v. an d dea r sir,

Your se rvan t in Ch rist ,°Mrcusur. Bu z z .

Th e Re v. Patri ck O’

Ne ill .

Vio le t Hill , Newry,Jun e 3oth , 1 856.

Bav. n u) Du n Sm ,

Your kind and in te re stin g le tte r o f th e 1 5th in st . gave me reason to th ink th at

be fo re th at le tte r woul d have re ach ed m e and a n answe r from m e would be re turn ed ,

yo u would h ave left th e Ho ly City an d wo uld a rrive . o r be o n your way to Pa r is.

Your last le tte r , dated th e 22nd inst , wh ich I rece ived th is m orn in g , le aves me

doubtful wh e th er I sh ould dire ct my le tte r to Rome o r to th e Fren ch capita l , but I

h ave n o doubt tha t in on e o r o th e r o f th e se citie s you will re ce ive it . Th e

ann oun cem en t o f your spe edy re turn to Ire la nd gave me since re ple asure , an d I

be lieve h as be e n h a iled with sim ilar fe e lin g by a ll your cle rica l and lay fri e nds h e re

and in Dublin . Our cir cum stan ce s in Newry we r e in som e re spe cts le ft i n an

un se ttled state by th e arran geme n t Imade sh o r tly be fo re you quitte d N ewry, and to

some questi on s th at h ave be e n asked m e , I th ough t it expedien t to g ive unde cisive

answe rs. But you may be assur ed th a t I will a lways act in a fr iendly man n e r

towards you, fo r you h ave always dese rved my e ste em , and it will always affo rd

m e comfort to be fr ien d you.

I sin cem re g re t tha t th e youn g gen tleman wh om our ven erable fr ie nd, Dr .

Jam es Brown e , sen t to th e Irish Co lleg e in Rome h as been preven ted by ill h e alth

from co n tinuin g h is studie s th e re . a lth oug h by re tirin g from th e place h e th e re

o ccupied h e h as le ft a vacan cy fo r on e o f my stude n ts. Your le tte r o f th e 22nd didn o t come to me by h im , but by th e Fre nch ma il . I fe e l g rate ful , h owe ve r , to h im

fo r h is offe r to be th e bea re r of it , and I pray G o d fo r h is spe edy re cove ry. A t th is

season o f th e yea r I be lieve you would n o t advise m e to se nd a can dida te in to th e

climate of Italy, but wh en you are h e re with me we sh a ll confe r on th at an d o th e r

matte rs. I appro ve very much o f your in ten tio n to pro vide use ful boo ks and

wh ate ve r e lse you may h ave future occa sio n fo r h e re . In Ire la nd it is on ly by a

sort of ch an ce we can find th em , an d th ey are usually ve ry dear , wh ile o n th e

con tin en t th ey can be easily pro cur ed. Wh a t wo rks would be m ost desirable fo r

you I dare say you kn ow be tte r th an myse lf but wh ile I re jo ice th at such

standard wo rks as th e Dogmatic and Th eo log ica l wo rks o f Pe tavius and Be llarmine


We“

h ave given these lette rs of Dr . Blake out of th e ir prope r

place , because after be ing in our hands for several ye ars we had

just give n th em to th e prin te r wh e n th e person wh om th ey con

cern ed passed away from th e mo rtal state in which such things

could in terest h im . Why n ot h ave fin ish ed Dr . Blake’

s sto ry,

such as it is, wh en th ere was at least on e r eader wh o would be

in terested in its most trivial detail P But such disappo in tments,

small or gre at, are constan tly occurrin g in human things ; and

among grey-h eaded pe ople th er e is many a regre t (on ly more

bitte r an d m ore enduri ng) corre spondin g with that Ch ild’s First

G r ie which we used to admir e be fore the critics h ad taugh t

that Mr s. Hemans h ad on ly a thin ve in of in spiration

A h , whi le my bro th e r with me played,

Would I had loved h im m ore !

Th is would be a ve ry pe rfect rule of char ity—namely, if we could

man age to act an d fe el towards e ach of th ose around a s as if h e o r

sh e wer e to be taken away fr om n a at on ce , andperhaps as sudde n ]yas Fath e r O

’

Ne il l was taken away fr om th e th ousands wh o loved

h im and depe nded on him .

Fo r th at brief illn e ss wh ich th e te legram o f his death

m e n tion ed occupied on ly th e afte rn o on h ours of on e day. How

e ve r , be fore r eaching th e end, le t us go back to th e beginn in g , and

g ive th e date s of Fath e r O’

Ne ill’s life m ore m inute ly, as h is death

a t this precise mom en t has chan ced to lin k him more close ly with

the h o ly pre late with whom h e was clo se ly linked in life , and as,

since h is n ame came in to these page s, we have se en h is body la id

in th e e arth before th e al tar at which h e h ad offered th e Ho lySacrifice som e n in e th ousan d tim e s, th e last time be ing on the very

Patr ick O’

Ne ill was born n e ar Ballyjame sdufi,in th e Coun ty

o f G avan , o n th e l oth of Jun e , 1 820. He first wen t to a coun try

sch oo l in th e n e ighbourh ood, and afte rwards at Oldcastle , in CountyMeath , wh e re on e of h is class-fe llows was th e pre sen t Bish op o f

Meath , Dr . Th omas Nulty. A bout his twe n tieth year he en ter ed

th e Ir ish College at Rome . If even for poo r Byron Rome was

th e city of th e soul ,”what was th e Eternal City for th is pious,

warm -h earted Irish youth Ou th e completion of a full course of

th e o logical studies, he was ordain ed priest on th e 1 3th of A pril ,

1 846, so that his last mass on th e day of h is death may very pro

Dr . B lake ofDromore , and Fathe r O’

Ne ill of Rostrevor . 259

h ably have be en pre cise ]y 0 1 1 th e fo rty-fourth an nive rsary of his

first mass, which is o ften preceded by a day or two of spe cial pre

paration afte r Ordinatio n .

We do n ot kn owth e circumstances wh ich secured for th e diocese

o f Dromore th e lifelong service of th e young Kilmore priest .

Th ough n ot a filiue. but on ly an affiliate , an adopted son of th e

dio cese , h e so on be came Dromo ran sibas Dromorm e io r . If e ach

dio ce se h as a specia l guardian ange l of its own , th e A ngel of Dro

more must h ave re jo ice d exce edingly on that Jun e day in 1 846wh en Father O

’

Ne ill , fresh from R ome , took up h is abode in th e

parochial house—the n amep resbyte ry isn ot used th e re , pe rhaps on

accoun t of its presbyte rian sound. Two years late r , h e was

appo in ted A dmin istrator o f Newry, wh ich anxious and laborious

po sition h e fil led fo r sixtee n years with consummate ability,

prudence and z eal , in th e co nstan t exercise of th e high e st priestly

The old Bish op, Dr . Blake , had meanwhil e shared with

a n oth er th e too h eavy burden of his cross, as Our Lord with Simo no f Cyre n e . Of Dr . John Pius Le ahy much will have to be said

wh e n th e prohibition , Na laudes Iaominem in vita saw, is removed .

But h e , to o , would attribute to Fath e r O’Ne ill a large sh are in th e

g oo d works o f his episcopate . Inde ed in the beginn ing of tha t

episcopate h e bore th e fo llowing te stimony o n th e occasion of that

pro lo n ged visit to Rome to which Dr . Blake’s lette rs also re

Newry, Septembe r 1 7th , 1 855.

B r Dm Mu. O’

Nmnt ,°

I g ladly ava il myse lf of th e oppo rtunity affo rded by your approach in gdepa rture fo r Rome to g ive expre ssio n to th e e ste em in which I h o ld yo ur manyvim and to th e gra titude I fee l fo r th e in va luable assistance I have r ece ived

from you since my appoin tme nt to th e episcopacy. Your exempla ry conduct , your

g e n uin e pie ty, and your un tir in g z ea l , wh il e th eypowe rful ly co n tributed to promo te

th e h onour of G od and th e salvation o f h un dre ds, h ave a lso se cured fo r you th e

re ve re nce and aflection of th e Cath o lics o f th is extensive par ish . To you th ey owe

th e in tro duction of th e Chr istian Bro th er s an d th e Siste rs o f Me rcy, and it must

o ve r prove to you a source of th e pure st g ratificati o n to rodse t th a t th e in ca lculable

go od you have th e r e eflecte d will co n tih ue to fructify lo n g afte r you sha ll have

be e n m oved to th e reward of your labours. Y ou are n ow about to visit th at gre at

city whe re th e blo od sh ed by its many martyrs will n o doubt inflam e your z e al

in t o a still more g lowin g ardour , and wh er e th e vast acquirem en ts of so many

e m in e n t divines will commun icate to your mind a still large r treasure of e cclesias

ti ca l kn owledg e . I h ope you will soo n re turn to th e scen e o f your to ils, refr e sh ed

a n d a n imated fo r n ew exe rtion s, an d I beg of G od, thro ugh th e mer its o f our

D ivin e Saviour and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin , tha tHe will preserve and

260 7750 Ir ish Month ly.

increase in you th e grace He h imse lf h as g iven , guardin g you from dange r by

infusin g in to your soul a spir it of since re hum ility, a con sciousn ess o f your own «

insufficie n cy to th in k e ven of wha t is good, and an un ceasin g r ecourse fo r ligh t and

stren gth to Him with out wh om we are m ere to o ls with all our wisdom , and‘

cowards with all our courage .

Ium , my de ar Mr . O’Ne ill ,

Mo st sin cem and affectiona te ly yours,

J. P. Lam ar,

Coadjuto r of Dromore .

If it we re in my power to re arrange the se hurried an d con fused

n ote s, I sh ould separate th ose wh om G od jo in ed, and treat apart

o f th e priest and th e bish op. More has still to be said o f Dr .

Blake an d of Fath er O’Ne ill ; and, as th e proper orde r of topics

canno t be observed , it may n o t be quite amiss eve n to incre ase th e

disorder by ending for th e presen t with a le tte r addre ssed to Dr .

Blake wh en Fath er O’

Ne ill was on ly a ch ild of se ven years of age ,

and ye t in augurating an ecclesiastical care er wh ich h as n ot ye t

reach ed its te rm . Monsignor Meaghe r , Can on Pricker’s predeces

so r in Rathmin e s, thus in troduce s to th e founde r of th e Ir ish

Co llege at Rome Fath e r Matth ew Coll ie r , n ow th e ven e rable P.P.

o f St. A gath a’s, North William Stre e t, Dublin , l iving beloved an d

ven erated amongst us still , alth ough spoke n o f in th e fo llowin gte rms so long ago as two years before Cath o lic Eman cipation

Dublin , May l oth, 1 827 .

Van R ay . m o Du n Sm ,

It is wi th n o o rdina ry ple asure I h ave learn ed th at a youn g ge n tleman , I r .

III. Co ll ie r , h as be en se lected out of my semina ry byHis G race th e A rch bish op tobecome on e of th e e arli e st m embe rs of th e na tiona l co llege wh ich you have so

fo rtuna te ly succe eded in establish in g at Rome . I fe e l th e m o re gratified at th is

se le ction as I h ave e n joyed every me an s of be comin g in timate ly acqua in te d with

h is ch aracte r , wh ile th e re sul t h as been a con viction of h is sin gula r me rit . He hasbe e n fo r n early th re e years unde r my care , and it is with a sen tim e n t far supe rio r

to that o f m e re recommen da tio n th at I can ave r I n eve r discovere d in h is con duct

o ne sin gle trait th at did n o t co n tribute to m ark h im out as a ch ild of ben ediction .

It could n o t be o th e rwise , re ared as h e h as bee n unde r th e eye of th e sain t o f our

days, Fr .He n ry Y oun g . Th e o n ly disadvan ta ge with which h e h ad to struggle is, I

trust , n ow rem oved—name ly, a de licacy o f co nstitutio n arising from a te nden cy to

outgrow h is stren g th . Thi s ha s ofte n oblig ed h im to re lax h is applica tion to study,

an d th ough I um confide n t h e will be found compe ten t to comm en ce h is course o f

ph ilo sophy sh ould it be de emed e xpedi e n t to make him embark at on ce in th e study

o f th e scien ce s, ye t as h e con ce ives an arden t wish to complete h is kn owledg e of th e

classics, particula rly o f th e G re ek , in wh ich h e was be g in n in g to make rapid pro

g ross, h e wish es th at I sh ould en treat of you to allow h im ,if possible , to prosecute

th ese studies for a sh o rt time lon ge r .

As I canno t forge t th e h earty wish es wh ich you were pleased to express for

THE CHILDREN’

S BALLAD ROSARY.

[Th e in te n tion of th e writter o f th e se verses is to g ive th e divin e facts com

m em o rated in th e Ro sa ry in a fo rm whi ch may aid in imprin tin g th em upon th e

minds of th e youn g at a time of life wh en th e memo ry is stron g and more te nacious

o f verse th an of prose . He has ende avoure d to make th e n arrati ve as simple in

po in t of expre ssion , and to adh ere as clo se ly to th e actual words of th e G ospe l , as.

was compatible with a rhythm ical

Our h o ly moth e r , Mary, How can it be , said Ma ry,

A virg in pure was sh e ; A n d I a spo tle ss ma id

Espoused un to St. Jo seph Th e Ho ly G h ost will come to th e e ,In th e la nd of G alilee .

Now G od se n t down to Mary Thy h o ly o n e sh all th er e to 1 e be

His an ge l G abrie l . Th e Son o f G od . Beh o ld

Ha il , full o f g race ,”th e an ge l sa id, Eliz abe th , thy cousin ,

Th e Lo rd with th e e do th dwell . Though n ow in years grown o ld,

A nd ble ssed art th ou Mary Sh all a lso be a mo th e r

Am on gst all womank in d Ere many m on th s ye se e ,

But Mary a t th e an g e l’s wo rd Because n o wo rd to G od on high

Was tr oubled in h e r min d. Impossible can be .

o h , be n o t tro ubled , Mary, Be h o ld ,”sa id humble Mary,

A n d le t thy fe ars be don e : Th e h an dma id of th e L o rd , .

Beh o ld th ou h ast found grace wi th G od , A n d le t i t un to me be don e

A nd th ou shalt bear a son . A cco rdin g to thy word .

”

It is th e name o f Je sus Th e an g el par ted fr om h e r ,

Th at th ou sha lt nam e him by A nd in th at day and h our

He sh a ll be gr ea t , and sha ll be called Th e Son of G od to ok human flesh

Th e Son of th e Mo st High . By his a lmi gh ty powe r .

A n d G od a th ron e will g ive him G lo ry to G od the Fa ther ,

King David’s th ron e of yo re A nd h is e te rna l Son ,

A n d of hi s kin gdom th e re sh all be A nd g lory to the Ho ly G host

No and fo r e ve rmo re .

’

For over , Thr ee in 0m .

New in th o se days did Mary

A r ise , h e r ste ps to be nd

Th rough Judah ’ s h ills to visitEliz abe th , h e r fr iend.

In haste sh e made h e r journeyAl on g th e moun ta in ro ad ,

A nd en te red wh e re Eliz abe th

Eliz abe th beh eld h e r ,

A n d r isin g a t th e sigh t ,

Fill ed with th e Ho ly G h ost sh e spak e »

In wonde r an d de ligh t .

oh , ble ssed amon gst women ,

Sh e cried aloud,

art th ou ;

A nd blessed is th e h o ly fruit

Wh om th ou art bearin g n ow.

The Children’

s Ba lla d R osary.

A nd h ow can such a marve l Sin ce on his lowly handmaid

O f wndescension be , His eye ha th de ign ed to re stTha t th us th e Mo th e r o f my Lord Beh o ld, all g e n eratio ns

Sh ould come to visit me?

The m igh ty On e and Ho lyUpon m in e ear to sound, G r eat th ings to ms ha th don e ;

I fe l t with in my bosom To th em th at fe ar h im age by ag o

A nd blamed art th ou,'

Ma ry,

Be cause tho u didst be lie ve Un til th r ee mon ths we re go n e ,F o r a ll th a t G o d fo reto ld to th ee Wh en Sa in t Eliz abe th brough t fo rthFulfilmen t sha ll re ce ive . Th e h o ly Baptist Jo hn .

My soul do th magnify th e Lo rd G lory to G od th e Fa the r ,

8 0 Ma ry raised h e r vo ice A nd h is e te rna l Son ,

In h im my G od and Saviour , A nd glory to the Holy G h ost

For over , fltwe is One .

III. -Tms Nam r .

A n an ge l sto od be side th em .

Had issued his decree A nd bade th em n o t to fea r ,

Tha t a ll th e people o f th e land Fo r tiding s o f great joy,” h e sa id,

En ro lle d by name sh ould be . A r e what I br in g you h e re .

N ow Joseph was descended Th is n igh t is born your Saviour

Em David’s royal race , A t Royal David

’s town

A nd David’s city, Be thl eh em , In swaddling clo th e s you

’ll

'

iind h im

Was h is appo in te d ph ce . Laid in a man ge r down .

Fro m Naz areth to Be thl eh em , A n army o f th e h ost of h eaven

In win te r’s bitte r co ld, Was with th e an ge l th en .

W ith Ma ry, h is e spoused wife , G lory to G od on high ,”th ey san g ,

He came to be enro lled . A nd peace on e arth to man .

”

A nd mve in on e po o r stable , In Be thl eh em th e sh eph e rds

No sh e lte r could th ey fin d,

A n d Ma ry th e re brough t fo rth h e r Son ,

Th e Saviour of mankind. De voutly th ey ado red .

In swaddling clo th es sh e wrapped him , With praise and glory un to G odA nd laid h im in th e sta ll Th ey did fro m th en ce depart ;

A m ange r was th e cradle But Ma ry ponder in g all th ese wo rds

Of th e Kin g and Lo rd of all . Pre se rved th em in h e r h eart .

Now in tha t reg ion sh eph e rds G lory to G od the Fa ther ,

Wer e keepin g wa tch by n igh t , A nd h is e te rn al So u,|Wh en sudde n ly around th em sh on e A nd glory to the Ho ly G h ost

For war , Th ree in 0m .

263

26 1 1 71 0 Irish Monthly.

IV—’

l‘n

N ow Mary after forty days, Thy people's glo ry an d a ligh t

A s Moses do th award , Ou every land to shin e .

”

Brough t Jesus to th e Temple The n spake h e un to Ma ryTo pre sen t o

him to th e Lo rd

An d, as th e law commanded, Is for th e fall o f manyA sacr ifice to brin g , A nd for th e rising se t ,

Two pige ons o r two turtle ddves, A nd for a sign th at is to be

With con tradiction me t .

A nd while un to Jerusal em And th roug h th in e own soul , Mary,In joy th ey to ok th e ir way, A piercin g swo rd sha ll go ,

Ou Mary’s breast , o r in th e arms That th ough ts from m any h earts revealed

0 ! Joseph , Jesus lay.

Now in th e city Sim eon dwe lt, A nd A nn a , to o , a pro ph e ts“

A man de vout and just Oi eig h ty years was th er e ,

Fo r Israe l’s co nso la tio n Wh o se rved th e Temple n igh t and day

He looked with humble trust. In fastin g and in praye r .

Th at m o rn in g to th e Temple ,

By th e Spir it h e was led ; Of th e Lo rd un to his face ,He took th e infan t in h is arms, A nd spoke o f him to all wh o hoped

G ave praise to G od, and said

Now dost th ou let thy ser van t G lo ry to G od th e Fa ther ,

Depart in peace , 0 L o rd , A nd h is e terna l Son ,

Min e eye s have thy sa lvation soon A nd g lo ry to th e Ho ly G host

A cco rding to th y word. For aver , Th ree in One .

or Ju ne m m Tam .

In Naz areth , a city Th ey de emed th a t h e was with th em ,

A nd jour n eyed fo r a day,Dwe lt Je sus, Mary, Joseph , Wh en missin g him th e ir h ea rtswe re filled

With so rrow and dismay.

A n d eve r , as th e so lemn day A m on g th e ir fri en ds an d kin sfo lk

Of Pascha l tim e was n ear , Th ey sough t fo r him in vain ;

Th ey we n t un to Je rusalem A nd th en un to Je rusalem

To wo rsh ip year by yea r .

A nd wh e n th e yea rs of Jesus An d wh en thre e days were over ,Had n ow to twe lve increased

,Th e ir Jesus th e n th ey saw

Awordin g to th e custom Co nversin g in th e Temple

With th e docto rs of th e law .

A nd wh en th e days wer e ended, Hearin g th em an d question in gTh ey turn ed th e ir h ome to find, A n d g iving h is replies ;

But Jcans in th e city A n d all wh o h ea rd h im marve lled

Remain ed a lon e beh ind. A t h is words divin e lywise .


round his waist, and a ragged ribbon hung fr om his arm . Behi nd

him , squatting devoutly on the ir h e e ls, with little brown paws

demur e ly fo lded, and lips rapidly moving , we re some half do z e n

smalle r urchin s, while on e , with n ewspape r deco rations somewh at

similar to young Brophy’s, kn e lt in fron t . Th ey were all as

o rde rly and quie t as possible , and Fath e r Sh eh an was at first

somewhat at a loss to discover th e cause of Mrs. Brophy’s indign a

tion . But pre se n tly Pat turn ed grave ly round, exten ded his arms,

and broke th e silen ce with a vigorous“ Dominate vobz

'

acum I

Et cum sp z'

r’tu tuo

,wen t th e urchin at his side in life -like

imita tion of h is e lde rs at th e h ill -side ch ape l .

Th e myste ry was explain ed n ow : Pat was saying mass !

Did ye ever se e th e like 0’

that, Fath e r wh ispered Mrs.

Bmphy in de eply scandaliz e d to n e s ; th e n makin g a sudden dart at

h er luckie ss offspring , sh e tore off his vestmen ts and flung th em tothe winds , and with h er bony hand we ll twisted into h is ragged

co llar - th e be tte r to admin ister an occasion al shake—sh e h aul ed

h im up for judgme n t.G e n tly, Mr s. Brophy, gen tly, said th e prie st. Don

’t be

frighte n ed, my poo r lad. I’

m n ot go ing to sco ld you. That is a

very curious gam e of yours— ar e you pre ten ding to be a prie st

A ye , ye r r ive ren ce .

”

A h , ye youn g vi llain , began his mothe r , but Fath e r Sh eh an

ch e cked h e r .

Hush , n ow, hush , my good woman . Te ll m e , Pat, do you

think it is righ t to make fun of h o ly thi ngs

I wasn’t makin

’fun ,

sir, wh impe r ed Pat, touch ed to th e

quick . I was just th inlrin’I raly was a prie st , an

’

,e u

’sayin

mass as we ll as I could.

We ll , we ll , don’t cry, th at

’s a go od boy. Maybe you re ally

will be saying m ass some day. Wh o kn ows But you must be a

very go od boy— an d you must n o t think you are a prie st ye t.

Y ou will h ave to be ordain ed, you kn ow, before you can say mass.

Now, run off and find some o th e r gam e .

”

Pat grin n ed grateful ly th rough his te ars, wren ch ed h imse lf

from his mo th e r’s grasp, and, surroun ded by h is ragged followe rs,

disappe ared ove r th e h edge .

I wish we conId make a prie st of him , said Fath er Sh ehan

as h e re traced his steps, h e is a good lad.

”

Why thin h e is, ye r rive rence , h e is, agre ed th e mother

Father Pat. 267

w ith th e de ligh tful incon sistency of h e r kind. He is, in de ed,

v ery go od. A n’why wouldn

’

t h e be good Sur e I bait him

we ll . Tro th ye’

d h ear him hawlin’at th e ero ss-roads many a

time . But is it h im a priest Ah n ow, th at

’

s th e way ye do be

g o in’on ye like to be makin

’fun of us all, yer rivere n ce , so ye do .

The likes of him a prie st We ll n ow

She bur st out laughin g very good humour edly, for in spite of

h er assumption of se ver ity, th er e was n ot, as sh e would h ave said

h e rse lf, a betth er-n ature d crathur anywh e re th an Mr s.

Strange r things have come to pass, said Fath e r Sh ehan .

But I fear th e re is n ot much h ope in this case . To make him a

prie st you must give him an education , an d to give him an educa

tion you must find mon ey. A nd as n e ith e r you n or I kn ow wh e re

to lo ok for that, it’s a poo r look on

Troth it is, ye r rivere n oe . G od bless ye , ye always say

som ethin’

plisan t to a s anyway. G ood even in’

, yer rive ren ce , safe

hom e

Lo ng afte r the prie st was out of sight Mrs. Brophy sto od at

th e do or with a pleasant smil e on h er face . On ly fo r th e education ,

wh ich would cost m on ey, o n’

y for th at h e r Pat was fit to be a

pr iest. Didn’t his reve rence say so It was a gre at th ough t .

He r little wh ite -h e aded Pat , in spite of th e tricks an d misch e evousn ess in which h e indulged to th e ful l as much as any

o th e r lad of his age , eve n h e m ight on e day stand before th e altar ,

h is h an ds have clasped th e chalice , his vo ice cal led down th e

Re de emer from on h igh . Tears of raptur e fil led h e r eyes at th e

m e re th ough t of a priest : A priest of G od To th e simple faith

o f this good po or woman th ere was n o greater h e ight of blessed

n e ss or grandeur .

Oh , m o th e r , if I could on’

y be a rale prie st ! Pat had sigh ed

many a time . A nd sh e h ad hidden him g’long out 0

’th at an

’

n o t dar’say such a th ing But n ow it was a diii eren t matte r .

Only for the mon ey Fath er Sh ehan had said th e thin g was po s

sible . On ly for th e mon ey Just what sh e h ad n ot got. A h , if

a m oth e r’s h eart

’

s blood would h ave don e as we ll !

But on e n e ve r kn ows wh at stran ge things come to pass in this.

que er world ! Fath er Sh eh an had distin ctly said th at h e could

n ot fin d th e fun ds n eedful for Pat’s education for th e priesth ood , .

a nd yet, through h is instrumen tality, th e boy was en abled to fo l

l ow his vocation .

268 The Irish Month ly.

L o and beho ld ! Fath er Sh ehan had a fr iend wh o lived in

L iverpoo l ,'

s very rich man ,who was also very pious and charitable .

Oi this good gentleman th e worthy priest suddenly be th ought

h imse lf on e day when Mrs. Brophy spoke of th e in tense wish

which h er boy still had, and th e mann er in which h e was

a ccustomed to moithe r h er respecting it. To th e rich Live r

pool fr iend th e poor Irish prie st accordingly wrote , with th e result

that th e forme r agreed to undertake th e cost of Pat’s education ,

mere ly stipulating that th e lad was to be brought up at St.

Edward’s Co lle ge , and to devote h is se rvice s wh en ordain ed to th e

Liverpo ol diocese .

Th e rapture , th e gratitude of both son and moth er , cann ot be

described. Th e long separ ation wh ich must ensue , th e life of se lf

den ial which lay before th e on e of perpe tual po ve rty to which th e

o th e r was now doomed for Pat was h e r only son , and sh e had

forme rly looked forward to the days wh en h e woul d be able to

he lp and work for h er—all was accepted n ot onlywith re signation ,but with joy. Was n ot Pat to be a priest PThe day afte r h is departur e Mrs. Brophy, donn in g h e r cloak

and big bonn et, with its vio let ribbon s and n eat border , forcing h er

fee t, moreover , into th e knitted stockings and stout boots, which

regard for h er bun ions caused h er to rese rve chiefly for Sundays,Mrs.

Brophy, I say, wen t to call on Fath er Sh ehan and to make 8.

Sh e wan ted a bades, a rosary which was to be kept till suchtime as Pat, endowed with full auth ority, would be able to bless it

Fath er Sh eh an laugh ingly produced a large , brown , serviceable

o n e , wh ich th e widow reverently kissed and then tucked away in

h e r bosom .

Now, wh in ever I fee l a bit lon esome , I’ll be h avin

’a look at

this,”sh e said

,n odding confiden tially to h er pastor . I

’

ll take

out me ho ly bades, an’

I’ll rattle thim an

’

kiss thim, and say to

m ese lf ch ee r up, Biddy Brophy, yer own little boy’11 be blessin

’

th em for ye som e day, wi th th e h e lp 0’G od .

We ll don e , Biddy ! I h ope you won’t be often lon esome ,

said th e priest with a smile , in which th ere was a good deal of

compa ssion , fo r th e re we re tears on h er tan n ed ch e eks th ough she

spok e gaily. It was to G od that th is good , brave little woman had

g iven h er all—but it wa 8 h er a ll n ever th e less.

2 70 The Ir ich Month ly.

n oun e ed his promotion to deacon sh ip, beginmng with th e hape

that sh e was quite well as h e was at prese n t, and ending with th e

formula th at h e would say n o more that time—such items as th eyfurth er contain ed be ing of th e baldest and simplest de scription

we re ever documen ts so tr easur ed before So te nderly kissed so

ofte n wept on , so triumphan tly cite d as m iracle s of compo sition

Mrs. Brophy was a h appy woman for we eks afte r th e arrival of

t h e se le tte rs, and was apt to pr oduce th em a doz en time s a day in a

somewhat limp and crush ed condition from under h er little plaid

sh awl fo r th e edification of sympathe tic n e ighbours.

I hard fr om Fath er Pat to d ay,”sh e would say long be for e

h e r son could claim that title , while to th e young and such as sh e

wish ed particularly to impress sh e would a llude to h im distan tly as

h is river en ce .

”

Wh at was Biddy’

s joywh en h e at last wro te that h e was re allyto be o rda in e d at a n o t distan t date , an d n amed th e day on which

h e was to say his first m ass How sh e cried for h appin e ss, and

clapped h e r h an ds, an d r ocked backwards and forwards ! How

proudly sh e go t out th e bad e s and rattled th em , and kissed

th em ,and hugged h e rse lf at th e th ought of th e won de rful blessing

which h er little boy would so soo n imPar t to th em .

If you could o n ly h e ar h is first mass, Biddy,”said Fath e r

Sh ehan ,wh e n sh e we n t to re jo ice h im with th e tidin gs.

A h , fath e r , j ewe l , don’

t be m akin’m e to o cove tious. Sur e

that’

s wh at I do be sthr ivin’to put out 0

’m e h ead . I kn ow I

can’

t be th er e , but th e th ough t makes me go wild som etim es. If

it was anywh e re in ould Ir e land I’

d th ramp till th e two fe e t

dropped o ff m e, but I

’

d be th e r e on’

y th e say, ye r rive ren ce , the

say is to o much fo r m e e n tir e ly ! I can’

t git over tha t. Sain t

Pe th e r h im se lf’ud be hard se t to walk that far .

He re sh e laugh ed h e r jo lly go od-humour ed laugh , wr inklin gup h er eye s an d wagging h e r h ead in ke e n e n joymen t of h e r own

sally, but sudde n ly broke off with a suifl and a back—h anded wipeo f h e r eyes.

Laws, Fath er , it’ud make m e to o h appy

Do you r eally mean that you would walk all th e way to

Dublin if you h ad mon ey euough to pay fo r your passage to L iv

pool P

Heth I woul d, an’twice as far , your riveren oe . Wouldn

’t

I stage it If I h ad the price 0’

me ticke t, th ere’

d be n o h ouldin’

Fa ther Pa l . 271

m e back . I can ste p out Wid th e be stwh in I like , an’sur e anyon e

’ud g ive m e a bit eu

’a sup whin I tould th em I was go in

’

to se e

m e little fe llow say his first mass.

A fte r th is, strange to say, th e price o f Biddy’s ticke t was

fo rthcomin g . Poor as Fath e r Sh ehan was, h e man aged topro

duce th e few shill ings n e edful to frank h e r fr om th e North Wall

t o Claren ce Dock . Her faith in the charity and pie ty of h e r

coun try folk was rewarded, th e hit an th e sup,”and e ven th e

shake -down”in a corne r , more willingly found as o ften as sh e

n e eded it, and in due tim e , tired dusty, and de spe rate ly sea-sick ,sh e arr ived in Liverpool .

G lory be to G od ! e juoulated Biddy, deligh ted to find h erse lf on ce more on dry lan d. Th en sh e chucked h e r black ve lvet

bonn e t forward, sh o ok out th e folds of h e r big cl o ak, clutch ed h er

bundle , and se t out undauntedly for Eve rton , pausing almost at

e ve ry stre e t corn e r to en quire h e r way.

Lo un eye isn’

t En glan d th e dirty place 1”she said to h er

se lf, as sh e tramped along th rough th e grimy Live rpoo l slums.

But as sh e drew n e ar h e r de stination wonde r and disgust wer e

a lik e forgo tte n in th e thought of th e inte nse happin e ss which was

actuallywith in h e r grasp. Sh e was to se e Pat, upo n wh ose face°

sh e h ad n ot looked on ce dur in g all th ese ye ars, an d to se e h im a

pr ie st ! To be pre sen t at h is first mass, to ask h is blessing— ah to

th ink that h er little boy would be able to give h er th e priest’

s

ble ssin’ —and last, but n ot le ast, sh e would give h im h e r beads

to ble ss. Sh e had n ot to ld h im o f h e r inten tio n to be present o n

th is great occasio n , partly be cause , as sh e told Fath e r Sh ehan , it

was betth er n o t to be distractin’him to much ,

”and partly because

sh e thought‘

his joy at se e ing h er would be h e igh te n ed by his

surprise . No wonder th at Widow Brophy wa lked as th ough

tr e ading on air , instead o f greasy paveme n ts.

It was touch ing to se e h e r kn e e ling in th e church , with eage r

e yes fixed o n th e sacristy door and the rosary clutch ed fast be twe en

h e r fingers, but it was still m ore touching to watch h e r face when

th at doo r open ed and h er son at last came forth . So that was

Pat Ble ss us au’save na, would sh e e ver h ave kn ow him P

A nd ye t h e had very much th e same face as th e l ittle bare -legged

ch ild who had first celebrated”un der the h edge , a face as

i nn o ce nt and almost as boyish , if n ot quite so brown ; but h e hadc ertain ly grown a good deal , an d h is Latin was of a difieren t


quality, and there was more ove r about him that wh ich th e moth er’s

eye s h ad be en so quick to se e , the dign ity of th e priest, the

recollectedn ess of on e used to familiar converse with his G od.

Wh o shall describe th e glory of that first mass for both son and

m oth e r Who inde ed could ven tur e to pen etrate in to th e sacred

privacy of th at son’

s fe e lin gs as h e stood thus before th e altar , his

face pale , his voice quivering , h is youn g hands tremblin g as th ey

busied th emse lve s about th e ir hallowed task ! But th e moth er 1

gro ani ng from ve ry rapture of h ear t, beating h e r happy breast,

praying with so much fervour that th e wh o le congregation might

h e ar h er , we epin g till h er glad eyeswe re almost to o dim to disce rn

th e wh ite -robed figure of h e r son—sur e ly we can all picture h er to

ourse lve s.

Wh en th e young prie st was unve sting afte r mass, th ere came a

little tap at th e sacristy do or , a little , modest , tremul ous tap, and on

be ing invited to ente r a stran ge ly familiar figure m et his gaz e

Fath e r Pat,’said Biddy, in a ch oked vo ice , and dropping a

sh akey curtsey, I’ve come to ax your riveren ce if ye

’

ll bless me

bade s for m e , e u’an

’will you give me yer bless

Sh e tr ied to fall on h e r kn e e s, but th e moth er instin ct was too

strong for h er , and with a sudden sob she flung h e r arms round hisn eck

Me boy sh e cried, sure it’sme that must ble ss ye first !

M . E. FRANCIS.

PIGEONHOLE PAR A G RAPHS.

Some pe ople will n ever b eg in anythi n g , th ey ar e so much afraid o f

b e in g un able to e nd it. A n d, n o do ubt, this view de r ive s its suppo rt

from Co nn o lly’s Fo lly and o th e r such n am e s cur r e n t in a ll coun tr ie s

,

an d still mo r e fr om what our Divin e R ede eme r himse lf says about

th e man wh o wish ed to build a towe r and could n o t fin ish it . How

eve r , th e pr e se n t wr ite r is pro foundly co nvin ced th at n o undertaking ,

big o r li ttle , can eve r be brough t to an and un l ess it is fir st brough t

to a be gin n ing . In th is wo r ld of beginn in gs wh at m a tte rs it that

ce r tain tasks should be l e ft in comple te at de ath , provided th at death

finds th e work of life itse lf in a fa ir appr oximation to comple ten ess«x. x s

274 m Ir ish Month ly.

(many of th em at least) in presen t use . I cann o t find th is Th omas Ki tchin in any

Biograph ical Diction ary.

1.

Th e Catho lic News of New York continues to give trouble

to several in ofiensive individuals by addre ssin g this Magaz in e

e very month as THE Imsn MONTHLY , LONDON, ENG LAND .

”

Tim e i s nmnin g out so fast th at we pre fer n ot to receive this

journal at all . A “n ewsy journ al

”is th e more dangerous as a

distracti on ; an d on e is bound to avoid distractions and to keepo ne

’

s se lf as far as possible in th e proximate occasion of doingo n e

’sduty. But, if this journ al insists on visiting us, let it remember

that th e capital of Ire land is Dublin .

S i

A ubrey de Vere gives th is fin e ly critical e stimate of Robert

G on e fmm us ! that stron g sin ge r o f la ts days

Swe et sin ger sh ould be strong—wh o , tarryin g h ere ,

Ch o se still rough music fo r h is th emes auste re ,

Hard -h eaded, aye , but te n de r-h ea rted lays,

Car efully ca re less, garde n ha lf, h alf ma z e .

His th ough ts h e sang , de ep th ough ts to th inkers dear ,Now flashin g un der g leam of smile o r tea r ,

Now ve iled in languag e like a bre e zy h az e

He san g man’s ways

—n o t h e igh ts of sag e o r Sa in t ,

No t highways bro ad , n o t h aun ts e ndeared to lovers ;He san g life

’s byways, san g its an g le s quain t ,

Its Run ic lore in scribed o n stave o r ston e ;

Son g’

s sh ort-hand strain—its key oft h is alon e .

i i t 1.

Brown ing h imse lf, wh en asked by Mr . Edmond G osse to

se lect from his works four poems of mode rate le n gth which might

be taken as represen ting him fair ly, an swered thus

1 9Warwick Crescen t , W March 1 5,’85.

My dear G osse , Four Poems, o f modera te leng th , which represen t th e ir

auth o r fairly —if I kn ew what modera tion exactly me an t , th e ch o ice would

Lyr ical Saul or A bt Vogle r .

Nat rativo A Fo rgiven ess.

Dramatic : Caliban o n Se tebo s.

Idyllic (in th e G re ek sen se ) Olive .

Wh ich means th at , be in g restr icted to four dips in th e lucky-bag , I sh ould n o t

o bject to be judged by th ese samples—ao far as th ese go—for th ere is somewha t

beh ind still

P igeonhok Paragraphs . 275

A Sister o f Mercy from th e we st of Ire land sends a curious

t estim ony to th e lin guistic skill of th e late Fath e r John O’

Car

r o ll , S.J., which dese rve s to be join ed with th ose that we quotedfrom Professor MaxMuller and oth er experts, n on e of wh om, we

tr ust, will die in a poo rh ouse lik e our n ew witn ess

We were much in tere sted in th e sh or t memo ir o f Fath er O ’

Can o ll . He gaveus two Re treats in Tuam and on e h e re . Wh ile h e re , h e had a poor o ld man

e n g ag ed to wa lk with an d ta lk Ir ish to h im , and h e won th e o ld fe llow’s h eart

co m ple te ly. Th e po o r man spe n t h is last two years in th o wo rkh ouse and died

th e re ; and h e nsed ofte n to talk about ‘Fath er John ’in a rapture .

‘He was a

g rant warran t to talk Ir ish ,’ h e said .

”

as a. 4:

Have you ever r ead Lo rd Byron’s descr iptio n of th e Battle o f

A lbue ra in Fren ch pro se If so , you will unde r stand th e mar ve ll ous

ch an ge wrough t in th ough ts wh en expr essed in th e ir proper m e tr ical

fo rm ; and you will mak e larg e allowan ce s fo r th e fo llowin g tr ibute

pa id in Ir ish ve rse to th e same Fath e r O’Carro ll . It appe ar ed in a

r e ce n t nunibe r of The G ae lic J?mm al. Would th at our r eaders and our

pr in ter s an d our edi to r we r e compete n t to r eproduce and appreciate

th e o rig inal ! Th e first wo rds of this lite ral transla tion sh ow th at this

Ir ish Jesuit, with Ce ltic n ame an d h e art and ton gue , is alre ady dead

Sudden ly in March , th e mon th of tran sition , th e h our struck for our dear

Pa th er John . Th e assign ed te rm was come ; full were h is days of th e best de eds ;

n o de lay in th e way did h e make , and e arn ed as reward of h is labour an e ternal

crown . We ll orde red was h is life . I h id him a hundred farewells. Wh en death

ed lsd h im , h e was on th e watch , th ough it came unawar e like a thi e f. Our str ongo n e is taken from n a. No t in upbra idin g are we of Th e e , O G od —to Th e e doe se vu '

y on e be lon g—but h e was so fr ie ndly, wise , upr igh t, g en tle , h e shall n o t be

sn a tch ed away from a s with out so rrow to us . Pur e was h is h eart ; dign ified and

lo f ty wer e his aims. In Er in h is like is n ot n ow to be found.

0 0

L et me , with out any permissio n , g ive an extract from a private

l e tte r fr om o n e wh o h as don e a gr e at deal of th e mo st so lid wo rk fo r

C ath o lic lite ratur e, and wh o , if h e liked, could do much fo r it also in

th e departm en t to wh ich h is r emarks r efe r .

“ Did you ever read th e Tale o f Tin te rn by the late Fath er Caswall?If no t,a sk your Fath er Librarian to ge t it at o n ce . Burns an d Oates, on ly two sh illin gs ,

I th ink . It is on e of th e mo st ch armin g po ems in th e languag e as a poem , and

quite un ique as be ing about Our Lady. If you g et it at o nce , it will inspire you

with a beautiful ar ticle for May. Th ey will, o f course , send you th e second

edition ; but it is a curi o us fact tha t th e first edition was wr itte n in ten syllable

l in e s, th e se con d in eig h t syllables. But , th ough it is en tire ly rewr itten , n o t on e

wo rd is sa id by th e auth o r regardin g th e change . Th e second edition is g reatly

s7e The Ir ish Month ly.

THE DA L ADA MA LIG AWA .

NE of th e principal sights in Ceylon is th e Dalada Maligawa ,

or G reat Temple of th e Sacred Tooth , which is th e mo st

celebrated Buddh ist Temple of th e East . Th is temple is in

Kandy, which town is continually thronged wi th pilgrims fr om

India , Chin a , Thibet, etc. , wh o come to pay th e ir re spects to the

Dalada . Th e Maligawa is a larg e octagon in sh ape , and consists

o f th e library, priests’apartmen ts, th e shr in e chambe r , and a

larger ro om wh e re th e pe ople perform th e ir devo tions. In th e

library are some wonderful books, th e Pitakas or suppo se d teach

ings of G andama , th e ve ritable Buddh a . Th ese are mostly

writte n on thin strips of wood, bound togeth er in pile s by silken

strings ; some h ave magnificent cove rs of go ld or silve r studded

with pre cious ston e s, an d on e bo ok co nsists of sh ee ts of silver 1 or

leaves, with th e wr itin g pain ted in th e an cient Pali characte r ,

which ha s be en unused for th ousan ds of years. In the outer

sanctuary th er e ar e figure s of Buddha standing , sitting , and

reclin in g . Two sitting figures, about a foo t h igh , are cut out of

pure crystal , the in trin sic value of which must be e normous . The

smo oth shaven , ye llow-robed Buddh ist prie st wh o was our cice ron e ,

afte r sh owing us th ese figur es, coo lly h e ld out a plate for our sub

scription . I n eve r fully r eal iz ed till I saw th ese images what th e

sayingf ‘A s clear as crystal m ean t. Th e candl e h e ld behind

th em sh owed th em to be pe rfe ctly tran sparen t, every lin e an d

Th e shr in e -chambe r wh ere th e Dalada or to o th is kept, is very

small . A s it is co nsidered a great conce ssion to sh ow even th e

shr in e to any but th e faithful , we we re greatly h on oured at be inga llowed to se e it, and, of course , dropped an o th er rupe e in to th e

plate . Th e re lic is kept unde r seve n we ll -sh aped case s, which fit

o n e inside th e oth er , th e oute r case be ing about five fe e t in h e ight ;

this o n e is silver gilt, th e o the rs are beautifully wrought in go ld,o rn am ented with pre cious ston e s, and the cen tral part of on e is a

huge emerald. Th e siz e of th e to o th ought to convin ce any san e

person that it n eve r cam e out of a human h ead, but rath er a caput

asin i ; but th e poor be n igh ted Sin hale se h as implicit faith in‘ his

priests, and n eve r would h e dare doubt th e ir word for an in stan t.


lite ratur e . Bro th e r A z ar ias is laudably par ticular in specifying th e

auth o ri ti e s that h e fo ll ows, yet his e rudi tion is anythin g but cumbrous,

and h is disquisitions flow on ple asan tly, just as if e ach ch apte r wer e

n o t th e substance o f sun dry vo lum e s. Th e work is addr e ssed to th e

g en e ra l public o th e rwise two mo n ths would n o t h ave sufliced to

exhaust th e second edi tion .

3 . Lady Ma rtin’s exce llen t tran sla tion of th e Fr ench Life of Do n

Bo sco , foun de r o f th e Sale sian So cie ty, h as ve ry soo n r e ach ed a second

edi tion , and we ar e sur e th at many o th e r edi tions will be r equir ed . It

is a fr e sh an d in te r e stin g pie ce o f biography, an addi tio n.

o f pe r

man en t in te r est to our biograph ical sto r e s. Our Ir ish tran slato r h as

perform ed h er duty admirably ; and th e publish e rs h ave produced th e

bo ok 1 1 as ple asan tly r eadable a sh ape as coul d be de sir ed.

4 . We ar e a little puz z led by th e pious pamph le t en titled Hai lJe sus ; o r

,A cts upo r th e Life and Passion o f our Saviour Jesus

Chr ist, by th e late Ven e rable F . A ugustin e Bake r (Lo ndon : Burn s

an d Oate s) . Wh o is thi s Fath e r Bak e r?If a mode rn , why called

Ven e rable .

” If th e an cien t auth o r o f San cta Soph ia ,”why call

h im th e late , as if h e h ad died last ye ar?It is som e time s h a rd to

te ll wh en o n e is so lo n g de ad as to be n o lon g e r th e late but th at

is n o t th e case with r egard to th is co ll ection o f pious affe ction s, wh ich

ough t to h ave be en accompani ed by som e n o te con ce rn ing its auth or

sh ip, e tc.

5. Many of our r eade rs wi ll be in te r ested for th e pre ach e r’s sak e

in Th e Church o f Ch r ist , h er Mission an d h e r Sacrifice : two Se rmon s

pr e ach ed by th e Re v. Pa tr ick Dillon , D .D., St . Jam e s’s, Newa rk , New

Je re ey (New York : Mich ae l Walsh , 2 1 Park Row) . But th ese

se rmon s ar e we ll wo rth r e adin g: fo r th e ir own sake . Th ey ar e dedi

cated to th e Ve ry R e v . Joh n Bar tley, Provin cial of th e Ir ish Carm e li tes

of A ncien t Obse r van ce , by a Fo rm e r Pupil ,”

an d th ey we r e bo th

pr each ed in th e Chur ch of Our Lady of th e Scapul ar , NewYo rk , inwh ich Ir ish Carme lite Fa th e rs h ave labour ed fo r only two ye ars. Th e

fir st se rmon on th e Mission of th e Cath o lic Church was de liver ed o n

th e occasio n o f th e dedication of this church last Decembe r ; and th e

o th e r o n th e gr e at Ch r istian Sacrifice was pr each ed as r ecen tly as Feb

rua ry 23rd in th e pr e sen t ye ar , wh en Bishop Conr oy consecrated th e

altar . Bo th o f th em display to advan tage Dr . Dillon’s learn in g an d

e loquen ce .

6 . Mrs. Charle s Mar tin o n th e title -pag e o f h er n ew work, Th e

Life of St . Justin (London : Bur n s and Oates) is de scr ibed as

auth o r o f The l ife of St. Jer ome, e tc.

”It was fitting to conn ect th is

ske tch with h e r pr evious essay in ecclesiastical bio graphy, but it is


w e ll to r emembe r h ow many exce lle n t con tr ibution s to th e ligh te r

d epa rtme n ts of li

te ratur e ar e mode stly ve iled unde r th at etce tera . St .

Justin ’s mass and office h ave on ly r ecen tlyb e en exte nded to th e wh ole

Ch urch by L eo XIII., an d th er e is a cer ta in tim e lin ess in Mrs. Mar

tin’

s e nde avour to mak e h is car e er an d ch aracte r be tte r kn own . Sh e

h as used with skill an d car e th e ma te rials placed at h e r disposal ; but

th es e mate rials ar e , of course , n ot so abundan t o r in te r estin g as in th e

case of St . Jer ome . Th e pr ese n t work is inde ed much sh o r ter . Th e

publish ers h ave g iven an attr active appe aran ce to thi s use ful and

e difying accoun t o f th e great Ch ristian A po log ist, wh o , as Mrs .

Ma r tin sh ows i n h e r pr e face , h es a me ssag e fo r th e wo r ld even at th e

pr e sen t stag e of th e wor ld’s in te llectua l and r e ligious life .

7 . Mar ie and Paul ,” by Our Little

'

Woman”(Lo ndon : Burns

an d Oate s) h as n o year of publica tio n mark ed o n its title -

page , and it

ce r tain ly h as n o r igh t to h ide itse lf o r to parade itse lf amo ng a batch

o f n ew bo oks, for it has be e n in existen ce fo r som e years. This is a

j us tification of th ose r eviewers wh o r e fuse to n o tice an unda ted book .

Th e b 1n d1 ag o f this sligh t sk e tch of fifty small page s is pre tty, a nd

th e to n e 1 8 pious. Th er e is some con fusion in th e n amin g of th e

p e r so n s con ce rn e d. A r e th ey Fre nch qr English Is Ma rie

pr o n o un ced as we ll as spe lled in a oh fash ion If ao , Paul

o ugh t to rhym e with dull. Omin ous wo rd, but rath e r appr opr iate in

th e pr esen t con text .

8 . Th e 4th o f May is th e day appo in ted in th e Car thusian Orde rfo r th e fe ast o f th e ir English Ma r tyrs. Th e publicatio n , th e r e fo r e , is

t im e of a translatio n o f Dom Maurice Ch e n ey’

s con tempo rary LatinHi sto ry o f th e Sufie r ings o f Eigh te en Car th usian s in En gla nd, wh o ,

r e fusin g to take part in sch ism and to separate th emse lve s fr om th e

un ity o f th e Ca th o lic Church , we r e crue lly mar tyr ed”(Lo ndon

Bur n s an d Oates) . It is pr oduced in th e e legan t but som ewh at in

a ppropria te fo rm o f a larg e and th in quarto , such a s Mr . Joh n Old

c astl e’s m emo rial of Cardin al Newman .

9 . Me ssrs. Ben z ige r o f NewYo rk , Cin cin n ati a nd Ch icago , h ave

pub lish ed a go od tr an slation of th e Life o f Fath e r Ch ar le s Sir e , S.J.,

wh ich is ve ry emph atica lly r e comme nded by th e Pro vin cia l o f th e

Jesuits in New Yo rk and by Cardin a l G ibbo n s. Th e Fr e nch Je suit

was bo rn in 1 828 and was buried at se a in 1 864 , o n hi s way h ome

from a m issio n ary life in th e island of Bourbo n . His life iswritte nby o n e of h is’ thr e e Sulpitian br o th e rs, but of course th e mate ria ls

h ave be e n ch icfly furn ish ed by h is r e lig ious b re thr e n of th e So cie ty .

V ery m in ute and’edifyin g accounts ar e given of h is disch arg e o f th e

var ious dutie s o f a Je suit, in co lleg e s e specially, with many extr acts


from h is spiritual pape rs . Th is simple biography”is far

b eyo n d th e ave rag e in wo rth and exten t .

1 0 . Th e same publish e rs h ave bough t out th e sixte e n th vo lume

Se rmo n s fo r Sun days”

) of th e Ce n te n ary Edi tion of th e wo rks o f’

S. A lph o n sus Liguo ri , wh ich h is A m e r ican so ns are edi tin g with ve ry

gr e a t care .

1 1 . In a seco nd editio n an d in a very pr e tty cove r we we lcome

again A Sh r in e and a Sto ry, by th e auth o r o f Tyborne (LondonBurn s and Oate s) . It r e late s ch i efly to St. Jo seph

’s, Po rtland Row,

Dublin but th e page s bristle with in te r e stin g n ame s—Dr . Blake of

Dromo re , Fath e r He n ry Youn g , Ell e n Ke r r , and (to m en tion o n e

amo n gst th e livin g ) Mr . Jam es Murphy, wh o ha s labour ed so long

for th is Hom e fo r vir tuous sin gle femal e s. Mo th e r Magdal e n Taylo r

g ive s many in te restin g extracts from Lady G e o rg ian a Full e rto n’s

le tte rs . Y e t, fo r many, th e m o st in te re sting of th e se page s will be

th o se de vo ted to th e h o ly and am iable m emo ry o f th e unkn own Ir ish

woman ,

’

Elle n Ke rr .

1 2 . Th e Church o f My Baptism ,

” by Fran cis Kin g (Lo ndonBur n s an d Oate s), is a ve ry cl e ve r and full explan ation of th e r easo n s

why th e wr ite r r e turn ed to th e On e Church . Its Un ity is a sufi cien tly

distin ctive a ttr ibute . Th e sam e publish e r s h ave se n t na Mr . Will iamG arrat

’

s ve ry full accoun t o f th e Ho ly House o f Lo r e tto , whi ch isillustrated by seve r al maps and pictur es . A ve ry exquisi te little bo okfo r May is Mr . J S . Fle tch e r

’s Our Lady

’s Mon th (London : R .

Wash bourn e ) . A use ful addi tio n to th e publica tio ns o f th e Cath o lic

Truth So cie ty is To Calvary : a NewMe th od of mak in g th e Sta tio ns

o f th e Cr o ss,”tran sla ted by L . M . Ke n ny from th e Fr e n ch o f Fath e r

A bt, SJ. Fin ally we can o n ly m e n tio n a pamph le t on th e “ Vagus

Tr e atm en t o f Ch o le ra”by Dr . Al exande r Harkin o f Be lfast (Lo n don :

R e n sh aw) , a nd, to e nd our May n o tice s mo re appropr iate ly, two hymns

to th e Ble ssed Virg in , with music by Mr . J. J Jo hn son o f Dublin .

1 3 . A lth ough coming v e ry late , our May Numbe r must m e n tion

Th e Mo n th o f Mary, acco rdin g to th e spir it o f St. Fr an cis of Sal e s,”

by Do n G aspar G illi , tran sla ted and abridg ed from th e Italian by 9.

Siste r of th e In stitute of Ch ar ity, an d publish ed with h is won ted taste

skill an d car e by Mr . R . Wa sh bourn e , 1 8 Pate rn o ste r Ro w, Lo ndon ,A lth ough abridg ed by th e tran slato r ; it run s to 250 pag e s, and is

ce rta in ly on e o f th e b est and mo st so lid of th e many bo oks bearingsimila r n am e s. A l l co n ce rn ed in its En glish pr ese n ta tio n h ave don e

th e ir par t we ll . A nd so h ave th e R e v. A lbe rt Barry, 0 . 88 . R .,and

hi s prin te rs with r egard to th e Ven e rable Sarn e lli’s exquisite lydevo tion al little tr e atise on th e Ho ly Ro sary. It will h e lp many to

pe rform much be tte r th e ir favourite daily exe rcise of filial pie ty.

282 The Ir i'

sh Month ly.

h appen , was ve ry trying to a girl of Dora’s sensitive n atur e . It made

h e r r estless and unse ttled, and h er wo rk becam e a tr ouble to h e r .

But sh e did h er'

best to sh ak e ofi th e fe e ling of disgust and struggled

brave ly on .

A t last, h owever , th e h eavy atmosph er e of th e worh rwm,th e lo n g

h ours and d o es work, began to tell’

upon h e r h ea lth . Sh e gr ew

ir r egular in h e r attendance at Mdme . G arni tur e’s e stablishmen t , an d

befor e th e end of th e seco nd year sh e was oblig ed to stay at h om e

a ltoge th er . This was a te rrible grief to h er . Sh e was n ow unable to

e arn any mon ey, and so became quite depende n t on h e r sister . A nd

Madge’

s salary was so sma ll. Bar ely e n ough to suppo rt o n e , it was

n ow called upon to do double duty, and provide bo th gir ls wi th th e

n ece ssaries o f life .

“

Lady A shfie ld maycome h ome soo n , Madge—sh e is sur e to com e

soon ,”cr ied Do ra feverishly on e eve n ing , wh en h e r siste r h ad com e

back from th e sch o o l a little earlie r th an usual . It is n ow n e arly

two years since sh e wen t away. If sh e wer e in Lo ndon , sh e migh t‘

g ive m e some work to do . I am be tte r n ow. I coul d sew h er e and

h e lp you. We h ave n o mo n ey l eft. oh , Madge , wh at sh all we do to

pay our r en t?Dar ling , do n o t fr e t,

”sa id Madge , putting h er a rm round th e

girl and kissing3

h e r lovin gly. Som e thin g wil l sur e ly turn up.

”Sh e

smil ed . Don’t you r emember h ow dear Miss Ma tilda use d always

s ay th at?So don ’t cry, pe t . Our la ndl ord h as promised to wait .

Th at in its e lf is a bo on .

”

Ho rrid o ld man ! I wish we h ad stayed with Mrs. Skinn er .

Sh e was so kind and

But, my lo ve , youkn ow h e r terms we r e impossible .

I kn ow, I kn ow.,

If on ly Lady A shfie ld would com e h om e .

Do r e , I do n ot be lieve in Lady Ashfie ld. My on ly h ope , my

constant prayer is th at I may soo n come acro ss th e A th erston es in

som e way or an o th er .

’

We ll , we h ave bo th a diffe r en t plan fo r g e tting out of our

pr esen t dificul ties,”said Dora with a fain t smil e . Ne ith e r is lik e ly

t o succe ed, I fear . But oh , my darlin g , if I could o n ly wo rk

and h e lp, I would n o t find it so h ard, so very h ard to wait.

A nd two la rge tears ro ll ed slowly down th e gir l’s pale ch e ek .

Now, I te ll you wh at I will do , Dora . I’ll go o il to Mdme .

G arn itur e ,”cried Madg e , and ask h e r to give you some wo rk to do

a t h ome . Why did I n ever thin k o f thi s befor e?I suppo se becauseI fancied you were too ill to do anythin g . But I will go this momen t .

A nd wh en my dar lin g fee ls h er finge rs busy, sh e may become mor e

r econciled to h er fate .

A Str iking Contrast. 283

Dora’s face grew brigh t . A swe e t smil e played about th e co rn e rs

o f h e r mouth as sh e n estled up to Madg e , and laid h er h ead upon h er

sh o ulder .

Dear little siste r , sh e whispe red, if onlyIh adwork to do , you

sh ould n eve r h e ar m e grumble . Your idea is a good on e . A nd oh , I

h ope , I pray, that Mdme . G arn itur e may gran t your request. I th inksh e wi ll . Sh e was always ve ry kind.

”

Y es. I th ink sh e will . A nd n ow I must be 0 3 . I h ave n o time

to spar e .

”

Th en kissin g Dora tenderly, Madge sprang to h er fe e t, and puttingo n h er h at and jack e t, tur n ed to le ave th e ro om .

Madge ,”ca ll ed Dora softly, it is rath e r windy and co ld, but it

y ou wouldn’t mind you migh t go roun d byBe lgrave Str e et. It is just

possible th at Lady A shfie ld may h ave r e turn ed. We h ave n e ith er of

n a be e n th er e fo r many mon th s.

”

Very well , dear est. I shall cer ta inly go round that way. I

d on'

t mind th e wind in th e least.” A nd lowering h e r ve il Madge

A s th e door clo sed behind h e r sister , Do ra flun g h erself back upon

t h e little hard sofa, o n wh ich sh e n ow spen t much of h er time . He rch e eks we re flush ed. Sh e was ne rvous an d exci ted.

Some th in g tells m e th ey will so o n r e turn,”sh e murmur ed, and

th e n—an d th e n h ow h appy I sh all be . I em sur e to ge t nice , fr esh ,

da in ty wo rk fr om Lady A shfie ld and som e o f h e r fr iends. A visit

n ow and again from h er . Music le ssons for Madge . Well -paid

l e sson s, pe rhaps, th r e e o r four a we ek . Th e ladi e s a t Pen e lope

L odge must no t r e fuse h er tim e in which to give th em, of course n o t.

A nd that will mean much mor e mon ey. My wo rk and Madg e’s

le ssons. Oh , we sh all grow quite r ich . A nd my da rlin g sh all h ave

som e n ew dr esse s—some silk on es, too—a pre tty brown silk with

co ffe e lace , and some jewe ls—br igh t go ld e arrings, and a bro och at h er

co llar . A h ! h ow nice sh e will lo ok , my bonn ie Madge . A nd I—we lli t doe sn

’t much matter about m e . But I think a blue cashme r e migh t

sui t my complexion .

” Do ra laugh ed softly. Wh at castles in th e

ai r ! Ve ry much in th e air , I’m afraid. I

’m lik e th e ch ild in th e

Th e wee bo n n ie ba irn

Sits pokin’in th e use ,

G lowe rin’a t th e fire

With h is we ll -roun d face .

Laugh in’a t th e pufln

’lowe .

Wha t sees h e th ere PA h th e bonn ie baim

Is bigg in’castles in th e air .


Dora ’s vo ice was n o t powerful . But it was swe et, round and full .

Sh e san g with much expr ession , and th ere was some th in g very

touchin g and sympath e tic in h er mann er o f sing ing . Thi s was on e of

her gre atest ple asur es. A nd many a weary h our it h ad h e lped h e r to

wh ile away as sh e lay alon e in th e poo r little lodgin g , lon gin g to

work , and ye t n ot able to go out to do ao .

A s th e last words of h er so ng died away th e do or was rude ly

Open ed, and a small , grey-h eaded man e n tered th e ro om . He h ad a

sh arp, thin face , a h ooked n ose , and a pair of fierce , crue l eye s. Hewal k ed up close to th e sofa on wh ich th e gir l lay and glared at h er

A fin e young lady, to be sur e , h e h issed fr om be twe en hi s te e th .

Lying all day upon my couch , instead o f wo rking h ard to pay me

my r en t.

Do ra started up in alarm .

Oh , pl ease , Mr . Brimage . Ple ase do n o t be angry. I—I cann otwo rk I em so weak and

But you can sing . I h eard you just n ow. G o out and singround th e squar e s. You’ll ge t m on ey fast en ough th e r e , I

'll be t .

”

Oh , I could n ot do th at,”cr ied Dora in h o rro r . Inde ed, I

could n o t .”

Bosh ! h e an swer ed con temptuously Beggars can’t be

ch oo se rs. G ir ls lik e you have n o busin ess to be proud. Be tte r to sing

th an to starve .

Y e s. But, pray have a littl e patience , Mr . Brimage ,”sh e said

implor in gly. Madg e h as gon e to look fo r work fo r m e and“

.Wo rk for you A fin e lo t o f wo rk you’ll do . Now,

I te ll you

wh at it is, my girl , if you and th at sister o f yours cann o t pay m e by

to -mo rrow, out you go .

”

Dora burst in to tears, and sinking back upon th e sofa , cove r ed h e r

face with h e r h ands.

To -morrow ! It is impossible ,”

sh e sobbed . We h ave n o

mon ey. We

G o out an d g e t it th en . Bend your pr oud spir it, o r tak e th e

consequence s. I h ave h ad a go od o ffe r for th e se apartm en ts, and if

you do n o t pay, why, you must go . G ood even ing .

”

A nd h e wen t away, shutting th e doo r with a ban g th at sh ook th e

h ouse .

Dora raised h er h e ad and star ed blankly round h e r . He r eyes

r ested on th e dingy carpe t, on wh ich itwas n o longer possible to trace

any patte rn ; o n th e faded cur tain s, th e ricke ty ch airs and table , th e

shabby clo th .

It is po o r , mo r e th an po o r ,”sh e murmur ed. But it is a h ome .

An d if we ar e turn ed out, whe r e sh all we go


Mr . Brimage laugh ed loudly.

I sh ould th ink n o t. Th o se good ladies are n ot so gen e rous.

But h e to ld me n o t to men tion his nam e .

”

He—we kn ow n o on e . Th at is, at least

Do ra flush ed h o tly, and h er h eart began to beat fast, h er lips to

“ We ll , I think you’ll h ear from him so on . He se em ed gre atly

ple ased to learn wh ere you lived. He an" h is moth er h ad be en

v antin’to kn ow fo r a long time . But I fancy, fo r all you make such

a fuss, you knowverywell wh o h e is.

”

Y e s,”said Dora simply, I kn ow n ow. It was Lo rd A shfie ld .

Tha t was th e veryman . But, min d you, I did n ot te ll you h is

n ame . G ood n igh t .”

A nd Mr . Brimage made a low bow and left th e ro om .

CHAPTER XII.

r u r r o r n s r z s'r .

A s Madge wen t th ough tq y th r ough t h e str ee ts, h e r h eart sad,

h er mind fil ledwi th th e all -abso rbing problem o f Do ra and h er futur e ,

sh e suddenly found h erse lf face to face with Madame G arn iture .

A h , Miss Ne il , th e r e you ar e ,”

cri ed th e dr e ssmak e r . I’ve

be e n wonder ing gr eatly about your little siste r . Wh at h as become ofh er of late

Sh e h as be en il l and weak, Mdme . G arn itur e . Quite unable to

go to wor

Poor child. I em so rry. Sh e was th e be st and most pun ctual

o f my wo rke rs. But sh e’ll so on be we ll en ough to come back to us, I

h ope .

”

I fe ar n ot. Th e h ot ro om is to o much for h er . But I was just

goin g to you to ask you a favour . Could you give h er some

wo rk to do at h ome?Sh e is we ll en ough fo r that, and I em sur e you

could trust h er .

”

Oi course . Sh e mak e s button -h o les beautifully. I’ll send h e r

some bodies to fin ish té-mo rrow.

”

Th ank you, th ank you. Sh e is so anxious to earn mon ey. Thi s

will give h e r fr esh life . G od ble ss you, Mdm e . G arn itur e .

”

A nd Madge’s eye s we r e full o f tears as sh e sh ook th e go od

woman’

s h and.

“ M’ e ll, n ow,I em so r ry you did n o t come to me befor e , dear . I


o ften th ough t o f little Do ra , fo r th e chi ld pleased me gre atly. But I

um so busy. I n eve r could find time to go and se e h er .

”

No , o f course n o t . No one could expe ct you to pay visits.

”

“ Perhaps n o t . But still I sh ould h ave se nt. Howeve r , I’ll look

a fte r h e r now. A nd I tell you what, I’m go ing to dr ess a beautiful

y oun g lady for th e Drawingr o om on Thursday. He r maid is young

and in expe r ie nced, so I must arrange h e r train . A sk your siste r if

sh e’ll come with m e . Imay wan t h e r to h o ld pins and things for me

and it will amuse h e r .

Y es. I em sur e it would. Thank you so much .

Ve ry we ll , th e n , I’

ll call fo r h e r in a cab abo ut e leven o’clock .

Me a nwh ile , as th is is o n ly

'

Tuesday, I’ll se n d h e r some work .

”

Y ou ar e ve ry good and kind. I don’t kn ow h ow to th ank you.

Nonsense , de ar . I do n’t

'wan t any th anks . G o od-bye . I’m in

an awful hurry. G lad Ime t you. Ta, ta .

”

A nd with a smil e and a wave o f th e h and, th e kind-h earted dr ess

m ak er turn ed a co rn er and disappe ared.

Wh at go od n ews fo r my darlin g ,”th ough t Madge joyful ly. I

could hug you, Mdme . G arni tur e , for yo ur kindn ess. A nd n ow,

be fo r e go ing h ome . I must take a pe ep at Be lgrave Str e e t, jnet tosa tisfy my pe t th at Lady A shfie ld h as n o t ye t r e turn ed.

But wh en Madg e stood Oppo site th e h ouse and lo oked up at th e

windows, sh e utte r ed an exclamation of surprise and de ligh t .

A t last ! Y es, sur e ly, Lady A shfie ld must be at h ome . Th is

ch an ge must m e an th at sh e h as r e turn ed.

Th e o n ce din gy exte r io r h ad be e n fr eshly pain ted. Daffodils an d

da isies filled th e window-boxes, and th e wh o le h ouse was br ill ian tlyl igh ted. Th e blinds in th e din in g

-ro om h ad n o t be en pulled down ,a n d th e table , beautifully decorated with ch o ice dowe rs and r ich silve r ,

was plain ly visible fr om th e stre e t.

Howde ligh tful to sit at such a table ,”sigh edMadge . He igh o '.

th e we althy h ave many th ings to make life ple asan t . How h appywe sh ould be n ow

, if on ly my swe e t Do ra had n o t be en robbed .

But th er e , a truce to such dreams . I must try if I can n o t se e LadyA shfie ld to -n igh t . A nd th e n wh o kn ows wh at may h appen

And full o f h ope Madg e ran g th e be ll . In an in stan t th e h al l

do or flew open , an d two men in powde r ed h air sto od silen tly waitingfo r h e r to spe ak .

Can I se e Lady A shfie ld sh e ask ed n er vously. I th ink sh e

would se e me if you to ld h e r my name . Miss Ne il .”

“ Y es,”answe r ed o n e of th e men promptly. He r ladysh ip wil l

see you, I kn ow. Will you kindly walk th is way?Madge did as de sir ed, and h aving fo llowed th e man across a


r ich ly-carpe ted h all and down a long corridor , was ush e r ed in to a

small but exquisite ly fur nish ed room . Th e re was n o o n e th e r e ; and

placin g a ch air n ear th e fire and inwitin g h er to be se ated, th e £00 tmurmured th at h e would te ll h er ladyship, and withdr ew.

Le ft alon e , Madge sto od sti ll gaz ing r ound h er in de ligh t. Never

b efo r e h ad sh e se en such a ro om . Th e co lours we r e soft and h ar

mon ious. Th e furn itur e , which was of richly-ca rv ed ebo ny, ton ed

admirably with th e gbrg e ous embro ideries th at wer e th rown about

over cha irs and so fas. Th e cabin ets we re full of rar e chin a ; th e walls

cove r ed with Japan ese cur ios and pieces of o ld tapestry. Th e wh o le

ai r of th e place was r estful . It was a ro om to dream ,r ead , think in ,

a nd Madge fe ll in to a kind of trance as sh e drank in th e many

beauti e s of h e r surroundin gs.

But h er dream was o f sh o r t duration . For pre se n tly th e rustlin g

o f silk en garmen ts was h eard, and LadyA shfie ld swept in to th e ro om .

Sh e was dr essed in a rich dinn e r dress o f a de ep dark r ed, with flash

in g diamonds in h er h air and r ound h e r n eck . Sh e was tall and

dignified lookin g , and as sh e came forward to gre e t h er visitor , h er

face was ligh ted up with a gracious smile of we lcom e .

My de a r Miss Ne il,I am so glad to se e you at last . My so n and

I h ad almost de spair ed o f eve r fin din g you out.”

Y ou h ave be en away for so lo ng, Lady A shfield .

True . But why did you n ot come an d se e th e h ouseke eper

Sh e h ad th e name s of sever al fri ends of min e wh o would h ave taken

music le sson s fr om you. Th ey promised m e th ey would.

I em so so r ry. But wh e n we ca ll ed n e ar ly two ye ar s ago , we

could ge t but littl e info rmation . Th e o ld woman a t th e do o r kn ew

n oth in g o f your moveme nts .

”

It was un fo r tun ate , altoge th e r , said Lady A shfie ld kindly.

For my so n and I we r e de te rmin ed to h e lp you and watch ove r you.

But my fath e r’s long illn ess and dea th put eve rythin g e lse out of my

h ead A nd n ow te ll in e h ow is our fr ie nd, swe e t littl e Do ra

Alas ! Sh e is far from we ll , Lady A shfie ld,"

r eplied Madge

sadly. Sh e h a s snfie r ed much durin g th e last two ye ars, and h e r

h ealth is n o t go od even n ow. Sh e rar ely leaves th e h ouse .

”

Poo r child. I em extr eme ly grieved to h ea r such a bad accoun t

o f h e r . I will go to se e h er soon . A nd h ow h ave you be en do ing ,

Miss Neil?A re you ge ttin g on we ll?”No t we ll . I wo rk in a sch o o l all day. But th e salary is small .

It is n ot n e ar ly sufficien t for th e suppo rt of two pe ople , and late ly

Dora h as e arn ed n o thi ng , po o r darling .

”

Would you h ave time to give lessons if I could ge t some fo r


A nn e Dan e , said Madge in a clear , firm vo ice , is a swindle ran d a ch eat.

”

Lady A shfie ld started.

My dear Miss Ne il, tha t is strong—Imay say vio len t language .

No t half strong o r vi olen t en ough,”cried Madge , spr inging to

h er fe e t, h e r ch e eks cr imson with excitemen t . Fo r sh e has dece ived

h er gen e rous master , Sir Eustace A th e rston e , and do n e a cruel, cruel

1 1 3 to an in n ocen t hh ild.

”

Wh at do you m eanThis, Lady A shfie ld. Ou th e nigh t of th e wr eck of th e Cimbr ia.

A n n e Dan e was put into a boat wi th a chi ld in h e r arms . Fr om

th en ce sh e was r e scued, I don’t kn ow h ow, and we n t to Londo n , n o t

with Sylvia A th erston e , but with my siste r, Dora Ne il .

Lady A shfie ld stared at th e girl in aston ishmm t .

Th en you mean to say

Th at this be autiful girl, this ao -called Sylvia , is a usurper ; that

sh e h as n o r igh t to h er name , wealth , o r position , and th at th e r eal

Sylvia is th e swe e t, de licate ch ild wh o saved you and your son .

”

Y ou ar e—you must be e ith e r dr e aming or mad

I em n e ith e r . Wh at I te ll you is true , abso lute ly true . Th e

fair , ge ntle girl you kn ow'

e s Dora Ne il is r eal ly Sylvia A th erston e .

”

What pro of,”asked Lady A shfie ld coldly, h ave you of this

Madge cast down h er eyes, h er co lour wen t and cam e .

“ Al as ! n on e .

”

Lady A shfie ld gave a sigh of r e li ef.

I th ough t so .

But if I could se e A nn e Dan e for a momen t, cried th e gir l

veh eme ntly. If I could bring h er face to face

My de ar youn g lady, you talk n onsense . With out pro of, andstr o n g pro of, n o on e would e ve r be lieve such a sto ry. Take my

advice , and put this silly fancy out of your h ead. It can on ly do h

to you. Do r a , and eve n , pe rh aps. in a small way to Miss A th erston e .

Silly fan cy, gasped Madge , clasping h e r hands and raising h er

eyes appeali n g ly to Lady A shfie ld’s face . Oh , it is n o fancy. It is

truth , pur e , simple truth .

But, eve n supposing it wer e true ,”

r epli ed Lady A shfie ld,

wonde ring at th e girl’s apparen t h on esty and extreme earn estn ess,

you say you h ave n o pr o of, and

We h ave th e po rtrai t of Sylvia’s moth e r , a min iature hung round

h er n eck by h e r fath e r as h e bade h e r go od-bye o n board that il l

fated vesse l , th e Cimbria . Sh e ’s so like that .”

But n o on e h e re eve r saw Mrs. A th e rston e . Sh e was an

Australian . He married h e r out th e r e , and

But Mr . A th e rston e h imse lf, h e would kn ow.


Mr . A th e rston e is still in Austr a lia . Your min iatur e could n o t

prove anyth in g .

”

“ Th en , I must se e Ann e Dan e . Le t me come upon h er un

expectedly, and in th e presence of witn e sses, produce Dora and th e

min iature , and sh e will be surprised, terrified, and wi ll sur e lyackn owledge th e wicked fraud sh e h as be en car rying on fo r so many

ye ars .

”

My dear Miss Ne il, pray calm yourse lf. I do n ot—I cann o t

be lieve your sto ry. Y ou ar e labouring unde r some stran ge , some

wild de lusion .

”

Madge be n t h er h ead upon h e r h ands an d utte red a de ep groan .

“ Oh G od,”sh e murmur ed, h e lp me to r eve al th e truth , to

resto r e this poo r ch ild to h er h ome an d fri ends.

” Th e n looking upimplo rin gly, h e r eye s full of te ars. Lady Ashfie ld, pray, pray h e lpme . Y ou can , you

I em quite willing to h e lp you.

Madg e sprang fo rward with a cry of joy.

L ady A shfie ld h e ld up h e r hand .

Do n o t misunde rstand m e , ple ase , Miss Ne il . I am r e ady and

wil ling to do wh at I can to h e lp you to e arn mon ey, and suppo rt

your se lf and your siste r . But I do n o t, I te ll you h on estly, be lieve

your story. A nd if I did , n o th in g would eve r induce me to h e lp you

in any way to accomplish th e e nd you have in view. No t fo r th e

wo r ld would I be th e me an s of plungin g my dear o ld friend, Sir

Eustace , in to such a sea of trouble as th e very suggestion of such a

th in g would bring upo n h im .

”

Will you give m e A n n e Dan e’s addr e ss

Ce r tai nly n o t . Th at wo uld sur e ly assist you and cause much

misery. No , n o , Miss N e il , leave A n n e Dan e in peace , an d forg e t

th is foo lish n otion . Y ou h ave an h on e st face , an d se em much in

e am e st . So I can n ot be li eve you h ave will ingly in ven ted th is sto ry of

th e wr eck . But I‘

fe e l sur e th at you ar e suffe ring fr om a de lusion ,

an ha llucination , which h as pr obably gr own stron g e r as th e years

ha ve gon e on . But

Madg e ch ok ed back h e r te ars, and dr awin g h e r sligh t figur e up to

i ts full est h e igh t, said co ldly“ I em sorry to in terrupt you, Lady A shfie ld. But I must ask

you to say n o mo re . Y ou do n o t be li e ve my sto ry. Y ou tr eat me as

a mad woman , and, th e r efor e , I beg th at you will n o t take any

furth e r tr ouble fo r me . Y ou cann o t, it would be impo ssibl e for you

to recommend a liar o r a lunatic to your fri ends. So pray fo rge t th at

I exist . I r egr e t th at I sh ould h ave tak e n up so much of your

valuable tim e . A nd I will n ow wish you go od even ing .

”

292 The Ir ish Mon thly.

A nd with burning ch e eks, h er h ead h eld proudly er ect, Madg e

walk ed quickly from th e room .

Wh at strange in fatua tion cr ied Lady A shfie ld, as th e do o r

clo sed upon h e r visitor . Th e g irl’s mind must have sufier ed

seve r e ly fr om th e sh ock of th e wreck. But I trust th at th is sillyn o nse nse may n ever r each Sylvia

’s ears, n o r Sir Eustace

’s. Wha t

pain , what tr ouble it would cause , false th ough it be . In te nse mise ry,

I em sur e . But, dear me , h ow late it is ! A nd I have n o t quitefin ish ed my dr e ssing . I re ally fe e l much upset by th is strange scen e .

I must try and compo se myse lf befo re my guests arrive .

”

A nd sighing h eavily, Lady A sh fie ld le ft h er boudo ir and hurried

upstairs to complete h er to ile t.

(To be continued) .

A LIFE’S STRENG TH.

OUR AG E and faith and pati e nce !Keyn otes th eseTo th e full music o f a perfe ct life

Courage to bear and brave th e wasting strife

Of our fle e t years, n o r cr ave in glo rious e ase

1 1 1 a h ard wo r ld of to il by lands and seas 5.

Fa ith in ourse lve s to win th e wars we wage’G ainst self and sin , kn owing n o mind can gauge

Th e fin a l peace th at crowns earth’s victo rie s.

A nd be st of th ese is patie n ce , sh in in g br igh t

Ou th e h igh r o ll of vir tues. G od ha th grave n

Th is o’e r th e windin g stair th at le ads to Heaven ,

To guide us upward to th e Hill s of Ligh t.Would we be strong to win success a t length ,

In cour ag e , faith , and pa ti ence th e re is str e ngth .

Tm sa 0 . Bow .

294 Th e Irish Month ly.

and embarkin g on n ew, and perh aps perilous enterprises. A n d

wh at a medl ey ! What strange pranks Moth er Nature plays with

th e human face divin e ! Whatmighty ingenuity sh e sh ows in

mouldin g and casting th e coun te nances of men , so that th ere is n o

mistaking on e individual for an other ! Lean and hungry Italian

faces, from which cen turies of poverty have beate n out th e gran d

o ld Roman type of featur e ; calm and h eavy Teuton ic faces th a t

speak of easy lives and plenty o f lager beer ; th e high and angular

Norwegian face that has be en bufietted and with ered by th e

storms which swe ep up th e fiords and gulfs of th e ir rugged coasts ;

h ere th e face of an A rmenian , who stood a month ago on th e mo st

sacred so il that feet ever pressed ; and h ere th e olive featur es and

white burn ous of the A r ab, wh o was baked a few weeks ago unde r

the pyramids, and is n ow shive ring in th e co ld east wind th at is

churn ing th e wate rs in to ye llow foam . A nd he re side by side are

th e two races, wh om a strange destiny has linked toge th er butwhom Fa te h as kept sundered apart as wide ly as pole from po le

th e tall and muscular Saxon , and th e little , active , n ervous form of

th e blaok-eyed and black~hair ed Ce lt. A nd h ere , too , are th e ir

descendants—th e mixed race of Am ericans, who have inh erited all

th e th oughtfuln e ss of th e Saxon and all th e brightn ess of th e Ce lt,

and wh ose pale fe atures and eager eye s speak th e n ational

characte r—bright, alert, and spe culative .

But we are m ovin g . Y ou can se e th e ridges fall away in white

foam from th e ke en prow of th e ship, as th e screw churns and

tosse s th e wate rs on th e stern . Cast o if comes from th e bridge

high over our h eads ; and whilst th e n oble vessel move s forward in

sile n t digni ty on h er course, th e little tende r sh e ers 0 11 at an angle

to make th e circuit h omewards. A nd n ow I become sudden ly

aware that whilst I um so liloquiz ing , I em in th e midst of manytragedies, and probably, exceptin g th e captain and th e crew, th e most

unconce rn ed spectato r on bo ard. A ll around are very sad faces,

h lled with a yearn in g look towards th e land they are le aving .

Even th e blue-blaok eyes of th e me rry Ce lt are film ed and clo nded

as th ey look for th e last time , pe rhaps, on th e gre en hills and

purple moun tains of In isfail . Here is a lady wh ose society train

ing in th e most rigid conven tion alism cannot withal preven t her

h ands from tremblin g , and h e r eyes from growing red with

we eping . A nd h ere is a stalwar t athlete tryin g to look supremelyindifferen t, but I notice some st range moisture gath ering unde r his

The Two Civilisations. 295

e yelids ; and I kn ow, if I spoke to him , his voice would quiver'

and

break in his efiort to reply. But it is n o time now for use le ss

regre ts. The vesse l of th e ir fortun e s and h opes is already far upon

th e wate rs. Th e grim shadows of Carlisle fort frown upon h er

and n ow sh e glides be fore th e sunny walls o f th e lighth ouse , and

n ow sh e turn s h er broadside to th e bay. She is looking straight

to th e west , walking th e waters towards th e Empire Republic, th e

mo th e r of many nations. A th ousand h earts are pulsin g ben eath

h e r flag—e ach with its marve llous h isto ry of th e past, its rich ,

beautiful dre ams of th e future . The stars are not more lon e ly in

th e ir orbits than th e se human h earts each with its secre ts sealed

to all eyes but G od’s. The gre at win gs of mighty storms are

win n owing and sweeping th e A tlantic before th em . Billows are

r o l ling towards th em from far latitude s. Y e t n ot a single soul

ha s a fe ar o f reaching th e promised land in safe ty. This little

wo rld—this microcosm on th e wate rs—what is it but a type of

h uman ity and th e world Or what is th e world and humanity but

a ship in th e ocean of space?Howeve r , it is n ot multitudes but individuals we have come to

se e—n ot races, but marked types and repre se ntatives of race s—n ot

th e hm'

pollo i who fret th eir little h our upon th e stage and sink

in to obscur e graves, but th e anakes andr on—th e kings of men , th ey

wh o are stirri ng th e great h eart of th e world with impulses that

issue in h ealthy reform or un h ealthy re volution . A nd fortun ate lyth ere are a few of th ese chose n minds h e re amongst our passengers.

Men wh o , from th e dark recesses of laboratories and museums h ave

strength en ed a hundredfold th e hands of th e ir fe l low-men , have

a nn ih ilated distan ce on th e globe , and tamed th e terrible agen ts

that stand at th e back of untamed Nature . Men , wh o from plat

forms, h ave thundered forth th e an cien t, but eve r n ew, principle of

a common human ity, and th e right o f eve ry child of A dam to a

place on this plan et, with air en ough to bre ath e , and room e n ough

to swing h is arms in—men wh o , by th e ir wo rds, have touch ed th e

g reat h eart of th e wo rld, and made hoarse vo ice s ch ee r , and brawnyhands to strike appro val , and tough h earts to vibrate with n ew

emotions of revealed str e ngth and power , and a possible happin ess

that may be far o ff and yet shall be reach ed—po e ts and sages,

patriots and dile ttan ti , po litical , scientific, and social revolutionists

are h e re—and we shall just look at th em , and th en let th em speak

for th emse lves.


This age o f ours is an age of revolutions. Th e re is n ot a single

branch , e ven of a single science , that has n ot be en studi ed and

investigated, with th e result that our most carefully-formed ideas

e ve n o n scien tific subjeots have be en obliged to undergo a com

ple te tran sformation . A n oth er pe cul iarity is that th ere are

spe cialiste in every branch of science , art, and literature ; and that

ce rtain bran ch es of scien ce an d art become th e fashion at certain

pe riods, and exclude all oth ers in th e public mind as effectually as

a n ew fash ion in dress exclude s th ose that are considered anti

quated . A nd, again , as Solomon said, th ere is n oth ing n ew

unde r th e sun ,

”so th ere 1 8 scarce ly a fashion m art or a discovery

in scie n ce that was not quite familiar to th e ancien t He llenists,wh o , under th e warm sky of G ree ce and by th e pleasan t waters of

th e Medite rran ean , were makin g daily pleasure of things which in

our days are th e exclusive property of th e high e st circle s of wealth

and in te lligen oe—for example , if th ere we re on e thing the ancient

G re eks worshipped more than an oth er , itwas th e Be autiful . Whatth ey called th e to Ka lon was th e Divin ity, whom th ey worshipped

with all th e passion ate adoration of n atures in to which the Sun

G od h ad stri cke n his fire . The Beautiful in Natur e—th e Beautiful in min d and soul—th e firmamen t glittering with stars, th e

me adows glitte ring with flowers, the wide levels of th e sea glitte r

ing unde r th e sunshafts—th e dark eyes ofm en and women glittering

undsr darke r eyebrows ; all th ese to th e se ch ildren of Natur e were

feasted on an d worshipped as types and symbo ls of some rarer

Be auty, un se en but ye t to be r eve aled . Th e se wonderful o ld

G re eks have passed away ; but h ere in th e midst of our n in ete enth

ce n tury civilisation is an apostle of aesth etioism ,and aesth etics or

th e scie nce of th e Be autiful is on ce more th e fashion of me n . Y ou

se e o ver th e re lean ing again st th e bulwarks of th e vesse l is a tall

and dark youn g gen tleman , with a huge sunflower in his button

h ole . He is gaz ing on th e se tting sun as if this we re his laste ve n ing upon earth , and h is eye s ar e daz z led with th e lan e of light

th at str e tch es to th e h oriz on . He is th e son of a Dublin oculist,

and o f a ladywho sang th e fie rce st and love liest battle-odes of th at

sad, th at glorious period in Irish history wh ich we call’48. He

is,with out doubt, th e best ridiculed young man that h as come

be fo re this cyn ical age . He is n ow going to be dr e adful ly disap

po in ted with th e A tlan tic, and h is m ission is to evange lise th e

Amer ica ns with two lectures on art that shall be repeated again

298 The Ir ich Month ly.

Spence r , wh o has reproduced in our time th e an cien t A th e n ian

worship of th e unkn own G od - followers of FredericHarriso n ,

wh o disagre es with Herbert Spen ce r , and take s gre at trouble to

te ll th e world that A gn osticism is very differe n t thin g from

Positivism—a very considerable numbe r of be lievers in th e

evo lution th eo ry and th e Simian or igin of man—a large

gath ering o f latte r-day infide ls who are tryi ng to resuscitate th e

a ncie n t th e orie s of Epicurus and Democr itus - a few ladies wh o

be long to th e n ew sect of Theosophists, and talk glibly about wh at

th ey call e so ter ic Buddh ism f’- and moving h ere and th er e

young inte llectual American s, fr esh from th e G erman un ive lpities,and h oldin g all Europe an ph ilosoph e rs very ch eap compared with

th e human itarian ism and panth e ism of th e ir be loved master , Ralph

Waldo Emerson . A nd, if you ask me what could have brough t

such repre sen tative men toge th er , I will ask you to be lieve th atth ey we re en route fo r Mon treal , whe re th e last Session of th e

British A ssocia tion was h e ld.

It is growin g ch ill , and we desce nd to th e saloon . Just as wee n te r , a voice , with a fore ign ascent, exolaims in conclusion o f

some in te re sting conversation : Vorwiirts ! Vorwarts ! This is

th e watchword of our cen tury. Do es n ot your own poet-laureate

proclaim it to you—e ven to you, conse rvative Englishme n , im

movable as th e pyramids, insensible as th e ir gran ite :

Y e t in vain th e distance M on s, forward , fo rward le t us ran ge ,

L e t th e g rea t world spin for ever down th e rin g in g gr oove s o f ch an ge .

This, th e sh adow of th e g lobe , we swe ep in to th e oute r day,

Be t te r fifty ye ars o f Europe than a cycle of Ca thay."

Y es, said a deep, me lodi ous vo ice that cam e floating down along

th e table . Y e s ! forward is the ory—but whithe r

All looked up in amaz emen t, and saw a ven erable man , who se

h igh foreh ead , clad in th e h on ours of se ve n ty summers, be token ed

th e very h igh est powers of th ought. Th ere was a bush fo r a

m omen t . Th en came a bustling and a shuffling of th e fe et, and a

harsh , strident vo ice , pitch ed to the h igh est in ton ation ,spoke . It

was Mr . Verdun , scientist, Fe llow of th e Royal Society, London .

How can you ask such a que stion h e exclaimed .

Whithe r sh ould we go , but where th e finger of scien ce is point

ing With all th e wonde rs we h ave shown you, whywill you n ot

LocksleyHall.

The Two Cibilz’

wtzo ns. 2990

be lieve us We h ave as yet on ly touched the fringe of Nature ’s

g armen t, and beh old wh at sh e has revealed to us, what we have

r e vealed to you. We have captured th e lightn ings, and compell ed

th em to carry our message s around th e earth ; we have we igh ed th e

sun ,we have put th e ponderous plan ets in th e scale s -we have

sh own you in th e m ete oric sto n es th e fragmen ts of form er sate llites

th at swung th eir huge bulk round th e earth ; we have taken th e

sun s of o th er systems, wh ose distan ce is so great th at it paralyse s

th e imagin ation , and to ld you th e ve ry mate rials of which th ey are

composed ; we h ave walked among th e n ebula of th e milky way,

a n d put th e very rin gs of Saturn upon our finge rs. We have torn

o pen th e bosom of th e earth and shown you in stony manuscripts

th e handwr iting of Nature in th e days of th e mammoth and

l e via than ; and as th e ser vice o f man is th e on ly service we

a ckn owledge , we have bade th e little god of this plan e t to r est

fr om labour , for Natur e shall be compelled to work for him . For

h im we harn ess its mo st dreadful powers, and bid th em take him

from place to place with a spe ed that outstrips the hurrican e ; for

h im we have paved a pathway on th e migh ty wate rs, and h e

laughs at th e waves that thunde r h armlessly o ve r h is h e ad, and h e

spares his soft fin ge rs in labours that are unwor thy of him , and

h ands o f iron and te e th of ste e l rend and te ar and weave again

m en ts of royal purple and tapestr ies that migh t hang befo re th e

win dows ofHeaven . A n d as al l things are th e same to us, for all

is but matter in th e end, we h ave divided and subdivided your

creation un til we h ave reduced it to an atom that can only be se en

in a microscope , and th en we h ave built up th e same cre ation again

e ve n to its crown ing glory—th e mind o f man . But you you to

wh om we h ave reve aled th ese th ings—you for wh ose advan tage we

h ave to iled and laboured—wh ose silly minds we h ave emancipated

wh om we have de live red from th e debasing pursuits o f arts and

music and poetryStop ! said th e o ld man with a vehemen ce that startled us

a ll,

stop this blasph emy against things you do n ot and cann ot

understan d. It is true you, men of science , have revealed ce rtain

se cre ts of Nature , but h ow P By laying sacr il egious h ands on h er

awful face ! Y ou have out and de lved, and maimed and sacrificed

Nature and h e r childr en , un til h er beautiful face is scarred and

blo tte d by you, and th e hide ous uglin ess has fallen upon the souls


o f th e children o f men Wordsworth spoke with con tempt of old

of th ose wh o would peep and bo tanise on th eir moth er’s graves

but you, from an advanced platform of scien tific in iquity, would

n ot on ly sacrifice to your sinful curiosity th e poor boast th at licks

your h and in his agony, but you would even exhume your fath er’

s

remains for th e sake of an exper ime nt. A nd after all , what have

you dcn e P Does th e sun give more light or h eat to our earth

sin ce you discove red thath e is a furn ace of liquid fire , flinging out

tongues of flame to every part of th e system which h e rul es A re

th e plan ets mo re brilliant since you discovered that in reat they

are as dull as th e earth itse lf Is mankin d be tter or happier sin ce

you dr ove him from th e green fie lds and th e blue skie s to th e

cloudy and ch oking city, which by a kind of infernal ch emistry

drags th e strength from his limbs, and th e blood from his ve ins P

Is childh ood more pure and joyful sin ce you brought it in to your

factories and bade it stretch forth its soft and tiny hands to grasp

and con trol mighty limbs of ste e l and iron , and chased th e roses

from its ch e eks, and th e laughter from its lips, and th e ligh t from

its eyes, and th e music from its life , and th e te nder love of G od

from its h eart Y es, you can analyse Nature in your te st-tubes,

you can spy at h er in your microscopes, but can you see h er with

your own eyes, or rece ive h er in to your h earts Y ou can te ll na

wh at sh e makes h er wonders of, and h ow sh e makes th em, and.

h ow long sh e take s about it. But you cann ot te ll us what th ese

wonders are like wh en th ey are made . Wh en G od said Let the re

be light, and th ere was light, and G od saw th at it was good,’was

h e th inking , as h e saw thus, of th e exact ve locity it trave ll ed at, or

th e exact laws it trave lled by, which you, wise m en , are at infin ite

pain s to discover Or was h e thinking of somethin g e lse , which

you take n o pain s to discover at all , of h ow it cloth ed th e win gs of

th e morning with silver , and th e features of th e evening with gold

Is water, th ink you, a n obler thing to th e modern ch emist, wh o

can te ll you exactly what gases it is made of, and n othing more

o r to th e pain te r , wh o could n ot te ll you at all what it is made of,

but wh o did kn ow and could te ll you wh at it is made—what it is

made by th e sun shin e and th e cloud-shadow and th e storm-wind

wh o kn ew h ow it paused by th e stain less moun tain troutpoo l , a

livin g crysta l over streams of flicke ring ambe r , and h ow it broke

itse lf turbid with its choirs of turbul en t thunder wh en the rocks

card it in to foam , and th e tempest sifts it into spray A h , maste rs

302 Tbe Ir ish Mon th ly.

THE CHILDREN ’

S BALLAD ROSARY .

PA RT II.

THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES .

I.—Tln A e o s r IN THE G A RDEN .

Our Saviour dwe l t in Naz are th

Till th ir ty years h ad flown

Th r e e ye ars fr om th e n ce un til h is dea th

He made h is mission kn own .

With miracle s and works o f migh tHis wo rd o n earth h e spr e ad,

To dumb and blin d gave spe ech and sigh t,

A nd raised to life th e dead .

Befo r e h e sufie r ed h e displayed

Th e depth of love divin e :

Hi s flesh and blo od our fo od h e made

In fo rm of br e ad and win e .

Th a t last an d h o lie st suppe r don e ,

He r o se and be n t hi s way,

With h is apo stle s, all save on e ,To wh e r e th e garde n lay.

Th e th r e e h e to ok with in th e place

We r e Pe te r , Jam e s, and Joh n ,

He bade th em wa tch a littl e space ,

A nd passed ye t far th e r on .

But th en did fe ar and h eavin e ss

Hi s h uman soul invade ;

In deadly so rr ow and distr e ss

He be n t to e arth an d prayed .

My Fath e r , pass th is cup fr om me ,

A lmigh ty powe r is th in e

My Fath e r , if it m ay n o t be ,

Thy will be don e , n o t m in e .

Th e r e fe ll upon h is mo rtal fram e

A n ago ny pr o found ;

His swe at lik e drops o f blo od became ,Fast fallin g to th e gr ound .

The Children’s Ba llad Rosary.

He th r ice to his apo stles wentA nd foun d th em sle epin g th e re ,

A nd thr ice his steps r e tur n ing ben t,A nd prayed th e se lf same prayer .

But 10 ! within th e garden pre ssed

Th e trai to r and h is band ;

Sle ep n ow,

” h e sa id,“and take your rest,

Beh o ld my h our at h and.

By Judas with a kiss betrayed,

He was a captive led,

Wh ile h is disciple s, so re dismayed,Deserted h im and fled.

G lory to G od the Father ,

A nd Me eter nal Son ,A nd glory to the Holy G hostFor over , 27m” in One .

IL—Tnn Soovs om o A T THE Pumas .

Th e Jews’ High Priest was Caiaph as,

Our Saviour ’s deadliest fo e

With i n his court did Jesus passTh at n igh t of won dr ous wo e .

Revi led and mock ed in hate an d sco rn ,

Co ndemn ed to death by all;Th ey l ed him for th at e arly morn

To Pon tius Pilate’s h all .

Th e pr iests and scr ibes accusing sto od,

A nd all around th e cryRose from th e Jewish multitude

That Jesus Chr ist sh ould die .

A nd Pilate kn ew h im inn ocen t,

But fear ed hi s life to save ;

80 un to bitter ch astisemen t

Our spo tless Lord h e gave .

Th e so ldi e rs se iz ed upon him th er e

A t Pila te’s dr ead commands,

Th ey str ipped him of h is raimen t bare

A nd bound his h oly hands.

303

The Ifleh Monthly.

A nd littl e n e ed,

th e re was to urge

Th eir cruelty of mind

Th ey raised th e awful Roman scourge

His hands wer e to th e pillar tied,His h ead ben t m e ekly low ;

A nd as th e ir ruthl ess task th ey plied

His blood be gan to flow.

A nd h ow his blood flowed down afr esh

With every str ipe th at fe ll

Upon his pure and tende r flesh ,No to ngue of ma n may te ll .

But yet th e gen tle Lamb of G od

Nor utte red word n or cry

Fo r as, ben e ath th e to rturing rod,

He suffer ed silen tly.

A nd wh en th at h our of guilt was o’er ,

A nd th ey h ad work ed th e ir will,

Th ey cloth ed him in hi s garb o nce mor e

For torment darke r still .

May we within our h earts ensh rin e

Th e cause for whi ch h e bled :

Fo r a ll our sin s, for yours an d min e ,

Th e blood of G od was sh ed.

G lo ry to G od the Father ,

A nd Me e ternal Son ,A nd ylo ry to the Holy G lmt

For over , Three in One .

III.—Trm a wmrzo wrm Tn omrs.

Th e so ldiers n ow devised in scorn

To gath e r and e n twin e

A crown o f sh arp an d prickly th em ,

Th e th o rn of Pal e stin e .

Th e cr own upon hi s h e ad was laid,

A nd pie rced h is fo r eh e ad th rough ,

Wh er e eve ry po in t an e n trance made

Th e blood sprang fo rth like dew.


IV.—Tm: Om nm o o r m Ca o ss.

Th ough Pilate we ll th e ir malice kn ew,

Y e t h e in fear decr e ed

Th at Ch rist, th e h o ly and th e true ,

Upon th e cro ss sh ould bleed.

Th ey lead h im fo rth from out th e throng ,

A nd on his sh oulde rs layTh e h eavy cross to bear alongTh e ste ep and to ilsome way.

Be n e ath h is burth en m e ekly be nt

A little space h e passed,Till , fain t and falte ring as h e wen t,He sank to earth a t last.

Th e Roman so ldie rs, lo oking round

For one its we igh t to sh ar e ,

Simon th e Cyr en e an found,

Wh o came in pity th er e .

Him afte r Jesus th ey compe ll ed

To bear th e we ary lo ad

80 was th e cro ss o f Ch r ist uph e ld

Through out th e do lorous road.

Whi le fo llowin g on th e ir steps behind

Th e re came a min gled crowd,

With wom en wh o , in grief o f mind,Bewailed and wept aloud.

But Jesus, turn ing un to th em,

Fo re to ld th e da ys to be

We ep, daugh te rs of Je rusalem,

But do n o t we ep for m e .

A tim e will com e to we ep and mourn ,

Wh e n ye sh al l r eckon blestTh e woman wh o h as n eve r born e

No r suckled ch ild at br e ast.

Y e h ills and mountain s, cover na,’

Th at day shal l be th e cry,

Fo r , in th e gre e n tr e e do ing thus,

Wh at sh all be in th e dry

The Ch ildren’

s Ba llad Rosary.

A nd th e nce h is path of pain h e trod

Un til th ey r each ed th e place ,Th e moun t of Calvary, wh e r e G od

Rede em ed th e human race .

Th e cross upon th e e arth was la id,

A nd thith e r Jesus drbw.

Fo rgi ve th em , Fath e r , thus h e prayed,Th ey kn ow not wh a t th ey do .


A nd hie eternal Son ,

A nd glory to the Ho ly G host

For ever , Thr ee in One .

V.—Trm Cavem ron .

Our Saviour ye arn ed to make comple teHis sacrifice of love ,Wh e n thr ough his sacr ed h ands an d fe e tTh e pie rcing na ils th ey drove .

Th e cross o f Ch r ist was raised on h igh ,

Whil e , placed on e ith e r side ,

Two male facto rs, doome d to die ,

With h im we r e crucified .

Th e on e wh o fill ed a h arden ed part

Blasph emed him wh e re h e hun g ;

Th e o th er spok e with m e lted h ea rt

A nd penite n tial to ngue .

Lord, in thy kin gdom of th e blest,

May I r emembe red be

Amen , thy soul this day sh a ll r e st

In Paradise with me .

Beside th e cross h is mo th er sto od

A nd lo oked in an guish o n ,

A nd with h e r , by th e sacr ed wood,

Hi s loved disciple , Joh n .

Beh o ld thy son , said Je sn s th enTo Mary stan din g n e ar ,

A nd lo oked on Joh n a nd spak e again ,

Beh o ld thy moth e r h e r e .


A nd John r ece ived h e r as h is own ,A nd Mary was assign ed

Fo r moth er , n o t to Joh n alone ,

But un to all mank ind.

With awful deso lation n ow

His human soul was tr ied ;Why, 0 my G od, my G od, hast th ouForsak en m e h e cr ied.

Meanwh ile o n e ar th n o sun ligh t sh on e ,Th e h e avens wer e ove rcast,

An d gloom pr evailed from n oonday on

Un til thr e e h our s h ad past .

I thir st.” A s thus h e spak e once mo re ,

Amid th e dark eclipse ,

A sponge with vin egar th ey bore

Un to h is dyin g lips.

A nd Jesus, tastin g , ben t his h ead

An d will ed h is e arthly end.

Fath e r , in to thy h ands,” h e said,

My spirit I comm end.


A nd his e ternal Son ,

A nd g lory to the Holy G hoet

For over,

31 0 The Irish Month ly.

than death to question . No railr oads, n o te legraph , n o soldiers,

disturbed th e so litude of th e h oly city. Under the guidan ce o f

Young , th e Mormons were makin g th e dese rt blossom like th e rose .

Th ey, an in sign ifican t handful of ign oran t creatures, we re taught

to regard th e Un ited States of Am erica as a poor , mean powe r ,

which th ey could whip any day th ey fe lt inclin ed to make th e

exertion . It was th e ir in tentio n utterly to re n t that h eath en con

federation , and th ey wer e often told in Sun day h aran gues that

th e h eads of th e same would soon be se en beggin g th e ir bread at

the gates of Zion , Sal t Lake City.

II

Brigh am Young , wh o for th irty ye ar s wore th e tr iple crown of

kin g , pr ie st, and proph e t in th e n ew Zion , th e h eadquarte rs, th eRom e of th e Mormons, was born in New England in 1 801 . A

g laz ier by trade , h e was a Me th odist and a Baptist by turn s till

1 832, wh en h e embraced Mormon ism . His personal magn e tisman d ke e n practical se n se were of immense use to Joseph Smith ,

founde r of Mormon ism ,wh o made him o n e of th e n ewly-organ ised

quorum of th e Twe lve A po stle s in 1 834. Brigham n ow began

to pr each in ton gues to th e sain ts,”and th ough n e ith e r sain ts

n or sin n e rs understood him , th e mann er in which h e transacted all

busin e ss committe d to him proved h is superiority, and his promo

tion to th e high er grades was rapid. In 1 840 h e pre ach ed th e

n ewg ospe l in En gland. He would compass sea and land to mak e

a prose lyte , an d succe ss rewarded h is exertion s. It is said th at h e

often afte rwards spoke of th e gullibilit'

y o f th e English .

A lth ough n ot very cle ar as to what h e beli eved himse lf, h e was

able to give them satisfyin g re ason s for th e faith th eyun de rsto od to

be in him ,and many left all that was dear to them to follow his

lead in late r times.

Though e n tir e ly un educated—h e spe n t but th irteen days o f his

l ife in sch oo l—in tercourse with the world had po lish ed h is mann ers, wh ich could be ve ry ple asing wh en h e wish ed. His

person ality was n o t to be de spised. A rath er h andsome , th ough

siniste r-lo okin g face , and a tall , commandin g figure , attracte d his

audien ce be fore h e open ed his mouth to utter th e unkn own soun ds

which we re unde rstood to be th e gift of tongues. Wh en h e spoke

American,

”his in spiration sh owed to be tter advan tage , and

A G lance at the Latter -day Saints. 31 1

h e seldom failed to brin g many to th e truth , as h e pretended to

Fraud, dish on esty, and worse crimes distin guish ed th e sain ts

e ve rywh ere , and th ey we re dr iven out of Oh io , Illin o is, and

M issouri , place s th ey h ad ope n ed to th e pre aching of th e gospe l .

Jo seph Smith was shot, and the n ext in rank , Sidn ey R igdon ,

assumed h is ofi’

ce . Brigham , h owever, soon removed Sidn ey’s

ca n dl estick , denounced his reve lations as from th e devil , cut off

h imse lf an d his followe rs, cursed him, and fin ally delivered h im

o ve r to Satan to be buffeted for a th ousand ye ars.

”Even his

oppon ents admired his ste rn in tr epidity. He was e lecte d Preside n t

by an ove rwh e lming majority. Th e min ority h e at on ce cut ofi,

ro o t and bran ch . Eve ryth ing flourish ed directed by h is strong ,

will , and the improving sta tus of th e sain ts soo n sh owed that th ere

was an able and firm hand at th e h e lm .

Brigham n ow dete rmin ed to found an empir e in th e RockyM oun tain s, th en Mexican te rritory, and th ough noth ing could be

m o re difficult than to bring his disciples to this, h e accomplish ed it.

Many who crossed th e Mississippi in th e h ope of on e day wor

shipping under the ir own vin e an d figtre e ,wh en n on e sh ould make

th em afraid,

’won on ly n ame le ss graves in th e gr e at A merican

desert. But be admin iste red th e affairs of th e survivors with skill

a n d e n e rgy, and ben t th em all to his designs by h is dogged perti

uncity and resistless influence . He made h imse lf fe ared, loved and

v e n erated by th e pe ople wh om h e cajoled, fed, scolded and praisedbut, above all , th ey learn ed to dread his ir on hand. Wh en th ecr ops failed and famin e stared th em in th e face , h e told th em th eywe re cursed for the ir unfaithfuln ess ; but h e found th em food.

In 1 854, when Brigham’s term of o ffice expired, Presiden t

Pierce se n t Co lon e l Steptoe to re lieve him . But Brigham would

n ot be re lie ved. I em and shall be go ve rn o r of Utah ,”said h e ,

and n o other man shall replace me till th e A lmighty says

Brigham , you n eed n ot be govern or any longer .

’A nd de facto

h e was gover n or as long as h e lived, and, in on e way or an o th e r ,

h e broke every powe r se n t out to oppose him .

Brigham was invariably courte ous to strangers, and quitewilling to gratify th e cur iosity of which h e was th e objse t, so longas it was respectful . When gen tlemen of th e pre ss visited his city,h e shower ed attentions upon th em . Theywe re at on ce taken ho ld

o f by his sycophants, and sh own th e brigh t side of th e loathsome

31 2 The Im b Mo nth ly.

system of which h e was th e h ead. Though h imself illiterate , h e

sh owed th e h igh est appre ciation of th e literary pe rsonage s wh o

region . Wri ters were surroun ded by th e Mormon officials and

n ever all owed to se e for th emse lves. Th ey wrote up th e holycity rath er from a Mormon standpoin t than from th e ir own

gravest penalties from taking th e G e nti les into the ir confidence on

III

In th e Lion House and th e Be ehive House , two h andsome

worked th e redoubtable G overnor Young . Th e former was

devote d chiefly to his n in e te en consorts and th e ir numerous

women derived n o social promin ence from be ing th e so-call ed

wives of th e great man . They all dined at his table in th e LionHouse , each moth er be ing surrounded by h er own progeny, while

Brigham and his latest favourite occupied a separate table at th e

h ead of th e diningro om. Ne ith er were th ey allowed to live in

idlen ess ; each had h er appoin ted tasks, and all were servan ts

legal wife and th e plural wive s were all natives o f America ,seve ral of th em be ing of New England. Th ese un fortunate

women we re scar ce ly ever men ti on ed in Utah . The ir wan ts were

supplied with gre at frugality. Th ough Brigham soon became one

of th e we althie st men in th e world, having a facul ty for turn

ing the most un like ly things in to gold, he was close -fiste d and even

stingy to th e last . Th e re was n ot a servan t on his premises. Hiscon so rte and daughte rs did th e menial work of his exte nsive h ouse

h old, while his son s- in -law and son swere expected to busy th em

se lves in farmin g , h e rding , brandin g cattle , and mechanical work .

Th e versatile se er , proph et, and reve lator h eld th e makia of

h is wives’

gown s, and measure d th em out ve ry sparingly. In earlydays sun -bonn ets an d cotton dresses were th e ir uniform , and th e

Czar of all th e Mormons signaliz ed himse lf by devising a still

uglie r garb—a high hat with a narrow brim , a shapeless sacque o f

ante lope skin , and a short, tigh t skirt of lin sey. This, th e famous

31 4 T he Ir ish Month ly.

his children , th ough his familywas th e best regulated in Utah , a

pattern to th e sain ts. He had a so rt of phon etic way of quotingScripture , and would render a we ll

-lm own text, according to his

expe rie nce Train up a ch ild, and away th ey go .

”Th ough h e

was a declared en emy to education , on e of his consorts was scho ol

mistre ss to th e childr e n of th e re st, and as th ey gr ew older , h e

gave th em oth er advan tages, even sending some of th em to college .

But his liberality in this respect n eve r exte nded beyond his own

chi ldren .

Th e greatest virtue a Mormon can posse ss is to pay his

tithing promptly. Th e church was th e un iversal merchant,

and th rough Zion’s cc-ope rative stores and th e ir brandy, the

first Presidency organiz ed all commerce to th e ir own advan tage .

While th e h eads of th e church reve lled in luxury, th e pe ople had

but a bare subsisten ce . Despite Brigham’s perpetual preaching o f

industry, th ere were some dron es in th e hive , and n ot a few were

supported by th e ir wives. But profits of all kinds fell into his

hands . On e of his wives, ao -called, wh o escaped from him in

1 874, in th e legal proceedings sh e instituted against him , declared

that h e was worth e igh t million dollars, and h ad a monthly income

of forty th ousand dollars be side s. Events sin ce have proved that

she correctly estimated h is goods and ch atte ls, ye t h e deni ed that

h is in come exce eded six thousand dollars a month—eu immense

sum at that tim e in Utah , espe cially for a man wh o had n o ren t

and little taxe s to pay.

To -day, thanks to G e n tile en te rprise , th e Mormon capital is an

exce edin gly be autiful city, especiallywh en viewed fr om a distan ce ,

and in spring and summer . Tre e s, gardens, cornfie lds, patch e s o f

vivid gre e n , starred with go lde n rod and sunflowers, bright sky,

sparkling wate rs, contrast fin e ly with th e sombre gr ey and brown '

o f th e surrounding moun ta in s. Th e temple built of wh ite granite

appro ach es comple tion it h as already cost million s. The A ssemblyHouse , used in co ldwe ath er for Sundaym e e tin gs, is a fair , graceful

building . Th e tabern acle is gro tesquely ugly ; even th e sain ts

th emse lves i rrevere n tly compare it to a huge gofer or land turtle .

It seats e igh t to ten th ousand people , and, as th e walls are almost

all do o rs, it could in case of acciden t be emptied in thr e e minutes.

Th er e is n o sign of re ligion in it. Its grey wal ls are bars and nu

sigh tly. Lions couchan t and a be ehive are th e only adornmen ts o f

this temple of fan aticism .

A G la nce at the Latter-day Sa ints.

Mormonism is a mate rialistic re ligion : on e of the hymns begs

some n o t we ll-defin ed de ity to

Th e ir aspirations begin and end in earth . Th e most deso late

spot in th e who le wor ld is I think , th e Mormon graveyard. No

sign of faith , h ope , or love n o so lemn tre e s, n o gre en turf, n o

soaring cross, n o emblematic dove . In family lots wives lie at

th e foot of th e husband in th e order of th e ir dece ase . Th e

It was said that the dece ased ch ildr en of Brigham would fill a fair

siz ed graveyard. Y et some fifty survived him .

The fin est dwelling house in Utah is th e mansion kn own as th e

Ame lia Palace , bui lt by Brigham in h is latte r ye ars for h is

favourite , Amelia Folsom , a n ative of Massachuse tts . It is

e recte d on a beautiful lawn , surrounded by trees and gardens, and

would be a splendid residen ce in any city in th e world. Here

Brigham died A ugust 29, 1 877 , to th e grief and wondermen t of

many o f his disciples, wh o th ought th e ir proph et would n ever see

death . His widows roam ed th e stre ets disconso late , weeping in to

imm e n se towe ls, and sh rieking in eve ry variety o f ton e : Th e

Proph e t is dead ! Every on e of th em save th e contnmacious

A nn Eliz a , wh o , in stigated by some G e n tile barbarians, had

instituted proce edings against him , was a widow we ll le ft .’

Each had a h ouse and lo t. Am e lia was and is quite wealthy.

As to re ligion , I fear th e wre tch ed high priest di ed as h e had

l ived . Y e t a de scendan t of his to ld a Catholic lady at th e time

th at be frequen tly mutte red on th e last day of his sin ful life I

n e ver had a wife but on e , and that was my first .

” He had ample

oppor tun ities of kn owing th e truth which would have fr e ed him

fr om h is un ruly passio n s ; but avarice and sen suality and ambition

we r e stron g in h is craven soul to th e very last , so far as can

be ascertain ed. A s early as 1 866 a priest ven tured to reside in th e

h o ly city—a Fath e r Ke lly, sen t thith er by th e A rchbish op of San

Francisco , in wh ose dioce se th e n ew Jerusalem th en was . Every

th ing was don e to drive him from th is dificultmission . Th e sain ts


whittled about hi s poo r but day and n igh t.’ A coffin was laid at

h is do or , and h e was told h e would so on be put in a state to occupy

it. Nothin g of this kind was e ve r don e but by th e in stigation o f

th e prophe t ; if h e did n ot commit many a murder with his own

h ands, it is certain th at h e inspired, suggested, or eve n commanded

man y a on e . Th e priest boldly appealed to him for protection .

He was asto n ish ed (l) th at any bad behaved so inhospitably to th e

in te re sting stran ger , wh om h e immediately covered with th e aegis

o f his prote ction , and th e prie st was h en ce fo rth unmo lested.

Brigham expressed the greate st fr iendship for h im, asked him

many que stions, pro fessed himse lf alm ost pe rsuaded to become

a Cath o lic, but virtually concluded eve ry conference in th e words

o f an o th e r wh o preferred th e h on ours of this world to th e g lory

o f th e n ext : I will h ear th e e again con ce rn ing this matter .

Brigham expre ssed a strong de sire fo r Irish disciple s. He

conside red th e class of Irish lik e ly to be induced to emigrate

exce llen t farmers, an d was most anxious to have th em settle 1 n his

t e rritory in large numbers. His mission aries were n ot at all

succe ssful in th e Eme rald Isle . Inde ed th e Irish have always be en

con spicuous am ong th e Mormon s on ly by th e ir absence . Brigh am

told an Irish lady th at h e always did what h e se t h is h e ar t on , and

t hat h e woul d live to se e plen ty of Ir ish in Zion . So h e did, but

n ot in th e way h e expected . It was n ot Irish bish ops, prie sts,

r e ligious, and laity, wh o were all Cath o lics, that h e courted, but this

was th e on ly Iri sh imm igration h e ever saw. Wh en Fath er Ke llysai d mass in a h ovel in th e den of vice th at Salt Lake City th enwas

,his congregation con sisted o f a few Ir ish so ldi e rs from th e

n e ighbouring camp, and some min er s an d sme lte rs. Ferven tlyth eybesought the go od G od, th rough th e in te rce ssion o f the pure st

o f Virgin s, the maid without a stain , to plan t His h o ly Church inth is fair land, and create a chaste ge n e ra tion in this modern

G omorrha . Soon after th e railr oads ope n ed up this un explored

region to th e G e ntiles, and Mormon ism , wh ich cann ot bear the

A n obn oxious strang er was frequen tly whi ttled out of town . Mo rmon men

a n d boyswould surro und his h ouse in pe rfe ct sile nce . Each h ad a kn ife and a stick

o f wood . Wh en th e unfortun ate G e n tile appeared , th ey all began to sl ice off piece s

o f wood , bring ing th e ir kn ive s as n ear to h is face as po ssible . Th ey followed him

e ve rywh ere , but n ever actually touched h im . To see huge kn ive s flash in g con

tinually about his h ead and face was more than th e bravest man could stand. Few

c ould be ar it fo r a day. Wh en th e se pe rsons le ft , th ey we re said to h ave be e n

wh ittled out of town .

”

3 1 8 The Ir ish Mo n th ly.

inde lible traces. Th ey were of every age and of alm ost every

coun try . It is true that th ey we re to a great exte n t of th e lowest

and most degraded classes. But th er e were among th em , to o ,

women of education and ao -called refinemen t, who had be en lured

in to this se ething vorte x by th e de ce itful tongues of Mormon

missionaries. Why did n ot th ese leave Because th ey could n ot .

There was n e ith er ingre ss n or egress save through the te rrible

Mokanna ; if th ey did leave , th ey would lose th e ir way o f living ,

such as it was ; and, worst of all to a woman’s h eart, th ey would

n ever again se e th e ir unfortun ate children . Poor cre atures, th ey

regarded the ir fate as th e in evitable to which th ey must, per force ,

reconcile th emse lves. A nd, in th e midst of th e to rtures of th e ir

hideous condition, they would say, with a sort of blasph emous

r esignation : We are made to suffer ; we must go on suffer ing ; we

must he ar our awful cross ; we must live our re ligion . G o d wills

it.

Every English -speaking coun try was repre sen ted among th e

Mormons, as I h ave said, except Ire land. This was a great grie f

to Brigham Young . He was willin g to give th e Ir ish a re fuge

from famin e and danger .

” He looked for th em in Ire land ; h e

sought th em earn estly among th e Irish se ttlers in England, Scot

land, Wales, A merica ; h e se nt h is‘

most 0 1 oquen t apostle s in to th e

h ighways and by-ways of th e world to compe l th em , so to say, to

come to his banquet, but n ot on e of th em came . Sure ly this is a

grand thin g for th e island of genuin e sain ts. That th ey sh ould be

faithful in th e ir own coun try, wh ere th ey are so shie lded, is n ot

surpr ising in th e light of th e ir past r ecord ; but we must thank

G od spe cially for th e ir fide lity in oth er lands, wh e re wealth and

social positi on , and in several cases in te llectual ability, succumbed.

Th ey are n ow in Utah in large numbe rs, and th ey h ave con

tributed th e ir share to th e victorie s won over th e Mormon s within

th e past year by th e oth er se ttlers—victories which have broken

th e power of th e Saints and are th e beginning of th e end of th e ir

hideous caricature of a th e ocracy. May th ey ever pre serve in tact

th e faith on ce de livered to the sain ts . May th ey remain in th e

future what th ey have be en in th e past, th e chaste ge n eration

wh ose memory is immortal . Under th e protection of th e Mother

o fMercy, may th ey continue to bring up the ir children in th e fearand love of G od and th e practice of holin ess. A nd, appreciatingthe fre edom of which they we re of old deprived in th eir own fair

Home Sickness. 31 9

land, may th ey ever preserve to th emselves and to others that

h igh er and more blessed fre edom wh erewith Chr ist hath made na

M. A . 0 .

HOME SICKNESS.

SOMETIMES in th e evening's,Wh en th e m oun tain s are grey,

I muse on min e own coun try

Th at’s far , far away

Th er e ar e wh ite palaces

By a jaspe r se a ;A nd I trow min e own coun try

Is th e best land for m e .

G r e en ar e th e fie lds th e r eof,

Spangled with go ld ;

G lad go eth many a on e

Str icken of o ld ;

Old fr iends and lovers

Dead lon g ago ,

Me e tin g an d gre e ting,

Wh ite r th an sn ow.

Yonder th e sky’s ye ll ow,

A nd ro sy and gre en ,

With dr ift of an g els’feath ers

A nd go ld h arps be twe e n ;A nd I th ink if I migh t travel

Wh e r e th e gates open wide ,I sh ould se e mine own coun tryL ie sm ili ng inside .

Com e ye , all my be loved.

Rise up by co ck -crow !

For our own coun try ca lls us,

A n d we have far to go :

A n d wer e any left in exil e

Th at bitte r pain to dre e ,

0 , even min e own coun try

Would be exile to me !


DR . BLAKE OF DROMORE, A ND FA THER O ’NEILL

or Rosm svoa .

PA RT II.

A FEW more wo rds about th e holy priest , whose memo ry we have

linked with that of his first Bish op ; and th en we shall bring to

some sort of con clusion th e biograph ical ske tch , of wh ich this in

reality is n o t th e second part but th e n inth , and which even many

years ago , in order that an oth er might n ot do so for us, we our

se lve s compar ed already to Pope’s n eedl ess Al exandrin e , which ,

like a wounded sn ake , drags its slow length along .

”

We had accompan ied Fath e r O’

Neill to Rom e on th e second

of h is visits : for h e made thre e pilgrimages to th e Ete rn al Cityth e first stre tching ove r all th e ye ars of his studen t life , th e se cond

extending th rough th e greate r part of a year , an d th e third con

fin ed to a few we eks wh en h is second bish op, Dr . Leahy, ch osehim as his compan ion wh en visitin g th e limz

’

na Apostolomm. It

was towards th e end of his second visit that h e se ems to h ave made

eu earn est attempt at carrying out an idea which , n o doubt, h e had

ch erish ed ye ars before , and which h e certain ly still ch erish ed veryearn estly several ye ars late r,as we sh all se e . Th is was to do what

St. Francis Jerom e had don e , whil e alr eady do in g , lik e Fath e r

O’

Ne ill, th e work of an em in en tly h oly priest, in what we call

th e world —to leave his first fie ld of labour and to en ter th e

Society of Jesus . He seems to h ave broach ed th e subject first toth e Coadjutor Bish op ; perh aps h e feared to do so with Dr . Blake

-and we ll h e might ! We ven ture to give , alm ost in full, th e

reply of his ven erable frie nd

Ne A ril th 1 856 .

1 1m m O ’Nm n,

W ’ p 7

Your le tter da te d on Easte r Mon day has caused me n o little anxie ty. Placed

as I am in th e midst of difi cul ties which will be te rribly in cre ased sh ould I h appen

to survive Dr . Blake , I always ca lculated on your advice and asd stan ce to bringm e th rough , knowin g your sinceri ty and z eal and exper ience , and it will be to me

a bitte r disappo in tm en t if you n ow leave me . A t th e same time , I h ope I would

n o t be so se lfish an d cruel as to retain you, if your abandonm en t o f this mission

were n ece ssary fo r your salvation . But is it n ece ssary‘

t‘ Y ou are alarmed by th e

dangers which surround a secula r priest , and th e multiplicity of aflairs which te nd

to withdraw h is atten tion from regulatin g his in te r io r . Now if any on e is fit to

disch arge th e duties o f th e minstry, is it not on e like you wh o 1 s alive to th e pe rils


o n e wh o has alr eady be en alluded to twice at least . Th e youngSister o f Mercy whose profession is recorded was afterwards th e

subject of an Obituary in Mosaic,”which may be found at pag e

1 1 4 of our fifth volume and wh ich links with a h oly and

amiable m emory sundry passages of prose and verse from more

than on e pen , th e dain tiest be ing My Saint,”wh ich has since

reappeared among MissMulh o lland’s Vagrant Verses.

Dr . Leahy’s earn est expostulation had at le ast th e effect of

inducing Fath er O’Ne ill to defer th e execution of h is design , for

th e bish op’s n ext le tter , dated Newry, May 7th , begin s

thus : Your last lette r afiorded me the greatest pleasure , and I

have every confidence th at you will lose nothing be fore G od by

your consen ting to remain at a post wh ere you can con tribute in so

many ways to the furth erance of re ligion . He goe s on to say

that, if h e should survive Dr . Blake—he has survived him for

thirty years it will be of essen tial consequen ce for m e to have

you n e ar me , as I can with out any reserve open mywh ole mind to

you, and discuss plans with you before broachiug th em to oth ers.

Newry is, of course , th e fitte st place for you. A s to your remain

ing in Rome un til n ext spring , I have n o obje etion , provided you

can arrange it with Dr . Blake . But h e seems impatie n t for your

r eturn . However , by throwing yourse lf on his goodn ature , h e

may, perhaps, coneen

The o ld bishop’s goodn ature did n ot, it would se em , prove

e qual to this strain , for Dr . Leahy in a subsequent letter alludes too n e in which Dr . Blake had invi th e pilgrim to re turn

—th e

verb invi be ing probably a very m ild euph em ism in this

con text. A nd so Father O’Ne ill came back to his o ld post in

Newry. He con tinued, however , to ch e ri sh for year s th e same

aspirations ; and Dr . Leahy, himse lf a devote d son of St . Dominick ,

migh t grudge but could n ot abso lute ly r efuse to St Ignatius even

th e most valued of his clergy. Fath er O’Ne ill preserved car e fully

two brie f le tters rece ived from Fath er Joseph Len taign e , who was

at th e time Provincial of th e Ir ish Jesuits

St . Francis Xavier's,Upper G ardin er Stre et, Dublin ,

A pril 26, 1 868.

Mr Dm Ma . O’Nm ,

I h ave n o difi culty in re ceiving you fo r th is Province (Ire land) except th e

o pposition o f your Bish op. With his consen t I sh all be most happy th a t you sh ould

Dr . B lake of D romore , and Fathe r O’N e ill of R ostr evo r . 323

sh ip’s pe rt. f Y ou are aware that a n ovitiate of two ye ars is required, and

that wh oever jo ius us must be pr epared to apply h imse lf to wh atever duties may be

you can put your pious purpo se in to execution , I shall be h appy to h ear from you

again ; and l remain , in un ion with your prayars,Ever most sin cerely yours in Chr ist ,

J. Lm n o 1m , S.J.

On e is surprised to n ote that the following letter is‘

separated

Upper G ardin er Stre e t, Dublin ,80th September , 1 869.

I r Dm Ma . O ’Nm ,

I am very glad that you h ave obtain ed Docto r Leahy's consen t. I em ve ry

much aga inst any fur th sr de lay, “ n ew causes for postpon em en t are sure to ar ise

e very six mon th s, un less by a decisive se t we fre e ourse lves from th em altoge th er .

I mun ot th er efore advise a de lay beyond 1 7th De cembe r .

Excuse th ese hurried lin es, as ish to ovartake th e post ; and be li e ve me , mydear m . o

'1sem,

Most sincere ly yours in Ch rist ,

J. a u ro n s , SJ .

We do n ot kn ow what finally saved th e diocese of Dromor e

from what would cer ta in ly have been a grievous misfortun e for it,

h oweve r oth e r portion s of G od’s Church migh t have profited th er e

by. We are inclin ed to suspect th at th e real difficulty may have

lain in a passage wh ich we have omitted from th e first of Fath e r

L en ta ign e’s letters, and which regarded the moth er of our good

pr iest . Th e Church , h erse lf a moth er , has always carefullyr ewgn ize d certa in real exige ncies of parents as modifyin g th e

Th 0 last date th at we have reached preceded on ly by a few

months th e death of th e ven e rable Dr . Blake , who di ed in A pril ,1 860. Before re turning to our main subject, we may fo llow to th ee n d this oth e r simple story wh ich has come to be to ld through its

Fath e r O’Ne ill did n ot gain th e territorial title we have con

ferred upon him in th e h eading of th ese pages till November , 1 864,when h e succeeded th e Rev. Bernard Moon ey as Par ish Priest of

Kilbron ey—for such is th e ecclesiastical design ation of th e parish

which compr ises, with Rostrevor and Killowen , several o the r

districts less known than these which have won a place in literatur e

from frequen t allusions‘ in th e poems of Thomas Caulfie ld Irwin ,


Danie l Cxi lly, M.P. and oth ers. On e of th ese others, in describinga picnic at Rostrevor ,

”in verse as h omely as th e th eme , says of

It lies’twixt th e sea and th e moun tain ,

Or rath er th e bay and th e h ill ,

Which coo l th e warm brea th o f th e summe r ,

A nd take from th e win ter its ch ill.

It n estles’mid oak-tre es and be ech es

Tha t stre tch th e ir gre en arms o’e r th e stre e t ,

Wh ose bre adth , to its len g th n ea rly equa l ,Expands wh e r e th e four ro adways m ee t .

A s you wind by th e bay’s bre e zy marg in ,

Rostrevo r you mark from afar ;

Be trayed by its'

spir e of Our Lady’s,A n d j oyful you cry

“ He re we are

Be trayed by its spire gleaming br igh tly

Hi gh 0’or its embower in g tre es

A s th e breath o f th e sea is de te cted

Tha t wh ite gran i te spire of Our Lady’ sOu th e oaks and th e be ach e s lo oks down

,

A n d it cries up to h eaven for a blessin g

Ou th e simple A rcadian town .

A blessing in soo th is th e con ven t

Tha t h ide s in th e shadow sere n e

Oi th at beautiful Church of Our L ady,

Oi Mary our Moth er and Que en .

Th e conven t and church crown th e vi llage

Wh ioh clusters in peace at th e ir fe e t ;

A stream from th e h i lls saun te rs past it,

Th e church and conven t h ere referred to will for many a yearattest th e z eal and pie ty o f Fath er O

’Ne ill. Th e church , inde ed,

was th e work of his prede cessor , good Fath er Bernard Moon ey, its

dedication se rmon be ing the first occasion on which th e pe ople of

Dromore listen ed to a vo ice that th ey at on ce learn ed to love .

The n ew Coadjuto r h ad be en consecrated by th e Primate , Dr .

Joseph Dixon , on Rosary Sunday, October 1 , 1 854 ; and on th e

1 7th of that mon th , on th e appropriate feast of th e Dedication of

all th e Church es of Ireland, th e great pre ach or from th e south

appear ed fo r th e first tim e in a n orth e rn pulpit. That was ten

years be fore the builde r of that beautiful church we n t to his

reward , and le ft G od’s temple to be ten ded with un tir ing devotion

by Fathe r O’Ne ill . That church be came a ch ief part of his

Erin : Verses Ir ish and Cath o p. 30.


th em.

We have kn own each oth er for many years—ao many, inde ed, that my

th ough ts carry me back on ly with an eflort to th e first tim e of our acquain tance .

Many th in gs th at have h appen ed sin ce th en have lost th e ir h o ld upon my failing

memory ; many persons whot a ve kn own are n ow, to‘

me , me re names ; bo t ne t

so with you, my dear Fath er O’Ne ill , and with all you have be en to me .

I do n o t and n ever can forge t wha t I owe to you th ro ugh all th ose years—what

a source of stre ng th and comfort you we re to me wh en I came a strange r to th is

diocese to tak e upo n me duties alto geth er n ew, and responsibilitie s wh ich I dreaded :

between us, n ot me re ly as bish op and prie st , but as fri end and friend.

May G od bless you ever with His ch o ice st grace s, and gran t you h ealth and

leug‘th of days to labour in th e future , as we ll as in th e past , for th e in te rest of fi is

Pray for me , as I shall always pray for you.

Ever , my dear Fa th er O’Neill ,

Yours most aflectiouately in Ch rist ,

Length of days to labour in th e future ! On e of th e addresses

o f th e sch oo l ch ildr en prayed that his silver might turn to gold,

that, afte r an oth er quarte r of a ce n tury among th em , th ey might

ce lebrate h is golden jubiles . Twenty five yearsmore—and h e had

on ly thr e e mon ths ! Not with out sufficien t warn ing—h e n e eded

n on e—G od to ok him to Himse lf in th e mann e r that h e had prayedfo r .

“ A fte r all , it is n o blessin g to live too long ,”h e had said to

a fr iend a few weeks be fore ; and to an oth er h e con fessed that, if it

we re G od’s will, h is prayer was n ot to die of a linge ring ailmen t .

Th e ange l Death , coming as it did, migh t have come with a

suddenn ess awful and saddening to his friends but n o , every.

thing was arranged swee tly and conso lin gly. With his character isticspirit and courage , th ough n ot in his usual h ealth , Fath er O

’

Neill

had in sisted on taking h is part in th e Dio ce san syn od held in

Newry on Tuesday, A pril 1 5th , 1 890 . The n ext mo rn ing h e aro se at

six o’

clock, the h our of rising that he had, through all his priesth ood,observed with th e un swerving regularity which h abit had tran s

formed in to a second n atur e . Th ough h e had made h is ordin arywe ekly con fe ssio n on th e previous Sunday, h e prepared for th e

ce lebration of Mass, afte r h is n ever omitted hour o f medi tation ,

by again re ce iving sacramen tal absolution , and th en h e stood for

th e last time , n ot kn owing that it was so , be fore th e al tar on wh ich

h e had offe red up th e ho ly sacrifice some n in e thousand time s.

Durin g th e foren oon h e en ro lled in th e League of the Cross two o r

Dr . Blake of Dromore , and Fbther O’

Ne ill of Rostr ez'o r . 327

th re e young men who were leaving for America , giving th em

e arn est advice at conside rable l ength . It was rem embe red th e n ext

day that h e had spent a longe r tim e than usual at hi s prayers in

th e transept of his be loved church , in th e spot wh e re h e recited a

large porti on of th e Divin e ofice every day about n oon—th e spo t

ben eath wh ich his remain s are n ow repo si ng , n e ar th e confessio na l

i n which h e had admin iste red th e Sacramen t of G od’

s me rcyassiduously and with such firm yet tende r z eal. A little later he

r ode out past th e old graved of Kilbron ey ; but h e was obse rved

r eturn in g be fore many minute s had passed. His death was upon

h im ; but happily it did n ot strike h im down on th e spot. He

lin gered till n ear midnight in great pain , which , with his usual

se lf-restrain t, h e would n ot relieve by a single moan . Th e

h e art. Th e dying priest retain ed his full consciousn e ss and calm

n e ss to th e end, en couraging his afflicted friend and coadjuto r tostr ength en him for his jcurn ey by th e last sacrame nts of th e

Church . A nd th en in th e early morn ing the sad n ews went

round Poor Fath er O’Neill is dead ! Ou th e fo llowin g

Saturday, afte r th e beautiful Requiem Oth ee and Mass and last

fun eral rite s, th e holy remain s were laid, as we have alr eadym en tion ed, in th e left transept under th e very spot wh ere h e had

be e n n oticed praying for a long time on th e day of h is death .

Th e opposite tr ansept is lighted by th e fin e staincd-

glass window

pre sen ted by Lord O’Hagan in m emory of his moth sr , wh o is

buried in th e adjscen t graved o f Kilbron ey ; and th e

correspondin g window ove r Fath e r O’

Ne ill’s grave may in lik e

m an n er h e made a memorial o f h im .

L et na give a few o f th e touchin g words spoken by th e Ve ryRev . J. C . Lyo n s, O .P.

, Pr ior of St . Cath e rin e’

s, Newry, at th e

fun e ral obsequies, at which n ot on ly th e Dromo re prie sts assisted,

but Down and Conn or , Kildare , A rmagh , and Dublin , wer e also

r eprese n ted .

His life was full of re al fo r the glo ry of h is Master . His z e al fo r th e beautyof go d

’s h ouse could no t be surpassed . Th e succe ss of Fath e r O

’

Ne ill in his

labor ious life is due , in th e h t at place , to h is th o ro ugh spirit as a prie st . He wa s

first and beyo nd all th in gs a true prie st . He r ealised wh at it was to be a steward

and a guardian of h is Master , and th e all -abso rbin g devo tion of h is life was h is

de votion to th e sacramen t of th e altar . He was n o t o n ly a steward o f hi s D ivin e

Maste r , but also His friend and constan t compan ion . Th e life of Fa th er O'Ne ill

was on e o f undeviatin g piety and atte n tio n to pr iestly dutie s. He led a life of


unswe rvin g ro utin e . He was a man truly full of G od. Th e n oble ,

Ope n , h on est , expression on his coun ten ance h is un obtr n eive and quie t mann er ,h is kindn e ss, h is ge n ial smil e—everyth in g combin ed to make an impression , even

upon th e casual observer , and make h im say to h imself :‘A h , this is no ordin ary

man . Fath e r O’Ne ill was a typica l Irishman . He had an Irishman ’

s ge n e rous

Elsewh ere Fath e r Lyon s remarks th at, as a fr iend, h e was as

true as ste e l , and that, alth ough the ve ry soul o f h ospitality in

social matte rs, h e in his most unreserved and unguarded momen t

n ever utte red a word unbecoming a h oly priest.”

1 Among th e beautiful dowers, some costly and some simple ,

that were h eaped upon th e coflin , many were laid by those who

were n ot m embe rs of his flock , on e wreath (for in stance ) be ing a

token of regre t from th e Pre sbyte r ian min ister o f th e village , wh o

had more than on ce , in th e pr eceding days, come with kindly

sympathy among th e mourn ers wh e re th e dead priest lay. And

so , to o , be side s many Protestan ts wh o showed th e last marks of

re spect to th e vigilan t and uncompromisin g Catholic pastor , others

wro te to express th e ir regre t th at distance o r imperative duties

hindered th em from be ing prese n t . ThusMr . Edward G ree r ,J.P. ,

Ch airman of th e Ulster Land Commission , wrote of th e goodand worthy Fath e r O

’Neill

” I kn ew him sin ce I was a boy,

and experie n ced many acts of kindn ess from him . He was a man

o f strong will and strong opin ions, but of a kindly, gen tle heart .’

Y es, h e was a man of strong»opin ion s, and fearless in upholdingth em . Ne ith er his piety n or h is patr iotism was ch erish ed vague lyin th e abstract, but th ey had a kn ack of throwing th emselves in to

very sh arply defin ed con crete forms . A nd this circumstance adds

force to th e te stimony of an oth e r wh o had scan t sympathy with

Fath er O’Ne ill

’s views on sundry burning questions, though th e

barrier of a differe n t faith did n ot lie between th em . Major JohnRoss of Bladen sburg is th e h ead of a Coun ty Down family which

(be sides mo th er and sister) has given to th e Catholic Church justas many converts o f mature years as the De Verse of Coun tyLim eri ck . Ou th e 1 7th of A pril h e writes fr om London to say

h ow sh ocked and grieyed h e was at th e very sad n ews of the

sudde n death of po or Fath er O’Ne ill I deeply regre t that I

can n ot be at h ome to be prese n t at th e fun eral . I can only say I

shall be with you in spirit with my whole h eart.” Mr . Dan ie l

Cr illy,M.P.,fe e ls that one of th e strongest links that bound h im


th ey loved him in re turn ; but with their love was mingled a

who lesome filial fear , for th ey kn ew how watchful th e ir Father

was, and how strict and firm and unbending wh erever duty and

conscien ce were concern ed.

This is en ough , and, pe rhaps, more than en ough , to say about

o n e wh o n eve r dr eamed of occupying so much space in a magazin e .

Of th e two names placed at th e h ead of this paper th e more digui

h ed on e might have be en omitted this mon th , for our th oughts

h ave bee n engro ssed by our more r ecent loss. But Fath e r O’Neill

would h ave been glad, it his n ame were to be men tion ed at all,to

have it thus linked with Dr . Blake’s ; and on our part we sh ould

h ardly have allowed th e private fri endship of a lifetim e to single

o ut for public n otice on e go od priest from all th e hundreds of good

priests in Ire land, if th e moment of h is death had n ot found o s

e ngaged in putting in to prin t th e letters which his sain tly bish oph ad addressed to him wh en h e had on ly gon e through the

‘

fourth

part o f his course as a priest. But n ow that we have named

bish op and priest to geth er almost by acciden t, we have n o diflicultyin discover ing oth er bonds of un ion be twe e n th em , for it se ems to

us that th e str ength o f each of th em lay 1 n th e same characte ristic,

which might be called thorough prie stlin ess. Though th ey were

both men of exce llen t abiliti es, th ey ce rtain ly had n ot th e gifts o f

many wh o in sim ilar positions did n ot do half th e ir work ; and

th eir di stin ction consisted in th e quiet pe rsistence with which th eywen t th rough every duty that came in th e ir way. Wh o but th eSearcher of h earts and th e Judge of th e living and th e dead can

duly estimate th e h e ro ism of san ctity that is invo lved in almost

h alf a cen tury of priesth ood, so fre e from faults and sh ortcomings,

a nd so full of virtues and labours, as was th e sacerdotal car e er of

Fath er Patr ick O’Ne ill o f Rostrevor

MOTHER OF G OD, 0 MOTHER !

THE lamp burn s low in a silen t ro om ;

Tr e ad slowly, oh ! tr ead slowlyFo r a Win som e child in its sunn ie st bloom

Is awa itin g th e tr e ad and summon s of do om,

A n d th e sk e le to n , De ath , cr e eps on th rough th e

Save us, 0 Virgin h oly !

A h Unpublished Lette r ofD’A rcyMcG ee . 331

Heart-brok en , oh . h eart-broken

A nd h er hugers play with th e go lden hair,A nd sh e kisse s th e lily ha nd so fair :

For h e r life’s youn g idol 1 s lying th er e ,

A nd th e de cps in h er h eart are wok en .

To watch all n igh t and all day is long ,

A nd an guish oh ! hard to smo th er ;

A nd idle to live wh en all lo oks wro ngJust th en , lik e th e vo ice of a seraph

’s song ,

I h eard h e r wh ispe r Oh thou a rt strong ,

Mo th e r of G od, 0 Mo th e r

A nd a stir cam e ove r th e trance like r e st,

A nd a smil e on th e face , and an oth er

A nd th e ch e eks grew r ed as th e sunlit crest,

A nd th e mo th er cr ied out in accen ts ble st,

A s sh e stra in ed h e r ch ild in joy to h e r br eastMoth e r of G od, 0 Mo th e r !

Bream O’s m nnr .

UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF D’ARCY McG EE.

of our seven te e nth volume (1 889) printedD’A rcy McG e e

had written to th e Rev. 0 . P. Meehan . We mce ived th em from

correspondent, we owe to th e kindness of Coun t Plunke tt , from

whose private n ote we may take a few sentences about The

Hibern ian Magaz ine to which McG e e refers

called Dufiy’sHibe rn ian Shpenh yMagaz ine and at long in tervals

McG e e con tr ibuted verse and, I beh ave , prose to it, alth ough

(usually at least) with out his n ame . Perhaps you can te ll

wh o Ce lticus was. The name is very suggestive of th e Editor of

The A me rican Ce lt'and yet McG e e could hardly produce as fin e

work as The Mantle of Dun lain g ,’a ballad with th e above

signatur e in th e Number for A pril , 1 862 .

McG e e’s letter

“

is, I think, timely—because addressed to one

whom we have lost so late ly by a great Irishman whose memory

332 The Irish Monthly.

is be ing revived at this moment ; because it deals with a questionstill urgen t, the unsatisfied mental and moral hunger of our

pe ople in Am erica (and also at h ome ) ; because it sh ows our

makes as strong a plea for Irish brain-work at h om e as abroad.

This letter was eviden tly written in feveri sh haste . It is n ot

plicity raises a more practical question than has e ith e r of th e clever

papers that have late ly appeared on Catholicity in America—th e

optimist paper in The Ir ich Ecclesiastthal Record and the (may Isay pessimist paper in

Mon tr eal ,

Jun e 24th , 1 860.

Mr nu s Em Mm ,

“ I h ave be en so wi th law examin ation s (I am to be a (‘

an adian Barriste rn ext year ) and o th er wo rk, that I have n o t yet had tim e to cast in to shapeon e o r two of th e sketch es wh ich ar e alre ady mode lled fo r you in my own mind. I

se nd you, just to put my in i tials in th e n ew maga z in e fr om th e start, a few verse s

which I tr ust you will n o t th ink unfit for its pages : the ske tches in a ma il or two ,fe rcer ta in .

Th e ballad of St . Kieran h ad h ardly go n e till I be th ough t me of that blunde r .

Iwish our fr iend of th e Na tion h ad so alte red it. If it ever reappears in Ire land , in

your time

,may I ask you to substitute th e plain En glish th e Por ter sto op

'd h is

oad for th e pre sen t so lecism.

Th e re ason I um so in tere ste d fo r Mrs. Sadlier is th at we have n o o th erwoman , and but few (oh , h ow few men , workin fo r our myri ad em ig ran ts o n

th is co n tin e nt. Th ere is abso lute dange r of the ir c dren for ttingth ey ever had

a fath e r land. Just as th e wr itin gs of Vallan cey, Th e o us 0 Flan igan , &c. ,

with all th e ir erro rs, ke t th e lamp ali gh t som e fifty ye a rs ago , so do we po o rbo okmakers fo r th e in Amer ica with out public librarie s , and wi th out a

gblic, in any organ ic or un organ ic sen se

—str ir e to fill th e bulb with somethin gat wi ll yie ld a flame , till be tte r pen s in be tte r times may do th e wo rk mom

worth ily. Th erefore be merciful in your ju cuts o f wh at we do , remembe r in gle ss wha t migh t have be en don e , as th e be st, tha t th e fear was everyth in g o f

th is kin d would h ave be en left undo n e till to o la te .

I h ave n o t h eard from Williams fo r lon g . I h ave n o doubt. h owe ver , tha ta ny le tte r dir ected with h is full nam e to New Orleans would fin d h im . He wasth e re , sch oo l -teachin a year o r two ago . Th e re is , you will se e , n ear ly as muchland betwe en h im an me as th e re is sea be tween yourse lf and e ith er of us .

I g ri e ve fo r M‘Carth and fo r poo r o ld to whom I owe a l on g letter .

A las ! th a t'

th e storm sh o d fall on such h on our ed eads as th e irs !I fee l tly encouraged to try my hand at oth er bits of our scen ic histo ry by

what you te me of O ’Don ovan

's pleasure in my Four Maste rs.

’It wa s from h im

I le arn ed to kn ow Te ige an Sk ibhe and th e rest of th ose worth ies. If th e picture

has any me rit , it is due mo re to h is instruct ion than to any ar t of min e .

If n o t Sadlier,th en Haver ty o f New Yo rk ough t to be writte n to , to act as

a gen t for th e Hibernia n. A ll success atten d you. I am n ot sure th at I um kn ownto Haver ty ; but, ii so , will you be go od en ough to make him

regards P

Most truly yours.

T . D . M ‘G n .

My wife was deligh ted at your remembrance of h e r . We are all on th e qm’

c it e fo r No . 1 , vo l .

My best regards to Mr . James Bufly and all your cc-laborers.—T.D. M ‘G .

334 m In ch Month ly.

interest . However , we cannot conscien tiously advise th e Bh efi e ld

Sch o o l Board to o rder two hundred copie s for priz es, as th ey did in

th e ease o f Miss Rosa Mulh o lland’s M otto , fo r Kathle e n

peasan try, andwoul d be sur e to provoke an oth er war in th e lwal n ews

papers. Th e Sh efi eld boys and gir ls thus miss a very pretty tal e .

4. A n oth er story b om th e same Publish ers is “ 1 79 1 : a Tale of

St. Domingo ,

” by E. W. G illiam, MD . It is founded on th e true

r ecords o f a terrible orisis in th e histo ry o i th is island, and has th us

novelty on its side . Its literary merit is guaran te ed by th e circum

stance th at it ran through th e pages of Tim Catholic Wor ld, th ough itcann o t cla im to be a worthy successo r of Miss Tin ok er

’s G rapes and

Tho rns,”or of Miss Mn lh olland

’

s Fair Emigran t.”

5. Th e same Publish ers also have produced in a fin e , so lid octavo

Carmelite s in th e Un ited States,” by Char les Warren Currie r , Priest

of th e Co ngregation of th e Most HolyRede eme r . Fath e r Currie r has

fulfil led h is labour of love with a th o roughn ess wo rthy of his dis

tinguish ed Eng lish ooni rére , Fath er Bridge tt . It was fortun ate for

th e Am e rican Carmelites th at th e exce llen t James M‘Maste r died

befor e wr itin g th e ir h isto ry. From wh at we remember of his work in

th e New Yo rk E mm a’s Journa l, we suspe ct h e was too o riginal to

prove a satisfacto ry histo rian . But Fath e r Currier is labor ious, con

avail ed himse lf with th e utmost di lige nce o f th e rese arch es of many

h elpe rs almo st equa lly intere sted in th e en terprise . Th e re sult is an

extreme ly valuable addition to th e h istorical lite ratur e of th e Church

n ot confin ed always to Cam e l in Amer ica .

” Th e alphabe tical index

of family names th at occur in th e work fil ls many pages at th e end,

and we n otice a great many that are unmistakably Irish .

6 . Fr om th e great r e ligious po em , Th e End of Man,” by Fath er

A lbany Ch r istie , th e auth o r h as ch o sen certain portions i llustr a

ting th e feasts o f th e year and all th e Sundays, each havin g a pa ge of

its own . Th e se with loving skill have , with th e aid o f th e Manr esa

Press, be en made in to a very h o ly and pre tty book, th e name of whieh ,

Ch imes fo r Ho lydays,” was suggested by on e of th ose ch aracte ristic

ph rase s of Cardin al Newman which o n e lik e s to pick up wh e reve r on e

m eets th em . In Jun e , 1 886, th e Cardin al—wh om Fath er Christie

calls a de ar friend to wh om mo r e tha n to any oth e r man I owe underG od my conversion —wro te about th e me tro employed in Th e End ofHon Th e te rnarymetre is like a chime of bel ls from a church

tower , praising and proclaiming Fath e r , So n , andHoly G h o st.

N otes on New Books. 335

7. Price sixpe nce , wi th th e name in go ld o n brown paper , whi ch

e dition of Po ems and Ba llads o f Youn g Ir e land”

(Dublin M. H.

G ill and Son ). It is full of fr esh and beautiful po e try ; but for a s

th e special surprises of th e li ttle vo lume are Sh ame e n Dhu, byKath arin e Tynan , and th e Hush Song by G eo rge Noble Plunk e tt. It

is no t th e ir beauty that surpr ises us, but th e ir a n expected sort of

beauty.

8. A n oth er second edi tion of a work of a very difle r en t kind is

Pr in ciples of Re ligi ous Life , by th e Ve ry Rev. Francis Cuthber t

Doyle , (Lo ndon : Washbourn e ) . Th at a large octavo vo lume of

ample pages sh ould re ach a second edition , even after seven years, is

a pr o of of th e so lid m e rits of this very e labo rate tre a tise , wh en we

r emembe r th e limite d const ituen cy to which such a work can appeal .

In an appendix an an alysis is given of each of th e section s and thi s

in itse lf proves th e ccpiousn ess of th e ma tte r , and th e m eth odical

mann er in wh ich it is co nveyed. But wh at is th e m ean in g o f th e four

capital le tte rswh ich take th e place of Fo'

m'

e o r Th e End Al l of

n a ar e familiar with A . M . D. G .

”but this is th e first tim e th at we

h ave n oticed th e in itial s, I. O. G . D.

9. No te s on El ectric Ligh tin g ,” by th e Rev . G e rald Molloy,

D .D ., D . Se . (M . H. G ill and Son ), ar e r e issued in a sixpe nny

pamphl e t, with many advan tages of paper , type , and form wh ich

t h ey did n o t en joy on th e ir first appe arance” in The Fr eeman

'

s Jcarnal .

If punn in g we r e n o t str ictly prohibited on th ese pr emises, we migh t

r emark th at ;Dr . Mo lloy throws conside rable ligh t o n on e o f th e

burn in g questio us of th e day and ce rtain ly h is pr esen t contribution

to popular kn owledgo is an o th e r proo f o f tha t special facul ty for im

par ting sci en tific in formation in th e cleare st and most attractive

mann er which The Sp ectator , The Scotsman, Natur e , and o th e r critica l

j our n als discove r ed in his deligh tful vo lume ca lled G le an in gs in

Scien ce .

”

1 0 . An o th e r good sixpenceworth is Easy Lessons in Cookery, byMiss Mary Todd (Dublin M. H. G ill and Son ) . Our own

acquain tan ce with th e subject is confin ed to a mor e advanced stag e of

th e proce edin gs but Miss Todd is a pro fesso r of co oke ry and ek e a

first class diplomée ,”

and we ar e sur e youn g h ouse-k e epe rs will find

th ese pag e s pleasan t and profitable . Even a n on -

pr ofe ssional r eade r

can se e at a glance th at th e style is clear , co nden sed, and po in ted

fo r even in such matte rs th er e is room fo r th e display of a g ood or a

3 36 T/ae Ir is!» Mon ihzy.

1 1 . St. Brigid, A bbess of Kildare , byMrs.'A tkinson , is th e

latest publication o f th e Cath o lic Truth Socie ty. This admi rabl e

ske tch costs on ly two pen ce and te lls in fiftypag es, and in a clear and

winn ing style , all th at is kn own of St. Brig id’s car e er and of th e Irish

Church of h e r time . We a re glad that S. th e biograph er o fMrs .

Ai ke nh ead, h as put h e r n ame in full on this n ew title -pag'e . St .

Brigid was th e fir st Ir ish Nun , and our good Nuns ough t to secur e a

wide circulatio n fo r th is ch armin g littl e biography.

1 2 . Le t a s name in o n e paragraph a pile of tiny tome le ts of pie ty.

Ven i Sancte Spiritus” is th e n ewest of Fath er Ri chard Clarke

’s

exce ll en t pe nny medi tation-books, consistin g of sh o rt m edi tation s,

each a single page , from th e A scensi on to th e octave of Co rpus Ch risti .

Dean Kin an e o f Cash el has made an excell en t compilation of sh o rt i a

dulge nced aspiration s in e igh t pages of compact prin ting . which may

be go t from M . H. G ill and Son , fo r Is. 6d. a hundr ed. G ems fo r

my Crown ,” by a Ch ild

“

o i Mary (M.H. G ill a nd Son ) , is a peculiarlyn e at little book o f pious th ough ts, 365 in numbe r , eviden tly meant to

str e tch ove r th e year , th ough n o t distin guish ed betwe en mon ths and

days. A Siste r of Mercy h as tran sla ted from th e 1 2th French editio nTh e Twe lve Vir tue s of a G o od Te ach e r ,

”by Fath er Potti er , SJ

(Be nz ige r : New'Y ork ) . The Virg in Mo th e r of G o od Co unsel h as

be en compiled as a n ewMon th of May fr om Mgr . G e orge Dillon’s work

by a n ew Be n edictin e Nun of Ven tn or .

l 3 . Th e R ev. Rich ard O’K enn edy, Patr ick’s We ll , Co .

Lime rick , h as just issued an extr eme ly useful little bo ok, price two

pe n ce , Ben ediction Hymn s Explain ed”(James Dufiy and Co ) .

Th e pious faithful in Ire land sh ow in many places a peculiarly e age r

fondn ess for this sacred r ite , an d m any of th em will be glad to h ave

th e Latin h ymn s expounded h e r e fully word for word. A n oth e r

piim'

mus libollulm by th e same auth o r is Th e Ho lyHour of Prayer”

(Dublin : Do llard) . His little bo ok , A m’

ma Ckmbti,is much mo re

tha n th e explan a to ry sub-title claim s fo r i t . It tr eats very simply but

fully an d profoun dly o f th e soul o f Ch r ist, of His body, and of His

Ble ssed Mo th e r . Th e pr in ting is very good but ve ry minute . If

pr in ted like th e same auth o r’s tr e atise o n th e Ho ly A nge ls (Burns and

Oate s) , it would be almost as larg e , inste ad of be ing cramm ed in to

n in e ty pag e s of br evie r . But his Lo ndon Iiublish e rs charge five

sh illings, wh e r e as'

thr e epe nce is th e price of A m’

ma Chr i sti .

1 4. Th e Pr e se ntation Nuns of Sn e em, Cc . Kerry, put no pub

lishe r’s n am e on th e title -page of th e ir translation of Th e Catechism

of th e Ch ild o f Mary,”fo r wh ich th ey h ave procur ed th e Impr ima tur

of all th e archbish ops o f Ir e land, England, an d Sco tland.

338 The Ir is]; Monthly.

Now, did you ever wish tha t to h appe n , moth e r

No t exactly. But really, de ar , you sh oul d go and dr ess. Th is

n ews will ke ep.

Oh , no it won’t. But h er e go e s . Well, afte r lo ng se arch ing

and ma ny un successful inquir ie s, I h ave at last foun d th e Ne ils, Dora

and h e r siste r .

Indeed,”said Lady Ashfie ld co ldly, th at is quite an un expected

even t . A nd h ow did it h appe n

Ashfield lo ok ed at h er cur iously.

Why, moth er , h ow calmlyyou take my n ews. Y ou don’t se em

much pleased. I th ough t you woul d be de ligh ted.

Sh e laugh ed n e rvously, and look ed about impatien tly for some

missin g article .

Sa rah is so car e less. I can ’t fin d my ruby r in g . Ah, h ere it is.

Y e s, yes, of course , I am glad, dear . But is it n ecessary to be quite

as excited as you ar e I th ough t we sh ould probably find th em

some day. Wh e re did youme e t th em?“ I did n o t m e e t th em . But I cam e to find th em in rath er a

cur ious fash ion . Y ou rem ember Paul Vyn e r“ What, th e artist?Lady A shfie ld started round as :sh e asked this question , h er face

Y es. He is an artist. On e of th e best fe llows

Y ou n e ed n o t te ll m e his pe rfe ctions, sh e said sfiifiy, and tum

ing back to h e r glass. But I th ough t h e was in Am e rica .

”

Was. But is in London . I’ve be en sitting to him for my

po r trai t.”

Wh at fo llyFo lly?My de ar mo th er , why sh ould it be fo lly

Be cause you kn ow we sh ould k eep th at young man at as

gre at a di stance as possible , A shfie ld.

My de ar moth e r , I am so rry to be obliged to con tradict you.

But I r eally kn ow n o thing of th e kind.

Have you th en forgo tte n a ll th at h appen ed be for e h e wen t

awayNo , mo th e r . I r emember pe rfe ctly we ll. I r em ember h ow

Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e educated h im , to ok h im to Italy, treated h im

in every way'

lik e h is son , till . on e day h e discove r ed, th rough Paul’s

own manly confe ssion , th a t h e loved his granddaugh ter , Sylvia, and

that h e th en cast h im off, allowin g h im to shi ft for h imse lf, re fusin g

to se e o r h elp h im . Th is, of cour se , afiects th e A th e rston es, but wh at

it h as to do with us I can n ot se e .”

Y ou ar e very dense , my son , or sur ely you would se e that it

A Str iking Contract. 339

would be be tte r to k e ep th is youn g m an at a distance just a t pre se nt .Y ou knowwh at my h 0pes ar e wh e r e Sylvia is concer n ed—and and

t h is handsome artist, with h is wro ngs an d grie vances, may pro ve a

Lo rd A shfie ld sprang to hi s fe e t and to ok two o r th r e e turn s upa nd down th e room . His face was flush ed, h i s eyes full o f ange r .

But pre se n tly h e grew calme r , and coming close to h is mo th er , h e

la id h is h and afieotionate ly o n h er sh oulde r , and ben t to k iss h e r

ch e ek .

Mo th e r min e ,” h e sa id gen tly, yo u must not build castles in

th e air . Y ou have n o righ t to fo rm any h opes, o r spe culate in any

way, about my futur e—o r Sylvia

’s. 1 71“ is in our h ands . You, my

m o th er , must no t in terfer e .

Ashfie ld

I me an it, moth er . He smiled playfully. I’

ll h ave n o

m a tch making . I’ll gang my own gate , as th e Sco tchman says, and

ma rry wh o and wh en I please . But you may rest assur ed that I’ll

n eve r ask you to r ece ive a daugh te r- is -lawwh o is n o t in eve ry sen se

.a lady.

”

Lady Ashfie ld lo oked up lo vingly in to h is handsom e , h on est face .

My so n , I n ever doubted th at. But I did h opeHe h e ld up a warning fin ge r .

“ Th a t is just what I object to . Y ou must n o t h ope anyth ing .

A t least you must n o t talk of your h 0pes .

”

Very we ll . I’ll promise that.

Th anks . Th at is som e th ing ga in ed. A nd n ow as to Vyn er .

His moth er moved impatie n tly o n h e r ch air .

I take n o in ter est in him , I assur e you.

”

My dear moth e r , h ow un just you great ladies can be l If Paul

were an earl o r a duke , you would n o t fo rbid me to cul tivate his

a cquain tance lest, pe rhaps, h e migh t become a rivLady A shfield frown ed.

That is quite a difiere n t thin g . It is pr eposte rous that a poor ,

struggling ar tist sh ould dar e to aspir e to Miss A th erston e’s h and.

”

A nd ye t Miss A th erston e will have mon ey en ough fo r

A shfield, you ann oy m e exce edin gly. Th ese n ew radica l ideas

o f yours are atrocious. If a man be go od, h on e st, an d cleve r, you

care n oth ing fo r family o r wealth ; all men are equal in your eyes .

”

A shfie ld laugh ed go od-humour edly.

No t qui te , mo th er dear . Th e good, clever m en are infin ite lysupe rior to th e mor e men of family o r wealth . But, pray fo rgive me

if I ann oyed you. I did n o t wish to do ao , I assur e you. A nd n ow,

l et na fo rge t th at th e A th e rston es e ve r kn ewVyn e r , and remember

340 m Mon tMg .

o nly that h e h as don e na a gre at service , and th at we owe h im a

debt o f gratitude .

”

How so , pray

Because th rough h im I discove red th e Ne ilsLady A shfie ld

’s m outh was se t in co ld, hard lin es .

Inde ed,”sh e said icily. Th at was a great se rvice , truly.

A ve ry grea t on e , mo th er , and I cann ot te ll you h ow tha nkful

I fe e l . This morn ing I was in bad spirits. I th ough t we sh ould

n eve r disco ve r th em . A nd o n e nte rin g Vyn er’s studio , h e remarked

upon mymise rable expr ession . I to ld h im th e storywith outmen tion

in g th e Ne ils’n ames, n ever imagin in g fo r an instan t th at h e coul d

assist m e . Th e go od fe llow was ful l of sympathy. But,’h e said,

you must ch e e r up. I could n ot pain t such a dol eful coun tenan ce .

Come in to my room and lo ok at my treasure s . Th ey may en liven you

somewh at .’

He led m e in to a little sa nctum h ung round with all kin ds of

cur ios. But wh a t attracted m e , fixed my atte n tion at once , wer e two

small pictur es—two of th e most lo vely h eads that I h ave ever se e n in

my life . On e h ad a cloud of rich auburn h air , large , luminous, dark

eye s and

Sylvia ! Wh at audacityA udacity, mo th er To pain t th e fr iend of h is boyh ood, h is

almost siste r fo r fourte en long years. On e could ha rdly ca ll th at

audacity. Howeve r , th at we may discuss an oth er time . I wan t tofin ish my sto ry. Side by side with this be autiful pain ting was

an o th e r . Oh , moth e r , had you se en it your h eart, which this even ingse ems lik e ice, must h ave m e lted . It r esembled th e h e ad o f an an ge l,

fa ir and pur e . Masses of go lde n h air cluste ring roun d a marble brow,

eye s of th e de epest , darkest blue ; but ove r all an ai r o f sadn ess and

m e lan ch o ly n o t n atur al in o n e so young . Vyn e r saw my admiration ,

and did n ot speak for a momen t, unwi lling to disturb my r everie .

A r e th ey n o t a str ikin g con trast h e ask ed at last .

I n odded. I could n ot speak . I fe lt on th e ve rg e o f te ars.

A nd th e ir lives,’h e con tinued, are as gre at a contrast as th e ir

lo oks. Mo r e , I sh oul d say, for th ough th e ir face s are difier en t, th eya r e bo th beautiful, wh ilst th e ir live s—alas ! th er e indeed is th e con

trast . On e surrounded with eve ry luxury, th e oth e r plun ged in

th e most dir e pove rty and wan t .’

Is that W e I cr ied. Oh , Vyn e r , I kn ow th em bo th . On e

is Miss A th e rsto n e , the be autiful h e iress. Th e o th e r is’

‘Little Do ra Ne il , th e dr e ssmake r’s appren tice .

Wh er e did you find h e rFin d h e r My dear A shfie ld, sh e is close to na. Sh e and h er

siste r live in th e ro oms just over th ese .

’


A shfield look ed wh at h e f -lt—de eply pain ed.

I am so rry for tha t. Do ra’s siste r sh ould be ch arming .

Sh e is n o t, o r says sh e is n o t, th e girl’s siste r afte r all, ro se to

Lady A shfie ld’s lips. But sh e stopped abruptly. Why te ll A sh

fie ld th is mad sto ry?sh e th ough t. It is n onsense , and I h ope h e

may n ever h ear it . He sh a ll ce rtainly n o t do so trom m e .

”

We ll?” h e inquir ed, sh e is n o t wh at

A t all lik e Do ra . Sh e is dark and stron g—a tall , rath er good

lookin g young woman , but lack ing th e extr em e r efin em en t of h e r

l ittle siste r .

”

But sh e is a ladyP h e que stion ed anxiously. Sh e must be

th at.

Lady A shfie ld dush ed. It was unpleasant to be catechised so

pe rsiste n tly about a person wh o h ad an n oyed h e r so much . Sh e did

n ot car e to se e h e r son tak e such an in te rest in th ese Noils . An d ye t

such is th e pe rversity of m e n , sh e kn ew th at, did sh e but attempt to

disparag e Madge , it would only in cre ase th at in te r est , and make h im

m ore anxious th an eve r to lo ok afte r h e r and h er siste r .

Y e s,”sh e adm itted r eluctan tly, afte r a sligh t pause . Sh e is a

lady. But very proud. An d sh e did n o t se em as poo r as you th ink

th ey are .

”

Ah , th at sh ows m e h ow n oble sh e is. Sh e did n o t care to parade

h er pove r ty to a strang er . I lik e that spirit,” h e cried warmly.

But, of course , you promised to ge t h er lessons and h e lp h er a ll you

wul n

Y e s. But sh e dr ew h e rse lf up proudly and declin ed my h e lp.

Mo th er ! you must h ave ofien ded h e r . Y ou must apo logise

and insist on h e lpin g h e r .

Some thin g in Lord A sh fie ld’s mann e r and wo rds stung hi s moth er

to an g e r ; and forge ttin g h e r usual caution in h e r wrath , sh e r eplied

indign an tlyI mo st certai n ly declin e to do anyth ing of th e kind. Miss Madg e

r e fused my h e lp, and I h ave n o in te n tion of pre ssing my se rvice s

upon h e r . A nd n ow, A shfie ld, go and dr e ss for dinn e r . We h ave

discussed th is matte r lon g en ough . Our gue sts may arr ive in a few

mom e n ts .

On e word, mo th e r . Will you fo rge t your quarr e l with Madge

and send fo r h e r again9

No , I cann o t pr omise to do that, sh e answer ed stiffly. Mymaid sh all go and se e Do ra to m orrow and tak e h e r a few de licacie s .

I did n o t ask you to h elp th em in th atway. h e said in a to n e o f

grave disple asur e . It is sur e ly making th e gir l a po o r re turn fo r

h er br ave conduct, do ling out ch arity to h er by th e h ands of your

maid .

”

A Stri king Co ntrast. 343

Y ou must allowm e to be a judge of wh at is righ t, Ashfie ld. I

fla tte r myself I kn owmor e about th e se matte rs than you.

Pe rhaps ao. But I must confe ss I am much puz zled by your

co nduct . Y ou are no t acting as I expected you would wh e n we

discovere d th ese gir ls. But n ow I must go and dre ss .

”

A nd fo r th e first time for many years Lord A shfie ld l eft his

moth er’s pre sence with a h eavy cloud upon h is brow.

CHAPTER XIV.

w n o 1 s S Y L V I A?Afte r an absence of manyyears Sir Eustace A th erston e h as at last

made up h is mind to spen d th e seaso n in Lo ndon . Immediate ly afte r

th e ar r ival of h is gr anddaugh te r and h e r nurse h e h ad r e tir ed to h is

coun try se at, wh e re h e r emain ed till th e gir l was sixte en . Th en , fo r

h e r sake , h e sudde nly r enoun ced th e life h e loved and wen t abro ad .

For Sylvia was h is first , his co n stan t th ough t, and h er happin e ss

th e principal obj ect of his existe nce . From th e mome n t th at h e h ad

re ce ived h e r from A nn e Dan e , a po o r li ttle mite , just r escued from a

watery grave , h e h ad surroun ded h er with everythin g tha t love o r

wea lth could imagi n e or suggest .

Up to th e ag e of sixte e n th e gir l h ad be en instructe d in a ll th e

impo r tan t bran ch es of education by th e best teach ers England could

produce . Th en , all at o nce , it dawn ed upo n th e youn g lady th a t sh e

kn ew abso lutely n othin g of th e wo rld. That sh e h ad n eve r h eard

go od music, o r se e n any of th e fin e picture s and sculptur e th at sh e

h ad read so much about—tha t h e r French and G erman we re we ak ,

h e rJtalian we ake r . Sh e mention ed th ese facts on e day, somewh at

pla in tive ly, to h e r gr andfath e r . A nd h e , with out a th ough t fo r h im

se lf or his probable discomfort in fore ign lands, instan tly r e so lved

th at th ey sh ould tr ave l, and that Sylvia sh ould thus have eve ry

opportuni ty for learn in g modern languages and gen e rally improvin gh e r mind.

Fo r two years th ey wande r ed about from place to place , stayingsix mon th s h er e and th re e th ere . {fill at last th e ir time was up, and

Sylvia was e igh te en , a nd h e r e ntran ce in to socie ty coul d n o longe r be

de layed. Th en th ey tur n ed th eir faces h omewards, and arr ived in

London a few days befor e th e Drawingroom, at wh ich Miss A th e r

sto n e was to be presen ted by Lady A shfie ld.


Ou th e morn ing o f th e day which th is importan t even t in h is

g ran ddaugh ter’s life was to occur , Sir Eustace sat alon e in h is hand

some library. Bound about him o n th e table we re books, papers and

le tte rs. But h e was n o t re ading . He se emed lost in th ough t. A nd

to judge by th e expr ession of h is face , th er e was a good deal of sad

n ess mixed up with h is r eflections.

“ Y e s,” h e murmured ha lt aloud,

“ I miss h im . Her e , in thisr oom , wh ere Paul.as a littl e boyused to sit in th e o ld, o ld days, poringover some big book, and looking up with a smil e wh en I asked him a

question , I miss him sadly. In fore ign lands, amidst fre sh scen es,

and in th e first burst of indignation at his fo lly, I fan cied I did no t

car e ; but I find I do—for ve ry dear was th at lad to me afte r all .

Po o r Paul Vyn e r , with h is brigh t face , and h is warm enthusiastic

natur e . Why, oh , why did I se nd him from me A nd yet I could

n o t h elp it . It was n ecessary fo r Sylvia’s sake . So wh at matter h ow

I, h ow h e sufiers, if sh e be h appy, as sh e must—as sh e shall be.

But h ow strange it se ems that th o se I love ar e a ll fo rced fo r some

r eason o r o th er to le ave me . First my so n , G e o rg e . Th en my wife

and o th er chi ldre n by de ath . Th e n Paul . A nd n ow wh o knows,

perh aps, I may on e day lose Sylvia , my pet, my tr e asure . Such a

loss woul d ki ll me . A nd ye t, after th is, I may n o t be all owed to k eeph er long . Once presen te d, says Lady A shfie ld, sh e must marry .

Paul was banish ed b ecause h e loved h er . My po o r Paul ! A nd now

wh o kn ows wh at plot is be ing h atch ed, wh at co n spiracy is on foot to

r ob m e o f h er 0 rm last n igh t Lady A shfield h in ted someth ingdarkly, asked str afig e questions about my dar ling

’s fo rtun e , and

wan ted to kn ow if any ch an ge would ever be possible in my mann er

towards h er , no matter wha t sh e did o r became . Wh at sh e me an t Ican

’t imagin e . A s i f any earthly th in g could alter my love for my

dear est ch ild. Why even ii— But h ere sh e com es ! I declar e

th e fir e is n early out . How stupid of me n o t to pay: ittion . 0

Sir Eustace se iz ed th e pok er an d stirred th e fire to a blaz e . Th en

drawing an arm-ch air to th e fir e , h e sank in to it wi th a sigh .

Th e doo r open ed sligh tly, and a m e rry vo ice ca ll ed out :

May I come in , grandpapa Mdme . G arn iture promised to

come e arly to h e lp to dre ss me , as Désirée is rath e r inn ocen t in th e

arr angem e n t of cour t trains. But sh e h as n o t arrived, and I am tir ed

o f sittin g upsta irs alon e . I am in an unfinish ed state . But still”

Come in, love . Come

.

in ,” h e cried . My swe e t Sylvia is

we lcome in any state . He r‘

sunny face is just wh at I wan t to se e .

”

Y ou de ar o ld darlin g,”sa id Sylvia ; and tripping up to h e r

gran dfath er’s ch air , sh e gave h im a loving ki ss.

To be sure . A nd wh er e th en did Miss A th e rston e bestow it

Ou de ar o ld G arnitur e , o f course . Sh e h as made my drm

n o t quite since I was able to walk . but still for a very lo ng time , and

I was n o t go in g to dese rt h e r just wh en sh e would most sujoy dressing m e , mer e ly because Irma is th e fash ion .

”

We ll , I don’t suppose Lady Ashfie ld cared.

Oh , but sh e did. An d that is on e of my troubles. Sh e was ve ry

proud and cr o ss, and th at made m e more de te rmin ed th an eve r—fo ryou kn ow I h ave a will of my own , de ar .

”

Most certain ly you h ave , my pot. A mor e obstin ate littl e perso n

I n eve r met .”

No t with you, grandpapa , n ot with you. I’d do anythi ng you

asked me .

”

Sh e laid h e r ch e ek care ssingly again st h is h and, and raised h e r

larg e lustrous eyes lovin gly to his.

I gave up Paul , dear fo o lish Paul, because you wish ed it. Y o u

h ave n o t forgo tte n th at, gr andpapa

A nd Sylvia’s swe e t face grew crimso n , and th e se nsitive mouth

0

Y ou did, my darling . Y ou wer e e ve r g en tl e and obedien t .

Tod ay you go fo rth in to th e wo rld, and o th e rs mo re e ligible th an

Paul may se e you, and wan t you. Lo rd Ashfie ld, for in stance . Hismo th e r h in ted bro adly last n igh t .

Lo rd A shfie ld sha ll n eve r steal me from you. Do n o t be afraid.

A nd do n o t pay a tten tion to his mo th e r’s hin ts . In th is matte r sh e

will find m e quite as obstin ate as wh e re Mdme . G arn itur e was con

ce rn ed.

But some o n e is sure to come and car ry you ofi, my pe t . Th er e

is a strang e fe e lin g of te rro r ove r me tod ay, Sylvia, that I canno t

un derstand. It may be th at your fa th e r

My fa th e r Oh , grandpapa, you could n ot sure ly be jealous o f

h im . Poor , de ar papa, wh o h as n o t se en me fo r ye ars and years,

n o t since I was a tiny ch ild. My darlin g , h e sh all n ot divide na, I

kn ow. He ’ ll come h ome and widen o ur circle—in cre ass our family.

In ste ad of se parating na, h e will dr aw na more toge th e r and stre ng th e n

o ur.

love .

My dear , swe e t ch ild, would th at my love for you we re n o t so

se lfish . Fo r years I h ave lo ng ed fo r your fath e r to r e tur n ; but n ow

as th e h our appro ach es, I dr e ad it lest h e sh ould tak e from me on e

io ta of my little granddaug h te r’

s h e art .

He sh all n eve r do that. But, te ll m e , h ave you h eard from

papa late ly

Th is morning . He expe cts to be h ome in about six mon th s .

Sylvia clapped h e r h an ds ; h e r face sh on e with j oy .

Wh at glo r ious n ews ! How glad I sh all b e to se e h im . Y ou

don’

t mind me saying th at, dear est

N0 , my pe t . Such ple asure is natur al , and sh ows wh at a lovin gch ild you ar e .

Th e gir l did not speak for a mom ent, ahd se emed in de ep th ough t.

G r andpapa , sh e said pre sen tly, I wonder if papa would kn ow

m e if h e we r e to m e et me and n o o n e to ld h im I was his ch ild. Am I

much ch anged sin ce I came to you

He examin ed h er cr itically, h is eye s ful l o f loving admiratio n as

th ey dwe lt upon h e r .

Y ou we r e sma ll th e n . Y ou are n ow tall and grace ful,” h e said

smiling . Your dark eyes ar e large r and dark e r , but your h air ,

compl exio n , and tiny mon th ar e almo st th e sam e . Y ou wer e a love lybaby ; you are a be autiful girl .

”

Sh e jumped up, laid h er arms about h is n eck , and kissed him with

a te nder love in h e r eyes.

De ar o ld flatte re r ,”sh e wh ispe r ed , do you wish to mak e me

va in

No . I do n’t think th at would be po ssible .

Sylvia laugh ed and blush ed, and r e turn ed to h er stoo l .

Th en you think papa would kn ow me

Th at I can h ardly te ll . A nd ye t I th ink h e woul d. Fo r truly

you are but li ttle chan g ed since I fir st saw you. But still , I do n o t

quite un derstand. Eitbs r h e h as fo rgotten wh at you we re lik e , or th e

se a journ ey work ed a conside rable difie r e n oe in your h e alth and

g e n er al appe ar an ce . I will l e t you h ear wh at h e h as wr itte n about

you.

”

A n d tak ing a letter fr om th e table . Sir Eustace began to re ad .

I won de r wh at my darlin g is like n ow. I always th ink o f h e r

as th e small , delicate baby with little pale , fair ch e eks, th at clun g to

m e so lovin gly as I bade h e r go od-bye .

”

Now, wh en I m e t you at G rave send, Sylvia, sa id Sir Eustace ,

you we r e as r osy as po ssible . A s str on g a chi ld as eve r lived.

”

Th e sea ai r h ad, of course , tann ed my skin and made m e lo o k

h ealthy, answer e d Sylvia decidedly. A nd I dar esay papa h as fo r

go tte n . It is n o t easy to r emembe r a baby’s face . But if h e looked

at my last lik e n ess, h e’d se e pre tty we ll what I am lik e eve ryo n e sa id

it was capita l .”

Y es. But listen , dear , to'

what h e says.

” A n d Sir Eustace co n

tin n ed th e le tte r .

“ Y ou cann o t imagin e h ow I long to se e h er , espe cially n ow, as I

kn ow sh e is grown up, and th at I h ave made up my mind to go h ome

s4e The Ir ish Monthly,

soon . My th oughts are full of my daugh te r . It is strange that non e

o f th e ph otos you mention ed sending ever reach e d me . I probably

mi ssed th em th rough wande ring'about so much . But I am just as

glad I n ever saw th em, for n ow sh e will burst upon m e in all h er

beauty. For yo u te ll me sh e is be autiful Is sh e like my swee t wife ,

I wonder But, o f oour se ,‘

you do n ot know that since you n ever saw

h er , and th e min iatur e I sen t was lost in th e wre ck . Howaver , it

matter s little wh o sh e is like . Sh e is my own bel oved daug h te r , and

as such sh e is in expressibly dear . G od bless h er and you.

”

Sylvia’s eyes we r e full of tears, and takin g h er fath e r

’

s letter from

th e o ld man’s hand, sh e pressed it to h er lips.

Poo r papa , h ow full of love and longing is your le tter ! But

why h as h e stayed away from na all th ese years, grandpapa

Why So you may ask . He , th e h eir to my n ame and r ich

e states. But h e loved a wande ring life , and could n o t be ar th e tram

me ls of socie ty. Now, as h e grows o lder , h e longs fo r h ome and h is

daugh ter’s love .

A nd h e shall have bo th . G r andpapa, we must be verygood and

kind to h im, you and I. But I wonde r am I at all lik e my dead

mo th er

No , de arest, I think n ot, un less in expression . For sh e was

small and fair . G e o rge told me so fre quen tly in th e first days o f

h is marr ied life . Sh e was a frag ile creatur e with go lden ha ir , and

larg e , ch ild- lik e blue eye s.

”

0

T hat is n o t at a ll like me . Dear li ttle moth er . Wh o am I like ,grandpapa Do I r emind you of papa

A nd sh e gla nced a t th e large po rtra it of G e o rge A th erston e , as a

lad of n in e te e n , th a t hung ove r th e man te lpiece .

No , dear . Y ou are n o t lik e any member of our family. Y ou

ar e an original Sylvia , perfectly un ique in your own peculiar way.

"

Th e girl laugh ed and looked up roguishly in to his face .

Perhaps I um a change lingI sh ould n ot be at all surprised,

” h e cr ied, pinchin g h er ch e ek .

Brough t to na by th e fairies, endowed with all th e ir most pr ecious

g ifts and graces.

How th ey j e sted, th ese two . Y et h ad th ey but guessed h ow n ear

th e truth th ey we re , what cruel sorrow would have fill ed th e ir h ear ts !

Just ao , grandpapa ,”

cr ied Sylvia gaily. That sounds ve ry

pr e tty. A n d n ow I must r ea lly go and finish my to ile t. If I am n ot

r eady ve ry so on , Lady A shfield may h ave to wait, andMdm e . G arnitur e h as gon e to your room ,

Miss A th erston e ,”said

th e £00 t open in g th e door .

350 77u Ir ish Monthly.

We ll , upon my word, th is is nice co nduct in a,

strange h ouse ,

c ried th e dr e ssmake r angrily. Wh er e h ave you be en hiding, I’

d

like to kn ow

I was n o t h iding , r eplied Do ra , flush ing painfully. I was

si ttin g in th e ro om wh er e th e youn g lady left m e .

Oh , de ar , o f course , said Désirée . Miss A th er ston e told m e

you we re in th e boudo ir . Did you ge t th e win e‘

P

No . But

Dora gasped. Sh e grew suddenly pal e .

Th en you sh all h ave it n ow,

”cried th e maid. I’ll go fo r it a t

o nce .

” A nd away sh e wen t .

Mdme . G arn itur e ,”ask ed Do ra with tr embling lips, do you

will you te ll me wh o is th at beautiful gir l you came to dress fo r th en

Ce rtain ly. But I . th ough t you kn ew, ch ild. Sh e is Miss

Sylvia A th ersto n e , th e grea test h e ire ss and love liest young lady in a l l

Lo ndon .

”

Do ra’s h ead spun round ; sh e suddenly fe lt fain t and giddy, an d

sh e clun g to th e banniste rs for support.

Sylvia A th e rston e ,”sh e murmur ed. A r e you sure

Mdm e . G arn itur e laugh ed sco rn fully.

Wh y, I’ve made Miss A th erston e ’s dre sse s fo r th e last seven

ye ars, an d ve ry pr oud I am o f th e h on our . Her s is a figur e to do

a dr essmake r cr edi t. Str aigh t, grace ful and sh ape ly. Sh e is a true

ar istocrat, is Miss Ath erston e . A r ea l lady to th e ve ry tips o f h e r

fin g ers. But come , de ar , le t us go h om e . Y ou do n’t se em we ll .

Dora passed h er h and acro ss h e r fo r eh ead.

1 am da z ed—bewilde r ed. 1 kn ow n o t wh at may h appen now.

Sylvia A th e rston e at last So go od, so beautiful , so

Mdme . G a rn itur e lo ok ed at th e gir l in asto nishme n t.

My dear , you ar e h alf asl e ep. Th is ‘visit appears to h ave upse t

you. But com e al on g . I h ave a cab r eady th is h alf h our .

A nd with out waiting fo r Désirée to appe ar with th e win e , sh e

hurried Do ra in to a hansom and dro ve away.

Take my advice an d lie down ,”sh e said as sh e dropped th e

'

g ir l

a t th e co rn e r o f th e stree t in wh ich sh e lived.

“ Y ou wan t a l ittle

r e st .”

Y e s, th ank you, an swe red Do ra dr e amily Pe rhaps I do .

Poo r ch ild ! murmur ed th e dr e ssmak er . Sh e lo oks someh ow

as if sh e h ad se e n a gh ost. Wh at a de licate cr eatur e sh e is. He r

life will n ot be long , I fancy. But maybe it’

s just as we ll , fo r sh e

h as n o t much of a futur e befo r e h e r .

”

(To be con tinued) .

The Ch ildr en’s Ba llad Rosary. 351

THE CHILDREN’S BAL LAD ROSA RY.

PA RT III.

THEFIVE G LORIOUS m s'rs ams.

I.—T1m Rnsunnnm ox.

Je sus from th e cro ss was take n ,Hands of sain ts his body bo r e ,

In th e Sepulch r e th ey la id h im,

Place o f r est fo r n on e befo re .

With a migh ty ston e th e e n tran ce

Was secur e ly seal ed and bar red,

Wh ile th e re sa t in watch around it

So ldi ers of th e Jewish guard ;

Till th e th ird day’s ear ly dawn in g ,

Wh e n from h e aven an an g e l came ,

Wh ite as dr ifte d sn ow his raimen t,

Br igh t h is face as ligh tn in g flam e .

Back h e ro lled th e rocky ba rr ie r ,Wh il e an e ar th quak e spr ead aro und,

A nd th e se n tin e ls in te rr or

Fe ll aswoon upon th e ground.

Th e n our Lo rd and Saviour Je sus,Lamb of G od, r evil ed and slain ,

R ose tr iumph an t and immo rtal ,

Kin g for eve rmo r e to r e ign .

Wh o can dr eam th e joy h is pr e se n ceTo his Virgin Mo th e r gave

F irst h e sough t h e r , first embraced h e r ,

R ising glo r ious from th e grave .

He wh o love s th e co n trite sin n e r

Sh owed h is depth o f me rcy th en ,

Br ingin g comfo rt in h e r we epingUn to Mary Magda le n .

To his gr e at apo stle , Pe te r ,

Ch arg e h e gave his fo ld to ke epSimon Pe ter , dost th ou love me

Fe ed my lambs and fe ed my sh e ep.

352 The [r isk Month ly.

A nd h e bre ath ed On h is disciple s

Sacramenta l power fi-om Heaven ,

With th e words Wh ose sins soeve rY e forgive , th ey are forg ive n .

G o ye teach ing and baptiz ingMen of every clime and coast ,

In th e name of G od th e Fath e r ,

Oi th e Son and Ho ly G h ost .

A ll th e th ings I h ave commanded

Y e sh all te ach th em to obey .

Lo ! I am for eve r with you

Till th e wo rld sh all pass away.

G lo ry to G od the Fathe r ,

A ndg lory to the Holy G hostFbr over

,fi r es in

II.-Tms A sm aron .

So fo r forty days did Jesus

To h is ch osen friends appear ,

Speaking o f h is h eaven ly kin gdom

A nd h is own departur e n e ar .

In Jerusal em th ey r ested

Ti ll h e came th e ir steps to guide

Fo rth un to th e Moun t o f Olives,By h is passion san ctified.

Past th e bro ok and past th e gard

Wh er e h is ago ny was wrough t,Pas t th e tomb , wh e r e , at Be than ia,

La z arus to life h e brough t.

Ou th e moun tain’s summit Je sus

Raised his h ands to h eaven above ,

Pour ing fo rth on h is disciple s

A ll th e blessing o f h is love .

A s h e blessed th em , th ey beh e ld h im

Slowly from th e e arth arise ,

Ou h is fo rm th ey fixed th e ir eyes ;

364 77m Im la Month ly.

Filling all the habitatio n ,A nd be h o ld ! th ey saw dewe nd

Over eve ry h ead to be nd.

A t th e momen t all assembled

With th e Ho ly G h o st were fill ed ,

A n d began in tongues to utte r

Whatso e ’e r th e spir it will ed.

In Jerusalem were dwe llin g

Pious Jews o f every olime ,

Stran gers from th e farth e st r eg io n s.

Hallowing th e festal time .

Th e apostles came among th em ,

A n d th e marvel spre ad abroad

How th ey spoke in eve ry lan guage

Oi th e wo ndrous wo rks of G o d .

Pe te r , prince of th e apostles,

Sto od a nd ra ised h is Vo ice al o n e

He ark e n to m e , men o f Juda ,Le t th e truth I spe ak be kn own .

Th is is wh at th e proph e t Jo e l

Oi th e latte r days fo r e to ld,

Th a t th e Lo rd would po ur h is spir itOu h is se rvan ts young . and o ld.

”

Th e n h e pr e ach ed to th em o f Je sus,

Wh om by wicked h ands th ey sl e w,

How th e m igh t of G od h ad ra ised h im

From th e tomb to life an ew.

He ar in g h im ,th ey ask ed in so rrow

Br e th re n , wha t sh ould be o ur pa rt

Be baptiz ed , wa s Pe te r’s a n swe r ,

Do in g pe nan ce fr om th e h e a r t .

”

Th rice a th ousand we r e co n ve rted

So at G od’s appo in ted h o ur

Was th e Church o f Je sus fo unde d

By th e Ho ly Spir it’s powe r .

6'

lory to G od the Father ,

A nd Ink e te rnal Son,

A nd glory to the Holy G host

For ever , Thr ee in On e .

1 728 Ch ild r

en’s Ba llad Rosary. 355

IV.-THE A ssuur r rom

Sin ce our Lo rd to h e aven ascended

Twe lve full ye ars th e ir course h ad run ,

Wh en to Mary m e ekly waiting

G am e th e call to jo in h e r so n .

Roun d h e r couch apo stles gath e r ed

Er e th e gate s o f de ath sh e passe d,

Drawing str en gth and be n edictio n

From h er aspe ct to th e last .

Th e n h e r pure and sta in less body

Did th ey lay in h al lowed gr ound,

Rapt in awe an d van o ratio n ,

A nge ls k e epin g watch a roun d.

But th e G od wh o pr e o rda in ed h e r

Partn e r in h is plan divin e ,Did n o t will to le t corruptio n

Ta in t h is h o lie st e ar th ly sh r in e .

From th e eve r lasting ag e s

He h ad se a le d h e r as h is own

Now h e to ok h e r , bo rn e by an ge ls,

Soul and body to h is th r o n e .

Sil e nce h e ld th e halls o f h e ave n ,

A n ge l so ngs awh ile we r e still

In th e tra nce o f expecta tion

Harps o f se raph s ce ased to th r ill .

O h , th e ove rflowin g swe e tn e ss

Oi th e n o tes th at ro se aga in ,

A ll th e ch o irs o f blessed spirits

Swe lling th at tr iumph an t stra in .

Com e , th ou Mo th e r of th e High est,Com e , O pear l surpassing price ,

Blessed ove r e ve ry cr eatur e ,

Mo rn ing star of paradise .

Se e th e myriad sain ts r e jo icingIn th e beauty of thy n ame ,

A ll th e fir e of lo ve with in th em

Kindlin g un to br igh te r flam e .

Se e thin e own be troth ed Joseph ,

Virgin spouse of virgin br ide ,

In th e guardianship of Jesus

Watchful eve r by thy side

Ch o sen fo r h is nursing fath e r

In h is infan t years be low,

Ch ose n n ow h is Church’s patro n

Wh ile th e waves of time shall dow.

G lo ry to G od the Fathe r ,

A nd his stom a] Son ,

A nd glory to the Holy G host

For over , Thr ee in One .

V.—a a wumo o r on LADY

Th en in h eaven appeared th e wonde r

Which with ligh t maj e stio sh o n e

Of th e loved apostle John .

Wh e n th e mystic sea ls we r e open ed,A nd th e re ign of Chr ist begun ,

He beh old a woman clo th ed

In th e splendour of th e sun ,

Wh il e th e moon in cr escen t br igh tn ess

Undern oath h er fe e t was spr ead,

A nd a crown of stars was r esting ,

Twe lve th e ir number , on h e r h ead .

Now was G abrie l’

s be n edictio n

In its gre a t fulfilm en t se e n ,

Wh en h e r So n , in all h is G odh ead,

Rose in h eaven and crown ed h e r Que e n .

Que e n of all th e glorious A nge ls ,

Wh ose fide lity was tr iedIn th e h our wh e n Sa tan , fa ithl e ss,

Fe ll lik e ligh tn ing in h is pride .

Que e n of Patr iarch s and Pr oph e ts,

Wh o se illumin ated eyes

Fr om th e virgin womb o f Mary

Saw th e wo rld’s r edemption r ise .


THE TWO CIVILISATIONS.

PA RT 1 1 .

Mr . G e orge ro se slowly, and in a grave , me thodical mann e r , h e

sa id

Y ou have raised th e question of questions—th e o ne s uprem e

problem that is stirring and agitating th e world to its de epe st

depths. F orwa rd is th e cry but th e farth er we go th e de ebe rwe sin k in to th e sad complexity of a civilisation wh ere we alth and

wan t in sad compan ionship are seen side by side , wh ere th e few are

glutted and th e many are starving , and th e gifts of th e Creato r ,

and th e impro vemen ts of man , alike se em on ly to in cre ase th e

mise ry of th e multitude . Ido not fin d fault with scien ce ; but I

say that so long as society n e eds readjustmen t, as it does, so lo n gas our social laws and systems are complete ly out of ha rmony with

th e ete rn al laws of justice and truth , scie nce and all th e o th e r

min iste rs to man will be angels of destruction , and n o t messenge rs.

of mercy. In th e ve ry cen tres of our civilisation to -day are wan t

and suffe ring en ough to make sick at h e art wh oever does n ot close

his eyes or ste e l h is n erve s. We dare n ot put th e blame on

Moth er Nature , or upon our great Fath er , G od . Supposin g that

at our praye rs, Nature assumed a mightie r power than it po sse sse s,

suppo sing that at th e beh est by which th e universe sprang in to

be ing th ere sh ould glow in th e sun a greate r h eat, n ew virtue fill

th e air , fr esh vigour th e soil ; that for every blad e of grass that

n ow grows two sh ould spring up, and th e seed th at n ow in cre ase s

fiftyfo ld sh ould in cre ase a hundredfo ld. Would poverty be abated

and want re lieved Man ifestly no Th e result would be in our

presen t e nvironme n ts that th e luxury of a few would be incre ased,

th e misery of th e many would be de epen e d. This is n o bare

supposition . Th e conclusion comes from facts with wh ich we are

quite familiar . Within our own times, un der our ve ry eyes, that

powe r which is above all , and in all , and through all that powe r

of which the who le world is but th e man ifestation ; that powe r

wh ich maketh all things, and with out which is made n othin g that

is made , has increased th e bounty which men may en joy as trulyas though the fertility of Nature had be en increased. So my frie nd

h ere , Mr . Ver dun , has de clared . In to th e mind of on e came th e

The Two Civih'

satiom . 359

th ough t which h arn essed steam for th e service of mankin d. To

th e wise r ear of an other was whispered th e secre t that compe ls th e

lightn ing to be ar a message round th e globe . In eve ry direction

h ave th e laws of matte r be en re vealed ; in every part of industry

h ave arise n arms of iron and finge rs of ste e l , wh ose effect in th e

production o f wealth h as bee n precise ly the same as an in crease in

th e fe rtility of Nature . What is th e re sult P Th e few ar e more

powerful, th e manymore h e lple ss ; unde r the shadow of th e marble

mansio n is th e vile kraal of th e workingman ; and silks and furs

are rutfled by contact with rags in th e str e e ts.

" A y ! e ve n your

ph ilosOph ers h ave to ld us th at all this is as it should be—that suc

ce ss in life is th e te st of virtue , and that th e weak must go to th e

wall . Y es ! your socie ty is like th e Hi ndoo ido l-oar , that flings toth e e arth and crush e s th ose who have n ot power to ke ep pace with

it . In th e amph ith eatres of th e Roman pe ople , wh en th e gladiator

was mortally wounded, th e people passed sen te nce upon h im , and

commanded that h e should die . In th e world of to -day th e sam e

crue lty prevails. Th e moment a man sinks unde r th e burde n o f

th is world’s care s, little pity has th e world for him . A nd n ow,

gen tlemen ,

”h e concluded, pe rhaps as you have allowed me to

so speak so far , you would just h ear an oth e r wh o has said exactly

the same thin g but in verse

IO VICTIS.

I s in g th e hymn o f th e co nque red wh o fe ll in th e battle of life

Th e hymn of th e wounded , th e beaten , wh o died ove rwh e lmed in th e str ife :

o t th e jubilan t so ng o f th e victors, for wh om th e resoun ding acclaim

Of the n a tion s wa s lifte d in ch o rus, wh ose brows wo re th e chaple t of fam e

But th e hymn of th e low and th e humble , th e weary, th e bro ken in h e ar t

Wh o str o ve and wh o fa iled, actin g brave ly a silen t and de spe rate pa r t .

Wh ose youth bore n o flower o f its branch es, wh ose h opes burn ed in ash e s away;

From wh ose h ands slippe d th e pr iz e th ey had gr asped at , wh o sto od at th e dyin go f day

IVith th e work o f th e ir life all around th em , unpitied, un h e eded , a lo n e ,\Vith Death swoopin g down o

’er th e ir failure , and all but th e ir faith ove r th rown .

Wh ile th e vo ice o f th e wo r ld sh outs its ch o rus, its powe r for th ose wh o h ave wo n

Wh ile th e trumpe t is sounding tr iumphan t, and h igh to th e bre e z e and th e sun

Throng in g aft er th e laure l -crowned victo rs, I stand o n th e fie ld of de feat

In th e sh adows’mo ngst th o se wh o are fallen , andwounded and dyiug

h and th e r e

Chan t a requiem low, place my h and on th e ir pain -kn itted brow, br ea th e a praye r

He nry G e o rg e Pro g re ss and Pove rty.

The Irish Month ly.

Ho ld th e hand th at is h e lpless, and wh isper : Th ey only life's victory win

Wh o have fough t th e g ood figh t and have vanquished th e d emo n that tempts

Wh o have h e ld to th e ir faith unseduced by th e priz e th at th e wo rld h o lds on h igh ,\Vho have dared fo r a h ig h cause to saf er , resist, flgbt—if n e ed be , to die .

Say h isto ry, wh o are life’s victors?Unmll thy long annals, and say

A r e th ey th ose whom th e world called th e victors, wh o won th e success of th e dayTh e martyr or hero?Th e Spartan s, wh o fe ll at Th e rmopylm’

s tryst ,

Or th e Persians ct Xerxes?His judge s or Socrate s?Pila te , o r Chr ist i “

Would to h eaven , that on ce and for ever this great gospel of

human ity we re accepted ! If it were ao , the possibilitie s of th e

to n oble passion , with th e fraternity that is born of equality takin gthe place of the jeal ousy and fear that n ow array men against each

o th er ; with men tal power loosed by conditions th at give to th e

humblest comfort and leisure , and wh o shall measure th e h eights

to which our civi lisatio n may soar Words fail th e thought ! It

is th e go lden age which poe ts have sung , and high-raised se ers

h ave told in metaphor ! It is th e go lden vision that has always

haun ted men with gleams of fitful splendour ! It is what he saw

whose eyes atPatmos we re closed in a tr an ce ! It is the culmin a

tion of Chr istianity— th e city of G od upon earth , with its walls of

j aspe r and its gates of pearl ! It is th e re ign of th e Prin ce of

Pem .

“ Fin e tallr ! fin e ta lk !”said a youn g man whom L had n ot

h ith erto se en . He seemed scarce ly more than a boy ; yet th er e

was a veh smen ce and e arn estn ess about him which commanded

respe ct . A nd the man th at is in e arn est about anything is always

enro o t a respectful hearin g .

“ Fin e talk !”said h e again ,

“ if

to-mo rrow were th e millenium ! Y ou preach a doctr in e of

science ,”said h e , turning to Mr . Verdun , but in th e same bre ath

you degrade human ity, and be lie th e san ctity of man’s origin and

th e gr andam of his future destiny. A nd you,”said h e , turn ing to

Mr . Ruskin , advocate culture and refin ement as a salvo for all

our wounds, forge tting that th e h igh er your cultured men and

women advan ce , th e n earer th ey are to barbarism as loathsome as

Rousseau suggested. A nd you, Mr . G eorge , preach a G ospe l of

Human ity . That is th e best teaching ye t. But so far as I can

Blackwood’sMagaz in e .

1 ' Progress and Poverty Henry G e orge .

362 The Ir i de Mon th ly.

So would I But th e light won’

t come ! A nd n e ith e r scien ce

n o r cul tur e , n or human ity will bring it ! For my part, I havethought th e who le thing ove r , and I agre e with o ld Th omas

Carlyle , whe n h e declared, looking up at th e splendours of h e aven

and down on th e gloom of earth , Eh ! it’s a sad sigh t I agre e

with G eo rge Elio t in th at f amous remark sh e made to h er bosom

fr ie nd in her o ld age : Th ere is but on e remedy, my ch ild, fo r th e

sad race of men—o n e grand simultan e ous act of suicide !

Th is was rath e r too much , I thought ; so I went o n deck . It

was a glorious n igh t. Far , far down th e horiz on , great masse s o f

cloud, th e ir blackn e ss softe n ed in to purple by th e finge ring ligh t,

ove rtopped each oth er , and built up th e ir airy battleme n ts hig h

in to the z enith . Eve rywh ere beside th e sky was a pale liquidazure , thr ough which th e dim stars sh on e , and peace , Natur e

’

s

sublime pe ace , slept over all . I stro lled up and down th e deck ,

a lon e wi th my though ts, and the se th ough ts were of th e strange

discussion I had h e ard. Wh o was right-o r who wa s eve n

n e are st th e truth—apostle s of human ity, of scien ce , and of culture

Had they found th e gre at ce n tral secre t of th e Unive rse , or we rethey, afte r all , but blind leaders of th e blind

—me n puffed upwith

kn owledge and pride , to wh om th e great Revelation sh ould n eve r

come I co nfess my sympathie s we re altogeth er wi th th e proph e t

o f human ity. Y e t I knew, and kn ew we ll , that all th e wealth of

ste rlin g probity and e n thusiasm could n ever reduce his th eo ries to

practioe—it would be all in vain

Th e still , sad music o f human ity,

Like moan in gs of a midn igh t se a ,

would still be h eard, and still would th e wo rds of the po et

con tinue

For mo rn in g n eve r wo r e to eve ,

But some poo r human h eart did bre ak .

A nd ye t h ow could th e A lmighty Cr eato r have framed th is

marve llous universe , with all its splendours, for a race of splen e tic

and unhappy men P Lo ok around ! what a miracle of splendour !

Th e great moon is lifting itse lf above th e waste of wate rs, and

flingin g a rippling splendour over th e waves. Sh e is scarred aud

clo th ed with fleecy clouds, which sh e dmps on e by on e , un til now

she lo oks forth th e ackn owledged empress of th e n ight, and th e

stars grow pale and draw in the ir lights wh en th ey beho ld h e r .


e lude with th e great hymn of praise to th e Father , th e Son and

t he Spirit, wh o are and have be en and shall for ever be ! Th e

learn ed it at th e ir moth er’s kn e es—th ey san g it in th e lon e lywhite

an d on th e ir lips, and lik e th e children of Israe l by th e wate rs o f

Babylon , th ey will sing that song of Sion in a str ange land !

Once more upo n deck—th is time with some n ew sensations.

Here I find myse lf right in th e midst of two civilisations.

The civilisation of the saloon , though in concrete form it date s

but from ye sterday, is but a series of broken lights, caught fromth e suspended or re jected ph ilosoph ies of th e past . The mysticism

o f Plato , the doubtings of Epicurus, th e blank materialism of

Lucretius, have been revived in our time , and fin d issue in

speculative and inte llectual A th e ism , and in such barren and hOpe

less solutions of th e great problem of human happin e ss as th ose to

which we have just liste n ed. Scie nce , groping with a thousand

a rms in every direction , finds itse lf even in the material world con

fr onted by a wall of blackn ess, impen etr able , insurmoun table

and someh ow th e wayward movemen ts of human ity, which it

h oped to bring under cosmical discipline , break away from its

a ppliance that wealth can afford, with all th e facilitie s that private

patronage and governmen tal support can give , with all the

en thusiasm with which th e public follow each fresh advance , and

h ail each fresh reve lation , modern pagan civilisation is in consisten t

and illogical in its te ach ings, false in its professions, and a dismal

failure in its atte mpts to me et th e moral and in te llectual n e eds o f

men . A teach er with out kn owledge , a pmph et without inspira

ti on a magi cian wh o has lost his cha rm, its judgment is thereverse of that which fe ll on th e Jswish proph e t, for it curses whe reit se eks to bless.

Far differen t is th e civilisation which is represen ted by th e

humble occupants of th e ste erage , far difierent th e philosophyo n which it un consciously rests, far differen t the gigan tic

e ifects which it produces and will n ever cease to produce .

The se poo r exiles do n ot kn ow that th e philosophy which th ey

profess is th e steady light of reason that burn ed in the min d o f

A r isto tle cen turies before Christ, and was afte rwards in corpo rated

in to th e scho lastic te aching of th e Church . Th ey do n ot kn ow


with the ir hard earn ings conven ts, college s, asylums, and

‘soft h ands on the thr obbing brows of th e sick, and priests will

whisper to dying ears th e on ly m essage that can bring so lace to

th e stricken . Th e maste rs will build superb palaces for themse lves,

g liste n ing in white marble ; and with a kind of unconscious irony,

ples which look down with disdain on these abodes of mortals, and

maste rs th e le sson of the kitch e n and the attic, that forward

means upward, or e lse a rushing towards etern al de str uction .

A nd some day, wh en th e sun is shin in g ve ry br ightly, th e masters

will come down from th e ir high places and th ey will stand on th emosaic paveme nt o f th e se temples, and th ey will stars and wonde r

at th e ir marve llous be auty— th e carving and th e fluting and fo liat

ing of the pillars. th e white glimme rin g statues of sain ts ; th e

poems th at are wrought in th e stain ed glass of lance lights and rose

windows. But th ey will n ever kn ow that all this arch itectural

love lin ess was wrought by th e praye rs and faith of th e rough

handed labourers on the quays and railways, and the modest Ir ish

gir ls wh o min iste r to th e ir own lordly wan ts at hom e . Unn oticedand unre cogn ised, th ey carry on th e gr eat pro cess o f civilisatio n

save wh e n some great se er , like Emerso n , po in ts to th e ir work, and

te lls his coun trym en that even th e material prospe rity o f th e ir

great Republic has be e n built by th e hands o f th e Ir ish race . A nd

n ot only in Am erica , but in A ustralia and New Zealand, in the

summer isle s of Eden that slumbe r on th e bro ad bosom of th e

Pacific, in e very region that is hall owed by the light of the South

e rn Cross, th e same miracle is wrough t by th e same con secrated

buil t Cologne Cath edral and We stminster A bbey, the secre t that

h as placed St . Patr ick’

s Cath edral a sh in ing symbo l in the h eart

o f th e mo st worldly of mode rn citie s—th e se cre t that made th e

Irish min e rs o f A ustralia take th e Cathedral of Sydn ey thr e e tim es

from th e te e th of th e flames, and th re e times dung it high er and

h igh er in to th e blue vaul t o fHeaven . A nd th e spiritual influence

o f th e race is qui te equal to th e mater ial . Wh e reve r they go , th eysh ed around th e l ight of faith that is almost vision , of purity nu

assailable , of stro ng en thusiasm for what is just and light, or fierce

The Two Cie ilisatio m. 367

hatr ed for wh at is crue l and wrong , and a passion ate love for th at

hall owed isle in th e North e rn seas, wh e re they be li eve that every

blade o f grass that grows spri ngs from the relics of a h ero or a

sain t . A nd who can doubt that if truth is great and must preva il ,

if all th ese wonders are manife sta tions of a supe rn atural mission

an d a supernatural power—ii th ey are evidences that th e faith

th e se exil e s hold is th e only philosophy o n wh ich civilisation can be

built—wh o can doubt that th e fin al re so lution in th e history of th e

wo rld wi ll be effected by th e sil en t force s th ese exiles wie ld—byth e n ew life they will quicken , by th e con tempt th ey wi ll pour o n

th e ido ls o f a vanising philosophy, and by th e maste ry in eve ry

depa rtmen t of re ligious and scientific th ough t they will infalliblywin P L e t the world and th e le ade rs of modern thought say wh at

o f fir e on th e firmamen t o f Heaven , that th e only civilising agen cyin th e world tod ay is th e Catho lic Church , working chi efly through

th e apostles of th e Irish race .

Wh ilst I em thus thinkin g of th em , th ey are sunk in profound

slumbe r . Th ey are dreaming of th e purple heath er'

and th e ye l

low gorse—of th e patte rn and the dance—of th e white -hair ed

m o th e r who stretched h er hands in a long farewe ll from the cabin

door .

It is just striking twe lve . I h ear steps coming up th e com

pan ionway from th e saloon Thre e m e n stand be fore me in th e

I te ll you, said o n e , th e kings o f th e future are th e men o f

scien ce . 0

No , said th e second, but th e m e n o f culture , education and

refin em en

Nay, n ay, said Mr . G ., but th ey in wh ose h ear ts are found

some de ep e ch oe s of the gre at vo ice of human ity.

”

No t even these ,”thought I, but th e men of faith an d

praye r .

”

P. A . SHEBHA N .

The Ir ial: 1 !

THE PRIEST.

BABE on th e breast of h is mo th e r

Re olin es in th e valley o f love ,

An d smile s like a beautiful lilyCare ssed by th e rays from abo ve .

A ch ild at th e kn e e of his mo th e r ,

Who is coun ting h e r decade s o f praye r,Discove rs th e cro ss of h er ch aple t,

A nd kisses th e Snfie r e r th e r e .

A boy with a rosary kn e e lingAlon e in th e temple o f G o d ,

A nd beggin g th e wonde rful favo

To wall : wh er e th e Crucified trod.

A studen t alon e in h is study,

With pallid and inn ocen t face ;He raise s his h ead from th e pag es

A nd lists to th e murmur o f grace .

A cler ic with mortified fea tures,

Studions, humble and still,

In e very motion a mean ing ,

In every action a will .

A man at th e foo t of an al tar ,

A Ch rist at th e foo t of th e cross,

Wh er e every loss is a profit ,A nd eve ry ga in is a loss.

A BaffledMan o n a moun ta in ,

His arms uplifted and spre ad

With on e h e is raisin g th e living,

With on e h e is lo osing th e dead .

D . B . Com m a .

“ fe s t Tro y, New Yo rk .

370 The In'

sk Mon th ly.

h avin g fa lle n in to th e Rh on e , rema in ed for some time in immin e n t dan ge r o f h is

life , clin gin g to an iro n rin g in on e of th e piles of a bridg e . A like chan ge was

wrough t in th e case of Ch arle s I. in a sin g le n igh t , wh en h e atte mpte d to escape

from Carisbrooke Castle . Mar ie A n to in e tte , th e unfo rtunate que e n o f LouisXVI. ,

found h e r h air sudden ly ch an ged by h e r distre sse s , and gave to a fai th ful frie nd

h e r po rtrai t, inscri wh ite ned by aflictio n . Th e bea rd and ha ir of th e Duke

of Brun swick wh i ten ed in twen ty-four h ours, upo n h is learnin g that his fath e r h ad

be en mo rtally woun ded i n th e battle of A uerstsd t . Son ne times e ven on e n igh t o f

in ten se sufie r ing h as be en sufi cien t to ble ach a raven h ead . We are to ld o f a

so ldier in In dia wh o , for some breach o f h is duty, was co ndemn ed to pass o n e n igh t

in th e dark ce ll appo in ted for so litary co nfin em e n t , and wh o , havin g th rown h imse lf

upo n th e groun d , pre se n tly fe lt a large oobra -cape lla glidin g ove r h is body, and

formin g its e lf in to a co il upon h is ch e st attracted by th e wa rmth . Kn owing th at

h is o n ly h ope o f safety con sisted in pe rfe ct quie scence , h e rema in ed m o tio nl e ss

th rough out th e fearful n igh t un til th e priso n doo r was ope n ed in th e mo rni n g ,

wh ich disturbed h is fea rful compan ion , an d th e cobra g lided away. Th e po o r

so ldie r le ft th e ce ll with a h ead as wh ite as sn ow. A s an instance of m ore g radual

e ffe ct , we may cite th e Ame rica n Pre side n t. Po lk , wh o en te re d upo n h is ofi cis l

duties with a h e ad of magn ificen t black h a ir . an d left them a t th e end o f four years

with o n e comple te ly whi

Some in te r esting le tters addressed to Dr . Blake h ave come in to

our h ands too late to use th em in th e proper place . Fo r instance ,

th e Pr imate , Dr . Cur tis, write s a lo ng le tte r from Dr ogh eda on th e

1 2th of Octobe r , 1 825, he aring po stage 3s. 4d., and th e fo llowing

bilingual supe rscription Re t ermdo admodum D . D .Miciaae 15B lake .A rclcidiacon o S . T. D., &c.

, &e .,n e l Con ven to di G em 0 Han a ,

Via de l Como , Roma . A rchdeaco n Blake—as h is title th en was

did n ot gue ss h ow much in te re sted h e h imse lf was in th e following

paragraph , in which th e third of th e Dromor e se le cti on s was, n o

doubt, Fath e r Pete r Kenn ey, S.J. I beg leave to re fe r you to

what I h ad th e h on our of writin g to you in A ugust last , of th e

se le ction th e n in progre ss o f thre e candidate s to be pre se nted byth e cle rgy of th e Diocese of Dromore to th e Ho ly Se e fo r appo in t

in g a succe sso r to th e ir late Bish op, Dr . Hugh O’Ke lly. Th ey

h ave sin ce presented to me , as Metr opol itan , and I h ave confirmed

a statemen t of that se lection , with an humble pe tition to HisHo lin ess pmpo sing Drs. Ke lly,M

‘A rdle and Kenn ey, but advert

ing that all , and Dr . M‘A rdle particularly, prayed th e pre fere n ce

may be give n to th e Rev. Dr . Ke lly, th en De an of Mayn oo th , and

since appo in ted Professo r of Dogmatic Th eo logy th ere , in th e ro om

of Dr . M‘Hale .

”

In th e same letter th e Pr imate says : Ou th e 1 5th Septe mber

e igh t Pr e late s, Trustees of Mayn oo th , me t in Dublin at Dr .

Michae l Blake , B ishop q romor e . 37 1

to His G race , and your irre sistible exe rtion s in favour of your

Co llege , for which you are the only fit pe rson for adopting studi es,rules, and regulation s.

’A subse quen t le tte r of th e same Pre late

(Drogh eda , 2oth May, 1 827) was probably less agre e able to Dr .

Blake , for it ran coun te r to o n e of his favouri te projacts withregard to th e n ew Irish Co ll ege at Rome .

“ As to whatyoumen tion

o f our sending thith er , for th e ir ulte ri or improvemen t, after fin ish

ing th e ir ordina ry studie s in our Co llege s h ere , some of our most

ta len ted and h ope ful studen ts, I can n ot, for th e mom en t, h o ld out anygre at encourageme n t . Th e great di stan ce and expense are gen erallyexcepte d again st as alm ost insupe rable difficulties, and promisingbut little utih ty Nay, at Mayn o o th th e ve ry pm ] ect has appeared

o ffensive an d rath er an in sult to that Co llege , wh ere th ey think a

stragglin g o n th e co n tin en t. Inde ed it happen ed, awkwardlye n ough , that po or Dr . Callan appeared to many to have lost ih

th ough made in your own company, and in fine , that coe lum, mm

an imam mutan t, &o .

” He wen t on to expre ss ve ry po in tedly his

regre t that Dr . Blake proposed to re turn to Ire land, and h e eve n

said that this step would be fatal to th e young Co llege . We

n e ith er have at pre se n t, n or can we expect to have for seve ral years

to come , any perso n to wh om we could confide the governm en t of

that Co llege . Such a pe rson sh ould be educated and form ed by

long and useful re siden ce at Rom e , and have mo re perso nal merit

th an is easilyme t with . I fear th at some part o f what my natural

sin cerity an d candour have obliged me to men tion above may be

disagre e able to you, and I am so rry for it, as I sh ould be very

h appy to rende r you any se rvice or kind and fri endly office in my

On e of th e le tters of A rchdeacon Blake—to give for o nce this

un familiar title—to which Dr . Curtis re ferred with praise , has

by som e ch ance fallen in to our hands , th ough it was eviden tly n ot

a mere copy or rough draft , but prepar ed for transmission to Dr .

Murray. Perhaps Dr . Blake , in tryin g to uti lise th e last momen t

be fore th e departure of th e mail , succe eded in just missin g th e

post by a few minutes, and th en , turning th e mischance to good

accoun t, made an improved second edition o f his letter . It is

dated “ Rome , October 1 2 , and te lls h ow h e had reach ed

372 fi e Ir isk JIo nt/z(y.

the Ete rn al City on th e 2nd of that m on th , about four o’clock in

th e afte rno on . Even h e could n o t begin his o fficial work that

e ven ing ; but th e n ext day h e waited on Cardi n al Somaglia and

Monsign o r Capran o . Wh en in vited to se t down in writing th e

o bjects of his missio n ,h e doe s no t allow himse lf two or thr e e days

for th e purpose , but th e n ext day prese n ts th e docume n t o f which

we have be fore us n ow th e copy that h e made fo r th e Irish A rch

bish ops. Th is state pape r info rms th e Emin e n tissimo Prin cipe in

Italian which is to o in te llig ible to be ve ry classical , that, th ough in

Ire land there are sem in arie s e n ough to supply a sufficien t numbe r

o f prie sts, ye t th e re is a lack of acquain tan ce with can on law ,

ceremon ial acco rding to th e Roman rite , and oth e r bran ch es o f

e cclesiastica l science ; and that, th e re fo re , th e A rchbish ops and

Bish ops of Ir e land would desir e to se e establish ed , at th e ce n tr e'

o f

Christian ity an d unde r th e eye o f th e common Fath e r of th e faith

ful , a co llege in which ce rtain cho se n stude n ts, who had almost

finish ed th e ir course in th e h ome semin ar ie s, m ight spen d two ye ars

in perfe cting th emse lves in th e ir th e o logica l studies, Th is, we

kn ew alr eady, was Dr . Blake’

s origin al idea , wh ich h e was soon

forced to modify . A s for th e means o f carrying out th e pro ject,h e enume rate s

“tr e ce n ta lire sterlin i ,

”that is scudi,

”

which h e brough t with him ; and h e says his library‘5will be

80 1 for £500. Probably h e ove rrated its marke t value , and a

remittan ce o f £ 1 50 from Dr . Yo re was, pe rhaps, th e proce eds of

th e library. A frie nd had promised and h e re ckon ed on

g e tting back all that remain ed of th e prope rty of th e o ld Ir ish

Co llege in which h e himse lf had studied thirty years be fore .

Why was n ot th is docume n t give n whe n we descr ibed th e

weary lustmm that Dr . Blake spe n t at Rome re foun ding th e Ir ish

College N emo da t quad non ha bet. Som e also of Dr . Murray’s

lette rs came to our hands subseque n tly. Th e earliest of th ese

se ems to have be e n sen t to Dr . Blake afte r h e had se t out o n his

Roman m ission , although it is date d A ugust 27 , 1 824, and

a lth oug h we h ave just se en th at Rome was on ly reach ed on th e

2nd o f Octobe r by a pilgrim who was n o t wo n t to loiter on the

way. In this first letter and in most of th e o th e rs th e Ir ish Siste rs

of Ch arity se em to h o ld th e first place in th e write r’s thoughts

I pray YO“ to urg e . W ith a ll your influe n ce , th e appro ba ti o n of th e Rules and

(b ustitutio ns o f th e Siste rs of Charity. Th e Mo n ks o r Bro th ers of th e Ch rist ian’

Sch ools, wh o ,recen tly o bta in ed th e sanction of th e ir Co n stitution s, afford a preceden t

374 1 71 0 [r isk Month ly.

From th e priests o f L ifley stre et , and th e

Re v .Mr . Kinse lla , of Carlow,fo r th e re

building of St. Paul’s Church ,

From myse lf for th e same purpose ,

Balan ce of your forme r accoun t after

2 9 0

£242 2 9 Irish .

Th e preceding sums produced th e En g lish bill wh ich is marked o n th e re ve rse ,

a nd wh ich wh en turn ed in to Romsn crown s you must take th e tro uble o f applying

Wer e it n o t for th e distr essed stats of our n ew ch apel , wh ich owes about £7000

- fo r th e re co ve ry of wh ich th e con tractors have en te red a lawsuit aga inst me and

some of th e parish io n e rs—I h ave n o doubt but I sh ould be able to procur e a muchla rger sum fo r th e rebui lding o f St Paul

’s. But wh ile my own ch ape l is in dan

ge r of be ing se iz ed on by th e cre dito rs, applications (at least o n my part) fo r th e

above purpo se , h ow much so ever it is ca lcula ted to en gage th e fe e l ing s o f e ve ry

Cath o lic , must be almost h ope le ss.

On Monday n ext , th e fe ast of St . Lauren ce O’Too le , th e patro n of thisDiocese ,

we are to open our n ew chape l (wh ich we n ow ca ll a church ) , alth ough it is in a

Y ou will be surpr ised to h ea r , if you have n o t yet h eard it , tha t on th e 29th

ult. I marr ie d MarquessWellesley to Mrs. Patte rson ,a widow lady of A m er ica , a

Roman Cath o l ic , and siste r -in -law to Mrs. Jerome Bo n aparte . Th e cer em ony was

Our partial confer en ces, at all ofwh ich I could n o t assist , were n o t as we ll

a ttended as I could wish . I have th er efo re e stabli iih ed on e g en e ral co nfer en ce fo r al l

th e secular pr ie sts of Dublin , to be h e ld in my own pre sen ce in your larg e parlour ;

a nd th is I find to answer t be tte r . I have run out my papar and said little ,

a nd have n ow on ly space to request you to wr ite to me o ften . and to be lieve m e

De ar Dr . Blake ,

D . Mvm r .

Th e chape l which we n ow call a church , was th e prese n t

Pro -Cath edr al in Marlborough-str e et . Dr . Curtis and all th ese

o ld bish ops h ad exce llen t style s of hand-writing , n on e bo lde r o r

cleare r th an Dr . Murray’s, fr om which we prin t a lette r that starte d

from North Cumberland-stre e t (what number i’ ) th e mon th fo llowing th e preceding letter

l lublin , l 7th De cembe r , 1 825.

Mr Dm Do e ro a Bu n s ,

Th ough it will n o t , I fe ar , be po ssible fo r m e a t pr ese n t to g ive you mo re th an

a few lin e s , I am anxious n o t to le t th is post pass with out puttin g you in posseu io u

o f th e se n timen ts o f th e A rch bish ops r egardin g your pre sen t pro spe cts at Ho m e .

A s far as th ey have be e n made a cqua in te d with your proce edin gs, th ey h ig h lyappro ve of a ll th a t you h ave said and don e in th e ir name and in th e ir be half, an d

in pa rticular th ey appro ve of th e man n er in which you urg ed your objecti on s

Miclme l B la ke, Bishop of Dr omor e . 375

(wh ich are a lso th e irs) again st th e placin g of an Italian Rector at th e h ead o f th e

in ten ded Ir ish Co llege . In addi tion'

to th e argum en ts wh ich you used , I beg to add

th a t on e o f our obje cts in wish in g to h ave a re spectable Ir ish Clergyman a t th e

th rough wh om we could fre e ly an d safe ly commun ica te with th e cen tr e o f Ca th o lic

un ity. Th is obje ct would be wh o lly defea ted by th e propo sed plan . Th e Eng lish

can go ve rn th e ir co lle ge at Rom e th r ough a Na ti ona l Supe rio r ; th e Sco tch can do

th e same ; it is th en on ly th e Ir ish th at a re conside red unfit fo r th e e n joym en t of

such an advan tag e . In sh o rt, a co lle g e with an Ita lian Re cto r was n o t so licited by

n ouncedwith expre ssio ns o f gra titude , to wh ich every h e art amon g na was raspou

sive , th at th e Ho ly Fath e r had mo st be n ign ly g ran te d th e praye r of our pe tition .

If th is un fo re se e n difi culty impede th e accomplishm en t o f our h opes, we h ave , o f

course , n o r igh t to compla in but we have g re a t re aso n to re g re t tha t an e arlier

in tima tion o f it did n o t enable you to save much valua ble tim e and much mo n ey,

which could h ave bee n o th e rwise mo re profitably employed . If th e co n ditions

which you me n ti o n be ul timate ly in sisted o n , you h ave but to de clin e , in th e m o st

re spe ctful mann e r po ssible , th e gracious o ffer o f his Ho lin e ss . I do n o t kn ow

wh e th e r , in tha t case , you will stand in n e ed o f a procuration fr om na to no -transfe r

th e mo n ey wh ich yo u veste d in th e Rom an funds. If ao , send me by th e re turn of

th e post th e fo rm of on e , an d it will pr obably o ve rtake th e A rch bish ops in Dublin ,

a s th e Co llege Truste es are to me et on th e 1 8th Jan uary, and will n o t separate fo r

a few days. Your last le tte r reach ed th e in sixte en days , and I pe rce ive th at min e

reach ed you in se ven te en days. I hurry off this, tha t I may have a ch an ce o f re

ce ivin g your answe r dur in g th e sittin g of th e board. It was o n ly o n th e 3rd inst .

th at I answered Monsign o r Capt an c’e le tte r e n closin g th e Pope

’s circular r egardin g

St . Paul’s . I m en tion ed to h im tha t I had transmitted to you my po o r ofler ing ,

a nd prayed h im to e n tre a t Hi sHo lin e ss’s gracious acceptan ce o f it . I h ave justlea rn ed that po o r Dr . Russe ll h as go t a bilious fe ve r . Sh ould it be afte r a ll n ece s

sa ry fo r you to re tur n h ome , r e infects , you will n o t th ink o f stir rin g un til afte r

Easter . I may have , to o , some commissio ns fo r you, which I cann o t me n tio n , or

ra th er wh ich I n eed n o t men tion un til afte r your n ext lo tto r . Mr . Yone is do in gyour duty with g rea t z ea l and effect .

I rema in , dear Docto r Blake ,

Yours most faithfully,D . Mnm r .

I h ope youwill be enabled to say tha t our Ho ly Fath e r is quite recove red.

”

This en e rge tic le tte r se ems to have had th e de sired effect, for ,wh e n th e n ext le tte r was wr itte n , 8th January, 1 827 , the Ir ishCo ll ege seems to have be en begun on th e origin al plan , as th ere is

question already of re lie ving Dr . Blake , and yie lding to his e n

tr eaty to have a successo r appo in ted. But th e oth er object of Dr .

Murray’

s so licitude woul d se em to be still at this time very far

fr om be ing re alised . For h e discussed th e objections as fo llows

I must n ow beg to say a word about th e difliculties wh ich have be en urg ed

a ga inst th e appro ba tion of th e Co n sti tution s of th e Sisters o f Ch arity. Th e first is

th e in compatibili ty o f en clo sure with th e na tur e o f th e ir institute , and th e co n se

376 The Ir id e Month ly .

que n t in expedien cy o f its rules be in g approved by th e Ho ly See , whe r eby it wo uld

be made a Re l igi ous Order . 2ndly, th e dan g em to wh ich our Siste rs of Cha rity are

exposed , with out any pro te ction from th e G o ver nm en t o r civil magistrate . 3rdly ,

th e Supe r io re ss o f th e wh o le Order is required to be subje ct to th e A rchbish op o f

Dublin , which m igh t ma r th e spre adin g o f th e Orde r o r give occasion to trouble

some remonstran ce s .

I must say I was somewh a t surpr ised a t re adi n g th e first difilculty. I n e ve r

th ough t of procur ing fo r th e Sisters o f Cha r ity th e dign i ty o f a re lig ious o rder .

Th e ir name is th e Pious Congr ega tion o f th e Siste rs o f Charity. Th e appro bati o n o f

th e ir Co nstitutio n s by th e Ho ly Se e'

would give th em n o title to th e privilege s of, a

re lig ious o rde r , n o r would it take th e h o ly e ngag em en ts in to which th e Siste rs e n te r

out o f th e ran k of simple vows. Be n edict XIV . in h is Br ief, Qumm ‘

u j usto , clear lydraws th e distin ction be twe e n th e approba tio n o f th e rule s o f a pious In stitute by

th e Ho ly Se e and th e approbation o f th e In stitute itse lf . Pro vin g th a t the Vi rg ina

A ng lican“ did n o t con stitute a re lig ious o rde r , th ough th e ir rule s we re appro ved by

Cl eme n t XI. in h is Brie f, Im cr uta bih . His Ho lin e ss says Ipsis danigue Liter is

appo site . leg itur clausula sa lutaris , vide lice t, Cae te rum n o n in te ndimus pe r

praesen te s ipsum Co nse rvato rium in aliquo approba re qua e tun c appon i con

suevit cum appr oba n tur seu confirman tur Re gula e a liq us Co nse rvatorii an t

Monaste rii muli e rum sin e clausura viven tium . His Ho lin e ss afte rwards de cides

auth or ita tively, Virg in e s A n g licanas n on e sse v e ré R e l ig io sas ,’an d tha t th e ir

prom ises a re but simple vows. Now th e se are pre cise ly th e Rules so appro ved byCl em en t XI. and confirm ed by Be n edict XIV . unde r which th e first foun dre sses of

o ur Siste r s o f Ch ar ity we re in Yo rk tra in ed to a re lig ious life , an d un de r wh ich

R ifle s they we re o rde red to live , as far as sh ould be compa tible with th e duti es o f

th e ir Institute . Fin din g th at , fo r th is purpo se , exte n sive alte ra ti ons sh ould be

made,th ey th ough t it be tte r , with th e appro batio n o f my illustri ous predece sso r ,

r e ta ini n g th e spir it of th e ir fo rm e r rul es, to fo rm a n ew bo dy of re gula ti on s mo re

an a lo g ous to th e ir prese n t dutie s. Th is is th e body o f re gu la tion s subm itted to th e

Ho ly Se e by my predecesso r and by m e , an d we so licited fo r it o n ly th e sam e ap

pro batio n wh ich had be e n g iven to th e rules un de r wh ich th e Siste rs h ad, as far as

po ssible , pmviously lived.

Th e seco n d difficulty exists only in nam e . Th e Siste rs a re lo oked on with

ve n e ratio n by a ll . I n e ve r h e a rd o f an in sul t be in g ofle red to th em , and you will ,

pe rhaps, be surprised to lea rn tha t wh e n th ey visit th e po o r fem ale co n victs in th e

jail o f Kilm a inh am (as th ey ar e in th e h abit of do in g ) th ey a re a lwayswe lcomed bya ll th e ofiice rs o f th e pr iso n , and are tre ated by th em o n a ll o ccasio ns with e ve ry

possible ma rk o f respe ct.

To th e th ird difiioulty I say th a t th e Clwf - l ieu, o r Mo th e r House o f th e

Institute , is in Dublin . Th at is th e n a tur al re side n ce o f th e Supe rio re ss, as it

affo rds th e g re ate st facil ity o f commun ica tio n . Th e In stitute,to o , was e stablish ed

pr incipa lly fo r Dublin ; and , if o th e r Pre la te s in troduce it in to th e ir dioce ses, this

r egula tio n could n o t afio rd an y gr ie vous groun d o f offen ce , a s th e Siste r s a re sub

je ct in e ach diocese to th e jur isdicti o n o f th e Ordin a ry. But if it be expedien t to

alte r th is re gula tion , le t it be so don e I do n o t object to th e ch an ge .

Yours affection a te ly in Ch r ist.D . Mun as r .

Th ose wh o are in te re sted in this subject must fo r fulle r detailscon sult Mrs. A tkinson

’

s admir able biography of Mary A ike nh e ad,


upon which we have already refe rred to , and some to wh ich we

must re turn

Dr . Blake aided with all his en ergy and his wisdom th e late Mrs. I ‘A nlsy in

g lory of Ire land’s la tter days

—nu Orde r wh ich has be en blessed with a wonde rful

e fficien cy for all good works , and with a most sin gular and almost miraculous

fe zundity. Plan ted. like th e g ra in of mustard-se ed, in th e pa rish o f St . A n drew’s ,

some ye ars ago , it h as lite rally spre sd to th e very ends of th e e arth , bearin g to

e very clime th e embodied imag e o f tha t mercy which came fr om h e aven to seek

wh at was lost , to bind wha t was bro ke n , and to strength en wha t was weak .

Wh ere ve r tha t Orde r dwells , le t it be kn own that it owes its existence and its fo rmin a great m e asure to th e illustr ious Dr . Blake . Se ve ral ch aritabl e in stitutio ns ,such as St . Joseph

’s A sylum , Po rtland Row, th e Purgator ian Socie ties, and OM S ,

owe th e ir existence to his ch arity . Char ity made h im a pa trio t in th e true sen se o f

Dr . Blake was n o t o n e o f th ose narrow-minded men wh o can sympath ise on lywi th

th ose wh o th ink and act like th emselves . He loved all wh o sin cere ly loved th e ir

o f Dr . Blake’s charity, an d illustrative o f h is wh o le ch aracter , e ver practica l , e ver

active , eve r in ven tive in we ll -do ing . Wh en in Dublin , h e perce ived th e little

ch imn ey swe epe rs o f th e city we r e most de stitute of spiritua l care . Put to th e ir

wre tch ed trade in ea rliest ch ildh ood , th ey h ad n o oppo rtun ity Oi g e tting sch ool

education . Th e ir so o ty faces and th eir dirty clo th e s pre ve n ted th e ir atten dance a t

worsh ip o r instruction on Sundays. He bro ugh t th em to ge th e r in a li ttl e con tra

a ttending a t Mass . He induced th em by li ttle rewards and feasts to me e t for

instructio n in ca tech i sm , and it was his practice o n Chr istmas-day to e at h is o n

Chr istmas dinn e r at th e same table and in company with th ese poor little chimn ey

g raced th e mo st bri llian t socie ty, n e ve r feasted mo re ch ee rfully than with th ese

th e poo r est an d lowliest o f h is flo ck.

’

The re is a phrase in this passage wh ich se ems to me to illustr ate

rath er str ikingly th e difficulty which ofte n puz z les n a as to th e

m e an ing of certa in thin gs in an cie n t auth ors, which , n o doubt, to

th e ir con tempo raries appeared perfectly clear and in te lligible .

He loved all who sincere ly loved th e ir n ative land, whethe r they

we r e o ld or young .

” Many of our reade rs are too young to de tect

in th e words I have ital icised a cleve r allusion to th e unh appy

division s towards th e close of O’Conn e ll

’s life , which broke up th e

Irish Nation alists in to Old Ire land and Young Ire land. Though

d evoted to O’Conn e ll, Dr . Blake , like Dr . Moriarty himse lf, was

able to appreciate th e fin e qualities of G avan Duffy and his con

federates ; and accordingly h e appeared as a witn ess for th e de

fence , n o t on ly in th e State Tr ials of 1 844, but also five years late r

Michae l Blake , B t'

s p of Dr omore . 379

in the tr ial of th e editor of The Natio n . Ou th e first of the setwo occasions h e addressed th e fo llowing lette r to his devo ted and

valued frie nd, Mr. James Murphy

Vio le t Hill , Nowry,

Janua ry 28, 1 844 .

I rece ived a le tter th is mo rning from Mx. M. Cre an , Deputy Se cre ta ry to th e

Re peal A ssocia tion , and an o th er from Mr . G art lan , law ag en t fo r th e trave rse“

m any on Wedn esday n ext . I regre t very much th at I ha ve be en se le cted for tha t

purpose , for I live so secluded from po litical socie ty and so co nfin ed to my own

con tinue my usual exertions h ere , I am still much an n oyed by a n igh t-cough .

Th e sta te of my h e ar ing also make sme appr eh ensive o f acquittin g myse lf very imperfe ctly wh e n I have to answe r in te rro g a tio ns . Howeve r , as th e request h as be e nsen t to me

,I th ough t it righ t at least to sh ow my g oodwill ; and th e refo re I h ave

wr itten to Mr . Cre an that Iwill be in Dublin , ple ase G od , o n n ext Tuesday even

service fo r wh ich I h ave been se lected, but th at I would atte nd un le ss I sh ould

I beg , th er e fo re , to trouble you with two requests : first , that you will providefo r me a lodg in g in Mr .Walsh

’s fo r Tue sday and Wedn esday n igh t , and se condly,

that you will enquir e o f Mr . Oman wh e th er my a tte ndance be still co nside red ex

A s I must e ngage my sea t immediate ly fo r Tue sday, th e re will n o t be h e

I rema in very sin ce re ly,

De ar Mr . Murphy,Your fa ithful servan t ,

M . Bu n .

Th e e loquen t Bish op of Kerry, in th e passage quoted be foreth is le tte r , me re ly n ame s St . Jo seph

’s A sylum ,

Po rtland-row,

Dublin ; yet th is institutio n is e n titled to mom than a pas

sing men tion in any ske tch of Dr . Blake . Am ong th e manyworks of chr istian ben evolen ce which h e founded o r h e lped to

main tain ,this was, perhaps, his wo rk o f predil e ctio n .

‘ It is still

m aintain ed in full vigour among us,and it has quite recen tly

be en placed o n a stil l more perman en t basis by be ing confided to

th e care o f a commun ity of th e Po o r Se rvan ts of th e Moth e r o f

A very in te restin g accoun t of St. Joseph’s and of som e h o ly so uls conn ected

HimEllen Ker r—will be found in a little book publish ed by th e Ca th o lic'Ih'uth

Socie ty : A Sh rin e an d a Story,”by th e auth or of Zybom o , wh om we ven ture to

iden tify with Mo th e r Magda len Taylo r , th e Supe rio r-G en er al o f th e n ewe st com

mun ity in troduced in to Dublin to take ch arg e o f St. Joseph’s A sylum .

380 Ti m Ir ish Mon th ly.

A sylum fo r single fema les of unblemish ed life was Mr . James

Murphy,who is still, afte r more than half a cen tury, as earnest

and as active in promoting th e we lfare of th is h o ly institution

as h e h as be e n with out in te rmission every week during all th e

interve n ing years. In all like lih ood this will be Dr . Blake’

s most

lasting m emorial . Eve ry se rmon pr eached for its ben efit, e ve rydocumen t issued in conn ectio n with it, m entions him as th e founde r .

His in te rest e ndured till his de ath , and n o doubt beyond it. It

was h e who preached th e fir st charity se rmon for this his favour ite

institution in th e Chur ch o f th e‘

Jesuit Fath e rs, St. Francis,

Xavie r’

s, Uppe r G ardi n e r Stre e t, on th e

.

5th of May,and

for th e following six years conse cutive ly h e came to Dublin to

plead th e sam e cause , in th e same church which h as liste n ed to th e

same appe al eve ry year sin ce th en . Th e last se rmo n h e e ve r

pre ach ed in h is o ld di oce se was de livered in the little church o f

St . Joseph , Portland Row, on th e occasion of the dedicatio n o f th e

church, Octobe r 1 5th , 1 856 , thus testifying h ow endur ing was

h is in te re st in th is in stituti on . A n oth er in stan ce of his sol icitude

for St. Jo seph’

s : wh en h e himse lf could n o longer , on'

accoun t o f

h is advan ced age and infirmities, journ ey to Dublin to preach th eA n nua l Se rm o n

, h e deputed h is ve n e rated co adjutor, th e Most

Rev. Dr . Leahy, to do so on two occasion s. A nd in his last will

h e says : I h e reby direct my exe cuto rs to divide my asse ts in to

twe lve sh are s, of wh ich th re e share s are to be given to th e ben efit

of St . Jo seph’s A sylum , Portland Row, Dublin , th at my soul may

be prayed fo r by its inmate s in offe ring up th e ir praye rs, particu

larly at Mass.

’Th e o th e r participato rs in h is po sthumous

charity on ly rege ive two shar es o r on e .

In pre vious portion s of this n e ce ssarily desultory sketch we

h ave alluded in ciden tally to th e co rdial fr iendship be twe e n Dr .

Blake and O’Conn e ll . Th e library of th e Un iversity of Notre

Dam e , in In dian a , h as a copy of O’Co nn e ll

’s Memo ir o f Ire land ,

Native and Saxon , on th e fly-le a f of which is this in scription in

the big , brawny hand-wr itin g o f th e Libe rato r : Respectfully

and affectio n ate ly in scribed to his ever-ven e rated fri end, th e Righ t

Rev. Dr . Blake , Lord Bish op o f Dromore , by Dan ie l O’Co nn e ll ,

M.P. , February 1 5, 1 843 . A t a public me e ting in Dublin h e

paid th is tr ibute

A m ore pure apostle was n o t in th e Church from th e days o f St . Pe te r to th e


he n e ve r made a remark about his food, wh e th er it suited him o r

n ot, alth ough h is h ealth in h is last ye ars re quired great care inthis respe ct. Inste ad of calling on h is attendan t, h e would him

se lf carry large books upstairs, whilst so fe eble as to be forced to

rest several time s on th e way. He on ce rebuked a servan t sharply

in th e pre sen ce of o th e rs, fo r n aturally h is tempe r was quick ; buthe to ok occasion that sam e e ven ing , wh en all th e se rvan ts we re

toge th e r , to make an humble apo logy.

He made h is visitatio n of eve ry parish in h is n ot very exte n

sive di oce se eve ry year , exam ining every child care fully in Ch ris

tian Doctri n e . He distributed edition afte r edition of an exce llen t

praye rbo ok which be compiled fo r his pe ople'

. In h is own Cath e

dral in Newry h e pre ach ed assiduously to his pe ople , even wh en

so enfe ebled and crippled as to require th e assistan ce of two pe r

son s to m ake h is way in to th e pulpit . We do n o t pre ten d that

the eage rn ess o f a ll hi s flock to h ear th e ir old bish op, with th e

sn ows of e ighty-five win ters upon his h ead, was equal to his

fide lity to his supposed duty. Fo r instan ce , on e poo r woman , wh o

was probably re spon sible for th e Sun day din n er of h er husband

and seve ral h ealthy young appe tite s, was ove rh e ard remarkin gon such an occasion Lord ble ss na, th e putting him in and

ge tting him out will take an h our ! —and off she started to cate r

fo r th e h e althy appe tite s afore said. Th e re ade r will n otice h ere

and e lsewh e r e our readin e ss to admi t a little sh ading in to th e pic

ture by way of vari ety, if th e mate r ials requisite fo r this purposeh ad be en forthcomin g .

From sundry publish ed bo oks , some of which we have n amed,

and fr om th e m emorie s of ce rta in prie sts and o th ers wh o we re o nce

younge r th an th ey are , it would be possible to gath e r several o th e r

particulars about Michae l Blake , Bishop o f Dromore . But, pro

bably, it is mo re judicious to leave off he re ; and, in do ing ao , I

have before my m ind a remark of Sir A r thur He lps th at th e art

o f lse ying ofi‘

judiciously is but th e art of beginn ing som e th inge lse wh ich n e e ds to be do n e .

A mo ng th e n o te s th at I h ave passed ove r , o n e refers to le tte rs

publish ed in th e n ewspape rs’ by Dr . Blake in th e begin n ing of his

I h n d th e se da te s in th e A n n a ls o f Batte rsby’

s Ir ish Ca th o lic D ire cto ry fo r

1 838 ; but a hurr ied visit to th e library o f Clo n lifie Co lleg e did n o t e nable m e to

fin d th e le tte rs in itswaluable se r ie s o f The Freeman’s Jour n al . A t th at tim e

b ish ops an d priests divided th e ir pa tro n ag e as re gards such do cumen ts be twee n

M ohae l Blake , s /wp of Dromo re . 383

episcopate : about th e hardships of Cath olic ten ants in Newry

(Jan . 1 4, and about th e Elections (July 28, Oi a

very differen t n atur e is the last lette r we sh all quote from our o ld

bish op, th e'

late st specimen of h is h an dwriting ,‘

firm and cle ar to

the e nd, dated a few mon ths befo re his de ath

Vi o le tHill , Newry,“ A ug ust 1 8 , 1 859 .

Dan Ravxam Mam as ,

ar e n o t expe cted from ch ar itable don o rs fo r th e objects o f your Institution . Th e

widow’s mite , wh en ofler ed fr om a truly ch aritable mo tive , is ve ry acceptable in th e

sigh t of G od. A crown or h alf-crown , o r a sh il lin g o r a sixpen ce , wh e n fr equen tly

give n ,is m ore like ly to be o f se rvice on o rdin ary occasion s and m o re like ly to

exe rcise a spirit o f ch arity than large r sum , an d wh en th at spirit is o fte n exe r

cised, it be comes h abitual , and n o t on ly ea sy but gratifying to its pom r . I

kn ow tha t my cle rgy am n o t able to31 7 0 much a lm sde eds o r to do g rea t pecun ia ry

ch aritable acts, and.

I may say th e same of myse lf ; but a small sum g ive n from

tim e to tim e would n ot long be missed wh en g ive n fo r so good and so g'

re at a pur

pose . I am anxi ous , th erefore , to en courage that practice , an d I wish to beg in by

example , an d n ow sen d as my first con tri bution o n e pound as some little impulse

fo r th e success of th e little plan for th e po o r wh ich I have so much at h ea rt . May

th e Fath e r of Me rci es and th e G od o f all con so la tion pour in upon your establish

m e n t abundan ce o f means fo r th e constan t exe rcise o f th at spe cial virtue wh ich is

so de ar to Him , is th e fe rven t praye r ,

De ar Re ve re nd Mo th e r ,

Of your fa ithful se rvan t in Ch rist ,

MIOKA EL Bu n .

To the Rev. Mo the r Supe rior of th e vene r able

of the Siste rs of K orey in v y.

The fath er ly regard which Dr . Blake thus to th e last sh owed

to wards th e Siste rs of Me rcy did n o t dimin ish th e in te rest h e had

taken fr om th e first in th e pion e e r con ven t of th e Black North “

th e Po o r Clar e s who had bo ldly sen t out a colony from Har old’s

Cr oss, Dublin , to th e High Str e e t of Newry, som e th irty ye ars

be fore th e first Siste rs of Me rcy ve n tured across the Boyn e . The

two commun ities also shared equally in th e distribution of h is little

prope rty directed in his will .

That te stament began with th e se wo rds : I beque ath my soul

to G od, firmly be lievin g in th e gracious promises of my Divin e

Re de em e r , and humbly confiden t ofHis me rcy. I desire that mybody may be buried in th e graveyard adjo ining the o ld Roman

Th e Fr eeman an d Th e Dublin Even ing Post, which makes it harde r to trace refe re n ce s

of this kin d than it would be n owadays, wh en Th e From » en joys a mon opo ly o f

th is branch of l ite rature .


Cath o lic Church ofN ewry, with out any un n ecessary expe nse , in a

plain cofl‘in , a nd that a slab or sma ll he adsto n e be placed at th e

h ead o f my grave , with a simple inscr iption expressive of myhumble h ope of a happy re surre ctio n , and supplicatin g th ose who

come afte r m e to pray for th e happy repo se of my immortal soul .”

Th e Bishop was bur ied acco rding ly in th e gr aveyard of th e Old

Chape l but th e fo llowing inscriptio n has no t obeyed h is oth er

dir ection s pe rhaps as fully as his humility would have desired. It

may fitly co n clude th e sketch , which it summarise s we ll, addingth e o n ly remain ing date , th e day and year of Dr . Blake

’

s death

Here lie s th e body o f th e Right Rev. Mi chae l Blake , D.D .,

fo r twe n ty-se ven years Bish op o f Dromo re . Pre viously Vicar

G e n e ral of Dublin , Re sto re r and t o r‘of th e Ir ish Co llege at

Rome . Th e wh ole course of his long life was distin guish ed by

pie ty, charity to th e po o r , and z e al fo r th e in te re sts of re ligion .

Unwear ied in the fulfilme n t o f h is arduous duties, h e co n tinued to

disch arge th em assiduously, e ven wh en bowed down by age and

infirm ities ; and h e n e ve r ceased to pre ach th e words of e te rnal life

un til h e was laid in th e bed of de ath . Born 1 6th July, 1 775, h edied 6th March

,1 860, in th e sure hope of th e fin al resurrectio n .

Pray fo r h is repose .

A nd so o f a h oly life , and of a simple an d straggling reco rd of

it , th is is at last

rm : sxo .

386 Tim IN Sh Mon ti: 131 .

It was in th e e arly part of a dark ra iny n igh t I was call ed to

th e o ld woman . Th e kitch e n was full o f kzppeens o r faggots ; th e

o ld man hung groping over th e fir e , and th e invalid was in th e

r oom . A n e ighbouring woman got some things ready fo r m e .

Th e bed was wre tched , th e walls we re black an d damp, and th e

rain through th e ro o f dropped and patte red o n th e floor , so that a

piece of a bo ard was laid on th e flo o r for me to stand o n . Neve ra word of complain t from that po or woman ; th e on ly thing th at

troubled h e r was Oh vo th at th e po o r priest h ad to com e out

in sick a nigh t

I prepared h e r , gave h e r Ho ly Viaticum , an o in te d h e r ,

a nd wh en all was ove r , Fath er ,”sh e said, I fe e l so h appy th at ,

if you like , asthor e , I’ll sin g you a so ng .

”

I asked th e woman in attendan ce to ge t th e po o r o ld couple

some n ourishme n t , and le ft , thanking G o d fo r giving such happi

n e ss of m ind to our po o r .

A fte r a time sh e re cove red ; but quite re ce n tly I was ca ll ed to

th e o ld m an . He was re lig ious and pious all h is days ; and wh e n

h e was to ld that th e prie st was n ow come,h e began to cry out in

h is earn e stn e ss Oh , h ow can I e ver me e t G od P How ca n I

e ve r go be fore G od It was n o t de spair at all—it was an o ver

wh e lmin g sense of th e purity of G od ; some thing akin to wh at

drew from th e Ce n turion the cry, m emorable eve r since Lo r d,I am n o t wo rthy th at you sh ould e n te r unde r my ro o f. He

r e ce ived th e Ho ly Viaticum calmly and with in te nse devo tion

Wh e n h e was to ld about th e effe cts o fExtr eme Un ction and h ow it

take s away th e sin s of our eye s and o f e ach of our se nses, an d

wh e n I said to him,I em go ing to do that n ow and th en as I

an o in ted his eye s, th ank you, h e said—and his ears, th ank

you— and his n ostr ils and lips, thank you.

” Wh en I an o in tedh is hands, h e raised th em hastily to h is lips, and kissed th em

warmly and h eartily ; and then h e cr ied , Now wh en I mee t G od .

I can shake hands with Him .

”A nd h e kissed th em again and

again , crying out , Now wh en Ime e t my G od, I can shake hands

with Him .

R . O’K.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

l . Th e Coadjutor Bish op o f Clo nfe rt h as made a n oble addition

to our Irish h istor ical lite rature in g ivin g us th is larg e octavo vo lume

e ntitled Insula Sancto rum e t Docto rum, o r Ir e land’

sA n cie n t Sch oo ls

and Soh o (Dublin : Se aly, Bryors, and Walk e r ) . Th e se condarytitle r eca lls to o n e

’s mind Mo th e r Raph ae l Dran e

’s most le arn ed wo rk ,

Ch ristian Sch o o ls and Sch o lars,”an d we in te nd to give th e h igh e st

pra ise to bo th wo rks wh e n we say th at th ey ar e worthy of be ingn am ed to g e th e r . Th e r esea rch e s, h oweve r , which th e

'

Ir ish bish oph ad to mak e in th e pe rfo rman ce o f h is task we r e of a much mo re

o r ig in a l a n d di fficult kind ; h e h as n o t only po r ed ove r th e o ld bo oks

and manuscri pts in th e librar ie s, but h e h as examin ed eve ry grave

ya rd and ruin in Ir e land th at may h ave be e n co n n ecte d with any part

o f h is subject . He h as th e true an tiquar ian spir it, but, luckily, fo r

se ttin g fo rth h is stor e s o f l e arn in g h e h ad at h is command a much

be tte r medium th an th e lumbe r in g style th a t h as found favour with

to o many le arn ed an tiquaries . Dr . He aly, on th e o th e r h and, do es n o t

a im at th e oste n tatiously pictur e sque mann e r o f some of our m odem s,

wh o se t th emse lves to popula r ise h isto ry o r phi lo sophy. His style iscle ar , un afiected; and vigo r ous ,

“and it is peculiar ly fitte d fo r his

prese n t th eme . Th e book Ope ns we ll with a larg e map o f A n cie n t

Ir e lan d, sh owin g th e ancie n t sch o o ls an d pr in cipal te rr ito r ial division s

be fo r e th e A n glo -No rman In vasion .

” Our li ttle island is r epre sen ted

as consistin g of only two par ts, divided by a lin e runn in g alm o st

straigh t from Dublin to G a lway. We can n o t n ow m en tion in e ve n

th e most summary way, th e con te n ts o f th e twe n ty-four ch apte rs wh ich

a re analysed at th e begin n ing mo r e fully and satisfacto rily th an th ey

are indexed a t th e end of thi s vo lum e . All about dr uids, bards, and

breh ons—all about Ir ish sch o o ls an d sch o lars befo r e St . Pa tr ick and

afte r St. Pa tr ick—a ll about St. Patr ick h imse lf, an d St . Br igid, and

St Co lman of Drom o r e , St. Ends o f Ar ran , St. Finn ian o f Clonard,

St . Bre ndan of Clonfer t, St . Fin n ian of Moville , St . Ciaran of Clon

We ven ture to cla im fo r this Maga z in e th e distinctio n of h aving be en Dr .

He aly’s first medium of publica tio n , In our seven th vo lume , fo r instan ce , we n o tice

e laborate pape rs from his pen o n Lo ugh De rg , o n G iraldua Cambrensis, and o n th e

A n nals o f Lo ugh Key. Will th e lea rn ed pre la te all ow na to iden tify h im with th e

J.H.

” wh o at page 638 of our fifth vo lum e thr ows in to fin e ro ll in g ba llad me tro

Hugh Ro e O’Donn ell

’

s A ddre ss t o his so ldie rs be fo re th e Ba ttle of th e Curlew

Moun ta in s P Th is poem alon e sh ows th e writer’s wonderfully minute acquain t


macn o ise , St . G e rald of Mayo , St . Co lumba, :St. Fin tan , St. A eng'

us,

St . Laurence O ’Too le , an d a gre at many o th er sa ints, and manyl e arn ed and h o ly men un can onised : the se ar e only a few o f th e sub

j e e ta o n which h ence forth every stude nt of th e ear ly histo ry o f Ch ris

t ian Ir e land will be bound to co nsult th e auth o r o f In sula Sanctorum

e t Docto rum , o r Ir e land’

s An cien t Sch oo ls and Sch o lars.

2 . Why do we spe ak o f Fath er D a Pon te It is by this n ame

th at Fath e r Fabe r quo te s h im . Th e Italian fo rm is rath e r dd Ponte

and why sh ould we mak e h im an Italian In h is own Spa n ish th e

n am e is de la Pue n te , in Latin De Pon te , in Fr e n ch Dupo n t , and, if

English we r e e qua lly tyran n ical in mak in g fo r e ign n am es confo rm to

i ts own patte rn ,we sh ould h ave a n am e comm on e n ough in En gland

a nd ca ll him Fath e r Lowis Br idg e . Pe rh aps th e Latin fo rm is th e

b est comprom ise , just aswe speak of Ble ssed Pe te r Fabe r , and n o t by

h i s Savoyard n am e o f Favr e . Fa th e r De Pon te cam e in to th e world

wh e n th e Socie ty o f Je sus was just twe n ty ye ars o ld, and h e was h ims e lf twen ty ye ars o ld wh en h e e n te r ed th e Socie ty. Wh e n we add

the fundam e n tal date—n ame ly, th at 1 534 was th e bir th -

year of th e

Company of Jesus—we fix Fa th e r De Po n te ’s place with r egard to St .

Igna tius, o f wh ose Exor cism Spir ituah'

a h e is th e mo st ce lebrated

comm en tato r , an d we se e h ow n e ar to th e foun tain -h e ad was this

copious stre am of spir ituali ty, wh ich h as eve r sin ce re fr e sh ed souls in

nume rable . His immcdia te maste r in th e r e ligious life was Fath er

Bal tassar A lvar e z , wh ose gr ea te st glo ry is der ived fr om St. Th ere sa ,

wh ose confesso r h e was for some tim e . He was deba rred by h is con

stan t de licacy—imm'

cal p otz’

us nulls vak tudina—fr om o th e r sacred

ministries, and h e dete rmi n ed to try an d mak e some compensatio n

with h is pe n . To h owmany th o usa nds of ch o sen souls h as h e pr each ed

in th e mo st e ffective mann e r dur in g th ese thr e e cen tur ie s?Fath e rLehmkuh l, S.I.

—wh ose own wo rk on Mo ra l Th e o logy h as be e n byfa r th e gr ea te st succe ss o f our tim e in its spe cia l departmen t

—h ase dited fo r Herde r of Fr iburg a n ew editio n o f th e Latin translatio n o f

Fath er De Pon te’

s Medita tio n s, in six h andy vo lume s , which will h e lpmany a priest in th e twe n tie th cen tury n o t to deg e n e ra te fr om th e

h igh th ough ts o f th e sons of G od.

”

3 . Two Tal e s th at h ad dr opped out of pr in t h ave r e appe ar ed in

seco nd editio n s . On e is Th e Wild Birds o f Kill e evy,” by Rosa Mul

h o lland (Lo ndon : Burn s and Oa te s) . Th e fo rm in wh ich it is r eproduce d is just as pr e tty as befo r e , wh ile th e pr ice is much less . Th is

idyllic roman ce is, in th e judgm en t o f many, even mo r e full of th e

auth o r ’s ch aracte r istic ch arm th an h e r mo r e matte r -o f-fact n ovels,

Ma rce lla G race ,”and A Fair Emi grant

—to n am e only th e mo r e

r ece n t vo lum es wh ich ar e still procurable . Th e o th er r eprin t is Mrs .

390 The Ir isk Monthly.

fur th e r o n , ano th e r r eviewe r descr ibe s th e same little vo lum e as“a

pleasin g book o f r e ligious ve rse , embracin g a la rg e numbe r o f

tran scr iptio n s o f o rdin ary praye rs, by a we ll -kn own wr it er . A t

g re ate r le ngth The M el dy Reg iste r o f May 24 , 1 890 , pr o n o unce s

th is kin dly judgme n t

Po e try an dYie ty have co nspired with ch a rmin efle ct in Fa th e r Russe ll's la test

a nd we ll -n am ed ittle boo k , The Ha rp o f Jam s. t is a praye r-bo ok in ve rse , a

l ittle bre via ry, o r boo k o f h ours fo r ch ildre n , an d for th o se g rown-up pe rso ns wh o

h ave kept th e ir child-h e art pious in th e th ough t th at G od is th e ir Fath e r , and tha t

th ey a re His ch ildre n , a re la tio n wh ich is th e ve essen ce o f is ey and th e ve rymean ing o f th e wo rd . Fo llowin g th e Ve n e rable e , Fath e r usse ll th inks tha tth e youn g may be drawn mo r e e asily to le arn and to re cite praye rs in rhyme , andso to lisp in numbe rs ,

’th ough th ey may n o t be buddin g poe ts. A nd th e ve rses o f

th is bo o k will admir ably a tta in th at e nd ; fe rven t as th e are , and pithy, and toth e po in t . Th e re is a subtle and se emin 1 a lmost see art in many o f th o

pa raphrases. Th e Our Fa th e r ,’th e Hailflu

'

y,’th e A po stles

’

Cre ed.’th e pro se

o f th e se n o po e t sh a ll supe rse de but we do n o t fe e l th e sam e abo ut Th e Meditat io n o n th e Sig n o f th e Cro ss ,

’o r Th e A cts o f Fa ith , Hope , Cha r ity and Con

triti o n .

’Th e book is sma ll en ough ,

as we ll as pleasan t and pious e n oug h , to becarried in th e breast po cke t

—n ear th e h e a rt .”

6 . Some o f o ur r eade rs may occasio n ally h ave n o ticed th at we do

n o t fe e l bound to praise a bo ok m e r e ly be cause it h appens to be

wr itten by a we ll - in te n tio n ed Cath o lic and bro ugh t out by a Cath o lic

publish e r . In particula r we h ave a so rt o f spite aga inst sto r ies with

a con tr ove rsia l smack wh e r e eve ryth ing is edifyin g and smoo th in

r e lig ious m a tte rs, but wh e re o fte n th e sto ry is ve ry po o r an d th e

th eo logy somewh at ch ildish . This pe rso n a l obse rvatio n is m e an t to

emph asise th e h ear ty praise th at we ar e able to be stow on a n ew bo ok“

by Mr s. Parson s , Th omas R ile to n (London : Burns and Oa te s) .It is, inde ed, fr an kly co n trove rsia l , but th e co n trove rsy is ve ry go od

o f its kin d, and it is bo il ed down judiciously in an in te r e sting n arra

tive with a go od many n ice ch ar acte rs an d a fa ir amoun t o f inciden t .

Th e r e scue o f Deddin g’

s da ugh te r is n o t made pro bable e n ough ,

for as a r ath e r pr ecipitate r eader could pe rce ive . Ar e n o t th e co n

versio n s a littl e ove rcr owded? Mrs. Parson s h as an excelle n t style o f

h e r own , and th at is a gre a t advan tage even in a r e ligious n ove l.

7 . Th e publish e r o f Fa th e r Le hmkuhl ’e De Pon te—He rde r o f

Fr e iburg , wh o h as h ouses also in Mun ich , Str asburg , and Vienna

publish e s a t St. Louis i n Missour i an admirable e ssay by Mr . Co nde

Pal len , Th e Cath o lic Ch urch and So cialism .

”Of a mo re practica l

ch aracte r ar e two e arn e st addr e sses to th e Bro th e rs o f th e Orato ry o f

St . Ph ilip Ne r i in Lo n don whi ch Fath e r Ken e lm Digby Be st h as

publish ed un de r th e titl e Why no good Catho lic can be a Socialist

(London : Burns an d Oa te s ) . Th e Orato r ian Fath e r discusse s Socia lism in its r e lation s with property, and with auth o rity, quo tin g manydecr e e s be ar ing on th e subje ct .

8 . Fath e r Mo n sabre, O .P. , wh o h as fill ed th e pulpit o f Notr e

Notes on N e wBooks . 39 1

Dame in Par is fo r some twe n ty Le n ts, de vo ted o n e se r ies o f his co n

fer e n ce s to Ch r istian Matr im ony. M . Hoppe r h as transla ted th is

vo lum e , and th e Be n z ig e rs (New Yo rk , Ch ica go , and Cin cin n ati ) h ave

publ ish e d it wi th fittin g car e . Y e t we th ink many par ts o f th e bo ok

a re un sui ted fo r th is coun try,h oweve r it may be with th e o r igin a l

h e a r e rs, ma ny o f th em pro n e to be influe n ced by th e co rrupt socie ty

a ro un d th em .

9 . We fe ar it is la te to a nn oun ce Mr . Wilfr id Rob in so n ’s Pil

g r im’s Han dbo ok to Je rusalem ”

(Lo ndo n : Burn s and Oate s), illust r a ted with seve ral maps and plan s, but pr in ted o n ve ry th in pape r

to o late e spe cially as eve n th is paragraph h as by accide n t be e n h e ld

o v e r in type fo r mo r e th an a mo n th .

1 0 . Mr . Wash bour n e , 1 8 Pate rn oste r Row, Lo ndo n , h as issued a

l a r ge illustra ted and illum in a te d ca rd fo r fram in g , with r o om fo r th e

e n try o f th e da te s o f baptism , co nfirmatio n , an d fir st commun io n . By

th e way it was to a bo o k issued by thi s Publish e r th at th e puz z lin gin itials, I . O . G . D .

, we r e afixed . We ar e info rme d th at th e se le tte rs

stan d fo r In omn ibus g lor ifice tur Dam ,an d we ar e r e fe rr ed to th e fifty

s e ven th ch apte r o f St . Be n e di ct’

s Rul e .

"

1 1 . Fa th e r He n ry Se bastian Bowde n ,o f th e Or a to ry, h as pr efixed

a n in tro ductio n o n ce r ta in ty to an auth o r ised tran sla tion of th e first

v o lum e o f He tting e r’s gr ea t wo rk , A po lo gy fo r Ch r istian ity. Th is

vo lum e is ca lled Natura l R e ligio n . an o th e r will fo llow o n

R evea led Re ligion . Th is wo rk is pro n oun ced by th o se mo st compe te n t

t o judg e to be a wo rk o f th e mo st so lid m e rit, and Fa th e r Bowde n

h as co nfe r r e d a gr e a t se rvice o n th e stude n t o f ph ilo sophy and th e o logyt o wh om th e G e rm an lan guag e is an in supe r able bar ri e r . Th e En glish ve rsion se ems to be admirably exe cuted and is produced with

fault]e ss taste by Burn s and Oate s .

1 2 . Two po e tica l vo lum e s, r ece n tly publish ed, ca n o nly r ece ive th e

m o st in adequa te n o tice at pr ese n t .“Wr e a th s o f Son gs from Fie lds o f

Ph ilo so phy (Dua M H. G ill and Son ) is man ife stly th e wo rk o f

a Pro fe sso r of Mo ral Ph ilo sophy wh o se wh o le soul is ste eped an d

sa tura ted in r eflectio ns o n th e mo st pr o foun d an d abstract truth s.

O n ly to a k indr e d spir it could such so n gs be in te ll ig ible . Many o f th e

ph r ase s r esem ble th e lite ra l tr an sla tio n o f G e rman compoun d wo rds

a nd th e r e is h ardly o n e o f th e se ph i lo sophical lyrics th at do es n o t n e ed

to be in te rpre ted by th e po e t himse lf. So in te rpr e ted, th ey would be

foun d to be full o f h igh and spir i tual th o ugh t . Happy th e souls th a t

can br e ath e so pur e an d rar efied an atm o sph e r e ! On a lowe r leve l ,

n e ar e r to our o rdin arywo rk-a -daywo r ld, is th e o th e r vo lum e o f verse ,

publish ed by th e sam e firm,Po ems of th e Past, by Mo i-mem e . In

o ur an tipa thy fo r such pen-n am e s we r e ve a l a ll we kn ow : th a t th is


sign a tur e o fte n appear ed in the defunct Messenger qf St. Joseph , and inth e Car l: Examiner , and th at Mo i -méme is reported to be a nun

Th is vo lum e o f 330 pag es con tain s about 200 po ems, th e ve ry names

of whi ch sh ow th e po e tica l spirit o f th e auth o r , and also h e r r e ligious

spirit . A Ch ild’s Hear t is as swe e t as any o f th em, o r Jen n ante»

tasaba t,”o r th e “ Lege nd o f th e Ro bin ,

”o r

“ Wa it.”But this last,

th ough it comes seco nd in th e vo lum e,sh ows wh at most o f th e pieces

sh ow, th at th is Muse is to o much o f an Im rovisatr ice and h as n o t had

th e advan tag e o f any very ste r n censo rs'

p from h e r own lite raryconscie n ce o r from any exte rn a l m on ito r . Afte r th e first two stanz as

h ave de te rm in ed th e me tre an d accustomed th e ear to fin d th e odd

lin e s un rhym ed, sudde n ly th is co ven an t is brok e n thr ough in th e thi rd

stan za with out any warn in g o r any r e aso n . Th ough Mo i-méme

h as a musical e ar , sh e h as le t many an . un rhythmica l li ne pass

un chi ded, an d th is n o t me r e ly by con stan tly tr eatin g torn , warm, and

sim ilar wo rds as dissyllable s. Th e Ope n in g L eafle t,”wh ich comes

first o f all and m igh t be suppo sed to be specially o n its go od

be h aviour , h as a t least four lawle ss lin es th at r efuse utte r ly to be

scann ed.

”Th is Irish nun h as plen ty o f ideas and le n ty o f wo rds

to match ; but h e r bo ok would h ave be e n h olie r and e tte r

study, mo r e compre ssio n , mo r e co n ce n tr ation , mo re se lf-cr iticism o f

soun d and se n se and te nse s and eve rything, and a mo r e

strivin g afte r th a t pe rfectio n o f fo rm o f wh ich an Eng lish n un h as

furn ish ed a r emarkable example in So ngs in th e Nigh t .1 3 . It is prope r to accuse th e r eception o f som e pe rio dica ls

th a t tak e th e troubl e o f com in g to na from afar . The A me ri can

Ca tho lic Quar ter ly, wh ich ful ly m a in tain s its h igh stan dard o f m e r it ,is h e n cefo r th to be edited by th e A rchbish op o f Philade lphia, Dr . P.

J. Ryan , assisted by two o f h is priests and Mr . G e o rge D e r in g Wo lf,wh o wi ll pro bably be fo r it wh a t Mr . Cash e l Ho ey on ce was fo r 1 71 0

Dublin Review. The Catho lic Wor ld h as begun a full and e labora teLife o f Fa th e r B eck e r ,

”its foun de r and first edi to r . The Fordham

l l oa tldy is k ept up with gr e a t spirit, and must be o f.enth ral ling

in te r e st fo r its own imm edia te wo r ld,se e ing th at it is n o t with out a

ch arm e ve n fo r fog eys an d o utside rs acr oss som e th ousand le agues o f

fo am an d se a -sickn e ss . Lo Coutcmlx Leader is a brigh t little pa e r,

pr e sided o ve r by a cl eve r pe n and a judicious pair o f scisso rs . h e

Am e rican Messenger of the Sacr ed M a r t, publish ed at Philade lph ia, h as

be e n made , unde r th e edito rsh ip o f Fa th e r Raph a e l Dewey, S .J. , quitea larg e r e ligious maga z in e o f hi gh lite rary m e r it. In May, 1 890, th e

Ave Mar ia ce le brated its silve r jubil e e . It was founded in May, 1 865,by th e Ve ry R e v. Edward So r in , n ow Supe rio r

-G e n e ral of th e Con

gr e gatio n o f th e Ho ly Cr oss . Its se co n d edi to r was Fa th e r G i ll e spietill 1 874 , and th e n , afte r th e bri ef r e ign o f Fa th e r G o lovin (also de ad),it cam e unde r th e e n tle but pote nt sway of Fath e r Dan ie l Hudso n ,

fe lc'

oiter r egn aw . e h ave h e ard th at its prin te rs (an d it is prin te dwe ll ) be lo n g to th e sam e sex as th e n ew Senior Wrangler at Cambr idg e , Phi lippa Fawce tt .

1 4 . We must e n d th is m o n th with th e joyful an n o un cem e n t th at

Sir Ch ar le s G avan Dufly’s

“ Life of Th omas Davis (Londo n Ke gan ,

Paul, Tr en ch and Cc . ) h as at last appe a r ed . We can on ly m e n tio n it

n ow, th e first of many time s th at it is sur e to com e befo r e our reade rs .

3 94 The Ir isk Mon th ly.

b il ity th at sh e migh t n o t be , afte r all , wh at sh e se emed r ose up be fo r e

h e r , sh e r e so lved to be cautious—n o t to push on th e ma r riage till th is

sto ry h ad be en car e fully loo ke d in to and se ttled o n e way o r an o th e r

for e ve r . Sylvia A th ersto n e , with h e r large fo r tun e and blue blo o d,

would be a wife fit in eve ry re spect fo r Lo rd A shfie ld ; but th e sam e

g ir l, good and be autiful th ough sh e migh t be , with out mon ey o r

family, sh oul d n eve r wed with so n o f h ers.

Lord A shfie ld wa s full o f wh at his m o th e r was ple ased to ca ll

Radical ide as.

” He profe ssed a decided co n tempt fo r pe rson s wh o se

o n ly bo ast was th e ir pedigr e e and an cie n t fam ily. He admir e d

g e nius, cour tin g th e socie ty o f th o se wh o h ad rise n by th e ir own

tal e n ts an d industry rath e r th an that of ge n tlem en wh o coun ted king s

a nd crusade rs am on gst th e ir an cesto rs . Th is strang e taste , th ough tLady A shfie ld, was th e sign o f som e te rr ible wa rp in h is n atur e , an d

would sur e ly l e ad him in to mi sch i e f- pe rh aps b e th e cause o f h is

mar ryin g some o n e much ben e ath h im in sta tion . But again st th is

sh e was de te rmin ed to guard . A nd un til Madg e appe ar ed upo n th e

sce n e , sh e had co n side r ed Sylvia th e o n e o n ly gir l wh om sh e woul d b e

ple as ed to welcom e as h e r daugh te r- in -law. A n d e ve n afte r sh e had

liste n ed to th e sto ry o f th e wr e ck and h e ard o f th e declar ed substitu

tio n o f o n e chi ld fo r an o th e r , sh e was still true to Sylvia . Sh e r efused

to b e li eve Madg e’s sta tem en t , r e so lved to tr eat it as a bar e -faced

in ve n tio n , an d sh owed Lo rd A shfie ld as plain ly as sh e da red th at sh e

wish ed h im to marry Sylvia A th e rsto n e , gran ddaugh te r o f h e r be st

«a n d o lde st fri e n d.

But th en an awful fe ar to ok po sse ssion o f h e r . Wh at if this talewe r e foun d to be tr ue A n d sh e tr embled lest sh e sh ould h ave

a lr eady gon e to o fa r , h ave urged thi s mar r iage to o e arn e stly upon h er

so n . Th e n came th e r eco llection o f th e appr o ach ing Drawin gro om .

If sh e pr e sen ted Sylvia , sh e was in a mann e r r e spo n sible for h e r .

Hith e r to sh e h ad n o t fe lt un e asy. But n ow ! Wh a t if thi s girl , wh oseb e auty and e le gance sh e h a d lauded to h e r fr ie n ds , sh ould prove to be

.a n obody Wh at if sh e we re foun d less love ly, le ss a ristocratic lookin g th an sh e h ad imagin ed h e r to be , wan tin g in th e manypo in ts th a t

sh ow birth and fami ly Wh at if thi s should be th e ve rdict pro

n oun ced upon Sylvia on h e r first appe ar an ce in th e wo rld How sh e

would be laugh ed at fo r h e r ign orance and simplicity.

So as th e day of th e pr e sen tatio n dr ew n ear h e r soul was to rn with

a nxie ty.

A t last th e omin ous h our arr ived, and Lady A shfie ld swept th rough

th e state ly r ooms of Buchin gh am Palace , with Sylvia by h er side .

Sudde nly, h e r doubts m e lted away. Sh e became comple te ly re

a ssur ed . A ll around sh e saw lo oks o f admiration and appr oval , and


sh e gaz ed at h e r compan ion , ful l o f a growin g and fixed be l ie f th at

s h e was ce rta in ly Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e’s granddaugh te r . It was

n o t possible to th ink o th e rwise . Th e ta ll, sl im figure ; th e g race ful ,

d ig nified carriag e ; th e we ll-sh aped h e ad ; th e daz z lingly beautiful ,

ye t h igh -br ed face ; th e pe rfectly e asy, unco nscio us m ann e r o f th e

y o un g g ir l co uld o nly be lo ng to o n e o f g ood—o i n oble b ir th . 80 ,

t h er e an d th e n , Lady A shfie ld’s m ind was defin ite ly made up. Th is

wild sto ry th a t h ad filled h e r with te rro r was utte rly false , an d was,

d oubtle ss, co ncocted fo r th e purpose o f extracting mo n ey fr om h e r .

Sh e would se e Madg e again so o n , and buy a pr omise o f sile n ce from

h e r , eve n th ough it sh o uld cost h e r seve ra l h undr eds . Thus a ll fe ar

o f tr ouble o n th a t sco re would be spe edily disposed o f, an d Sylvi a

sh ould mar ry Lo rd Ashfie ld be for e th e e nd o f th e se aso n .

Your gran ddaugh te r h as h ad a gr ea t tr iumph , Sir Eustace ,

sa id Lady A shfie ld swe e tly, as sh e wa tch ed th e g irl m ove grace fullya bo ut amo ngst th e many frie nds wh o h ad com e to se e h e r o n h e r

r e turn from th e Drawin g ro om a Sh e was un ive r sally admir ed, Ia ssure you. A nd r eally I do n o t wo nde r . I con side r he r quite

pe rfect.

Sir Eustace sm il ed, and h is eyes r e sted lovin gly o n his dar l ing’s

face .

Inde ed, he sa id, and was it n ece ssary sh e sh ould put on a

tra in seve ral yards long befo r e you could fin d th at out I always

kn ew sh e was pe rfect .”

Y ou h ave h ad advan tage s I did n o t e n joy. But, eve n so , h ad Ibe en in your place , I would h ave mistrusted my own judgmen t a

l ittle . On e n eve r kn ows wh at th e opin ion o f soci e ty may be , and tha t

is th e impor tan t po in t , Sir Eustace .

”

No t a bit o f i t . I do n ’t car e o n e jo t wh at soci e ty says o r thinks,

.ao lon g as I kn ow th a t my Sylvia’s h e a rt is in th e r igh t place . A n d

I h ave o n ly to lo ok in h e r bo n ni e eye s to kn ow th at.”

Tr ue . But socie ty will n o t tr ouble much about th at . Hea rts go

fo r ve ry littl e , I assur e you. Ho we ve r , Sylvia is a succe ss, an d Ico ngratulate you. A n d n ow I m ust run away. I h ave two o th e r te a s

to go to o n my way h om e .

”

It was mo st k ind o f you to come to n a, sa id Sir Eustace as h e

g ave h e r h is a rm down -sta irs,“

yo u ar e ve ry g o od to my chi ld,and

I th an k you a th ousand tim e s.

My de ar fr ie nd, I r equir e n o th a nks. R emembe r , I lo ok upo n

Sylvia as my daugh te r . Y o u kn ow I h ope to ca ll h e r so o n e day.

Y e s,”h e an swe r ed grave ly, and I fe e l de eply complim en te d

th a t you sh ould. But pray do n o t fo rg e t th a t‘ l'h omme propo se , e t

D isu dispose .

’ My Sylvia sh all do as sh e ple ase s . I sen t away Paul .


Vyn er by your advice , but I will n o t urg e h er to marry Lord A shfie ld

Oi course n o t—I n eve r th ough t o f such a thing . Still I lik e

you to kn ow wh at I fe e l about th e dea r ch ild.

”

Y ou a re ve ry kind. A true fr ie nd to na bo th . A nd A shfie ld is

an extr emely fin e young fe llow. But I am se lfish in my love . I wan tto ke ep my dar ling to myse

Lady A shfie ld laugh ed.

Th at you sh all n o t be allowed to do lon g, I promi se you. But

go od-nigh t . We m e e t th is e ve n in g at th e Tr eh arn e

’s, I suppo se

Y es, Sylvia and I ar e din in g th e r e .

Th e n au r evoc'

r , Sir Eustace , au rwos'

r .

A nd stepping into h e r carriage , Lady Ashfie ld drove away.

Po o r o ld man ! How wr apt up in th at gir l h e is,”sh e cr ied, as

sh e wen t alo n g . Thi s sto ry of Madge Noil’s woul d k ill h im,

Ibeh ave . But h e sh all n eve r h ear it, if I can pr even t it . It is only th e

raving o f a mad-woman . but still it would give in te nse pain and

wo r ry. But I’ll so o n put an e nd to it. and A shfie ld sh all mar ry

Sylvia ,I am de te rmi n ed h e sh a ll .

”

But fo r som e days Lady A shfie ld was busy, sh e h ad many pwpla

to visit , many place s to go to . A n d th o ugh anxious to se e Madge an d

s ile n ce h e r fo r eve r , sh e dr e aded th e in te rview, and po stpon ed it fr om

h our to h o ur . Thus th e time passed, and, n o twithstanding go od

r e so lution s sh e h ad m ade , sh e n e ith e r saw n o r h e ard anyth in g o f th e

Ne ills . Lo rd A shfie ld did no t me n tion th em aga in ; and his man n e r

to h is m o th e r was k ind and affectio n ate as befo r e .

He h as fo rgo tten th em ,

”sh e sa id to h e rse lf ; so much th e be tte r .

I m ay take my own tim e an d go to Madg e wh en it suits m e . Th e re

is n o h urry. But I r eally expe cted th at A shfie ld would h ave made

m o r e fuss abo ut my visitin g th o se gir ls . Howe ve r , I am ple ased th ath e do es n o t to rm en t m e . He se ems n ow as th ough h e did n o t care

wh e th e r I we n t o r n o t .

”

But in th is Lady A shfie ld was m istak en . He r son was far from

h avin g fo rgo tte n th e Ne ills . He r em embe red th em only too wel l ;

and n o t a day passed with out h is sending fruit, flowe rs, o r bo oks to

Do ra . True , th ey we r e n o t se n t in hi s n ame , n o r did h e visit th e gir ls

in th e ir lodgin gs . But th at was be cause h e fe lt a de licacy in do in g

ao,since h is mo th e r h e ld alo o f. He was de te rmin ed to h e lp th em

m o r e substan tially, as so on as h e po ssibly could. Th is, h owe ve r , was

a difficult th ing to do , and gave h im many h ours of anxious th ough t .

Th e siste rs we re ladie s, h e fe lt, in spite o f th e ir poo r surroun dings

a nd fr om wh at h e h ad se e n o f Do ro thy, h e was sur e sh e would be

k e e n ly se n sitive . He wan ted a woman to advise him as to h ow h e

398 The Month ly.

Sylvi a Th at gir l is n eve r tired . Sh e rush e s h e r e , and rush es

th e r e , and always looks as fre sh as po ssible . I te ll h e r it is un ladylike to be so stro n g . But sh e only laugh s and starts off for some th ing

n ew.

”

Qui te r ight . I am glad sh e e n joys h e rse lf. I suppo se it wouldb e impo ssible to find h e r at h om e , at tea

-time fo r instan ce I dar esaysh e is e ith e r out o r e n te rtain in g a cro wd o f pe ople

Lady A shfie ld lo ok e d a t h e r son in asto n ishm e n t, th e n ben t ove r

th e te a -

po t to h ide th e pleasure in h e r eyes.

Is h e coming round to my views at last sh e asked h e rse lf .

Is h e n ow anxious to m e e t Sylvi a and wo o h e r as h is wife?It

se ems lik e it. Fo r wh at o th e r r easo n sh ould h e sudden ly wish to se e

h e r in h e r h ome?He h as h eard h e r beauty pra ised , has se en h o w

sh e is admir ed, and h as doubtless disco ve red h ow much mo r e ch arm

ing sh e is th an any o th e r g ir l h e h as eve r me t .

"

Howeve r , sh e r eso lved to ke ep h e r th ough ts to h e rse lf, but at th e

sam e time g ive him eve ry opportun ity fo r cultivating Sylvia’s

Our little fr iend’s mome n ts at h om e are pr ecious.

”sh e said

aloud, and ar e all devo ted to h er grandl ath e r . Sh e is th e swe e te st,

most lovin g ch ild possible . Your be st ch an ce o f m e e ting h er would

be if you would com e about with m e a li ttle mo r e—com e to balls and

eve n in g parties.

”

My de ar mo th er , ba lls ar e n o t in my lin e .

“

I do n ’t dan ce ,

Th at is a pity—fo r th is ve ry evenin g Sir Eustace is g iving a ball

to ce lebrate Svlvia’

s com in g out . It will be a brillian t afiair . I emto h e lp to r ece ive th e guests, as th ey ar e bo th n ew to everythin g and

eve ryon e . Th e r e fore I go ear ly.

Th e n I sh all go with you. I do n ’t affect such e n te r tainmen ts

much as a rule ,”h e said laugh ing . Th ey rath e r bo r e m e , I con fe ss,

but I sh ould e n joy se e ing Sylvia at h e r first ba ll . So you may coun t

upo n m e as your escort to-n igh t .

”

Th at will be ch armin g. I leave this at ten o’clock, sharp. Se

pray do n o t be late .

”

No t for wor lds. A nd to make my pun ctuality mor e ce rta in , I

will din e with you, mo th er , if you wi ll allow m e .

”

My de ar boy, you kn ow you ar e always welcom e . I am quite

a lon‘

e to -n igh t.

Se much th e be tte r . It is a lon g time since we din ed téte - i -téte .

Now I must be ofi. I h ave some busin ess to tran sact. Far ewe ll til l

dinn e r time .

A nd we ll pleased at th e th ough t of se e ing Sylvia so so on , Lo rd

A shfie ld gottin to a h an som and drove off to h is club .


CHAPTER XVI.

Lo an A SHFIELD n ame s A a sovss'

r .

Th e ballroom is a bla z e with ligh ts. Eve ry n o ok and co rn e r is

fill ed wi th palms and swe e t-sme lli n g flowe rs. Th e doo rways ar e hungwith wr eaths o f de e p ye llow r o ses and maide n h air f em , an d th e

co nse rvato ry r e semble s a fa iry bowe r , with its dain ty la n te rn s a nd

ch o ice e xo tics. In a small ga ll e ry at th e e nd o f th e r o om th e

musicians ar e tun in g th e ir in strumen ts, and th e be autiful parque tsh in e s like a mi rro r . Eve ryth in g is r e ady, and awaits th e arrival o f

th e gue sts.

Oh , grandpapa , is it n o t love ly cried Sylvia gliding acro ss th e

flo o r , h e r wh ite tulle dr e ss doating grace fully abo ut h e r slim figur e

I n eve r saw anything like th e flowe rs . Th ey are exquisite .

”

I am glad you a re ple ased, my pe t,”said Sir Eustace , bending

to kiss th e girl’s eage r face . A nd I r ea lly th ink it lo oks ve ry n ice .

But Lady A shfie ld is la te . I h ope sh e will so o n come . I fe e l qui ten er vous.

Sylvia laugh ed m e rr ily.

Ne rvous ! Oh , grandpapa , wh at a confession .

“ A ter r ible o n e , I admit . But I am o ld, Sylvia , and it is years

and years sin ce I played th e part o f h o st a t a ball .”

“ Po or dar ling ! It was a sham e to to rme n t you in to g ivin g o n e ,

and sh e lai d h e r h and car essin gly upon his arm . Y ou sh ould have

be en firm and r e fused . I would n o t h ave car ed in th e least .

”

But Lady A shfie ld would, dear . Sh e in sisted I sh ould give it.Y ou must n o t a llow yourse lf to be ruled so much by Lady A sh

fie ld , grandpapa .

”A n d th e white for e h e ad was puck er ed in to a

frown . Y ou must n o t, inde ed .

No , de ar e st, n o t afte r to -n igh t. But you will e nj oy this bal l , mype t

Th e frown van ish ed ; th e beautiful eyes sparkl ed with ple asur e .

Oh , yes . I sujoy e ve rything so much , grandpapa .

That is r igh t . Th at is wh at I wan t you to do .

”

But do you kn ow I sometim es fe e l frigh te n ed—as ii—we ll as if

I sh ould n o t always be so h appy.

”

My de ar child, th ose ar e fo o lish th ough ts. Put th em away.

My littl e granddaugh te r sh a ll n eve r have anyth ing to mak e h er un

h appy, I h Ope - I pray.

”

Dear grandpapa, n ot if you can h e lp it, I em sure . Y ou have

a lways spo ilt m e ,and saved m e fr om e ven th e small est trouble .

’


Oi course , I h ave . A nd n ow l e t m e se e my pet da nce and e n j oyh e rse lf. Th at will pr eve n t me from fe e lin g tir ed o r wo rr ied. Y ou

a re lo okin g we ll to -n igh t , my pr e tty Sylvia. and your tr iumph will

make m e h appy.

Th e gir l made h im a swe epin g cur tsey and looked up with a

m er ry gla nce .

Your gran ddaugh te r , Sylvia ,

Sh e cann ot be ar

Th e n sudden ly r ecove rin g h e rse lf, sh e cr ied

But a truce to our gaie ty. swe e t grandpapa. He r e come s our

kind assistan t, Lady A shfie ld. Now, I trust your mi nd is at r e sQui te ,

”sa id Sir Eustace laugh in g , I breath e m o r e fre e ly

Pray do n o t confess your we akn ess, o r we are undo n e , cri e d

Sylvia , me lodramatically, put o n a bo ld fro n t, my r e ve r ed gra n d

fath e r , an d l e t n o on e say we ar e afraid to .faoe our guests. Lo ok as

t h ough r e ceptio ns such as this we re quite an eve ryd ay occurr e nce .

En avan t. Courage !

A nd taking th e o ld man’s arm , Sylvia dr ew him fo rward to m e et

Lady A shfield and h e r son .

My dear A shfie ld, thi s is in de ed a pleasant surpr ise , exclaimed

Sir Eustace , turn ing to h is young gue st and sh aking him warmly byth e h and. I did n o t expect you would h on our na wifi1 your companyt o-n igh t . I fan cied po litica l me e tin gs we re mor e to your taste th a nballs. But be lie ve me , Sylvia and I are de ligh ted to se e you. Eh !

Sylvia“ Y e s, gran dpap

'

a . Ce rta in ly we ar e . It was ve ry kind o f LordA shfie ld to com e .

He cam e expre ssly to se e you, Sylvia , wh ispe red Lady A shfield,“so I h ope you will be nice to him .

Th e gir l raised h er eyes, full of en qui ry, to th e lady’s face .

Why do you say th a t I always lik ed Lo rd A sh fie ld,”sh e sa id

frankly,“ao of course I sh all be n ice to h im .

To be sur e . I forgo t. Sir Eustace , your granddaugh te r is te r

Sh e always says exactly what sh e me an s, and sh e is glad t o

s e e your son . Th ey are o ld fr ien ds, rem embe r .

”

Y es . But come and tak e m e roun d th e r ooms, th a t I may admir eth em be fo r e th e crowd comes.

”

With ple asur e .

”A nd ofier in g h is arm , h e led h e r away.

It is extr eme ly kind of you and Sir Eustace to we lcome me so


guessed e ve n fain tly th e cause o f h is ea rn estn e ss, th e subj ect o f his

co nve rsatio n , sh e wo uld h ave do n e all th at layin h e r powe r to sepa ra te

th e se two , and pre ve n t th e po ssibili ty o f Sylvia m e e ting th e N e ils , a t

least un til sh e had se e n Madge and obta in ed h e r promi se o f se cr e cy .

But sh e was blissfullyun co n scious o f h e r son’s in ten tio ns . and o n ly to o

we ll ple ased to se e him acting , as sh e th ought, on th e go od advice sh e

h ad give n h im .

Me anwhi le Sylvia and A shfie ld made th e ir way thr ough th e ball

room , and sea ted th emse lve s o n two comfo rtable cha irs amo n gst th e

flowe rs .

It is r eally a pleasur e to sit down aga in ,'

sa id Sylvia gaily ;

standin g shakin g h ands with seve ral hun dr ed pe ople is a ve ry

fatiguin g occupation .

Ve ry. But you se em to h ave don e cha rmin g ly,” h e r epli ed ;

your gue sts are loud in your pra ises, and your ro oms are be autiful .

Th ey do you gre at cr edit . Th e deco ra tio n s ar e pe rfe ct .”

Y e s, I th in k th ey ar e . But I had n o th in g to do with th em . Mr .

A lg e rn o n A rmstr o n g did e ve rythin g fo r na.

”

Inde ed . Th a t was kind. Is h e a ve ry o ld frie nd

Sylvia laugh ed m e rrily.

We ll, yo u ar e beh ind th e age , Lord Ashfie ld. But did you r e ally

n eve r h ea r o f Mr . A lge rn o n Armstr ong He do e s all th e balls in

Lo ndon .

”

Th en , I must confe ss to be ing wo e fully behi nd th e age . I n eve r

h eard o f h im till th is mom e n t . I th ough t ladi es always lo oked afte r

th e deco ratio n s and ch o se th e ir own flowe rs.

”

Som e may. But ve ry few, I fan cy. Ce rtain ly n ot ign o ran t g irls

like me .

”

Th e n is this man a trade sman

Sylvia looked ve ry much sh ocked

Oh , n o . l i e is a ge n tleman . He was in th e—some thing h ussars

-but did n o t like th e li fe ; so h e so ld o ut and took to th is kind o f

thing . Fo r a smal l fe e—te n gui n e as o r ao—h e do es eve ryth ing .

se ttle s e ve rythi ng , and ar ran g e s th e ro oms.

”

A n oble profession truly. But I th ink I sh ould h ave pre ferr ed

th e hussars.

”

I dare say. But I em glad h e did n o t . He h as saved grandpapa

and m e much trouble and anxi e ty.

”

Th e n h e is dese rving o f bo th r espect and gratitude .

In de ed h e is . An d gran dpapa and I have had such a glo rio us

day all th rough him .

How is th a tWe ll, you se e , we h ad n othing to do at h om e . Th e h ouse was


in a state of confusion , so we wen t out early. and pre te nded we we r e

abr o ad.

”

But h ow did you m anag e to do th at h e ask ed fe e ling rath e r

mystified .

In th is way. We had cofie e and ro lls in our ro oms, we nt ofi‘

th e n to th e Nation al G a lle ry, an d saw a gre at many pictur es by our

o ld friends, Raph a e l, A ndr ea de l Sarto ,Fr ancis , and Murillo . Th e n

we visitedWestm in ste r A bbey, lun ch e d a t Blanch ard’s, and we n t to

Ve rbeck ’s. We h ad aftern oon te a at th e G ro sven o r , and din ed a t th e

G rand Ho te l . A nd th en we came h om e just in tim e to dr ess fo r th e .

ball 1 :

Such a. day ! My de ar Miss A th e rston e , h ow tired you must be .

No t in th e least. A nd do you kn ow I could hardly be lieve Iwas in London . It was just th e kind of way grandpapa andI used ta

live in Paris and o th e r fo re ig n place s. I fe lt th e wh o le day as if I

wer e abro ad .

”

Y ou h ave a live ly imagin atio n ,” h e sa id smiling , and are easily

amused.

”

Y es . Lady A shfie ld th inks m e quite plebe ia n in my taste s .

But ,”sh e cr ied, blushing de eply, h ow ego tistical youmust think m e .

Th e dance is h alf ove r,and I h ave n o t ask ed you what you wan t m e

to do fo r you. Pray te ll me n ow, Lo rd A shfie ld .

”

Thank you. It is ve ry kin d o f you to r emembe r mywo rds, Miss

A th erston e . A nd I trust you may n o t be ann oyed with m e fo r

troublin g you in th is matter .

”

An n oyed I am gre atly hatte r ed th at you sh ould th ink of askingme to do anyth in g for you. I am inde ed.

”

Your wo rds e ncourage me . A nd n ow te ll m e , did you eve r h e a r

th at th e re we r e two gir ls o n bo a rd th e Cimbria with you On e about

twe lve , th e o th e r an infan t

Sylvia look ed a t him in aston ishmen t.

Oi course I did. Th e Ne ils Madge and Dam . Th ey we r e

bo th drown ed, po o r children .

Pardon m e . Th ey wer e n ot. Th ey we re wash ed ash o r e at a

small village on th e Co rn ish coast, wh e r e th ey h ave lived un til n ow.

”

Sylvia’s eyes sh on e with ple asur e , and sh e clasped h e r h ands to

gath e r in deligh t.

oh 1” sh e cr ied, h ow h appy th is will make papa . He used towr ite so much about th ose ch ildr en , an d mourn th e ir sad fate for a

long , lo ng tims . Wh e r e are th ey, Lo rd A shfie ld I sh ould so like to

se e th em . Po o r littl e things

A shfie ld gaz ed admir ingly at th e beautiful eage r face .

Th ey are n o t little n ow,h e said smilin g . Madge is a young


woman of se ve n o r e igh t and twe n ty, and Doro thy is about your own

a g e , al th ough I fa n cy sh e looks le ss ; wh e n I saw h e r last sh e was

small and e th e r ea l loo king .

”

Wh e r e do th ey live 7He r e in Lo ndon , n o t far fr om Be lgrave

-str e e t.

I em so glad. Wh om do th ey live with l’

N0 o n e . Th ey live a lo n e in a po or lodg ing , th e r e n t of wh ich

th ey fin d v e ry difficult to pay.

”

A r e th ey so very po or , th en

Very. Madge te ach es in a sch oo l, and would g ive music lesso n s

if sh e could and Doro thy—h is vo ice fa lte red swe e t little Do r a ,

wh o sh ould h ave be e n surro unded with every luxury, te nded ,with th e

gr e ate st ca re , was brough t up in a wr e tch ed o rph ana ge , and was

o bliged to wo rk fo r h e r daily br e ad in a dr essmak e r’

s establishmen t ,

till h e r h e a lth broke down . Sh e n ow li es on a sofa in th e ir dr eary

l odging , fr e ttin g and pin ing because sh e cann o t earn mon ey and h e lph er siste r .

”

Thi s sh a ll n o t go on , cried Sylvia decidedly ; som e thing sha ll

be do n e fo r th em at o n ce . G randpapa

Pray do n ot say anyth in g about them ye t to Sir Eustace ,” h e

said ea rn e stly. G o and se e th e g ir ls ; talk to th em and g e t to kn ow

th em , and th e n we shall se e wha t can be don e . Th ey a re ve ry sensi

tive , and may be difi cult to h e lp in any substan tial mann e r . Mymo th e r h as take n some dislike to Madge , and sh ould Sir Eustace

me n tio n th em , sh e migh t say som e th ing to pr e judice him against

th em .

”

Yo ur mo th e r ! Do e s Lady A shfie ld kn ow th ese girls to o It is

str an g e sh e n eve r to ld me about th em .

”

Sh e was so in dign an t with Madg e , why I cann o t th ink, that sh e

wo uld do n o th in g fo r th em . He r conduct in th is matte r has be en a

gr e at tr ouble to m e . We are boun d in h o n our , if in n o thi ng e lse , to

h e lp th em , fo r Do r othy by h e r pr e se n ce o f mind saved our l ives.

”

Wh at a brave gir l ! But wh e n did sh e do th at l’

Two years ago .

A n d th e n h e to ld h er th e sto ry o f th e runaway h orses an d

Do ro thy’s struggle with th e labour e rs.

Sh e must be a darlin g ,

”cried Sylvia , and wonderfully stron g

o f will . I long to se e h e 1' and h e lp to mak e h e r h appy.

”

G od ble ss you. I th ough t you would take an inte r est in th em .

Oi cour se . I will go to se e th em to -mor row. But I r ea lly th in k

I must te ll g randpapa . I n e ve r h ave any secr e ts from him , and yo u

n e ed n o t be un easy. Papa wro te so warmly about th ese gir ls an d

th e ir fath e r th at, n o matte r wh at Lady A shfie ld said, h e would sure lyh e lp th em .

”

4C6 The Irish Mon th ly.

scarce ly co nsci ous wh e r e sh e we n t . Habit alon e guided h e r a nd so

sh e un lock ed h e r do o r , to o k 03 h e r h at, and flung h e rse lf down o n ce

mo r e upo n th e o ld h air-cove r ed so fa

He r h e ad was in a whir l, h e r mind bewi lde r ed and excited, h er

c h e eks bur n ed feve r ishly, and h e r eye s sh o n e with a bril lian t ligh t .

It was h e r dinn e r -h our, an d th ere o n th e table was th e ch op th at

Madg e h ad le ft r e ady fo r h e r befo r e go ing out in th e morning . Sh e

h ad o n ly to put it o n th e fire , in h e r usua l way, and eat it with th e

r o ll o f fr e sh br e ad th a t h e r siste r h ad tak en car e to provide fo r'

h e r .

But sh e fo rgo t th e time o f day, fo rgo t th at sh e sh ould be h ungry,

a nd lay upo n th e sofa sta r in g at th e ce ili n g and murmuring sadly

from tim e to time .

Sylvia a t last. so go od, so be autiful , and ye t n o t Sylvia , but

Do ra . Mistr e ss o f a l l th at sh ould be tn in e . Happy and pro ud o f h e r

position . Po o r gir l, po o r un suspectin g gir l . Oh , wh at is to be do n e

Wh at is to be don eThus sh e r ema in ed all th r ough th e lon g afte r n o o n , a n d n o o n e

cam e n e ar to disturb h e r r eve r ie . But a t last, as th e clock struck

e igh t, Madge’

s fo o t was h e ard upo n th e stair,an d Madge

’s vo ice cr ied

o ut in surprise as sh e e n te red th e ro om :

Do ra Wh at have you be e n do ing Why is th e r e n o ligh t

N0 fire

Do ro thy sprang to h er fe e t.

Oh , Madg e ,”sh e gasped, I em so so rry. But

Th e n th r owin g h e r arms r oun d h e r siste r’s n eck , sh e burst in to a

fit o f passion ate we eping .

“ My darlin g ,”sa id Madg e ge n tly, an d ca re ssing th e go lden h ead

a s it lay upo n h e r br east, h as th at crue l landl o rd be e n h e re again

Has h eNo , n o—it is some th ing mo r e th an th at. Madg e , Madge , I h ave

'

fo und Sylvia A th e rston e .

”

Madg e stagg e r ed sligh tly, h e r lips quive r ed ; e ve ry vestig e o f

c o lour l e ft h e r ch e eks. Her h e ar t gave a wild bo un d—a le ap o f joy.

A nd raisin g h e r eye s to h eave n sh e murmur ed , My G o d, I th ank

Th e e .

” A nd n ow, my pe t,

”sh e said drawin g Do ra down upon th e

so fa ,“ be calm , an d te ll m e all . How and wh e n did you se e thi s

g i r l

Th is mo rn in g in h e r own h om e, a splen did h ouse in th e Crom

we ll - ro ad—a m an sion Mme . G arn itur e cal led it—but o h , Madge , sh e

is so go od, so be autiful .

I dar e say ; sh e was a swe e t, a love ly ch ild.

Sh e was so k in d to m e, Madg e , so th ough tful , alth ough I was

th e r e as a po or wo rk gir l,”

sobbed Do ra ; and wh e n I h eard wh o

A Str iking, Contr ast. 407

sh e was, I fe lt such a tra ito r , stea lin g in to h e r h ome , le arn in g wh er e

sh e lived , th at I migh t be tray h e r and ro b h e r o f eve ryth in g !

Do n o t call it robbe ry, Do ra t It will o n ly be r e stitutio n .

Restitution ! If—oh , if sh e woul d but give n a a little of h e r

wealth , we migh t a llow h e r to r ema in as sh e is—n o t ask fo r r e stitu

tion , Madg e .

”

My dear , it must be a ll o r n o thin g . If I g o to Sir Eustace—fo rtha t, th ough I n eve r kn ew it un til Lady A shfie ld ca lled h im ao , is

th e n ame o f your gran dfath er , if I go to him ,I must say th is gir l

is n o t your grandch ild, but an imposto r an d my siste r . Your so n’s

daugh te r h as be e n brough t up as a paupe r . R e sto r e h e r to h e r righ ts,sen d away thi s Sylvia, wh o , beautiful and grace ful as sh e is, is o nlya usurpe r , an d tak e to your h e art th is little , fr agi le , go lden h air ed

waif, wh o h as sufie r ed wan t and priva tion al l th e se we ary ye ars.

’

Y e s, ye s. 8 0 I h ave ,”sai d Do ra pla in tive ly, and you to o , my

d ar lin g , you to o . Wh en I e m r ich , you sh all sh ar e my weal th .

N o th in g sh a ll separate na, Madg e . Pr omise m e th a t .

”

No t if I can h e lp it, love ."

A n d Sylvia sh all live with n a to o . Sh e will n o t m in d m e takin gh e r place , if I le t h e r stay with m e , an d be my siste r . Sh e h as be en

first all th ese yea rs . Sh e will n o t mind giving up to m e so ve rymuch

a fte r all , pe rh aps. But oh , I do wish sh e h ad n o t be en so kin d an d

swe e t . We r e sh e pro ud, and co ld, an d h ard, I sh oul d n o t car e . But

k n owing tha t sh e”

Do r a , do n o t wish h e r difie r en t from wh at sh e is. If sh e is

g o od, r e a lly goo d, so much th e be tte r . Sh e will th en be ar this tr ial

for it wil l, it must be a tr ia l—in th e pr ope r spir it . A nd n ow,le t us

fo rge t h e r fo r th e pr e sen t. We kn ow h e r addr ess an d can go to h e r wh en

we ch o o se to declar e ourse lve s. But I must th ink th e matt er we ll out,

a n d de te rm in e h ow it is to be don e . I do n o t wish to be sco rn ed as a

madwoma n o r a liar by Sir Eustace , as I was by Lady A shfie ld. I

m ust lay my plans an d tak e A nn e Dan e by surpr ise . If I can fo rce

h er to te ll th e truth , our tr ouble s will so on be at an e nd .

Y es, dear . Y ou ar e r igh t . A nd n ow, my po o r Madge , you

must wan t your suppe r .

”

Y es. But you must wan t it mor e . Fo r I find th a t you h ave

n e ve r touch ed your ch op, Do ra , and, Dora , th a t was ve ry wro ng . So

n ow I must be quick and g e t som e th ing r eady.

”

Th e n down upon h e r kn e e s we n t Madg e to ligh t th e fire wh e r e o n

to co ok th e ir even in g m ea l .

Several days passed over an d th e g irls we re stil l in do ubt as to th e

b est mann e r in wh ich to appro ach Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e .

A nn e Dan e , Madge found sh e could n o t se e , fo r on inquir ing


a t 4 Cromwe ll Man sions, sh e was to ld th at sh e did n o t live th e re ,

but in th e coun try. Th is surpr ised th e gir l an d incr e ased h e r dimcultie s a h undr ed-fo ld. Sh e was much pe rplexed, and kn ew n o t wh at

to do . To fo rce h e r way in to th e o ld man’h pr ese nce would, sh e

fe lt , be fo lly, and o nly expo se h e r to insult and h umiliatio n . Lady

A shfie ld’s r e ceptio n of h e r sto ry had taugh t h e r a l esson , a n d sh e

r e so lved to wa it as patie n tly as sh e could till some fittin g oppo rtun ity

sh ould pr e se n t itse lf . But as sh e we n t o n with h e r wo rk at th e

sch o o l, sh e prayed constan tly th a t some th ing m igh t tur n up, fo r h e r

h e art was ful l o f a nguish . It was h a rd to mak e e nds m e e t ; an d

Do r a gr ew we ak e r and m o re frag il e e ve ry day. This sh e kn ew wa s

fo r wan t o f prope r a ir and n o ur ishm e n t . A nd h e r mind b ecam e em

bitte r ed , h e r soul full o f h atr ed aga in st th ese we a lthy pe ople wh o

we r e so crue lly defrauding h e r da r lin g o f h e r righ ts .

On e n igh t, as sh e was re turn in g fr om a wea ry day’s te ach ing , sh e

passed by Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e’

s sple ndid mans io n . A carriag e

was wa itin g , an d prese n tly th e do o r ope n ed ; th e soun d o f r ipplin g

la ugh te r was h e ard, and Sylvia , a r raye d in pure whi te , h e r sh oulde rs

cove r ed with a man tl e o f plush and swansdown , came forth on h e r‘

g randfa th e r’s arm .

Th e ligh t o f th e lamps fe ll upo n h e r be autiful face , and touch ed

th e rich auburn o f h e r h a ir .

Madge tr embled, and le an ed h e avily again st th e railin gs.

Sh e is lo ve ly,”sh e cried, but o h , wh at a crue l wr o n g h as b e e n

inflicted on my po o r Do ra . A n d by my s iste r ! A ll th is sh ould b e

h e rs, an d sh a ll be h e re if th e r e is justice o n e ar th o r in h e ave n .

”

Th e carr iag e do o r was shut . th e fo o tman moun te d th e box, a nd

all un con scious o f th e mise ry sh e h ad cause d, Sylvia dro ve away to h e r

dinn e r -

party.

A fte r th is Madg e gr ew m o ro se an d tac iturn . The girls at Pe n e

lope Lo dg e compla in ed o f h e r irr itable tempe r , and on e afte r th e o th e r

r efused to r ece ive th e ir le sso n s from h e r . He r employe r was much

an n oyed, and se ndin g for Madg e . r eprimanded h er seve r e ly, th eate n

in g to dismiss h e r imm ediate ly did sh e h e ar any fur th e r complain ts .

Te rr ifie d a t wh at m igh t be h e r fa te a nd Do ra’s sh ould sh e thus lo se

h e r sala ry.wh ich , po o r as it wa s, was th e ir o nly m ean s o f subsiste n ce ,

th e girl prom ised to wa tch m o r e car e fully ove r h e r tempe r , and le ft

th e m istr e ss’s pre se nce firmly r e so lved to do ao .

But, a las ! sh e kn ew n o t h ow seve r e ly sh e was to be tr ied .

Sch o olgirls ar e fr eque n tly wild a nd th ough tle ss. Th ey trouble

th emse lve s little about th e suffe r ings o f th e ir te ach e rs—ar e se lfish and.

un fo rgiving . Th is th e pupi ls o f Pe n e lope Lo dg e so o n pr oved by

th e ir un fe e ling co nduct towards th e poo r h ard-wo rk ed go ve r n e ss.

4 1 0 The Ir ish Mon th ly .

Wha t can be wron g Why do e s sh e write?G od k e ep my

dar ling ,

”sh e cried, as with tr emblin g h uge rs sh e un fo lded th e l e tte r .

But sh e was quickly r eassur ed. Do ra’s n o te was a m e ssag e of

peace . It ran thus

Come h om e so on , de ar est Madge . I h ave ouch go od n ews, to t e ll

you.—Dora .

”

Madge kissed th e signatur e and smiled .

I cann o t go till my usua l h our . I da re n o t ask such a favour

to -ni gh t . But your words, swe e t siste r , h ave cl eared away some o f

th e clouds th at enve loped me . Th e th ough t o f your good tidings will

h e lp m e to be ar ch e e rful ly wh ate ve r t or tur e I may h ave to suffe r

be fo r e I go h ome .

A n d, fe e lin g conside rably brigh te r , sh e en ter ed th e jun io r class

room ,and quie tly seated h erse lf in Mrs. Prim

’s place be hi nd th e

de sk .

(To be con tinued.)

A SHEPHERD WITHOUT SHEEP.

‘

WE climbed th e hi lls to g e th e r ; we we r e fa in

To learn th e sh eph e rd’s trade , and wh e r e so e

’e r

Our e lde rs led we r o amed , a h appy pair

But h e will n eve r tr e ad our h ills again .

Fo r my be loved—O, th e life -lo n g pa in

Di ed in th e Spr in g , and I a lo n e must far e

Died, ar e th e sprin g h ad ye an ed h is futur e care ,

He , e ve r th e mo r e e ag e r o f th e twain .

So se ek I n ow n o ple asur e with my mates,

But wh en my wo rk is do n e h is watch I k e epFo r with a double flock I must away

To m e e t him o n th e moun ta in s.

wh e r e h e waits

With th e G o od Sh eph e rd, wh o will coun t my sh e epFo r th e n ew pastur e s o f e te rn al day.

Jon N Frr zm '

ra rcx, 0 MI .

Patrick L . MacSh e rry, wh o died during h is prepa ra tio n fo r th e

pr ie sth o od.

Sketches in Ir ish B iography. 41 1

SKETCHZES IN

.

IRISII BIOGRAPHY .

No . 1 9 .—JOHN CORNEL IUS O ’CA LLA G HA N .

THE name of John Corn e lius O

’

Callaghan is on e e n titled to a

promin en t place in the long list of Irish lite rary celebr itie s,and is certain ly deserving of full e r recogn ition th an has ye t be e n

awarded to his lii e-long labours in th e cause of his coun try’

s

The n ewspape r obituaries at th e time of his death and a slight

ske tch in this Magazin e are th e on ly record of a man wh ose

individuality of character was as remarkable as h is gen ius, and

wh ose se rvice s in resouing from misrepre sentation and oblivio n

some of th e least kn own and most importan t passages of Irish

history are probably rese rved fo r the appre ciation of future tim e s

less tro ubled than th e presen t. ,If left unn oticed un til th e n

, how

e ver , n othing more than h is works can survive , and th e pe rson alityo f th e man and tho se traits which wer e fami liar to his con tempo

rarie s will be n o longer known . He n ce , from th e source s justme ntion ed, supplemen ted by circumstan ce s referred to by O

’

Cal

lagbe n in his works or in his conversations during an acquain tan ceextending from th ose distan t boyh ood

’s years

—n ow, alas !

more than po or Mangan’

s Twen ty G o lden Years A go ,”wh e n I

first me t Mr . O’Callaghan at my fath er

’

s table , down to th e time

whe n , in th e same company, I sat by his death -bed and fo llowed

his h e arse to G lasn evin Ceme tery, and during which long pe riod I

sujoyed th e privileg e of intimate frie ndship with th e h isto rian o f

Th e Irish Brigade ,”—has be en compiled th e followin g brie f

n o tice o f a man wh o we ll merits a bette r chron icle than th ese im

pe rfe ct reminiscen ces.

John Corn e lius O ’Callaghan was bor n in Dublin in 1 805, and,

as h e boasted, drew his blood from canny Ulste r as we ll as from

the more fervid and imaginative Munste r race . His fath er , Mr .

John O ’Callaghan , of Talbot-stre e t, was on e of th e first Catholics

admitte d to th e profession of attorn ey in Ireland, on th e partial

re laxation of th e Pen al Laws in 1 793, and at th e tim e o f th e

Uni on was a highly re spected so licitor , wh o succeeded in amass

ing a competency which subseque n tly e n abled th e younge r O’

Cnl

lagben to fo llow his lite rary taste s. His moth er was a south er n

4 1 2 The Ir ieh Mon th ly.

lady—a Miss Don ovan ,

wh o is de scr ibed as h aving be en a be auty

in h e r youth , and wh om I we ll remember in h e r latte r years as a

high ly in te llectual woman .

A t an early age John Corn e lius O’

Callaghan was sent as a

pupil to th en n ewly-establish ed Je suit Co ll ege of Clongowe sWood ,

wh ere h e was imbued with that love of classical learning which

di stinguish ed his afte r life , and with th o se prin ciples of re ligion

wh ich con so led his last moments. Subsequen tly h e was tra nsferred

to an o th er sch ool heare r to Dublin , at Blan chardstown , kept by a

C ath olic priest, th e Rev. Joseph Joy De an e . A t th e comple tion

of his education h e became a candidate for membe rship in his

fath e r’s profession , but, forttmately for th e in te rests of Ir ish

h istory, h e e vin ced such an instin ctive dislike for th ose shr ewd

practice s and pe ttifogging ways by which , h e was won t to say,

succe ss in th e law is chiefly attainable , that as so on as was pos

sible h e sh o ok its dust from his fe et, an d devoted h imse lf who lly to

th e more con geni al if le ss profitable pursuits of lite rature .

Of his bro th ers, of whom h e had e ith er two or thr ee , h e was

accustomed to r e fe r most fr equen tly an d in terms of warm affection

to th e youn ger , wh o , h avin g e n te red th e medical departme n t of

th e army at an e ar ly age , re tir ed , afte r a lon g se rvice in India ,

with th e rank of Surgeon-G en eral , and is still living in England

with'

h is family, on e of whom was, I be lie ve , married to Mr .

Irving , th e we ll-kn own actor . His siste rs wer e marr ied and left

families, of wh om two ladi e s in th is city an d on e distinguish ed

m embe r o f the Vin centian Orde r ar e th e surviving r epr e senta tive s.

Mr . O’

Callaghan’s moth er , from wh om h e apparen tly inh e rited

much of h is tale n t and som e of th e or igin ality o f his character ,

was a lady o f considerable m e ntal cultur e and some e ccentr icity,

and attain ed a ve ry advan ced age . On e of my e ar lie st re collec

t ion s of O’

Callaghan goe s back to my boyh ood, wh e n I was sent

with some message to h is h ouse in Dorse t-stre e t , wh ere I m et h is

m oth e r , th en a very old lady, but with mind and m emo ry un im

pair ed by age . Th e scen e was on e ,I sh all n e ver forge t. The

ven erable matron , ve ry oddly dressed, and th en retaining little

trace s of h e r e arly come lin ess, fill ed an arm-chair on on e side of

th e fireplace , whilst th e opposite on e was occupied by h e r son , clad

in a flowing dressing-robe of faded patte rn , h is customary bay wig

r eplaced by an o ld-fashion ed wh ite n ightcap ; and there they sat

fo r n e ar ly an h our , h eadl ess of any in te rruption , di scussing some


thus expressed in th e following lin es written at th at time by one of

O’Callaghan

’

s oldest lite rary fr iends, th e late Dr . R. R . Madden,

un der th e title of Th e Vo lun tary Prin ciple

G od bless th e cause , th e r igh te ous cause ,

Of Liberty and peace ,

A n d bless th e land wi th equal laws,A nd bid in justice cease .

Pro tect re lig ion’s fre edom , Lo rd

From fata l gi fts and guile ,

A nd weapo n de adly as th e w o rd ,

Th e cour tie r’

s crafty wile .

QFrom all con n e ct io n with th e State

Six hun dred years’resiste d ha te

Th e spotless mind ke ep nndefiled

From e ve ry so rdid str ain ,

By G o ve rnmen tal gain.

Thy Sacred Truth th e ir tr easure be ,

From th ough ts of poun ds and pen ce .

Thy altars as of o ld sustain ed,

Thy pastors by th e flock ,

A nd by th e fo ld th e Ch urch ma in tain ed,

That ’s built upon th e rock .

Th is temple st ill, h owever poor

A n d lowly it may be ,

Pre se rve from e ve ry splendid lur e ,

A nd leave it ppo r—but free .

Its altar n eve r be profan ed

By pen sion ed pr iests, I pray,

No r se rve d by Min isters main ta in ed

In any Statesman’s pay.

”

Th e recen t success of th e Irish pe ople in th e ir long struggle for

Eman cipation , th e effect on th e public min d of th e resistance th an

victorious, th ough with too sh ort-lived success, made by th e

oppressed Po lish race to th e ir Muscovite tyrants—th e patrioticexcitem ent which was spread from Dublin ove r Ireland by th e

Ske tches in Ir ish Biography. 4 1 5

m etropo litan me e tin gs fo r Repeal of th e Un ion , combin ed with

th e gen eral agitation for Parliamen tary Reform , all , with o th e r

cause s, we re enumerate d by Mr . O’

Callaghan as rende ring th e

pe riod of the e stablishmen t of th e Comet Club as th e best th at

could have be en chosen by th em for founding an origin al and

vigorously-written n ewspape r on th e ir prin ciples.

Th e se prin ciples can n ot be be tte r expressed th an by th e follow

ing lin e s that appear ed above th e signature , A lfier i,”in th e fir st

Our Come t shin e s to ch ase foul mists away,A nd dr ive dark fa lse h ood from h er ce ll to -day,

To scath e th e hands tha t break man ’s ch arte red laws,

Or poun ce o n n atio n s with a vultur e’s claws.

To raise th e pro stra te , so o th e th e an guish ed breast ,To ch e ck th e oppresso r , bid th e g oaded re st

To g ive to man true kn owledg e of h is kin d,

A n d lift h im to tha t rank wh ich Heave n de sign edFo r e nds lik e th e se , from high our Com m ove s,

Br igh t Fre edom wings it, and fair Truth appro ves.

Y e s,’twill be ours to ch eck th e big o t

’s frown ,

Or de spo t’s stride th at trample s Fmedom down .

Y es—Th emis’ be n ch sh a ll see n o h and impur e

Dea l par tia l laws to crush th e suffe rin g poo ru

A nd bloa ted pre la tes sha ll wi th bigo ts fly,

Wh ile pure Re lig io n wave s h e r to rch on h igh ,

A nd Sacr ed Truth,with gospe l

-flag unfurle d,

Diffuse unpa id-fo r do ctrin e s th rough th e wo rld.

Such were th e prin ciples on which Th e Comet commenced its

c ourse , and so succe ssful was th e venture , that from May to

O ctober , 1 831 wh en its or igi n al founders retired from its dir ection ,

it rapidly rose to a circulation , th en considered large , of

copies a-we ek . A fte r this tim e its character became altered and

d e ter iorated by th e in troduction o f local personalities and disrepu

table scan dal, by which , at th e expiration of two years, its circula

tio n was eventually destroyed, and by th e secession of th e majorityof th e origin al Come t Club from that paper , th ey, with o th er

g e ntlemen , formed th emse lves in to an oth er literary so cie ty

called th e Irish Brigade ,”

and got up a periodical , en titled

The Ir ish Month ly Magaz ine .

Of two literary and political associations wh ich included so

many men of ability, probably th e last survivor was Mr . O’Calla

41 6 Th e Ir ish Mon th ly.

ghan . Th e best te stimony to th e me r it o f th ese socie tie swas th e

re luctan t tr ibute paid by o n e of th e ir o lde st oppo n e n ts in th e cause

o f misrule an d o range ascendan cy, n ame ly th e Qua r ter ly R evie w,which at that time adm itted that each o f th em had exhibite d

public pro of that its labours we r e n ot fri vo lous or unproductive .

”

Mr . O’Ca llaghan

’

s co n tr ibutions to The Come t and The Ir ish

Mo nth ly Magaz ine , with se ve ral o th e r of his e arlie r writings, we re

r epr in te d many years ago in a n ow ve ry scarce vo lume , unde r th e

title of Th e G r e e n Book ; o r , G lean ings from th e Wr itin g-de sk

of a Lite rary A gitato r .

”Th e first editio n of th is very curious

Olla podr ida of historic and political rese arch , with some forty o f

h is poe tical pieces,was publish ed in Dublin in 1 840, and the secon d

e dition , ado rn edwith an exce ll en t liken ess of th e auth or by W. H.

Holbrooke , in 1 845. Th e publishe r was James Duffy, wh ose

se rvice s to Ir ish and Catho lic lite rature ough t n eve r to be for

gotten .

In th e e arlie r vo lumes o f The Na tion. h e was a freque n t and

valued contributor ; and his service s to th at famous journ al h avebe en gen e rously ackn owledged by Sir Charle s G avan Duffy in h is

Young Ire land,”and still more in his Life of Th omas Davis,

”

whi oh h as just appeared. Indeed, O’Callaghan was won t to cla im

a shar e in th e origin of The Na ta’

on , and in th e preface to th e

second edition of h is G r e en Book h e re fers to it as th at able

we ekly pe r iodical , th e n ecessity for wh ose establishment in Dublin

was first suggested by th e presen t publication .

” Wh en th e thr e eD

’

s put th e ir young h eads toge th er unde r a n oble in th e Phoen ix

Park, facing Ki lmainh am ,

”th e exte rn al h e lp prom ised by Davis

was th e cc- operation of John Co rn e lius O’

Cal laghan , wh ose

G r e en Bo ok [says Davis’

s biograph e r] was attracting atte n tion

at that tim e and in a n ote h e describe s th e wo rk as a misce llanyo f po e try

— ths n ote s, valuable histo rical studi e s— th e verses, rath e r

slipshod, be ing more th an te n ye ars o lde r than th e e stablishmen t

o f 1 7mNa tion and be longing to quite a differ en t sch o ol . Y e t, in

a private lette r of Davis to Danie l Owen Madde n afte r th e

appear an ce of th e first number of The Na l ie n , on e of O’Callaghan

’s

pieces of verse is th e only th ing praised. A fte r n amin g th e

leaders written by Dillon an d Duffy, h e m en tions th at A n cie nt

Irish Lite ratur e ,’th e epigram on Stanl ey, and th e capita l Exte r

min ato r’e Song ,

’are by O

’Callaghan . Just a ye ar be fore ,

writin g to P. B . Webb, from 61 Baggot-str e e t, on the 28th Sep


Th e pre ceding letter was wr itten in 1 845; for we have take n

th e use less trouble of investigating th e matter , and, afte r the two

fir s t volumes of The Na tion , which ch an ced -to be at hand, had

sh own that July 1 st was n ot Tuesday in 1 843 or 1 844, an old

praye rbo ok came to th e re scue and with its table of moveable feasts

proved that in 1 845the first o f July was in acco rdan ce with th e

date of th e G r e e n Bookman’s le tte r .

A s a trivial illustration of that harmless se lt-consciousn e ss and

a miable se lf-assertiven ess which G avan Duffy h as attributed to

J C. O’Callaghan , which many distin guish ed m en h ave shared

with him , and with out wh ich they might n ever have taken th e

pain s to distinguish th emselves—we ven ture to give th e m eagre

r esult of our cross-examin ation o f a gifte d kinswoman o f th e

a uth or of Soggar th A r oen , wh o as a ch ild had often h e lped to e n

te rtain th e hi sto rian of th e Irish Brigade at h er pare nts’fir eside .

He r most n otable remin iscen ce was that, on e even ing after th e ir

g ue st had take n almo st as many cups o f tea as Mr s. Thrale ever

pour ed out fo r Dr . John so n , h e turn ed to th e little girl beside himNow you can say th at you .h ave se en th e great h istorian in his

cups.

If O’

Callaghan had n ever written anythin g beyond his n ote s to

th e Maeam‘

aa Ez ez’

dz’

um, sufficie n t eviden ce of his extr aordinary eru

di tion , industry, and love of coun try might be found the re in .

Th is work drew forth th e most flatte ring tributes to th e edito r’s

h istoric accuracy and learning , even from th ose m ost strenuouslyo pposed to all his views. Thus Macaulay, for instan ce , wro te to

him To a considerable exten t our views co in cide . I admit that

th e Ir ish we re n ot like th e English Jacobites, th e defenders of

arbitrary powe r . Th e cause of Jam e s pre sen ted itse lf, n o doubt,to th e Roman Cath olics o f Munste r as th e cause of civi l and

spir itual libe rty. Wh en Macaul ay visited Ire land in que st o f info rmation bearin g on th e Jacobite andWill iamite War s in this

coun try, h e expr essed a wish to see th e editor of th e Macaw?Ee cz

'

dz'

um, and th e latter was accordin gly requested to wait on th e

e loquen t word-

pain ter whose histo ric accuracy was less conspicuous

than his brill ian t descr iptive power . O’

Callaghan , h owe ver ,

r e sen ted th is summon s as an in dign ity. No , sir ,” h e replied, I

shall n ot wait o n Mr . Macaulay. If h e desires an in terview,h e

can asce rtain wh e re I live , an d may call on Mr . O’Callaghan if h e

wish e s to do ao .

«She tvhes in Ir ish Biography. 4 1 9

A s a po litician ,O

’

Callaghan was an arde nt an d un compro

m ising n ation alist o f th e old sch oo l , of wh ich th e typical r epr e se n

tatives we re Davis, G avan Duffy, B . R . Madden , Den is Flore nce

M‘Carthy, Father Me ehan , Williams, Claren ce Mangan , an d th ose

o th e r gifted men of gen ius and letters, whose n ame s with h is own

may be found 1 n The Songs and Ballads, byWr iter s m Tl u

N ana’s,

”

publish ed m 1 846 . His habits and taste s, h oweve r , we ren ot such as to lead h im into any ve ry promin ent participation in

t h e turmo il of public political life . Neyerth e le ss, h e was a warm

supporte r of O’Conn e ll , and

°

n ot on ly in th e great Tribun e’s

gath e rin gs in Con ciliation Hall , but also at th e monster me e tings of

l 843 , wh er e O’Con n e ll , th en in th e z en ith of h is powe r , swayed th e

vast multitudes th at thronged around him at Tara , at A thlon e ,

and Mullaghmast . A t th e last n amed me e ting , in October , 1 843,con jo in tly with Hogan th e sculptor , in th e pre sence of

specta to rs, h e to ok part in cr own ing th e Liberato r with th e facsimile o f th e ancien t Ir ish regal diadem .

Th is, I beh ave , .was O’Callaghan

’s last appearan ce on a public

platform . A fter th e sece ssion of the Youn g Ir e land Party h e confin ed his po litical efforts to th e eman ation s of his prolific pen . No r

in th e more re cen t po litical affairs of late r ye ars did h e again

appe ar in th e ar en a of public life , th ough con siste n tly main tainingto th e last momen ts of existen ce al l th e opinions of his youth and

m an hood.

On e of h is late r works was th e edition of th e Maca r ite Exm’

dium ,

wh ich in 1 847 h e publish ed at th e reque st o f th e A rchaeologi calSo cie ty, and which , as the write r alr eady cite d has observed, will

a lastin g monum e nt of h is e rudition ,abil ity, and in dustry .

But his greate st work was th e Hi sto ry of the Irish Brigade in th e

Service of Fran ce and oth e r fore ign coun tr ies, be twe en th e de

thron emen t of James II. and th e de ath of th e Youn g Pretende r .

This, afte r many in e ffectual e fforts to obtain a publish er at home ,

was ultimate ly brough t out by Messrs. Cameron , o f G lasgow, in

1 867,and unquestion ably, as has bee n said, is a m in e of in for

mation fr om which future histo rian s will be glad to draw th e ir

mate r ials,”and was th e labour of love on which h e expended th e

e n erg ies o f th e best part o f h is life . As far back as March 8 , 1 843,

John O’Conn ell wr ite s from Carysfort A ve nue , Blackr ock , te lling

Davis th at h e had made ove r al l h is Irish Brigade documents to

O’Callagh an , who was than living at 37 Uppe r Merrion -str ee t,

a nd whom h e asked Davis to consult o n th e matte r , as 6 1 Baggot

str e etwas n o t ma ny paces distan t . Our author was thus preparingfor his magnum opus dur ing more than a quarte r of a ce n tury.

Th ere h as be e n more th an on e refe rence to th e fact that J C .

O’Callaghan did n o t confin e h imse lf to sobe r pro se , but n ot

frequen tly indulg ed in a po e tic fligh t, as may be se en by h is

G r e e n Book , in which are in cluded n o less than forty-two

spe cime ns of h is ve rse . Th e se , with some .exoeptions, were chiefly

on eph emeral topics of th e day, an d h e n ce have n ow lost much o f

th e ir origin al in tere st. No r can it be prete nded th at his muse

soar ed ve ry high , o r that its e ffusions are lik ely to survive th e

remembran ce o f his friends and contempo rar ies. On e specime n

may h e re sufiice—his epigram o n th e we eping and laughing

philosoph e rs

If we look ,”says Racin e , to th e lives o f th e wise ,

Wh a t oppo site maxims we fin d

He re sad He racle itus de spon din g ly on es

Wh i le Dem ocr itus laugh s at mankind .

Y e t as lo ng as my stay in th is plan e t exte nds,

To fo llow th em bo th I propo se

With o n e,may I wee p fo r my suffe r in g friends

With th e o th e r , I’ll laugh a t my foe s .

"

O’Callaghan

’

s acqua in tan ce with the forgo tten bye-ways o f

ancien t lite rary re se arch was probably un rivall ed. A s a wr ite r

(quoted in this Magaz in e , vo l . xv., page 249) says He kn ew

alm ost th e exact spot in which reposed every o ld manuscript in

Eur ope . Living as h e did amongst th e an cien ts, h e had the ir

sayings always on his tongue , and would walk in to a frie nd’

s

drawingroom quoting Han ibal in such a way as to give th e im

pre ssion th at th e gre at gen eral has just left him at th e gate . A

man to sh ed tears for th e death o f a pe t can ary, an d to lash him

se lf to fury over a tale of hum an in justice o r wrong he had a justand almost a martial spir it. He was on e of th e o ld schoo l n ow

passin g away—o f a small band o f in tr epid savan ts wh o deni ed

th emse lves much that is desirable in life in order to toil amon gst

th e ruin s of our language an d.

past, r e so lved th at all traces of th e

prin ts left by n oble Irish fe et should n ot be wh olly obliterated

from the sands of tim e .

”

O’Callaghan

’s de ath to ok place at his re siden ce in Fitzgibbon

stre e t, Dublin , in th e seve nty-seven th ye ar of his ag e . His last


Did yo u close your eye s in black despair .

Y ou oped on th e hi ll s—and G od was th er e .

Did you we ep with fe ar wh e n th e n igh t came o n ,

Th e face ofHope in th e darkn ess sh on e .

O stay,” I cried, for a mome n t stay

Till I pluck from th e h edg e a wi ld-rose spray.

Hark , th e swe e t birds ! Fo r a momen t stayNo son g I h ear on

‘

th e wo r ld’s hi ghway,

But cr ie s of women and°

m e n alway.

”

My o th e r se lf thus r eplied to m e

Th en th e hi ll o f Fame you will n e ve r se e ,Nor h ear th e so ngs so wondrous th e r e

A nd I passed th e ro ad th at I de em ed so fair .

Suspicion , envy, and j ealousy,I oft in my n e ighbo ur s

’eye s could se e .

A las , in my h e art th e se rpe n t grew

I smil ed lest o th e rs sh ould se e it to o .

A woman stagg e r ed an d fall ing cr ied

A s I paused a mom e n t by h e r side

To o la te , too late ! I em lost fo r aye ,

I h ave passed G od’

s r oad o n th e great h ighway.

I h ave missed th e tr e asure th a t lies be fo r e ,

A nd glimpse of Heave n I’ll se e n o mo r e .

”

I la id my h and h e r co ld h e ad upo n ,

But my o th e r se lf in my e ar said On !

Fo r th ose behind will h e lp h e r th rough .

”

I step in h e r place , but th at cry I kn ew

Was th e last sh e gave , e r e sh e sile n t lay’Ne ath th e crue l fe e t o n th e gr e at hi ghway.

A co ttage do or , as we passed, sto od wide ,

A mo th er sat with h e r babe in side ,

A nd h e r eyes b eam ed love a s sh e kissed th e chi ld,

Th at r aised its arms in its sl e ep and smiled:

In th e fie lds th at bo rde r ed th e gr eat h ighwayCh ildr e n dropped, as we passed, th e ir play.

I raised a br igh t guin e a fo r th em to se e

A go lden kin g-cup th ey h e ld to m e .

A sapphir e’s gle am from my fin g e r fe ll

Th ey gath e r ed a bun ch of th e blue spe edwe ll .

A str in g of pearls I r aised again

Iraughing th ey turn ed to th e ir daisy ch a in .

The Highway to Fame .

A youth and a maiden I n ext did se e

I cried in my h e ar t, He will e nvy m e .

He smil ed as h e kissed th e wh ite h and th a t lay

In his, and I sigh ed o n th e gr e at h ighway.

Is it wo r th all I lose and I leave beh in d ,

Th at tr easur e I se ek whi ch I may n o t find

I saw a man in my path , and h e

Stood still as we came , and h e lo oked a t m e .

Oh , so rrow’

s h ome was th a t face divin e

Oh , th e infin ite love as hi s eyes m e t m in e !

A n o ak e n cr o ss o n his sh oulde rs lay

I paused a mom en t th en turn ed away,

Fo r my o th e r se lf thus h ad cr ied to m e

"

l i e but a ph an tom you ch an ce to se e .

Lo ok ! Even n ow it h as ce ased to stay’Neath th e hurrying fe e t o n th e gre at h ighway.

So I was first in th e we ary race ,

A s, aged and wo rn , we to il ed apace .

Each man bowed low at my fe e t an d cam e

To cr own me kin g o n th e Hill o f Fame ,A nd kin g of th em all I re ign ed a lo n e ,

Y e t I shudde r ed o ft o n my go lde n th r o n e .

Th e gr ound h ad grown n o t e ar th n o r sto n e s,

Fo r th e bi ll was raised o f de ad me n’s bo n e s.

I fear my subject ’s un tirin g pra ise ,Fo r h is h and th e whil e wi th h is dagg e r plays .

My o th e r se lf wh ispe rs 0 j oy ! fo r se e,

Man an d wome n all wo rsh ip th e e ,

Thy fla tte r ed ea r to th e ir praise in clin e

En dless glory and wealth ar e th in e ;

Such fam e , such wo rsh ip, n o man h ath kn own .

‘

A h me , I sigh on my go lde n th r o n e .

Dom SIG EBSON .

The Ir ash Mon th ly.

K I N D N E S S .

LITERARY man on ce to ld m e that h e was lyin g sick in a

ve ry humble room some th irty o r for ty years ago in th e east

e n d o f London . Th e peo ple of th e h ouse we re Irish and Cath olic,

a nd th e po o r scribble r was dying from wan t an d broke n -h earted

n e ss rath sr th an from any of th e individual diseases kn own to th e

faculty. A young prie st was on his daily r oun ds, visiting th e

h ouse s of th e parish , lo oking afte r th e ch ildren , afte r th e sick , afte r

th e grown-up, afte r th e n eglig en t, afte r th e errin g . Th e good

woman of th e h ouse to ld th e priest of th e poo r young man thatwas

sick in bed . Th e priest wen t to se e him . He found on e wh o from

a life o f care le ssn e ss and som e e rror had become harden ed, and

from h is pove rty and n eglect h ad become ca ll ous even against th e

dispe n sation s o f an o ve rrulin g Providen ce . Th e priest spoke

kin dly an d co rdially, and sympath e tica lly ; but, wh ile h is wo rds

touch ed, th ey did n ot con vert th e sick man . A t parting , th e

pr ie st le ft a cr own -

piece on th e pil low, promising to call agai n . In

a few days h e re tur n ed ; th e young man had got stro ng , and in

som e way myste r iously wo rk h ad come to h is doo r . Th e youn gman h e ld steadily ou, becam e a practical Cath o lic, afte r a time

attain ed a compete n cy, an d gain ed n o little sh ar e o f lite rary fam e .

Th e youn g prie st wen t on in his humble , unwor ldly way amon glan e s an d te n eme n ts and garr ets ; but h is humility could n o t hide

his wo rth , an d to -daymore than o n e h emisph ere kn ows that youn g

priest— h e is n ow Cardin al Mann in g .

On e day as I was walk ing al ong a quie t ro ad in a skirt o f on e

o f th e Le in ste r coun tie s, I saw two children making th e ir little

baby-h ouses by th e way. Th ey se emed to be bro th e r and siste r ;

th e little g irl migh t be about e ight, and th e little boy two o r thre e

ye ars youn ger . I saw th e little gir l steppin g aside 1 o r some pur

pose , an d,with out m ea n in g it , overturn in g th e little bro th er

’s

castle . He sto od up, to ok a handful o f mud and sand, and flungit dire ctly in to h e r face . Sh e was standing some two yards o r so

from h im . Sh e wiped th e clay fr om h er eye s, an d stepping quicklytowards him , sh e Ope n ed out h er hands, put th em roun d h is n eck ,

an d kissed him on th e ch e ek . If both are living , th ey are n ow

man and woman . Ne ith e r of th em saw me .

4 26 m Ir ish Mon th ],

DEAD IN NEW YORK .

CALMLY sh e sle eps, wh ile a smile still lin g e rs

Ou h e r pallid fea tur e s as sh e lies a t r e st,

With h e r rosary h e ld in h er to il -wo rn finge rs,As h er h ands lie cro ssed on h e r tir ed br e ast .

A nd th e martyr’s e nsign , aloft in splendour ,

Th ose h ands, I doubt n o t, will on e day bea r ,

Fo r sh e gave h e r life in youth’s springtim e te nde r

Fo r h e r mo th e r’s sake , and far fr om h e r ca r e .

No t many ye ars since , a come ly ma ide n ,

Sh e le ft h e r h om e by Lough Swilly’s side ;

A nd sick and weary and so rrow-laden

Was h e r loving h e ar t on th e day sh e‘die d.

A nd o n e e arthly h ope ro se o’e r e ve ry o th e r

Th rough all th e ye ars o f h e r exi le lon e

Just once in life to beh o ld h e r mo th e r ,In h e r moun tain co ttage in In ish owe n .

N eve r fulfill ed to our car e l e ss se emin g

Y e t, pe rhaps, n o t ao , fo r th e Sisters say,

A s th ey so ftly prayed in th e gh ostly gleamin g

Of a wintry dawn , wh e r e sh e dying lay,

Th a t ar e th e tr ail th r ead o f life was e n ded,

He r pa le lips moved as in g lad surprise ,

A nd sh e murmur ed Mo th e r ! with a rms extended,

A nd an e age r ligh t in h e r glassy eye s.

A n d I some time s think th at in th at last h our

A s h e r spirit lin ge red o n e ar th th e whi le ,

S h e had on e glimpse , by G od’s boundl e ss powe r ,

0 1 h e r sh e loved in h er own dear isle .

Ma em m n Rocx.

Sa in ts an d Sigh ts eeing at A n necy.

SA INTS AND SIGHT-SEEING A T A NNECY.

THIS, your quaint old town said Jack , mockingly, as th etrain slowed into th e li ttle stati on at A n n ecy. Tall

facto ry ch imn eys and long , grey, many-windowed store s we re at

o n e side—ao tall and square and grey, th at with th e lo ng blue

column s of smoke risin g from th em , even th e n e ighbour in gm oun tains wer e almost hidde n . Fain tly, h oweve r , thr ough th e

h az e we could catch a glimpse of th e De nts de Lafon t an d Mon t

It was ce rtai nly unr easonable ; still I was disappo inted. I

scarcely kn ew what I h ad expected. Even at Ven ice and

Flore n ce , as I ough t to h ave remembe red, th e G a re and its

surroun dings are h ope le ssly commonplace . Th en th er e was th e

in e vitable Douane . I waited in th e musty ve lvet-cush ion ed’bus,

while Jack swore at th e native s in strong, te rse English , an d th eyreplied wi th sm ile s, grimace s, and a vo lley o f what h e calls

A t last we start . Oh , such dre adful ly mode rn streets and

h ouses ! I could a lmost fan cy myse lf. back in England. Pre

sently we drive into th e pre tty tre e-shaded cour tyard o f th e Hotel

d’A ngle terre ; th ere is a coo ln ess about it very re fre shing after our

h ot, dusty journ ey very ple asing , too , is th e smiling we lcome

accorded us by a smartly-dressed Fre n chwoman , wh o gre e ts na as

though we were o ld an d dear fri ends. Not English that, at any

A fte r bre akfast we started off t o explor e th e town . Leavingth e straight, in tense ly modern Rue Royals, we reach ed at last a

d ark media val stre e t. G loomy arcades on both sides, under

which shr ill saleswome n cried th eir wares—carro ts, woo l , turn ips,

sto ckin gs, braces, baskets—everyth ing , all mingled together in

most admired con fusion .

Bran ching off from th is stree t are several dark ways, made

th rough o r under the h ouses. Wh ere do th ey lead to 1’ Do th eyte rmin ate in a onI-de -sac Rather re luctan tly we e n te red o n e , for

th e odours were distin ctly unpleasan t, and th e chill darkn ess gave

o n e a dead fe e ling .


A fter a few minutes we emerged in to a bright sun-lit stre e t,

intersecte d by a canal . Foll owing it, we arrived at th e Place de

l’Hote l de Ville—a really handsome buildin g , but modern

glaringly, uncompromisingly modern . Before na str etch ed th e

blue -gre e n wate rs of th e lake , bordered on on e side by th e pre tty

garden s o f th e Paquie r an d th e Champs de Mars, and circled round

church spires rising ben e ath th em . The re in th e distan ce lies

Tallo ires, wh ere th ere is an old Ben edictin e abbey, n ow used as a

restaur an t, and Me nth on , wh ere St. Bern ard was bo rn . There

lived also his preceptor , St. G e rmain , in a h ermitage pe rch ed

almost on th e summit of th e Den ts de Lafont’

. Cen turies afte r his

death his re lics were removed from th e n ave and we re placed bySt. Fran cis de Sales unde r th e h igh altar of th e church , which the

sain tly pre late had repair ed and r ichly decorated in h on our of th e

h oly abbot. A fter preaching to a numerous audience and

devoutly ven erating th e re lics of th e h ermit of th e e leven th

century, th e Bish op of th e seven te enth cen tury, fe e ling himse lf

inspired by th e same spir it of con templation , th e same love o f

so litude and silence , cried to th ose n ear him : He re , inde ed, I

sh ould wish to rest ! If it wer e pleasin g to G od, willingly would

I leave th e h eat and burden of th e day to our coadjuto r , and inth is re treat se rve Ch rist and His Church with my ro sary, my

breviary, and my pen .

”Th en opening a window from which h e

coul d se e th e lake and town of A nn e cy, and admir ing th e beautyo f th e surrounding country, h e con tinued : What a splendid

prospect ! Here grand and beautiful th ough ts would fall o n th e

soul as abundantly as sn ow falls on th e earth in win ter .

A t th e opposite side of th e Can al du Vassé is a fin e church .

Was it th e Visitation

No replied an o ld woman whom I questio n ed, it is th e

church and conven t of th e Nun s of St. Joseph but furth e r on , in

th e Rue de la Providence , is th e Bercea u de la Visita tion . Th e ir

n ew mon astery and chape l are in th e Bus Royals, and th ere , to o ,are th e bodi e s of St . Francis and St. Jan e de Ohanfa l . Madam

can se e th em th ey are enclosed in waxen ethgies, liIe -siz e and

life -lik e .

But first for th e Cradle . It is an ug ly old house situated

h alf way up a ste ep hill ; it be longs to th e Nun s of St. Joseph .

On e of th em open ed the door for na . The G a le r ie isn ot shown


Mademo ise lles de Favre and de Bréchard were doubtless

it ove r as th ey sto od at an uppe r window, watching th e pe oplepass down th e hill .

‘ Many among th em we re n ear and dear to

the two n ovices ; but th ey had parte d with th em for ever , and as

th ey caugh t th e last glimme r of shimme ring silk, h eard th e last

fain t ripple of laughte r , th eymust h ave fe lt th at th e ir strange n ew

life had inde ed commenced. Pe rhaps th ey sto le quietly down to

th e little chape l to re n ew th e ir con secration to His se rvice , and to

kn e e l in sil e n t praye r before His tabernacle , kn owing wh ere th eycould be st quiet th e first stirrings of th e ir poo r h earts, that fe lt a

little restive on re aliz in g th e life of so litude and sacrifice to which

th ey we re be ing devote d.

Me anwhi le were th e two h o ly founders talking o f what th eyhoped th e ir In stitute would be P Before h e gave th em a defin ite

rule , at various time s Fran cis let them kn ow h iswish es. Iwish

you to lead th e life of Martha and of Mary h e ofte n te lls th em

to jo in works o f charity to contemplation ,n ot to remain

clo iste red but to go forth in to th e lan e s and all eys to tend th e sick .

to h e lp th e po or , to pray be side th e dying . Un ited thus, th eactive and th e con templative will h e lp in stead of in terfe ring with

e ach oth e r . Wh il e th e Siste rs wo rk out th e ir own san ctification

th ey will also h e lp th e ir n e ighbours to lead bette r lives by th e ir

example s, and by giving th em assistan ce .

”

But th e pre judices of th e age wer e too powerful . Me n and

wom en , sain ts and sinn e rs alike , cri ed out in h orrror again st such

an in n ovation . Nun s walk about th e stree ts ! G o in to houses I

Dreadful idea ! Unh eard of and n ot to be to lerated.

”So in th e

e nd Fran cis had to give in to that powerful vow popuh'

which ha s

crush ed so many r eforme rs and taken th e h ope and th e h eart'

s

blo od out of martyr s and patrio ts .

Ou th e 30th Octobe r , 1 6 1 2, th e Nun s o f th e Visitation , th e n

numbering e ight profe ssed Siste rs and e igh t Novices, removed to a

larger h ouse in th e city, and it was th e re , an d n ot at th e little

maz'

son de la P e r r ie r e (as it was th en called) that Fran cis ah

n oun ced to St . de Chan tal h is final r enun ciation of his origin a ldesign .

I em called th e Founder of th e Visitatio n . Is th ere anyth in g le ss re ason able I h ave don e wh at I did n ot wish to do ,

Thi s is no t wr itte n by a Nun —Ed . I . M .

Sa in ts and Sight-seeing at 24m m 43 :

and what Iwish ed to do I have left undon e . Sure ly no words

are sadder or more path e tic. Wh at did sh e fe e l wh e n sh e h e ard

them Was sh e capable of th e same sublime re nun ciation o r

did sh e struggle and we ep vain te ars over th e destruction of h e r

life’s purpose Closed about by narrowing nun n ery

-walls ,’

did h er soul long for th e full e r , more active existe nce sh e h adh oped to lead Probably sh e comple te ly forgot h e r own disap

poin tmen t, having reso lved to ~ devote he r life to G od’s service in

whate ver man n e r G od chose to h ave that se rvice , and n ow sh e

accepted th e decision of h er saintly guide as th e expression of G od’

s .

will in her regard, and ende avour ed to conso le and sympath ise

with him . Not that h e would have requir ed much conso latio n

th e sacrifice on ce made , h e was n ot on e to look back and waste

time in futile regrets, but rath er at once to set about modelling th e

Order on its n ew lin es.

Le aving th e Be rceau, we walked through n arrow lan es and

dark arcaded stre e ts until we reach ed a sun -lit square , and saw

towerin g over na th e gloomy church of Notre Dame de Liesse . It

was founded in th e twe lfth cen tury, and was so ofte n restored

since that probably very little of th e origina l edifice remain s but

as it is its association s which are so in tere sting , th e pe riods a t

which each individual door , wi ndow, or n ave was added, matte rs

In 1 567 th e Ho ly Winding Sh e et was brought h e re fromChambéry by A n n e d

’Este , th e wife o f Jame s of Savoy. A mong

oth er pilgrims wh o came to ven erate th is h o ly re lic, Madame de

Boissy drove in from th e Chateau de Sales, n ear Th ore ns, about

e ight miles fr om A nn ecy. While kn e e ling in re veren t co n templa

tion of th e marks made by the Woun ds of h e r Rede eme r , sh e fe lt

h er h eart filled with proph etic joy an d ofiered to Him h er unbor n

child, promising to dedicate him to G od from h is birth . A few

mon ths late r Francis was born on th e 2l st A ugust , at th e

Chfite au de Sales, in a small room dedicated to St . Francis o f

Many years late r , in this same church of Notr e Dame , wh ile

Fran cis was pre achin g to a numerous congregatio n , a white dove

de sce nded from He aven and re sted on his sh oulde r . Both th e se

e ven ts are commemorated o n white marble tablets hung on tlm

walls.

we wen t on to th e Cath edral, which is on ly a few steps furth e r

432 The Iraqi.Month ly.

o n . It was verydark and co ld inside , n otwithstanding th e mten se

h eat and th e glow of ligh t outside . What must it be in winter ,

whe n on e shivers in it with th e th ermomete r standing at 90 1‘

Near th e door is a very o ld confessional , hacked and cut to

piece s in places, perhaps by devout pilgrims. Is it th e on e in

which Fran cis de Sales listen ed to so many tales of sin and

sorrow, con so ling and comforting so many broken-h earted, world

weary souls P Probably. We know that h e se lecte d th e con

fessional n earest th e en tran ce , in order that th e halt, th e blind, an d

the infirm migh t find him with out difi culty.

A nd h ere is th e pulpit from which h e preach ed h is first sermon

while still on ly a subdeacon , at th e expre ss wish of th e Bishop of

G en eva , Mon se ign eur de G r an ier . He prepared it for Corpus

Chr isti, but Pére Fodir i—a famous preach er of th e Order of

Cordeliers—arriving at A nn ecy, Fran cis e ntre ated him to give

the pe ople th e conso lation of h earing him .

Con sequen tly Fran cis did n ot preach un til th e Octave . Hisse rmon was pe rfectly prepared : h e h ad given much time and

study to its composition ; but when th e h our came , h e was se iz ed

with a fit of n ervousn ess, trembled in all his limbs, and had

scarcely strength to ascend th e pulpit. Th ere a numerous crowd

were e agerly awaiting h im . Recommending himse lf to G od in a

short and fe rve n t praye r , h e be cam e at once calm , and forgettinge verything but th e sublime subject h e had se lected—th e BlessedEucharist—h e e lectrified his audie nce by th e str ength and fervour

o f his language and th e clearn e ss and grace o f h is ideas . Ma ttyshed tears, and, above all , h is good moth e r , wh o fe lt th at h er hopes

were inde ed re aliz ed, and that h er son was lik e ly to be come a guide

a nd a h e lper to many. Not long after—o n th e 1 8th December ,1 593—h e was o rdain ed prie st by Monse ign eur de G rani er , and

five years subsequen tly was e lected his co adjutor . Nor was be

long to e n joy th e counse ls an d guidan ce of th e sain tly o ld man ,

whose death h e h eard of wh en re turn in g from Paris only four

He hasten ed h ome at on ce , and after makin g a Re treat of

several days at th e Chateau de Sale s, h e was consecrated Bishop in

the little parish church of Th orens. A fte r a few more days spen t

in prayer and reco llection , h e en tered A n necy and formally took

possession of th e Se e of G en eva .

Two years later , while pre aching th e Len ten Sermons at


dr e am ing h e re for h our s, while .I have be en all round th e town .

and I beh ave you did n ot kn ow I had left you. Come fo r a r ow

o n th e lake , and leave the r est of th e church es for to -morrow .

Sur e ly you h ave had quite enough of your Sain t for on e day. He

is very un in te re sting , I think. Th er e are some r eally curious old

house s and gateways in some o f th e str ee ts , and such que e r old

signboards o ve r th e sh ops. and th e ir names. Le L ion r ouge de

Savoie ,’

A u tigre j aune ,’L e chz

'

eu aux yew bleus,

’

&c. Fancv

buying your cigars o r hairpins from ye llow tige rs and blue -eyed

dogs.

’

We ll , our sight-se e ing was over for tha t day. Th e r ow on th e

lake was ve ry pleasan t in th e co o l o f th e e ven ing—th e se ttin g sun

thr owing a mystic go lden ligh t ove r th e tran slucent wate rs, fading

the clear twilight of a cloudl ess n ight. Round us th e h ills grew

darker and darker, se eming to come n eare r and n e are r , un til at

last we fe lt comple te ly isolated from th e rest of the world . Th e

ligh ts in th e town gle amed and twinkl ed invitin gly ; fo r th e sense

o f still solitude (1 r1m was becomin g unbearable . G ladly we

lan ded at th e Embarcadére .

How much Jack asked th e o ld woman wh o hired out th e

boats—th e same , by-th e -way, wh o had po inted out to me th e

Church of St. Joseph in the morning .

On e fran c; twen ty-five cen times, sh e answered . A s we had

be en out for two hour s, it was absurdly little .

Slowly saun tering through th e dimly-lighted stre ets,we passed

a real ly quain t old church . Outside it looked de lightfullv

mediwval , th e m oon ligh t idealiz ing its rugged outlin e s, hidingth e wear and te ar of cen turie s, and r evealing only what was most

be autiful .

I insisted o n en te ring . It was quite dark , sal

ve wh ere th e red

lamp of th e san ctuary gleamed star-like in th e distan ce , and a few

candle s burn ed dimly before a sacred image . A devotiona l church

th en , whateve r it migh t be by dayligh t, ye t perhaps too dre am

lik e fo r true pie ty—one in wh ich th e world forge tting , by th e

world forgot, a vision ary might indulge in a h alf sensuous

devo tion—e arth’s care s and trouble s se eming so far away, a

mystical He aven so n ear .

Fallin g in to a re verie , I forgot the pre sen t and con jured upscen e s from th e past. I was n o longer in an empty church : it was

Sain ts and Sigh t-see ing a t A n necy. 435

filled with an oddly-attired congregation ; men in h ose and double t,

with clanking swords and long curling locks ; wome n in co if and

stomach e r , with curious h ead gear comple te ly cove r mg th e ir hair

peasan ts dr e ssed ve ry much as th ey still are in som e of th e Swiss

Can to ns. Th e Ho ly Sacrifice of th e Mass is be in g offe red at a

br illian tly-lit altar ; so lemnly pe e l th e deep n ote s of th e organ ,

gradually growing softer and lowe r , until at last th ey die away.

and n ough t is h e ard but the tinkle o f th e little be ll , as th e prie st

turn s round with th e Sacred Host. Domine , n on sum dignus,”

and th e faithful appro ach th e Commun ion rails. A mongst th em is

a fair , blue -eyed boy, wh o , devoutly kn e e lin g be for e th e altar for

th e first time , rece ives his Lord. On e can fan cy th e ecstatic jo ywhich th en fil led th e soul of Fran cis—alr eady at ten ye ars o f age

a ch ild-sain t, on e wh o had n eve r lost—wh o n e ve r was to lose—h isbaptismal in n oce n ce ; but was to pass through life un con tami

n ated by th e wor ld , un scath ed through th e fir e s o f temptation s

and trials.

In this ve ry church it was that it ple ased our Lo rd in afte r

years to give a signal man ife station of His love for His ch ose n

servan t. Th e face o f th e sain t wh ile pr each ing be cam e tran s

figured, shin ing with a h eaven ly light, while burn ing words fe ll

from his lips, touching th e harde st h e arts, and all re cogn ised th e

Se e r and Proph e t eve n in hi s own coun try.

0 i Q i i

I thought you we re go in g to stay h e re for two o r thre e

minutes on ly, a vo ice in te rrupts my dr e am . Migh t I ven tur e to

remark that we have n o t din ed It is past e igh t, an d I am

tr eme ndously hungry.

”

It was Jack, of course—Jack, matte r -of-fact as usual , th e

genius of commonplace , n eve r allowin g h imse lf to be whir led off

into dre ams o r reve ries, an d n ever , n o n e ver , forge tting his dinn er .

I was waken ed early th e following mo rn in g by th e ch iming o f

the balls of th e Visitation . It was only a few steps fr om th e h ote l

to th e church . Mass was comm e n cing as I en te red, and, of course ,

th ere was th e usual difficulty about chairs. However , an o ld

woman brough t m e two from a dark corn e r . I placed th em in

fron t of th e side altar wh e re repo se s th e body of St . Jan e Fran ce s

de Chan tal . Th e waxen figur e is cloth ed in th e garm en t of a

Nun of th e Visitation , and lies peaceful ly with clasped hands and

upturn ed eyes. Rather ghastly I th ough t h e r .


A fte r Mass I asked th e Sacristan to show me the body o f St .

Fran cis, but h e would n o t permit me to go up th e steps to se e it,where it rests beh ind th e h igh altar . I was able to ge t on ly a

g limpse of it thr ough th e grating in th e sacr isty.

In 1 622 Fran cis died at Lyons, on th e Feast of th e HolyInn ocen ts, afte r havin g e ndured a veritable martyrdom, th e doctors

e ndeavour ing by the most crue l mean s to rouse him from the

stupo r in to which h e was falling but although h e fe lt all th e pain

o f th e red-h ot irons applied to his h ead and th e back of his n eck,they on ly h e lped to acce lerate h is death . Constan t to h is in

vari able rule of n e ver asking for anything , n e ver re fusing any

thin g , h e let th em do as they would with h im , and n eve r rebe lled

again st th e ir te rrible remedies.

He rece ived Extreme Un ction , but was unable to rece ive th e

Viaticum . A s long as h e could spe ak, h e chanted th e Psalms,

and in th e midst of the most in ten se to rtur e e n ton ed th e Te Deum .

His last wo rds we re : Il fa it turd, et le j our est (Iej d bieaa ba iesé th en pr on oun cing th e Ho ly Name of Jesus, he lost

consciousn e ss and died sh ortly afte rwards.

His body was removed to A nn ecy and given to his daughters

o f th e Visita tion , wh o placed it in th e ir church . Th e re it was

pre se rved un til th e Fre nch Revo lution , wh en it was hidden away to

save it fr om desecration . Peace once more re stored, th e present

church and monaste ry of th e Visitation we re built, main lythrough

th e assistance given by Charles Fe lix , and his que en , Marie

Chr istin e . It was conse crated in 1 826, and th en th e remains of

St . Fran cis and St. de Chan tal we re depo sited h e re . It is a

handsome church in th e Ita lian style , rath er small , but perfect in

e ve ry de ta il .

Outside I was attacked by two or thr e e pictur esque o ld beggarme n ,

re semblin g those that bese t str ange rs at all th e landing

place s in Ve n ice . My last distinct re co lle ction of A nn aoy is of

two or thre e of th ese o ld fe ll ows stan ding on th e platform , hat in

h and , cour tly an d dign ified, invokin g blessings on na as th e train

slowly crept out of th e station , and we sped on our way to

G en eva .

L . M. KENNY .

438 The Ir ish Mo nthly.

o n Davis by Dufiy must be th e li te rary e ve n t o f th e se ason fo r Ir ish

men a t h ome and abro ad. No doubt th e in te r est would h ave be e n

still greate r if th e Edito r of The Nation h ad n ot a lready give n th e

wo r ld two much large r vo lumes, o n e of which at least h ad an ticipate d

a go od man y of th e pe rso nal reve la tions th a t migh t be expe cted from

h im as Davis’

s biograph e r . Occasion ally Sir C . G . Dufiy h as fe lt this

so far as to be obliged to r epe at h isprévious tr eatmen t o f cer ta in par ts o f

h is subjact ; but th e r e r emain ed plen ty o f incide n ts and documen ts to

give or igin ality and fr esh n e ss to th is first adequate accoun t o f a famousIr ishm an wh o is alr eady n e arly fifty year s de ad. Wh en h e lay dying ,th ough n o on e gue ssed tha t th e e nd was n e ar

—o n e o f h is young fri ends ,

wh o is amongst us still , utter ed in j e st wh at has proved a proph ecy.

0 . G . D . wr ite s to h im two o r th r e e days befo r e th e last John

O’Hagan says you h ave an oppo rtun ity o f r iva llin g Mirabeau bydying

at th is m inute ; but h e be gs you wo n’t b e tempted by th e invitin g

o ppo rtun ity.

” A s a fact, h e di ed a t th e ve ry mome n t th at was best

fo r h is fam e , wh e n m en o f ve ry diffe r e n t views could un ite in ch e r ish

ing his m emo ry and po in tin g to h is example . Th e clo se st ally of his

brief but cr owded manh o od h as in thi s fin e vo lum e don e hi s last dutyto h is fr ie nd, sh owin g th a t h is fe e lin gs h ave n o t ch anged sin ce , fo r tyfive ye ars ago , h e made h is ballad o f “ Th e Ir ish Ch ie fs culmin ate

in th e praye r , Oh , to h ave lived as Davis lived

3 . A n Essay con tributing to a Ph ilo sophy o f Lite ratur e . By

Bro th e r A z ar ias. o f th e Bro th e rs o f th e Chr istian Sch o o ls .

”

(New York :

P. O’Sh e a ) . Th is is th e sixth edi tio n of a wo rk publish ed sixte en ye ars

a go . Its auth o r is an Ir ishman labourin g in th e Un ited Sta te s amongth o se wh o ar e be st kn own as Ifi'

e n ch Chr istian Bro th e rs. He h as don ea grea t de al fo r Amer ican Cath o lic Lite rature , but th e pre se n t vo lumese ems to us th e most gen erally useful . It applie s Cath o lic fe e lings

and pr in ciple s to a verywide and n ecessarily supe rficia l survey of th e

l ite ratur e s o f many coun tr ie s from th e e ar li est dawn o f lite rature to

th e pr ese n t tim e . Bo oks about bo oks are th e fash ion o f th e day ; and

it is we ll to h ave such subjects tr eate d in th e spirit r ath e r o f Oz anam

than o fTain e . In our n ecessarily supe rficia l survey we have n oticed

o n e ove rsigh t Broth er A z arias very justlyplace s th at trumpe t-blast

o f chivalr ic actio n ,th e Chanson de Ro land, amon g th e most ancien t, th e

mo st be autiful , and th e mo st artistically comple te o f all th e cyclic

po ems th at h ave be e n h ande d down .

” A s a Cath o lic Irishman , h e

o ugh t to h ave claimed for a Cath olic Ir ishman—Mr . Justica O

’Haganth e distinction of h aving enr ich ed English l ite ratur e with so perfect a

me tri ca l ve rsion o f th is gr eat mediseval epic as enables na to appr eciate

th e pra ise s be stowed upon it in this exce llen t Essay towards a

Ph ilosophy o f lite ratur e .


4 . A ids to co rr e ct and efie ctive Elocution,with se l ected re adings

and r e cita tions fo r practice , by Ele an o r O’G rady (New Yo rk ,

C in cinn ati , Ch icago Benz ige r Bro th e rs) h as, it se ems, cir culated formany ye ars in manuscr ipt amon g th e compiler

’s num e rous pupils. A

go od many of th e rule s fo r g estur e and de live ry r e ad ve ry funn ily,

but for a ll th at th ey may be ve ry use ful in practice . Th e r e is a gre at

deal of fr e shn e ss and n ove lty iri—le t n a give h e r th e be n efit of a

doubt—Jl t’ec O ’G rady

’s illustr ative extracts. With a view to a second

edition , we r eco rd our vo te against Th e He lio trope”as stupid and

un suitable .

5. Th e same Publish e rs h ave se nt na Th e Leper Que e n , a sto ry

of th e th ir te e n th ce n tury, sligh t but.

pr e tti ly don e . Fa th e r Damie n in

h eaven is, we suspe ct, partly r e sponsible fo r it, an d also fo r a ve ry

lo n g and be autiful po em in th e Jun e Ca tho lic Wor ld, in th e m e tre

wh ich mo st o f n a associate with Lon gfe llow’s Evange line .

6 . A n extr eme ly in te r e sting and an extr em e ly edifying book is

Fath e r Pe rry, F .R S., th e Je suit A str o n ome r a sk e tch o f h isLife ,

Work . and De a th . By A loysius L . Co rtie , SJ (Lo ndon Cath o lic

Truth So cie ty) . Fath e r Co r tie h as put th e simple facts toge th e r

admirably, and h as give n th e unsci en tific r e ade r th e means o f

appr ecia tin g Fath e r Pe rry’

s wo rk , and th is with a clea rn ess an d

simplicity wh ich could o nly be secur ed by a ve ry th or ough .kn owledge

o f th e subj ect in all‘

its bearin gs. Th e pe rsonal tra its of Fath e r

Pe rry’s ch aracte r ar e touch in gly edifyin g , e specially th e de tails of h is

de ath , n on e th e less in te r e stin g fo r our r e ader s o n accoun t of th e Ir ish

n am e s of th e ch ief assistan ts th e r e at , Bro th er Ro o n ey. S.J., and Dr .

McSwin ey, an o ld Clongowe s boy.

”A n exce lle n t po rtra it in fron t,

a nd e igh t illustra tion s scatter ed th r ough th e 1 20 page s, and th e pr ice

on ly o n e sh ill in g .

7 . Pla in Se rmon s o n th e Fundam en ta l Truths of th e Cath o lic

Church by th e Rev. R . D. Brown e (London : Burn s and Oates), bearsth e Nih il Obstat of an Oblate o f St. Ch ar les. Th e se sixty e igh t

se rmon s ar e for th e most par t very sh o rt, som e tim es only a page o r

two , lik e th e Five -m inute Se rmo ns of th e New York Paulist Fath ersbut Fath e r Brown e a ims at givin g a good dea l o f th e o logical instruo

tion . We do n o t th ink h e has be en very succe ssful . Some of th e

minute de ta ils about justice [and o th e r subjacts ‘

ar e h ardly judiciouswh en give n so crude ly. On e small po in t of an o th er sort is that th e

Jesuit auth o rzof Chr istian and Religious Perfection is con founded at

page 309 with our recen tly can onised laybro th er , St. A lph on sus

Ro dr igue z .


8 . A Visi tandin e o f Baltimo re has tr anslated, and th e Be n z ig e rs

have publish ed in a fin e octavo of four h undr e d pages, Bongan d‘

e

exce llen t Life o f Ble ssed Margare t Mary A lacoque . A n Osso ryPr iest h as composed, and James Duffy and Company h ave pub

lish ed, Th e Life of ‘

St. Jo hn th e Baptist,”in wh ich all th e circum

stances of th e car e e r o f th e Precurso r ar e care fully studied by a n

e n thusiastic cli e n t o f th e Sain t .

9 . Fath e r William B. Mo rr is o f th e Londo n Oratory h as for manyyears devo ted h imse lf to th e study o f a ll th at co nce rns th e life o f th e

A po stl e o f Ir e land . His Life o f St . Patr ick h as r e ach ed a four th

edition , wh ich is by n o mean s a me r e re issue o f forme r edition s, but

con ta in s th e substance o f manydisquisitions con tr ibuted by th e auth o rto Th e Dublin Review and The Irish Eee len

'

ae twa l Record on som e co n

trove r ted po in ts in th e h isto ry o f St . Patr ick . Th e publish ers h ave

brough t out th is n ew edition with pe rfect taste .

1 0 . Mr . R . Washbourn e , 1 8 Pate rn o ster Row,Lo ndo n , h as pub

lish ed th e first En glish edition o f Fath e r Jenkin’s answe r to th e

que stion : Should Chr istian ity h aven Educa tion Th e e ssay has gon e

th r ough four edition s in th e Un ited States. Th e Cath o lic Trutl 1

So cie ty h as issued a fre sh number o f th e exce llen t pe nny ser ie s 0 t’

m editatio n s by Fath e r Rich ard Cla rke , S.J. , as we ll as a biograph ica l

sk e tch o f th e Van . Olive r Plunke t, A rch bish op of A rmagh , and :1.

sto ry full o f romance and conve rsio ns, by Miss H. M. Lush in gto n ,

ca ll ed He len Fo rayth , o r a Shadowed Life .

1 1 . Two extr eme ly inte restin g pape rs by Dr . Th omas Mo re Mad

de n h ave be e n r eprin ted fr om medica l journ als—o n e on S chwalbach

as a h e al th - r e sor t, an d th e o th e r aga in st Hypn o tism and two o th e r

medical fads wh ich ar e sh own to h ave n o t eve n n ove lty to r ecomm e nd

th em . Th e son of Dr . R . R . Madden copies h is fath e r in linkin gli te rary studies wi th th e practice o f th e h ealin g art ; but h is writings

ar e confin ed to mo r e str ictly profession al subj ects th an th o se which

e ngag ed th e auth o r of Live s o f th e Un ited Ir ishme n .

”

442 The Im h l lonth ly.

member of a well -lmown Dublin family, represen ted at presen t bythe Bish op of A rdagh and Clonmacn o ise . He was a very distin

guish ed pupil of the Jesu1 ts at Friburg , and afterwards a gold

medallist at Tr in ity Coll ege , Dublin . He was called to th e Bar ,

rewect for th e so lidity and breadth o f his legal attainme n ts ;”

and,

outside th e groove of his dutie s as a barriste r , h e had a cultivated

literary taste , which h e inh erited from h is fath er . Of th e lite rarylean ings of each of th em we may mention an in stance th at came

under our n otice , though o f a trivial n atur e . Th e e lder Mr .

Woodlo ck was th e W. W.

”who at page 232 of our fifth volume

Divin e Providence ; and th e subject of th e prese nt n ote was once

before mention ed 1 n our page s in a very unl ike ly conte xt but m

exce ll en t company, among the distinguish ed auth ors of DuhlinA crostics (Dublin : Hodges and Figgis) . A t page 359 of our

fifte en th volume (July, 1 887) th e curious re velation was 1 or the

first time made as to th e partn ersh ip in that bril lian t little quartoo f such grave and learn ed men as Baron Fitzgerald, Lord JusticoF itzgibbon , Judge O

’Hagan , and even Dr . Russe ll o f Mayn o oth .

A mong th e jun ior barriste rs admitted in to th e con clave was Mr .

William Wo odlock , wh ose solitary con tr ibution is on e of th e

Mx. Woodlock’s literary and legal skill would have qualified

him to make some useful contr ibution s to th e lite rature of his

profe ssion . He was on e o f those un aifectedlymodest men who

n e ed a certain degree of exte rn al compulsion to make th em con

scious of th eir own capabilities. It was characte ristic of his se rious,

re ligious m ind that among his manuscripts has be en foun d an nu

finish ed translation of a rath er large Span ish trea tise on th e

m e thod of demon strating th e truth o f th e Christian religion to a

youn g man of th e world. On e o f his co ll eague s, n ot of th e same

faith , in quir ing about his condition on e day dur ing his last brief

il ln ess, join ed to his expression of sympathy th e emphatic

r emark : He was always a perfect Christian .

”R. I. P.

II. In th e preceding n otice we have explain ed a signature

wh ich occurred only o nce in our page s. Th e in itials M . St. L .

Th e late Mr . Robert Reeves, furnish ed us with a ke y to the en tire

co llection which we must soon'

turn to accoun t .

Items about Ir ish Men and Women . 3 .

D . appeared in a still earlier volume of th e Magaz ins, represen t

ing on e whose death has just be en ann ounced, L ady Ma rgare t

Domville . LadyMargaret St . Laurence was a daughter of th e

th ird Earl of Howth , and married Sir CharlesDomvill e , wh o died

several years before h er . She,

was a fervent Catholic. Her L ife QfL ama r tz

'

ne , published somewhat re cently, is an excell en t piece o f

literary workmansh ip and an extreme ly inte resting biography.

III . A still slighter link conn ects with our Magaz in e on e

circumstances. A fewmore re lics of Charles Kickham (Im su

MONTHLY , vol . 1 6 , p. 1 36) ended with a very minute , simple , and

path e tic accoun t of his death , given byMrs. O’Conn or , with wh om

h e lived during his last year s, in a lette r to th e late Miss Ellen

O’L eary. This is th e Mrs. O

’Conn or who , with four of her five

ch ildren , was poison ed at Seapoint, n e ar Kingstown , on Jun e 30, byeatin g mussels which th e ch ildren had gath ered in a pond hard by.

A ll th e children were girls, th e e ldest, A nn ie , be ing thirte en years

old th en Eily, wh ose eleve n th birthday would have be en ce le

brate d on th e'

foll owing Sunday ; Moya, n ine years old ; Kathle en ,

seven , and Nora , just five . Of th ese only Moya is left to th e

bereaved fath er . Ten minute s afte r th e arrival o f th e priest A n n ie ,

th e e ldest, died ; and in five minutes more Mrs. O’Conn or , wh o

had be en attending to he r poor children to th e last moment, co l

lapsed suddenly and di ed, followed soon by two more of h e r

ch ildr en but th e four th of th e little suffere rs did not die till th e

n ext morn ing . A n immense fun eral proce ssion accompan ied th e

thre e h om es which bore th e five co lhue to G lasn evin , wh ere public

raise a fitting memorial over th ese grave s o f a

W . The Special who described his visit to th e grave o f

Th omas Dan s s Be troth ed in The Even ing Te legraph of Jun e 2 1 ,

1 890, se ems n ot to en joy th e advan tag e of being among our con

stan t readers ; e lse h e would n ot have spoken of A nn ie Hutton as

a reve lation reserved for Sir C. G . Duffy’s recen t biography of h is

most famous friend. A mong th e many coll ections, large an d

small , of letters by in te resting Irishme n and o th ers wh ich th e

kindn ess of many ben efactors has made this Magazin e the first

medium of publishing , on e of th e most valuable was a batch of th e

letters of Th omas Davis to John Edward Pigot, prin te d in two

444 The Ir ish Il onthly.

in stalments in our sixte enth volum e at page 261 and again at pag e

335. A t th e latte r page will be foun d th e story of An ni e Hutt o n ,

and an accoun t of a pilgrimage to h er grave behind th e Whi two r thHospital in Drumcondra—a pilgrimage made exactly two ye a r s

be fore that of th e Te legraph Special . Sir C. G . Duffy, of cour se ,

adds much to what we were able to publish in Jun e , 1 88 8 ,

e specially a charming letter of th e pr omessa spam which Dav i s

pr eserved with care , and which we must quote . The first hint o n

th e subject Duffy extracts fr om th e letter to John Pig ot, wh ichwas prin ted in full in th is Magaz ine (vo l. 1 6, p. It is th e r e

dated, oddly enough , Monday, I th ink, l 6th September ,’44 .

On e would imagin e that Davis was sure of th e day of th e we e k ,

but n ot of th e day of th e mon th . However , that I th ink seems to

have cr ept in by a blunder , be ing mere ly an ann otation made in

prepari ng th e letters for th e prin ter , wh en a doubt arose as to

wh eth er Davis had writte n 1 6th . This date is a mistake , fo r

Pigot’s answer is dated September Davis says to him :

Y ou have Hibern icised th e B uttons so much that th ey have

borrowed a lot of my co llection of Irish air s, and th e lady whose

n ame you write so flippan tly sings Th e Bonny Cuckoo .

’Ar e

you ve ry vain for al l this But Pigot turns th e tables on his

co rresponden t . Y ou are amusing about th e Butto ns, but your

coque try is all fair wh en you can get that graceful wild girl to singBon ny Cuckoo and A nn ie De ar for you.

’

Tis very pleasan t ,

too , to have co llections of music-books for such disin te rested

prose lytism .

”But h is patriotism had n o t improved his chan ces o f

profession al succe ss ; and th e un ce rtain ty of h is future , n ow that

h e had an oth er to think of—or wished to h ave an oth er to th ink of

—was th e cause of th e bad spirits th at he confesse s to in writingto David Owen Maddyn as late as July 3 1 , 1 845. I have be enfor some tim e , and am like ly to con tinue for a while , in a state o f

fever ish anxiety on a subje ct pure ly pe rson al, and which I hope Imay ye t be able to talk of to you.

”Y e t itwas of this pe riod that

Judge O’Hagan wr ites All wh o remembe r him during that

time can te stify to th e wonderful change h e underwent e ve n in

appearance . His form dilated, his eyes got a n ew fire , his step

was firmer , and th e look o f a proud purpose sat on him . A nd

about this time A nn ie dear wrote this lette r to h er be troth ed

How shall I te ll you h ow happy I was to ge t your dear , dear le tter , for

wh ich I love you twen ty times be tte r than before , fo r n ow you ar e tre ating me

446 1 7m Ir ish Mon th ly.

earth . I u'

y to th ink o f all h e h as be en spared ; n o woman’s lo ve oon ld

h is g lo rious spirit bein g bruised, crush ed by th e unwo rth in ess of th ose h e h ad to

deal with . No ideal I could form could be brigh te r, purer th an h e

was. One little sh ort mon th it was. and ye t a wh o le existence o f love ,

Sir Charle s Duffy quote s a friend of h ers as sayin g She faded

away from th e hour of his death .

”Sh e died on th e 7th of

Jun e , 1 853. Her tombston e in St. G e orge’s Ceme te ry, behind th e

Whitworth Hospital , adds that she was th en 28 years o ld ; and

th ese dates te ll na h ow young sh e was during th at summer month

wh en she was th e Betroth ed of Thomas Davis.

A . PROOF-READER’

S A CT OF CONTRITION .

LORD MA CA ULA Y has somewh ere h e ld up to con tempt som e

wre tch wh o con founded an aph o rism with an apoph th egm . Our

ideas on"

th e differen ce be twe e n th ese two are so lam en tably ha zythat we do n ot ven ture to determin e wh eth er th e followingstatemen t is an aph orism or an apophth egm or n e ith er , but, such

as it is, it was made in th ese page s some years ago . A s th e

own er’s eye maketh th e lox fat, even so th e auth or

’s eye maketh the

proof-sh e e t correct. Th e auth or , reading over his article , at once

de tects any epith et th at is n o t what it ought to be , and conclude s

that th e re is a misprin t which h e proce eds to investigate ; but an y

oth er re ader except th e author is less sh ocked with a sligh t incon

gruity, says in his min d, Rath er poo r, that, but g o od en ough fo r

So—and-ao -and so passes ou, leavmg th e blunder unr ectified.

Th e on ly plan fo r ensuring a. fair immunity from blunde rs is to

insist on having every page co rrected m type , at le ast on ce , by th e

write r th ereo f.

The wr iter o f a paper , which a reviewer in The Dublin Evening

A Prooj l reader’s A ct of Contr ition . 447

Ma il of July 2nd called remarkable , and which in private an

e xcelle n t judge (in two se nses of the word) call very remark

able ,”is so far super ior to th e pe tty solicitudes of auth o rsh ip, that

h e refused to look at proof-sh eets, and confided all to th e care of

the presen t write r , wh o betrayed th e trust egregiously in th e July

a ct of co n tr ition so publicly is th e hape that th is attempt at

reparation may gain an oth er careful re ader or two for that

remarkable paper on The Two Civilisations.”If we examin ed

th e Jnn e in sta lmen t care fully, we might discover some e rrata ;

h ut July is en ough for us.

Howeve r , before we begin with our own confession , we maytake refuge in th e cowardly excuse that oth ers are just as had. A

ke en eye can detect mistakes in th e be st regulate d magaz in es.

On e of th e fin e Amer ican mon thlies—Sm'ibne r , or The Cen tury for

July, had an e laborate pape r on th e The Suburban House , andquotes th e sayin g, Facihh est inoon tus adder e , wh ere sense require s

facile est invents}: adde rs. Stranger still , The Ir ish Eccle siastica l

Record of July, 1 890, giving (page 670) an answer of the Congre

gation of Rites, directin g that th e prayer at Ben ediction sh oul d be

sung r ecto tono , with a single inflexion of th e voice at th e end

recto is twice pr inte d awto . But th e most in excusable of misprints

in Latin was committed by ourse lves in pr intin g some h exame ters

of Pope L eo XIII. In th e act of stati ng that sundry microscopes

had failed to detect an alleged false quan tity, we allowed tanta

to pass in place of tan to , makin g a glarin g false quan tity of our

own , an d a bit of bad grammar and bad se nse in to th e bargain .

A. write r in The Catho lic Wor ld , reviewin g very favourablyMiss Te re sa Sparrow

’s Olympias,

”remarks that e ith er th e proof

reade r or th e author had not kept the page s as fre e as th ey

should be from small but ann oying blemish e s of a sort easily over

lo oked un til ouoe th ey have been handed o ve r to th e public—th en

they atta in th e immortality o f a perpe tual pill ory.

” We wish to

pill o ry two o r thr e e peculiarly provoking misprin ts in a graphic

sketch called Fath er Pat,’which many o f our readers se em to

have specially appreciated in our May Numbe r . The poo r widow’s

son , who is preparing for th e prie sth ood, is referred to in th e mid

dle of page 269 as th e imp whose person but a sh ort time be fore

sh e had be e n won t to tr eat with scan t courtesy. Th e impo rtan t

verb h as h er e , with ugly realism , be en changed by the composito r

448 m Ir ish Month ly.

in to beat. In page 267 , lin e 26, change have clasped in t o“clasp,

”and called in to “

call .”

A nd n ow for the cbrflgenda in Part Second of Th e Two

Civilisations. In th e fin e poem quoted from Blackwood’s Magaz in e ,

in page 359 of our present volume , th e e leve nth lin e sh ould speak

o f th e world sh outing its paecm (n ot power ) for those who havewon and its penultimate lin e sh ould contrast n ot th e martyr

o r hero ,”but th e martyrs o r Nero .

”

In th e first quotation from Tennyson , in page 361 , 1e t us read

that th e spirit of murder works in th e very veins of life and

in th e first lin e of th e second quotation , change as in to no—a small

who seem to look upon the not in some of th e commandmen ts as a

th e words of th e poet do n o t continue , but come true , and th e

Few would n eed to be told that th e writer of such prose ia s

publishing many exquisite poems, but few n obler than St.

A ugustin e at Ostia,”in our sixte en th volume , and The L eper

Priest of Lun eberg ,’last ye ar . We re fer to th em in th e presen t

me lan ch o ly conte xt for th e purpose o f changing fle eting minds in to

flutiny mu

nds m page 539 :

“ A son g ao swee t that bro ok n o r bird

If th is humble confession sh ould of our reade rs

back to th e very wise and e loquen twh ich this presen t wr iter is alon e responsible , h e will fe e l less

regret for his n egligence , while he promises n ot to do it again .


My darling is h ard to ple ase . A shfie ld is mo st de sirab le in

e ve ry way. But you sh all n o t be co e rced . Do exactly as you lik e .

”

I wi ll. r eplied th e gir l, dre amily, as sh e pick e d th e with e r e d

le ave s from h e r bouque t. Lo ok at th e se flowe rs , grandpapa ; is it

n o t sad to se e th em dro op th e ir h e ads

Very sad , de are st . But such is life ; a ll th a t’

s br igh t mus t

fade—a h ackn eyed, but true'

saying , h e r ema rked, sm iling . But .

lo oking close ly at th e bo uque t, th at is n o t th e o n e I o rde red fo r

you, Sylvia .

”

Th e gir l blush ed, and n estl ed clo se r to h is side .

No . de ar ; but I th o ugh t yo u would n o t m ind. It—it match e dmy dre ss be tte r th an yours .

”

Did Lo rd A shfie ld se nd it

No . I would n o t h ave taken h is , in ste ad o f yo urs , alth ough I

must say it was ve ry pre tty.

”

Th e n wh o se n t you th is o n e th a t yo u say ma tch ed your dre ss

be tte r th an m in e?Sylvia lowe re d h e r eye s. and h e r l ips tr emble d sligh tly .

“ I do n ’

t kn ow, gran dpapa—but I th ink—I fe e l sur e it cam e

from Paul .”

From Paul ! Sir Eustace sta r te d . My de a r , th a t is im

po ssible . He is abro ad—in Ame r ica .

”

Y e s, so I be lie ve . But in som e way—by his o rde rs , th is

bo uque t was made and se n t to m e .

Sylv ia

I am sur e of th is , grandpapa . A nd—and as I n e ve r co n cea l ed

o r k ept anyth in g fr om yo u in my li fe , I te l l you wh at I th in k n ow.

My dar ling'” He put his a rm round h e r , and pr e ssed a k iss

upon h e r brow. Was t his yo ur impo rtan t commun icatio n

Sylvia laugh ed, and la id h e r bo uque t, fan and gloves upo n t h e

co uch beside h e r .

No , grandpapa . Wh at I wan ted to te ll you was thi s : th o se

chi ldr e n , th e Ne ils. wh o cam e from Me lbo urn e with me in th e Ct'

mhr ia ,

we r e n o t drown ed .

”

My dear ch ild, h ow did you h e ar th is

Lo rd A shfie ld to ld m e to -n igh t.”

A shfield ! How do e s h e kn owIt is a cur ious story

—but ve ry in te r e sting .

A n d sh e th e n r e la ted th e va rious in cide n ts, as sh e h ad h e a rd

th em from Lo rd A ahfie ld.

Sir Eustace liste n ed a tte n tive ly ; but wh e n sh e h ad fin ish ed, h e

made n o r emark , an d sat pufl‘in g h is cigar , appar e n tly abso rbed in

th ough t .

A Str iking Con trast. 45l

I can n o t unde rstand it, Sylvia ,” h e crie d a t last, and th e r e we r e

te ars in h is eye s as h e spoke . An n e Da n e saw th em go down , and

with almo st supe rhuman str e n gth , at th e r isk of be in g pitch ed in to

th e ocean , sh e sa ved you as you wer e sinking with th em .

”

A n n e was mistak e n dece ived in h e r te rro r . Th ey did n o t sink,

and are n ow in Londo n .

”

Th e numbe r of time s sh e described that n igh t to me , and th e

ce rtain ty sh e fe lt that th ey we r e dr own ed, pre ven ted m e from

adve rtisin g—from search ing fo r th em, po o r l ittle waits. But n ow

th at we h ave found th em, we must make up fo r lost time , my darling .

and do wh at we can to h e lp th em .

”

“ I kn ew you would say tha t,

”cr ied Sylvia , joyfully. I to ld

Lo rd A shfie ld ao . He wante d m e to k e ep th e ir existe nce a secre t

fr om you. He fears th at if Lady A shfie ld h eard youwe r e g o ing toh e lp th em , sh e would se t you aga inst po o r Madge .

”

But why Is th ere anyth ing wro ng with Madge

Inde ed th e re is n ot cr ied Sylvia, fo rge ttin g tha t sh e kn ew

ve ry little about th e gir l . Sh e is wo nde rfuny good and cle ve r .

Well, dear , I sh all n o t m in d anyth ing Lady A shfie ld may say,

and wi ll h e lp th e se ch ildre n to th e be st of my power .

”

Th e n I may go to se e th em to -mo rrow

Ce rtain ly ; and wh en you kn ow th em a little , we shall se e wh at

we can do fo r th em . Th ey must h ave h ad a h a rd struggle to live .

”

Y es, ve ry. A nd just th in k , g randpapa , h ow difie re n t h as be e n

my life ,”said Sylvia, cling ing to h im , and h ow te rr ible it migh t

have be e n if A nn e had n o t saved me , and if I, to o , h ad be en cas t

away with th e se children o r all a lo n e pe rhaps.

My da rling , I thank G od from th e bo ttom of my h eart that such

a trial as that was spar ed us . We owe a de ep debt of gratitude to

An n e . What sh ould I have do n e with out you, my precious SylviaY ou would have be en lo n e ly, I th ink , sh e wh ispe red

care ssingly. Al th ough I am a ca re , and some times a wo rry.

”

Ne ve r ,” h e cried indignan tly . Neve r

Wha t No t even wh e n you ar e fo rced in to giving ba lls fo r mysake

No t even th e n , you saucy puss . A nd now, to bed , o r I sh a ll

have you lo oking as limp as your po o r bouque t, to -mo rrow.

”

Th e re is n o fear of tha t . But n ow tha t I have to ld you my

sto ry, I th ink I sha ll re tire . I do fe e l tired , I co nfess.

”

I th ough t ao , my pct . 80 n ow go od-n igh t . Do n o t come down

fo r br eakfas t, but take a lo ng sle ep to make up for all yo u have lo st .

G ood-n igh t .

”A nd throwing as ide h is cigar , h e fo lded h e r in his a rms,

and kissed h e r tende rly.


Th e n ext mo rn ingSylvia did n o t, h oweve r , fo ll owh e r g ran dfa th e r ’ sadvice , but rang ea rly fo r h e r maid ; and much to th at young pe rso n

’s

a ston ishm en t,informed h e r th at sh e wan ted br eakfast, and was go in 5;

o ut at e leve n .

Do es Mademo ise lle r equir e th e carr iage?ask ed Désirée .

No . I am go ing in to a po o r n e ighbourh o od and sh a ll walk . I

wan t you to com e with m e .

”

C’e st in croyable cr ied th e maid, as sh e wen t to obey h e r

m istr ess’s o rde r s . A fte r a ball, an d th at ball at h om e But

Mademo ise ll e A th e rsto n e h as th e str en g th o i—I kn ow n o t wh at .

Howeve r , Désirée could o nly submit, and a t e leve n o’clock sh e

a nd Sylvia walk ed briskly alon g th e Cromwe ll Ro ad.

On le avin g h om e , Sylvia fe lt full o f j oy at th e th ough t o f h e r

expe dition , a nd th e go od sh e would sur e ly be able to do th e se po o r

o rph an s . But as sh e we n t down Wa lto n Str e e t, and dr ew n e ar th e

h ouse wh e re th e Ne ils lived, sh e became n ervous and uncomfo r tabl e .

It se emed an impe r tin en ce to walk in to th ese g ir ls an d ofie r to

a ssist th em . Th ey migh t be o ffe n de d, and r ese n t th e in trusio n . It

would be be tte r , perh aps, to wr ite fir st to le t th em kn ow sh e was

coming . But n o , th at would cause a de lay. Sh e h ad promi sed

Lo rd A shfield to se e th em at on ce .

* Sh e wo uld k e ep h e r prom ise .

So on sh e we n t, h e r co lo ur a little h igh e r th an usual,h e r

h e art be a tin g tumul tuously.

Sh e r each ed th e h ouse . Miss Do ra was in . Miss Madge was at

sch o o l .

Y ou can wait h e r e , Désiré e , o r r e turn fo r m e in an h our , sh e

said, in a low vo ice . Th e Ne ils ’ r o oms we re o n th e fo ur th flo o r .

A long way up, it se em ed to th e visito r .

Ou th e last landin g th e g ir l paus ed . T h er e we r e two doo rs . A t

wh ich sh ould sh e kn ock Sudden ly th e sound o f a swe e t vo ice ,

sin gin g an o ld Ir ish air , fe ll on h er e ar and in an in stan t sh e k n ew

it must be Do ra wh o san g .

Sh e waited till th e so n g was fini sh ed, th en kn ocked ge n tly, and

was quickly h idden to e n te r . Sh e ope n ed th e do or , and stepped

across th e thr e sh o ld ; th en stopped abruptly, gaz in g with admiratio n

a t th e pictur e be fo re h e r .

Ou th e sofa lay Do ra . Boun d about h e r , like a cloak , fe ll

h e r lo n g go lden h air ; and h e r finge rs we r e busy with some yards o f

pale blue silk , th at sh e was h emming industriously. Sh e did n o t look

up for a momen t . A nd as Sylvia sto od wa tchin g h e r , Brown i ng’s

description in G o ld Ha ir flash ed thr ough h er mind, and se emed

a s th ough wr itten fo r th e o ccasio n .

Ha ir su ch a wo nde r o f flax and floss,Freshn ess and fr agran ce n floods of i t to o .

454 The 1m).Mo nth ly.

A sh o ck

Y e s . I—we h ad lo oked for you so long , so h ope lessly, tha t

wh en I saw you I n ear ly fain ted .

”

But you did n o t kn ow m e wh en I spoke to you?Oh . n o ; but afterwards , wh en you h ad gon e to th e drawin g

r o om , th e maid to ld me .

”

“ Po o r li ttle Do ra ! I wish I kn ew. I took such a fan cy to yo u

th at day, be cause I th ough t yo u l ik e mymo th e r .

”

Dora started, an d fixed h e r eye s upo n h e r in aston ishme nt.

Your mo th er P

Y e s, de ar , my dead mo th er ; I n eve r saw h er , you kn ow ; but

that morn ing grandpapa h ad just be e n descr ibing h e r to me , fro m

what papa h ad said about h e r in h is le tte rs. Sh e was small and fa ir ,

with go lden hai r and blue eye s ; and wh en I saw you upo n th e land

ing , Iwas startled, for you se emed exactly wh at sh e migh t h ave b e en ,

o r rath er what h er daugh ter ough t to be . It made me sad to thin k

th a t I was so un lik e h er . Po o r little mo th er , sh e died so young .

Was Mrs. Ne il fair

I don’t kn ow,

”replied Dora , in a low vo ice , I was only a baby

a t th e time o f h e r death .

”

0 1 course ; but th en , Madge migh t h ave to ld you.

Sh e n eve r did.

An d you‘

n ever asked Th at is strange . Did you n eve r

wonde r if you we r e like your mo th eru Y OB, o ften .

”0

I th ough t ao . Eve ry gir l do es. I th ink ; at least eve ry g ir l

wh ose mo th e r is dead,and wh om sh e h as n evor kn own . I h ave n o t

e ven a picture of my darlin g . Sh e was bo rn and di ed in A ustralia ,

and n o on e h er e ever saw h er . Wh en papa sen t me h ome with A n n e

Dan e , h e put a min iatur e o f mo th e r round my n eck ; but, a las ! it

was lost on th e nigh t of th e wr e ck . Wasn’t th at a pity

4 0 Y es.

”

.Do ra

’

s lips quivered, an d sh e closed h er eyes lest Sylvia sh ould

se e anyth in g str ange in th e ir expre ssion as sh e pressed h e r mo th e r’s

Ar e you in pain , de ar ask ed Sylvia , n oticin g th is sudde n

A little ,”whispered Do ra , but do n

’t mind me . it will pass 03 .

Po o r ch ild, I can no t bea r to se e you sufle r . But we shall so o n

make you stro ng . Y ou must leave th ese stuffy rooms a t once ;

gran dpapa will find you a ple asan t place ; you sh all se e a go od docto r ,

and th en

Do ra star ted up, and se iz ing Sylvia’

s h and pr essed it to h e r lips.


Do n o t make me love you too much ,”sh e cried, do n o t sh ow

m e wh at a. good, n oble gir l you ar e , fo r wh e n you kn ow, wh en you

h e ar , you will h ate me , and th en—oh ,

I can no t bear it.”

A nd, ove rcome with emotio n , Do ra fe ll back , sobbin g bitte r ly.

“ My de ar ch ild, wh at ca n you mean

No th in g , n o thi n g ! Do n o t look so fr igh ten ed. But you must

n o t do , o r wi sh to do to o much fo r n a—Madg e would n o t a ll ow it ;

sh e is pro ud. But h e lp h e r to wo rk—find h e r pupils wh o will pay

h e r we l l—and sh e will bless you. Mo re , n e ith e r sh e n o r I could

a ccept, un le ss—but th at Madge would n e ve r co n se n t to .

”

Sylvi a smile d, an d, smoo thing back th e go lden h air gen tly, kissed

.th e gir l’s fair br ow.

Wh at a pair o f proud siste rs,”

sh e sa id, playfully.

A shfield was r igh t wh e n h e sa id

Do ra tr embled ; h e r pale ch e eks gr ew scarle t.

Lord A shfie ld?Did h e te ll youHe to ld m e all—wh e r e you we re , wh o you we r e , and h ow

a nxious h e was to h e lp you.

”

He h as h e lped us, in many ways.

Sylvia lo ok ed a t h e r in surpr ise .

Really I th ough t h e h ad n eve r be en able to do anyth ing .

Lady A shfie ldWas cruel—o h , so crue l to po or Madge .

I um so rry, ve ry so rry to h e ar that. For th ough fond o f

m anaging pe ople and th ings in h e r own way, sh e is n o t unkind.

”

No ,”sa id Do ra bitte rly, but sh e was to Madge ; so much so

th at we r e so lved n e ve r to accept any h e lp from h e r h ands . Howeve r ,

sh e h as n eve r troubled us . From th e even ing th at Madg e cal led upo n

h er , we have n eve r h ea rd from h er .

Lo rd A shfie ld to ld m e h ow gr ieved h e was at h is mo th e r’s

c onduct.”

I th ough t h e would h e , cr ied Do ra . I to ld Madge h ow goo d,

h ow n oble h e was . But, alth ough h e saved na from te rrible mise ry

by paying our r en t, sh e cann o t be ar to h ear his n ame m en tion ed—anda ll be cause o f h is mo th e r .

”

Sh e is wron g th e n , said Sylvia grave ly. For h e is exactlywh at you say, n oble and go od.

Do ra looked at h e r clo se ly, th en turn ed away to lay h e r wo rk upon

th e table . Do you like him ve ry much?sh e ask ed.

Ve ry much . I have kn own him since I was a ch ild.

Do ra sigh ed, and moved restlessly fr om side to side .

I mig ht have known ,”sh e murmur ed to h e rself, I migh t h ave

kn own everything—why n o t th is as we ll

456 Th e Ir ish Mon th ly.

A n d you will te llMadg e fr om m e , co n tinued Sylvia , n o t n o ticin gth e lo o k o f so rrow o n Do ra

’s face , th a t sh e must n ot jadg e people

rashly. It is wro n g to blam e Lo rd A shfie ld fo r hi s m o th e r’

s fault .

”

Y e s, ye s, crue lly wro ng .

”

A n d I thi nk—I um afra id Madge must be ra th e r fo o li sh som e

time s . Lady A shfie ld was anxious to h e lp you, but your siste r

offended h e r de eply, by some thing sh e said o r did. Oi course I wa s

n o t th e r e , a nd so do n o t kn ow h ow it h appe n ed . But Madg e sh ould

be mo r e ca r e ful .”

Dora cove r ed h e r face with h e r h ands, and gro an ed a loud.

Poo r Madg e ! Oh , it you o n ly kn ow ! But I dar e n o t, I ca n

n o t te ll you. A nd n ow, I h 0pe you may n e ve r kn ow.

We ll , dear , you spe ak myste r iously. But I sh all n ever ask you

to te ll me anyth in g th at you wish to ke ep secr e t. A n d if it is anythin g again st Madge , I sh ould pr e fe r n o t to h ea r it, because

A gain st Madge Do ra’s small frame quive red , and h e r blue

eye s flash ed omin ously. A ga in st Madg e ! Sylvi a A th e rsto n e , a r e

you dr e aming?Did anyon e say th e r e was a nyth in g aga in st Madge

No , but”

A gai n st Madg e ! Madge wh o is so go od and true . Madge wh o

h as labour ed and struggled . Madge wh o ha s be en fath e r , mo th e r ,

siste r ,eve ryth in g to m e . A s if th e r e co uld be anythin g aga in st h e r

as if

Sylvia laid h er h and upon Do ra’

s, and pr essed it ge n tly.

My dear ,”sh e said so o th ingly, do n o t be angry with m e . I

mean t n o h arm . I am sur e Madg e is all you say. I spok e th ough t

le ssly. But your myste r ious h in ts misled m e .

”

I must speak myste riously unl e ss- but te ll m e , Sylvia , sh e

askcd a lmo st fierce ly, are you pr oud o f your position , your nam e

Would it pa in you to becom e po o r , to fa ll from be in gMissA th e rston e ,to be com e a po o r gir l like me

Sylvia lo oked at h e r won de r in gly. Sh e could n o t unde rstan d

th e dr ift o f th ese stran ge questions, an d fe ar ed th e gir l’

s m ind must

be as fe eble as h e r body.

I could n ot imagin e such a ch an ge , dear , sh e sa id g e n tly. Se

do n ot le t na talk about th e impossible . Th e question n ow is, h ow

grandpapa and I can h e lp you and Madge

Do ra. flush ed painfully ; sh e did n o t spe ak and two large tea rs

fe ll from h er eyes, and ran unh e eded down h e r ch e eks.

Dora ,”cri ed Sylvia , flinging h e r arms round h e r . My de a r ,

you ar e unh appy. Te ll me—wh a t is it Wha t is this myste ryf ’

Do ra allowed h e r h ead to re st upo n Sylvia’s br east ; and, raising

h e r face to h e rs, kissed h e r with lin ge ring tende rn e s. Th en sudde n ly,

sh e push ed h e r rough ly away.


murmur ed Do r a , as th e do o r clo se d upon h e r visito r . But, o h , h ow

s h all we e ve r le t h er know th e truth How sh all we dr ag h e r fro m

h e r h igh po sitio n , make h e r h is in fer io r in bir th , unwo rthy to be

h is wife I co uld n o t do it—I co ul d n o t do it,”and th e swe e t face

was ful l o f pai n a t th e th ough t A las, wh at a crue l destiny is m in e .

But n ow I must try to be h appy. I um ple ased that sh e is so k ind,

s o go od, and i i—but I will wr ite to Madge , and te ll h e r to“

hurryback . Mrs. Sims will take my no te to th e sch o o l on h e r way h om e .

I lon g to te ll my dar ling th e good n ews, th at sh e may so o n l eave

t h o se in so len t g irls at Pen e lope Lodge for some mo re conge n ial

o ccupatio n .

”

A n d, r isin g slowly from th e so fa , Do ra wen t to th e table , a nd

t a king pencil and pape r sa t down to wr ite to Madg e .

CHAPTER XIX.

A l! UNEXPECTE’

D MEETING .

Just as Sylvia reach ed th e str e e t, h er m ind full o f Do ra, an d

h er pr e tty ye t pe rplexing ways , a youn g man o f about six o r seve n

a nd twe n ty, en te r ing th e h ouse , me t h e r . He was'

n o t tall , hardlya bove th e a ve rage h e igh t, and ve ry sligh t, with dark gr ey eyes, and a

bro ad, n o ble brow, from wh ich masses o f fa ir curling ha ir wer e th rown

in a rtistic car e lessn ess. His coat was a we ll -wo rn black ve lvet , and

th e h a t h e carr ied in his h and a ra th e r sh abby so ft , grey fe lt .

Th e girl’s glance fe ll upo n h im as h e appro ach ed, and sh e gave a

little cry ; th en , stopping sh ort, steadied h e rse lf against th e ban iste r ,

a nd examin ed him mo re clo se lyPaul

,

”sh e wh isper ed. oh , Paul , is it possible

A t th e soun d of h er voice th e young man started . Th e h o t blo od

r ush ed to his fo reh e ad ; his eyes se em ed to have absorbed th e

sunsh in e .

He ran forward joyfully, caugh t bo th h e r h ands, and carried th emrapidly to h is lips. Sh e dr ew th em g en tly away, and looked straigh t

in to h is eye s, He did n o t flinch o r quail be n eath h e r glance . His

was as true , as faith ful as h e r own .

Paul ,”sh e ask ed with h e igh te ned co lour , as h e turn ed to ,

aecom

pany h e r a few pace s in th e str e e t, why ar e you h ere We th ough t

you we r e in Ame rica .

”


I am h er e .” h e cr ied , be cause Ame r ica is to o far away. Be tter

to starve in th e same town , with in a few str e e ts o f you, than grow

r ich with an ocean be twe e n na.

”

Wh at ar e you do ing?”Wo rking o n e day, idl in g th e n ext.

A nd 1 8 th at yo ur ide a of h ow a man sh ould live if h e wish es to

m ak e a n am e i

Name h e cr ied bitte r ly. I sh all n eve r make a n ame .

I am very so rry to h e ar th at . I h oped—I be lie ved you would.

Y o u did n o t ta lk so in th e o ld days.

I was a simple to n th en—a fo o l .

Th en a ll your dr eams—a ll yo ur ambition h as go n e Th e

p r omise s you made

Sylvia , do n o t blame me , h e implo red . I h ave be e n unl ucky

a l l th rough . Th e fates ar e again st m e .

I do n o t se e th at.”

Y ou do n o t se e it, oh , h ow ca n you say ao?Th ink wh at my lifeh as be e n . A s a boy, I was tak en from my po o r h om e to Sir Eustace

A th e rston e’s sple ndid man sion . I was surrounded with luxury. spo il t

a nd patted, a me re playth ing for th e lo n e ly millio n a ir e . Th e n yo u

cam e . I was cast aside . But I car ed little fo r th at . I ado r ed yo u

my siste r . my tr e asur e . A l l my th ough ts we r e of you—e ve rythi ng I

did was to ple ase yo u. A nd my first r e aso n fo r wish ing to be a n

a rtist was, th at I migh t pai n t your po rtrait. Th en fo llo wed our ye ar s

abroad. My boyish love gr ew to passion . I to ld my love—an d th e

pe nn iless depen den t was se n t away, turn ed adri ft with h ard words,

to sink o r swim as ch ance de cr e e d .

”

Y ou are un jus t and un grateful , cr ied Sylvia warm ly. G rand

papa wish ed to co n tinue your allowance , but you”

Refused to e at th e bre ad o f ch arity. Y e s, Sylvia , wh e n I

sudden ly r e alised that you and I, th ough we lived in th e same h ouse ,

a nd ate a t th e same table , wer e n o t co n side r e d equa ls, I saw th e

injustice that h ad be en don e to m e .

”

In justiceY es, I r epea t it, in justice . Wh at r igh t h ad Sir Eustace to tak e

me out of my n a tural po sitio n , teach m e luxur ious habits, br in g m e

up on tom s o f equali ty with you, h is gr anddaugh ter , an d th en , wh e n

I told h im o f my lo ve fo r you, spurn m e and te ll me I was a b eggar

He paused, and turn ing h is eye s full o f indign an t fe e lin g upo n

h er , se emed waiting for a r eply.

But n on e came . Sylvia did n o t spe ak . He r swe e t face wo r e an

expressio n of so rrow, h er mouth a lo ok o f pain . B or br igh t co lour

h ad faded as Paul became ve h emen t ; an d as h e gaz e d a t h er ,


lo ngin g fo r a wo rd of sympathy, h e was sudden ly struck by h e r

extr em e pa llo r .

Sylvia , you are ill—I h ave an n oyed you, h e said, trying t o

take h e r h and. Oh , my love , my love , fo rgive me .

”

But th e girl spran g aside .

Do n o t touch m e ,”sh e cr ied, no r call me by tha t n am e , til l

you h ave e ar n ed th e r igh t—till

Sylvia

Paul, liste n to m e . Y ou h ave spok en unfairly, un gen e rously o f

my gran dfa th e r . In th e bitte rn e ss o f your soul , you h ave take n a ll

th a t h e h as do n e for you, all th e kin dn e ss h e h as lavish ed o n you, in a

wr on g spir it . Y ou h ave called h im un just . Y ou must un say th o se

wo rds, a nd sh owby your life th a t th ey ar e un true , o r—o r n eve r spe ak

to m e again .

But, Sylvia, h ow can I do this?By your life by givin g up your idle ways, and wo rkin g

h o n estly, man fully.

Oi wh a t use would it b e 1?Of gr e a t use

—to sh ow th at you ar e a man , and n o t a m e re

creature o f wh ims and fancies ; to sh ow th at th e afie ctio n , th e mon ey,

and oppo rtun ities bestowed upon you by Sir Eustace , h ave n o t b e e n

t?hr own away ; to prove to m e th at I h ave n o t loved a wo rth less

Sylvia , spar e me . I kn ow—I fe e l my own sh o rtcomings. Do

n o t mak e me h ate and despise myse lf.

”

N sh e said, and th ere we r e te ars in h er vo ice as sh e spok e ,

th a t is n o t my obj ect. Oh . Paul , if you would on ly be true to your

se lf, exe rt yourse lf, and n o t fr itte r away th e tal en ts G od h as give n

you, h ow h appy we m igh t be .

Sylvia , do you mean th is Could any efiort o f min e mak e a

difier e nce Could I under any circumstance s be r eceive d as yours

Th e gir l’s wh ite face grew crimso n , and h e r eye s fe ll ben e ath h is

gaz e .

“ A las h e cried,“

you kn ow it could n o t be . I, th e son o f a

simple tan n e r , could n ever aspir e to th e r ich Miss A th e rston e . G o od

He ave ns ! Why ar e you n o t po o r‘

1’ Why ar e you n o t po o r

‘

1’ Why

are you n o t like th at young g ir l upstairs, Miss Do ra .

Ne il If you

were o n ly in h e r position , and th at my wo rk could h e lp to suppo rt

you, I’d to il n igh t and day.

”

Th e n , why n o t do ao , if only to please m e—and grandpapa

He do e s n ot car e .

”

Th e r e you ar e mistaken . He car es a gr eat de al ; h e l oves you,

Paul, and misses you, I kn ow.

Th e n why did h e send me away Why did h e forbid m e h ish ouse

462 The Ir ish Mon th 131 .

upo n h im in e a rn est pleadin g , the last remn an t of false pr ide fe l l

away, and h e fe lt de eply pen ite n t , and ful l of r emo rse . In an in sta n t

h e was by h e r side aga in .

Sylvia ,” h e cried, in a vo ice o f anguish , do n o t le ave me just

ye t . Liste n to m e , I implor e—I en tr e a t. Your words h ave ope n e d

my eye s, to rn down th e ve il th at my pride h ad hung be fo re th em . I

h ad always lo oked upon myse lf as th e pe rson mos t wr o nge d. Bu t

n ow I se e h ow sh ameful , h ow ungrate ful, h as be e n my co nduct .

A lo o k o f joy flash ed across Sylvia’

s love ly face, and smilin g

radian t ly, sh e put h e r h and in h is .

Br ave ly spoke n , Paul,”

sh e cr ie d. Your pride blinded you, Ikn ow. But pro ud as you a r e . yo u are ge n e rous a lso . and, h avin gse e n and ackn owledged your faul ts , you wil l, I um sure , a to ne fo r

th em as quick ly and as fully as yo u can .

”

A las I can n e ve r do th a t .

”

But you can , if you will .”

Will Oh , Sylvia , if I o n ly kn ew h ow, tha t will n e ve r b e

wan tin g .

It is quite e asy, sh e said g e n tly. A t least, I th ink it sh ould

n o t be so ve ry h ard. Y ou must go to Sir Eustace , and te ll h im wha t

you fe e l, ask h im to fo rg ive you, and be lie ve me your praye r will n o t

be long unh e ard .

”

A nd sh all I te ll him wh at my life has be e n h e ask ed

abruptly. How I h ave wasted my tim e and my tale n ts, pain tin gonly wh e n forced to do so by bare n ecessity

Y e s, te ll him all . But also te ll him th at you ar e about to ch an g e

your way, th at you ar e go ing to work at last .

I can do l ittle . My ro om is smal l. I h ave bad ligh t .

Th e n you must take a studio . Th e re are some exce lle n t o n es in

th e Fulh am A venue . I h ave be e n th e r e o n Show Sunday, wi th

grandpapa .

”

Th a t is impo ssible . A poo r b egga r lik e m e can n o t affo rd such

a luxury. I to ld Lord A shfie ld so on ly yeste rday.

”

Lo rd A shfie ld Do e s h e kn ow you ar e in town

Y e s. He has sat to me fo r hi s po rtrait, like a go od fe llow, and

since th e n I h ave re ce ived an o rde r to pain t th e wife o f a ci ty n o ble .

wh o is pro ud to h ave h er por tr ait do n e by an artist wh o h as justtaken th e liken ess of an e ar

I em glad to h e ar tha t, for it sh ows me th at yo u a re n o t quiteso idle as you would h ave m e be lieve . But n ow you must take tha t

studio .

”

Paul lo ok ed a t h e r grave ly, an d sh o o k h is h e ad .

I m e a n wh a t I say,”sh e r eplied ea r n e stly. Y o u must take it.

A Str iking Co ntrast.

But th e m on ey h e asked impatie n tly. Wh e r e is it to com e

from

From Sir Eustace . Now do n o t tur n away, but liste n to m e,

Paul . Some time ago grandpapa o ffe red you an a llo wan ce . Y ou in

yo ur ange r r e fused it . But n ow you se e y ou we r e wron g , and yo u

ackn owledged your fo lly. Th en go and say ao . He was yo ur fath e rfo r years. Co nfess your fault, an d in a ll humi li ty a sk him to h e lp

you fo r a few ye ars till you beg in to ge t ou. Th is, sur e ly, is n o t a

v e ry difi cul t th ing to do

a It wil l be te rr ibly h ard , but to ple ase yo u, Sylvia , I will do ir.”

Th at is righ t,”sh e cried brigh tly. Y o u ha ve made m e ve ry

h appy. I am sure if you will o n ly try, yo u will succe ed splendidly.

A nd you must te ll grandpapa th at yo u a re de te rm in ed to do so , th a t

you h ave a h igh ambitio n , a n oble purpose to a ch ie ve .

"

A nd may I say th at you, Sylvia , h a ve h e ld o ut a h ope tha t

sh o uld I o n e day distinguish myse lf, th a t yo u will th in k k ind ly o f‘

m e A nd pe r haps

Sylvia h eld out h e r h ands , a nd , as h e pre ssed th em to h is lips ,

sh e looked at h im earn e stly.

Paul ,”

sh e whispe red ,wo rk and h ope . G od wi ll tak e car e o f

our futur e .

Th e n sh e turn ed fr om h im , and ra n swiftly o n h e r way.

My G od ! h e cr ied , as sh e van ish ed from h is sigh t , wh a t

fo o l I h ave be e n , wastin g my life in idle n e ss and fo lly but it sh a ll

b e so n o lo ng e r . Sh e—my Sylvia , my lo ve sha ll live to be pro ud o f

me , to r e jo ice at my succe ss.

A n d h e we n t in to h is ro om and lo cked th e do o r .

Th at e ven ing as Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e sa t re adin g in th e

library, a £0 0 t en te r ed, and asked if h e m igh t adm it a g e n tlema n .

wh o wish ed particularly to se e h im .

What is h is name

He r efused to give it, Sir Eustace .

Y ou may sh ow him in .

”

Th e se rvan t bowed and r e tir ed . A mom e n t la te r th e do o r ope n e d

aga in , and th e strang e r walk ed in .

Sir Eustace la id aside h is bo ok , and turn ing lo o ked at h is visito r .

May I ask ,” h e be gan , th e n paused , a nd spra ng to h is fe e t.

Paul—you h er eY es, Sir Eustace , I um h e r e , h e r e to te ll yo u o f my so rrow fo r

my past conduct, and to implo r e you to fo rgive my wild wo rds, mybitter ingratitude .

’

My boy,”said Sir Eustace with much emo tio n . and graspin g

h im warmly by th e h and, I fo rgave you lon g ago . Your beh avio ur

464 The Ir ish Jl outh ly.

was th at o f a h o t-h e aded. fo o l ish yo uth . I k n ew you would b e so rry

wh en you h ad time to refle ct yo u h ave tak en a lmost a ye ar to do so

but be tte r late th an n e ve r ; I em truly glad to se e you. This wi ll b e

go od n ews fo r Sylvia .

”

Sh e k n ows a ll . Sh e i t wa s wh o bro ugh t me to my se nse s .

sh owe d m e h ow wick e d, h ow fo o lish I h ad be e n .

A cloud passed o ve r th e o ld m an’s face .

Sylvia sawyo u Ta lked to yo u, and ye t did n o t te ll m e?Tha t

can n o t be ; o n ly last n igh t sh e spok e myste r iously of a bouque t th a tsh e th ough t came fr om you, but sh e n eve r sa id sh e h ad se e n yo u.

”

I did n o t m e e t Sylvia till to-day. Sh e was as surpr ised as you

to find I was in Lo ndon . Fo r a lth o ugh sh e may have gue ssed th a t

I sen t th e bouque t , because o f a ce r ta in a rran geme n t o f th e flowe rs,

sh e co uld n o t kn ow th at I h ad come back to England. W e m e t by

a ccide n t, a t th e do o r of th e h ouse in whi ch I l odge .

”

Oi cour se ; I m igh t h ave kn own my dar lin g would n eve r h ave

co nce a le d your m e e ting . But I have b e en away all day, an d h ave

n o t seen h e r since mo rn in g . A n d n ow, Paul , wh at about yourse lf

Wh at h ave you be e n do ing A r e you ge ttin g o n in your pro fessio n

I h ave made n o way, Sir Eustace . I h ave pa in ted fo r my dai ly

b r ead . Wh e n I h ad e n ough fo r th at, I idled and spen t th e m on ey I

e arn ed.

W e ll, we ll , you must turn o ve r a n ew le af. Y ou h ave sown

your wild o ats . Now you must b e g in to wo rk se r iously.

”

I am de te rmin ed to do ao ,”answe r ed Paul, decidedly. A nd

n ow, Sir Eustace , I h ave a r equest to mak e . Y ou on ce o ffer ed m e

a n all owan ce ; I r efused it wi th sco rn ,be cause since I could n o t h ave

your m ost pr e cious j ewe l, I would h ave n o thin g . I would n ow ask

you to give m e th a t h e lp, un le ss you h ave lost all fa ith in me,an d

h ave ce ased to tak e an in te r est in m e and my car e e r .

My de ar Paul , fo r ye ars you we r e dear to m e as a son , an d,un ti l th at unh appy quarr e l , I n eve r r ece ived a rude wo rd from you ;

you n ow r e tur n suin g fo r pardon , and I g ran t it, wh o lly and en tire ly.

Fr om thi s h our we ar e fr ie nds again . Th e th r e e hundr ed a year I

a llowe d you wh en in Rom e h as be e n duly paid in to th e Un io n Bank fo r

you e ve r since th at day wh en I fir st m en tion ed it to you. Sand fo r

your bank-bo ok , and you will doubtless find you h ave a goodly

ba lan ce to your n am e .

”

Paul was spe ech less fr om emotion , and hi s eyes we r e we t and

sh in ing as h e raised th em grate fully to h is ben efacto r’s face .

Y ou ar e go od, to o go od,” h e stamme r ed at last. How sh al l I

sh ow my gratitude 1

By wo rk ing h ard, and mak in g a n ame fo r yourse lf . Le t m e


m o re cultivate d th an I, sh e h as g rown to lo ve m e , th e frie n d of h e r

youth . I came h e re this e ve n in g r e so lve d to te ll you al l ; th e r e sh a ll

be n o th ing de ce itful in my co nduct.”

Th e n you m e an to te ll m e

Paul’

s eye s sh on e r adian tly, h e sto od proudly e re ct, and sh o o k

back th e fair h a ir from h is browwith a ge stur e o f de l igh t.

Th at Sylvia lo ve s me Y e s. th an k G od, I am sure o f it.

Th e o ld man sank in to a ch air , and cove ring his face with h is

h an ds , murmur ed sadly

Oh , my dar lin g , h as it come to this Has it come to th isBut pr e se n tly h e rose up, and go ing clo se to th e young ar tist ,

lo ok ed at h im anxiously.

Pau h e said, in tr embling acce n ts, your words ar e a

r eve latio n to me , and ch ang e all my ide as. I th o ugh t my Sylvia wa s

a ch ild still . A nd n ow, as I remembe r many th in gs she h as said,

m any expr e ssion s o f h e r love ly face , I kn ow yo u a r e r igh t . Sh e is

a woman . Po o r dar ling ! G od k e ep h e r from sor row.

"

Sir Eustace , cried Paul passio n ate ly, you do n o t th ink I coul d

ever brin g so rr ow to my love Y ou can n o t—yo umust n o t say ao .

Paul ,”cr ied th e o ldman so lemnly, are youwo r thyP Has your

life b e en o n e to mak e you wo r thy to l ift your eye s to a girl so n oble ,

so pur e and h o ly, as my Sylvia

No . to my sh ame , I own it . It h as n ot .

Th e n , h ow can you expect me to we lcome you as h e r h usban d

I um spe ak in g to you n ow as I would spe ak to any o th e r man , we re

h e o f th e n oble st in th e la nd. Bir th , r ich e s, h o n ours a re l ittle va lue

compar ed to th at of an uprigh t , a spo tless ch ar acte r . A nd to no o n e

livin g sh all I g ive my dar lin g till h e h as proved beyo nd doubt tha t

h is l ife is h on ourable in eve ry way.

”

Sir Eustace , you ar e r igh t,”said Paul with hum ility. I bow to

your de cr e e . But I ask you h on e stly to te ll me wh at your decision

is. If I work h ard, if from th is h our I l e ad a life of industry, if mylabours are cr own ed no t, pe rh aps, with wo rld-wide fame , but with a

fair amoun t o f success, and at th e end o f this ye a r I come to you, and

yo u find th at Sylvia still love s m e , will you th e n e ncour ag e m e to

h ope to win h e r as my wife‘

1’

Th e o ld man to ok his hand, and lo oked straigh t into h is face .

I beh ave you are in earn e st, Paul ,” h e said. G o d g ran t you

all po ssible succe ss. Eve ryth ing tha t I can do to h e lp you in yo ur

pro fe ssion sh all be do n e . A t th e e nd o f th e ye ar , pe rh aps b efor e , you

sh all h ave a mor e defin ite an swe r . But leave Sylvia to me . Do n o t

se ek to se e h er . Le ave h e r fre e , and—we ll , we sh al l se e .

”

Th e n I may h Ope , cr ied Paul , with quiver in g lips. Oh , Sir

Ma rtyrs. 467

Eustace , I sh a ll n ow work n igh t a nd day. No toi l sh all tire me , n o

labour se em to h ard. A ye ar will appe ar a s a m on th

Do n ot le t your e n th usiasm m isle ad you, Paul. Many th ings

may happen in a. ye ar . Be fo re th at time ms on , Sylvi a’s fa th e r ,

re turns. . I may th e n h ave n o powe r ove r my da rlin g’

s life . He mayh ave o th e r vi ews, o th e r ide as fo r h is daugh te r

'

s future .

True , but you will spe ak kindly o f me , th ink kindly o f :me,

promise me th at, Sir Eustace .

”

I promise .

(1 5he continued. )

M A R TYR 8 .

To Ha r tm an oamh'

datm laudatjez eroc'

tm .

ASHIMMERING hand all fair and wh ite ,

Nearest th e Thr o n e’s impe r ial ligh t,

Th ey stand, th e purified and blest,

On e very br ow th e Martyr’s cr e st.

Th ro ugh seas of trouble and distress,

Th rough pain and wan t and wearin ess,

Thr ough pe rse cutio n , fire and flame ,

Th rough blo od and ago ny, th ey came ,

Reviled and sco rn ed, in gr ie f an d wo e ,Fe ar less and brave , th ey m e t th e fo e ,Fresh str e n gth r e ce iving eve ry h our

To wre stle with th e Tempte r’s power

A nd n ow. th e ir weary warfar e past ,Befo r e th e Thr on e th e ir cr owns th ey cast,Th e ir vo ices jo in th e ange lic so ng ,A pur ified and h o ly thr o ng .

II.

A nd ar e th e days o f Martyrs o’e r

Do es Satan tempt frai l man n o more

A re our po or lives so fr e e from

Tha t n ough t impur e can en te r in

We kn ow our fa ith may n ot re quireTo test its strn th by th ong or fir e


But are we n ear er , Lord, to Th e e ,Or n ear e r lon e G e thseman e

A r e th e re n o passio ns to be stilled,

No empty mom e n ts to be filled,

No ch e r ish ed wish to be de n i ed,

Er e we can r each Thy r iven Side

A pe n an ce lon g e ach life must be ,

A n d blo od-stain ed e ve ry step to Th e e ;

A xto rtur ed se lf e ach must e ndur e

Th e h eaven ly pardon to se cur e .

Th en , wh e n e arth ’s pilgr image is o

’e r ,

An d we h ave r e ach ed th e an n lit sh o r e ,

G ran t, Lord, th at we may j o in th e so ng ,A nd praise Th e e with th e wh ite

-ro bed th ro ng .

S . B .

THE SEBA PH OF A SSISI .

IWILL ask you, dear reader , to

.go wi th me for a few

momen ts to that sunny land, th e h ome o f sain ts, the ce n tr e

o f Catho licity, and witn e ss in fan cy a strang e spectacle in th ese

days o f unfaith and in justioe . Betwe e n th e A pe nn in es, that lift

th e ir co ld crests high in to th e ever blue air , and the sunny plains

far ben eath th em that kn ow n o win te r , th ere is many a de licious

val ley wh ere Natur e , exhausted n eith e r by excessive co ld n or h e at,

but in vigorate d by temper ed bre ez e s, brin gs forth all its we alth of

fruit and its pomp of flowe r , and wh ere on e would imagin e me n

would n ever think of Heave n at all, so pe rfect is th e paradise

around th em . By in th e most beautiful of th ese rich valleys 1 s

that which is ca lled th e Umbrian ; and cre sting th e Umbrianvalley, looking down upon and crown ing all its beauty, is the cityof A ssisi . A nd, this warm summe r day, is it a jubil e s pagean tthat stirs th e ancien t cityP Is it some worldly fe ast of king o r

emperor , or some political triumph , that brings from e ve ry part o f

Italy th ose sun -brown ed, dust-stain ed, trave l wearied pilgrims,

who throng every square and str e et of th e city, and wh o linge r


Maste r . But th ere are just th re e sce n es in his life which r ivet our

atten tion , and make na wonder at th e sin gular grace s which flowed

from th e h and of G od upon our Sain t, an dwh ich made h im so holy ,

so perfect, so sublime , that th e pe ople called him another Chr ist,

and be lieved that th e happy days o f gospe l histo ry h ad come back

It is his n ative town . Fran cis, th e son o fPica and Bernardon e ,

has been kn own as th e gayest and h andsomest youth amongst h is

e quals in so cial standing . He h as th e pleasan test face , and th e

swe e test vo ice , and th e most agre e able man n ers o f all th e youngmen of th e place . He dre sse s sumptuously ; an d at th e ir reve ls h e

ho lds th e place o f maste r , and all obey him . Sudde nly h e r etire s

from A ssisi , gon e n o on e kn ows wh ith er , and th en as sudde nly

re appears in his n ative stre e ts. But h ow ch anged ! That br1ght ,

handsome face 1 s grave , and wo rn an d disfigure d ; that exquisiteraimen t is replaced with rags ; tatte red and waywom as on e wh o

has come from a long journ ey, Fran cis move s slowly along th e

pavemen t of th e stre e ts. A nd h e has come from a long journ ey !He has passed from Egypt in to Israe l , h e has gon e out fr om the

world of men in to th e compauy o f Jesus Christ ; h e h as stepped

fr om rich es in to th e de epest pove rty, and commen ced his life longjourn ey in th e pain ful steps o f his Divin e Maste r . His eyes have

been illumin ed by th e Spiri t o f G od, and his heart has be en

touch ed by th e grace o f his Saviour , and h e has se en th e wor ld and

its supreme follies by th e ligh t that falls from Heaven abo ve , byth e lurid ligh t th at shin es from He ll be low ; and h e has abandon ed

all things to find h is G od, and h e has embraced as h is spouse and

Que e n that h o ly Poverty which Ch r ist, our good Maste r , cam e

down from Heaven to embrace , and which He raised up, san ctifiedand enn obled by His Life and Passion and Death .

But what do th e people of A ssisi th ink of h im 7 We ll, th e

pe ople o f A ssisi were like th e pe ople of to -day, and every day ;

and th ey came to th e ir doo rs, and h oo ted him through th e ir str e ets,

and ca lled him by that n am e it is so painhfl to me n to h ear—theycalled him Thou fo o l l

Francis a foo l . Y es, but th e days m gcomin g wh en G od willprove that h is fo lly 1 8 th e wisdom of th e Cross. Hands a foo l .

Y es, but a little while , and h e will appear to th e Pon tifi in h is

dr eams as a pillar of th e Church . Hano i: a foo l I But th ere

will spring from his in spirations and h is praye rs gen erations o f

The Se raph of A ssisi . 47 1

m en who will carry th e fir e of th e love of G od, and cast it over

the en tire surface of th e earth ; wh o will break down h e re sies, and

e xtend to r emotest lands th e empire of Je sus Ch rist. F rancis

a fool Y es, but lo ng ce nturie s afte r th is pe ople shall h ave passed

away, temples will sprin g to his name , th ousands will be clad in

imitation of h im , that rough brown h abit will be th e favour ite

fashion in th e Church of G od. F rancis a foo l Y es, but when

G od’

s good time go es by, this fair land o f Italy will be cove red

wi th mon aste ries and conven ts whe re his ch ildren will dwe ll ; ando n th e sunburn t plain s of Spain , and amongst th e vineyards of

France , and by th e Ir ish rivers, and far away wh ere th e warm

Pacific Oce an wash e s th e distant sh ores of A mer ica , the praises of

th e G odwh om h e loved so te nde rly will be chan ted by th ousands

from th e cho irs of church e s built in h is,

h on our,and by th e lips

of men and wome n wh o are fighting th e good fight under his

g uidance an d in h is h oly n ame . Francis a foo l But h e re around

A ssisi will ye t be gath ered th e grande st sch o o l o f artists that

Chr isten dom eve r produced ; and h o ly m en , in th e pause s of th e ir

prayers, will take up brush and pen cil and pain t Crucifixions that

will make strong men weep, and Madonn as so pur e and pe rico

that A nge ls al one could dre am th em ; and in th e far -o if ages

that is, in th is our day—Pro testan ts, and even infide ls, will l inger

in Umbria for on e purpose alon e—to reve re th e m emo ry o f our

Sain t, an d to study th e marve llous works that have come from th e

h ands o f th ose on wh ose souls his in spiratio ns fe ll , wh o embraced

the same pove rty that made him in th e eye s o f th e world a foo l ,

a nd that same simplicity wh ich made him in th e eyes of G od a.

What a lesso n for us is h ere ! In this n o isy, turbule n t life of

o urs, with our passionate straining afte r pleasur e , and power , and

gaiety, h ow reproachh l is this example of St. Francis, ch e erfully

g iving up all th ese th’nge , and embracing th e rough , hard way of

th e Cross, de termin ed to carry it through step by step, afte r his

Divin e Master , to th e e nd ! A n d in th is hard, mon ey-seekin g ,

ambitious life of our s, wh e n Mammon once more has been se t up

in the marke t-place as th e idol of men , wh en th e h eaping-up of

mon ey has become th e busin e ss, and th e only busin ess of th e world,

and wh e n eve n th e just wh o strive to be pe rfect are carried away in

the curren t of fashion , and strain eve ryfibre of th e h eart for go ld, and

are miserable and disquie ted at th e slighte st re vere e , what a divin e


commen t on th e ir madn ess is St. Francis,standin g with outstre tched

arms, begging at th e do ors of th e churche s in Rome , and walkingth e stre ets of A ssisi 1 n his rags ! A n d, to th is proud haugh ty ,

in te llectual gen e ration o f ours, pufied up with th e wisdom that i s

n ot un to e tern al life , wh at a rebuke is th e di vin e simplicity o f our

Sain t, wh o was th e fath er in the h ands of G od o f a spiritual

race , before wh ose handiwo rk , an cie n t as it is, th e proudest

in te llects of to -day are fain to fall down and worship.

II.

Th e n ext scen e , dear reade r , I h ave to showyou is on e that has

be en famil iar to you from ch ildh o od. Fran cis, th e gay, th e

worldly young man , has become tran sformed in to th e mask an d

lowly child of G od ; an d,h aving o nce given himse lf to G od, he is

de termin ed to go on with swift str ide s in to pe rfect commun icatio n

with his Master . He go es out, then , from th e socie ty of men

altoge th er , h e wan ts to be alon e with G od. He n e eds silen ce andso litude to strength en him , and th e immediate presen ce of th e

Divin ity to san ctify h im still more . It can n ot be had down h ere

amongst th e busy haunts of me n ; but th er e are th e blue moun tains

risin g above him and afar off ; and in th e ir re cesses th e voice of

man has n e ver be en heard , only th e scr eams of th e e agles, and the

music of th e wate rfa lls and sometim e s G od’s majesty descends

upon th em ve iled in clouds, as it descended on th e Lawgiver on

Sin ai ; an d Fran cis think 3 h e will go up th tre , and, alon e with

G od in prayer , h e will try to come n earer and n eare r to h is Maker ,

and, perhaps, see behind that awful ve il that has dropped down

be for e th e eyes of us poo r mortals, lest we sh ould be blinded

with th e effulge n ce that str eams from th e great white thro n e ,

o r appalled at th e awf11 1 mysteries that lie concealed behin d it .

A n d ao , as our Blessed Se vicar took with Him Pe te r and Jm as

and John wh en goin g up th e moun tain for his Transfiguration ,

our Sain t take s with him thr e e disciples, and,afte r a weary journ eyof many days, h e ascends his Calvary

— the h oly moun tain , th escen e o f so much auste rity an d pain , of so much miracle and

and mystery. Th e landscape is on e that it very un like what h e

has be en accustomed to from his ch ildhood. Instead of rich

valleys and fertile plain s, h e se e s a black andgloomymoun tain , a

picture of de so lation , and th e so litude of it isfri ghtful . Th ere are

dange rous precipices by th e way, and caverns wh ere the wild

474 1 710 Ir ish Month ly.

affectionate compassion in to Him , wh o by an excess of char ity has

wish ed to be crucified for na,sudden ly saw on e of th e Se raph im,

wh o sh ot down from Heave n towards him with th e swiftn ess o f

ligh t. A n d, as h e appro ach ed, th e sain t saw that h e h ad six win gs,sh in ing with th e brillian cy o f fire , two raised above his h ead, two

extended, an d be twe en th ese two a figur e o f th e Crucifixio n , wh ich

was partly ve iled by th e o th e r win gs. Se e in g th is won derful

vision , Fran cis was surprised . It was familia r to h im ,for day by

day h e had ben t ove r h is crucifix and studied eve ry wound, e ve ryin th e body ofHis Divin e Maste r ; but fan cy can n eve r pain t

th e re ality, and n ow Fran cis saw th e very figure o n which Johnand Magdalen h ad lo oked on Calvary, and th e contemplation of

wh ich was th e sharp sword wh ich pierced th e h e art of th e Blessed

Moth er . Th e white body o f our Rede emer was be fore h im ,

darken ed h ere and th ere by th e crue l scourge ; th e head was th e re .

ben t unde r its royal crown o f th orn s ; th e gaping wound in his

side was th e re , from wh ich flowed blood and wate r un to th e

h e aling of th e n ation s ; and, abo ve all , the gen tle , but oh ! sorrow

ful and anguish ed face was th e re , lo oking down at h im with

pitying eyes ; and, th ough th e lips n ever spoke a word, th e m erci

ful eyes made kn own to th e kn e e ling saint things which n o ton gue

may reve al . Th e vision van ish ed ; th e Saint re turn ed to himse lf

again ; but 10 ! the Passion h as le ft its mark upon h im, for h e re in

his own hands and in h is sandaled fee t are th e marks o f the n ail s,

and Fran cis kn ows that h e to o is crucified, n ot by th e hands o f

m en , but by th e love o f G od h imse lf.

0 wo nderful Passio n o f our Lo rd Jesus Christ ! 0 Book o f

al l th e sain ts ! 0 mystery o f all myste ries ! Th ere we can r ead

th e love of G od that is in compre h eusible . Th ere we can re ad th e

m alice of sin wh ich is indefin ite . Th ere we can r ead the me an ingo f th ose things which puz z le na so much

—G od ’s justice and man

’s

in iquity. Th e re , above all , can we read th e n ature an d th e malice ,

th e shame and th e crime , o f th ose sin s which we ourse lves have

committed 1 n our chi ldh ood, in our manh ood, in our o ld age—sin s

coun tless ln th e ir hide ous sum , sin s that mocked G od by th e cool

n ess with which th ey we re committed, sins that lay ligh tly upon n a

as th e down upon a fe ath er , and we we n t on. our way h eadl ess'

and

th oughtless, n o t carin g that eve ry sin ful th ought was a th orn in

th e brow of Jesus, and eve ry sin ful de sir e a lash on the te nder

flesh of Jesus, and e very sin ful word was.

a pain to the heart o f

1 7m Seraph of A ssisi . 475

Je sus, and every sin ful de ed was a blow th at drove the n ails

d e epe r and de epe r th rough th e h ands and fe e t of Jcan s, and

fasten ed Him on th e cross, as Fran cis saw Him,tortured, pain

str icken , dying of th e wounds inflicted by us and His own dear

Love .

Oh , if G od would on ly open our eye s to se e th e th ings that

Fran cis saw in hi s vision ; if G od would only touch our stonyh earts to unde rstand th e anguish an d th e de se latio n and th e pain

o f Chr ist in His agony ; if G od would on ly teach na th e unutter

a ble love of His dyingSon for e very soul th at was purchased by

th e Precious Blood wh mh fe ll upon th e gre en grass o f G e thsemani

and Calvary, we would n ot indeed fe e l th e sacred stigmata as

Fran cis fe lt th em , but we would pray G od to give na back th ose

years that we sen t in to e tern ity lade n with our sins ; or rath er , as

th ose ye ars cann ot be re cal led, we would beg o f G od grace and

str ength to make th e time that remain s a. time of reparation ,

devo ted to th e faithful service o f our crucified Master . May such

a vision come to na before we die , and with it th e grace to under

stand its ful l mean ing !

III.

Y es, th e past is irre vocable . Each go lde n day rose from

e te rn ity, and passed into etern ity again , laden with our good or

e vil de eds, and is n ot to be summon ed back by any reward. Each

g o lde n day was a le af in th e Book o f Life , writte n in black and

wh ite , which our go od ange l turn ed ove r and sea led down , n ot to

be open ed again till th e day of fin al judgme nt. But th e future is

o ur possession , to make o r mar , for be tter , for worse , and th e

pressing question is, how shall we use it for G od’

s glory and our

own salvation . We ll , the lit9 of every sain t is a track of ligh t,

which , if we follow, we shall come to th e dawn ing of e te rn al day.

Th e life of th e humble st se rvant of G od is a G ospe l, con tain ingmany an d many a lesson of wisdom un to perfect san ctity an d

ho lin ess. A n d th e life of such a sain t as St. Francis is so h oly, so

wise , so sublime , th at we may po nder ove r it e ve ry day of our

lives, and ye t find n ew marve ls o f san ctity, n ew myster ie s of G od’s

o nin ipotent love .

Y et h ere I can fancy som e o n e saying : But St. Francis lived

seven cen turie s ago , and th e wo rld has advanced in many ways

since th en. Don’t you think that th e age of evange lical virtues,


th e age of myste ri es and miracles, o f supe rnatur al visions and

supe rn atural auster ities, is gon e for ever Don’t you th ink the

example o f a more mode rn , and le ss ecstatic sain t, would be tter

me e t th e exigencies of our time Y es, certain ly, if G od had

come to terms with th e world ! Y es, it a truce had be e n made

betwe en sin and grace ! Y e s, if G od had revisedHis G ospe l, andexpunged from it th ose terrible things wh ich His D ivin e So n hadsaid against th e world I cam e n o t to br in g pe ace , but th e

swo rd.

”Y es ! if there were n ot at this mome n t a terrible conflict

rag ing above us, and around na, and within na, betwe en G od and

Satan , good and evil , ligh t and darkn ess, virtue and vice , sin and

grace , Ch rist and Be lial . But we are e ngaged in such a figh t ;

and, as so ldiers go ing to battle fortify th emse lves by tales of high

valour and victory exhibited and won by those who are go n e before

th em , so we , by reading th e virtues of our sain t, may strength e n

A nd, stran ge to say, in th is age of progre ss and education , in

this age of mammon and ungodlin e ss, in this age of infidelity,

wh e n G od is ign ored and r e ligion de spised, th e re is a fascin atio n

about th e life o f St. Francis, wh ich even fr e e th inkers cann ot resist .

It is a roman ce of simplicity, o f humility, of charity, that will be

re ad with ple asure cen turies after we , I h ope , shall have see n th e

Sain t in Heave n . His love of Nature and of this wonderful wo rld,his love of everything that G od had made , because th e hand o f

G od had touch ed it, is in expressibly beautiful . He was a ch ild in

th e picture gallery of G od, and eve ry day open ed to him fre sh

reve lation s of his Fath er’s mercy, and his Fathe r

’

s power . Th e

firmamen t flocked with clouds , or blaz in g with stars, was th e open

Book of Omn ipote nce . Th e ear th , so varied and beautiful, was

his home wh ich h is Fath er had made and decorated for His child .

The winds were to him a swe e t psalmody ; and th e h oarse roar o f

th e ocean was a vo ice from e te rn ity. Th e flowerswe re be autiful in

his eyes, for G od had pain ted them . No wonder th ey bowed th e ir

love ly h eads to him as h e passed. A nd th e dumb beasts, wh om h e

call ed his broth e rs and siste rs, cam e to him, as th ey came to th e

martyrs in th e Roman amphith eatr e , and fawn ed upon him , and

th e birds san g with him th e praises of the ir Make r, I kn ow

no th ing half so beautiful in all th e legends of the sain ts as th at

story of St. Fra ncis, who , afte r th e evenin g vespers in th e ch oir ,

47s The Ir ish Month ly.

some h e avenlymeditation , for th e momen t when h e , like his Lo rd,and with h is Lord, sh all ar ise again .

”

For us, however , his life has a de epe r lesson . It is a perfect

fo llowing o f Chr ist. Take th e h o ly gospe ls ; and min d, th e h o ly

go spe ls are n ot obsole te or an tiquated. The gospel teachings are

as true to -day as wh en Christ spoke his wo rds o f wisdom by th e

sea of G alile e , or on th e moun tain . By th e go spe ls we sha ll be

judged Take the h oly gospels, and place side by side with th emth e life of our Sain t, and you will find that eve ry th ough t, an d

word, and de ed, of h is life corre spond with th e ir high te ach ing .

Contempt fo r eve rything th at do es n ot lead to G od—th ere is th eon e great maxim of his l ife . Sacrifice of eve rything that kept

him from G od—th ere was h is on e gre at practice . Hatr ed o f th e

world that h ates G od—h ere was on e great passion . The complete

crush ing o f every sin ful inclin ation—h er e was his pe rpe tual study .

To spre ad in eve ry soul love fo r h is Divin e Maste r—h ere was h isdaily task . To save sinn e rs—h e re was his on e ambiti on . To be

crucified with Christ —h ere was his glory, as with St. Paul . Oh 1

how th at blessed figure rises up be fore n a, pe rpe tually rebuking our

co ldn ess, our sen suality, our pride . 0 h ! may G od gran t that,

as Christ put th e marks ofHis own de ar wounds in th e body of

our Saint, so our holy Fath er would print upon our souls some

fain t image of His own gre at san ctity. If we cann ot embrace

h is absolute poverty, le t us love it at least in spirit, for ble ssed are

th e poor in spiri t. L et n a practise it by h on ouring , loving and

ve n erating th e poor , wh o are th e spe cial friends of G od. We

cann o t practise h is awful austerities ; but h ere are passions to be

daily kept under , h e re are mortifications to be daily e ndured, h ere

are crosse s to be daily born e . Eve ry soul has its own cross ; let

it bear it me ekly for th e love of G od and St. Fran cis. We are

not cal led to bear th e stigmata as our Sa in t ; but if we are faithful

to Christ, we h ave a daily martyrdom to endur e in th e struggle

with th e world and ourse lves, and that martyrdom will le ave its

scars and wounds upon a s th at will be to na a glo ry h ere afte r , as

will n ot be se n t to na—ange ls will n ot visit na —Chr ist will n otappear to na—what do I say P I um wrong

—quite wrong .

For soon , ve ry soon , fo r man’s life is but a vapour that

appe are th fo r a little time , that strange re ve lation will be made

to us wh ich is made to every ch ild of A dam . Soon , very soo n ,

Seraph of A ssisi . 479

for man’s life is but a dream o f him that awake th from sleep,

th e ve il will be lifted, and, in a sile n ce unbroke n by th e levity of

me n , each lon e ly soul in turn shall find itse lf face to face with

th e Son of Man . Th e dre am o f our life is re alised. Th ere is th e

sile nt and gen tle Jesus wh om we h ave kn own . Th e wounds are

in His h ands and fee t and side , as th e se raphic Francis saw th em ,

be twe en th e wings of th e se raph on th e mountain . His eye s are

lookin g in to ours, scann in g every featur e of our souls to se e if we

are kn own to Him . Oh ! wh at a fe arful th ing it will for us if

Je sus does n o t re cognise us th en ! ii , se e ing in our souls on ly th e

marks of our pride and sensuality, th e smile di e s from His face,

His h ands are str e tch ed to repe l n a if icy an d co ld and te rrible

th e words come from His sacred lips : A m e n , I say to you, I

n eve r kn ew you. But h appy, thrice happy, is th is oth er soul !

A s th e moth er lingers over eve ry lin eame nt in th e face of h er longlost ch ild, so do th e eye s of Jesus lin ger ove r th e fe ature s of th e

soul th at has loved Him . He knows th em we ll ! He has see n

th em at th e m orn ing Mass, at th e even in g ,devotions. He has

se en in th e twiligh t, wh en , un se e n by me n , that soul cr ept into

th e darkn e ss o f His temple , and, in lon e lin ess and so rrow, prayed

to Him in His Tabe rn a cle . A nd, n ow,it is all over ! Th e win te r

is past ; th e rain is ove r and gon e th e flowers have appeared in

our land ; arise , make h aste , my love , and A nd Je suastre tch es forth th e stron g arm o f His Omn ipo ten ce , and ge n tlylifts it over the dark str eam of dea th , an d places it in th e e tern al

ligh t th at glitters round Hi s Thron e . That such a vision may

come on e day to us, may our h o ly a cis pray, th at Christ may

gran t !

P. A . SHEBHA N .

480 The Ifi sh Monthly.

MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.

0 beautiful sunbeam, straying

In th rough th e wide church doo r ,

I wish I was with you, playingDown th er e on th e coo l ston e floo r .

Fo r I um so tired o f sitting

Uprigh t and stifi an d still ,

A nd you, you go dancin g , flittin gG a ily, wh ere ve r you will ;

A nd you’ve n othin g to do but gliste n ,

A nd n o on e is eve r vexe d

Be cause you forg e t to l iste n ,

Or can’t r emembe r th e text .

Dear sunbeam, I’m ponder ing , pondering

We re th ey fast asle ep, th e flowe rs,

Wh en you came o n your brigh t wings wanderingTo e arth in th e mo rning h ours

A nd wh e r e have you sin ce be e n roamin gTh e long, long h o t day thro ugh

Will you we lcome th e purple gloamin gTh at m eans go in g h ome to you

Have you been to th e r ive r , I wonder?Th e river shinin g an d wide ,

Did you se e th e big da isies bobbing?Wer e th e spe edwe lls lik e bits of sky?

Did you h e ar th e sad grasses sobbingWh e n ever th e wind wen t by

Dear sun beam, I’ll be so lon e ly

Wh en you h ave go n e quite away,A nd even n ow you are o n lyA fain t go ld splash on th e grey.

A h ! at last th e sermo n is over ;

I kn ow th e text G od is Light .”

Wait a minute , sun beam , you r over ,

A nd let -me bid you G ood-n ight .


stand-o ii air in h er be ar ing towards}her humbler n e ighbour s.

A n d so sh e wen t h er way undisturbed by the criticism th at n eve r

reach ed h er e ars. The cr itics, too , after a whi le grew tired of dis

cussing h e r . Soon , h owever , th ey be gan to whisper again , and in

truth this timo th ey had something to whispor about .

He r own girl, Mary Malo n e , tould it to me ,”asserted on e o f

th e whisperers, Mrs. Daly, wh en doubt was cast upon th e tale .

It’s little time sh e h as for gosth erin

’

, th en ,”

said th e

Wh o ’s that asked a n ewcomer who had h eard th e last

words.

Why, Mary Malon e , Mrs. Dunn e’

s girl , was th e answe r .

K itty, bring out a creepy h er e . Sit down a while , Cath erin e . I

didn’t lay eyes on ye this mon th 0

’

Sundays.

”

Th e first speakers were seated on a ston e bench outside Mrs.

Daly’

s h ouse—an unmann e rly h ouse that turn ed its back to th e

village and its gable to th e road,and ye t chival ric in th at it

secur ed th e tr io at its fron t door from obtrusive passe rs-by.

Did you h ear what happen ed th em beyan t, Cath eri n e

in quir ed Mrs. Daly, wh en Cath er in e had se ated h erse lf comfort

Th e Lord take care of n a all, e jaculated h er first co nfidan te .

Th e ould man’s n ot dead, sur e ly,

”said Cath erin e , lo oking

from on e to th e oth e r .

Whish t ! No I’

ll te ll ye every word iv it, but do n’

t spake

iv it again , for fear it’ud do harm to Mary, poo r girl . We ll , the

night iv th e fair iv Drum Mat wasn’t h ome till late , and

, iv

coorse , th ere wor th ings for Mary to do afth er h im , an’the

misthress wen t to bed. She was afth e r hangin’up a mug on th e

dhresse r an’was turnin

’roun

’to rake th e fire , wh en G od

take care of us muttemd Rosie ;“ A men ! answered Cath e rin e]

what did sh e se e sittin’at th e fir e but a beauti ful young girl ,

with fair hair , all wavy, hangin’about h e r , and h e r h ead down on

h er hand, sorrowful- like . Mary turn ed an’run to bed as quick as

e ve r sh e could.

’

No wondh er , said Rosie , while Cathe rin e cro ssed h erse lf.

Y ou may well say it,”said Mrs. Duly. We ll , to make a

long sto ry sh ort, Mary tould what sh e se en the n ext day, and th e

o uld man gev ordh e rs that th e fir e was n ever to be tuk down at

n igh t, an’that there was always a good fire to be left.

1 11 11 73 Duh ne’

s Ca rs. 483

Such was th e story th at was wh ispe red about for a wh ile , and

talked of louder wh en Mary le ft Dunn e’

s at th e end of h e r half

year . Th e n ew girl came , and soon h eard th e sto ry, an d, more

over , added a sequel to it. She h ad got n o dire ctions about

leaving on a go od fire , and, in fact, it was raked eve ry n ight justas usual . Heads were shake n and looks exchanged at this in fo r

mation .

Throth , an’

sh e’d h ave just as much luck if sh e left th e bit 0 ’

fire , said on e .

A n’

if sh e wasn’t so tigh t about a ban

’ia l of male to a poo r

woman ,

”said an o th er .

Perhaps th e prophe ts we re right, for as time wen t o n h e avytr oubles came to th e Dunn e h ouseh o ld. Old Tom Dun n e died,but that was a long

-expected e ven t. Oth e r and so re , sore so rrow

came , stealin g from Mrs. Dunn e some of the good looks, and with

th em much of th e hardness that had accompan ied th em . He r

first ch ild had di ed just as it could laugh in h e r face and ca ll h e r

n ame . A nd of six oth ers e very on e had be e n sn atch ed, soo n er or

later , from h er clinging arms—e very on e except th e last. No

wonder sh e watched that on e n ight and day, and prayed, with h er

very h eart lookin g out of h er supplicating eyes, that h e might be

that had softe n ed th e on ce sh arp glances of those eyes ; weepingover so many little coffin s that had lesse ned th e hardness of th e

mouth ; speaking h eart-broken words of love to little sure that

would n eve r h earken to human vo ice again that had take n th e old

imperious harshn ess from vo ice and tongue . A n d, pe rhaps, it was

parting with so much that was pre cious that had open ed th e

n iggardly hand, nay th e n iggardly h e art, too , so that the platter

of meal, less stingy in measure than of o ld, was given with a

sympathy that was of itse lf a charity.

”

80‘

we n eed n ot be surprised that, wh en on e bitte r win ter’s

nigh t a po or woman with a ch ild in h er arms begged a sh e lter ,

Mrs. Dun n e bade h er en te r with h earty eagern ess. Th e woman

se em ed wretch edly ill , aswe ll aswe t and co ld ; but th e child was so

strong and h ealthy, that Mrs. Dunn e , as sh e noti ced it, locked with

a sigh at h e r own puny boy.

Is it far n ow to Kn ockmore th e woman asked with a

Th ey to ld h er th e distance—many a day’s journ ey for a


I wish to G od I n ever left it, sh e said sorrowful ly. The n

in wo rds often in terrupted by a sh ort, sh arp cough , sh e to ld them

h ow sh e h ad married a so ldier a few ye ars be fo re .

Two ye ars ago , an’I was on

’

y a slip th en , for all I look o ld

n ow—I won’t be lon g in it. If I could struggle h ome an

’lay

little Mary with h e r grandfath e r , I wouldn’t care h ow so o n th e

Lord ’id take m e .

”

Sh e spoke in a loud, mon oton ous vo ice , h e r dry eyes gazing at

th e h t e , as if to o we ary even to we ep.

That n igh t Bri gid waken ed with a loud m oan in g soundingh er e ars. He r first th ough t was o f h er boy, but h e was sle epin g

calmly. Sh e liste n ed, and fin ding th e sound cam e fr om th e

kitch en , hasten ed th er e . Th e poor woman lay by th e fir e wh e r e

th ey h ad given h e r a bed of straw,and a co ve rle t. Sh e was gasp

ing fo r breath , and calling pite ously be twe e n every spasm for a

priest, a pr ie s Br igid saw th at sh e was dying , and h ad soon

de spatch ed Mat for th e priest . Sh e laid th e fr ighte n ed ch ild in

h er own warm bed, and th e n sh e and th e gir l kn e lt by the dyin gwoman , giving h er wh at smal l re lief th ey could, and saying Rosaryafte r Ro sary th at th e priest migh t overtake h e r .

”

He was only in time , and wh e n th e n ew day dawn ed sh e had

laid down th e burde n that had be en too h eavy fo r h e r to bear .

Sh e couldn’t bear th e on e death , eu

’th e little poverty, eu

’

sh e havin’th e child,

”th ough t Mrs. Dunn e wonder ingly, with h er

own tro ubles in mind.

Th e strange woman had n ot to ld h er n ame , and Kn ockm ore

was very distan t, so th ey buried h e r in th e ir own litttle churchyard.

Mat,”sai d his wife , whe n th e fun eral was ove r , and thin gs

put to r igh ts, wh at do you think about th e ch ild

Throth I don’

t kn ow,

”said Mat, discon so late ly. I suppose

Fath e r Byrn e id write an’ax about th e grandfath e r .

But,

”broke in his wife , we don

’t kn ow any n ame .

If th ere’

s n othin e lse fo r it th en , I suppose it must go to

th e workh ouse .

” He said it unwillingly en ough . That was th e

A n e ighbour wh o h ad taken care of th e ch ild all th e morn ing ,

came in with it n ow in h er arms.

Th ank ye , Mrs. M‘Cartn ey, said Brigid. I’ll take h e r

n ow.

Se e in g sh e h ad broke n in on a domestic conclave ,Mrs.M‘Cartney

discre e tly withdrew.


G od, wh om sh e h ad prayed for with such in te nsity o f ye arn ing in

th e early days, and wept ove r with such h eart-wrung te ars, when

at last sh e gave in to his affli ction .

So on e n igh t wh en Mike was gon e to bed, and everyth ingready for th e n igh t, sh e called Mary to h er , an d told h er of th e

plan sh e had formed in h er own min d.

Th ere’s n ot on e for th e place wh e n I

’

m gon e , sh e said,

but h imse lf ; and wh o’

ll take care o f him What’ll become of

Th e words were few, and in th emse lves cold en ough , but all

th e anguish of h er h eart was in h e r vo ice , and Mary, mute up to

this with astonishment, and rath e r in clin ed to be indignan t, was

touch ed for the momen t. But, was it to be all h im—wh at abouther P We alth sh e would have to be sure , but who was to repay

h e r th e care sh e was to bestow o n him?His face is like a picture ,

”sh e said, con tinuing h e r thinking ,

but speaking aloud n ow, and I wouldn’t mind th e lam en e ss if

h e sh e stopped, she did n o t like to say th e word th at was on

h er lips to th e moth e r , wh o caught h er m e an ing , h owe ver , and

broke out bitte rly“ A n

’would I car e if h e had any sense at all?I took you in

wh en th e re was n o place for ye but th e workh ouse , an’I gave ye

sh e lte r eu’food eu

’clothin

’

, an’thrated ye like me own child, an

’

n ever cast it up to ye , an’n ow ye wouldn

’t do that much— ye

wouldn’t promise to take care iv me boy wh en I

’m gon e , th e way

I took care iv ye wh en ye had n o on e e lse . A n’wouldn

’

t ye

have th e wh ole place undh er ye Sur e h e could n eve r in th erfare .

”

So sh e con tinued , putting forth every argumen t she though t

could affect th e girl . Sh e was in part succe ssful . Mary’s pity for

th e moth er’s distr eu , h er gratitude , and th e advan tages that

would accrue to h er from th e pmposed un ion (for h er n orthe rnde sce n t made h er fully alive to th e latte r con sideration ) all might

h ave we igh ed down h er di shke to mar riage with a cripple and an

idiot, but for a certa in spice of Boh emian ism,a longing fo r vari e ty

in h e r , th at she must h ave inh e rited fr om h er so ldi er fath er , as sh e

did h e r in stin ct of thr ift from h er Ulste r mo th er . However that

might be , it h ad given h er h ours of discon te n t with th e samen ess

of her eve ry-day life , and fil led idle momen ts with gorgeous

vision s so dazz lin g th at on e could disce rn n o defin ite form . Such

vision s crowded. on h e r mind n ow, shape less as e ve r , but so br illian t

Mike Dunne’

s Cm 487

and glowing , that, thinkin g h ow acqui e scence would shut out th e

possibilities of th em from h e r life , she could only say in answe r to

Mrs. Dunn e , on e low-murmured I couldn’

t.”

Next day a n e ighbour came in, looking for some of Mrs.

Dunn e’

s famous hatching eggs.

Mike ’s n ot we ll P sh e said, in terrogative ly, n oticing th e

place be gen erally sat in empty.

N said Mary, laoon ically .

G od h elp h im , poo r boy said Mrs. M‘Cartn ey, oommise r

A s sh e to ok th e eggs from Mary, sh e saw that th e latte r h ad

be en crying .

Mrs. Dunn e’s hard to live wit

’

an odd time , sh e said. think

ing to co nso le Mary for some little sharpn ess on Mrs. Dunn e’

s

part, but don’

t fall out over a crassword, agrah .

”A nd she to ok

up h er eggs and departed .

A week passed, and th ose wh o had occasion to visit Dunn e’

s

farm remarked that Mike was n ot in h is usual se at. Mary eu

swer ed all n e ighbour ly enquiries about his h ealth rath e r shortly,

and if it we re th e gir l that was asked, she could only say sh e

didn’

t kn ow.

”But wh en an oth e r we ek came , and still n o sign of

Mike , pe ople began to grow shy o f making any remark about him

at th e te rm , th ough h is absence and Mary’

s curtn e ss began to form

subjects of conve rsation through the village . So on a piece o f

genuin e information gave th em food for something more than

surmises, or rath er it gave them a substan tial foundation for such

surmise s.0

Coming from Mass on Sunday mornin g , Mrs. M‘Cartn ey had

ca lled in to ask for Mik e . Dunn e’s girl was just in before h er ,

and Mary, with h e r hat on ready to go to th e later Mass in Drum

beg , was giving directions about th e dinn e r .

G od save ye l said Mrs. M‘Cartn ey.

G od save ye kindly,”answe red Mary.

A n’h ow is Mik e th e day He

’s havin

’a sore turn , if it was

th e will of G od.

’

Mary turn ed away quickly, saying with sudden impetuosityTh ere

’

s n o use te llin’lies about it, Mrs. M‘Cartn ey. Mike ’s

away !

Lo rd ! was Mrs. M‘Cartn ey’

s first exclamation of mingled

aston ishm e n t and in cre dulity . Why, h ow could h e go away eu’

as n ot to se e him go in’

sh e continued.


We ll , h e’s gon e any way, an

’if I don

’

t hurry I’

ll be late fo r

Mass. Th er e’

s th e pri e st gon e . G ood morn in g ,Mrs. M‘Cartn ey.

”

Mr s. M‘Cartn ey would have begun a low-voiced catechism o f

th e gir l , h ad n ot th e latter po in te d mean ingly to Mrs. Dunn e’s bed

room . Th e visito r understo od, and with a disappo in ted shake o f

h er h ead, took h er departure .

Mike Dunn e was away, Mary had said on Sunday mo rning .

With th e G ood Pe ople ,”th e village h ad universally added by

It‘

was such a tale as th ey had all h eard, but n ot o n e had

kn own from actual expe rien ce . No wonder th at m en and women

formed in to groups this pleasan t May eve n ing to discuss it, speak

in g always with respectful retice n ce of th e G ood Pe ople ,”but

with more or less condemn ation of Mrs. Dunn e . What call h adsh e marryin g h e r fir st cousin P said th e voteens n o wonder sh e

had trouble all th e days of h e r life . A nd ooteem and all ch im ed

in wh en blame was cast upon h er wan t of h ospitality to th em tha t

Fath er Doh er ty, riding past, cam e upon on e of th ese groups.

It was May, as we kn ow, and th ey we re to h ave service in the ir

chape l . Th e parish priest was abse n t, and Fath er Doh erty, havin gto say a second Mass in a ch ape l at th e oth e r end of th e parish ,had n ot br eakfaste d that morn ing at Dunn e

’

s. Consequently h ewas surprised wh en in an swer to his ch e erful A ny n ews some

o n e said :

Except about po or Mike Dun n e , yer re ve rence .

Mike Dun n e ! h e ech o ed.

“ Is h e ill

Worse n or th at, G od take care of us ! obse rved an oth e r .

Not dead. sure ly,”said the pri est, turnin g towards th e last

speaker . Th ough’twould be we ll for h im , poor boy.

”

That’

s G od’s thruth , yer re ve ren ce , said h e who had spoken

But wh at is th e matter inquired Fath er Doh erty, lookin ground fo r an answer .

Th ere was a little h esitation befo re an old man said slowly

We ll, yer reve re n ce , th ey say h e’s away wit

’

th e fair ies, G od

pe ed th em !

We ll , that’s be ats al l said Fath er Doh erty, givin g th em

th is ph rase of th eir own with a good-humour ed smile , ove r h is

sh oulde r as he rode away.


was glad to acceptMary’s offe r of a com fortable h ome in r e turn fo r

what h e lp sh e n e eded about th e h ouse , and th e two live d th e

quie te st o f lives. Mary ofte n wondered wh at had com e ove r

h er .

” How sh e had longed for anything to take h e r out of . th is

life , th at e ven th e n with Mrs. Dun n e bustlin g about, and Mik eto be looked afte r , bad seemed so deadly mo n oto n ous ! Now sh e

might lift th e latch and walk out any day ; but sh e h ad n eve r th e

smalle st wish to do ao . Perhaps the qui e tude came from a se nse

of remorse , a desir e to make aton ement for what after all was n o

fault of h ers. But th e sight of th e moth er’s so rrow h ad made h er

fe e l that sh e had be en crue lly hard and ungrate f111 . Nay, sh e felt

actually guil ty. How dared sh e be th ere , usurpin g th e place of

the lost boy A nd ao , while sh e devoted h e rse lf to the duties

that so strange ly devolved upo n h e r , sh e prayed n o less e arn estlythan th e pilgrim moth e r . L et what G odwould happen to h e r, but

resto re to that se ekin g , so rrowful , h oping m o th e r , th e darlin g of

h er h eart . Utte red many a time in words, th e same prayer went

up from h e r h eart a hundred time s a day, as sh e lo oked at th e emptycha ir , as sh e came across on e little memen to or an othe r , bringingback wi th sharp distin ctn ess the thought of th e h e lpless boy, with

his sad, handsome face . Th e th ought of him was n ot le t die , or

fade to a dim memory, as if h e himse lf h ad be en dead, for n othin gof his was put out of sigh t

—eve rything was th ere waiting as for

on e wh o might en te r at any momen t.

80 things we n t on , and it was A pril in th e'

seve n th year after

Mike had gon e away. Th e sun was sh in in g brightly after a

showery morn ing , and Mary and th e Widow Doran , were ge ttin gth eir pa ils ready for th e milkin g , wh en Mrs. Dunn e came in , look

ing so white an d worn , that Mary stepped towards h er in alarm .

Sh e had be en chang in g , inde ed, for many a day. How could it

be oth erwise , conside ring th e life sh e led Seven years ago sh e

h ad th ought sh e was dyin g , and had been je alously care ful of

her life , for h e r son’s sake . For his sake , too , sh e had eve r sin ce

be en just as re ckle ss of it, and th e recklessn ess was te lling on h er

at last. Howeve r , sh e smiled wh en Mary remarked on her eviden t

illn ess, sayin g that sh e was only tir ed.

You’ll go away n o more n ow, moth er , th e girl said, coax

ingly. You’re n ot able for such journ eys. Sure the re ye have

th e chape l be side ye , an’

ye can go up an’

pray in it all day if ye

like , an’th e n you

’ll h ave a comfortable hit an

’a good bed to come

’M'

ike D zmne’s Cur e . 49 1

h ome to instead of havin’to walk a couple of mile to th e Lord

kn ows what so rt of a bed o r a male .

”

Th ere’s a m ission go in

’to be in Drum th e first we ek in

May, an’I’m go in to th at , with G od

’s h e lp.

”

Sh e sa id it in such a way th at Mary saw th e re was little use

in arguing th e matte r .

We ll , you’ll stay till it

’

s time to go th e re , anyway, said

Mary.

I will , dear . A n’n ow I th ink I

’ll go to bed.

Mary was so alarmed atMrs. Dun n e’

s obvious unfitn e ss for e ven

th e sh ort journ ey to Drum, th at sh e slipped out afte r a little to

consul t Mrs. M‘Cartn ey, a proce edin g which con side rably as

to n ish ed that matro n , for Mary was n ot won t to co n sul t anyon e

about anything . Howe ver , sh e promised to h e lpMary in tryin gto dissuade Mrs. Dun n e from th e proposed journ ey. Sh e came

in th e n ext day, an d, startled at th e ch ange in th e po or woman’s

appe arance , at, th e fir st opportun ity proce eded to put h e r promise

in to practice .

It’s fit for ye r bed, ye are , sh e declared, an

’th e re

’

s wh e re

ye ought to be . G od bless ye , e u’stop at h ome , like a sensible

woman , eu’le t Mary take care iv ye , and don

’t be killin

’

yourse lf .

G od h e lp as,if you

’r e n ot fit to go straigh t to Heave n .

”

But n o argumen t was of any avail . Sh e would be bette r afte r

this rest , sh e said. A nd, inde ed, it se emed as if sh e did grow

be tter . Still Mary’s h eart g rew sad, and n e ighbours sh ook th e ir

heads forebodingly as sh e walked—ao feeble n ow—through th evillage two or thr e e days before the first o f May, o n h er way to

Th e Rosary was over on th e first May eve ning in th e vil lage

church , and th e pe ople we re lo ite ring h omewards. Lin es of girlsarm-in -arm , discussing th e ir n ew summe r prin t gown s. G roups o f

young men , so ho iste r ously e ngrossed about th e last foo tbal l match

as to forge t th e damse ls. Olde r men sagaciously con side r ing h ow

the last Land Bill would affect th em . Matr ons, last of all, step

ping with matronly slown e ss, nay, standing n ow and again , in th e

earn estn ess of th e ir discourse about th e price of butte r and fowl ,

and last week’s marke t, and th e high price of cows th ey wan ted to

buy, and th e poor price fo r pigs th ey wan ted to se ll , and th e

n otion s of th e ir girls, and—wh at was th at ca rt do ing at Dun n e

’s

door and th e re was Mary be ckon ing to th em . Mrs. M‘Car tn ey


hasten ed forward from th e group, in time to se e a tall younglift from th e cart a se emingly in an imate figure , and be ar it into

th e h ouse . Sh e , guessing what h ad happe ned, remain ed to he lpMary. Th e oth ers wen t slowly on , the prie st passing th em before

th ey cam e to Dunn e’s. Th ey saw th e man stop him , and bring

him in , and as th ey walked past, the same young man was nu

yoking th e h orse .

On e of th e women crossed h erse lf as sh e passed . G lory be to

G od,”sh e said, wh en th ey had gon e a few steps. Th at

’

s Mike

Dunn e

Most of th em laugh ed at h er that n ight . But those wh o ca ll ed

n ext dayto ask for Mrs. Dunn e , and m et th e man with th e cart, as

th ey had up to this design ated him , said h e had Mike Dunn e’s face ,

th ough grown more man like . Th ey’d h ave kn own it in a

hundred. But this man was n e ith er a cr ipple n or an imbe cil e .

His limbs wer e straight as any of th e ir own , and wh en h e spoke

(with Mike Dun n e’

s vo ice ) th e re was in te llig en ce as acute as th e ir

own prompting th e words . But by n ever a word did th ey hin t

that they had kn own h im in any oth er state , and h e vo lun te ered

n o in formation , save that h e h ad se en his moth er fain t in th e

church at Drum ,and had borrowed a cart to bring h er h om e .

Meanwhil e Mrs . Dun n e , th ough r eco ver ed from h er fain tingfit, did n ot regain full consciousn ess. Sh e call ed th ose about h er

by th e ir n ames, but sh owed plainly that sh e had lost h er o ld

clearn ess of in te ll ect.

To th e frequen t good-natured in quirie s for h er th ere was

a lways th e on e answer No be tter . A t last th ey carried h e r

out to th e kitch en—sh e could n ot move of h erse lf—and placed h er

in Mike ’s o ld chai r .

Thr oth an’h e

’

s th e ho rn image of h er , said th ose wh o saw

h er th ere , e ven if h e is a man an’sh e a woman . Y e don

’t

n otice it in him till ye se e it in h er , an’thin ye

’d think it was h is

face got ould.

”

Wh ativer ail ed Mike Dun n e , said an o racular o ld ge n tle

man , pun ctuating every wo rd with a pun ch of his stick . Wh ativer ail ed Mike Dun n e ails h is moth er n ow.

’

Thro th , it looks like it,”said an oth er .

How could Mike Dunn e , th at wasn’t able to sthre tch out h is

l eg , or put a foot on th e lim e , be able to walk n ow with th e best iv

ye That’s n ot for


A TWILIGHT VIGIL .

From sunse t to star -r ise ,

Wh ile sh adows lo ng and dr e ar

A nd de epe r fall on bie r and pall ,

On e myste ry grows clear :

Th e fo lded h an ds, th e ash en face ,

Still ed h ear t and dark e n ed eyes,

Re ad m e th e wo rth o f all life ’s grace

Wh en h er e life str ick e n lies .

From sunse t to star -r ise ,

By naked banks and flowe rful banks ,

In r ipple and r epo se ;

A nd swallows circle high above

Or dip along th e wave ,

With angry n o tes o r n o te s o f love ,

Hard by th e n ew-digg ed grave .

From sun se t to star -r ise,

Th e r e pass before th e doo r

A tro op o f boys with me rry n o ise ,

A nd friends o f his, a sco r e ;

I listen as th e ste ps come n e ar ,I h e ar th em di e away ;A las !does n o t o n e e n te r h er e ,A nd h e di ed but yesterday?M om sunse t to sta r -rise ,In th e de ath -ch ambe r dr ear

Death’

s eloquen ce h o lds bound my se n se .

Th 0 mystery is cle ar

The secr et of th ose full brigh t days

Wh er efr om as n o thing wo rth

A r e cast out pr ide and love of praise

Of th e unr ememberin g ea rth .

Pigeonho le Paragraphs. 495

PIGEONHOLE PARA G RAPHS.

Th e littl e acciden tal acce sso r ie s of a k ind act som e times touch th e

h eart o f th e perso n ben efited mo r e th an th e substan ce of th e act

itself. A fr iend m e t m e wh en I was waiting fo r a ra ilway tra in th a t

h ad just brough t h im in from a se aside village to wh ich I was h asten

in g . I h ad se ttled down in my pla ce wh e n my fr iend turn e d up again ,

h aving mea nwh il e gon e to th e bo okstand and bough t a n ew magaz in e

to be guil e my we arin e ss on a h alf-h our’s journ ey. But h e r e comes

th e po in t of th e sto ry, if po in t it can be called . Th e magaz in e was

un cut, and with it my fr ie nd pre sen ted a little pape r-kn ife . Th is was

th e kindest cut of all . This was th e last straw th at br ok e th e came l’s

back, th e last drop th a t made th e cup of gratitude flow ove r . Th at

little pape r-kn ife sh owed gr ea te r th ough tfuln ess th an th e big

m aga z in e , be st of its kind, which con tain ed th is quatrain by Matth ew

Rich ey Kn igh t, wh o eve r he may be

Th e praise tha t spurs th ee on

A nd h igh er lifts thy quest

Heaven sen d th e e ! Be tte r n o n e

Th an in it th ou sh ouldst r est .

’

i i

I h ave always be en touch ed by th e kind way in wh ich St. Ambr o se

e xcuses th e mo th e r o f St . Jam e s and St. John fo r wh at migh t se em

h e r ove rwe e n ing ambition on th e ir beh alf . Th e passag e is quo ted inth e Br eviary, Wedn esday afte r second Sun day in L en t

, from th e

second ch apter o f h is L ibor 5 do Fido ad G r atianum. Because sh e was a

moth e r , h e h o lds tha t h e r anxie ty for h er son s’

advancem e n t was to be

pardon ed, even if som ewh at imm ode rate ; a mo th e r , inde ed (h e adds ) ,advan ced in age , of a re ligious disposition , be r eft o f so lace , fo r sh e

snfler e d h er so n s to be away fr om h e r at a tim e wh en sh e migh t h ave

expe cted t o be suppo rted o r h e lped by th em ; and sh e pr e fe rr ed to

h er own comfo r t th e r eward th at h e r so n s sh ould be fo llowin g Ch r ist,

Le avin g th e ir n e ts and th e ir fath er,th ey fo l lowed Him .

” He r eSt. Ambro se quo te s r eliotis r e tz

'

bus et p a irs, and h e says n o thin g

about th e omission of,th e m oth e r

’s n am e in this accoun t o f th e ir

prompt sacr ifice , Sh e , th e re fo re , in dulgin g to o much th e eage rn ess

of mate rna l so licitude—studio matemae ceduh tatis indulgen tio r , addr e ssed

h er indiscr e e t e n tr ea ty to th e R ede em e r . Et u’

error , pietatic tam err or

Con tinued from page 276 of th is vo lume .


est. Nam'

na t am'

m matom a viscera pa tiea tiam e tsi votc’

aoara , tame »

am iabih'

e cupiditac. Th e mo th e r’s h e ar t kn ows n o t h ow to be pa tie n t .

Th ough h e r wish is extravagan t, h e r ambitio n is excusable , fo r i t

cove ts n o t mon ey but grace , and h e r pe titio n is n o t fo r h e rse lf, but

fo r h e r chi ldr e n . Co n side r th e poo r mo th e r , thi nk o f th e mo th e r .

"

Th ese a r e o n ly some o f th e touch ing excuse s th at St . Ambro se puts

fo rward fo r th e mo th e r of th e so n s o f Z ebe de e . Th e son o f Mon ic a

could n o t h ave fal le n in to be tte r h ands.

Wh en I r e ad G e r al din e mo re th an fo rty ye ars ago , I remembe r

o n e o f my ma ste rs foun d th e thi rd vo lume in my h and. and h e ve ry

pr ope r ly r ema rk ed th at th e sto ry would h ave b e e n b e tte r if th at th ir d

vo lum e h ad b e e n a lto g e th e r omitted . It ce rta inly r e ads oddly e n ough

n ow as a th r e e -vo lum e n o ve l . Miss A gn ew h ad n o t th e li te rary a r t

of th e youn g h igh-bo rn lady, wh o , as a Pro te stan t stil l, was th an

wr itin g Elle n Middl e to n .

” I m e ntio n thi s Tal e o f Co nscie nce a t

pr e sen t fo r th e purpo se o f pr e se rvin g a few lin e s wh ich ar e pr efixed a s

a m o tto to th e last ch apte r , and a re th e r e said to h ave be e n wr itte n

by a Nun o n r e ce ivin g th e Ble ssed Sacrame n t at h e r pr ofe ssio n i n

Sa lfo rd Co nve n t .

” Wh at Co n ve n t Is th e r e anymo r e o f th is po em

He com e s n o t in powe r , He comes n o t in wra th ,

A nd th e g lo ry o f h e ave n is n o t on His pa th ;Th e ch ildr en o f men be a r th e mon arch o f mi gh t ,

A nd , low wi th th e lowly, He ve ile th h is ligh t :Y et lift up your gate s, O ye pr in ce s —’

tis He ,

Th e mon arch o f g lo ry, wh o come th to m e .

Wh o th en is th is mo narch of g lo ry R eply

Th e Lo rd stron g in ba ttle . th e g re a t G o d o n h igh .

But wh o is th is m on arch of g lo ry?0 say

Favour ed soul’tis th e Spouse tha t has wo n th e to -day.

3 G

We ofte n fo rm to ourse lve s a fixed idea o f th e pe rso nal appearan ce

o f pe rson s wh om we h ave n eve r se en fr om th e ir wr itin gs or spe e ch

o r th ings th a t we h ave h eard about th em. A frie nd o f min e o n ce

ask ed, in a company of thr e e o r four , th e .ide a e ach h ad fo rm ed o f

Lo rd Macaul ay, th e n in th e h e igh t o f h is fam e . Most of n a imagin e d

h im to be a tall man , wh e rhas in r eality h e was sh o rt and stout, e ve n

un to pudg in ess. I am r emin de d o f this in a de scription tha t h as justcome across m e of th e pe rson o f St. Francis de Sales : From his style , h i s

ge n e ral ch aracte r , e tc. I sh ould h ave imag in ed him brisk and live !yi n his man n e r ; and I h ad a lur kin g idea that h e was sma ll an d

compact. But Ch arles de Sal e s, quo ted in an exce lle n t little book ,Th e He art of St . Fran cis (1 9 Sal es,

”te lls us that h is figure wa s


wh ich for some years h as go n e by th e n ame of Re views andViews.

Y e t Mr s. Meyn e ll, in b estowin g h e r we ll -balan ce d and fin e ly-

phrased

criticism on Mr . Henl ey, says n o t a wo rd about his bo rrowed title

Pe rh aps h e begg ed le ave to borr ow it . By-th e -way, th e July instal

m en t of Mrs . Meyn e ll’

s Reviews an d Views con ta in s some fin e

pag e s about Brown in g ; and e lsewh e r e , in th e sam e numbe r , sh e says

th at Ke ats, th e po e t o f th e gr e at so nn e t and th e thr e e gre a t o de s

and th e n oblest o f blank ve rse , wro te th e couple t de testably.

” Th e

pr e ceding page con tain s a dictum o f a diffe r en t kind. Th e re h as

n eve r be e n an e n tir e ly dign ified man ; and th e r e h ave be en extr eme lyfew e n tire ly dign ified women .

Th e cleve r co ll e ge Magaz in e r e fe rr ed to in th e paragraph pre ced

in g th e last o f th ese paragraphs gave , wh en The Mikado was th e

n ewest o f th e Sullivan -G ilbe rt ope ras , a classical re n de rin g o f on e o f

i ts de ligh tful bits of foo lery. Th us san g W. S. G ilbe rt’s muse

Ou a tree by a river a little Tom -tit

Sang Will ow , tit willow, tit willow

A nd I said to h im , Dicky bird , why do you sit

Sing ing Willow, tit wil low, tit willow 1’

Is it we akn ess of irite lleot , birdi e?I cried,

Or a rath e r tough wo rm in your li ttle inside

With a shake of his poor little h ead h e re plied ,

o h , willow, tit willow, tit will ow

He slapped at h is ch est as h e sat on that boughSing in g Will ow, tit willow, tit will ow

A nd a co ld perspiratio n be span g led h is brow

Oh , willow, tit willow, tit wi llow !

Th en h e th rew h imse lf in to th e billowy wave ,

A nd an ech o arose from that suicide’s grave ,

Oh , willow, tit willow, tit willow .

"

Th e corresponding e le giaos ar e ca ll ed Pe r i r ecin en tis ome n ,

and are pr efaced by th e statemen t th at a tom -tit is called in Latin

parus

A rboria in fo lus, fluviales Paras ad undas,

Paro s e t Salices carmin e oonsociat.

Huio e go : Dic vo lucr is ! guzan an tibi causa sede ndi

Quid mih i , sic Paro s tu Salioe sque sonasPDio avice lla tibi mans imbecillio r exstat?

A t caput exiguum miserabilia ills .revo lvens,

Paro s e t Sa lice s improbas in geminat.

Pigeonho le Paragraphs. 499

(Cum Paro est ite rum oommemora ta Salix)Circumstat g elidn s roran tia te mpora sudor ,

Suspirans, lacrymans, sin gul tu guttura torquen s,

Quam para t ipse sibi re sonan te his vocibus urn a“ Pare ! Salix ! ite rum Pare ! ite rumque Sa lix !

”

a x

The Catho lic Un ion and Times of Buffa lo , in New Yo rk coun ty,

h avin g comple ted its e igh te e n th year (lik e ourse lve s) began its n in e

t e e n th ye ar with a ve ry Spe cial Numbsr , with con tr ibn tion a fr om

Maur ice F . Egan , Will iam J On ah an , and o th er distinguish ed

C ath o lics. Th e fo llowing is from a pape r by Bro th e r A z ar ias, wh om

we h ave o ften n am ed to our r eade rs, but n o t un til n ow by h is Ir ish

n am e o f Mullany. He is speakin g sympath e tica lly o i th e wo rries o f

a Cath o lic edito r

Th er e is th e auth o r with wh ose bo ok you have found faul t ! He be comes embittered again st you. Lo ok n ot for words of comm en dation from h is lips. He iswro th with himse lf for having don e you th e h on our o f sending you h is bo ok fo r

criticism. Perhaps h e even wro te you a le tter laudatory of th e good taste evide n t

in your criticisms, an d in dire ctly pleadin g fo r a favourable judgmen t . But you

could n o t call pin oh be ck go ld , and you found it n ece ssary to speak plain truth ,

wh ich to th e auth or was unpa la table truth . We have kn own an autho r—and an

auth o r of some me rit—to go out of h er way to stab th e gre at Brownson , under

co ver of an unsign ed n ewspaper article , in reven ge fo r stricture s h e made upon on e

o f h er bo oks. But , as an auth or with wh om th e cri tics have dea lt gen e rously

b eyon d his dese rts , th e write r would plead e arn e stly in favour of handlin g as

ge n tly as possible th e youn g Ca th o lic aspiran t wh o appeals to a Cath o lic audi en ce .

Remember th e many ways in wh ich th e Cath olic‘

wr ite r'

1 3 handicapped h is difl

cultice in publ ishing ; h is chance s of failure to secure a wide en ough circle o f

reade rs ; th e ve ry few inducem en ts h e has to write as a Cath olic 1 n comparison with

th o se pre sen tin g th emse lves in th e fie ld of secular le tters. It beh ooves us n o t to

discourage th e Cath o lic writer wh o sh ows tal en t and g ive s promise of be tter thing s .

A Cath o lic bo ok sh ould at first flush go h ome to th e sympa thy o f th e Cath o lic

re vi ewers. Of course th e worthless bo ok , th e book inadequa te to do justice to itssubject , th e book of many pr e te nsion s , th e inaccurate book , th e ill

-wr itten book

h e se sh ould e ach and all be estimated a t th e ir true worth .

”


CARDINAL NEWMAN .

R . I. P .

THE great Cardin al is dead . Th e soul of G e ron tine has at

last made that journey which n o poe t o r pre acher o r th eo lo

gian o r asce ticwriter th at we have ever se en has descr ibed h alf

so we ll as G enon tius himse lf. The Dr eam of G er on tius is re alised.

John Henry Newman was born in Lo ndon , February 2l st,1 801 Cardinal Newman di ed at Birmingham , A ugust 1 1 th , 1 890.

Th e story that lies betwe en th ose two dates has be en to ld brieflyin hundreds of journ als th ese last few days. But n on e of th e

English n ewspape rs, in narratin g Dr . Newman ’s conversion h as

m ention ed th e Irish priest of wh om th e illustr ious convert himse lf

has said in his A pologia My dear fr iend, Dr . Russe ll, th e

prese n t Predde nt of Mayn ooth , had, pe rhaps, m ore to do with myconve rsion than any on e e lse .

”It will be our duty h e reafte r to

give an accoun t o f a friendship wh ich , beginn ing so far back as

1 841 , lasted till Dr . Russe ll’s death in 1 880 . Th e corresponden ce

like this in th e lette r to Fath er Dan i e l , which is autograph ed in The

Freeman’s Jcarna l, in th e numbe r descr ibing th e Cardinal

’s burial ,

wh en twen ty bish ops, many n obleman , and twe n ty thousand pe ople

fo llowed h im to h is grave at Redn all , a small village n ot far from

h is h ome at Edgbaston . Ou th e 23rd of February, 1 879, h e

wrote : It is a great pleasure to me to be told that th e Cath o lics

of Ire land take an in te re st in me . I have n ever forgotte n th e

kindn ess th ey sh owed me wh en I was in Ire land.

”

Am ong th ose wh o followed th e san ctified remains of th e aged

Cardin al to what is wrongly called th e ir last resfin g-place , was

Lord Co leridge , who late ly said in a lecture which h e publish ed

in a magazin e two mon th s ago Raffae llo is said to have thanked

G od that h e had lived in th e days of Michae l A nge lo ; there are

score s of men I kn ow, th e re are hundreds an d th ousands I be li eve ,who th ank G od that th ey h ave lived in th e days of John Henry

Newman .

”

Th is was said dur ing his lifetime ; and n ow that h e is gon e , h e

is praised, e ven by th e organs of th ose cre eds an d opin ions which

h e re n oun ced, with a un an imi ty an d an e arn estn ess for which no


THE MELANCHOLY OCEAN! F

Far ofl, amid th e me lanch o ly ma in .

Inh abiting an island wash ed by a melan ch oly ocean .”—Lord Bedwmfid d.

Oh ! th e salt A tlan tic br e e z e s,How th ey swe ep reviving th r ough m e

How th e ir fr esh enin g spir it se iz e s

Soul and sense , to raise , re n ewm e !

Oh ! th e grand A tlan tic surge s,How th ey march , and m oun t, and m ingle ;How th e ir spray exultin g scourge s

Jutty cl ifi and sandy din gle

Talk of m e lan ch o ly oce an ,

If th ou fe e le st wan e an d with e r

Eve ry ge rm o f glad emo tio n ,

Come , O Vivian G r ey ! come h ith er .

Sit and mark th e match less g lo ryOi th e clouds th at ove rsh ade n a,

Ai r e e ts of th e Easte rn sto ry,

Titan s such as Keats portrayed na,

Till, maj e stica lly ble nding ,Fo lded on th e weste rn bill ow,

Th ey awai t th e ir lord’s de scending ,

Strewi n g hi s impe rial pill ow.

No t in youth’s in toxica tion ,

No t in manh o od’s stran ge succe sses,

Didst th ou dr ink an in spiration

Such as h e r e th e h e ar t co nfesse s.

He r e wh e r e joy surr ounds th e e wh o lly,If thy th ough t a mome n t li ste n s

To in truding m e lanch o ly,

It is bo rn of r eminiscen ce ,

Oi th e o ld fo rsake n causes,

Of th e h igh e r fame’s be r e avem en t,

Of a life time of applause s,

Barr en , barr en of ach ievemen t .

We re scue this from an o ld Specta tor of twe lve years ago : Its signatur e

h appily familiar in our page s.—Ed. I M .


G en ius in ign oble traces.

Le ading ran ks wh om th ou de spise st,

Till thy se lf-willed fate efiace s

A ll th a t in thy soul th ou priz est .

Fo r th e proph e t’s fire and m o tio n ,

Icy mask and sn e er sardon ic,

Be it so l Maje stio Ocean ,Th ou ar t Me lan ch o ly

’s to n ic.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

l We h ave mor e th an on ce comm ended LadyMargare tDomville’

s

Lofi of Lamar tim . We comm e nd it again , th ough it is n o t n ow a n ew

bo ok, for th e purpose of cor r ecting a misstatemen t wh ich in our last

issue we copied fr om sun dry n ewspape rs . Lady Margar e t Domville

happily is livin g still to do o th e r go od wo rk for Cath o lic l iterature .

2 . Th e A rchbish op of Dublin has publish ed a Statem en t of th e

Ch i e f G ri evances of Ir ish Cath o lics in th e matter o f Education ,

Pr imary, In termediate . and Un ive rsity (Dublin : Brown e and

Nolan ) . We read with amaz em e n t on th e cove r th e wo rds price

on e sh il ling and sixpe n ce ,” fo r what was probably in tended to be a

pamph le t has pro ved to be a fin e octave vo lume of 420 admirably

prin ted pages. No on e wish in g to be acquain ted with th e past,

pr esen t, and (le t as h ope ) futur e of Irish Education , can dispen se withth e study of this vo lume—a study wh ich is imme nse ly facilitated byth e table o f con ten ts wh ich immediate ly follows th e title -

pag e , and

wh ich se ems to na a mode l of cl e ar ar ran g emen t, alm ost do in g awaywith any n e ed fo r an alph abe tical in dex. Besides giving th e h isto ryof th e que stion , th e A rchbish op deve lops h is views o f th e obdn ge s

still requir e d ; an d bo th in th e body o f th e work and in a long se rie s

o f appendixes h e furn ish es a vast numbe r of pron ouncem ents by

persons o f auth ori ty, and various oth e r documents be arin g on th e

3. Forgo tte n Hero in e s, or th e Histo ry of a Conven t in th e days

o f Luth e r ,” by th e auth or o f Tybom e (London : Burns and Oates), is,

first of all , as pr e ttily bound a book as on e migh t wish to se e . Mo th e r

Magdalen Taylo r te lls th e path e tic and edifying story of th e sufie rings

o f ce rta in g en e rations o f Domin ican Nuns at Strasbourg , afte r th e

h orr ible Reformation , brin gin g in skilfully an allusio n to th e ir Ir ish

Sisters in th e Rose Co n ve n t, G alway, and Sienn a Conven t, Drogh eda

Sh e comm emo rates also , in a sh o rt sk e tch , th e ce n te nary of th e Fr ench

Nuns wh o sufier ed o r died h e ro ically in 1 790.


4 . Th e sam e publish ers h ave brough t out in exce ll en t taste , Th e

Life o f St. Th omas A quin as , th e A n ge lic Docto r . Edite d by Fath e r

Pius Kavan agh , O .P.

” It co nsists of some 250 page s, an d is illustra ted

by e leven pictur es of more th an o rdinary m e r it . Th at th e r e sh ould

be r o om in En glish l ite ra ture fo r such a popular and yet extended

Life , afte r th e gre at Life by Cardinal Mo ran’s predecesso r in th e Se e

o f Sydn ey, speaks well fo r th e devo tion felt towards th e An gel o f th e

Sch oo ls.

5. Four small bo oks may be grouped togeth e r . Th e ch e apest an d

b est is a pe n ny tract ublish ed by th e Cath o lic Truth Socie ty Th e

Faith o f th e An cie n t nglish Church co n ce rn ing th e Ble ssed Virg in

Mary.

” A s is usual wi th eve rythin g comin g fr om Fath e r Br idg e tt’a

pe n , it co n tains str o ng and use ful po in ts ut be tte r th an almo st anyo n e e lse could ut th em . Maxims and on a ssls of St. Ph ilip Ne r i

(Dublin : M . G i ll and Son ) , is a r eprin t o f th e tr an slatio n issued

by Fath e r Fabe r , in 1 847 . Th e Life o f Our Lo rd, repared, chi eflyin th e wo rds o f th e G ospe l . fo r use in Sch o o ls,

” by TDMurphy, o f St .

Mary’

s Tra in in g 0 0 119 e , Hamme rsmith (London Burns and Oate s).is a go od ide a very we carr ied out, and ve rymuch mo r e r eadably a n d

a ttractive ly pr in te d th an many similar bo oks fo r th e youn g . Lastly,

ve ry m inute , but very cle ar type co nde nse s in to two hundr ed pag e s an

imm ense quan tity of info rmation about th e h istory, co nstitutio n s,an d ce r emonial of th e Thi rd Order of St. Francis (London Burn s

and Oate s) .6 . Illustrated Cath o lic Missions (Londo n J Do n o van . 1 9

He n r ie tta Stre e t, Cove n t G a rden ) , is a mon th ly illustrated re co rd,ublish ed in conn ection with th e Socie ty fo r th e Propagatio n o f th e

gaith . It is an exce edin gly in te re stin g pe riodical , and ough t to be a

favourite , n o t on ly in conven ts, but also in Cath o lic h ouseh o lds. Th eillustr ations ar e nume rous. and ve ry good, and th er e is a gre at va ri e tyo f info rma tio n about th e fo r e ign mi ssions and subjects co nn e cted wi thth em . Is thi s th r e epen ny magaz in e suficiently kn own in Ir e lan d

7 The Weekly Begabter gives th e fo llowing accoun t of a tal e whichth is maga z in e h ad th e privflege of fir st giving to th e world

A n ew and po ular edition of Miss Rosa Mulh o lland ’s Wi ld B ird: of KMwill be widely w corned. It is seve n care sin ce th is en trancin g story was firstublish ed, and every year sin ce th en gain ed for it a n ew circle of re ade rs.

and orig inal , th is idyll o f roman ce back to th e simplicitie s of th ing s oflife , o f n ature , and of art. A sto like must be re a lly more powe rful th an an

in tr icate and sensatianal on e , whi with matricions aids, add to its in te re st , a n dwo rks up a tour de force to its , perhaps, fin e and forceful dcnom m t. Here e achpag e se ems to have be en writte n for its own sake . Th e charm and poetry o f th eCe ltic cha racter and tempe ramen t, which is of th e h eat rea lism, and most re albecause it is of th e h igh est, make s vital th e open in g apte rs of th e nove l. Th e no n thr ough a wide variety of sce ne th e story winds, in creasing in beau with

g limpse s e very h ere and th ere of th e h ea ven in human natur e and of th e se ve n

beyo nd , un til towards th e close , wh e re th e afi’e cting ,(ye t withal quiet, cl imax o f

reward and frui tion is reach ed. Love ’s enn oa an love’s sanctification , wer e

n e ve r mo re afiectin ly, and less aflecte dly, put one na ; and we wish tha t eve rycon ven t in th e lan would g ive th is pure an d wh o lesome bo ok to its g irn in e out of e ve te n of th em ,

mean t in G o d’s pro vidence to kn ow lo ve and to love

a swives and m

506 m Ir ish Mon th ly.

de clared h e had wan fut in th e gully-h ole , would supply

average sized cc-ope rative store .

Th en th ere are th e beggars o f every age and varie ty, from the

mite wh o can scarce ly walk alon e to th e cron e who remembe rs th e

R ebe llion . Our sto res of ancient garmen ts are exh austed ; our

fin gers, by din t o f constan t stitch in g , reduced to the condition o f

nutmeg graters. It se ems to as that we must have clothed th e

e n tir e village , and still th ey come .

Th e fact of our be ing a commun ity of ladies, th ough in gen e ral

rath er an advan tage from th e beggars’

po in t of view,as implyin g

greater tende rn ess of h eart and n imble n ess of hand, has occasio n

a lly its drawbacks. Wh il e still at breakfast th e other morning , wewere in form ed that a boy wish ed to se e us ; th e £00 t

thought, bashfully, th at‘h e wan ted cloth es.

Clothes I How o ld is he

A bout twe n ty, ma’am I

”

Not be ing outfitte rs on quite so large a scale , we were re luc

tan tly compe lled to draw th e lin e at youths of twen ty .

Th e o ld l ady wh o favours us most fre que n tlywith h er compan yis, to use th e ve rn acular of th e coun try, som ewhat crabby as to

h er temper , an d eccen tr ic in h e r demean our .

My moth e r h aving on on e occasion pre se nted he r with (savingyour pr e se n ce ) a fine ,warm,flan n e l pe ttico at, stipulated th at Mary

was to wear it, and added—kn owing how frequen tly such garmen tsfoun d th e ir way to th e n earest pawnshop

—that sh e would expe ct

to se e it on th e latter’s n ext appearance .

A ccordin gly, wh en again in wan t of a grain o’tay, Mary

was de scr ied makin g h er way towards our h ouse , with th e whi te

pe tticoat jaun tily dispo sed outside h e r ragged gown .

Why, you’re ve ry grand to

-day remarked an acquain tan ce .

Wh o gave you th e fin e pe tticoatWhereupon Mary, jerking h er thumb forwards, replied r espect

fully : A . widdy woman beyan t th e re !

Subsequen tly, findin g th e garmen t in question deficient in th even tilation to which sh e was accustomed, sh e tr udg ed up to

remon strate with th e don or , assertin g in much displeasure that sh e

was kilt wid th e hate .

”

Most of th e recipie nts of such charity as we can bestow, h ow

e ver , rece ive it in a more kindly spir it. I shall never forge t th eh ansports of gra ti tude in to which on e very ancien t dame was

Unde r the G o lden Spea rs.

thr own on be ing presen te d with a pair of boo ts. Th e blessi n gs

which sh e showe red on our h eads, th e praye rs which sh e poured

fo rth , th e g ood wish e s which sh e formul ated, were as e arn e st as

May yez n iver thirst ! sh e cried, afte r e ngaging a bed in

Heave n for e ach o f us, and invokin g th e n in e ch ore s o f ange ls

o n our behalf, may yo z dhr ink o’th e rive r that run s through

Heave n !

A fter this poetical outburst sh e beto ok h erse lf to th e n e igh

h o ar ing conven t to sh ow off h er tr easur e s to th e nun s, wh o would,sh e assur ed us, be leppin

’wid de ligh t.

In about half an h our sh e re turn ed , h e r wrinkled face flush ed,

h e r bright blue eyes almost starting out of h e r h e ad wi th excite

m en t. It did n ot transpire that th e go od Siste rs had be en so far

carried away by th e ir e n thusiasm as actua lly to pe rform th e an ti

c ipated athl e tic feats, but on e of th e comnmn ity had be en moved

to some purpose , havin g be stowed a pair of sto ckings on our white

h air ed pro tégée , wh o se n e th e r- limbs were n ow comple te ly arrayed .

Standin g well in fron t o f our drawingro om windows, and kilting uph er tatte red'garmen ts so as to afford n a a good vi ew of h er po or o ld

spin dl e-shanks, sh e gaz ed downwards o n th em with an expre ssion

o f reve r e n ce almost amoun tin g to awe , and exclaimed : G lory be

to G od, to think I sh ould come in to th e world to be wearin’

th e

stockin’

s o’th e con secrated to th e Lord !

Quain t an d picturesque as is this village of ours , its de ligh ts

are forgotte n in th e con templation o f its surroundings ; th e beautyof th e 'mountains alon e be in g e n ough to eclipse all o th er charms of

scen ery.

Here is form for th ose who adm ire most th e grandeur of form .

Her e th e rugged outlin e s of BrayHe ad with its patch of blue

g r een fir tre e s climbin g th e side , its de ep h ollows and bo ld expanse

o f rock and th er e th e Sugar-loaves, or G o lden Spears

-to use th e

more expressive and po e tic name worn by th em long ag es before

som e practica l Brito n (of a comme rcial turn ) bestowed on th em

th e ir pre sen t title . A big , solemn , majestio figure is th e greater ofth ese G o lde n Spears ; its rocky summit piercin g the h eave ns ; its

imposing form changing in aspect with every turn of the manyro ads that wind about it, and dominating th e surrounding coun try.

Not a valley in the n eighbourho od is complete without th is sombre

figure in th e background ; wh erever we betake ourse lves in our


daily walks o r dr ives, shut in th ough we may be , in le afy gla n s,

surrounded by chain s of h ill s, th e re is still th at state pre se n ce

lo om in g above us , ke eping guard ove r moun tain an d da le , an d

se em ing to be th e prote ctin g ge nius o f th e place .

A gain , be sides th e se distin ctive landmarks, are th e r e n o t,

str e tch in g away beh ind th em , range upo n ran ge o f majcetic h il ls,in eve ry variety of sh ape , and of eve ry sh ade of co lour , some o f

th em fan tastically crown ed with r ocks, while o th e rs raise th e ir

h eads from among a dusky growth of pin e s

Th en th is un dul ating tract o f coun try to th e right, with its

smoo th hillocks, its wild, unkempt h edge rows, th e quain t a n d

picture sque— ii occasion ally com’

fortle ss —oabins dotte d abo ut

amon gst th e tr ee s : has it n ot also a be auty of its own

A s for colour , th e re was sur e ly n e ve r such a place for co lour a s

h ere am id th e Wicklowhills. Kin g Sugar-loaf we ars pr oudly h is

ro yal m an tl e o f exqui site bron z e , r e lieved with ambe r trimm in g s ,

and furth e r se t o ff, as befits a regal garm e n t, by abun dan ce o f

gold— th e go ld of low-

growin g Ir ish gorse . His youn ge r bro th e r ,Be an agb

-be g , to give him h is an cien t title , is a blaz e of ye llo w

and purple , wh ile th e hue s of th e more dista n t hill s vhry from th e

most e th e r eal blue to a den se glo om that is almo st black .

Colour ! Wh at about th e h edge rows Oh , th ose Irish h edg e

r ows, th e me re sight of wh o se luxur ian t growth would drive a

British farme r distracted, h ow love ly th ey are ! Pe rhaps mo r e

love ly n ow than at any oth e r time , fo r th e last of th e summ sr

flowe rs still n e stle at th e ir fe e t and th e tan gle above is rich with

th e glorie s of autumn . Str e tch e s o f black-th orn th at almo st

se em o n fire , so brillian t are th e ir oran ge s and r eds,alte rn ate with

a wild con fusion o f gorse and br amble , of pale- le aved sa lly an d

sturdy haz e l ; wh ile h er e an d th e re a sapling o f de licate ash o r

e lde r starts up, pur e st go ld or ble ach ed almost white fr om amid th e

fern s an d m osse s ben e ath . Th ose fe rn s, h ow th ey grow ! Withwhat grace th ey curve outwards from th e ivy

-clad bank , downwards

to th e tiny stream be low ; with wh at cun n in g , n o t to say coque try ,

th ey cre ep in th e ir still vivid gre en in to such clo se proximity wi th

a scarle t tuft of cran esbill , or pe ep out from amid a dr ift of late lyfal len russe t leaves. Side by side with th em grow cx-eyed

daisies,dan de lion s of eve ry den omin ation ,

brillian t poppies, de li

cate spe edwe lls ; and th e irregul ar lin e o f h edgerow above is

broke n every now and th e n by a full -grown h awth orn wh ose leaf


n ot weep for gladn e ss, and to il-worn hands fo lded on his bre ast , to

fin d his last h ome in som e we ll-kn own spot, wh er e h is own gre en

may wave undisturbed above him, and h is h e art lie at peace in

Irish so il .

It has be en said of late by on e wh o laboured for years amongIrish em igran ts, th at th e ch ildr en born to th em in distan t lan ds,

in h erit this stran ge love , an d that many of th em on reach in gmanh o od are drawn by this tran smitted longin g across th e wide

seas to th e o ld coun try which th e ir pare nts have described in such

glowing te rms to th em .

But th ey n ever come a se cond time , says th e emigran ts’

fr ie n (1 . Pe rh aps th e ir youn ger , ke e n e r eyes, escaping th e spe ll

that fascin ated th e ir fath e rs, look on a. pove rty-stricken cabin , a

waste of ill -tilled land, as a cabin and a waste , n ot as th e h ome

on ce coun te d all in all o r perh aps th e ideal un con sciously form ed

with in th em was too lofty, and th e fairyland of which th ey

dream t dise nch an ts th em with th e reality, or again , it is perh aps

be cause of a simple h ank ering afte r th e fle sh pots of Egypt

th at th ey are so re ady to re -cro ss th e desert ocean , and to tur n

th e ir backs upon th e Canaan for which th e patr iarchs of th eir

tribe h ave sigh ed in vain . Poor Ir e land ! beautiful , de se r ted

m oth e rland ! to th ose th ou we rt a r eality, obstin ate ly clung to ,

passio n ate ly be loved ; to th e se but as a phan tom-island, con jured

up for a br ief space amid th e sh in in g wate rs, an d th en lost sight

of for evermore !

No e vide n ce o f th e disturban ce so wide ly spr ead ove r th e

coun try is pe rceptible (at least to a casual observe r) in this quietneighbourh ood . Th e pe ople are kindly and obligin g , o ld

-fash ion ed

e n ough still to remove a pipe or drop a curtsey as th ey pass you,

and re adily giving a ch e ery word in answer to your gr e e tin g .

Th at th ey have po litical opin ions of th e most advan ced type is of

course understood, but th ey are careful n eve r to obtrude th em o n

you. It was amusing to se e th e cautious way in which o ld Dan ,

th e oracle of th e vil lage yonde r , eyed me wh en I tried to extr act

fr om h im an expre ssion of his sen timen ts as to th e state o f th e

coun try. Th ere’s oth e rs,

” h e r emarked, ockypied about it at

th e prese n t time betth e r able to dale with it th an me se li .”No t.

with standing his assumption of humility, h e is a ve ry great pe r

son age in th ese parts, and h is opin ion carries con side rable we igh t .

His history, to o , is curious. Born in’98 (h is father

’s house

Unde r the G o lden Spea rs. 51 1

having been wre cked and burnt in th o se troubled times, and his

twin -broth e r pe rishin g in th e flame s) h e sough t his fortun e byturns in England, in Fran ce , an d in Al gie rs. Not succe edin g in

finding it , he return ed to his n ative village , wh er e h e live s (in a

loft) on such char ity as is ofler ed to him , for h e will n ot sto op to

beg . He has a great de al to say about his var ious expe rie n ce s in

a curious jargo n o f his own , wh ere provin cial English is m in gled

with h is n ative brogue , and furth e r embe llish ed with n o t a few

words of extreme ly eccen tr ic Fr en ch , which , h oweve r , h e is careful

to tran slate as h e go es on . On e an ecdote in particul ar h e relates

with much gusto , de scriptive of his arrest on ce by a gendarme wh o

took him for a spy .

He got a h oult 0’m e , eu

’h e str ipped me— savin

’

ye r pre

sen ce—eu’sarch ed me eve ryway. A n

’all at wan st h e come s upon

on e little medal hangin’round me n eck . Common g P h e says,

vous, Han gle te rre , Catho lique (mean in are you an Englishman

an’a Catho lic P Nong ,

’says I, Hire landy,

’says I

—te ll in ’

h im I were an Irishman , ye kn ow. O Hire landy ! h e says, eu’

h e claps me on th e back . Hir e lan dy, bo n g Christian , bongCath o lique—A ngleterre méme ch ristien que cheval !

Th e ideas of many of th e coun tn'y-

people h ereabouts with

regard to England are to th e full as un complim en tary as is this

surprising statemen t.

Englan d’s a terrible bad place ! remarked on e old woman

ofmy acquain tance . Th e wickedn ess over th er e is awful . Th em

Wh ite -cha rch murth e rs, n owWhite -chape l you mean .

Lord save as, ma’am ! —in de eply scandalised ton es sur e

th ere isn’t e

’e r a chape l the r e at all ! Ch ape l be ing th e term

gen erally employed to design ate th e Cath o lic place of worsh ip, and

th e good o ld lady be ing convin ced th ere could be n on e such in so

un h allowed a spot.

Th e peasan try he re is by n o mean s en tire ly Cath olic, h owever ,

un like that of oth e r coun ties,wh e re a member of an oth e r persuasion

is so gre at a rarity as to be gen erally spoken of as “ the Protestan t,”

or the Pr esbyte rian , much as we sh ould m en tion th e HighSh er iff, or th e Lo rd Mayor . Her e , th ere are repre sen tative s of

many re ligious den omin ation s, and some wh o appe ar to make out

a cr e ed for th emse lves. A n ancien t dame be longin g to this last

category was h eard to declare on on e occasion that sh e wan te d


n o embassador , nayth er priest n or min isth er , be twe en h e r a n’

th e Lo rd.

” I kn ow I’m in th e right road 1”sh e added defian tly .

Oh , that inde ed, ma’am P maybe so , ma

’am ,

”responded a

sarcastic Catholic n e ighbour . Wait ti ll you come to th e cr oss

ro ads, ma’am—I’m afe ard ye

’ll take a wro ng turn thin .

It was th e latte r sturdy matron wh o , on be ing recommended

to pray for th e co nve rsion of th ose with wh om sh e difie red inste ad

o f quare lling with th em, return ed indignan tly that th ere we r e

some in th e n e ighbourh o od that all the divils in h ell would be

h ard set to conve r t !

But, whil e I um gossiping h e re so idly on th e top of Kin dl es

town hill ,th e sun h as dropped behind the moun ta in s Opposite , an d

th e bank of clouds which h as be en slowly gath er ing , turns of a

sudde n fiery red. We must hasten h omewards, for it is late an d

we have some way to go .

Through th e sh adowy wo od again , our passage hailed bymany shr ieks and twitte rs of bird-voice s, many wh irr ings an d

flutter in gs of startled win gs—and out once more on th e high road.

Half an -h our’

s brisk walkin g , an d we are at our own gate s.

Our big black hill stan ds out again st th e background of lambe n t

ye llowish gre en , an d, th ough th e glowing cr imson to the left h as

somewhat paled , th e sky is still smear ed and splash ed in place s, as

though care lessly daubed over wi th a fiery brush . Th e last o f th e

beggar s has depar ted, th e po liceman’

s crying baby is asle ep, a

so litary rook sails h omeward just above us, slumbrous shade s

r est upon th e h ill-side s, pe ace has de sce nded on th e valley, and th e

so lemn G o lde n Spe ars, re leased fr om th e n ecessity of guardian ship,

lean against th e darken in g h eaven s, and commun e at ease with

kindred piles of clouds.

M . E. FRA NCIS.

51 4 The Ir ish. Mon th ly.

Se e ! th e ful l m oo n , round and larg e ,Tr emble s in th e orch ard bough s

Loudly fr om th e r ive r’s marg e

Low th e h eavy-udde red cows.

A n d th e bloatin g o f th e fo ld,A n d th e sh eph e rd

’s h ayin g h ound,

Swe e tly th rough th e twiligh t go ld

Fr om th e purpl e h illsides soun d.

A ve Mary ! n ow we pray,

G l e an in g o’e r and to ilin g don e ,

Ke ep n a safe from sin alway,

Til l life’

s gue rdon sh al l be wo n .

G o d be pr aised h ow r ich ly r ipe

G low th e rows o f go lde n wh e at

Now fo r h om e . with flute and pipe

Tun in g to th e dan ce rs’fe e t .

Ours is such a we igh t o f wo e ,Tearful to il and gr ie f and wron g

Must h ave crush ed us lo n g a go ,

Save fo r so lace o f our so ng .

A ve Mary ! r e st is swe e t

Un to th e e a t se t o f sun

Flock thy ch ildr e n ’s e ag e r fe e t ,

Fo r thy ble ssin g , to ilin g don e .

PA TRICK J Com mas.

U.S.A .

A STRIKING CONTRA ST.

m rm : AUTHOR o r“ m m ean or m e eoounr ,

” m m u l e s m vws rmms

o r um sn own no r ,” m o .

CHAPTER XX.

A SUDDEN DETERMINA TION.

S so on as Do ra h ad wr itten h e r n o te to Madge , and dispatch ed i t

safe ly by Mrs. Sims, a go od-n atur ed woman wh o occasio n ally

did a little cle anin g up an d down th e h ouse , sh e gr ew re stle ss and

excited. Sh e could n o lon g e r be still upo n h e r so fa , and h emming th e


blue fr ills be cam e impo ssible . So sh e flun g th em aside , and began

to wa lk impati en tly r o und th e ro om .

Madge is late r th an usual , to -n igh t ,”sh e cr ied at last, sin k in g

wear ily in to a ch a ir . Just be cause I wan t h e r to be ea r ly, th ose

pe ople k e ep h e r gr indin g ove r th e ir exercise s. But, th ank G oodn e ss,

sh e may soo n g ive th em a ll up. Sir Eustace is r ich an d powe rful , a nd

Sylvia will n o t fo rge t n a, I kn ow. So if Madge is n o t to o

proud

A sh a rp kn o ck a t th e do o r in te rrupted h e r r eflectio n s, an d sh e

started to h e r fe e t in surprise .

I may come in ,I suppose ask ed an unkn own vo ice , an d a

tall lady, in a tra ilin g silk dr e ss, e n te r e d th e ro om . and to ok th e girl

afiectio n ate ly by th e h and .

Y ou do n o t kn ow m e,de ar , sh e said, and r e ally it is so dark

th at o n e can h a rdly distin gui sh o n e thin g from an o th e r . But, by

your fair h a ir , I kn ow you ar e Do r o thy. How it h as grown sin ce Isaw you last . Do you ofte n we ar

‘

it lik e th at

I beg your pardon . May I ask you wh o you ar e said Do ra ,

surprised at th e str ange , fam iliar m an n e r . I think you must h ave

com e in to th e wro ng ro om . Th e r e a r e many pe ople livin g in thi s

h ouse .

”

So th e r e ar e . But I fan cy I h ave com e str aigh t to th e place Iwan ted . Y ou ar e Doro thy Ne il . I em your fr iend, Lady A shfield .

”

Dora tr embled, and grasped th e back of a ch a ir .

Lady A shfie ldY e s, de ar child. Y ou se e I h ave n ot fo rgo tte n you, n o r mv

promise to assist you. Y ou h e lped n a, to o , brave ly wh e n our h o rse s

ran away. Nowwe must fin d out wh at we can do fo r you. But

pray ligh t th e gas. I wan t to se e wh a t you ar e like .

”

Dora struck a match , and sile n tly lit th e gas above th e ir h e ads.

Sh e was very pa le , and h e r eye sflash ed in dign an tly as sh e r em embe r ed

th e crue l m an n e r in which Lady A shfie ld h ad tr e ated h e r siste r . Sh e

lo ok ed upon this visi t as an in so len t in trusion , and fe ar ed to speak le st

sh e sh ould be tray th e ang er sh e fe lt .

Th at is be tte r ,”said Lady A shfie ld, looking th e gi r l cur iously up

an d down . Now I can se e you, and very pr e tty you h ave grown .

my de ar . Th at h air is wor th a fo rtun e .

"

Doro thy cr imson ed and tur n ed away h e r h ead.

I do n o t wish to mak e you va in, de ar child,

”con tinued Lady

A shfie ld, takin g 03 h e r h e avy plush clo ak, and layin g it on th e so fa .

But you ar e pr etty, as I te l l yo u—an d ye t,”sh e added

, exam in in g

h er cr itically, it is n o t th e pr e ttin ess. th e beauty I migh t say, o f th e


a ristocracy. N0 o n e would e ve r pick you out in a ro om ,as th ey

would Sylvia A th e rston e , fo r instance . She be ars th e stamp o f

n obil ity—o f family in every featur e and m oveme n t ; whi lst you

—we ll ,

yo u ar e a swe e t lo o kin g g ir l, but you come o f a lowe r class . No

living pe rson wo uld eve r be lieve you to be an A th e rsto n e . Y ou do

n o t lo ok it in an y way. Sylvia do e s. It is wo nde rful h ow bir th

sh ows itse lf in th e ve ry small e st pa r ticul a rs .

”

A n d, l e an in g back in h e r ch air , Lady A shficld a rran g ed ‘h er n e ck

lace,an d h e ld h e r satin -sh od fe e t up to th e fir e .

A s Do ra lo o k ed at th is fashi o n able lady, in h e r go rg e ous even in g

dr e ss and sparkling j ewe ls, an d h e a rd th e crue l wo rds th at fe l l from

h e r lips, a gr e at rag e to ok po sse ssio n o f h e r . This woman kn ew th e

secr e t o f h e r life , kn ew th a t sh e was r e ally Sylvia A th e rston e , an d h ad

come th e r e to in sul t h e r , an d accuse h e r an d Madg e o f lyin g . Fo r a

mom en t th e r o om se em ed to spin roun d ; h e r ton gue clo ve to th e ro o f

o f h e r mouth ; h e r lips r e fused to utt e r a sound.

Wh at a silen t child you ar e ,”cri ed h er visito r . Y ou se em to

h ave n o th in g to say fo r yourse lf to-nigh t . I came h e r e a t som e

in co n ve n ie n ce to myse lf, o n my way to a din n e r par ty, to se e you an d

Madg e and find out wh at I could do fo r you. A n d, in ste ad o f be ing

ple ased to r e ce ive my visit an d te ll me a ll your tr o uble s, you stan d

th e r e starin g as if you we r e dumb .

”

I em n o t dumb, n o r em I de af, r eplied Do ra with digni ty. Ih ave h e ard your wo rds and un de rstand th em pe rfectly. Y ou ar e n o t

our fr iend, an d Madge an d I must r espe ctfully declin e all h e lp from

you

Y ou ar e in so le n t.

No , o n ly h on e st . Wh e n Madge

We ll , de ar , what of Madg e?A r e you r eh earsing fo r a play,

Dora ask ed h e r siste r . wh o came in as sh e was spe akin g .

Or but I beg your pardon . I th ough t my siste r was al o n e .

G oo d e ve n in g , Lady A shfie ld.

An d bowin g co ldly to th e visito r , Me dg e put h er arm round Do ra ,

a nd h avin g qui e tly r emo ved th e plush clo ak to a n e igh bour ing ch a ir ,

m ade h e r lie down upon th e sofa .

Y ou lo ok ill, da r l in g ,

”sh e whispe r ed . Clo se your eye s and

r e st . I will talk to Lady A shfie ld, an d g e t r id of h e r as so o n as po s

sible .

oh , Madg e , Madg e , why is sh e h e r e n ow?cried Do ra , clingi n gto h e r sister an d kissin g h e r tende r ly.

“ I h ave such go od n ews,dear , if sh e

’d o nly go .

”

Hush , lo ve , we must n o t be rude . We must tr e a t o ur visito r

with prope r civili ty.

”A n d fr e e in g h e rse lf fr om th e gir l

’s embrace ,

sh e we n t ove r to th e fir e and sto od be side Lady A shfie ld.

51 8 The Ir ish Monthly.

fr am e sh ak en with suppr essed passio n , fo r th is day I was dismissed

a t a mon th’s n o tice fr om th e sch oo l in which I te ach .

Madg e Dor a gave a littl e cry, and sat up on th e sofa .

I h ave n ot a friend in th e wo r l con tinued Madge , layin g h e r

h and so o th in gly on Dora’s h e ad . But n ot fo r all th e r ich e s o f th e

unive rse would I sell my darlin g’s bir th -r ight . Did I do ao , I sh ould

d ese rve to die .

”

Lady Ashfie ld laugh ed sco rnful lyY ou would mak e a sple ndid actr ess.Miss Ne il . But I must

confess your tragic mann e r do e s n o t afiect m e . Y ou imag in e th a t bytalking n o nsense like th is, you may impo se upon m e and mak e m e

believe your r idi culous sto ry. But .I te l l you such a th ing is impo s

sible . Ne ith e r I n o r any o th e r human be in g wil l eve r be lieve it fo r

a n in stan t Miss A th ersto n e is about to marry my so n , Lo rdA shfield

Do i-a started and caugh t Madg e by th e arm .

A nd it is n o t probable ,”sh e co n tinued, th at two po o r gir ls lik e

you could eve r prove th at Sylvia , grandd augh te r o f Sir Eusta ce

A th e rston e , and wife o f a pe e r o f th e r e alm , was o th e r than wh a t sh e

is supposed to be . G ive up a ll th ough ts o f such a thing . A nd I wil l

promise you to do fo r you wh atso eve r youmay ask .

Do ra r ose slowly fr om h e r se at upo n th e sofa , and, walkin g o ver

to th e table , l e an ed h e avily aga in st it . Sh e was ve ry pale ; but h e r

swe e t face wo r e a lo ok of str o ng de te rmin atio n .

Lady A shfie ld ,

”sh e sa id. a nd h e r vo ice ran g out cl ear ly th rough

th e ro om , do n o t b e un easy. Ne ith e r Madg e n o r I sh all e ve r disturb

Sylvia A th creto n e .

Do ra

Madge flung up h e r h ands and lo ok ed wildly a t h e r sister .

Th ink of wh at you ar e sayin g , de ar est ,”

sh e cri ed in gr e at

a gita tion . Th ink wh at such a prom ise me ans.

I h ave th ough t, Madg e . I kn ow it we ll, and a little sob ,

ch ok ed h e r utte rance ,“ I h ave n o t fo rg o tte n wha t a troubl e it will be

to you, dar ling . But my m ind is made up. I r en ounce a ll claim to

th e nam e of A th e rsto n e . Ne ith e r Sylvia .n or Lord A shfie ld sh all eve r

suffer in any way thr ough m e . An d—and I h epe th ey may b e

Lady A shfie ld smiled, and lo oked tr iumphan tly at Madge .

I em glad,”sh e said with a sn e e r, th at on e of you h as se nse .

I suppose I may mak e .thi s mon ey ove r to you, my pre tty Do ra,”and

a gain sh e h e ld out th e n o tes.

But Do ra. shrank away, and flin gi ng h e r arms round Madge ,burst in to te ars.

A Str iking Contrast. 51 9

Lady Ashfie ld, said Madge , bitte r ly, you h ave obta in e d th e

promise you r equir ed. Put away your mon ey, and go .

”

Y ou may r epe n t your in so le n ce befo r e lo n g , Mi ss Ne il1 cried

Lady A shfie ld, an g rily. But, as you say, I h ave obtain ed all I

r equi r e . 80 I wish you go od n igh t.

A nd puttin g o n h e r cloak, sh e gath er ed up h e r sil ke n skirts an d

swept pr oudly from th e r o om .

CHAPTER XXI.

MADG E IS PERSUA DIZD TO BE SILENT .

Dora ’s sudden de claration th a t Sylvia sh ould be left in th e full

e n joym e n t of h er prese nt h appy po sitio n , fil led Madg e with dismay.

Was this th en to be th e e nd o f all h e r dr eams, all h e r h opes fo r

th e futur e?Was this po o r ch il d to dr o op and pin e for eve r in th e

mids t o f dre ary pover ty, wh ilst S ylvia spe n t h er life in luxury,

sur roun ded o n a ll sides by th e evide n ce s of we alth and afiectio n th at

did n o t lawfully be lo n g to h e r?Fo r some mome n ts afte r Lady A shfie ld

’s departur e th e two girls

wer e silen t . Do ra clung to Madge , h e r face hidden on h e r br e ast .

h er arms r ound h er waist . Sh e tr embled vio le n tly, and, from time to

time , a sob escaped h e r .

Madg e sigh ed h eavily, and, smoo thin g back th e go lden hair ,

kissed h e r lovin gly.

Y ou ar e n o t an gry, dear est?whispe r ed Do ra . Oh , say you

are n o t angry wi th m e?“ No t an gry, da rlin g ; I n ever could be th at with you

—but grievedand surprised . Why did you mak e th at promise , Dor a?Why didcut th e ground from under my fe e t?

Because—o h , Madge , wh e n you kn ow h e r , you will fe e l as I do .

Sylvia is so good, so n oble , I could n ot do h e r h arm.

”

But, dearest, that is n o r e ason . Because Sylvia is good, you

must n o t suffer . That would n o t be just.”

Just o r n o t, I am de termin ed n o t to in terfer e wi th h er in any

way. I sh all r ema in Doro thy Neil all my life .

But what if I object, Do raY oumust n o t,Madge . A n dyouwill no t,I am sur e ,wh en youkn ow

h ow I lo n g to leave Sylvia in th e h ome sh e beh aves to be h er own .

”

But th e poverty, Do ra Th ink of th at. Howcan I h ear to se e

y ou wan t wh en I r emember what your life sh ould be


A ll th at is at an end, Madge we sh a ll be poo r n o l o n ge r , said

Do ra , smil in g th rough h e r te ars . Sylvia was h er e to -day.

”

Sylvia Why did you n o t te ll me th at befo re

I did n o t car e to do so be fo r e Lady A shfie lQuite r igh t, de ar e st. I fo rgo t. But h ow did Sylvia fin d us o ut

Wh o to ld h e r oh , darlin g , our po si tio n grows h arde r and h arde r .

”

No , Madge , th e r e you ar e wr o ng , Sylvia came to na as a

min iste ring an ge l—h er h ands full o f gifts, h e r h e ar t full o f love .

”

But we cann o t accept e ith e r g ifts o r love .

”

No t if we we r e plann in g h e r ruin . No t, if lik e Juda s, we wer eacceptin g h e r love th at i t m igh t h e lp n a to be tray h e r . But I h av e

r eso lved, and you, dear Madg e , must agr e e to do like m e , to be com e

h e r frie nd, to tak e any kin dn e ss sh e o r Sir Eustace may do as with

gr atitude , and n eve r , by wo rd o r lo ok , sugg est th a t she was n o t bo rn

to th e high po sition th at sh e fills so n obly.

”

Oh , Do ra , h ow can I ever ag r e e to this

Ve ry e asily, de ar e st , wh en you th ink th e matte r o ut. An d

be li eve me , th e r e will be n o in justice do n e .

”

But,Do ra , wh at is to b e come of na Mrs. Pr im h as dismissed

m e . In four sh o rt we eks my tim e a t Pen e lope ,

Lodg e will h aveexpir ed , an d th en wh at a r e we to do

My de ar , I am deligh ted to h e ar of Mrs. Pr im ’s di smissal . It

will save yo u th e tr oubl e o f dismissin g h e r .

” Do ra laugh ed so ftly .

Se e h e r e , th e se ar e th e addr e sse s o f ladie s, fr ien ds of Sylvia’s, wh o

r equir e a music mistr e ss fo r th e ir ch ildr en . Y ou ar e to go th ere to

mo rr ow, and I fancy you will n o t lo n g r e gr e t th e large sa lary you

r e ce ived at Pe n e lope Lodg e . Sylvia said th ese pe ople would pay yo u

h andsom e ly. So n ow, de ar Madg e , you must n ot fre t, but promise

to do wh at I ask .

”

My darling , I can n ot r efuse you. An d th e h ope lessn ess o f

provin g our story tempts m e to accept th e se o ffe rs of fr iendsh ip ,

and ye t my m ind misgives m e . I wish it h ad n o t come to thi s. It

would h ave be e n be tte r h ad Sylvia stayed away.

Madge ,” whisper ed Do ra , with de epe n ing co lour , h er comin g ,

decided m e . Sh e is go in g to marry Lord A shfie ld. His wife must beof n oble , o f high po sition . No act , n o words of min e sh all cast a

doubt upo n h e r , sin ce h e love s h e r .

”

My dar lin g , two wr on gs do n o t make a righ t,”

sa id Madge

sadly. Howe ve r , I agr e e to do as you wish . To -morrow,I sh al l

go and se e th e se ladi es.

”

So , with a h eavy h ear t and many doubts as to th e h on esty o f h e r

conduct, Madge at last con se n ted to be sil en t and gratefully accept

522 The Ir ish Mohth ly.

a n abso rbing affe ctio n , and to ok will in gly from h e r h an ds th e many

gifts bough t fo r h e r , with wh at sh e kn ew to be h e r own mon ey. Fo r

th is tro ubled h e r little . Sh e h ad all , and m or e th an sh e r equir ed .

Sh e was n o t ambitio us, and was we ll co n te n t to se e Sylvia r eign

supr eme , as mistr e ss o f h er gran dfath e r’s establishm en t.

So th e days th a t we re fo rme r ly spe n t in dr e ary lon e lin e ss, h emmi ng

frill s fo r Mdm e . G a rn itur e , o r mour n ing o ve r h e r h e lpless condi tio n ,

we re n ow passed in dr ivin g with Sylvia , visitin g muse ums, picture

gal le rie s, and th e a tr e s Iun chi ng at on e h ouse , an d drin king te a a t

an o th e r . Fo r as so o n as Do ra was se e n with Miss A th e rsto n e , and

kn own to b e h e r fr ie n d , invitations o f a ll kin ds pour ed in upon h e r .

He r extr eme de licacy pr even ted h e r from go in g out at n igh t, and

so sh e could n o t go to e ith e r dinn e r o r dan ce . But th is sh e did n o t

r e gr e t . In th e eve n in gs sh e h ad Madg e , always e ag e r to we lcom e

h e r back , and eve r r e ady to listen to h e r accoun ts o f a ll sh e had se e n

an d do n e dur in g th e day. Fo r Madg e rar e ly took par t in th e se rounds

o f ple asur e . Sh e live d in th e pr e tty ro oms pr ovided by Sir Eustace ,

and k ept a te nde r wa tch o ve r h e r dar lin g . But n o thi ng would induce

h e r to sit down ,an d e a t th e br ead o f idl en e ss. . Th e ir ben e facto r was

g e n e r o us ; h e wa s we a lthy, sh e kn ew,and would n eve r miss th e sum

o f m o n ey h e al lowed th em in th e year . But Madge was proud . Sh e

h ad n o le gitimate cla im upo n him ; sh e woul d n o t be depe nden t on

h is bo un ty. Th r o ugh h e r co n n ection with th e A th e rsto n es sh e so o n

o btain ed many we ll - to -do pupils . A n d ao , th ough n o t wo rked so

uncea singly as in the o ld time s a t Pe n elope Lodge , h e r days wer e we llfilled up.

A n d a s sh e wen t from place to place , h e r th ough ts we r e eve r full of

Do r a an d h e r futur e . Sh e fe lt th a t thi ngs could n o t always go on as

th ey we r e at pr e se n t, an d sh e wo nde r ed wh e n th e e nd would com e .

Wh e r e was A n n e Da n e?Wh at would h appe n wh e n th ey m e t

Th e se que stio ns r ose freque n tly to h e r lips an d tr oubled h e r sadly.

Eve ryth in g was ple a san t n ow. But sh e was sur e thi s tran qui llitycould n o t last, an d sh e be lieved th at th e lon ge r th ey all lived as th ey

we r e do in g , th e m o r e b itte r would be th e ch ang e wh e n it came .

Y e t, in spite o f th e se misg ivin gs, Madg e was ve ry h appy. Sh e

r e jo iced to se e Do ra livin g in comfo rt, pr e ttilydr e ssed, and temptinglyse rved. Sh e h ad n e ve r in all h e r life be en so fre e from car e , and sh e

h ad mo n ey fo r a ll sh e r equir ed .

Thi s sudde n ch an g e in th e Ne ils ’ po sition, an d th e str an ge mann e r

i n which Sir Eustace h ad tak e n th em to h is h e a rt, an n oyed LadyA sh

fie ld extrem e ly ; and sh e lived in constan t te rror l e st Do ra sh ould

fo r ge t h er r e so lutio n an d te ll som e on e th e sto ry of th e wr eck, th at is,Madg e

’s ve rsion o f th a t un lucky n igh t. No t th at sh e beh aved it, but

A Str iking Contract. 523

that sh e dreaded th e mise ry and vexation th at would come upo n th em

a ll sh ould th e suspicion of such a th in g ge t n o ised abroad. Un like

Madge , sh e fe lt sure th at eve ry day passed by th e Ne ils in th e ir pr e

se n t position was a decided gain , makin g disclo sur e mor e impo ssible ,

and bin ding th em mo re emph atica lly to sile n ce

We r e Sylvia and A shfield safe ly marr ied, i t would matte r but

li ttle ,”

sh e th ough t. Th e se ttle me n ts woul d be made , and such

n o nse nse would n o t trouble th em. Sir Eustace would so o n hush th e

matter up, and Sylvia , away with h e r husband, would n eve r h ear o f

it. Even th e go ssips woul d n o t be h ave it so e asily, o nce'

sh e was LadyA shfie ld. But I confe ss I do n o t understand th ese two . A t th e '

A th e rsto n e’

s ball th ey se eme d devo ted. Now—we ll, h e go e s to th eh ouse o fte n , but thin gs do n o t pro gress. He still declar es th ey ar e

n o th ing to e ach o th e r . He is mo st provoking .

”

A n d as Dora saw mor e of Sylvia, and cam e to kn ow h e r m ore

in timate ly, sh e to o wo nde red o ve r h e r ma nn e r to Lo rd A shfie ld. Withh im th e g ir l was frank an d gay ; ple ased to se e him wh e n h e cam e ,

but indiffe r e nt as to wh e th e r h e we n t o r stayed. Wh e n h e was

absen t, sh e rar e ly m en tion ed him, an d, wh en sh e did ao , it was in a

casual way—fr iendly, but n oth in g mo r e .

Lord A shfield’

s be h aviour so o n becam e as incompr eh en sible

as Sylvia’s. He visited constan tly at th e h ouse , dr ove with th e g ir ls

in th e Park , walked with th em in th e Bo w, accompan ied th em to

co nce rts and te as. Y e t, e ve n to Do ra ’s in exper ie nced eye s. his

demean our was th at o f a privil eged fr iend, rath e r than th a t of an

accepted love r . Al l this bewilde re d and sadde n ed simple Dora , ye t

sh e tr ied h ard to be lieve in th e lo ve of th e se two . Fo r th ey we re

e ngaged to be mar ried, sh e kn ew. Lady A shfield h ad said ao . Sh e

was h is mo th e r . Sh e must sur e ly k n ow.

So Do ra h e ld alo of wh e n Lo rd A shfield was n e ar . In th e h ouse ,

sh e bur ied h erse lf in a bo ok o r wo rk ed in dustriously at h er embro idery.

In th e Park and e lsewh e re , sh e gaz ed about h e r , o r talked to Sir

Eustace , do in g e veryth ing sh e could to g ive h e r fr iends pe rfect fre e

dom in th e ir in te rcourse . But all se emed of little use . Lo rd A shfie ldand Sylvia woul d n o t allow h er to with dr aw fr om th e ir society. In

all th ey did and said, sh e must tak e a part . A n d much again st h e r

will Do r a fe lt co nstrain ed to do ao .

Th en followed a tim e of an guish—a tim e wh e n Dora was on e day

miserably unh appy ; th e n ext full of joy and n ervous excitem en t .

Sh e ough t to h ave be en h appy, sh e felt. Sh e wish ed, ye t draaded to

be so , for h er inin d was to rn with doubt and th e fe ar of causing grief

to Sylvia .

Wh en sh e fir st m e t Lo rd A shfield at th e A th e rston e’s, h e sh owed

524 The La b Mon th ly.

gr e at pleasur e a t r e n ewing th e ir acquain tance . He was po lite an d

atten tive , tr e atin g h e r with th e sam e con side ration as h e migh t h av e

be stowed o n th e high e st lady in th e land . To h e r past life h e n ev e r

al luded. A nd wh e n Do ra th ank ed him tr emulously fo r h is goodn ess

in disch arg in g th e ir debt to th e ir cr ue l landl o rd, h e implo r ed h e r

e arn e stly n e ve r to men tion it aga in . It gr ieved him to r em embe r it ,

fo r it proved h ow h e and h is m o th e r h ad n e glecte d th e ir promise o f

h e lpin g th e o rph an s in th e ir h our o f n e ed .

Full o f th e ide a th at h e was en ga g ed to Sylvia , Do ra was dista n t

and r e ser ved . Sin ce th e day o f th e accide n t in Cornwall h e h ad b e e n

a h e r o in h e r eye s . Th e sound o f hi s vo ice , th e touch o f hi s h and ,

th ri ll ed h e r . Th e fe e ling th at h e was n e ar filled h e r with h appin ess .

Y e t Sylvia was to be h is wife , an d n o wo rd o r lo ok o f h e rs sh ould

disturb h e r pe ace . Th at th e se two m igh t b e h appy sh e h ad r en oun ced

h er birth -r igh t, a nd l eft Sylvia in un disputed po sse ssion o f h e r h ome

and fo rtun e . Fo r th e ir sak e sh e would do mo r e . Sh e wo uld

conque r h e r own h e art, and kill th e gr e at love that was growing up

But in a sh o rt tim e Lo rd A shfie ld’s conduct began to pe rplex

th e po o r g ir l , th en fill ed h er wi th a larm . In ste ad of ta lk in g to Sylvia

o r Sir Eustace , h e devo te d h imse lf to h e r . Hi s long visits wer e

spe n t by h e r ch air watch in g th e pro gr ess o f h e r embr o ide ry, o r

co n ve rsin g with h er 1 n low, e arn e st to n e s . To Dora th e h our s we n t

past all. to o r apidly. Sh e lived in a dr e am from which sh e fr eque n tlyawok e with a sh ock , as sh e r em embe r ed h ow crue lly sh e was dece ivin g

h erse lf, h ow bitte r would be th e e nd th at would sur e ly com e to th ese

blissfully h appy days.

On e aft e rn oon th e gir l was ask ed to sin g . Sh e co nse n ted and we n t

to th e pian o . He r son g was a simple se tting of Mrs. Brown in g’

s

po em

Love strike s on e h our Love Th ose never loved

Wh o dre am th a t th ey loved once .

Do ra sang with path os. Sh e forgo t th e company. Sh e put h e r

wh o le soul in to h e r vo ice , and th e wo rds rang out cl e arly, path etica llythr ough th e r oom .

Lo rd A shfie ld stood by th e pian o . He listen edwith rapt atten tio n ,

and wh en th e last swe e t n o te h ad died away, h e b e nt hi s h ead an d

th ank ed h e r in a lowwhispe r fo r th e pl easure sh e h ad give n h im .

Do ra look ed up, h er th ough ts full o f th e sad idea o f th e song . Th e ir

eye s m e t for an in stan t . A de ep blush ove rspr ead th e gi rl’s de lica t e

ch e ek, h e r eye lids quive r ed sligh tly, and, r ising slowly from th e

music-stoo l , sh e walked blindly to a distan t seat .


Sylvia glan ced a t h e r inqui r ingly.

Oi course , I kn ow you would, de ar e st . A nd I would do th e

sam e fo r you. But your h appin e ss will be qui te secure with out myh e lp, n ow. Th e re is little doubt o f th at.

”

No , Sylvia . Th e r e is n o r e al h appin ess po ssible fo r m e . Si r

Eustace and you h ave be en go od and gen e r ous . Y ou h ave sur

r ounded m e with comfo r t an d luxury. I h ave all I wan t in th at way .

But

My dear Do ra , you r equir e ch ange of a ir . Y ou a r e sufie rin gfr om depr e ssion . G randpapa and I go in to Surr ey so o n , to our dear ,

de ligh tful Summ e r lands. Y ou must com e with n a . Will youY es ; I sh oul d like to . I do wan t ch an ge , de ar .

Th at will be ch arming . A n d n ow we sh all go in to th e stre e ts

th e park lo oks g lo omy. Th omas,”to th e foo tma n , dr ive down

Piccadilly and up R e gen t stre e t .”

Y es, mi ss .

”

Th e co achman turn ed his h o rse s and we n t out at th e We llin gto n

G ate .

A fte r th is th e g ir ls r e lapsed in to sile nce . Bo th se em ed lo st in

th ough t Th e car riage we n t o n as swi ftly as possibl e thr ough th e

cr owded str e e ts , and many h eads we r e turn ed, many glan ces of

admi ration we r e be stowed upon its two love ly o ccupan ts as it dr ove

alon g .

A t Piccadi lly Circus th eywe re sudden ly stopped, th e ir h o rse s k ept

back by th e po licem an to allow a number o f pedestr ians to cro ss th e

ro ad .

A youn g man we ll-dr e ssed and h appy lo okin g , sto od amongst th e

crowd. A s Sylvia’s car riage dr ew up clo se to him and h e r eco gnised

th e gir ls, h e utte r ed an exclamation o f ple asur e , and raised his h at .

Sylvia .

”

Th e gir l starte d an d look ed roun d . Her co lour de epe n ed, and sh e

Paul .

He r eyes m e t his in on e lon g searching glan ce o f enqui ry. Th ey

we r e n o t n ear en ough to speak n o r sh ak e h an ds . But th a t lo ok to ld

h er much , an d se t h e r h e ar t be ating gladly, tr iumph an tly.

Th e po l iceman stepped a side , th e h o rses dash ed fo rward, and sh e

was so on far away up R egen t Str e e t .

Th e m e e ting h ad be e n sh o rt, n o wo rds h ad passed be twe e n th e

two , ye t it fill e d Sylvia with joy. Sh e h ad n o t se en Paul since th e dayin th e Ne ils

’lodgi ng , an d th e ch a n ge in h is appea ran ce and be arin g

was r emarkable . Sh e h ad h eard h e was do in g we ll, wo rking ste adilyat his pr ofe ssio n ; sh e n ow saw th at h e h ad r e cover ed h is self-r espe ct,

A Str iking Contr ast. 527

an d was h appy. To se e h im thus, to kn ow th a t h e was l e ading a life

o f in dustry, actin g a s sh e h ad wish ed and advised him to do , was ,

in de ed , a pleasur e . A n d as h e van ish ed fr om h e r sigh t sh e sank back

in th e carriage tr emblin g with exciteme n t a nd de l igh t .

Do ra lo ok e d a t h e r in surprise . Wh at did thi s m e an How didSylvia kn ow Paul Vyn e r , th e ar tist Wh at could h e h ave to do withh e r Why was sh e so agitated on se e in g h im A ll th e se que stio n s

passed in quick succe ssion thr ough h e r m ind. But sh e did n o t dar e

ask h er compan ion why sh e was so much disturbed. Sylvia se emed

unconscious o f h er pr e sen ce . Se Do ra k ept h e r th ough ts to h e rse lf.

A s th e carr iag e turn ed in to De Ve r e G arden s, Sylvia star ted from

h e r r e ve r ie .

Must you r e ally go in , Do ra sh e ask e d.

Y e s . I coul d n o t go h om e with you to -day. I must r e st . I fe e l

n ot ve ry we ll .

Po or little Do ra I em so rry. I wish you we r e h appy like m e .

Sylvia blush ed de eply. Y ou h ave se en Paul . He—you must h aven o ticed my joy, my de ligh t a t se e in g him . He is go ing thr ough h is

tim e of probation , Do ra , and is do in g we l l—n obly. He nce , myh appin e ss . G o od-bye .

”

Do ra listen ed as o n e in a dr e am . Sh e kissed Sylvia te nde r ly,

a nd turn in g away swiftly, ran in to th e h ouse an d up th e stair s . He rh ead was in a wh ir l ; h e r eye s sparkl e d brigh tly ; h e r lips we r e

par ted in a happy smi le . Th e cl ouds of m ise ry h ad sudde nly ro lled

away, an d h e r h eart was be a tin g joyfully.

Sylvia loved Paul Vyn e r . Oi that sh e was n ow quite ce rta in .

Th e re for e sh e did no t love , n o r could sh e be e n gag e d to marry, Lo rdA shfie ld .

CHA PTER XXII .

DORA IS r a mp BEY OND n an s'

ramro 'm .

Th a t eve n ing wh en Madg e r e tur n e d to din n e r sh e was surprised to

find Do ra lo okin g br igh t and we ll . Sh e was dr esse d in a dain ty

wh ite muslin , wi th pal e blue r ibbons an d clouds o f filmy lace . On e

love ly te a-r o se n estled amon gst th e fo lds o n h e r br east, and h e r go lde n

h a ir was taste fully arra ng e d on th e top o f h e r li ttle h e ad .

Madg e look ed at h e r admir in gly. Sh e h ad n eve r se en h e r look so

be autiful .

Th is is a wonder ful r esur rection , my pe t,”sh e sa id, k issin g h e r .

Do you fe el quite we ll th is eve ning?

Quite .

Do ra fin ge red h er ro se ; h e r co lour de epe n e d an d paled again .

Wh at an exqui site h owe r . Wh er e did you g e t itLo rd A shfie ld se n t it an d som e books. He h eard I was n o t

He is ve ry atten tive . I suppo se for Sylvia’s sak e h e lik es to b e

kind to h e r fr ie nd.

Madge —Dora’s swe e t face grew cr imson it is n ot fo r

Sylvia’s sake . It is—th ey ar e n ot e n gag ed.

”

Madg e lo ok ed up in surprise .

No t engag ed My de ar , you ar e m istak e n . Lady A shfield

Y es. But sh e was wr on g . Sylvia car e s n o thin g fo r Lo rd Ashfie ld, an d h e

Do ra paused, and to uch ed h e r rose with lovin g fin g e rs.

We ll, de ar est He is gr ieved, I suppo se

No , I th ink n o t . I don’t fan cy h e car e s. From thin gs I

‘

k n ow,

h ave se e n , and fe lt, I think h e car e s fo r some o n e e lse .

”

Se your sacr ifice , your promise n o t to in te rfe r e with Sylvia , wa s

n o t n e cessary an d will n o t affe ct him wh om you wish ed to save from

ann oyan ce .

”

No . It will n ot make any diffe r e nce to him—at least, as far as

Sylvia is con ce rn ed. But, Madg e

Do ra sank upon a ch air ; h e r co lo ur faded, a look o f an guish cam e

in to h e r eye s .

Wh at is it, dar lin g?A r e you ill

Madge spran g to h e r side and h un g h e r arms r ound h e r .

No . But an awful th ough t h as com e to m e ,”sh e gasped . I

h ave prom ised Lady A shfie ld . I e m fo n d o f Sylvia , pledged in a

th ousa nd ways to k e ep th a t promise . A nd ye t—oh , Madge

—sh e

hid h ar face on h e r siste r’s sh oulde r I love Lo rd A shfie ld—and

ii—h e sh o uld car e—ask m e to marry h im , wh a t sh all I do

Madge gr ew de ath ly pale . Sh e pr e sse d Do ra clo se to h e r h eart ,

an d ra ised h e r eye s appe a lin gly to He ave n .

Oh , my G od,”sh e murmur ed ,

“ h e lp this poo r ch ild. In Thy

gr ea t m e rcy so fte n this tr ial th a t h as com e upon h e r . He lp h e r tobe ar it patie n tly, with r e sign atio n .

”

Spe ak , Madge ,”wh ispe r ed Do r a , wh at sh all I do

A las ! my dar lin g , I em afr aid to te ll yo u wh a t I th ink , wh at I

fe e l to be th e o n ly course ope n to you. By your own pr om ise , made

in impulsive g e n e ro sity to secur e th e h appin e ss o f thi s gir l wh o h ad

acted kindly towards you, you h ave placed yourse lf in a te rr ible

po sitio n . Havin g made th is prom ise , you cann o t r eve al th e se cr e t o f


pa in ,and offe red fe rve n t pr aye rs to G od th at He would be me rciful

an d spar e h er darlin g . Th en , at last, th e feve r passed away, an d th e

patie n t cam e slowly back to life . Th e docto rs pro n o un ced h e r out o f

dang er , a nd gave gr e at h epes of h e r ultimate re cove ry.

But h e r convale scen ce was lo n g and tryin g . Sh e se emed we a ry o f

living , and expr e sse d n e ith e r wish n o r h ope th a t sh e migh t gr ow

stro n g e r . Th is apathy fill ed Madg e with te rro r . Wha t if h e r pe tsh oul d fade away and di e in spite o f th e docto rs A nd, as sh e ga z ed

a t th e gir l as sh e lay listl ess and indifie r en t upon th e sofa , sh e lo ng ed

fo r som e thi ng to ro use and in te r e st h e r .

Do ra was n ow but th e sh adow o f h e r forme r se lf . He r lon g g o lde n

h air h ad be e n cut clo se to h e r h ead ; h e r figur e h ad sh runk , and was

th in to atten uatio n . He r ch est,a lways n arrow, h ad a lo ok o f co n

tr actio n , pain ful to b eh o ld ; h e r face was whi te and wan , and h e r

love ly eye s we r e abn ormally larg e . and sur r ounded with wide , bla ck

Durin g a l l th is dr e ary time , th e g irl’s frie nds we re co nstan t i n

th e ir a tte n tion s. But Do ra would se e n o o n e . Sh e be gg ed to b e le ft

a lo n e . No thi ng daun ted, Sylvia co ntin ued to implo r e fo r admissio n ,

and afte r som e time , th e in va lid yie lded, an d a llowed h e r to pay h e r

a n sit . Th e sigh t o f th e g ir l’s be autiful face did h e r go od , an d

r e n ewed th e de ep affection sh e h ad always h ad fo r h e r . Sir Eustace

spe edily fo llowed in hi s granddaugh te r’s fo o tsteps, and Do ra r ece ive d

h im with som e thi n g lik e an expr e ssio n of ple asur e in h e r we a ry eye s .

Y ou must h ave ch a n ge o f air to brace you an d se t you up, my

dear ,”h e sa id. Sylvia and I go down to Bumm e r lands n ext w e ek .

Y ou must come with us .

”

Do r a pro te sted fe ebly. Sh e did n o t wish to le ave h ome . Th e n

Madg e was appe al e d to . Wh at did sh e think

I must ask th e docto r , Sir Eustace . If h e says it will ag r e e

with Do ra, sh e sh all go . I em sur e -it would b e ve ry go od fo r h e r .

”

Ch an g e of a ir was exactly wh a t sh e r equi r ed, de clar ed th e docto r

o n his n ext visit, a nd Summ e r lands th e place of all o th er s th at h e

would r ecommend . It was bracin g and h e a l thy.

So , n o twith stan din g Do ra’s disin clin ation to m ove , all arran ge

m e n ts we r e made , an d it was r e so lved th a t in a few days sh e sh o uld

tr ave l down in to Surr ey, in a clo se carr iage with Sir Eustace and

Sylvia . Madg e , wh o h ad som e affair s to se ttle in town , would fo l low

in as sh o r t a tim e as po ssible . Me anwh il e sh e kn ew h e r da r l in g

would be in go o d h ands an d woul d be car efully and lovingly te nded .

Ou th e afte rn oon b efo r e th e day of h e r departur e fo r th e coun try,

Dor a se emed r e stle ss and e xcited . Sh e appe ar ed anxio us to say

som e thi n g to Madg e , ye t appar e n tly dr e aded to speak .

A Sh i lli ng Con trust. 53 1

Madg e was busily occupied in packin g , and did n o t at first n o tice

th e gir l’s n e r vous mann e r . But afte r a time , som e th in g unusual in

h er appe arance caused h e r to pause in h e r wo rk , and th e n sh e

r ema rk ed, with wonder , th e burn in g spo t upon e ach wan ch e ek .

Wh at is it, pe t A re you n o t fe e ling we ll sh e cr ie d

anxiously. Sh a ll we postpon e th is visit to Summ e rlan ds Y ou can

go down wi th me . I’ll wr ite

No , n o , Madg e . We must mak e n o ch an ge . I em r es t l e ss

th at is all . I wan t to ge t away.

” Sh e cove r ed h e r face with h er

a lmost transpare nt h ands . I dr ead, ye t lon g to se e , Lo rd A shfie lMy dar lin g !

Y ou may, pe rh aps, se e h im, Madge , and I wan t you to te ll

h im

Th e se r van t suddenly open ed th e do o r .

If you please , Mi ss Ne il , th e r e is a ge ntleman outside , wh o

wish es very particular ly to se e Miss Do ra .

A g en tleman

Y e s, miss. Lo rd A shfie ld.

Do ra gave a little cry, and fe ll back upo n h e r pillow.

Y ou sh all n o t se e him, de ar e st,”cried Madg e . Y ou must say

th at Mi ss Do ra is n o t able to r e ce ive visito rs, Mary. Or stay, I will

speak to him myse lf.”

Madge Do ra caugh t h e r dress and would n o t le t h e r go .

must se e h im . Mary, admit Lo rd Ashfie ld.

”

Th is is foo lish . Y ou ar e to o ill—to o we ak , Do ra .

No , my joy wil l give me str en gth .

A nd it se em ed as th ough sh e was r igh t . Fo r wh e n Lo rd A shfie ldto ok h er hand

'

an d ask ed h e r h ow sh e fe lt, sh e answered quie tly tha tsh e was be tter , an d begged him to sit down .

Madge could n o t but wo n de r at this sudde n ch an g e .-A ll trace o f

n e rvousn e ss h ad van ish ed . Th e feve rish co lour h ad faded from h e r

ch e eks, an d sh e was n ow wh ite as alabaste r . A nd in h e r eye s was a

look of peace , an expr ession of con ten t, th at Madg e h ad n o t se en in

th em fo r mon th s.

Sh e love s him , ah , h ow de ar ly, my po o r darlin g ,”sh e th o ugh t

with an guish . How will it a ll e nd?” A nd un able to ch eck th e

r isin g te ars, sh e hurried fr om th e room .

Wh en Lo rd A shfie ld found h imse lf face to face with th is girl ,

wh om h e te nde r ly loved, h e was de eply agitate d. He was sh ock ed at

h er appe aran ce . He h ad n ot m e t h e r since th at afte rn o on a t th e

A th e rston e’s, wh e n sh e had touch ed him gr eatly by th e be autiful

pa th o s of h er son g . A nd n ow But h e soo n r ecove r ed his usua l

ca lm deme an our , and Do ra had n o t a n o tion of wha t h e sufie red .


My G od, wh at a ch ang e th ese we eks of illn ess have made in th is

po o r ch ild,” h e th ough t . Will sh e eve r be strong?Could car e ,

love , an d afiection brin g ro se s to h e r ch e eks, str e ngth .and h e alth to

h er limbs

But Do ra’s swe et voice di sturbed hi s rever ie , r ecall ed h im to

It is ve ry go od of you to com e to se e me , Lord Ashfie l sh e

But you we re always kin d an

G o od of m e h e cr ied passio n ate ly. Oh , Do ra , do you n o t

kn ow th at I h ave be e n a t your do o r mo rn in g and n igh t Do you n o t

kn ow th at all my h opes of h appin ess ar e ce n tr ed in your r e cove ry‘

P

Th at, h ad you died—I—my life would h ave be e n a blank—fo r I lo ve

you, darling , and have but on e wish on earth—to win you as my

wife .

Do ra gaz ed at h im with dilated eyes and h e igh te n ed co lour . Sh e

tried to speak , but n o soun d came fo r th .

Have you n othing to say, Do ra Have I startled you

Fr igh te n ed you by my e ag e r wo rds Y ou ar e weak . I sh ould n o t

h ave spok e n so soon . But oh , my lo'

ve , my lo ve , th ese days ha v e

se emed lo ng and we ary, yearnin g as I h ave be en , to kn ow my fa te .

Do you love m e Can you be my wi fe

Do ra lower ed h e r eye s. Sh e could n o t bear to m e e t that te nde r ,

pleadin g glan ce . He r h eart was hi s, but sh e dar ed n o t say so .

Be twe e n th em and h appin ess lay th e secr et o f h e r birth , an d th e

promise sh e h ad made n eve r to r e ve a l it.

N sh e sa id, and h e r wo rds we r e so low th at h e h ad to be n d

fo rward to ca tch th em . I can n o t be your wife .

Lo r d A shfie ld stagg ered to his fe e t . His face was livid ; h is eye sfull o f so rrow and disappo in tm e n t .

Do you m e an thi s h e ask ed in tr emulous acce n ts . Have I

be e n dece ived—h ave all my efio r ts be e n in vain Do you n o t—co uld

you n o t love m e—eve n a little , my darlin g

Th e gir l lo ok ed up, h e r face ful l o f radian t ligh t, h er lips par ted

in a h appy sm ile . Oh , yes, I love you de ar ly,”sh e wh ispe r ed low.

Th en ,

” h e cri ed, h ingin g h imse lf o n h is kn e e s by th e co uch , and

takin g h e r littl e h and in h is, why can you n o t marry m e If you

love m e, why do you h esitate

Because -Do ra dr ewh e rse lf away from him I cann o t, I dar e

n o t . Th e r e is a r e aso n .

”

A r e ason?My dar lin g , sur e ly th at is impossible . If we l o ve

e ach o th e r , wh a t r e aso n can th e r e b e to pr eve n t our marriage Te ll

me wh at it is . I

I cann o t, murmuredDo ra , fain tly. It is a secre t. Madge

The Ir ish Monthly.

Madge b lush ed de eply,but sh e rai sed h e r h e ad proudly, a n d

look ed a t Lo rd A shfie ld .

Y e s, it was, partly. Lady A shfie ld would n o t be li eve my wo rd.

Th en thi s se cr e t is conn ected with you, n o t Do ra

Pray ask n o mo r e , Lord A shfie ld ; it is Do ra’s wish and your

mo th e r’s th at I sh ould be sil e n t . But thi s se cr e t must sure ly l e ak

o ut so o n e r o r la te r . Howe ve r in th e meanwh ile , ple ase be lie ve th a t

th e r e is n o thin g to b e ash amed o f in it n o th ing th e le ast disgrace ful

to e ith e r Do ra o r m e

I can we ll beh ave th a t,”h e cried . A nd n ow, go od

-bye , I

must se e my mo th e r , and implo r e h e r to r evea l th is se cre t to m e a t

o n ce . Wh en I kn ow all, Do ra m ay th e n co nse n t to be my wife .

”

I h ope so m o st sin ce r e ly ; but Lady A shfie ld h as o th e r vi ews fo r

you—sh e may n ot be wil lin g to te ll you all sh e kn ows .

”

“ Sh e must . My m o th e r and I do n o t a lways agr e e in sm a ll

matte rs, but I g e n e ra lly ma n ag e to mak e h e r do wh at I wish .

”

(To be con tinued. )

TO THE NIG HT.

l

vOST h o ly n igh t, th at still do st ke ep

1 Th e k eys o f al l th e do o rs o f sle ep,

To m e , wh e n my tir ed eye lids close ,

G ive th ou r epo se .

A n d bid th e drowsy songs o f th em

Th a t ch an t th e dead day’s r equi em

Mak e in my ears, wh o wake ful lie ,

So ft lullaby.

Bid th em th at gua rd th e h orn éd moo n

By my be dside th e ir m emo r ie s cro o n ;

80 shall I h ave strange dr e ams and blest

In my br ie f r e st .

Fo ld thy gr e a t win gs about my face ,

Hide day-dawn fr om my r e stin g place ,

A n d ch e at m e with thy false de l igh t ,

Mo st h o ly Nigh t .

Hum an Bu t oc.

G OOD-BY E TO OBER-AMMERG A U TILL 1 900.

THE vall ey of th e Amm er , n early thre e th ousand fe et a bo ve

th e leve l of th e se a , is coo l an d fr esh an d gre en , with a

fr e shn e ss and gree nn ess born o f mountain rain s and moun ta in

str e ams. It is closed in at its uppe r e nd by lofty peaks, o ve r

wh ose pin e-clad crags wre aths of whi te mi st o ften lin ger , as th ough

e n ta ngled amon g th e tr ee s. Th e h ills at th e o th e r end are le ss

rugged, be ing grass-

grown on th e ir lowe r slope s, and appear to

m e rge fin ally in to th e leve l uplands. Through th e valley flows

th e A mm er , its gen tly moving wate rs givin g hi s to th e quietsce n e . Th e two village s o f th e valley, Obe r -Amme rgau and

Un te r -A mme rgau, ar e built upo n its banks. Th e former con sists

o f a numbe r of h ouse s with h igh , re d-brown roo fs, som ewhat

ir r egularly arranged, th e in te rven ing space s formin g grass-

grown

stre e ts, and some tim e s small garden s. Wo ode n fo ot-bridge s span

th e A mm e r , a po rtion of wh o se wate rs h as be en dive rted from

th eir course to turn a saw-mill . Th e h ouses ar e two sto rie s, e ach

co n ta in ing se veral small ro oms. Th e re are n o huts or cabin s to

be se en , and th e wh ole place we ars an air of h ome ly prospe rityvery ple asan t to witn e ss. Th e in habitants are a h n o race , we ll

buil t and g ood-looking . I do n ot think I have se en a mean face

since I came h ere , some of th e visitors, of course , excepted. Such

o f the villag ers as take part in th e playgen erallywe ar th e ir hair lon g ,which give s th em a picturesque appe ar an ce . I often m e et St .

Joh n , wh o takes ofi his hat to m e , an d St. Pe te r on ce set m e right

when I had lo st myway. I regre t to say, h oweve r , that I saw two

little long-h aired ange ls smoking cigar stumps in a quie t n o ok byth e r iver

,a state of affairs for which some o f th e tour ists are

probably re sponsible .

Th e church , which stands n e ar the rive r at th e uppe r

e nd of th e village , is a spacious buildin g in th e renasce n ce

style . To m e it appe ars much too h igh ly de co rated. Th e r e are

always a numbe r of prie sts among th e visito rs, an d most of th ese

say Mass in th e church th e re sult be ing a. constan t succe ssion of

Masses for two or thre e h ours in th e'

early morn ing , four o r five

be ing often said at th e same tim e . Rows of priests o f var ious


ranks and n ation alitie s sit in th e cho ir awaiting th e ir turn .

Purple—capped dignitar ies, wh ite -r obed Domin icans, brown Fr an

ciscan s, secular priests in th e ir grace ful soutan es an d bire ttas, a l l

lend picture squen e ss and varie ty to th e scen e , which fo rms a fittin g

pre lude to th e play.

Th er e are few subje cts o n wh ich we h e ar so many and such

varied opin ions as th e Passion Play. Th e re are some , usual ]y

th o se wh o h ave n ot se e n it, wh o speak of it with sh -o ng disappro

bation . Th ey conside r any attempt to put such a subject o n th e

stage r e volting ,irreve ren t, wron g ; while o th ers are en thusiastic in

the ir praise , and say that th e play h as en abled them to re alise th e

scen es it r epre sen ts ina way that would have bee n o th e rwise

impo ssible . Ce rtam th er e are associations conn ected with th e

m ode rn stage which make us shr ink at first thought from usin g it

as a m edium for th e represen tatio n of re ligious subje cts. But we

must remember that th e Obe r -A mme rgau play h as its ro ots de ep

down in th e middl e age s wh e n such associations we re un kn own ,

and wh en th e drama was conside red quite as appropriate a me a n s

of brin gin g re ligion h ome to th e pe ople as e ith e r paintin g or

sculpture . It is true that th e vow of which the Passion Play is th e

fulfilmen t was n ot made un til 1 633, but it is n ot to be suppo se d

th at th e idea of it originated with th e pe ople of Ober-Amm ergau .

Th e mysteries and miracle playswhich we re performed in Engla n d

in th e sixte e nth ce ntury probably lingered much later in th e

Bavar ian Highlands, and th e actors in th e first Passion Play h ad ,

doubtless, se e n many rude attempts at similar subjects. It seem ed

to th em as fitting a means of do ing h on our to G od as it woul d to

day se em to na to pain t a picture or ch ise l a statue . A nd this

ge rm of faith and gratitude has n e ver died out, though it h as

deve loped in to something of wh ich the original actors n eve r

dre amed . It is living , an d th ere fore possesses th e powe r o f

own substance modern ideas in lite ratur e and art, and utilised th e

products of mode rn science . Th e origin al actors would n ot re co g

nise th e ir play in its pre sen t guise , but th e two are iden tical . Th e

Passion Play of to-day is th e re sult of the labour and though t o f

gen e ration s,whil e th e artistic and dr ama tic powers of the actors

are inh e rited in stincts, fo stered by th e ir occupation and surroun d

mgs .

We are se ldom able to rea lise what we read for ourselves a s

538 The Ir is}; Mon th ly.

by th e late parish prie st , Herr Daisenberg , po sse sse s lite rary an d

dramatic qualitie s of n o mean o rde r . It adh ere s wh en po ssible to

th e words of Scri ptur e , but wh en th e se have to be amplified, as

in th e discussion s amon g th e prie sts, and th eir in te rvi ews with'

Judas, th e language forms n o unworthy settin g for th at of th e

in spir ed wr ite rs. But it is in th e con ception of some of th e

character s th at th e wonderful dr am atic power of th e play 1 8 mo st

appare nt . Th e characte r of a Chn stus cann ot, of course , be di s

cussed . But Jo seph Maye r br in gs to th e part a dig n ity an d

swe etn e ss of demean our which is all th e more wonderful wh en we

remember th at his featur e s are som ewhat h eavy, th e ir beautybeing

a lto geth er th at of expre ssion . He se ems to have lived up to h is

part fo r so many years th at hi s face has acquired th e M p o f

h olin e ss. He is ve ry tall and sin gularly grace ful in his eve ry

movem e n t. His vo ice is de ep an d swe e t, and his ar ticulatio n

Th e part of th e Ble ssed Virgin is in th e text full of beauty an d

dign ity. Th e girl wh o un de rtake s th e part doe s n ot, I th ink , do

it full justice . If th e sam e par t is in trusted to h e r in 1 900, sh e

will probably realiz e it be tte r .

But as it is th e sh ade s whi ch brin g out th e pictur e s, we sh ould

e xpect to fin d th e most power sh own in th e ch aracte rs of Judas an d

Pilate , an d such is th e ca se . Judas as h ere depicte d is at fir st a

man fr e e from cr ime , but totally devo id of in lagin ation ,and givin g

a ll h is th oughts to th e so rdid care s of life , and all his anxie ty to

the se em i n g of his own futur e . This is indicated in th e first words

h e speaks : But, Maste r , wh e n Th ou hast given away Thy life ,

what will become of us He has appar en tly jo in ed th e ranks o fth e disciple s a s a m ean s of live lih ood, be in g in this, as in all e lse , a

type of th e unworthy prie st . He again expre sse s his anxiety fo r

h is own future wh e n Christ warn s h im , tellin g him to beware le st

th e tempte r overtake him . Th e warn ing is disregard ed, howeve r ,and Judas left al o n e expla in s th at h e had h oped th e Master would

r esto re th e kin gdom of Israe l, but th at h e allows every oppo rtun ityof do ing so to pass by. He h imse lf h as h oped and waite d long ,

but h e has become tir ed of h opin g and waiting , an d n ow that

tr ouble appear s to be comin g on th e Maste r h e mean s to withdraw

from th e company of th e disciples and se ek som e o th e r mean s of

live lihood. He has taken advan tag e of his post of purse-bear e r to

G ood-bye to Ober -A mme rgau. 39

o intm en t, and thinks h ow its value would h ave added to his store .

His lack of im agin ation make s h im un able to understand the

Master , of wh o se divinity h e is apparen tly quite un con scious, whi leth e sam e defect blin ds h im to th e de sign s of th e prie sts. Wh en at

length , h is tr each ery accomplish ed, th e plain words, No ah vor

dem Fe sts so ll der G alilae r sterbe n ,’bring th e truth h ome e ve n to

his dull mind, h is agony is fearful to witn e ss. What have Ido n e Must He di e I

,

did n ot in te nd that. I will n ot h aveth a He wande r s about trying to obtain tidin gs, and fin allymake s his way in to th e pre sence of Caiph as and th e prie sts, wh o

r e iterate th e ir determin ation , Er muss sterbe n ,”and wh e n Judas

tr ie s to shift th e re spon sibility from himse lf by prote sting , asPilate

doe s later , that h e is free from blo od-

guiltin e ss, th ey te ll him co n

temptuously, Thy Maste r must die , an d th ou hast given him upto de ath.

’Judas h e re fiin gs back th e pur se con ta in ing th e thirty

pie ce s of silve r an d go e s out, te llin g th e prie sts that th ey sh all sink

with him in to th e depth s of h e ll . His de spair be come s m ore and

m ore te rrible ; th e sam e wan t of imagin ation which pre ven ts his

understa nding his Master is also an obstacle to his fin ding comfort

in th e th ought of pardon , and through out his passiona te se lf

upbraiding th er e is scarce ly a word which sh ows his kn owledg e of

wh o it is h e h as be trayed . His re gre ts are for th e kin dMaste r , th e

guiltless man wh o is to di e , n o t for th e outraged G od. He do e s

inde ed express a wish th at h e could on ce m ore beh o ld his Master’

s

face , an d clin g to him , th e only safe ty. But h e se ems in capable

o f un derstanding th e real n ature of Him wh om h e has be trayed,and be cause h e can n ot stand face to face with Him and expr e ss his

so rrow, h e deems himse lf without h ope or safety, and re so lve s to

bre ath e away his accursed life .

”Th e curtain falls as h e loosen s

h is girdl e and prepares to bind it roun d his n eck .

Th e name of Pon tius Pilate has com e down to poste r ity in th e

words of th e cre ed as th at of th e pe rson re sponsible for th e death

o f th e Saviour ; in irony, as it we re , of hisweak attempt to cast off

that respo n sibility. Th ose wh o are familiar with th e G ospe l

n arrative kn ow that h e was but th e unwillin g in strum en t of th e

Jewish prie sts, but I think even to th em th e characte r of Pilate as

set forth at Obe r -A mm ergau must be a re ve lation . Th e acto r who

takes th e part is a man of considerable dramatic power , and suc

coeds in e nlisting our sympathi es on behalf of th e Roman n oble

whose loftin ess of character inclin es him to reverence th e Teache r


of wh ose wondrous de eds h e has alre ady h eard ; while his judicia lmin d and in n ate sen se o f justice compe l him to se e th at th e charg e sbrought by th e prie sts ar e , eve n if true , quite in adequate as the

basis of a de ath sen te n ce . He is much impre ssed by the

coun ten an ce and bear in g'

of Chr ist, and some glimm e r of th e truth

se ems even to have r each ed h is min d. Wh o kn ows, h e sa y s,

th at th is man m ay n o t be th e so n of som e god But, Roman

th ough h e is, h e h as n ot sufficie n t force o f ch aracte r to en able h im

to h o ld to th e righ t, o r perh aps it is be cause h e is a Roman th at h e

is ready, Brutus lik e , to sacrifice his own fe e lings and sense of

justice to th e we lfar e ofRom e , which would be comprom ised by th e

e nm ity of th e Jewish prie sth ood . A n d whe n h e finds him se lf

yi e lding to th e pre ssur e of th e pr ie sts, h e pleads for th e prison e r

befor e him m e loque n t and path e tic words.

Is th en your h atred of this man so de ep and bitte r , h e says,

that even th e sight of His ble edin g woun ds cann o t satisfy it .

9

Y ou force m e to spe ak my th oughts plain ly. Urged o n by

unworthy passion , you pe rse cute h im be cause th e people fo llowHimrath er th an you.

”

An d wh en Pila te has be en ,as it were , caught in his own to il s,

"

and his confiden t appeal to th e pe ople has, th rough th e un ser n

pul ous man oeuvre s of th e prie sts, re sul ted in th e cho ice o f

Barabbas, and th e cry of Crucify him , crucify him ,

”h e bre aks

fo rth , I can n o t unde rstan d th e se pe ople . But a few days sin ce

you led this man through th e stre e ts of Je r usalem with sh outs an d

rejo icings. Can it be po ssible th at it is th e sam e pe ople wh o

to -day demand hi s death Such fickle n e ss is past be lie f.

”

A nd wh en Barabbas has be e n brough t out, and Pilate sh ows

him to th e pe ople , h e says : Look upo n th e se two m en ; th e o n e

of ge n tle aspe ct, dignified demean our , th e type of a wise te ach e r ,

in wh ich characte r you yourse lve s h ave long h o n oured h im ;

guiltless o f a single evil dead. Th e oth e r—a h ate hxl , lawle ss

be in g , a cr imin al . I appeal to your be tte r judgmen t, to your

fee ling s of human ity—which shall I re lease to you Barabbas o r

Je sus wh o is cal led Chr ist?A nd wh en th e pe ople have repeate d th e expre ssion of th e ir

ch oice , and th e prie sts demand th e fulfilmen t of his promise to

abide by th at ch o ice , h e te lls th em th at h e yi e lds to th e ir demands

to ave rt a gr e ate r evil . He calls out his secre tary, wh o re ads th e

de ath sen ten ce in due fo rm , and Pilate says, in a vo ice wh ich h e

The Ir ich Mon th ly.

CARDINA L NEWMAN .

Ix Mm o nn n .

OH, gr eat , pur e soul , go n e from our earth !

Fin ish ed is n ow thy mo rtal life .

G od, in His kin dn e ss, len t th e e lon gTo this dark world of sin an d str ife ;

A nd, in His tende r love to th e e ,Ordain ed th at, pur ified b e low,

Th ou migh t’st o n rapid win gs asce nd

To wh e r e brigh t an ge l face s glow.

Con secrate from thy ear ly youth ,

As if some in stin ct, dim , abstruse ,

Warn ed th e e n o e arthly ti e must bind ;

Th at so thy Church fo r h igh e st use

A mind so rich in var ied gifts ,

A n d h eart in grace s rar e , could claim ,

Se t as ch o ice gem upon h e r br ow,

A nd ’mid h er sain ts e n ro ll thy name .

Th e wo r ld can ill afiord to lose

A soul so true , so strong , so swe e t ;

But Heave n h as won an o th er sain t ,

A nd ang e ls fit compan io n gr e e t .

Fr om 03 th at distan t, sh adowy sh o re ,

Oh , com e th e r e n o t some ech o e s dim,

Bo rn e on our eage r , str ain in g se nse ,

Of th at se raphic, h o ly hymn?Y e t migh ty leader in th e re a lms

Of th ough t and spir it, th ou h adst ice s ,

A s th ey must eve r h ave wh ose aims

A r e h igh e st, pur est ,-wh o

’mid th ro es

Of de ep h e art-an guish , le avin g all,

Fo llow o’e r dim an d tan gled ways,

A n d to ilsom e h ills, th e wh ite bird, Truth ,Led on through glo om by h e avenly rays .

Y e s, th er e wer e th o se wh o dar ed defame

Th at n oble spirit, fa il ed to kn ow

A gr e at soul and a master -min d

Wh a t matte r, sin ce to this we owe

Cardina l Nm an . 543

Th at r eco rd o f h is inmost life,

With all its struggl es, doubts, unr est,Ending in perfect pe ace at last,

Peace h e r e , and peace n owwith th e ble st .

Oh , h ow our h earts se emed kn it to h is,

A s by some str an ge and mystic power ,

In all his upward strivin gs, griefs

A n d it was in th a t ve ry h our ,

Wh e n time an d space be twe e n se emed n ough t,

Th e sad n ews came th a t h e was de ad,

We n eve r n ow could se e th at face

Th at vague but ch e r ish ed dr eam was fled.

In pan ragm'

csca t Slow

A nd so lemn swe lls th e Requi em Mass ;

On th r ough th e black-draped , sile n t church

Th e de ep, path e tic e ch o e s pass.

A nd as th e laden ce n sors swin g,

A nd on th e h e avy, odo rous air

Th e last sad Do Profundc’

a sounds,

En tr eat we , in our turn , h is praye r .

Oh , sain tly soul , fo r e ve r sa fe !

Pray fo r n a, th at th e kindly ligh t

Wh ich led th e e on o’e r moo r an d fen ,

O’e r crag and to rr en t

,

”th r ough th e n igh t,

May guide our steps—wh e re ’er it will

A nd may we fo llow, blin d to all,

Save on ly to th at h e avenly beam ,

A nd deaf to eve ry earthly cal l .

Th e on e thi ng n e edful but our th ough t ;

What of it, sh ould we sufie r painWh en th e swe e t Vo ice Divi n e we h ear ,Saying ; My child,

’

tis fo r thy gain ,

Fo llow th ou Me ,”as a m h eard,

A nd, h ear in g , eve r o nward pressed,

On , with pur e h eart and steadfast aim ,

Ou—to th e pe rfect Mom , and r e st.

Th e A pologia , wh ich th e write r was reading wh en th e news came of Cardinal

Newman ’s death .


ST. YVES OF BRITTANY.

San ctus Y vo e rst Brita ,

A dvoca tus e t n o n In tro

Res miran da populo .

”—Old Rhyme .

THE Rome of th e stranger wh o dwe ll s but for a. tim e with in

h er walls may truly be said to comprise many little wor lds

within its own . Th er e is th e m ere tourist wh o come s to do his

Rom e , as much of it as h e can accomplish under favour of Messrs.

Cook or his Baedeker ; th ere is th e visito r wh o h as e stablish ed

himse lf to spend h iswin te r th ere , and en joy itsmingled educatio n al ,climatic, and social advan tage s ; th ere is th e historian an d

an tiquarian , full of e ager in te r e st in ruin s and r e lics, in br ick and

ston e , in site s an d sce n e s, which every corn er and cran ny are h o ldi n gfo r him in full est profusion ; an d th e re is th e pilgrim proper , wh o

has come to reve l in all e ccle siasticRome can ye t give of ce rem o ny

and shri n e , of m emor ie s and worships, of th e foo tsteps of th e dead

sain ts an d of th e ir living succe sso rs.

Y et with all th ese vari ed vocations, th e se multitudin ous an d

ke e n -eyed in te rests, th e re is on e little corn er in h e r midst which we

will ven tur e to asse rt th at many of th ese Rome- lovers have missed,

an d so guess n ot at its peculiar association s of half roman tic, hal f

cle rical in te rest. Wh en th ey visit th e Church of San Luigi de iFran ce si , th e n ation al sh rin e of th e once Elde st Daughte r of th e

Church , th ey pr obably pass with out n otice a. little o ld, very

obscure church , in th e Via Ripetta , a few steps on ly distan t from

thatwe ll-kn own n ation al san ctuary, an d be ar in g over itsdim po rtals

the fo llowing inscripti on

Divo Y von i , Tr econ en si paupe rum e t viduamm advoca te

Natio Brita ninse wdem h an c jam pridem consecratam re stauravit,

A nn o 1 568 .

In th e year 1 568 , th e n ation of Brittany re stored this church ,

a lre ady con secrated to St Yve s of Treguier , th e advocate of th e

poo r and of th e widow.

For th is humble san ctuary, so in significan t and un n oticed

n ow-a-days, claims th e pr oud disti nctio n of be ing a Na tio na l

Church , n o le ss than is its siste r , St. Louis de Fran ce , hard by. It

546 The Ir ish Mon tkly.

request for aid to th e Cardin al -Pro tecto r, who sends it to o n e of

th e membe rs to lay before th e meetin g . This associate examin es

th e case , and if th e two con ditions of pover ty and a just cause arefoun d to be fulfilled, an advocate is chosen by th e bre th r e n

assembled from among th e ir number , and an eloquen t defen ce inco ur t n ot seldom fo llows, for , as we have said, some of the m o st

illustri ous cf th e Roman lawye rs ar e numbered in its ranks.

A n oth e r chape l and confr atern ity of St. Yves wer e ere cted at

Paris in th e year 1 348, and th is confratern ity also was prin cipal ly

compo sed o f lawye rs and prie sts . It flourished up to th e time o f

th e Re vo lution , and th e chap91 became th e r esort of all who we r e

in legal difficultie s, and was said to be thr onged with pe ople Of

e very class, from the prin ce to th e peasant, wh o came to be g fo r

succe ss in th e ir unde rtakin gs and a favourable de cision in th e

would bring ccpies of th e judgme n ts obtain ed, an d hang th em

upon th e walls as ex-votos. Th e an cien t Cath edral of Par ish ada

special cifice of St. Yves among its r ites, and a cur ious an d

in te re sting pictur e of th e Sain t was hung on its all- embracin gwalls, pr esen ted by a Breton Se ign eur , and .

represen tin g St. Yve s

pro str ate be fore th e Blessed Virgin , pre sen ting to h er , on on e side

th e lawyers of France , an d on th e o th er all th ose wh o we r e

e ngaged in legal suits.

Th ere is a sto ry told in Rome—o r , perhaps, rath er th ere w

a s

o n e—fcr th e little e cclesiastical quips and jokes with which th e a ir

o f old Rom e was on ce so full , must all be stifled and forgo tte n

n ow,in that n ew city of bricks and mortar , railways an d

placard s—h owever , ther e was, we say, a story runn ing thus

Amon g all th e professions and trade s of civilisation , e ach of which

bo asted th e ir own special patron sain t—as St. Luke for the pain te r ,St . Crispin for th e sh oemake r , SS. Cosmas and Damian for th e

physician , St. G e orge and St. Maurice , in his fair youth ful

stre ngth for th e soldie r , St. Nich o las for bo th sailor and m e rchan t ,

as we ll as for good childre n of e ve ry clime , St. Hube rt for th ehun tsman , St . Barbara, with h er towe r, for th e armourers and

gunsm ith s, St. Ph ocas for garde n ers, St. Ce cilia fo r musician s, St .

Blaise for wo o lcombe rs, St. Elo i for go ldsmiths, locksmith s, and

all kinds of me tal workers, St . Julian Hospitator for fe rry-m e n

and bo atmen , St. G en evieve for sh eph erde sse s, and so on— th e

lawye rs, alon e of th em all , foun d n o sain t to bless th e craft . A nd

St. Yves of B r ittany. 547

ao , o n e day a d eputation from th e ir numbe r waited upon th e th en

re igning Pon tifi, and besought him that h e would n ame som e

sain t whom th ey might claim for th e ir own . Th e Pope listen ed

grave ly to th e ir request, and th en , G o ,”said he , let on e of your

numbe r he blin dfo lded, take him in to th e Church of St. JohnLate ran , wh ose vast n ave is circled aroun d with statues of sain ts ;

le t h im th en bo ldly advance an d lay han ds on on e o f th e statues,

and whicheve r h e shall ho ld that on e shall eve r afte r be your

Joyfully the n did th e men of law h aste n to obey th e Pontifi ;a represen tative .was ch ose n , blindfo lded, and sen t forth upon h is

m om entous e rrand down th e grand, marble-

paved n ave of th at

majestio Basilica which bears th e proud titl e of Moth er and

Mistress of all Church es, taking preceden ce even of St. Pe te r’

s.

Some half way down , impatien t for the re sul t , h e tur n ed, clasped

th e n earest figur e , and tore off th e blinding bandage fr om h is

eye s, on ly to find, to his horror , that h e h ad halted before Si .

Michae l and the Devil, and clasping the la tter to him ,h e ld, as h is

cho ice , th e arch -en emy of mankind. From th en ceforth it is said

that th e devil is th e patron of lawye rs.

Rome in th ose days was a long way from Brittany, e lse th eywould have learn ed for th e ir comfort that that remote distr ict

boasted th e proud distinction of po sse ssing a true lawyer-sain t to

r ede em th at most unsain tlik e of profession s from its opprobr ious

state of unblest ign ominy in St Yves, parish prie st and eccle sias

tical lawyer , cc-

patron of Brittany with St. A nn e , an d wh o was

born , lived, died, and was bur ied within its lim its ; on e to wh om

th e most je al ous patri o t could n ot re fuse th e title of un vrai

br e ton by n ame , family an d inh e ritan ce . He h as man aged to

win for himse lf an almost unparalle led popular ity in h is n ative

provin ce , and even beyond it, an d it is a curious fact that th ousands

th ough th e numbers be of beatified and can on ised sain ts

among all possible orders in re ligion o r states of life , th e Bre to n ,

St . Yve s, beside s be in g th e on ly lawyer , is also th e only se cular

pari sh pr ie st wh o h as ye t be en raised to th e altars of th e Church .

He was born on th e 1 7th of October , 1 253 , and was th e son

appare n tly th e on ly on e—of a gen tleman and landed proprie to r , as

we should n ow term it, wh ose prope rty lay clo se to Treguisr , in

L ower Br ittany. His pare n ts se n t h im to Paris to study law at a

somewh at e arly age , and, afte r succe ssfully go in g thr ough a course

548 Tbe Ir ish Month ly.

o f study, h e return ed to Renn e s, th en , as n ow, on e of th e ch i e f

ce n tr e s of legal learn ing in France , andbecame a sort of e cclesiastica llawye r th ere , attach ed to th e court of th e archdeacon of that pla ce ,

a pe rson age th en of far more importance than are such dign itari e s

n ow.

Fo r se veral years h e was occupied in trave lling about from place

to place , re forming abuses, ple ading in trials, inve stigatin g an d

r edr essin g wrongs under th e dir ection o f his superior and employe r ,

th e Bish op of Tréguie r , and purgin g the di oce se o f various ope n

and cryin g scandals. His private life was as h oly as h is exte ri o r

on e was r e n own ed, andwh en , after som e ye ars, th e Bish oppre se n ted

him with a livin g in r ecogn ition of his service s to th e se e , Yves,

pe rh aps somewhat to th e surprise of his super ior s, imm ediate lyso licited an d obta in ed o rdin ation , and proce eded to lead th e life o f

an obscur e cur é de campagne , givin g himse lf up e n tire ly to th e

se rvice of th e po or and sick , and devoting his Splendid e loque n ceto th e preachin g of th e word o f G od. Like a true lawyer , h e issaid to h ave be e n lite rally un tiring in spe e ch , and, when his bish opwould take him in his train o n som e of th e episcopal visitation s,Yve sfe lt th e passion of ple ading so stro ng with in him that h e would tur n

aside by th e way to preach to any little groups of h earers h e

e n coun te r ed , an d se emed as th ough h e could n ot repre ss th e torr en t

o f bur n in g words wh ich ro se to his lips wh en eve r h e chanced to

encoun te r an impromptu audi en ce . Four or five se rmons a day

would h e pour forth , some time s becoming so exhausted with speech

and i ssting th at h e had to be carried out of th e pulpit. He is

de scribed as a. very n oble -lo okin g man , tall and state ly, with

o f birth and distin ction about him which , join ed to his flashin geye an d e loquen t tongue , coul d n ot fail to impress any audie nce .

On e of his broth er -priests has le ft on r ecord th e fo llowing description of St. Yve s’ daily life as parish pri est : Early everymorn ingh e said Mass 1 n his ch ape l , an d th e n read aloud a. long portion o f

th e Ho ly Scripture s ; th en h e distr ibuted alms to the poo r wh o

happe n ed to be presen t, and pre ach ed a sem en which lasted fill

midday. He th en din ed, sh ar ing h is dinn er with th ose poor

person s wh o h ad be en in th e ch ape l , and afte rwards re tired in to

h is ch amber and gave h imse lf to praye r and meditatio n un til th e

e ve n ing , wh en , join ing th e o th er priests wh o lived with him , th eysaid th e ir cifice toge th er , and co n ve rsed or discussed questions onr e lig ious subj ects till n ightfall .

”Th e on ly variations in th is


and opposing th e crown office rs wh o h ad be en sen t to se iz e th em

so valian tly that th ey found th e ir utmo st e fforts comple te ly fo ile d.

It is to ld th at on e day h e me t an officia l leading off a valuable

ho rse be longing to th e bishops as paymen t of the disputed tith e s,

n o on e darin g to say h im n ay ; but Yves, calmly takin g the h or seby th e bridle , put aside th e astounded sergent, and led it back to

th e stable , while its conductor indignan tly mutte red, Y ou rogue ,

you are placing n a in dang er of losing e verythin g we have , whi l e

you care n ot because you h ave n othin g to lo se .

Y ou may talk as much as you please ,”said Yves, leadin g

away his priz e tr iumphan tly. A s long as G od prese rves my life ,

I shall use it to defe nd th e Chur ch and h er liberties.

A n d it was probably de emed unwise to pro lon g a con te st with

on e so ven erated aswas our sain t, fo r we h ear of n o more spo liatio n s

o f th at n atur e .

Many sto ries are to ld of th e miracle s which h e wrought durin ghis life time ; how h e h ealed th e sick, and cast out devils like th e

apostle s of o ld ; h ow fo od multiplied be n e ath his h an d, and river s

parted be for e his fee t. Like St. G regory and oth e r sain ts, h e

som e tim e s en te rtain ed an ge ls un aware s.

”On e day, after he had

made his usual distribution of bre ad to th e poo r , a particularlyloathsome beggar prese n ted himse lf, too late to re ce ive alms with

th e o th ers ; wh e reupon Yves took him to his own table , and made

him eat from th e same plate with him . Wh e n th e man had e aten

a little , h e rose from th e table and we n t towards th e door ; th en

turn in g to his h ost , Farewe ll ,”h e said, speakin g , as is specially

n oted by th e chr on icler , n o t Fr en ch , but th e Bre ton tongue , may

th e Lord be with an d, as h e spoke , h e grew radiant in

wondrous be auty, so white and shin ing that th e who le h ouse was

fil led with h is ligh t, and as h e disappe ared, St. Yves burst intote ars, exclaimin g : Now I kn ow that th e me ssenge r of th e Lo rdhas be en among na. 0

But pe rhaps th e quain test o f th e popular legends surroundinghis name , and undoubte dly th e most un comm on , are th ose which

te ll of his lawye r-life—that passion for justice which has made his

n ame th e syn o nym o f all that is gran d and gracious, sagacious and

chivalrous ; th e succe ssful defen ce of th e po or again st th e rich , o f

th e weak against th e str ong , of right against might, in public and

private alike . On e of th ese , as illustrative of th e man ners of th e

time s, may h ere be given . It runs as fo llows :

St. Yves of Br ittany. 551

On a certain day St . Yves came to Tom on som e legal

business, and wen t to lodge at a h oste lry wh ere h e had be en

accustomed to put up, and was th erefore acquain ted with th e

h oste ss. On h is arrival h e found th e good woman in a te rrible

state of distress, and asked h er wh at ailed h er .

Oh , sir ,”

sh e said, I em a ruin ed woman . I have be en

summ on ed before th e judge by a wicked man , and to -morrow I

sh all be summon ed to pay 1 200 go ld écus, which I cann ot do

with out se lling all my po ssessions.

Th e sain t spoke some words of comfort, and desired h er to te ll

him th e particular s of th e affair , which sh e did, saying that about

two mon ths before , th e re came to h er h ote l two we ll-dr essed me n ,

represe n tin g th emselves asme rchan ts . On th e ir arr ival th ey placed

in h e r charge an ir on cofier duly locked and very h eavy, and

charged h er n ot to de live r it up to e ith e r on e of th em in th e

absence of th e oth er . This sh e promised, and th ey left th e box in

h er ke epin g . A fter five or six days, as sh e was standing at th e

h ote l doo r , th ese two merchan ts,’with some other m en , passed

along th e road, and called out to h e r as th ey passed that sh e must

prepare th em som e supper‘

.

Wh e n th ey had passed, on e of th e two turn ed back and said

G o od h ostess, give me our box, for we have to make a paym en t

from it to those merchan ts whom you se e with us.

So sh e fetch ed th e box and gave it to h im , and h e disappe ared.

Bye-and-bye th e oth er man came back and asked if sh e had

seen his companion .

“ No ,”said sh e ,

“ I have n ot se en him since I gave h im th e

Y ou have given him th e boxP exclaimed th e man . Th en

I am ruin ed l A nd h e proce eded to upbraid h er in th e strongest

terms, saying that sh e had been forbidden to give up th e box to

e ith e r .on e of th em alon e . Wh er eupon h e summon ed h er to court,

an d r e lated, on oath , what had occurr ed, saying that th e box

con tain ed 1 200 pieces of go ld, besides valuable papers ; and

to -morrow, sh e concluded, judgme n t will be given , and I shall becondemn ed.

’

St. Yves, after in terviewi ng h er avocat, and finding that

eve rything was as th e poor woman had stated, accompani ed h er

to th e court n ext day, and asked leave to take up h er case .

Permission be ing given , My lord, the judge ,’said h e , I have

652 1 71 0 1 1 1 1111 Month ly.

to bring to your n otice a fre sh piece of evide nce which has tra ns

pir ed sin ce ye ste rday, and which must materially afiect your

judgmen t. It is th at, thanks be to G od ! th e box in questio nhas bee n found, and shall be sh own as eviden ce in due time by th e

defen dan t .

Ou this th e coun se l for th e prose cution demanded that th e box

should be brought in to court at once , or judgmen t be given again st

th e lan dlady.

My lord, r epli ed th e undaun ted Yve s, th e expr ess in jun ctionof th e pro se cuto r and his companion on givin g th e box to th e ir

landlady was th at it sh ould n ot be given up to e ith er on e of th em

save in the p r esence of bo th le t, th erefore , th e prosecutor summo n

h is companio n ; and in th e ir jo int presence sh e wil l produce th e

box.

Th e judge agre ed that this demand was just , and, at h is

decision , th e soi-disan t merchan t tur n ed pale and became e viden tlv

much discon certed , so that all eyes were turn ed on him , and

suspicion grew stron g . He was imprison edwh ile awaitin g furth e r

oviden ce , and it fin ally transpired th at th e famous box h ad be en

filled, n ot with gold pieces, but with iron n ails, and th e who le

affair a. con ce rted plo t for exto rting mon ey from th e poor woman .

Th e pre tended merchan t con fessed h is guilt and was executed.

It was thismarve llous combin ation of sagacity and ben evo le nce ,.

th e lawye r’s wit join ed to a sain ts’ all-embracing charity,which has

won fo r Yve s of Bri ttany such passionate and enduring devo tio n

th at h e is lo oked upon by th e de sce ndan ts of th ose wh om h e

wonder -worker , lik e th e Chr istoph e rs and Thaumaturgi of old .

In th e popular mind h e grew to be almost ubiquitous ; wh e re verth e poor were slighted, th e feeble wro nged, th e re stood Yve s at th e ir

side , ready, n ot with th e sword of St . G eorge or th e spear of St .

Michae l , but with th e on e magic word—justice ! A nd human

malice failed, and plotte rs own ed th emse lves outwitted, wh en Yves

de Kermartin en te red th e lists again st th eir most skilful com

On e darke r side indeed th ere is to this grand spirit of faith which

h as lighten ed so many h e arts, and lifted so many burdens durin g th e

six ce n tm'ies which h ave e lapsed since Yves th e lawyer passedfrom town to town of his n ative Brittany, br inging jusfice and‘

peace to alL Th e Breton people are , as we have said, essen tially


own in te r est as we ll as yours Y ou woul d fee l glad, would you

not, if you had overcome an e n emy I fee l the same gladn ess at

th e approach of death , sin ce I kn ow that my e n emy is at last

con quered by G od’s grace .

”A n d so it came to pass that afte r

this h e grew weake r and weake r fo r some days with out an y

appare n t cause , till all could se e th at h is end was at hand. Ou th e

e ve o f th e A scension , th ough to o weak to drew h imse lf, h e said his

lastMass and h eard his last confession ; th en , complete ly exhausted,

h e sank on his rude bed to rise n o more . His bre thr en en tr e ated

h im to let th em put a little str aw un der him , and rest h is h ead o n

a pill ow, but h e re fused, sayin g that h e was not worthy of such

indulgen ce , and th at h e was more at e ase , as h e was accustomed to

lie , with on ly a ston e to suppo rt his h ead. Th en h e began to

speak to th ose about him of spiri tual th ings, refusing to call in any

docto r , and saying h e desire d n o physician save Jesus Christ ; an d

so h e lay for thr e e days, h is life ebbin g slowly away, un til fe e lingh imse lf n ear th e e nd, h e asked for and rece ived the Sacramen ts.

He jo in ed fe rvently in th e praye rs sa id over him, and th e n

remain ed rapt in contemplation through out the remaining h ours,

un til , on th e Sunday afte r A sce nsion Day, May 1 9 , 1 303, h e fe ll

asle ep with out a struggle .

How th e th oughts and love o f his people followed him , an d

h ow miracles were wrough t at his tomb, it n eeds n ot h ere to

e nlarge upon . This ve ry year , in th e month of Septembe r , a

sple ndid shr in e was unve iled o ver his tomb in th e Cath edral o f

Tregui e r , wh e re his body lies ; and e ven apart from any bagio

l ogical in terest, th e thr ongs of Breton worshippe rs wh o th e r e

assembled presen ted very many fe atures of unusual and varie d

in te rest . We wonder wh e the r any Breto n m oth er th er e re la te d

to h e r children th e Odd little story to be found amon g th e ir

numerous popular an ecdotes, of How St . Yves en te red Heaven .

”

Am o n g th e crowd of souls who were en te rin g th e gates o f

Paradise , Yve s slipped in with out be in g n oticed. St . Pe te r , th e

doo rke epe r , fin ding this out, wish ed to eject him , but St. Yve sdeclared, lawyer-wise , that h aving once obtain ed po ssession , h e

could on ly be turn ed out by a ha im'

er .

’ St. Pe te r recogn ised th e

justice of th is, and immediate ly wen t all ove r Paradise hun tin gfo r a huissier ; but in vain , for n o huissz

'

e r has ever en te redHeave n .

So Yves remain ed th e r e !A huissie r is a Sh e riff’ s ofi cer o r Ba ilifl.

A Cao in e . 555

A ccordin g to an oth er accoun t, Yves pre se n ted himself at St.Pe te r

’s gate in company with a numbe r of nuns. Wh o are

you said St . Pe te r to on e of th ese . A re ligious, sh e replied .

Oh , go to Purgato ry for a. while , we h ave nun s en ough h ere

Th en to Yves,“ A nd who are you?” “ A vocat .

”A h , we

h ave n on e of th ose h e re , so come in

Tn aouo aa LA NE Tsa nm o .

A CAOINE.

IT was h ard to h ea rke n th e tale th ey to ld,

Th at.

Boyle O’Re il ly was de ad a nd co ld,

In h is g o lden prim e,in h is coun try

’s n e ed

Of e ach n oble wo rd and e ach wor thy de ed .

We loved h im truly and we l l and lo ng ,

Wh o o nly kn ew h im by wo rd an d so ngBut around th e fe e t o f o n e mo th e rland

Br e thr en quickly se e and so on unde rstan d .

Th e ga l lan t life was a wave o f ligh t,

Se ttin g fair h is race in th e wide wo r ld’s sigh t.

So r e stri ck en n ow in h e r loss and pa in ,

Wh en wi ll Ir e land lo ok upo n hi s like aga in

We ll may sh e mourn h im in wh o se h e ar t h e r love

Burn ed pur e and warm as G od’s sun above .

We ll may sh e moan fo r h im wh o co uld n o t r e st,

E’e n in dea th , h is h e ad upon h e r h all owed br e ast.

G od’s pe ace be with h im wh e r e h e sl e eps to

-day’Ne a th th e fri e ndly flag o f fr e e Ame r ica ;

But with us is so rrow, and wo e , an d dr e ad,

Fo r Jo hn Boyle O’R e il ly n ow lies co ld an d de ad .

Ro an Kavu uo n .

556 The Irwh Mo nth ly.

PARADISE LOST .

FAIR at my fe e t th e lak e o f Como l ies

I h e ar its murmur ous r ipple s ebb and h ow.

A roun d m e,ran gin g proudly r ow o n row,

Th e dr e amy, purple-cr e sted m oun ta in s r ise .

A ll br igh t be fo r e m e wh e n I l ift my eye s

Stands qua in t Var en na in th e sun a -

glow

A nd eve rywh e r e th e crowdin g ro se s blow

In this most pe rfe ct place , th is paradise .

A nd ye t my wayward th ough ts will n o t be bo un d ,

No r r est at all in th is e nch an ted ground ;

Th ey wan de r fo rth far o ve r lan d and se a ,

A nd th rough th e Lo ndon str e e ts in ch ill and gloom

Th ey th r e ad th e ir way to som e on e , wan tin g wh om

Eve n Par adise is Paradise Lo st fo r m e .

Mmagg io , May,’

1 890 .a onsWm s 1c.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

1 . We h ave befo r e n a two page s o f cr iticisms , a se n ten ce o r two

fr om e ach, passed o n Judg e O

’Hagan’s maste rly tran sla tion o f The

Song of Ro land by th e various o rgan s o f li te rary opinion , The EdinburghR eview

,Saturday Review,

A thm aum, Sp ectator , A cademy, an d all th e

r e st . A ll combin e to pra ise th e con summate skill displayed in th is

ve rsion . We r e fe r to it fo r th e purpo se o f cla im in g th e same lite raryskill fo r a much less dign ified production o f th e sam e pen , name ly,“ Th e Ch ildr e n ’

s Ballad Ro sary (Lo ndon : 1 8 West Squar e , S.E. )Judge O

’Hagan h as perfectly fulfil led h is in ten tio n , wh ich was, as h e

te lls n a,“ toto g ive th e divin e facts comm em o rated in th e Rosary in a

fo rm wh ich may a id i n impr in tingth em on th e minds o f th e youn g at

a time of life wh en th e m emo ry i s str o n g , and mo r e te n acious o f ve rse

tha n o f pr o se . He devo te s a do z en four -lin ed stan zas to e ach o f th e

fifte en myste r ies, de scribin g all th e circumstan ce s a lmost in th e wo rds

o f th e G ospe l. an d ye t in true ballad fo rm . This penny bo ok , wh ich

even in its dain tie st bindin g co sts o n ly fourpe n ce , wi ll h e lp man y

bo th youn g and o ld , to practise with mo r e profit and pleasure th is

most so lid and scr iptural devo tion o f th e Rosary


speclfied wh e r e e ach item may be found Th e fron tispiece is a ve ry

path e tic po rtra it o f th e be loved o ld man , take n a few we eks be fo r e h is

de a th by Fath e r A n th ony Po llen .

6 . We ve n tur e to dr aw special atte n tion to a se rie s of pe n y

sk e tch e s o f Th e Ch ildr en of Ho ly Scr iptur e (G lasgow : H.Margey)by r eveal in g at once th e in te r e stin g fact tha t

“ C . E :”o n th e title

pag e ar e th e in itia ls o f th e Most Re v. Cha rles Eyr e , A rchbish op of

G lasgow. Th e high e st priced of e igh t o th e r publica tio ns o f His G raceis a biblical drama

, Jo seph an d h is Broth e rs ,”wh ich co sts sixpe nce

-twice as de ar as“ Th e Mo th e r o f Me rcy : a Myste ry Play.

”Two

o th e rs are Child’s Life ,”and Our Chi ldr e n , th e ir privil ege s and

te ach in gs.

” Th e Sco ttish A rchbish op se ems to h ave a spe cia l shar e

o f th e spir it ofHim wh o said : Sufie r th e little o n es to come to Me .

”

Th e first four numbe rs o f his n ew se ri e s are Ism a e l , o r G od’

s car e o f

ch ildr e n ,” Isaac, o r th e Ch ild of Promise ,

” Jo seph , o r under G o d’s

special providen ce ,”

an d Be n jamin , or th e be auty o f fami ly

affection .

” Wh e n Dr . Joh n so n sa id it was easy to write fabl es about

ta lkin g an imals, G o ldsmith ve ry prope r ly r e to rted th at, it th e Docto r

tr ied h is h an d at it, h e would make th e littl e fish es ta lk lik e wh ale s.

Pe rh aps it was a fea r o f th is kind th at h as made our A rchbish op

sh rink fr om a ttemptin g to te ll th ose sto rie s about ch ildr e n to ch ildr e n

th emse lves in th e lan guag e that chi ldr e n unde rstand . He do es n o t

spe ak to childr en dir e ctly, but th rough th e ir par e n ts a nd te ach e rs .

But e ve n chi ldr en may pr efe r this calm, sobe r style , fo r th ey dislik e

be in g talk ed down to . Dr . Eyr e give s all th e circumstan ces about

e ach o f hi s young h e ro e s ve ry fully and cle ar ly,an d deduce s fr om

e ach very useful lesso ns fo r th e youn g . In his first page we learn

tha t o f th ese Ch ildr e n o f th e Bible th e r e ar e nin e te e n in th e Old

Te stam en t, and about twe lve in th e New. But, probably, th e r e is n ot

en ough to ld about many of th e se ch ildh oods to furn ish matter fo r

thi r ty separate penny bo okle ts.

7 . The Illustrated Catho lic Mission: fo r Septembe r (Don ovan : 1 9

Henr ie tta Str e e t, Coven t G arden , Lon do n ) h as a particularly in te r esting an swe r to th e que stion , “ Wh o we r e th e fir st Chr istian Missio n e rsin Am e rica It se ems th at r ece n t r e se arch es of emin en t Ame ri

can ists, especially M . Beauvo is in hi s wo rk, La Légende de 8 .

Co lumba ch e z le s Mexica ins du Moye n A ge ,”tend to sh ow th at th e

go od tidings we r e carried eve n as far as Mexico in th e n in th ce n tury

by Ir ish o r, at le ast, Ke ltic mo nks, disciple s o f St. Co lumba , o f wh om

th ey fin d num e rous trace s in Mexican tradi tion . Th e Ir ish race have

ce rta inly don e much fo r th e Faith in th e N ewWo r ld in th e n in e te e n th

cen tury. Wh a t if th ey be gan th at wo rk in th e n in th


8 . A n o th e r Magaz in e—Ihc Lamp—se ems to h ave made a n ew

depar tur e . Its cove r h as assumed a br igh te r h ue ; an d within th e r e

is much exce lle n t matte r . Th e mo st in te r esting item is, of course , th e

r emin iscen ce s of Cardin al Newma n by an o ld Edgbasto n boy. Thi s

is o n e o f th e ve ry be st of th e coun tless tr ibute s paid to th is mo st

ven e rabl e and m ost amiable memo ry . We can n o t pr e tend to h ave

r e ad a ll th e sto ri e s, but we h ave r e ad Odysseus th e Youn g e r , byHila ir e Be lloc, wh ich , sligh t as it is, an d simple and even h ackn eyed

as ar e th e incide n ts o f th e ta le , appe ars to us to be a lite ra ryach ievem e n t of r emarkable m e rit, making us se e ve ry vividly wh at

th e wr ite r describes , and making us fe e l wh at h e fe lt in te llin g th e

little sto ry. Th e style h as a pe culiar cha rm .

9 . Th e Re v. A r thur Devin e is an Ir ish disciple of St. Paul o f th e

Cro ss. A Passionist could ch o o se n o mo r e appr opria te subj e ct th anth e Histo ry of th e Passio n (London : Burns an d Oate s) . Th e

n o te s and comm en ts added to th e go spe l n ar ra tive ar e man ife stly th e

fruit'

o f lo n g and earn est m edita tio n and study. Space is n o t taken

up with rh e to r ical r efle ction s , but so lid ma tte r is furn ish ed whi ch

must sugg est many r efle ctions . Fath e r Devin e has se le cted with ve ry

g r e a t industry th e opin io ns of th e be st auth o r itie s o n e ach inciden t o f

th e Passio n , an d th e wh o le is woven to ge th e r in a cle a r an d co rr ect

style wh ich suits th e so l emn th em e . Th e pri e st wh o turns ove r th e

th re e h undr ed pag e s o f this vo lum e a t a bo okse lle r’s coun te r will be

v ery lik e ly to add it to h is wo rking library. Th e fai th ful also may

co nsult it wi th profit and edification .

1 0 . A seco nd edition h as appe ar ed o i Principle s o f A n thr opo logyand Bio logy,

”by th e Re v. Th omas Hugh e s, SJ . (New Y ork ,

Cin cinna ti , and Chi cago Ben z ig e r ) . A Ca th o lic Te ach e r , E.

h as compiled, with a special view to th e In te rm edi ate Examin ations,Th e Ca th o lic Ch ild

’s Histo ry of Englan d.

” It is comprised with in

th r e e h undr ed page s of rath e r la rge type , wel l bound, fo r two

sh illin gs. Th e Cath o lic Church and Social ism , by Con do Pall en

(He rde r : St. Louis) , is a so lution of th e social problem on Ch ristian

principle s.


THE MONTH’S MIND AT EDG BA STON .

NG LAND. thy m igh ty h e a rt h ath pulses str o ngA s de ath , wh a t tim e th e batt le -crimso n ed ch ie f

Is bo rn e to g lo ry’

s g rave ; n o r le ss thy g rie f

Th o ugh Newman sle eps n o t’m o n gst th e migh ty th r o n

Life is a comb at : h is was dr e ar an d lo n g’G ain st princedoms da rk ; n o t e ve ry gle an e r

’s sh e af

Sh ows in th e g lo am in g go lde n g rain and leaf

No t r iftle ss eve ry Victo r'

s e ve n so n g .

O t im e ly ch ampio n , se n t at so r e st n e ed

Oi ba ttle -brun t, pe ace come s o f battle won

A n d h e wh o tr od th e win e -

pr e ss in sh e e r n igh t

Of th e wo rld’s trava il

,towa rd th e r isen sun

Th at sinks n o m o r e , h ath led thy fo o tsteps r igh t

Hom eward. To G od th e pra ise , to th e e ful l m e ed .

L o ! o n th e eve r lastin g hi lls a fa r

Stands Ch rist in glo ry gle amin g :’twe re mo st m e e t

To k iss th e rub ie s o f His h an ds and fe e t ;Wh ile Sh e wh o se emblem is th e mo rn in g star

Be am s fr om th e radian ce , wh e r e th e virgins are

In r a im e n t wh ite , th e bidde n gue st to g re e t

He art un to h eart“ th r o bs utte ran ce stran ge and swe e t ,No r n o te of disson an ce m ay th e ir music mar .

Th e lo rdly m an sion s of e te rn a l life

En th ro n e th e ir m o n archs : A th an asius’

e e rs

A cclaim a. compe e r to th e md-r obed o ir :

Dear Fath er Ph ilip le ads th e ch o ral strife

Oi sa in ts with se r aphim : n o r mute th e se e rs

Wh o spake in e lde r time with to ngues o f h t e .

Th ough En glan d e rstwh ile sto od in stem arrayOf sco rn , mistrust , and bias—th ese to th e eWe r e but as ch afin gs o f th e sull e n sea,

Wh e n sk ie s ar e cle ar , to mar in e rs in bayTh e kindly ligh t,

”de scr ied thr ou h fie rce assay

Oi str e ssful sto rm ,r e ve a led th e s e lte r in g le e .

Th ou h ast k ept th e Fa ith—sped thr ough th e n igh t

-

gate s fr e e

From out th e se sh adows un to pe rfect day.

0 witn e ss th at G od live th to th is h our !

0 co h e ir with th e quicken ed just on h igh !In eig ht o f th e unwise th ey se em to di e ,Wh o se e nd is pe ace . Crown , Lo rd, with buddin g flowe rA n d cluste rin g frui t th e vin e of Ch rist, th e Kin g .

In glad-vo iced summ e r afte r second sprin g .

Sep tember 1 1 , 1 890 . JOHN D . Co ncaouo u .

Co r ad cor q ui tm ' was th e characte ristic mo tto ch o sen by Cardin al Newman .

562 The Ir ish Month ly

Leahy’s Domin ican life . He was an oth er example of th e fact

that de licate people are ofte n long-lived, pe rhaps somewhat in th e

same way that in shipwrecks th o se wh o can n ot swim have o fte n th e

be st chan ce of be ing re scued in th e end, th e ir very h e lple ssn e ss

hinderin g th em from rash attempts. He was of a very delicate

constituti on from th e h t at . Two of his sch oo lmate s in Co rk we re

Dr . Delan ey, afterwards th e bish op of th e ir n ative city ,and Fath er

Bar tho lomew Russe ll , his bro th er Domin ican , wh o was a year

o lder , and died a few mon th s be for e him .

Hi s se cond sch oo l , Blo omfie ld Co llege , was at th e seaside , n ear

Me rrion , and had r ecen tly be en ope n ed by Fath er Vin ce n t

Haro ld, a Domin ican wh o h ad just r e turn ed from th e UnitedState s, wh ere h e h ad con siderable reputation as a pre ach e r . Here

John Leahy had among h is classfe ll ows R ich ard Mon te squien

Be ll ew,a promin en t public man in Ire land a gen eration be fo re h is

death ; and also th e Rev. Dr . Jam e s G artlan , of Dun dalk , Re cto r

o f Salaman ca,an d Vice -Rector of th e Cath olic Un iver sity of

Ire lan d unde r Dr . Newm an . Blo omfie ld College was so on give n

up, but n o t fil l th e de licate young lad from Co rk was ready to

pre sen t h imse lf for admission in to th e Order of St . Domin ick . He

was se n t to make his n ovice ship in Lisbon , accompanying Dr .

Haro ld and Fath er John Ryan ,wh o is de scr ibed as a famous

pre ach e r— h ow fle e ting is such fam e He re , rem oved from all

distraction s,th e youn g Domin ican devoted himse lf wi th gre at

e arn e stn e ss and with gr e at succe ss to th e study of philo sophy an d

th e o logy, whi ch h e was also se t to te ach to o th e rs at th e e arliest

po ssible age . Twen ty year s of such study and such te aching made

h im th e so lidly le arn ed pri est wh ose profoun d hum ility could n o t

save him from be ing raised to th e episcopal office .

This trial befall him a few year s afte r be ing r e ca ll ed to work in

his n ative lan d and his n ative city. Th ere h ad be e n on e break in

his Lisbon life . He h ad come h ome about th e ye ar that an oth e r

Cork man , th e po e t Callah an , wen t to Lisbon to di e . Oi th is visit

to Ir e lan d a very in te re sting re lic has be e n placed in my h ands.

Th ough Fath e r Leahy was but twen ty-seven year s of age at th e

epoch of Cath o lic Eman cipation , h e was on e of thr e e ch osen to

repre se n t th e Regular Clergy of Irelan d in a difficult emergen cy ;a n d th is also sh ows th e high Opin ion of his judgmen t and abilityalready en te rtain ed by th o se who kn ew him best . His associate s

were an A ugustinian , Fath er O’Conn or , afterwards Bish op o f

John P ius L eahy, 0 .P . 563

Saldes,‘and an oth e r A ugustin ian , Fath e r Rice , a re lative , we have

h eard, of th e founde r of th e Irish Chri stian Br o th er s. Two faded

an d dish e ve lled leave s, which manife stly date back to un eman ci

pate d Ir e land, con tain th e fo llowing n o te s of th e embassy jotteddown at th e time by Fath er Le ahy

Thursday, A pr il 2nd, j wa ited o n Mr . Pe e l , ag r e eab ly to hi s n o te ,

a t two o’clock . Mr . O

’Con n o r , h aving in troduce d himse lf, apo lo gised

for th e libe rty we h ad tak en in addr essing h im from Birm ingh am ,

tha nk ed h im fo r th e r eady mann e r in whi ch h e h ad gran ted us th e

h on our o f an in te rview, to ld him th a t we we r e sen t ove r by the

Re gula r Cle rgy of Ir e land to thank him fo r th e ve ry grea t be n efits h e

was co nfe rrin g on it, and to pr e sen t ourse lves to th e gove rnm e n t in

o rder to sa tisfy th em in any mann e r th ey m igh t de em advisable th at

th e re was n o th ing e ith e r in our constitution o r our co nduct wh ich

could ca ll fo r our destructio n

We ll , but (sa id Mr . Pe e l) you pe rce ive I h ave cautiously abstain edfrom impe ach in g your loyal ty. In de ed, I ha d n o in formatio n wh ich

could warran t m e in do in g ao . I eve n r esisted succe ssful ly seve ral

am endm en ts wh ich would have made th e clause oppr e ssive . Iun de rsto od th at it was in tended to m ove an ame ndmen t o rde ring in

thr e e o r five ye ars all th e R egulars to quit th e kin gdom ; but Iin tim a ted th a t I wo uld oppose th is wi th a ll th e fo rce o f th e G ove rn

m e n t ; an d, wh e n Sir R . Vyvyan m oved th at in th r e e mo n ths from th e

da te of this, educa tion sh ould be ta ken away from you, I successfullyre sisted th e ame ndme n t, n o t wishin g th a t you sh ould snfie r any

person a l inco nve ni e nce o r th a t veste d righ ts sh ould be disturbed.

Mr . O’Co nn o r r epli ed th a t, wh en seve ral would drop off, we sh ould

be com e a burth en to th e pe ople , be in g pr ecluded from r e ce iving anyn ew m embe rs, and cons eque n tly from having th e assistan ce of mo r e

youthful associate s.

Mr . Pe e l r emarked th at h e th ough t our con gr egation s woul d

Dean O’Brien , of Lim e rick , pre ach ed on e of h is most e loquen t se rmons at th e

fun eral of th is h o ly and amiable pre la te some twe n ty years ago . His nam e is

recorded h ere , partly in mem o ry o f th e Fe ast o f th e Se ven Do lours, 1 864 , wh en h e

th e sple ndid Church of th e A ugustin ian Fath ers. On e of th ese , a youn g

Vincen tian , the R ev. Th omas Corcoran , celebrate d Mass on ly once , and di ed within

th e first mon th of his pri estho od. Th e two o th ers were th e Very Rev. A braham

Canon Plunke tt, P.P., V .G . ,

Blackr ock , Cc . Dublin , and th e presen t writer .

f Th e ye a r is n o t men tion ed, but an o ld ca len dar te lls me th a t Easter Sunday in

1 829 fall on th e 1 9th of A pril . Th erefore in th is year , and in this ye ar only, th e

2nd of A pr il was Thursday.


become larg e r . Mr . Rice said th at this would b e pe rfectlyz co rrect, if

we we re able to atte nd to th em—wh ich we could n o t do wh e h

labourin g under th e infirmitie s of advan ced ye ars.

Mr . O’Con no r th en e n te r ed o n an explan atio n of our In stitute s .

said th at we h ad discla imed by our o a th of allegi an ce any fo re ig n

auth o r ity in tempo rals , an d th at, as to an auth o rity in spirituals, we

we re le ss unde r th e fo r e ign jur isdictio n th an se cul ar prie sts, fo r th is

r e aso n : all jurisdictio n in th e Ca th o lic Church is de rived from th e

Pope—fo r th e se cular priests thr ough th e Propaganda , fo r th e

Regulars th r ough wh at we r e call ed th e ir G e n e rals. But th e difiere nce

was th a t th e Bish ops could exe rcise no jur isdicti on un til th e ir

confirmatio n , wh e r e as our Supe rio rs, afte r be ing e lected bywh atwe re

call ed our Ch apte rs, immediate ly en te r ed o n jurisdiction , th e co n

firmstion o f th e G e n era l be ing a m e r e fo rma lity, wh ich could n o t be

r efused except fo r a can on ical fault .

Mr . Pe e l ask ed wh e th e r all our jur isdiction was no t de rived from

th e Bish ops .

Mr . O’Co nn or sai d th a t all jurisdictio n ove r th e pe ople and a ll

r igh t to admin iste r sacrame n ts was certa in ly de rived from th em .

Mr . Pe e l ask ed was n o t jurisdictio n r e fused th e r egulars by some

of th e Bish ops No .

”Some j e alousie s No t of anymome n t .

”

We r e th e r e n o t some late ly in G a lway?Mr . O

’Conn o r r emarked th at th e se wer e about some ceme ter ies.

A nd Mr . Le ahy added th a t, n o twithstanding th is, th e secula r priests

and th e Bish op o f G alway h ad com e fo rward to pe titio n in our favour .

Mr . O’

Co nn o r r emarked th at th e b ish ops and lai ty would h ave come

forward in stronge r te rms in our de fe nce , but th at gratitude for th e

R e lie f Bill hin der ed th em from adoptin g any course wh ich m igh t

embarrass th e gove rnme n t. A r e th ey we ll sa tisfied asked Mr .

Pe e l. Inde ed (said Mr . O’Co nn o r ) , th e ve ry pro spect of r e lie f h a s

produced wonde rful efiects, it h as acted l ike a spe ll . Th e ir gratitude

to you and th e Duk e of We llin gto n is extr eme . It is, sir (sa idMr . Le ahy) comple te ly Ir ish gratitude—it is un bounded.

”

Oh ,aye ,

”said Mr . Pe e l . “ In giving r e li e f at a ll , it was bette r

to do it g en e r ously.

”

Mr . O’Conn o r th e n co n tin ued h is explan ation of our in sti tute s

He remark ed th at we h ad n o pr ope rty, th at we we re suppo rted byvo lun tary co n tributions .

“ But (said Mr . Pe e l ) th e re is some prOpe i'ty be longing to th e

th e diffe ren t Orde rs, some property in th e funds.

”

Th e r e is (said Mr . O’Conno r ) some property o f th at kind h e ld by

th e Nuns.

”

A nd by th e Co nve n ts, to o , added Mr . Pe e l , for so it is


Mr . O’Co nn or answe red th at it was decidedly th e Super io r h e r e ,

and in stan ced himse lf ; remarkin g , in addi tion , th at be in g obliged byour co n stitution s to r ece ive n o mo re th an each mon aste rywill suppo r t,

an d th at suppo rt depending o n th e pe ople , we could n o t mak e an y

gre at addition to our numbe rs. A n d h e to ok th a t opportun ity o f

r emarkin g th at it was as much our wish as it could be th at of th e

gove rnm en t n ot to r ece ive fo re ign e rs, fo r we sh o uld be oblig ed t o

suppo rt th em , wh e reas, n o t kn owin g th e language , th ey could n o t

perfo rm th ose duties of which our suppo rt was an equival e n t .

To th is Mr . Pe e l se emed to assen t, an d Mr . O’Co nn o r furth e r sa id

th a t h e m igh t tak e th e lib er ty o f r emarkin g th a t if our numbe r s

would be ve rymuch dimin ish ed, th e pe ople would fe e l it ve ry sensibly ,

But (asked Mr . Pe e l ) are th e r e n o t many places in Ir e land in

wh ich n o R egulars exist

Mr . Le ahy said th at wa s on ly true o f th e coun try place s, but th a t

th ey we r e in a ll th e citie s and town s ; and Mr . Rice e nume rated th e

town s in wh ich th ey we re foun d, addin g th at th ey wer e in all par ts o f

Ireland except th e North .

A n d is n o t Divin e Service pe rfo rm ed th e r e and th e Sacramen ts

admin iste r ed to Cath o lics equally we ll as in o th e r parts ask ed Mr .

Pe e l .

Y e s, said Mr . R ice , but th e numb e r of Cath o lics th e r e bears n o

propo rtion to th o se of th e o th e r provin ce s.

Mr . Pe e l ask ed if th e numbe r of Regulars h ad n o t gre atly

dimin ish ed sin ce 1 757, fo r so it was stated by Dr . Murray.

Mr . R ice sa id th at such was th e fact, owin g to th e loss of our

con tin e n ta l e stablishmen ts dur ing th e Fr ench Revolution ; but th at we

h ad r ecove r ed th em at presen t .

Mr . O’Co n n o r e n tr e a ted Mr . Pe e l to use h is influen ce tha t at len t

n o mo r e pen al e n actm en ts m igh t pass th e Lo rds . He prom ised na a ll

th at h is advice and influence could sh e e t ; an d, on our takin g le ave ,

ask ed if we did n ot in tend to wa it o n Lo rdWe llin gton to r equest tha th e would oppose any seve r e r en actm en t

Mr . O’Con n o r said th at we did, an d ask ed wh e th e r we migh t tak e

th e libe rty of sayin g tha t we h ad call e d o n h im (Mr . Pe e l ) .He imm ediate ly sa id th at we mi gh t , and desir ed n a to te ll Lo rd

We llin gton th at h e h ad r e comm ended na to wa it o n h im .

In th e course o f conve rsation ,Mr . Rice also m e n tio n ed th at we

we re n o t agitato rs, th at we h ad cautiously abstain ed from mixin gour se lve s up with po litics

—cc much so (added Mr . O’Conn or ) as to

in cur th e r epro ach es of som e of our coun trym en , som e of th em sayin gth at it was th ey, n o t th e gove r nmen t, h ad a r igh t to complain o f n a.

John P ius L ea hy, 0 .P . 567

It has se emed right to give th is accoun t in‘

fun, from Dr .

Le ahy’s to rn and faded auto graph of sixty years ago . th ough it is

sligh tly out of place and proportion in th e pre se n t sketch . Mr .

Le ahy would probably have played a more promin en t part in

th e in te rview if h e h ad n ot h imse lf be en th e r eporte r ; but, be side s,

h e was eviden tly junior counse l on th e occasion , and we kn ow

that th e big leade r doe s n ot let h im say much . Th e subsequen tin terviewwith We ll in gto n , as th e Bish op to ld th e fr iend to whom

we owe th e mater ials for this paper , we n t over n early th e same

groun d. He was ve rybusin e sslike , and ve ry po lite ; and h e urged

chiefly th e many difficul tie s th ey h ad to face in forcing th rough

Parliam ent this tr emendous me asur e .

A fte r this in terlude , Fra Pic r e turn ed to his learn edLusitan ianexil e for some seven o r e ight year s more . Th e ye ar 1 840 found

him Prior of th e Dominicans in Cork , and in due course h e was

re -e lected for a second te rm of cihoe . In 1 847 h e was appo in te d

Provin cial of Ire land, still con tinuing to re side in hi s n ative city.

It was about this time th at a very gifted an d sain tly woman

put h erse lf unde r th e guidance of th e prior of St. Mary’

s. Th e

sixth vo lume of our Magaz in e (1 878) con tains th e full est accoun t

that can be given of Ellen Down in g , wh o in co llections of Irish

poe try is kn own as Mary of 1 7mNatio n, and wh o , as a membe r

of th e th ird orde r of St. Domin ick, took th e n am e o f Siste r MaryA lph onsus. Nothing could exceed th e reveren ce and gratitude sh e

fe lt for th e h o ly priest wh o survived h er so lon g . In on e of h e r

le tte rs sh e says : Th e more h e doe s th e more h e se ems anxious to

do . I think h e lives upon fasting , prayi ng , and in ce ssan t wo rking . A n d in an oth e r : Th ough I grow mor e grateful to him ,

I have alm ost ceased to fe e l th e pain of putting him to tr ouble .

Only G od can repay what I owe to him—may h e do so in his owntime and way ! Sh e te lls an oth e r co rresponde n t : Fath er

Leahy preach ed at early Mass to -day, and it appe ars to m e that,

as is to ld of th e priest se en in a vision by swe e t St. A l oysius, th e

Holy G h ost must have fo rmed every wo rd h e utte red, for it was

on love , and it th rill ed lik e fir e . Even from him I do n ot

remember to have ever h eard so burning a sermon . It left an

in tense worsh ipping for e veryon e as a livin g imag e of th e livin gG od. Y ou could scarce ly pass a little child in th e stree t afte r it

without wan ting to kn ee l before h er guardian ange l , and almost

se e ing G od above and around you. If I do n ot become a sain t

568 Th e Irwh Month ly.

with such h e lps, I do n ot kn owwhere I shall hide myse lf from

G od.

”

Dr . Ie ahy’s guidance of this beautiful and sufier in g soul

began appropriate ly on th e eve of th e Feast of th e Seven Do lour s

o f th e Ble ssed Virgin , th e third Sun day of September , 1 848 ; an d

it con tinued till h er de ath in th e January of 1 869, th ough dur in gmost o f th e se years, sh e could on ly con sult him by lette r . A very

in te re stin g account of th e re lations be twe en th ese two souls is

given by on e wh o was devoted to th em both , Moth er Ime lda

Magee , a n ative of Lurgan , Prioress of th e Sienna Con ven t,

Drogh eda . Th er e are few more spiri tual biographi e s than h e r

ske tch of Ellen Down ing prefixed to a vo lum e of m editation s

and praye rs composed by th e latter in h on our of St . Cath e rin e o f

Sien n a , and oth e r saints. To this h o ly vo lume Dr . Leahy, in1 879, prefixed a de ligh tful pre face , giving , in turn , an accoun t o f

Mo th er Im e lda , wh o had died a sa in t’s death just afte r fin ishin g

h e r part o f th e book . He h ad publish ed, to h er gr eat joy, in 1 868 ,

a coll e ctio n of Miss Down in g’s sacred po ems, un de r th e title o f

Vo ice s from th e He art .

”Th e fo llowing n ote re fers to this

8 York Place , W. ,

June 1 6 , 1 868.

Mr Du n Lo an ,

I beg to than k you for your kin d n o te and th e little book , wh ich I will tak e

with m e to -m orrow and re ad o n my journ ey. It is alwaysa pleasure to fin d poe tr ywr itten by th ose wh o lo ve truth , as fo r th e mo st par t truth and beauty are to o fa r

asun de r in our En g lish Litera ture .

I tr ust Irelan d is re vivin g in h ope . My be lief is th at a brigh te r ag e is comin g

Be h ave me , my de ar L ord,

Your afi'

ection a te se rvan t and bro th er in Ch rist,

uld 1 1m m E . Mu tan ts .

A s we are spe aking of ve rse s for which th e subject o f our

ske tch was respon sible , we maywith con siderable misgiving ven ture

to pr e se rve a po e tica l tribute paid to h im by on e of his Co rk fr ien ds

more th an fo rty years ago . It will be a curious proo f of wh at was

th ough t o f h im . What bish op was ever before ce lebrate d in so

e laborate an acr ostic But h e was n o t ye t a bishop.

Wha t tun es th e h eaven ly ch o ir above

To sounds o f swe e t , se raphic love?Wh at guide s th e plan e ts in th e ir courseWith stri ct, unde viat in g force 1

?


O

which thrilled thro ugh the de ep and measur ed so lemn ity o f hi

lan guage . Ou what a solid foundation o f th e ology this un ction in

pre ach ing was based may be con je cture d from th e fact that th e

se cul ar and regular clergy of Co rk combin ed in insisting th at

Fath er John Pius Le ahy sh ould be appoin ted to pre side ove r th e ir

th e o logical con ferences, and th at Dean Neville , wh o to ok part in

th e se confe re nces for a short tim e as a curate be fore gain in g a

professor’s chair at Maynooth , spoke to his class with great re spe ct

of Dr . Le ahy’s auth ori ty as a th eo logian . His judgmen t an d

le arn ing made th emse lve s fe lt also in th e Syn od o f Thurle s in

1 850, which h e atte nded as Pr ovin cial of his Orde r .

Th e late Primate , Dr . M‘G e ttigan , wh il e h e was still Bish op o f

Raph oe , and wh en th e Sec of A rmagh was vacan t, had to visit

Rome with th e o th er bish ops. His Raph oe flock, wh o long ed toke ep him to th emselve s, were in despair , for th ey said : Wh enth e Pope se e s him ,

h e will make h im Primate . Dr . Le ahy’s

fe rven t ch an ts in Cork might h ave fallen into th e same despair as

so on as circumstan ce s forced h im to appear among th e Irish

pre late s. Such a man was sure to be made bishop on th e fir st

Oppo rtun ity. Dromore was th e fortun ate dioce se . The appo in t

men t of Dr . Leahy has ofte n , eve n late ly, in th e prin ted accoun ts

of his car e e r , be en attributed to Cardin al Cullen ; but n ow,for th e

fir st time , we ar e able to cite th e Cardin al’s positive testimony to

th e con trary.

Dr . Le ahy pre se rved care fully th e followmg le tte r and some

oth e rs re lati ng to th 1 s cri sis m hi s h fe :Dublin , May 2nd , 1 854.

MY DEA R Da . L u au,s

I de layed answ er in g your le tte r , havin g be e n a lmost con tinually sin c eI rece ived it . I am n o t surprised tha t th e th o ugh t of be in g remo m th e

pe ace of th e clo iste r sh oul d prey h ea vily o n your m in d, and tha t your humilitysh oul d sh r ink from occupyin g a promin en t and public po sition in th e Church.Howe ve r , in such matte rs t hapa th e best way is to leave ourse lves to th e wil l

o f G od and th e wisdom of th e o ly Se e . Th e Pope , I am sure , befo re h e tak es anste p in your case , will we igh all th e circum stan ce s and act with g re a t cautio n .

do n o t kn ow wh e th e r anythin g h as be en do n e as yet , n o t h a h ad anycommun ica tion from th e Propagan da . I suppo se th ey co rrespon dwith e Plims t ein th is ca se , as Dromore be lon gs to h is pro vmce . It was n o t I wh o mposadyournam e to th e Pro ganda . I ca n , th e re fo re , h ave ve ry little uen ce m th e

question . Sh oul I, h owe ve r , be co n sulted , I will n o t fail to make kn own you

o bje ct i on s. In th e mean time I wil l un its with you in recomm e ndin g th e wh o lebusin e ss to G od and I h ope tha t wha te ve r is for th e grea te r glo ry o f His h o lynam e will be do n e ,

Beh ave me to be , with sin ce re st e ste em ,

Your de vo ted se rvan t ,v3 Pu n . Cou n t .

[Conclusion next mon th] .

TO A SORROWING MOTHER .

H, comfo rt th e e !

’Tis but a li ttle wh ile

,

Perch an ce h e lin g e rs n e ar ,

With radian t brow an d tende r loving smil e

To soo th e thy fa llin g te ar .

He is a chi ld fo r eve r , and for h im

A ll fe ars ar e la id to r e st ;

Ne’e r sh a ll sin stain , n o r touch of so rrow dim

Th e pe ace of th at still br e ast .

Ne’e r shal l h e le arn th a t sadde st wo rd , far ewe l l,

Fo r , e r e his spir it passe d,

De ep sle ep h ad laid o n h im a so lemn spe ll

Wh ich boun d h im to th e last.

In life h e brave ly played hi s littl e part ,

Th ough sh o rt th e path h e tr od,

A nd n ow th e Ch rist- lik e ch ild,th e pur e in h e ar t,

Re jo icin g se es h is G od .

G RA CE Bu ss .

A STRIKING CONTRA ST.

M m AUTHOR or“ mm : mm o r m asoomz'r ,

”m s m ums m m m nns

o r um n sxowmwp ,

"m o .

CHAPTER XXIII.

LADY ASHFIELD CHA NG ES HEB TA CTICS .

HIS sce n e with Lo rd A shfie ld tried Do ra seve r e ly, and th e n ext

morn in g sh e was to o ill to mak e th e jour n ey to Summ e rlan ds .

Sir Eustace an d. Sylvia would n o t g o with out h e r , and po stpon ed th e ir

go in g un til sh e sh ould be able to accompany th em .

But afte r two days of com ple te r est sh e declar e d h e rse lf e age r to

depar t, and, to th e gre at de ligh t o f h e r fr ie n ds, se em ed brigh te r and

mor e in ter e sted in everyth ing th an sh e h ad be e n sin ce th e be gin ning

o f h e r illn ess.

Th e r e ason of th is sudde n ch an ge was kn own only to h e rse lf and


Madge . A nd it bro ugh t much h appin e ss to both , but particula rly to

Do ra . Fo r n ow sh e fe lt sh e h ad som e thi n g to live fo r—som e th in g to

k e ep in h e r own h ear t and r e jo ice ove r . Th iswas th e kn owledge th a t

L ord A shfie ld loved h e r a nd was an xious to tak e h e r just as sh e wa s,

with out fo rtun e o r n ame—a m e r e wai f cast up by th e se a, an d mak e

h e r hi s wife . Sh e h ad r efused h im because of th e se cr e t of h e r li fe .

But h e loved h e r—th at was sufficie n t. Sh e could wait pa ti en tly fo r

wh ate ve r h e m igh t brin g abo ut o r r evea l.

A n d ao , th ough thin and wa n , we ak almo st to pr o stra tion , Do r a

wo re an expre ssio n o f peace ful happin e ss as sh e was carried down to

Sir Eustace’s carriage .

G od bless you, my pe t, whi spe r ed Madge , as sh e co ve red h e r

with rugs and a r ranged th e cush io n s un de r h er back . I trust th isjourn ey may n o t tir e you to o much .

”

I think n o t. dear . I fe e l so h appy, and quite excited.

Do n o t be un easy, Madge ,”said Sylvia . Sh e se ems so much

be tte r th at I um sur e th e dr ive will n o t hurt h e r . G randpapa and Iwill look afte r h e r we ll .”

I am sur e you will, dea r . Y ou are all th at is go od and kin d .

A n d, acting on a sudde n impulse , Madge sto oped and kissed

Sylvia o n th e lips. This was th e second tim e sh e had embraced h e r

sin ce th e n igh t of th e wr eck , wh en sh e h ad clasped h e r in h e r arms in

t e rro r and a larm . Ou th e first occasio n , on th e beach at Se apo rt, sh e

did n o t kn ow th at th e chi ld was h e r siste r . But n ow sh e was we ll

awar e o f th at fact, and h e r h e art fe lt full of love for th is girl, wh om

sh e h ad o n ce guarded with so much te nde r affectio n .

Fo r an in stan t Sylvia was surpr ised a t this un expe cted sh ow o f

frie ndsh ip fr om Madge , wh o was g en e rally ve ry r ese rved. Th e n

smilin g , sh e put h e r arms r oun d h e r n eck and r e turn ed h e r embrace

Madg e burst in to te ars, sh o ok Sir Eustace by th e h and, and

h urr ied back in to th e h ouse .

Po o r Madge , sh e cann o t be ar to lo se you eve n fo r a day, Dora ,

sa id Sylvia , as th e carr iag e bo re th em swiftly on th e ir way. Sh e is

t ruly a loving siste r .

”

Y e s,

”sa id Do ra ten de r ly, Madge has a h eart of go ld.

Meanwh ile Madge r e turn ed to h e r r oom , and, h avin g r e cove red

h e r usual calm,be gan to arran ge wardrobe s and drawers th a t h ad

b e e n upse t in h e r pr eparations fo r Dor a’s departur e . Sh e worked

l o n g and ste adily, and by lun oh-tim e eve ryth ing was in o rde r , an d sh e

was fr e e to tak e th at m e al in pe ace b e fo re going out to pay som e

visits .

But as sh e sat at h e r so li tary lun ch e o n sh e had littl e appe tite .


Te l l th e m esseng e r yes,”sh e said to th e ser vant. I will b e

with Lady Ashfie ld at th e h our sh e n ames.

A t h alf-past th re e . pre cise ly, Madge rang th e be ll at 1 6 Be lg rave

stre e t. Th e do o r was quickly ope n ed, and th e fo o tman led h e r a t

o nce to Lady A shfie ld’s boudo ir .

My de ar Miss Ne il, h ow extreme ly go od of yo u to come to me so

pun ctually,”cried Lady Ashfie ld, rising from h er chair and comin g

fo rward with outstr etch ed hands . I am ve ry glad to se e you.

”

Th ank you,”said Madge , co ldly. But m y I ask why yo u

sen t for m e

Ce rtain ly. But pray be seated. I h ave just be en wr itin g to

Summ e rlands - to Do ra .

To Dora0

Y es ; to Do ra . But I do n o t se e that tha t n e ed asto n ish yo u.

Lady A shfie ld smoo th ed th e fo lds of h e r dre ss and k ept h e r eye s we l l

away from th e gir l’s face . My so n te lls m e h e wish es to marry h e r ,

th e refor e , I

Madg e started fo rward with smi lin g coun ten an ce .

Y ou h ave to ld him th e sto ry o f th e wr eck , and, re so lvin g to k eepit a secr e t kn own only to ourse lve s, have g iven your conse n t to h is

marriag e with Dora?Oh , Lady A shfie ld, thi s is rea lly kind. It

is wh at I h oped—but

No t so fast, my dear Miss Ne ill, you misunde rstand m e qui te ;I wish my son to marry Sir Eustace A th e rston e

’

s h e ir ess, and i t

ma tte rs little to me wh e th e r sh e is tall and dark , o r sma ll and fair .

Mon ey and birth are wh at I r equir e ; so I have writte n to Do ra tor e l e ase h e r fr om h e r promi se of k e e pin g this matter a se cre t. A s so o n

as sh e proves with out doubt that sh e'

is G e o rg e A th e rston e’s daugh ter .

I g ive my co n se n t to h er marr iage with Lo rd A shfie ld—n o t be fore .

”

A nd wha t if sh e r efuse s to put fo rward h e r claim

Th e n sh e may r emain Do ro thyNe il fo r th e r est of h er life . But

I um n o t afr aid, Th e love sh e profe sses fo r Sylvia will n o t carry h e r

quite so far . Sh e is n ot like ly to sacr ifice a brilliant futur e as Lo rdA shfie ld’s wife to an absurd ide a of spar ing thi s usurpe r pain .

”

Madge ga z ed at h e r in sad surprise .

Y ou spoke quite difler en tly, Lady A shfie ld , o n our first me e tingin th is ro om . . Y ou th en tr e ated m e with soom—r efused to be lie ve my

sto ry, and talk ed a g reat dea l about your love fo r Sir Eustace and

Lady A shfie ld co lour ed sligh tly.

It was o n ly n atural I sh o uld doubt th e truth o f such a str ang e

an n oun cem en t, sh e said quickly, an d my fri endship fo r Sir Eustace

made m e th ink of it with terro r . I did n o t wish to be li eve it. Y ou


and your siste r wer e n o th i ng to m e ; Sylvia and h e r grandfath e r

we re much .

‘

But, n ow, eve ryth ing is ch an g ed . My so n wish e s to

marry Dora . It is n ece ssary sh e sh ould pr ove h e rse lf h is equal inbir th an d

'

fo rtun e .

”

Th en wh at do you wish m e to do?I wish you to go to Sir Eustace , te ll h im your sto ry, and br ing

forth all th e proo fs you posse ss.

”

Th ey a r e few -utte rly value less, you to ld m e yourse lf.

I was wrong . I h ave th ough t it a ll out , and come to th at

co n clusion . G eo rg e A th e rsto n e’s wife was fa ir ; th at portrait, an d

Do ra’s lik en e ss to it , may pro ve str on g evide n ce ) ?

“ A nd if Sir Eustace do es n o t be li eve m e?If h e r e fuse s to cast

forth th e gir l h e h as loved and ch erish ed as hi s own fo r th e sak e o f

a compara tive strang er—wh at th e n

We must go to law,hun t up A n n e Dan e , and h ave h e r

exam in ed an d cro ss- exam in ed—l e ave n o sto n e un turn ed till we r e sto r e

Do ra to h e r righ ts.

”

A n d fo r th is purpo se um I to use th e m on ey bestowed upo n m e

by our g en e rous be n e facto r?A r e we to tur n upon h im , an d, wi th hi s

o wn go ld, work h is mise ry an d un h appin e ss“ Your man

‘

n e r is th e att ica l, as usual .Miss Ne il ,”

said LadyA shfield, with a h ar sh little laugh . But I do n o t wish you to use

Sir Eustace’

s mo n ey. I am qui te willin g to be ar all th e expe nses .

”

Y ou ar e ve ry g en e rous , But, te ll m e—do e s Lo rd A shfie ld wish

th is to be do n e?Is h e r eady to e n te r upo n th is law-suit?

In dy A shfie ld sh r ugg ed h e r sh oul der s.

I sh all n o t consult him about th e m atte r . He is quixo tic to th elast degr e e . This mo rn in g wh en h e to ld m e of h is wish to m arry

Dora , I th ough t it righ t to let h im kn ow th a t sh e cla im ed to

be Sir Eustace A th er ston e’

s granddaugh te r . He se emed ove rjoyeda t th e n ews . He n ow kn ew th e te rr ible secr e t, h e cr ied, tha t

h ad made th e gir l r efuse to becom e h is wife . He was de ligh ted

wh en I ackn owledg ed th at th at was th e r e ason , and declar ed th at

it was of n o impo rta nce , and sh ould n o t stand in th e way of th e ir

un ion . But, I sa id, you wi ll sur e ly tak e steps to r esto r e h e r to h e r

prope r po sition . Y ou cann o t marry h e r till th e world kn ows sh e is

n ot a m er e dr e ssm ak e r’

s appren tice suppo rte d by Sir Eustace , but h is

son’s on ly ch ild, and h e ir to a lar ge fo rtun e .

”

An d h e r epli ed ask ed Madge , e ag e rly.

Tha t h e would tak e n o such steps. Th a t h e loved Do ra , e tc.,

a nd tha t h e car ed n o th in g fo r mo n ey o r birth . Just wha t I expected

from hi s radical ideas. Howeve r , I sh all n o t ask his opin ion n ow, but

se t to wo rk a t once . With your h elp

576 The Mon thly.

Th at Imust de clin e to g ive , Lady A shfie ld .

Wh at . Sh e g lar ed angri ly a t Madge . Y ou do n o t , yo u

can n o t m e an wh at yo u say?I do m e an it most decidedly. I am th ankful, G od o nly kn ows

h ow th ankful , th at Lord Ashfield h as sh own h imse lf so g e n e ro us in

in this ma tter . Had h e acte d o th e rwise , h e would ha ve be en unwo rth yof my swe e t Do ra .

A r e you a foo l, Miss N e il, o r mad, cried Lady A shfie ld , th a t

you talk in th is absurd fashi o n

Pardon m e .”sa id Madg e grave ly. I am n e ith e r mad n o r a

foo l . But I um g lad th at this wo r ld is n o t all se lfish an d graspin g

glad, above all , th at th e man wh o is about to wed h e r wh om I h ave

lo ved as a siste r all th e se lon g yea rs; is full o f kind impulse s, un ta in te d

by wo r ldly fe e lings and a so rdid love o f mo n ey.

”

Y ou spe ak wi th wonde rful iudifie re nce abo ut th ese m atte r s, n ow

tha t my so n h as propo sed fo r your siste r ,”said Lady A shfield, with a

co n temptuous sn e e r . If you will n o t. and do n ot prove th e truth o f

your sto ry, I will lo ok upon you as a most arran t imposto r . Fo r ,

un le ss you a r e , why sh ould you h ave ch an ged so suddenly A ye ar

ago you we r e all eage rn e ss to depo se Sylvia and put Do ra in h e r place ,

and n ow,fo rso o th , you would n o t pain h e r o r h e r g rahdfath er .

”

A ye ar ago I did n o t love Sylvia—I did n ot kn ow h er—sh e was a

m e r e n am e to me ; and my swe e t Dora was ill and in wan t. I h ad n o t

accepted favours in nume rable fr om th e h ands of Sir Eustace A th e r

sto n e ; h e was an utte r strange r to m e . I was n o t h e ld back by any

fe e lin g o f pity fo r pe opl e I did n o t kn ow. I th ough t on ly of Do ra . I

fe lt bound to do a ll I could to h ave h e r ackn owledged as G eo rge

A th e rsto n e’s daugh te r . Now all is ch ang ed. My hands are ti ed —th e

two pe ople wh o are m ost oonoem ed in in th e matte r , Do ra an d Lo rdA shfie ld,wish it kept a secr e t. Un til th ey ask me to re veal wh at I kn ow,

n o t a wo rd sh a ll e scape m e ; so I th ink , Lady Ashfie ld, you h ave

li ttle ch an ce o f pro vin g your case .

Little ,” sh e said gr imly, and I am n ot quite fo o l e nough to try.

But I te ll you so lemnly th at un til Dora is proclaimed to be Sylvia

A th e rston e . I sh all n eve r consen t to h er marriag e with my son .

“ Lo rd Ashfie ld 1 8 of age . He can do as h e pleases.

”

True . But I h o ld mon ey h e cann o t touch . Sh ould h e displease

m e, I can will it away, le avin g h im an impove rish ed pe e r , with litt le

but hi s title to r ecomm e nd h im .

”

Th a t is a que stion th at do e s n o t co nce rn m e , said Madge coldly,but must be se ttled be twe en yo u and Lord A shfie ld. A nd n ow, as

you th o r ough ly unde rstand my fe e l in gs and in tentions, I shall wish

you g o od-day.

Y es, but I r efuse to h ave a nyth in g to do with it till

paused and blush ed

Till yo u ar e marr ie d?No , n o t eve n th e n . No t till you r equir e it n o m or e . A nd I

h ape—o h , so sin ce r e ly, th at th at may n ot b e for ye ars and ye ars to

come .

”

G o od little girl . Y ou would m iss yo ur o ld g randpapa?Hisl ove is of gr e at value in your eye s .

”

G randpapa, I’d rath e r h ave your love

—th e kn owledge th at I

was your own be st b e loved granddaugh te r , than all th e r ich e s an d a ll

Summ e rlands ever h e ard of in th e wh o l e wo rld .

”

Y ou h e ar , Do ra?h e sa id in a vo ice full o f pr oud de ligh t .

Wh at a loving l ittl e g irl th is 1 8 l

Y e s,”r epli ed Do ra smil in g , sh e is a devo ted granddaugh te r ,

Sir Eustace .

Devo ted, inde ed, and h e r devo tio n is fully r e tur n ed. Th e r e is

n o th in g I would n o t do fo r my Sylvia . He r love h as be e n a pr ecio us

bo o n to m e , and eve ry day I th ank G o d o n my kn e e s th at A n n e Dan e

was able to re scue h e r fr om a wate ry g rave and place h e r safe an d

we ll withi n my arm s.

”

Oh ,

”th ough t Do ra with be atin g h e art, wh o would, wh o could

brin g trouble to th e se two?Wh o wo uld disturb th e ir h appy lo ve ,

a nd sh ow th em in wh at a crue l m an n e r th ey h ave be e n dece ive d?I

ce rtain ly coul d n o t . I’

d rath e r di e .

”

Y ou lo ok sad, little Do ra ,

”said Sylvia , laying h e r h and ca r ess

in gly o n th at o f th e in valid. A r e you ge ttin g tir ed

N0 n o t at all ; but I was think in g , Sylvia , o f th a t stran ge , sad

n igh t o n board 1 710 Cimbr ia .

But you cann o t r emembe r i t I cann o t .

”

I se em to r ememb e r it dimly, an swe r ed Do ra , th ough tfully .

A t l e ast,I thi nk I do . But th e n , Madge and I h ave talk ed it ove r

so ofte n , th at, pe rh aps, I o n ly fan cy I do . But, Sylvia , wh at becam e

of A n n e Dan e Is sh e de ad

De ad?” Sylvia laugh ed m e rrily. No t at all . Sh e is as we ll a

possible , alth ough sh e some tim e s fan cie s h e rse lf somewh a t we ak , po o r

o ld dear . Sh e h ate s London fo gs, and le ads a. life of comfo rt, and, Iumafraid, idle n ess at grandpapa

’s place in Lancashi r e . Howe ve r , yo u

sh all have th e h appin e ss o f se e in g bar'

aco a . I h ave invited h e r t o

Summ e rlands expr e ssly to m e e t you.

”

Sylvia ! Dora turn ed pal e ; a lo ok of te rro r came in to h e r

We ll , de ar . I th ough t yo u’d like to se e h e r fo r th e sak e o f o ld

time s.


Y e s, yes, o f course , sa id Do ra quickly . I wo uld n o t kn ow

h e r again . But Madg e

Madg e would r em embe r h e r , o f course ; an d I kn ow sh e wan ts to

se e h e r . Lord Ashfie ld to ld m e so lo n g ago . I tr ied to g e t h e r to

come up to town , I e ve n to ld h e r it was to m e e t h e r o ld fr ie nd, Madg e

Ne il . But sh e would n o t mo ve . Sh e is ve ry car e ful o f h e r h e alth , I

assur e you.

”

A n d did sh e promise to come to Summ e r lands to m e e t Madg e?No , th at is th e fun . I h ave prepar ed a pl easan t surpr ise for h e r .

Sh e h as n o t th e sligh te st ide a th at e ith e r you o r Madge will be th e r e .

I um lo n g ing to se e h e r face wh e n sh e se e s you first .

Sylvia , you h ave n o t don e r igh t,”

cried Do r a , with emo tion

Y ou h ave n o t inde ed.

”

Sir Eustace and Sylvia lo ok ed at h e r in asto n ishme n t .

No t do n e r igh t My de ar Dora . wh at can you m e an?th ey cried to g e th e r .

No th in g , n o thin g , sa id th e g ir l in confusio n . But A nn e

is o ld . It wi ll be a sh o ck to se e us with o ut warn ing .

”

A s fo r th at,”r epli ed Sylvia , gaily, yo u n e e d n o t be alarmed .

A nn e is n o t easily sta r tled . A nd th e n , yo u kn ow, sh e h as h e ard lon g

ago tha t you we re saved from th e wr eck. So sh e wil l n o t tak e you

fo r gh o sts, dea r . Howe ve r , le st you sh ould be un e asy, I sh a ll se nd

fo r A n n e , and te ll h e r of your arrival . Will th at satisfy yo uY e s

,

”an swe r ed Dora , dr eami ly, th at may ave r t som e o f th e

dan ge r I dr e ad . But I must wr ite to Madg e an d war n h e r .

”

We ll . de a r , do as you lik e ,

”sa id Sylvia . But imag in ing o th e rs

as weak as your se lf. I th ink you exaggera te th e impo rtance o f th e

m e e ting . Madg e will take it ve ry qui e tly, I um sur e .

”

Pe rh aps so I h ope ao , de ar e st, A nd , o f course , I um ve ry

weak , and easily alarmed .

”

Y ou h ave ta lked too much , de ar ch ild, said Sir Eustace kin dly.

Your vo ice soun ds tir ed, so close your eyes and go to sl e ep.

”

Y es, I thin k I h ave ,

”sh e an swe r ed with a fai nt smile . I fe e l

very we ary.

Po o r dar ling , it was a sh am e to le t you wear yourse lf out,

cr ied Sylvia . I um ve ry angry with myse lf fo r all owin g you to do ao ,and n ow you must n o t spe ak again . L ie back th e r e , and clo se your

eye s.

”

Do ra did as sh e was to ld, and, with a sinkin g h ear t, th ough t

sadly of th is fr esh complication in th e ir affairs. Sh e fe lt bewilder ed

and alarmed. A me e ting be twe en A nn e Dan e and Madg e was to be

avo ided above all th ings; A nd n ow, Sylvia , in h e r inn ocen ce an d

igno ran ce , in h opes of giving a pleasan t surprise to h er fr iends, had

plann ed to br ing it about in th e most dang e rous mann e r po ssible .


True to h er prom ise , Dora did h er best to ea t th e da in ty lun ch

that Désirée placed befo r e h e r ; but h e r appe tite was small, and wh e n

th e tray was carried away, th e amoun t of ch ick en consum ed was

scarce !y n o tice able .

A t th r e e o’clock Sylvia lo ok ed in , dr essed in h e r out-do o r th in gs .

I am go in g for a wal k with grandpapa , Do ra . He wan ts m e tose e some impr ovem en ts at th e farm . I h ope you will n o t fe e l lon e lywh ilst I um away

Nat at al l . I will tak e my afte rn o o n sle ep. Do n o t hurry 0 1 1

my accoun t . I sh a ll be quite h appy.

”

Ve ry we ll , de ar . Sle ep will do you good .

Th en Sylvia kissed h er ten de rly, an d, dr awin g on h e r glove s,

wen t to jo in Sir Eustace .

A fte r a time Désiré e came in and put some fr e sh cool on th e fir e ,

and h oping th at m ademo ise lle would so on fall asl e ep, l eft h e r alo n e .

But Do ra could n o t sl e ep ; sh e fe lt re stless and un se ttl ed. He r

mind was full o f th e th ough t o f A n n e Dan e and h e r me etin g with

Madg e . Th e adven t o f th is woman fill ed h e r with te rro r , a sen se o f

dan ge r th at sh e could n o t sh ake ofi.

But, r e ally I um fo o lish to th ink so much about h e r , sh e said t o

h e rse lf. “ If Madge is warn ed, all wi ll be we ll . Sh e will n ot com e ,

I am sur e . wh e n sh e h ears that A n n e Dan e is h e r e ; sh e could n o t m e e t

h e r in a fr iendly spi rit, and sh e n o’

w wish es to spar e Sylvia and Sir

Eustace . I will gr e e t h e r qui e tly, b e co ld an d dista n t in my mann e r ,

and say n o th ing about th e wr eck . But Madge could n eve r do th a t ;

th e sigh t of th e woman would mak e h e r forge t everyth ing but my

wron gs. 0 h , m o th er , mo th er ,”sh e cr i ed dr awing fo rth h er be love d

min iatur e, and pr essin g it to h e r lips , wh at s

'

ad str aits I am in .

Kept out of my birth-r igh t , my lawful inh e r itan ce , longin g to b e

r esto r ed to th e po sition th a t sh ould be min e , fo r th e sak e o f th e m a n

I love , ye t pr even ted fr om pro claim in g my r igh t to it by th e affecti o n

and gratitude I fe el towards th o se wh o h ave be e n so go od an d kind to

me .

”

Th en ; as th e dayligh t wan e s, a fe e ling of we arin ess tak e s po sse ssio n

o f Do ra , and sh e falls in to an un e asy slumber . Even ing com es o u ,

th e fir e blaz e s up, an d th e flames play fitfully upon h e r wo rn ch e e ks,

and touch h e r go lden h ai r with th e ir br illian t ligh t .

Sudden ly th e do o r open s, and a st ea lthy fo o tstep appro ach e s th e

sofa . D o ra do e s n o t h e ar—is un con scious to a ll around, till a h a n d

is laid upo n h e r bo som , and sh e dr eams th at some on e is trying to

wr e st h e r mo th e r’s po rtrait from h e r n eck .

Th en sh e awak es with a sta rt ; an d, open in g h e r eyes, se es a n

e lderly woman be ndin g o ve r h er and fe e ls h e r h o t br eath upo n h e r

face .

A Str iking Contrast.‘

583

Wh o are you?” sh e asks indignan tly. How dar e you touch

Th e woman do e s n o t r eply, but gaz es fixedly a t th e gir l .

A ll a t on ce a ligh t br eaks in upo n Do ra . This is th e nur se wh o

be tr ayed h e r maste r’s trust . Thi s is th e cr e a tur e wh o h ad th rust th em

all in to th e ir pr e se n t fal se po sition . A s thi s fla sh e s quickly th r oughh e r m ind, sh e ra ise s h e rse lf o n h e r pil low, and graspin g th e min ia tur e

firmly with o n e h and, sh e push es th e unwe lcom e visito r away wi th th e

o th e r .

I kn ow wh o you ar e n ow,

”sh e cr ied br e ath lessly. Y ou ar e

A nn e Dan e .

”

A n d wh a t if I am , r epli ed th e woman with a sn e e r .

ar e you

1? Dora lo ok e d a t h e r with r epro aohful eye s . I um th e

po or little infan t yo u le ft to pe rish on bo a rd The Cimbr ia .

Y ou r ave ,”cr ied A n n e , h e r vo ice growin g h o ar se an d loud in h e r

a nge r . My maste r’s child was my o nly care . I saved h e r . Th at

wa s all I could be expected to do .

An d th a t you did n o t do . Y ou kn ow, and Madg e Ne il kn ows,that I um Sylvia A th erston e , wh ilst th e ch ild you saved from th e

wr eck was Dor o thy N e il .

A n n e becam e livid with passion , and sh e raised h e r hand as th oughto str ik e th e g ir l be fo r e h e r . But Dora sh rank away with a cry, an d

th e woman le t h er arm fa ll once mo r e to h e r side .

If you say th a t again ,”sh e hi ssed, I migh t, I am sur e I would,

kill you.

”

No , n o , sa id Do ra , r ecove r in g quickly from h e r fr igh t, you

a r e n o t wick ed e n ough fo r tha t, bad as you ar e . But you can n o t deny

my sta tem en t . Y ou kn ow it is true . Now oo nfe ss—is it n o t exactly

as I say Am I n o t Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e’s grandda ugh te r , an d is

th is n o t th e po rtr ait o f my mo th e r

A n n e g lar ed at h e r fie rce ly. and tr ied to sn atch th e m in iatur e fr om

h e r h and .

Y o u lie , sh e cr ied . Y ou and your siste r h ave trumped up

thi s sto ry. But n o o n e will eve r be li eve it : an d if you eve n

h in t a t such a th i ng , Sir Eustace will drive you fr om h is do o r .

”

Pe rh aps ao . But n ow, co nfess, A n n e Dan e , um I n o t th e r eal

Sylvia A th e rsto n e A n d do you n o t fe e l boun d to ackn owledg e h e r e ,

be twe e n ourse lve s, th a t th e li ttle girl you placed in Sir Eustace

A th e rsto o e’s arms was n o t his gr an ddaugh te r , but th e ch ild of a

str an g er , an d Madg e Ne il’s siste r

I will confess n o th ing .

”

Th e woman’s wo rds we r e fr o z e n o n h e r lips ; sh e tr embled in every


l imb . For th e re in th e doo rway, h er face white as marble , h e r eye s

full of wild te rro r , sto od h e r young mistr e ss .

Sylvia clung to th e curtain tha t separate d h e r ro om -from Do ra’s ,

as th ough afra id to fall . Sh e did n o t speak , but look ed from o n e to

th e o th e r with an expr essio n of in tense ago ny.

Do ra cover ed h e r face wi th h e r h ands. and utte r ed an exclamatio n

o f dismay. A n n e turn ed away and se emed about to leave th e ro om .

But Sylvia waved h e r back to h e r place . Tr emblin g vio le n tly .

th e woman obeyed, an d sto od in sile n t ange r befo r e th e suffe rin g

An n e Dan e , is this sta tem en t true?Sylvia

’s vo ice was low an d h o arse , h e r wo rds scarce ly audibl e

but th ey se emed to burn in to th e bra in s of th o se wh o h eard th em .

A nn e did n o t r eply ; h e r eye s we r e fixed upon th e gr ound ; sh e kn ew

n o t wh at to an swe r .

Speak . Is this sto ry a n in ven tion in sisted h e r mistress,

is it true?Is sh e Sylvia A th e r sto n e , o r am I

An n e laugh ed wildly.

My de ar Miss Sylvia , sh e cr ied, r e cove r in g h e r se lf-possession ,

can you be live such n on se n se fo r an instan t?Thi s gir l and h e rsiste r h ave made up this sto ry be twe e n th em . Lo ok h ow ash amed sh e

is. Try h e r , ask h e r to swear to th e truth of it , and you will se e tha t

sh e dar e n o t .

Do ra sh ive r e d ; sh e could n ot spe ak . Sh e would n o t destr oy h e r

de ar fr ien d’s happin e ss ; an d ye t sh e coul d n o t te ll a lie ; so sh e ga z e d

ste adi ly a t th e fir e , an d utte r e d n o t a sin gle wo rd .

Sylvia gaz ed at h e r lon g in gly. Oh , if sh e would o n ly lo ok up an d

say tha t it was all un true . If sh e,h e rse lf, could awake and fin d tha t

it was o n ly a dr e am ! But, alas, sh e was n o t asle ep. A n d th e re sh e

sto od, with this h ateful st o ry to rtur in g h e r min d and fillin g h e r h ear t

with sorr ow.

I do n o t beh ave th at e ith e r Madge o r Do ra would willin glywr o ng m e ,

”sh e said sadly. Th ey would be in capable of inven ting

such a l ie as this would h e , we r e it n o t true .

Oi course ,”cried A nn e , th ey would n o t do such a thin g ,

for I

h ave h ea rd th ey ar e bo th as go od as go ld. But, probably, po o r

Madg e’

s h e ad was turn ed th e nigh t of th e wr eck (it was an awful

expe r ie n ce ) , a n d sh e fan cied h e r siste r wen t in t h e bo at alo n g with

m e ; th at’s just wh at it is, Mi ss Sylvia and th is girl, wh o was an in fant

a t th e tim e,n aturally kn ows n o thin g about i t, but be li eve s wh a t sh e

has be e n to ld .

”

Sylvia watch ed A nn e clo se ly. But th e woman’

s coun tenan ce was

inscrutable . Sh e lo oked pe rfectly h o n e st a ll h e r n e rvousn ess h ad

disappear ed , an d sh e talk ed with th e gr e atest co o ln ess and decision .


de are st ,”

sa id Sylvia so o thi n g ly. Y ou h ave n o t destr oyed my

h appin ess a lth ough you h ave di sturbed my pe ace . But it is r igh t

th a t th is sto ry sh ould be made kn own and th o roughly sifted. Y o u

and ,Madg e sh o uld h ave to ld us soo n er . G randpapa,

”h e r vo ice

br ok e a little , h e r lips tr embled must h e a r it at on ce , and mak e al l

n ece ssa ry inquir ie s.

Sylvia oh—do n o t te ll him . If you on ly kn ew h ow anxious I

we h ave b e en to k e ep it from h im—from you.

A nd in th a t yo u we r e wrong . But n ow,let na say n o mo r e

about thi s matte r at pre se n t , Y ou ar e tir e d. Y ou must try to g e t

som e r e st .

Sylvia ran g th e be ll , an d De'

sir ée appeared .

Mi ss Ne il wish e s to go to bed,”sh e said . Please se e th a t h e r

r o om is r eady

Sylvia , wh ispe r ed Do ra , as th e maid wen t in to th e adjo in in gch ambe r , te l l m e th at you fo rgive m e—th at I—th at you love m e

still3,

My dar lin gSylvia claspe d h e r in h e r a rms and kissed h e r te nde rly on lips an d

br ow.

Th er e is n o th ing to fo rg ive , Do ra . It is n o t your fault . A n d I

love you as de ar ly as e ve r .

”

(To be concluded next mon th

DE PROFUNDIS.

”

HE tide flowed 1 n’

n e ath a sun lit h az e'l h e g li tte rin g fo am o n its br e ast was wh ite

It swept to th e black clifi’s sh adowe d base ,

Th e n burst above i n a plum e o f ligh t .

Th e se a -

gulls turn ed th e ir br e asts o f sn ow

To th e summ er sun with sh r ieks o f gle e

A n d I th o ugh t, if th e e ar th be ful l of wo e ,Joy live s at le ast in th e h e ar t of th e sea .

”

Th e n a co ast-

fii

l

l ard wande r ed al o n g th e clifiA nd I saw m ey e r tur n o n th e tide

A co n stan t watch , h is face was grave .

A r ope and grapn e l hun g a t h is side .

De Profemd is .

”

A nd'

I scarce kn ew why, but it se emed to meTh at th e se a i tse lf ew dr ear and dr e ad

Th at th e sun l igh t to o a crue l le am

Th at th e sh r iek o f th e se a -

g jar r ed o’e rh e ad .

A n d th e air grew chi ll . I laid asideTh e pall e tte an d brush—I could scarce ly spe ak

Th e questio n wh at do yo u lo ok fo r He sa idTh e youn g girl

’

s body—dr own ed last we ek .

Sh e was r eadin g h a lf-way down yo n de r clifiTh e day was fa ir and th e ebb was low,

Wh en a tida l wa ve g r ew up in th e we st

A nd cr ept in sh o r e -ward , sur e a nd slow.

Th e few th at saw gave a warn in g sh o ut ;Sh e h e ard it and r o se to h e r fe e t , th ey say,

Th en n eve r stirr ed, but quie tly watch edTh e wave as it r o se and to ok h e r away.

Sh e sank at o n ce pe rh aps th e fe ar

Had made h e r fa in t. So 1 wute h th e sh o r e .

A m an’

s co rpse flo ats o n th e e leve n th dayA woman

’s r ise s a day be fo r e .

”

He turn ed and wen t, an d I saw h im still

Be nd hi s tir e le ss watch on th e wide wh ite fo am .

Th e se a gave a bitte r mo urn ful cryA nd I th ough t of th e vaca n t ch ildl e ss h om e .

0 Lo rd, 0 G od Th ou h ast to ld n a th is ,Th at thy ways in th e m idst o f th e wate r s li e .

So th e de ath -tra ck le ads to th e fo o t of thy Thr o n e ,Wh at matte rs it wh e r e o r h ow we die?

A n d th e wo rds I h ad h eard cam e back to my bra in

Sh e saw it an d r o se to h e r fe e t , th ey sayA woman rise s a day befo r e

”

He r body is due to rise to day.

Do pr ofundz’

a clamavi Je sus, Lord IIf th e bon e s must lie in th e dim co ld de e

So Th ou br in g th em at last to Thy lovin g511 00 ,Wh a t m atte rs it h ow o r wh e r e th ey sle ep

Sh e h e ard it. and r o se to h e r fe e t Wh o kn owsWh at vo ice sh e h e a rd in th at mo und o f fo am

,

A s it bur st , and to ok h e r fo r th o n its br e ast'l

'

hy Vo ice , 0 Ch r ist, as it call ed h e r Home .

0 bitte r br e ak e r o f h e arts 0 Se a

With your lur id glimm e r of gr e e n a nd spum e

Of s

aray, your dr e ad powe r pale s at His wo rds,ive Me back My De ad in th e Day o f Do om .

Mo s r a o u L . G R IFFIN

58w

l


SIR CHA RLES HA LLE THE MUSICIAN.

A N AUTOBIOG RAPHICAL SPEECH.

[Befo re Sir Ch arle s Ha llé started for a pro fessiona l tr ip to A ustralia , from wh ichh e has just re tur n ed, h is Man ch e ste r fri e nds gave h im a far ewell banque t , and h eg ave th em th e fo ll owin g accoun t o f h im se lf, which se ems to n a wo rth re scuin g

from th e n ewspape rs o f last A pril . No t n ea r ly e n ough is don e to cultivate th e

musical taste s o f th e Irish pe ople .]

THE h on our wh ich you pay me , I take for gran ted, mean s

much more—th e appr eciation wh ich you all fe e l for th e ar t

which I profe ss, th at is, for music, which has be e n a sort o f

re ligion to me a ll my life a n d if e ve r in my closin g days I can be

proud of anyth ing ,it will be that I have during my long life

a lways endeavour ed to ear ve th e cause of music, and to serve i t

we ll . A fte r all , I think music is a very importan t factor in

civil ised life . It h as oe rta in ly influe n ce s beyond those of any oth er

art. That is my opin ion . I do n o t th ink th at by the sight of an

admirable pictur e , an admirable piece of statuary, crowds of pe opl e

will ever be so moved as by th e strain s of music. They touch al l

pe ople , educated an d un educated, and h ave a gr e at softe n inginfluen ce upon th e large mass of th e pe ople . Spe akin g o f th e

powe r of music, would it be possible to think th at with out be ingalli ed to music, th e wo rds of, say th e Marse illa zlse

, r ecited n ever so

we ll , could h ave stirred th e pe ople of Fran ce so much , and caused

the effects of which we re ad Un le ss th e Ma rse z’

lla zlse h ad be en

a llied to music that would n o t h ave be e n don e . A nd, o n th e oth er

han d,would th e po e try of G od Save the Queen , e ven if admirably

spoken ,h ave the sam e influen ce on th e people as whe n we h ear it

sun g That music h as advan ced 'durin g th e last forty years in

England is un doubted, but I have be e n pe rhaps in a position to

watch its progre as m o re than any oth e r musician through my

wande ring life , some tim e s be ing in th e n o rth of Englan d and in

Scotland, and some tim e s in th e south ; co n seque n tly I h ave be e nable to se e th e progre ss made . I con side r that th e forty ye ars I

h ave spen t in En gland h ave be en much mo re in te restin g to m e

than if I had spe n t th em anywh e re e lse , because cert ain ly th e same

progre ss h as n o t be e n m ade in any o th e r coun try as in England.

L e t me say a few wo rds about th e differ en ce in th e state of

90 The Ir ish Mohth ly.

men in scie nce , lite ratur e , an d art, and also distinguish ed fore ign

pe ople . I r emembe r that I had th e gre at and in estimable

ad van tage several time s to con ve rse—n o , n o t to conve rse , 1 wil l

explain th at late r—but to se e and to liste n to Al exander vo n

Humbo ldt. Tha t can n o t be sa id by many at th e pre sen t day, an d

o n e e ve ning I was asked, wh en h e was th e re , to play—a privileg e

which I appre ciated ve ry bighly but I em so rry to say it was n o t

as much appreciated o n h is part. Th e h ouse of M. L eo was n oted

fo r its o rde r . Chopin used to play th ere con stan tly. Th e visito rs

we re we ll train ed, and th e re was usually n o t a m o ve n or a wo rd

whi le th e music was g o ing on . But Al exan der von Humboldtn ever wan ted any con ve rsatio n , because h e always ta lked alon e . I

h ave watch ed h im very ofte n . He got h o ld of a little circle an d

h e ld for th . I n e e d n ot say eve ryth ing h e said wasmost in te restin g

from beginni ng to e nd ; but h e n e ve r allowed anybody e lse to put

in a word. I r em embe r , wh e n I sat down at th e piano , be had two

o r thre e pe ople n ext to h im ,and h e h e ld for th o n some topic th at

was in te r e sting to th em,wh il e I also h e ld forth ; so that we we r e

pe rforming a due t—or , pe rh aps I sh ould say, a due l . Som e tim e s

I ove rpowe r ed h im, but more ofte n h e overpower ed me . I sha ll

n eve r fo rget th e pitiful face s o f th e g e n tleme n to whom h e wa s

talking , an d wh o kn ew very we l l that it was n ot th e th in g . Now

and th e n they would cast a glan ce at me , as much as to say, We

cann o t h e lp it .

”

Now, to speak o f th e music at that time—I do n ot wish to

exagge rate in any way, and I shall n ot do ao . Wh en I came toLondon first, kn owing a good many people in Paris, I was

furnish ed with le tte rs of in troduction to many pe ople th e re . I

will only m en tio n L ord Brougham, Rich ard Cobden , th e G e rma n

Ambassador—Ch e valier Bunse n—and seve ral oth e rs. Wh en Iwe nt to L ord Brough am , h e rece ived me kindly, but at o nce

confe ssed that music was perfectly out of his lin e , a statem en t

which I found was perfe ctly co rre ct. It was said that h e was

n ever able to distinguish th e tun e of G od Save th e Que en from anyoth er , and I drew my in feren ce from that. A n oth e r gen tleman ,

wh o later on be came a Mi n iste r of State , was extreme ly po lite .

He in vited me to his h ouse and asked me to play something to his

fri e nds. Oi course I was anxious to do so , but I was startled ,wh en , on leaving him , h e asked me a few questions, amongst

o th ers, in what style I played It was difficult to understand

Sir Char les Ha lle'

. 591

what h e me an t, as he n am ed an oth er emin en t pian ist and said

Do you play in his style P and I h on e stly said No I upon

which h e said I um so glad, because h e plays so loud that h e

pre ven ts th e ladi es fr om talking .

”That is an actual fact . The n ,

o n e e ve n in g a few days after my arrival , I played at th e G e rman

Embassy, an d to my surprise I found a wh o le company con sistin go f many Al exande r Humbo ldts. Th ey all talk ed at th e top of

th e ir vo ices, so much so that, alth ough I sh orten ed th e piece as

much as possible , later on , wh e n I was asked to play again , I

played th e sam e piece over again and n obody was th e wise r . Th en

I found th at if I asked a gen tleman be lon gin g to so cie ty,

“ Do you

play any in strument it was con side red an in sult . But time s

have wonderq y ch an g ed . Wh en I came to Man ch e ste r,th e on lysociety wh e re you could h e ar go od music was, of course , th e

So ciety o f G e n tlemen’s Con ce rts. I must con fe ss th e first con ce rt

at which I assiste d produced a disastrous effect upon me . I

th ought I should have to pack up and go away. But,of course , I

got accustom ed to it . A t that time th at was th e on ly place wh ere

music on any large scale could be h e ard ; but it was e n tir e ly

private . It was,in fact, simply a club, from wh ich th e public

we re excluded. We ll do I rem embe r th e lo n g struggle I had with

th e th en dire otors—all mo st exce lle n t men— to obtain th e privilege

that th e programmes sh ould be made public. I did obje ct toconducting con ce rts in se cre t , but th ey did n ot se em anxious to l e t

th e public kn ow wh at th ey did . Howe ve r , th ey co n se n ted, but

th at sh ows that outside that so cie ty n o music was h eard . It I have

be en in any way instrume n tal in bringing about th e change , I um

proud of it.

A s fo r th e effect music h as upon th e lowe r classe s—we ll , some

o f my gre ate st pleasure s h ave com e from th e re cogn ition of th e

lower classes. A few years ago I was waitin g fo r a tr ain at De rby,

wh e n a railway porter , wh o e vidently kn ew me , said : Can you

te ll me , Mr . Hall é, wh e n th e E ly'

ah will be pe rfo rm ed in Man

ch e ster , because I can h ave pe rmissio n to take my missus th er e

I assure you that gave me unboun ded pleasure . The n it has

h appen ed to m e that a common workman has brought me a piece

o f cloth worked by himse lf, an d asked me to accept it as a toke n o f

th e pleasure derived from .my con certs. Th ese are satisfacto ryin stan ce s, and sh ow th at th ese con ce r ts h ave a good influen ce .

Yeste rday I happe n ed to be at Sh effie ld, and a music se lle r , who is


ina positio n to kn ow, said casually to me : We have amongst

our artisans h er e at least five or six hundr ed who play th e violin

I was surprised, but h e said : I kn ow it, because th ey buy music

at my sh op.

”Th ink of that and compare it th e state of

1 848 . It is marve llous.

INTERPRETING .

ISAW a song

-bird so ar up o n h igh ,

I h e ard it sing in th e radian t sky

Its wo ndr ous son g of mir th .

G lo ry to G od in th e h igh e st—Ame n !

A nd peace and joy to th e h om e s of m e nOu e ar th , o n e arth !

His eyes se em ed to pie rce th e az ur e dome

Th at le ads to our Fa th e r’s ble ssed Hom e

A nd qua in tly curious th en ,

A s if n o sca le o r m easure h e kn ew,

But j oyous as up and upward h e flew,

His so n g burst fo rth

G lo ry to G od in th e h igh e st—Am en

A n d psa lm and an th em and g lo ry again ,

A n d peace and joy to th e h om e s of me nOu e arth , on e ar th !

A ye , sa in ts h ave be e n wr apt in ecstasy,

Exta tic bird ! 0 , would I we r e th e e ,

To pra ise with migh t and main ;A t th e do o r of h e ave n th ou sin g e st thy gle e

With h allowed lips, lik e th e pr oph e t , fr e eFrom sin and stain ,

Wh ile an g e ls we lcome th e sacr ed stra in ,A nd gladly catch fr om its soft r e fra in

Th o se wo rds of wo r th

G lo ry to G o d in th e h igh e st—Am e n !

A n d psalm and an th em and g lo ry agai n ,A nd pe ace an d joy to th e h om e s o f m en

On e arth, o n e a r th !


an d to th e car e of orphan s and of th e aged poor . In 1 872 Fath e r

Woods began to give mmsmns and retre ats through out th e

Colonie s, ,and h e spen t th e rest of his life main ly in th at work . A s

a preach er h e posse ssed a swe e t an d persuasive e loque nce . In

Tasman ia h e rece ived, it is said, 500 con ve rts in to th e Church in

th e sh ort space of thre e years. Dur in g his busy mission ary care er

be devoted his le isure time to scien tific studies, and publish ed

seve ral large works on th e ge o logical formation s of differen t par ts

of th e Co lon ies. He was th e auth or also of Th e Hi story of th e

Discovery andExploration of A ustralia ,’and of several education al

tre atise s. His publish ed writings on botany, paleon to logy, andnatural hi sto ry are nume rous. He be came the Pre siden t of th e

Lin n ean Socie ty of New South Wales, and rece ived m edals and

h on ours from Eng lish , fore ign , an d co lon ial societie s. In 1 883 h e

wen t to Singapore , at th e invitation of his fr iend, Sir Freder ick

We ld, th e G overn or of th e Str aits Se ttlements. He was aecom

pan ied by Fath er Ben edict Sco rte ch in i , of Que e n sland, who , likeh imse lf, was devoted to science . Fath er Scortechini , in a sh ort

time , fe ll a victim to malarial fever ; but Fath er Woods travell ed

exten sive ly thr ough Java , Born eo , th e Ph ilippin e s, and par ts of

Chin a and Japan . He return ed to A ustralia in 1 886 with th e

mate rials for seve ral n ew scie n tific works, but h e was soon afte r

wards attacked with a long and fin ally fatal sickn ess. On e of th e

Passion ist Fath ers attended him in his last momen ts, and h e died,

tion s are be ing collected to place a suitable memorial over h is

P enny Postage . Ou January 1 st, 1 890, pe nny postage cam e

in to ope ration through out th e Co lony of Victoria in accordan ce

with a law e nacted last year by th e Me lbour n e LegislativeA ssembly. Th is boon , which has be en we lcomed with r e jo icin g ,is a proof of th e great prospe r ity of th e Co lony wh o se capital is

Me lbourn e . Th e population of Victo ria is on ly a little over a

of to th e Po stal re venue dur in g th e curre n t year ; but

oth e r source s of weal th render th e be ar ing of that loss compara

tive ly easy. Mo reove r , it is confide n tly h oped that th e Po stal

r eve nue will soon re cover from th e temporary ch eck , and will

even tually brin g in a gre ate r re tur n than h ereto fore . Th e pe ople

of th e United Kingdom obtain ed pen nypostage in 1 840, wh e n th e

[lems fi°

om A ustra lia . 595

populatio n was m ore th an twe n ty-five million s ; Victo ria has be e n

gran te d th e bo on wh en h er population is on ly a million , and her

pe ople are scatte red over an area greate r in exten t th an that

Mom igno r t pa tr ick. Mon sign or Fitzpatr ick , th e Vicar

G e n era l of Me lbour n e , died on th e 2 l st of last January He wasborn in Dublin , Ire land, in 1 81 0. Afte r finishin g his th e o logical

studies at Mayn ooth Co ll ege , h e ch ose A ustralia as th e sce n e of

his priestly labours. He was fir st station ed 1 n Sydn ey (1 837 ) butsh o rtly afte r Dr . G oo ld

’s con se cration as Bish op of Me lbour n e in

1 848, h e was n amed Vicar -G en e ral of th e n ew dioce se . In 1 850

th e foundati on sto n e of St. Patr ick’

s Cath edral , Me lbourn e , was

laid by Dr . G‘

roo ld, assisted by Fath er Fitzpatrick . From that

tim e till th e Vicar -G en eral’s death , a period o f forty years, th e

building of th e Cath edr al was th e work of love to which be de

voted his tim e , tale n ts, and z e al , and h e may we ll be called th e

builder of that n oble pile . A s a priest, h e was so lidly an d .un ob

strusive ly pious, kin d and gen erous to th e poor , an d of such

re tir ing m odesty that wh e n h e was named Monsign o r , h e could

n ot be pe rsuaded to accept th e h o n our . To avo id displeasing him

his fri e nds abstain ed from using th e title . A t th e Mon th’s Mi nd

for th e repo se of his soul, a public me e ting was conven ed by th e

A rchbish op of Me lbourn e , at which it was decided that th e

memorial to be e rected in h on our of th e late Vicar G en eral sh ould

be th e comple tion of th e Cath edral . In open ing th e m e etin g th e

A rchbish op stated th at, according to th e accounts , which had bee n

kept with gre at accuracy by Dr . Fitzpatrick up to a few days

befor e his death , th e sum of had be e n already expended

on th e Cath edral buildin gs, an d n o debt had be en in curred. IA rge

of mon ey were at once h anded in , and in a few days th e

subscription s reach ed a total of £2 Th e Cath edral, wh en

te stan te , co n trasting Cath olic place s of worsh ipwith th ose of oth e r

denomin ations, have said that th e faith of Cath olics in th e pe r

pe tuity of th e ir r e ligion has made th em build church es,wh ich fromth eir stre ngth and so lidity must last for all tim e . This remark

applie s especially to St. Patrick’

s Cath edral, Melbourn e , and to St.

Mary’s, Sydn ey. Th e vastn ess and durability of th ose great

Cath edrals form a striking monum en t to Cath o lic faith , and pro

claim th e piety, ze al, and se lf-sacrifice o i th e childr en of th e


Catho lic Church in raising suitable temple s for th e wo rship of th e ir

Creato r .

I may be allowed to r emark h e re th at durin g a se ries o f

r e ligious services, h e ld in February to ce lebrate th e completion o f

th e san ctuary of St. Mary’

s Cath edral , Sydn ey, Dr . Donn e lly ,

auxiliary Bish op of Dublin ,who has late ly visite d th e Colon ie s

for th e ben efit of his h ealth , refe rred in a r emarkable se rmon to St .

Mary’s as a n oble work of which A ustralia h ad e ve ry reason to be

proud. He expre ssed th e h ope th at th e courage and e n ergy

h ith erto displayed would con tin ue un til th e archi te ct’

s sple ndid

design was carr ied out to th e last lin e . He also spoke in terms o f

praise of th ose wh o , th ough n ot Cath olics , had g ive n substan tial

aid in th e e r e ction of th e Cath edral , and h e urged h is h eare rs to

h o ld in grate ful r emembran ce th e kin dn e ss and libe rality of th o se

g en e rous fri e n ds.

The Federation of A ustra lia . In th e mi ddl e of February an

importan t Conve n tion was h e ld in Me lbour n e to co n side r th e

advisability of un itin g th e A ustralian Co loni e s un de r on e ce n tral

Fede ral G ove rnme n t . Th e Co loni e s r epr e se n ted by de legates we re

New South Wal es, Victo ria , Que e n sland, South A ustralia ,

We ste rn A ustralia , Tasman ia , an d N ew Zea land Th e de liber a

t ion s of th e Co nven tion , which excited e ager and wide -spread

a tte n tion in A ustr ali a , wer e open ed by Sir He nry Parkes, th e

Pr emie r of New South Wale s. He proposed th e followin g

9‘Th at, in th e opin ion of this Con feren ce , th e best in te re sts

and th e pre se n t an d future prospe rity o f th e A ustr alia n

Co loni e s will be promo ted by an early un ion under th e Crown .

an d whil e fully re cogn isin g th e valuable service s of th e membe rs

o f th e Con ven tion of 1 883 in founding th e Federal Council, it

declar e s its opin ion th at th e se ven ye ars th at h ave sin ce e lapsed

h ave deve loped th e n ation al life of A ustralasia in population , in

wealth , in th e discovery of re sources, and in se lf-gove rn ing capacityto an exten t which justifies th e h igh er act , at al l times con tem

plate d, of th e un ion of th e se Co lon ie s unde r o n e Legislative and

Executive G overnmen t, on pr in ciple s just to the seve ral

Coloni e s.

In his spe e ch th e Sydn ey Pr em ier drew atte n tion to th e fact

that in A ustralia th e subject of Fede ration was n ot n ew. Th e

ablest men in th e Co lon ies had left on re cord th e ir approval of th e

Items fr om. A ustra lia . 599

c o lony wh ich has trea ted me so we ll if I did no t preser ve to h e r a ll th e pr ivilege s

o f th e coun try ; it must be a body framed with plena ry powe r , with all th e

functionswh ich pe rtain to n ation al governm en t . But it may po ssibly be a ve rywise th ing inde ed th at some of th ese powers sh ould come in to force with th e

co n cur ren ce o f th e State L egislatures. Th a t it was in design from th e very first to

g randest and h igh est functions o f th e na tion , cann o t, I think, he a ma tte r of

doubt .

’

Th e oth er de legate s proposed th eir views, and th e subject wasve ry fully discussed . Th ey agre ed that th e re we re many sources

o f we alth which could be deve loped by on e powe rful governme n t,

and n ot efiective ly by indepe nden t provin cial States. Amongth ese were men tion ed fish e ries, th e efficie n t ligh ting of th e co asts,

an d more pe rfect means of commun ication . On e spe aker sh owed that

th e A ustralian Colon ies in po in t of te rr itory and population , are

n ow in a

'

condition parall e l to that of th e Un ited State s of Am erica

whe n th ey federated, and geographically th e difficulties of m ee tin gin a Nation al A ssembly would be far less in A ustralia than theywere in Am e rica . Th e Fisca l question was fe lt to be th e chiefobstacle in th e way of Federation , but it was th ought that

it would n ot prove to be an obstacle impossible to overcome .

Th e motion proposed by Sir Henry Parke s was un animouslyadopted . To it a clause was added to the effect that New

Zealand would be e n titled in th e future to jo in the un ion of th e

A ustralian Co lon ie s. It was also agreed that a National Conven

ti on sh ould be h e ld n ext ye ar for th e draftin g of a Con sti tution ,

a nd that each se lf-governing Colony should sen d to th e Conven

tion seven delegate s and each Crown Colony four . A n address of

loyal ty to th e Que en brought th e deliberation s to a close .

B le ssed Peter Cha ne l. A joyous festival was h e ld in Sydn eyduring th e first we ek of May in h on our of Blessed Peter Ch an e l .

Th e re ligious ce lebrations were carried out with befittin g splendour

in th e Church of th e Marist Fath ers. HisEmin en ce th e Cardin alA rchbishop was presen t, and pre ach ed an e loquen t sermon on th e

r ecen tly beatified martyr of Future . In his discourse h e gave a

str ik ing accoun t of th e mission ary care e r and death of Blessed

Chan e l, and said in con cludin g th at Cath olics throughout

A ustralasia would re joice with th e Marist Fath ers in celebrating th e

festival of on e who h ad n oblywon th e martyr’

spalm and crown , and

600 The Im h Month ly.

who had special titles to th e ven eration and afie ction of th e m ember s

o f th e A ustralian Church . A ssembled as h is h eare rs we re that dayaround th e after to pay h omag e , for th e h t at time , to th e sain tlymissionary wh o had n ow be e n en rolled in th e glorious h eave nlywhite -robed army, it was fitting that, while th ey lifted up th e ir

h earts to G od and sought th e in te rcession of Imm aculate Mary ,

they sh ould se ek also th e inte rcession and the blessing of th e first

h oly m artyr of th e South e rn Se as.

A re ligious festival is to be h eld n ext Septembe r in th e island

of Futuna in th e church which has been built on th e spot wh er e

Blessed Ch an e l was killed. Cardin al Moran , accompan ied byseveral bish ops and priests, will h on our th e ce le bration with h is

pre sence , and will , n o doubt, avail h imse lf of th e opportun ity to

visit some of th e oth er mission s in th e South Seas before re tur ning

BONNET.

LIFE’

S darkest h ours ar e n o t th e h ours we we epPron e on th e grave o f r ece n t h appin e ss ;

Th e soul’s worst pain is wh e n th e pain gr ows less ,

A n d so rrow, wear ied, lays h e r down to sle ep.

Our high est powe rs ar e huite . Ever cr e epTim e

’s icicle s about o ur we lls of tears

Oi love and loss, with slow succe eding years,

Th e n arrowed h ear t may on ly memor ies ke ep.

Fath er of al l , wh o fashi on edst our dust,

Wh en th ou wouldst h e al th e h ear t th ou mak’

st to ble ed,

Fo rbe ar ! A gre ate r boo n I ask of th e e

Oh , gran t m e stre n gth to live , if live I must ,

Howeve r brie f th e joys th ou h ast decre ed,But le t my gr i ef, gr e at G od, e te rn al be .


Th eme after th eme re turn ed to his mind as h e sat alon e at th e

Organ-bo ard , oblivious of everythin g save th e presen ce of th e Most

Ho ly, an d th e sacr ed music o f th e Church .

A way down in th e sil en t san ctuary, h oweve r , a sacristan and

h is assistan ts were quie tly removing eve ry ve stige of th e day’s

pomp, eve ry sign of th e fe ast wh o se h ourswer e scarce ly ye t run out.

In th e gre at sacristy beyond, th e o ld prie st was already standin gve ste d in a black cope . Before th e san ctuary scre en a bier had

be e n placed . Six ye llow tape rs flickered glo omily in th e shadow

of th e ro od loft .

Fath e r L itch e nbe rg smiled as th e o rgan’s diapason reach ed his

in th e in n e r sacristy.

It is be tte r so ,”be murmured to himse lf it isfitting ; Iwil l

n ot disturb him .

”

No mourn ers were visible as th e prie st and sacr istan s met the

coffin at th e e n tran ce of th e church . Only th e me n in charge of

th e fun eral we re th er e—suflicien t in numbe r to carry. th e bodyfrom th e h e arse to th e bie r . Perh aps th ey marve lled at th e jubilan t music—tor it was no hm eral march . He rr G rafmann played

as th e little proce ssion , all un se en by him, made its'

way down th e

n ave of th e church .

Th e sh ple receptive rite was so on ove r , and th e be are rs do'

parted. Th e sacrista n made h is last arran geme nts for th e night,but th e prie st an d th e o rgan ist bo th remain ed.

Fr ie ndle ss and alon e , with n o t a soul to watch or pray beside

th e coffin ,”said th e fath er to himse lf, as h e came back in to th e

church and kn e lt at a prie-dieu by th e bie r . A t least h e would

g ive this po or soul th e be n efit o f a few prayers. For h im to

watch was e asy an d n atural ; to pray was , as it were , to breath e

and live .

Th ere had be en little o r n o ce ssation of th e music, only it h ad,again and again , changed its characte r , Occasio n ally, in de ed, themusician h ad be en h eard praying aloud. Snatch e s of th e complin e

psah s reach ed the o ld prie st’

s e ars,re cited rath er than sun g , as

th e o rgan gave out long so ft chords with e ver-chan ging h armo ni es,l ike th e ech o of many E o lian harps stirred by a distan t wind.

Ecce nun c ben edicite Dominum . Qui statis in domo

Domini . In n octibus exto llite manus vestraa in san cta, e t ben e

dicite Dom inum .

Ne ith er priest or o rganist h e eded the flight of time . Th e

The Organ ist’s Vigil. 603

chur ch was n ow in comple te darkn e ss, fo r th e sacristan h ad put

o ut th e candle s around th e bie r , and th e san ctuary lamp was

little m o re than a spe ck of light . High up in th e cle r e sto ry migh t

be se en th e glimmer of summ e r ligh tn in g .

A t le ngth , loud and clear above th e wh ispe ring organ m e lody,

cam e th e clanging of midn igh t be lls. Th e startled playe r sh r ank

and cower ed, like a man struck by an un expected blow. To him

th e disco rd was as an acute bodily pain . A n o th er in stan t an d his

fe e t sough t th e pedals, h is huge rs pr essed th e keys o f th e great,”

an d th e buildin g thrill ed,with th e thun der o f ro l ling harmoni e s.

Th e sudde n sil en ce th at fo llowed was alm ost an agony to th e o ld

pr ie st , wh o was kn e e lin g in prayer in th e r emo te corn e r of a side

ch ape l ; but almost before h e h ad r e alised th e cessation of th e

music—h igh , clear , pie rcing , m e lodious, but, oh ! so we ird, cam e

what th e fath er th ought could'be n o thing le ss th an th e music of

a hum an vo ice .

A nd at midnight th e re was a cry made Beh o ld th e br ide

groom com e th , go ye out to m e e t Him ,

”flitted thro ugh th e prie st

’

s

m in d as h e paused in his prayer to liste n . Plain tive an d slow,

sad but impressive ly be autiful , th e m e lody re ach ed his e ar , th e

organ appear in g to fo ll ow th e vo ice in an un de rton e of accompam

m e n t, swe e t an d subdued to ve ry pain fuln e ss.

Fath e r L itch enberg arose : to wh om could such a vo ice be lon gHigh in th e tr ibun e darkn ess hung like a cloud th e figur e o f th e

o rganist was to tally obscur ed . No thing was visible to th e aged

eye s th at sought th e source of this won de rful m e lody. Half in

vo lun tarily h e lo oked towards th e high altar , to th e bie r that laybe for e it for an in stan t h e expe cted to se e th e figur e of th e dead

stan din g in th e shadow of th e ro od. But th e lampligh t glitte red

ste adily on th e un ruflled pull , an d th e prie st smiled as h e chided

h imse lf fo r so foo lish a th ough t.

Sudden ly th e vo ice ce ased. Th e soft accompan im en t still

flowed ou, rhythmic and be autiful ; th en like a vo ice from th e

forgotte n dead th e o ld me lody re cur r ed . Now, h owever , it could

n ot be m istak e n . Th e playe r was usin g a stop for wh ich th e o ld

organ was e ver m ore fam ed th an for its sowhumane .

Fath er L itch enbe rg sat down upon a chair in th e n ave . Th e r e

was n o myst e ry afte r all , except that of th e str ange ye arn in g

afte r we kn ow n ot wh at, an d th e awful impr e ssion we kn ow n ot

wh en ce ,”

produced by exquisite music.


It was very so othi ng n ow,th ought th e prie st, indeed h e feared

that itmigh t prove to be of to o lullin g a char acte r for th e prayerful

watch h e had propo sed to him se lf. Ce rtainly h e was more fatigued

than h e h ad th ought. Th e air of th e church h ad be come stifling ,

and th e in ce n se h e h ad bur nt for th e cen sing of th e body hun gabout th e place in a thi ck cloud. Y et h e must go back to his

place at th e prie-di eu. But th e good man

’s labours of th e preced

ing day h ad be e n gre ate r th an be imagin ed. A n xious as h e was

to spen d a gre at part of th e n igh t in devo tion , tir ed n ature in siste d

upon sle ep. Befor e th e fath e r could rouse him se lf sufficien tly to

pursue h is h olywork h e had fall en in to a de ep slumbe r .

A s th e nigh t advan ced th e ligh tn in g appe ar ed to br igh te n . A

mumed moan of thun de r reach ed th e e ars of th e o rganist, and h e

almo st prayed that th e storm might gath e r and break . Dear to

him as wer e th e ton e s of th e organ , h e loved th e sple ndour and

maje sty of He aven’s own music. He to ld h im se lf th at if th e

thun de r came n e are r h e would leave th e in strumen t . To play at

such a tim e would h ave se emed to h im a sa cr ilege , his music a

discord in th e e ars of th e ange ls .

Still h e r emain ed at th e key-board, runn ing his huge rs ove r

th e ch oir -manual , and again came th e h alf-in ton ed wo rds

phrases from th e Chur ch’s psalms, praise s, pe tition s, an d

invocation s.

Ben edicite , lux e t ten ebrae , Domin o ben edicite , fulgura e t

nube s, Domin o .

”

With th e se wor ds th e organ ist sprang to his fe et. Th e sto rm

had broken ove r th e church in gr eat magnificen ce . Makin g th e

sign of th e cross th e musician fe ll upon h is kn e e s. He avy pe als ofthun der sh ook th e tribun e , an d th e very organ pipe s appe ared to

thr ill an d to emit a h alf stifled soun d as th e awful crash broke

upon th e un n atural quie t of that morn ing h our .

He rr G rafmann ro se from hi s kn e e s. Th at th iswas n o passin gsto rm was n ow evide n t. He was fain t and diz zywith th e h e at of th e

high gall e ry ; sure ly, h e thought, it will be le ss stifling be low.

Th en , slowly and cautiously, h e de scended th e winding steps

slowly and cautiously h e made his way down th e broad, high n ave .

He would kn e e l wh ere , a few h ours ago , h e h ad rece ived his G od :

ther e h e could pray peace fully and without di straction . He

remembered th at at h is Commun ion he had placed himself at th e

extreme e nd of th e scre en , un de r th e shadow o f Our Lady’s shrin e


it could h ardly be tha t th e boy sh ould di e without h is h e ar ing o f

it.

He rr G rat'

man n h ad r isen to his fe e t, and was trying to mak e

out th e probable siz e o f th e co ffin . Th e darkn ess was still ve ry

h eavy, and on ly an occasion al flash o f lightn ing made any objectvisible . Stre tching out h is arms un til th ey touch ed th e extr emitie s

of th e co ffin , h e decided that it was too big to con tain th e body o f

a young boy.

Y e t Car l was tall for his age , th e o rgan ist said to him se lf,

an d I kn ow n o o th e r pe rson that was sick . Still in a n e ighbour

h ood like tbis—ah it is fo o lish

But h e could n o longer pray. Reso lum stre tch in g out h is

h and, h e clutch ed th e pull . If only h e coul d ge t a ligh t : th er e

must h e a n ame on th e co ffin lid.

A l ready th e pall was half removed , wh e n sudden ly a more

th an usually vivid flash o f ligh tn in g se emed alm ost to strike th e

ooffin -

plate , playin g and scin tillating upon th e n ame and ag e o f

th e de ad.

Merciful G od !

The cry ran g through th e church—a cry of agony an d de spa ir ,

succe eded by a loud crash . He rr G r afmaun had falle n h eavily,

overturning on e of th e gr eat ca ndlesticks by th e bier .

Q Q Q 0

That cry o f agony, toge th e r with th e crash of m etal , had roused

Fr . Litch enbe rg from a slumbe r wh ich had be e n too de ep to be

disturbed by th e storm . A s yet, however , h e scarce ly re alised

what h ad happen ed. Hasten ing to the sacristy, h e obtain ed a

light . Wh en h e re turn ed, th e organ ist lay still clutch ing the

pall , and with h is h e ad resting on th e sanctuary step. But h e

was co n scious .

A h ! my fath e r—do you kn ow He could only gasp, and

speak in a broken whispe r . Th e priest placed a soft cushion unde r

his h ead, at th e same time bidding him be silen t.

Oh , my Fath er te ll m e all you kn ow.

”

But th e prie st saw th at a little stre am of blood was issuingfrom an ope n wound in th e man

’

s fo reh e ad.

L ie very quietly, my son ,

’

said Fath e r Litch enbe rg . Y ou

have hurt your h ead, an d re tir in g to th e sacristy h e brought back

a lin en bandage . But it was in vain th at h e urged th é injure dman n ot to spe ak . He rr G r afmann

’s ince ssan t cry was

The Orgamlste Vig il. 607

Te ll me , te ll me quick ,my Fath e r , all youkn ow of her .

It was little en ough th e o ld priest had to te ll , but as h e

staunch ed th e ble eding wound, and busied himse lf to make th e

musician comfortable , b e all un co n sciously h ealed a woun d of th e

heart, th e existen ce of which h e had n eve r suspe cted.

Th e woman h ad be en an actress o r singer , Fath e r

L itch e nbe rg did n o t kn ow wh ich—had be en se iz ed with a sudden

ill n ess at h e r h ote l lodg ings—had sen t for a priest , made a ge n e ral

confession of h er wh ole life , had linger ed fo r a few hours, and died

afte r rece ivin g th e last rite s o f th e Church . Th e prie st did n ot

eve n remember h e r n am e .

Oh th e mercy of G od ! th e go odn e ss of th e go od G od

Th e organ ist h ad r isen to his fe e t .

Nay, my fath er , Ium we ll ; I am stron g n ow.

Fath e r L itch enbe rg could n ot re strain him . He had taken a

candle in h is hand and was dragging th e wondering prie st to th e

side of th e coffin .

Se e ! my fath er ; read ! h e excldimed , holding th e ligh t

above th e cofin -

plate .

A s th e pr iest re ad th e inscriptio n , th e truth suddenly h ash ed

upon him .

Sh e was your

My daugh te r , said th e organ ist, breaking into a flo od of

happy te ars.

Sho rtly afterwards Herr G r afman n was left alon e with th e

body of h is child. Fath e r L itoh enbe rg had tried hard to persuade

h im to spen d th e rema in de r of th e n igh t in th e pre sbyte ry, but in

vain . A ccordingly the fath e r left th e church with th e in te n tion

of gettin g medical assistance ; first, h owever , h e would ask on e o f

his fe llow-

priests to take his place n ear th e organ ist in orde r to

to be at hand if th e latte r required h is h elp.

Th e thunde r an d lightn ing h ad n ow ce ased, but h eavysh owers fe ll n o isily on th e church roo f.

Wh e n th e organ ist found h imse lf alon e , h e arose from th e

ch air upon which h e had be e n sitting , an d again kn e lt on th e

san ctuary step. Heavy grief flooded h is soul , and yet a grief

ligh ten ed in expr essibly by those few words o f th e fath e r . Fo r

m o re than twen ty years h e had mourn ed his daugh te r , his onlych ild, dead to him , as h e feared sh e was de ad to grace . But

608 The Ir ich Mon th ly.

actually to di e—ao n ear to him—in th e same city, almost in th e

same n e ighbourho od, and h e n o t to kn ow ; truly it was a bitte r

sorrow. Y e t wh at could h e have don e fo r h e r h e asked himse lf .

Had n ot th e merciful Provide n ce of G od arranged fo r th e be st

Had n ot his daily praye r be e n fully an swer ed No t fully, pe r

h aps ; but what was worth a th ough t beyo nd th e magnificen t fact

th at his child h ad di ed in th e bosom o f G od’s Church , died afte r

humble con fe ssion ,with th e sacrame n ts of th e Church , with eve ry

sign ,so th e priest h ad assur ed him , of a true an d real co n

trition . This was th e o n e th ought h e clung to , a th ought ful l

of joyful h 0pe , and dwe lling upon it h e found but little r oom in h is

h eart fo r so rrow.

It was n ow,h oweve r , that He rr G rafman n began to be conscious

of a terrible beatin g and throbbing in his h ead, of a faintn ess an d

diz z in ess that made h im rise from his kn e e ling po sition , and sta gge r

to th e n earest seat . A fter a fewmome nts of rest, h e set himse lf to

pray ; but h e could n e ith er fix his th oughts n or remain wh er e h e

had se ated himse lf. .How h e wish ed th at h e could ge t back to

h is o rgan , if on ly for a few minutes. Only to touch its keys, h eth ough t, would h e lp him .

G r opin g his way down th e n ave , h e avily and un ste adily, th e

o rgan ist r e ach ed th e steps of th e tr ibun e just as th e prie st se n t byFr . L itoh e nbe rg en te red th e church . But th e fath e r m ade n o sign

o f h is pre se n ce , and Herr G rafmann began to climb th e stairs. A

slow asce n t, inde ed, for his temples thr obbed fearfully, a he avywe i h t se em ed to be upon his h ead, and it was only by clutchin gth e i and-rail that h e could ke ep himse lf fr om fallin g . Y e t afte r

an almo st h e ro ic struggle h e gain ed th e lan ding an d stagge red to

th e k eybo ard .

Nun c dimittis se rvum tuum, Domin e , came slowly an d

fe ebly from th e o rgan-loft , but wh en th e sing er h ad reach ed th e

G 1oria th e key ch anged to a plain tive min or .

Th e suffe ring man h ad begun th e chan t o fth e De P rqfumitls.In th e darkn e ss be low a do or ope n ed and shut . Fr . L itch enberg

h ad r e tur n ed fr om h is e rrand o f mercy ; in an o ther mom en t th edocto r would be at the church .

Si i'

m'

quita tes obse re arer is, .Dom i’

ne ; Domine , qm’

s sustinebit I

Qm'

a apud te p ropitz’

a tio est

Both th e fathe rs started forward at th e sam e momen t. Th em in or h ad broken off sudde n ly. Th ere came a lo ng, long sigh

nu in articulate raye r , and th en—th e sound o f a fall i ng body.

Wh en Fa e r L itch e nberg and h is compan ion gain ed th e

tr ibun e , He rr G r afmann was de ad.

DAV ID BEA RNE .


in th e middle of th e fifh en th cen tury popular imagin atio n

in troduced divers personage s in to th e cortege , and e ach trade s’

guild had its particular richly-robed represe n tative .

In 1 786 Jo seph II.,th e Sacristan Kin g , to th e gre at in dign a

tion of th e pe ople , put a stop to th e proce ssion . Th en th e

revo lution ary spir its of 89 also troubled th emse lves about th e se

re ligious mumm eries, and on th e 28th A ugust, 1 794, G oliath an d

his wife , Madame Victo ire , were publicly burn ed . In 1 801 th e

its ye arly route .

Of th e or iginal cortége th ere on ly r emain th e figur es o f

G o liath an d Madame Victo ire , Samson , th e two-h eadedeagle—th e

arms of A th—and th e typical char iot of th e town . The feast is

in augurate d by a strange ceremony called G oliath’sWedding .

”

Ou th e Saturday before th e kermesse th e cle rgy, faithful to th e

o ld custom , chan t solemn Vespers at about th re e o’clock, and

probably, for th e on ly time in th e year , th e bourgmestre or mayo r

an d th e town coun cil assist at th e devotions in th e parish church o f

St. Julian . G o liath and Madame Victo ire are station ed outside

th e porch til l th e con clusio n of Vespe rs, wh en th ey are officially

un ited by th e civil auth orities. Th e n th e be lls r in g ch e e rily, an d

th e wh o le town make s me rry, everyon e , e ven th e poorest, e atin g

th eir tarts for gofiter .

”

Th e n ext day, Sunday, th e kermesse or fair is in full swing ,

a nd th e hug e figures which have be en sto red away during th e

n ight in an o ld courtyard, are n ow paraded twice through th e

town , th e str e e ts be ing thronged by an immense crowd gath ered

from all parts of Be lgium to witn ess th e n ove l sight.

A t th e h ead of th e cavalcade com es th e two-h e aded eagle ,

repre se n tin g th e arms of A th . A tiny boy, clad in Louis XV .

co stum e , is se ated on th e back of th e monstrous bird, which is

bo rn e by a man hidden under a baske t frame—th e mode in wh icha ll th ese e n ormous figure s are carried. Several beauti fulldgroups or guilds are in the procession , and th ese ar e preceded at

in tervals by ban ds (n ot too musical) and a few carabin eers who

h t e salute s at e very halt.

Some of th e large ch ariots represen tin g agriculture , etc., are

very handsome ly decorated. On th e car of th e win e provinces are

seated win e goddesses, each draped in th e provincial co lours.

A bove th em is a young g irl flutte ring th e flag of Be lgium .

1 7m Kem ie ese at A th . 61 1

A n oth er car is gre e ted with loud applause , as it con tains th ose

great men wh o claimed A th as th e ir birth -place Justus L ipsius,th e ren own ed professor ; Henn epin , th e m ission ary, wh o discovered

th e'

sources of th e Mississippi ; Défaoq, De Traz éguies, e tc . , e tc.

A fin e colle ction of m en , chosen for th e ir sta tur e and h andsome

faces, and wh ose picturesque old-world dress makes th em vary

Th e old chieftain of Caesar’

s time , Ambiorix, with fierce visage

and long sword frigh tens small childre n on his unco nscious route . .

On e of th e fin est cars is th e fish ermen’s. It be ars a splendid

sixte en th cen tury barque , equipped by the brave sailors of the

De ndre , th e small river on wh ich A th is situated.

Th en Samson , th e great giant of th e Bible , go es past, clad in

th e uniform of a gr en adi er—eviden tly anachr on isms do n ot

frighte n th e good A th o is. It is but right th at Samson sh ould

be foll owed by th e sh eph erd .

David, who is repre se n ted bya youn g boy, guiding a few white -woo ll ed sh e ep and fle ecy lambs.

A nd, last o f all, comes G o liath (or G ougias) , dan cing opposite his

spouse , Madame Victo ir e . It is a woundrously absurd sight to

witne ss th ese two gigan tic dolls , with th e ir immovable waxen

faces and stifi figur e s, going aroun d grave ly in time to th e music.

A lth ough th e poor beare rs are changed e ve ry five minutes, th eyappe ar to fe e l th e fatigue excessive . It seems very r idiculous

th at th ousands of pe ople sh ould ga th er from a ll parts to se e this

motley sh ow,wh er e huge dolls are th e attr action in ste ad of men ,

at th e Lord Mayor’s sh ow,

an d ye t it is th e unique quain tn essof th e wh ole thing which draws on e to look at it . Th e h e ight of

th e se puppets can be imagin ed, wh en ,re aching out o f th e fourth

story window of a large building , we could just touch th eirsh oulders.

In spite of th e childish grotesquen ess ot’

th e sight, I could we ll

en joy witn e ssing it aga in , and join ing in the gaiety and busy n oiseof th e Kermesse at A th .

M. STENSON .

TO A BEE FOUND DEAD IN A FLOWER .

CARELESS o f sun se t and th e n igh t-wind

’s stir ,

Th ough round th e e fast th e gath e rin g sh adows cre ep,Still dr ink est th ou con te ntmen t a t th e de epFoun tain of flowe rs, 0 h o n eyed wande re r

Nay, n ever mo re , as in th e days tha t wer e ,Th e flowers fo r th e e th eir kisse s th ey shall ke ep ;Embalm ed with th in e own swe e tn ess th ou dost sle epIn this pale , summ e r

-soe n ted sepulch re .

Duty and ple asure we re made o n e in th e e

Fo r de ath ’s appr oval ; and th e passe r

-byFinds h e re 000 1 comfo rt in life

’s n oo n -day h ea t ;

Fo r ao , my soul , fulfil ling lik e th e be e

My G o d-appo in te d labour , haply I

May som e day fall on dea th'

and find it swe e t .

Jom! Frrz r am ox, O.M.I.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

1 . Th e pr e sen t occupan t of th e Chair of Ecclesiastical Histo ryth e gr e at ecclesiastical Co ll ege of Mayn oo th , th e R ev. Th omas

G ilmar tin,h as co nfe rr ed a bo on upon th e stude n ts of that co ll ege ,

and upon ma ny o th e rs; by pr epar in g a Manual o f Church Histo ry(Dublin M . H. G ill So n ) . Th e first vo lume , which wil l, we h ope

at n o lon g in te rval, be fo llowed by a se co nd, brin gs th e h istory of th e

Ch urch to th e pon tifica te o f G r e go ry VII. Th e matte rs discussed ar e

arran ged with gr e at clea rn e ss an d o rde r , di splayin g th r ough out th e

e n tir e work th e practical exper ien ce o f th e auth or , wh o h as gr e a tlyassisted th e r eade r by th e full co n te n ts and index, and by th e brie f

h e adin gs o f th e paragr aphs wh ich run along th e mar gins, and which ,

as th e Pr o fesso r remarks in his pr e face , will be found most useful to

stude n ts , especia lly wh en pr epar ing for exam in ations . Th e styl e is

ca lm ,lucid, and un afiected. We trust th at th e publish ers will tak e

car e to brin g this exce llen t Manual of Church Hi sto ry un der th e

n o tice o f th e vast body o f Amer ican cle rgy, fo r wh ose r equiremen ts itis admirably adapted .

6 1 4 The Irish Mon th ly.

Ser enus G r e asy, se ems to h ave as much r igh t to be n amed with th e

bo ok as Fath e r A ugust in e Bak e r . Th e spe llin g is comple te ly

mode rn ised, and th e edito r h as tak en great pains to mak e th is tr e a tis e

n o t on ly an in te re stin g but a useful addi tion to librarie s of asce tic

th e o logy.

5. Th e cleve r cr itic wh o r eviews bo oks in Mr . Labouoh er e’s famous

journ a l , M k,write s to his suppo sed co rr espo nden t a ew we eks ago

If you h ave but odd h alf h ours to spa r e , you cann o t do b e tte r , I

th ink , th an tak e up a vo lum e of Th e Idl e Hour Se rie s" o f sh o r t

sto rie s, e specia lly if th at vo lum e sh ould be Miss Ro sa Mul h o llan d’s

Haun ted Organ ist of th e Hur ly Bur ly, and o th e r Sto r ie s (Lo ndo nHutch inson Cc . Th e o th e r sto r ies a r e all ma rk ed with th e

en quisite grace , de licacy, and r efin eme n t you have le arn e d to look fo r

in Miss Mulh o lland’s wo rk .

”

5. We ough t lon g ago to h ave give n a h e arty we lcome to A

Ruin ed Race , o r th e Last MacManus of Drumr o o sk ,

” by Heste rSig e rso n (Lo ndo n : Ward and Down ey) . Th e n am e wh ich Dr .

G e o rg e Sige rso n wa s, as far as we kn ow, th e fir st to distin guish

part icularly, h as late ly be e n brough t in to n o tice in con n ecti o n with

som e lite rary wo rk of much pr omi se by two youth ful sist e rs, Do ra

an d He ste r Sige rson . Th e ide n tity o f n ame m ay cause some con fusion ,

fo r it is th e m o th e r of Miss He ste r Sig e rson wh o h as chr o n icled th e

fa te o f th e las t MacManus of Drumro o sk . Mrs. Sig erson di splays

an in tima te kn owledg e o f Ir ish scen e s, Ir ish idioms, and Ir ish h e a r ts .

A t th e sam e time , th e same complain t may be made as we our se lves

h ave made with r e fe r e nce to Ch ar les Ei ch h am and o th e r Ir ish sto ry

te lle rs. With a ll th e ir love fo r Ire land, th ey do n o t se em to na to

give to th e ir r e ade rs a suflicien tly br igh t and amiable idea o f o ur

de ar coun try , and our de ar pe ople . Th ey exagge rate . and, th e re fo r e ,

deform A s a m atter of fact, we ar e ve ry lik e o th e r pe ople , o nly

nice r . A Ruin ed Race ,”th o ugh as m e lan ch o ly as its n ame , exh ibits

ple n ty o f h umour , an d still mo r e o f fe e lin g and imagin ation .

7 . Some o f th e n ew publica tions o f th e Cath o lic Truth Soci etyde se rve to be n o ticed much m o r e fully th an is n ow po ssible . We

spok e o f on e o f th em las t m on th—Judge O’Hagan

’s Childr e n ’

s

Ballad Rosa ry.

” We ar e g lad to h e ar th at it is alr eady wide lycirculated . Fath e r Be rtran d Wilbe rfo rce , 0 .P te lls ve ry we l l th e

be autiful sto ry o f th e gr eat sain t of h is Orde r, St. Vin cen t Fe rr e r .

Mr . C. T . G atty’s exce l le n t pape r o n Chr istian Ar t, r e ad at th e la te

co nfe re n ce o f th e Cath o lic Truth Socie ty a t Birmingh am , is an o th e r o f

th ese pe n ny tr acts . It is brillian t in th ough t and style , and mak es us

h ope fo r much fr om Mr . G atty, wh o is, we bel ieve , a r ece n t co nve rt

Notes on New Books. 61 5

and a r e la tive of the auth oress of Parable s fr om Natur e . Th e

Bish op o f Salford’s impr essive address on En gland

’s Con ve rsion by

th e Powe r of Pr aye r appe ar s in th e same se ries at th e sam e price ,

fo r wh ich also you can h ave tog e th er Can o n Murn ane o n th e

Tempe rance Moveme n t, and th e R ev. Edmo nd No lan o n Th rift .

Lastly, th e Cath o lic Truth Soci e ty give s n a Th e Cath o lic Ch urch and

th e Bibl e an d four o f Fath e r Ri ch ard Clark e’s penny m editation

bo oks, th ese n ew o n e s be in g on th e public life o f Our Lord.

8 . On e o f th e excellen t devi ce s of th is inde fatigable Socie ty justr e fe rred to is to group to ge th e r a ce rtain number o f its penny bo oks

in to a we ll bound vo lum e fo r a sh il ling . This it h as don e fo r some of

Fath e r John G era rd’

s brigh t and o rigin al essays on th e th e o lo gy of

n a tural h i sto ry, and also for some of Cardin al Newman ’s con tr ove rsial

l e cture s. To th e latter vo lum e (wh ich , h owaver , costs two shi llings)is pr efixed th e Re v. Dr . William Barry

’s admirable sk e tch of th e

Cardin al’

s life , wh ich is also publish ed separate ly fo r a penny.

An o th e r shillin g vo lume con ta ins a comple te se t of th e addr esses at

th e Birmin gh am Confe r ence me n tion ed be fo r e .

9 . Fath e r William Am h e rst, S.I ., h as give n n a a curious and

in te r estin g littl e bo ok in his R eview o f th e Life of Valen tin e Rian t

(Londo n : Burns and Oate s) . Val en tin e Ryan in Ir e land is a man’s

n ame , but in Fre nch Vale n tin e Bi an t is a femin in e n ame—th a t o f a

Fr e nchwoman wh o died ve ry youn g in th e So cie ty o f Mar ie

Réparatrice about te n ye ars ago . Lady He rber t of L es publish ed a

tr an slation of th e Fr e nch accoun t o f h e r sh ort ca r e e r ; and it is to this

work th at Fath er Amh e rst ca lls atten tion by his summary of facts

and his o rigin a l and edifying reflections .

1 0 . A r e any of our r e aders in tere sted'

1 n Pearso n’s Tide Tables

and Nautical A lman ack for 1 89 1 It se ems go od value for six

pence . We n am e it, as it h as be e n sen t to n a, th ough it com es oddly

amo ng such bo oks as Miss Dr ew’s tran slation of th e Ch o ruses o f th e

Ober -Ammergau Passion -Play (Londo n : Burns and Oates) ; Bish opEgg er

’s Le tter to a Young Man (Ben z iger : NewYo rk ) ; an exce llen t

twopen ny book of Maxims and Praye rs o f St. Th omas A quinas

(London : Burns and Oate s) and a beautiful little manual o f devo tion

and r eparation to th e Ho ly Face o f Our R ede em e r , publish ed by th eBen z igers unde r th e title of Th e Crown of Th o rns.”

1 1 . G randfath er and G randson is a tale o f th e pe rse cutions

under Que en Eliz abe th , translated from th e G e rman of Fa th e r Joseph

Spillman , S.J., by a Nun o f th e Carme lita Conven t at Wells in

Some rse tsh ir e , and o rde rs are to be sen t th e re fo r th e book which

d ispen ses with a publish er’s se rvice s. A fil th edition h as appe ared of

The Ir ish Monthly.

Mr . C . F . B . A lln att’s admirable tr e atise Wh ich is th e True

Church?o r a Few Pla in R e aso ns for Jo in ing th e Ca th o lic

Commun ion (London : Burns a nd Oate s) . Th e fuln ess, aptn ess,

and o rigin ality of h is quo tatio ns an d te stimon ies dr awn fr om all

qua r te rs h ave give n th is auth o r a very h i gh position among co n

tempo rary con tr ove r sialists. Mr . J C. Bodley of Ballio l Co ll eg e ,Oxfo rd, publish ed in The Nineteen th Century and 1 710 Edinburgh

Review two ve ry able and eloque n t articl e s o n th e pr esen t position o f

th e Roman Cath o lic Church in th e Un ited Sta tes. Th ese have be en

r epr in ted in a pamph let in th e co un try to which th ey r e fe r (Baltimor e :Joh n Murphy and Cc . ) with th e omissio n of an ofien sive paragraph

wh ich th e Edito r o f The Edinburgh Review th ough t fit to i o ist upon h is

con tributo r with out his kn owledg e and in opposition to h is opinio ns .

Th ese are ve ry in te r e stin g and valua ble pape rs, se t o ff by a pe cul iarly

grace ful an d an imated style .

1 2 . By far th e dain ti e st product of th e Irish pr ess for many a dayis Littl e G ems fr om Th omas a Kempis se lected and ar range d fo r

eve ry day ih !

th e yea r , by Sar a O’Br i e n (Dublin i M. H. G i ll and

So n ) . Th e se l ection is made with gr e at taste and judgmen t ; and th epr in tin g an d bindin g h e lp to mak e th e bo ok itse lf a little g em . Wh ena n ew editio n is r equir ed , th e mo n th s ough t to be n amed at th e top of

th e righ t-h and page s, so th at, ope n in g anywh e r e , we may at on ce

kn ow wh er e we ar e . Many a vacan t momen t wi ll be fill ed up

pleasan tly and profitably by th o se wh o carry th is exquisite tome le t

about with th em always.

1 3 . We h ave r e ad with gr e at in te re st th e two h t at numbe rs of th e

n ewe st sixpe nn y magaz in e , The Paternoster Ravine (1 1 Cleme n t’s In n

,

Stran d, London ) . With th e Marquis of Ripo n wr iting about India ,

an d M . Bar th elemi St. Hilair e about a Fr en ch co lon ial que stion , with

Mr . Lan e Fox o n th e Primro se Le ague , andMr .John O ’Connor , M.P .,

o n New Tipperary, we at o n ce g e t an idea of th e width and im

par tiali ty o f th e po licy on which The Patemm ter is to b e co nducted.

Th e po e tical con tr ibutor to No . 1 is A ubr ey de Ve re , to No . 2 G e o rg e

Me redith . Clyde Fitch ,’

a n am e th at we h ave n eve r se en befo re , is

sign ed to an exquisite ly pictur esque and path e tic li ttl e Fr ench ske tch ,

called Th e King’s Thr o n e .

”


A nd with out a th ough t as to h e r te ar -stain ed face an d tumble d

h a ir , Sylvia rush ed from h e r ro om , an d en te r in g th e libraryflung h e r

arms r oun d h e r grandfa th e r’s n e ck

, and th e r e , pr e ssed close to is

h e art, sh e sobbed out th e wh o l e sad sto ry.

“ I do n o t be lieve o n e wo rd of th is," h e cr ied in dign an tly, wh e n

sh e h ad fin ish ed , n o t fo r an in stan t . It is n on se n se , a. gro ss l i e

in ven ted .

But , grandpapa , you fo rge t wh o te lls th e sto r v—Do r a .

He paled sligh tly .

True , de ar e st . Do ra is to o go od, to o swe e t, to o— But, m v

love , I can n o t, I will n o t be li ev e it.

A las ! sh e said mournfully, it is n o t e n ough to say th a t w e

do n o t be li eve it . Eith e r it is true o r fa lse . But to pr ove on e o r th e

o th e r we must mak e in quirie s, fin d out eve rythin g we can,an d h ave i t

se ttl edfin al ly at o n ce .

”

Y ou ar e r igh t, da r lin g . It must n o t be said th a t we we r e afra id

to face th e truth . A sto ry lik e th is is sure to g e t n o ised abr oad ,

so o n e r o r late r . So at th e ve ry fir st we must stamp it as false .

”

“ Y e s, but h ow, gran dpapa

Y ou sh al l se e , pe t .

" He r an g th e be ll . An d n ow do n o t we e p

any m o r e , swe e t Sylvia . We sh all so on le arn with out doubt. th at th is

sto ry is an absurd fabr ica tion .

”

Th e fo o tman appear ed at th e do o r .

Se nd A n n e Dan e h e r e,a t o n ce ,

”sa id Sir Eustace .

A h ! you ar e go ing to que stion h e r ,”cried Sylvia . But A nn e

is un satisfacto ry, gran dpapa . Sh e

If you pl e a se , Sir Eustace ,”

said th e se rvan t comin g in to th e

r oom again ,A n n e Dan e is n o t in th e h ouse .

”

No t in th e h ouse

No , Sir Eusta ce .

”

Have you lo ok ed in h e r r o om, Joh n?ask ed Sylvia .

must be th e r e .

”

“ No , Miss, sh e is n o t .

Sh e cann o t be far cried his young m istr ess impa ti e ntly ,

I saw h er in Miss Ne il’s r oom about an h our and h alf ago .

Y e s, Miss. But sh e we n t away sin ce th en .

”

Sylvia spran g to h e r fe e t .

Wen t, away Do you m e an to say th at sh e h as left Summe r

lands?Y e s,Miss A th e rsto n e . A bout an h our ago on e of th e h ousem aids

me t h er go in g down th e back - sta irs wi th a carpe t-bag in h er hand .

Sh e was surpr ise d, as sh e kn ew A nn e h ad o n ly just arrived . 80 sh e

ask ed h e r wh e r e sh e was go ing . Sh e se emed an gry, and would n o t

A Str iking Con trast.°

6 1 9

an swe r a t first, but passed on . Th e n sh e suddenly turn ed back an d

said, I am go in g fo r a lo n g h o liday. Miss Sylvia do e s n o t wan t meat pr e sen t , so I am go in g fo r a h o liday.

’A nd sh e we n t o n in a gr ea t

h ur ry .

”

Th a t will do , Joh n , you may go .

Sir Eustace spok e calmly. Th e r e was n o t a tr emor in hi s vo ice .

But h e was ve ry pa l e . A nd as th e servan t withdr ew h e sank back in

his ch a ir , with a de ep groan .

A gr e at te rr o r h ad e n te r ed h is mi n d. Th is woman’s h igh t look ed

lik e guilt, and th e h o rr ible th ough t th at thi s m igh t afte r all be true

fo rced itse lf upon him ,n o twith standing hi s arden t lo nging to be li eve

th e co n trary .

G r an dpapa , cr ied Sylvia , in a to n e o f an guish . Oh , mydarlin g , I se e you thi nk as I do . A nn e h as 'run away; be cause

because sh e dar ed n o t face th e truth . Dora’s sto ry is true , and I em

n o t your granddaug h te r , n o t Sylvia A th e rston e afte r al l .”

Sir Eustace to ok h er in hi s arms, and pr essin g h er to his h e art,kissed h e r lon g an d pa ssion ate ly.

Y ou ar e my ch ild, my daugh te r , my dar lin g , h e cried.

No thin g'

can ch a n g e our love , Sylvia , afte r th e se lon g ye ar s. A n d

eve n sh ould th ey pr o ve th at you ar e n o t my son’s daugh te r , wha t

matte r Y ou will o n ly be min e all th e mor e . Th e ch ild of my o ld

ag e , my own swe e t Sylvia .

”

No th in g could chan g e our love . Oh , n o ,”

sh e answe r ed ,

clin g in g to him . But I sh oul d th en h ave n o r igh t to th at n ame , n o

r igh t to ca ll you gran dpapa . In your h ouse , wh e r e I h ave r e ign ed

as mistr e ss, I sh ould h ave n o righ t to r emain . If Do ra is your grand

daugh ter , sh e must tak e my place .

My dar ling , such a ch an g e must n eve r be al lowe d, h e cr ie d

fie rce ly. Y ou ar e my granddaugh te r , I will h ave n o o th e r . I

abso lute ly r efuse to be li eve th is sto ry. Le t th e se girls prove it if

th ey can .

Justice must be do n e , grandpapa . I could n ot be happy o r

en joy my life of luxury as m istr ess of your h ouse un l ess I fe lt

pe rfectly cer tain th at I h ad a righ t to do ao .

”

Y ou have th at righ t. I give it to you. No on e sh all tak e it

fr om you wh ilst I live . It is n o t like ly th at I em go in g to depo se

you, my be autiful da rl in g , for th e sak e of a pal e-faced, fair -h air ed

gir l , wh o ch ooses to spr in g up with out any pr o of an d say th at sh e is

my son’s daugh te r . Oh , n o , Sylvia , th e thing is impossible .

”

I wish it we r e , de ar . But wh en o n e come s to think of it, th e r e

is str o n g e vidence in favour of th is sto ry. Do you r em embe r, gran d

papa , h ow my fath e r always spok e of h is wife as fair?Howah e

620 The I rish Mon th ly.

m en tion ed freque n tly th e mi n iatur e th at h is ch ild wo re roun d h e r

n eck , an d h ow h e m ourn ed tha t it h ad be en lo st th e n igh t th e Cimbr ia.

was lo st

Y e s. but wh at ha s thi s go t to do with th is sto ry?Much . Do ra is fair and round h e r n eck sh e wears th e

miniatur e o f a be autiful fa 1 r woman , h e r mo th e r . Th e r esembla n ce

betwe e n Do ra and th e po rtra it is stri k ing .

”

But Mr s. Ne il m ay h ave be e n fa ir . Be cause my so n’

s wi fe was

fair it do es n ot fo ll ow th at th e po rt ra it o f any go lde n-h air ed woma n

sh ould be th ough t to be h e r lik e n e ss. Th at Do ra sh ould we ar a

mi n iatur e o f h e r m o th e r , given to h e r by h e r fath e r , is a co in cide nce ,

and o n e th a t h as given Madge appar e n tly a str o n g , a rath e r startlin g

pro o f: But, of course , you h ad to ld th em about th e o n e lo st from

your n eck on th at m ise rable n igh t?A n d so , pe r h aps, suggested th e

wh o le sto ry.

”

Y es. I h ave ofte n ta lk ed abo ut it to Do ra , and examin ed h e rs

It is love ly, and was do n e in Englan d b e fo r e h e r mo th e r’s marr iag e ,

I thi nk . But in de ed, grandpapa, th at did n o t mak e th e girls in ven t

thi s sto ry, I em sur e .

”

It is h ard to say—ve ry h ard.

I cann ot be li eve th em capable o f do ing anyth in g so crueL

m e r e ly to to rm en t and an n oy us. We h ave always be e n kin d to

th em . Y ou h ave be e n extr ao rdin ar ily g en e rous, an d th ey bo th lov e

you de ar ly. Do ra h as be e n my de ar e st fr ie nd, and I can n o t th ink

th at sh e would turn r ound ma lici ously a nd de str oy my pe ace . Sh e

be li eve s th is sto ry to be'

true , I em po sitive , wh e th e r it is o r n o t. A n d

you must r em embe r th at sh e did n o t te ll it to m e o r to you, but

be li e vin g h e rse lf a lo n e with A n n e Dan e , sh e ch arg ed h e r with

dece ivin g you and b e trayin g h e r trust .

”

Y ou argue we ll . de a r e st . On e would th ink yo u wish ed to prov e

th em r igh t.”

G od kn ows I don’

t,

”sh e cr ied wi th str e amin g eyes. It would

be , inde ed, a ,

te r rible discove ry to find th at I was o n ly po o r Doro thy

Ne il . I, wh o was so pro ud o f my posi tio n , my n ame, to become a

n obody, a dependen t. Oh , gran dpapa , g randpapa , I could n o t b ea r

it7?

No r I, my love . Such a discovery wo uld ki ll me .

A fter this th ey bo th r e lapsed in to sile n ce . Th e ir h e ar ts we r e to o

full fo r wo rds . Sylvia sat o n th e flo o r , h e r h ead upon h e r grand

fa th e r’

s kn e e , we epin g bitte r ly. His h and was la id car essingly on th e

brigh t, ch e stnut h a ir , and h is eyes we re fixed upon th e sorrowin g gir lwi th lo ok o f in te n se sympathy and afiection .

Th e do o r ope n e d, and a fo o tman e n te r e d.


W e ll,

” h e said , lock in g up, h ave you n o th ing to say, child

A r e you n o t appa led a t th e th ough t of your fath e r’s disappo in tme n t

G ra n dpapa ,

”sh e an swe r ed grave ly, if your son is my fath e r ,

th e r e will be n o disappo in tm e n t. A nd if h e is proved to be Dor a’s , it

can make littl e difie r e n ce to h im .

Sylvia His vo ice was full o f r epr o ach .

W e ll, de ar , wh at I say is true . To yo u

—to m e,th e truth o f

th is sto ry is impo rtan t. But to G e o rg e A th e rsto n e it will make n o

di ffe r e n ce , o n e way o r th e o th e r . Seven te e n ye ars ago h e par te d fr o m

h i s ch ild, an in fan t, scarce ly able to lisp th e wo rd fath e r . Th at baby

h as grown up away from h im , car ed fo r by o th e rs, loved by o th e r s .

Th en wh at is sh e to h im but a n am e Wh at can i t m atte r wh e th e r

sh e be dark o r fa ir , wh e th e r Do r a o r I b e ar th at n ame Wh ich ev e ris pr e se n ted to him h e will tak e to h is h e art, and love as h i

augh te r .

Y ou spe ak bitte rly, Sylvia . Sur e ly my son must fe e l m o r e

affe cti o n th an you se em to th ink fo r hi s own child

I did n o t wish to spe ak bitte r ly, grandpapa . But o n ly to mak e

you se e th in gs in th e ir pr ope r l igh t,”sh e sa id ge n tly. Wh e n do e s

h e com e h om e

Th e day afte r to -mo rr ow. He arr ive d in Lo n don th is mo rn in g .

just in tim e to find us gon e . He will trave l down h er e o n

Wedn e sday.

”

Ve rywe ll . We sh all be r e ady to r ece ive h im and we lcom e him .

A n d n ow, gran dpapa , I h ave made up my m in d as to wh at is t o

h appe n . My fath e r, your son

,sh a ll decide my fate . He sh a l l

de clar e wh ich is h is ch i ld, Do r a o r I.

”

But my darlin g , th ink . He h as n o t se en you fo r seve n te e n

ye a rs, n o t eve n your ph o tograph . A ll we r e lo st—stran g e ly lost . 8 0

h ow can h e decide

Easily. If th e m in iatur e th at Do ra we ars is th e po r tr a it o f h i

wife , h e wil l r e cogn iz e it . If it is n o t, our doubts sh all be se t a t r e st

fo r e ve r . Fo r Do ra h as always to ld m e it was th e lik en ess of h e r

m o th e r .

”

Your plan se ems to m e a little wild, a littl e vague , de are st .

Howeve r , I suppo se I must subm it to your will . But, r emembe r ,

wh a te ve r tur n s up, you ar e always Sylvia , my b e st be loved child .

No thin g but de a th sha ll separate us two , n o t e ve n mar r iage , my

pr e tty pe t .”

No , gran dpapa , sh e said sm ilin g an d blush in g , n o t e ve n

mar r iage . Paul will be th e be st an d m o st devo ted o f sons .

“ G od ble ss you, dar lin g , a nd n ow l e ave m e al on e . I h ave som e

wo rk to do ,th a t m ay k e ep me fa r in to th e n igh t.

A Str iking Contrast . 623

But your dinn e r , grandpapa Wo n’t you com e to dinn er

No , de ar e st ; I h ave n o appe tite . No r h ave you, I fa ncy ; din n e r

would be a farce . Tak e some th in g ligh t and go to b ed.

”

Ve ry we ll, grandpapa . G o od n igh t.” He dr ew h e r h e ad upo n

h is br east an d h e ld it th e r e for som e m in utes.

G o od-n igh t , my dar lin g , an d do n o t fr et . Wh a teve r h appe ns, ourlove is stro ng . So lon g as we h ave o n e an o th e r , th e r e st o f th e wo r ld

is o f but small val ue,in my eye s.

”

A nd th en with a loving k iss h e le t h e r go .

SIR EUSTA CE IS FORCED TO BELIEVE .

Wh e n Madg e arr ived at Summ e r lan ds th e n ext e ve n in g , sh e was

surprised to le arn th at, n o twith standi n g all th e pr ecautio ns th a t h ad

be e n tak e n by h e r and Dora , th e true story of th e sh ipwre ck h ad

le ak ed out . Th e n ews h lled h e r with j oy. Th e dr e am of h e r life

was n ow certain to be r ealised. Fo r ye ars sh e h ad h ope d an d plann ed

for th e r e sto ration o f h e r adopted siste r to h e r prope r position in th e

wo rld . But la te ly this se emed impo ssibl e . Th e r e we r e so many str on g

r ea sons for k e epin g th e true sta te o f affair s a secr e t . Th e gir l’s own

action s and wish e s had made it n ecesssary to do ao . Wh en 1 0with out in te ndin g it, sh e h e rse lf had r e veal ed all ; an d th e burden of

provin g h e r r igh t to th e n ame of A th e rsto n e was tak en ofi Madge’s

sh oulde rs.

To Do ra th e th ough t of becom in g th e rich Miss A th e rston e gave

little pleasur e . Sh e could n o t fr e e h e rse lf fr om a se n se o f guilt, in

ha ving sto len in to Summ e rlan ds as a fr ie nd, an d m eanly disturbed th e

pe ace and h appin e ss o f h e r kind ben e facto r .

Sir Eustace sh e h ad n o t se e n sin ce th e te rrible r e ve la tion h ad be en

made kn own to h im, an d sh e coul d n o t but fe e l th at th r ough it sh e

h ad lost h is affe ction for eve r . Thi s pa in ed h e r de eply, fo r sh e loved

th e o ld man , and h ad h oped to becom e h is granddaugh te r in r e al ity as

we ll as in name .

Sylvia proved h e rse lf a marve l o f go odn ess. Sh e came to se e Do ra

fr equen tly, tempted h e r to e at by se ndin g e ve ry dain ty sh e could

th ink o f, talk ed br igh tly of th e m ark ed improvem en t in th e girl’s

h e alth , and th e go od th e air of Summ e rlands was like ly to do h er .

But to th e unh appy sce n e of th e evening befor e sh e n eve r alluded.

Sh e was kin d as ever , taking an affection ate in te r est in h e r gue st, and

providing in eve ry way for h e r comfo rt . But, n everth el ess, th er e was


a difie rence , an indescribable some th ing in h er mann e r , th at gr i eve d

po o r se nsitive Dora an d,

caused h e r gr ea t so rrow.

Madge did h e r best to co nso le h e r , te lling h er th a t it was but

n atura l. Sylvi a was on ly human , and co uld n ot h e lp fe e lin g such a

th r eaten ed ch ang e in h e r life in te nse ly.

But Do ra r efused to be comfo rted, and Madge so on found i t

impo ssibl e to rouse h e r dro opin g spir its.

Late th at even in g Sir Eustace sen t fo r Madge , an d th ey rema in e d

close ted toge th er for some tim 9 .

Dur ing th is in te rview Do ra was restless and excite d. Sh e could

n o t lie sti ll upon h e r sofa , but paced hurriedly up an d down h e r

ro om .

We ll,”

sh e cried bre athl essly as Madge r e turn ed, doe s h e

h ate n a 1‘ Do e s h e de te st my n ame 7“ No , dear ,

”sa id Madg e so o th in gly, an d dr awing th e gir l down

upon th e couch beside h e r . He is sad—pain ed . But h e is to o

n oble to h ate you for wh at you cann o t h e lp.

Do es h e be lieve us, th en

No . He r e fuses to be lie ve my sto ry—says I was dr iven mad by

th e te rr o r of tbeg hipwr eck , and imagin ed th at you wer e Sylvia and

Sylvia you .

”

Such n onse nse But wh at doe s h e think o f A nn e Dane’s

fligh t

Th at h as sh ak en h is fai th a little , I can se e . But h e will n o t

ackn owledg e it. He says sh e was ofiended by Sylvia’s mann e r an d

so on .

"

Th e n wh at is to be don e We cann o t stay h e r e n ow, sa id

Do ra sadly.

“ A n d we can n o longer live upo n Sir Eustace A th e r

sto n e’s boun ty. We must r e turn to our pove rty,

Madge .

”

I thi nk n o t,dar ling .

”

Do r a lo o ked a t h e r in amaz em en t. Madge spoke so br igh tly:

h er face wo r e such an expr ession of h appy con te n t, th at th e gir l was

filled with wonde r .

I do n o t un derstand you,”sh e said with some irritation .

used to h ave spir it, a fe e ling of pride . But n ow

Madg e laugh ed so ftly, and kissed th e poutin g lips.

My dar lin g , you must n o t be cro ss with your po o r Madge . A n d

do n o t blam e h e r till you kn ow all . We , at least you, sha ll n o t go

back to pove rty, but to a life of comfo rt and luxury with your

fath er .

”

My fath e r Oh , Madge

Y es, dar ling , with your fath e r . Sir Eustace doe s n o t be lieve our

sto ry, do es n o t.wish to be li eve it, po o r o ld man . But h e ha s


I um glad th ey h ave n o t com e ye t . Oh , Madg e , I fe e l so

frigh te n ed, so

My pe t, you must be courag e ous, sa id Madg e , as sh e made h e r

sit down in a large arm-ch a ir . Th e r e is n o thi ng to alarm yo u. It

will al l go cti ve ry quie tly.

”

I h ope ao . I h ope ao .

” A n d Do ra lay back with a sigh .

Pr ese n tly th e do o r opened, and Sir Eustace came in with Sylvia

leanin g o n his a rm . Sh e was dr e ssed in pur e whi te , 9. bun ch o f

vio le ts a t h e r br e ast . Sh e lo ok ed very b e autiful , tal l, e rect an d

sta te ly, and as Do ra lo ok ed at h e r sh e fe l t h e r h e ar t sink low within

h e r

Wh o ,”sh e th ough t, could lo ok at na two and n o t ch o o se h er

So , pe rh aps, afte r all th is m e e tin g may be’

a fa ilur e fo r m e , and

Sylvia will be left as sh e 1 8 . I co uld almost h ope so—o nly Sir

Eustace .

”

He turn ed as sh e call ed him , and lo ok e d at h e r inqui rin gly. Do ra

started ; sh e was sh ocked at th e chan ge in him . He was pal e an dwo rn ; his eye s we r e sun k in hi s h e ad, an d h is mouth Was se t in stem ,

h arsh lin e s.

Fo rgive m e , fal ter ed Do ra , oh , say you forgive m e .

Sylvia sto oped and kissed h er ; th en lo oking up appe aling ly at

Sir Eustace .

Fo rgi ve h e r , grandpapa ,”sh e wh ispe r ed. Speak to h er kindly.

It is n o t h e r fault.

My de ar , o f course . I un de rstan d pe rfectly, h e r eplied .

h ave n o th in g to fo rgive .

”A rid h e turn ed away abruptly.

Do ra sigh ed h e avi ly, and grasped Madg e’s h an d tigh tly with in

h e r own . He r e was a fri end wh o would n e ve r de se r t h e r , n o m atte r

wh at h er fa te m ight be . Madge pr essed h e r lips upon th e littl e thin

hug er s, an d said m a low vo ice , Courage .

”

Sylvia lo o k ed at th em sadly, and fo llowed Sir Eustace to th e o the rside of th e r o om .

A n unple asan t silence fe ll upon th em all , brok en only by th e

tickin g o f th e clock upon th e man te lpiece . Sir Eustace h ad expe cted

h i s son to a r r ive a t h alf-past four , but it was n owfive , and h e h ad n 0 t

ye t appea r ed. Th e o ld man gr ew impa tien t. Th is waiting was

.terrible . Would h e n eve r come

But, sudde n ly, th e sound o f carriage wh e e ls was h e ard in th e

avenue . Sylvia gr ew pal e as marble , and le an ed h e avily against th e

bo ok -case . Do ra looked at h e r lon g ingly, and fell back tr emblin g

in h e r chair .

Th is o rde al will soon be at an en d, my swe e t Sylvia , wh ispe r ed

Sir Eustace , with quive ring lips. In a few mome n ts you will be in

your fa th e r’s arms.

”

A Str iki ng Con tract. 627

A n d h e tr ied to walk ste adi ly fo rward as h e h e ard th e h a ll -do o r

open in g to admi t hi s so n . But h is anxi e ty was to o gr e a t , h is fe e lin gto o in te nse ; and, cove r in g hi s face with h is h an ds, h e san k h e lple ss

o n th e so fa .

Madg e al on e was co o l an d se lf-possessed . Sh e sto o d by Do ra’

s

side , a lo ok of tri umph an t h appin e ss in h e r eye s, h e r ch e eks glowin gwith th e flush of ce r tain victo ry.

Th e soun d of h ur ryin g fe e t ; th e ope n ing an d shuttin g o f do o rs ;a ch e erful vo ice , loud, cle ar , and r ingin g , fa lls on th e ir e ars, an d

G e o rg e A th e rston e , lo okin g much ag ed sin ce we last saw h im , an d

som ewh at br on z ed fr om h i s lo n g se a -journ ey, e n ters th e library and

grasped h is fath e r by th e h and.

Th ank G od,I em h ome safe a t last , h e cri e s , h e ar tily. It is

a life tim e since we par te d, fath e r . I em glad to se e you o n ce m o r e

an d my daugh te r?Sha ll I kn ow h er , I wonde r , th e li ttle on e th at Ih ave de se rted so lo n gHe lo oks anxiously r ound th e r o om . He passe s, with o ut r e co g

ultion , be autiful Sylvia , with h e r r ich ch e stn ut h a ir , and da rk lustr ous

eye s, glan ces at Madg e , and g ive s a sligh t sta rt . Sh e puz z les h im ;

r emin ds h im o f som e on e . But it is n o t h e r h e se eks. A t la st h e

se e s Do ra, wh i te an d fragi le , lo oking up a t h im with a ye ar n ing ,

ple adin g expr e ssion , and, in an in stan t, h e is by h e r side .

My swe e t ch ild ! My po o r de se r te d ba ir n ,h e sobs, takin g h e r

in h is arms and kissin g h e r o ve r an d o ve r aga in . Oh , my Sylvia , h ow

lik e your m o th e r you ar e ; h ow like my de ar , de ar wife

Y e s,”sa id th e gir l, so ftly

“so Madg e a lways to ld m e . A n d ,

se e , I h ave n eve r parted fr om th is ; I h ave a lways kept it, fa th e r .

A n d,dr awing out th e m in iatur e o f h e r de ad mo th e r , sh e h e ld it

towards him .

My darlin g ! h e kissed h e r again , an d ga z ed at h e r fo ndly.

I am g lad you h ave it still,fo r i t is lik e h e r— an d you. But I

th ough t it was lo st—lost in th at te rrible wr eckNo

,n o , it was always r ound my n ec

Th en I must h ave mi sun de rsto od my fath e r’s le tte rs, h e said,

lo ck in g puz z led, fo r I th ough t h e to ld m e—h owe ve r , th a t do e s n o tm a tte r n ow. A n d you,

”

givin g h is h an d to Madg e , ar e my de ar

o ld fri en d’s e lde st daugh te rJMadg e A n d th is

, glan cin g with ad

m ir atio n at Sylvia , is, I em sur e,th e be autiful baby, Do ra We ll ,

my dear , I um m o r e g lad th an I can say to fin d th a t you we r e n o t

dr own e d, as was at fir st suppo sed. Th an k G od you to o e scaped th at

fe arful de ath .

” Th en h e tur n ed again to h is ch ild and examin ed h e r

clo se ly, cr itically. He touch ed th e g o lden h air , lin ge r ed admir in gly

o n th e de ep, path e tic b lue eye s, th e swe e t te nde r mouth an d alabaste r


ch e ek . But as h is ga z e wande red ove r h er figur e , and h e be ga n to

r ealise tha t sh e was we ak and a n invalid, h e utter ed a fai n t cry, an d

look ed r epro achfully at h is fath ar .

Y ou to ld me sh e was ta ll an d str o ng ,” h e cried in a loud ton e o f

k e e n disappo in tm en t. Y ou de scr ibed h e r as we ll as you migh t

h ave de scr ibed Do rothy Ne il th e r e . Y ou n eve r h in ted tha t sh e wa s

small and fragi le , a poo r de licate little crea ture . Why did you n o t

pr epar e me fo r such a tr ouble Why did you dece ive m e so

te rr ibly?My dar ling is be autiful . But , alas ! qui te difie r e n t fromth e splendid girl you led m e to suppo se . What was your mo tive ,fath e r Why h ave you so crue l ly dece ived m e?

Sir Eustace sta r ed at his so n , blankly. Th e n , open in g h is lips and

wavin g h is h and , h e murmur ed, Sylvia .

But his vo ice was in audible ; and G e o rge kn ew n o t wh at h e me an t .

G eo rge ,” h e whispe red h o arse ly, I

Th en h e stagger ed forward, utte red a de ep groan , an d fell h e avily

to th e ground .

G r andpapa , grandpapa , cr ied Sylvia , flinging h e rse lf on h e r

kn e es by‘

h is side .

“ Oh , my po o r tende r-h e a rted darling , this crue l

sh ock h as kill ed you.

But G e o rg e A th erston e th rust h er away, . an d with th e h e lp o f th e

se rvan ts carr ied his fath e r up th e sta irs, and lai d h im on th e bed in

his own ro om.

Had I kn own my return , afte r all th ese yea rs, would h ave cause d

you such a sh ock , I would h ave stayed away fo r ever ,”h e murmur ed ,

as h e ben t ten der ly over th e unconscious m an . But I n eve r th ough t

such a thi ng po ssible—n eve r .

”

Th en pr essing a lovin g kiss upon th e marble brow, h e sto le away,le avin g Sir Eustace to th e docto rs.

CHAPTER XXVII.

SY LVIA G IVES WA Y TO DESPAIR .

Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e n eve r spok e aga in .

His h eart h ad be en se r iously afiected fo r som e time , said th e gr eat

physician , wh o h ad be e n his m edica l atte ndan t fo r years. Th e joy a t

se e ing hi s so n again had doubtle ss b e en to o much fo r h im, and so h e

Th e wh o le h ouseh o ld was plunged in de ep grief by this sudde n

de ath . Fo r Sir Eustace was belo ved by all . He had always be en a

kin d maste r , no t o n ly just, but unusually ge n erous, to all th ose wh ose rved h im .


Po or Sylvia ! fo r so we sh all still ca ll h e r , a lth ough h e n ow

kn ows sh e h as n o r igh t to th e n ame,turn ed away fr om th e side o f

him wh o h ad be e n fa th e r, gran dfath e r , and fri e nd ; shut out from

th e sigh t of him sh e loved . So we l l h e r h e ar t was li ke to burst with

anguish . On th a t dr e adful e ve n in g wh e n h e had fall e n de ad a t h e r

fe e t , sh e h ad fe lt wildwith gr ief at th e th o ugh t th a t h e was gon e ; th a t

n eve r m o r e sh ould sh e h e ar hi s vo ice , o r r ece ive h is car esse s. From

th at h our h e r m ind h ad be e n abso rbed in th e,o n e unh appy truth

th at h e wa s de ad, passe d away fo r e ve r .

But n ow,as G e o rg e A th e rsto n e co ldly bade h e r l e ave h e r place by

h e r b e loved de ad, callin g h e r by th at n am e th at was h e n cefo r th to b e

h e r own ,sh e r em emb e r e d sudde n ly a ll th e m isfo r tun e s th at h ad com e

upo n h e r .

He is go n e ,”

sh e wa iled, pacin g up and down h e r r oom in

fr an tic de spa ir . G on e with out a wo rd, l e avin g m e a paupe r .

depe nde n t upo n G e o rg e A th e r sto n e o r Madg e . Oh , I can n o t bea r th eth o ugh t, I can n o t be ar th e th ough t . Th is h ouse th at was to h ave be e n

my own ,th o se g rounds , th a t park , a ll g on e , and I, th e o n ce co ur te d a n d

admir ed h e ir e ss, am n ow po o r , h e lpless Do r o thy Ne il . But n o th in g

will in duce m e to be a burden o n anyo n e . I must lo ok fo r wo rk . g o

out as a go ve r n e ss , do anyth ing r a th er th an live in a sta te of depe n

de n ce . Oh , my po o r Paul , h ad you be e n in a be tte r po sitio n , h ad

you wo rk ed dur in g all th o se ye ars waste d in fo l ly and idle n e ss , you

m igh t h ave h e lped m e n ow. But,alas ! th at is impo ssible . A

pe n n ile ss wife would be but a clog upo n you, pr e ve n t yo u ge tting o u .

A s th e r ich Miss A th e rsto n e , I was n o t all owed to mar ry you ; as

Do ro thy N e il , with out a pe n ny of h e r own , I must r efuse to

do so . Oh , gr an dpapa , gran dpapa ,why did you le ave m e Fr om

your h an ds I’d h ave tak e n a nythin g . I

’d h ave be en your ch ild, yo ur

compan ion . But n ow th is place , th e se wall s stifle m e . I must goout , an d in th e fr e sh a ir , away from th e sigh t of thi s dear , de ar h om e ,

I may th ink mo r e calmly, mak e up my m in d to som e th in g .

It was a pleasan t day for a wa lk . Th e r e was th e softn ess o f

spr in g in th e fr esh , swe e t a ir , and as Sylvia passed down th e ave nue

sh e saw sn owdr ops an d cro cuse s lifting th e ir de lica te blossoms above

th e rich br own m oss th at gr ew so luxur ian tly un de r th e fin e o ld

be e ch tr e e s. Primr o se s an d vio le ts we r e blo omin g in a ll th e h edg e

rows. Th e wo ods h ad a sl e nde r ti ng e o f gre e n fr om th e ir da intysproutin g leave s , an d th e far off fie lds, ful l of th e fast growin g cr ops,lo ok ed fr esh an d brillian t un de r th e de ep blue sky.

A ll so pe aceful , so b e autiful ,”murmur e d th e gi rl sadly, an d

ye t, h e , th e maste r of a ll,is go n e

—n eve r to r e tur n . Th e beauty, th e

unch an gin g pe ace se ems crue l, and fil ls m e with pain .

A Str ikmg Con trast. 63 1

A n d sh e hur rie d a lo n g , a nxious to sh ut out from h e r sigh t, if

se ible , all th e va r ied ch arms o f th e love ly landscape .

A t last sh e cam e on a wide . wild commo n , an d h e r e th e view

suited h e r pr e sen t m o od to pe rfe ctio n .

'

Th e h e ath e r , wh ich sh e h ad

se e n in th e autumn r ich in de ep purpl e h ue s, was n ow brown , with out

le af o r flowe r . Th e brack e n , th e n so gr e en an d soft, lay with e r e d a nd

dry upo n th e ground , lo ok ing as th ough it co uld n eve r raise its h e ad

aga in in life an d h appin e ss to h e ave n .

It is lik e my h e art ,”sh e th ough t , crush ed a nd de ad. o n ly it

may r evive with th e summ e r sun , th e so ft sprin g r a in s. My h e ar t.ala s, n eve r , n eve r can ,

”and sh e sh ive r ed as a co ld b last o f wind cam e

swe epin g acro ss th e m o o r lan d .

Sh e drew h e r clo ak mor e clo se ly r ound h e r , and wan de r ed in

am o n gst th e with e r e d h e a th e r an d dry brack e n . Sh e fe lt utte rlydre ary an d fo rsak e n

,an d we n t o n a im le ssly,

h e edle ss o f time o r

dista n ce . Th e br igh tn e ss of th e day passed ofi ; th e sky b ecam e a

le ade n g r ey, th e wind sh a rp and e aste rly.

A s Sylvia cr o ssed th e h e ath , and came out again upon th e ro ad ,

sh e sto od fo r a m omen t in doubt . Sh e h ad com e a lo ng way fr om

Summ e r lands , and was n o t sur e which turn to tak e . Sh e g lan ced

anxiously about to se e if th e r e was anyo n e n ea r wh o could di r ect h e r ,but n o t a cr e a tur e was visible . A gr ey m ist h ad com e down and h id

th e distan ce , and sh e kn ew n o t wh at to do .

Sudden ]y fo o tsteps we r e h e ard appro ach in g , and a yo ung m an

cam e towards h e r alo n g th e ro ad . He was walk in g br iskly, hi s h e ad

th r own we ll back , steppin g out tr iumph an tlyto Me n de lssoh n’sWedding

Ma rch , whi ch h e humm ed to h imse lf in a rich , cl e ar bariton e .

Sylvia’s h ear t gave a gr e a t plun ge , an d sh e fe lt h e rse lf tr emblin g

fr om h e ad to fo o t .

Is it po ssible—can it be Paul

He lo oked r ound ; h e was bewilde r ed, aston ish ed. It was Sylvia’s

vo ice ; and ye t , h e was many mile s from Summ e r lands. Howcould sh e be th e r e Th e so n g died upo n h i s lips ; h e turn e d

wo n de r ingly towards th e comm on .

How com e you to be h e r e , Paul Why ar e you n o t in Lo ndonsh e ask ed.

A n d, as th e slim figure cam e forward th rough th e mist, h e kn ew

th a t h is e ars h ad n o t dece ived h im , and th at it was r e ally Sylvia wh o

h ad spoken .

Because—oh , my de ar e st—my time o f pro batio n is ove r ; I h ave

earn ed th e righ t to te ll you h ow de arly I love you.

”

A nd , catch in g h e r h an d, h e h e ld it tigh tly claspe d within h is own .

Thank G od,”murmur ed Sylvia , I am n o t with out a .

‘

fr iend.

Th e r e is still some on e to love me in this sad, sad wo rld.

”

632 1 713 Irish Mon th ly.

He g az ed at h e r in surprise and alarm .

Sylvia ,

” h e said, r epro achfully, you sh ould n o t spe ak thus

you, th e ador ed, th e idolised. Oh , my love , if it we r e n ot fo r

my stro n g be lief in your affection and truth , I woul d n o t dar e to offe r

you my poo r h e art , my h ome , so unworthy of you. But yo u look i ll,

dear e st—wha t is wro ng Why ar e you so far from Summ erlands

Do e s Sir Eustace kn ow”

He is gon e , Paul . My de ar , kind grandfa th e r is gon e .

G on e dead?Y es, de ad. He fe ll sudde nly at my fe e t, and n e ver spok e

again .

”

G ood G od ! h ow te rr ible .

Paul raise d h is h at r e ve rently, and drew Sylvia’s h and wi thin h is

arm

Terr ible inde ed Th e girl shive red. So n o won de r I am i ll

a nd weary.

No won de r , de ar e st. But come h om e n ow.

I h ave n o h om e .

”

Sylvia Has th is death turn ed your brain Till we ma rry.

wh ich , th ank G od, .n eed n o t be long n ow, th e h ouse wh ich was your

grandfa th e r’s must b e your h om e . Sin ce your fath e r has n o t ye t

r e turn ed

I h ave n o fath e r , n o grandfa th er , n o h om e ,”sh e cried, passio n

a te ly. I um a paupe r , a n o body. A ll th e se years I ha ve bee n an

impo stor , de ce iving you, th e wo r ld, e ve ryon e . Oh , Paul , why was Ibo rn

My own lo ve , h e said , so o th in gly, yo u wer e bo rn fo r much

g o od—to pe rfe ct my life , an d m ak e m e h appy, an d—and

, perh aps ,

g r eat . Your love h as en couraged m e, Sylvia , fir ed my ambitio n , filled

m e with go od and n oble th ough ts . Th a t, a lon e , is some th ing to live

fo r . But I do n o t unde rsta nd you ; some th ing stran ge must h ave

h appen ed to mak e you se em so wild—so distracted.

”

Som e th in g . Oh . Paul , woul d th at I could wak e and fin d it a ll adr e am—a h o rr ible n igh tmar e . But liste n .

”

A nd, sink in g down upon th e h e ath e r , sh e pour ed fo rth th e wh o l e

sad sto ry fr om beg inn in g to end .

We ll , my dar lin g ,” h e sa id wh en sh e h ad finish ed

,I um so rry

fo r your sak e , de eply gr ieved th at you sh ould have such a disappo in t

m e n t as th is must be ; but, afte r all , wh at do es it ma tte r Y o u loved

Sir Eustace , a nd spen t many h appy ye ars in hi s company ; h e loved

you de ar ly, devo tedly, and you h ave a r igh t to mour n for h im n ow

th at h e is de ad. But th is discovery, thi s se cret o f your bir th , is n o t

worth a sigh . Mr . Ne il was a man o f go od family ; h e was upr igh t

an d h on est, th ough unfortun ate in h is afiairs. His wife was a lady.


fath e r , Sir Eustace , gave h is conse n t to our un io n som e tim e before h is

de ath . He brough t m e up, e ducated me , and I loved him ve ry

sin ce re ly.

”

A r e you Paul Vyn e r

Y e s. Your fath e r ’s adopted so n .

I am glad to se e you. He m e n tion ed you fr equen tly in hi sle tte rs. I h ope you will stay h e r e to

-n igh t . It is on ly r igh t th at you

sh ould assist a t my fath e r’

s fun e ral to -mo rrow.

Only o righ t, ce rta in ly. Th e last act o f love I can pay my

be n e factor . An d n owmay I se e him o n ce mo r e upo n earth

Y es . Sh e wh o loved him so we ll , and m ourn s h im so truly, will

le ad you to h is side .

”

Sylvia bowed. a nd passing o n in to th e h ouse , led Paul up th e

broad stai rcase to th e dead man’s ro om .

CHAPTER XXVIII .

WEDD ING BILLS.

But Sylvia h ad n o t be en l eft th e paupe r sh e supposed. Sir

Eustace h ad loved h is dar lin g far too we ll to l e ave h er depende n t

upon any human be ing . Summ erlan ds and a large sum o f mon ey in

th e funds h ad be e n le ft to h is gr an ddaugh ter in a wil l made many

years be fo re . But o n h e ar ing Madg e’s sto ry o f th e wreck, an d

huding that An n e Dan e h ad tak e n fligh t, an awful doub t en tered h i s

mind ; and h e r em embe r ed th at if h e di ed sudden ly, as hi s docto r h ad

fr equen tly warn ed h im h e migh t do , and this gir l we re proved n o t to

be his son’s ch ild, sh e would be thr own pen n iless upon th e world. He

did n o t and woul d n o t be lieve th at such a th in g wer e po ssible . But

h e r eso lved to ensur e th e prope rty to h er , n o matte r wh a t sh ould

h appen . So on th at sad e ve n in g , afte r di smissing th e girl to r est, h e

appe nded a codici l to h is will sta tin g th at it was to be h e rs wh e th e r

sh e was Sylvia A th e rston e o r Do ro thy Ne il . Th is wa s dulywitn essed

an d . signed, and Sylvia r emain ed mistr ess of Summe r lands.

Th is gr e at pro o f of h is watchful lo ve r en ewed th e g ir l’s grief,

and for mon ths sh e was in co nso lable .

But as tim e and th e summe r sun r esto r ed th e with er ed h eath er ,

and raised th e dro oping bracke n o n th e moo r , so it was with Sylvia’s

For a year sh e wor e h eavy mourn in g for h e r be loved dead. and

th en as th e ro ses blo om ed an d th e birds sang joyous roul ades throughth e sh ady wo ods at Summe rlands, sh e at last liste n ed to Paul

’s

e arn e st en treaties an d consented to become h is wife .

For a long time after Sir Eustace A th erston a’s death Dora was


ve ry ill. But Madge’s te nde r car e and wa tch ful n ursin g saved h e r

o n ce mo r e , and sh e cam e sl owly back to life

A s so on as sh e was we ll en ough to tr ave l , h er fath e r wish e d t o

h urry h e r away with him to Lo ndo n .

But sh e implo r ed him to l e ave h e r at Summe r lands .

I am so h appy h e r e , fath e r . Pray le t m e stay wh e r e I um ;

Lo ndon would stifle me .

”

But thi s is n o t your h ome . Y ou h ave n o r igh t to live with a

A strang e r ! Sylvia a strange r ! Oh , fa th e r , h ow can you say

such a thin gSylvia , it is absurd to call h e r so . Y ou a r e Sylvia , sh e is Dora .

”

I kn ow,

”sh e a nswe r ed, laughi ng . But it is impossible to

ch an g e our n am e s n ow. I could n eve r cal l h e r anyth in g but Sylvia ,

n o m atte r h owmuch I tr ied .

”

But I r e ally thi nk you an d Madge sh ould come to Lo n do n , h e

urged. Wh e th e r sh e is Sylvia o r Dora, you h ave n o righ t to

tr espass to o lon g o n h e r h o spita lity.

Madg e will n o t com e . Sylvia is h e r siste r . We , a las ar e

n o th in g to h e r .

Madge n o t com e , h e cr ied in con ste rn ation . Why, you would

be lost with out h e r .

”

Y e s ; an d fo r th at r e ason I must stay wh e r e I am . Madge ,

Sylvia , and I wan t e ach o th e r badly. Y ou like to se e th e wo r ld ,

fa th er—so go , and le ave us in our se clusion .

”

But you must se e th e wo r ld, to o , dear , and Madg e .

Th e gir l blush ed br igh tly, an d smil ed as sh e an swe r ed“ I sh all se e th e wo rld so on , fath er , wh e n I am a little str onge r ,

with A shfiel

A h , of course ; but tha t is one r e ason why you sh ould com e to

London . Wh e n you ar e bur ied h e r e , th a t poo r fe llow n eve rs se e s you .

Pardon m e,

”sh e said laughi n g ; th a t po or fe ll ow, as you ca ll

h im , h as se en m e fr eque n tly, an d h e is comi n g down n ext we ek with

his mo th e r to stay fo r a fo rtni gh t .

”

In de ed and Paul Vyn e r

Paul is comin g to o . He has n ot be e n h e r e since Ch ristmas.

A nd this is March . Well, it se ems to me you wil l all be ve ryh appy and comfo rtable . N0 on e ,

”sighi n g , wan ts m e , I

’m afraid .

Oh , fath e r we all wan t you. Sylvia lik es you to be h e r e ; and

Madge

Do e s sh e care h e asked quickly. Do you think Madg e

cares

I um sure sh e do es. Y ou wer e always a h er o in h e r eyes, eve r

since th at day wh en you left me on board th e Cimbria .

”

636 Tbe Ir ish Mon th ly.

Dea r , faithful Madge . Wh at a h eart th at g i rl has. How sh e

work ed and sufie red fo r you,

Y e s . I love Madge ve ry dearly.

Sir G e o rg e A th ersto n ewalk ed to th e win dow, and lo oked out . Th en ,

turn in g roun d, h e said abruptly

G o od-bye , my ch ild. I will run up to London to -n igh t , and

com e back h e r e in a we ek with A shfie ld and Paul Vyn e r .

Dora clapped h er h ands.

Th at will be ch arming . We’

ll all be h appy th e n . Th a t’s just

wh at Sylvia woul d lik e you to do . A n d do you kn ow, we all h ope

tha t we may co ax h er to say wh e n sh e will marry Paul . A shfie ld is

growin g impatie n t, and our marr iag e depe nds on Sylvia . We must

be married o n th e same day.

”

But you ar e n ot strong e n ough .

By Jun e I migh t be ,”

sh e said , smi ling and blush ing ,

Sylvia woul d o n ly say ye s.

”

An d Sylvia did say Y e s.

80 , o n e glo rious day in Jun e , th e two girls wer e m a rr ied in th e

beautiful o ld church at Summ e r lands. Sir G e o rge A th e rsto n e gav e

th em bo th away ; an d it would be diflicul t to say which o f th e br ide s

h e admi r ed m o st.

Th ey ar e bo th ch arming in th e ir own way,

” h e sa id to th e

Dowag e r Lady A shfie ld, and th ey ce rtain ly mak e a pr etty

co n trast .

”

Y es ; but I h ave li ttle doubt upo n th e sub ject, an swer ed tha t

astute lady. I always adm ir ed go lde n h air , an d th er e is som ethin gal toge th er winn in g in your daugh te r

’s swe e t blue eyes.

”

Mrs . Vyn e r woul d h ave made a mo re str ik ing pe e r e ss, h owe ve r ,

h e said smi lin g . My ch ild is, as you say, win n in g , but n o t com

mandin g .

”

No ; but sh e is Sir Eustace A th e rsto n e’s granddaugh te r tha t is

r e comm enda tion en o ugh for m e . I h ad r eso lved our familie s sh ould

be un ited ye ar s ago , so you may fancy h ow ple ased I um to -day.

Q C Q Q Q 'l

Six mon th s late r Lo rd Ashfie ld and his bride passed th rough

London , o n th e ir way to h is place in Co rnwa ll .

Do ra , for sh e was always Do ra to h e r husband , was in radian t

h e al th and spir its. Happin ess , ch ange o f a ir and scen e , had wo rked

won ders, and sh e n ow looked th e pe rfection of youth and beauty.

My de ar .”

sh e said to Lo rd A shfie ld, th e morn ing afte r th e ir

arrival, I h ope you will n ot object to leaving me al on e fo r an h our

o r so you can go to your club o r r em a in in your smoking-ro om .

But—but Madg e is comi n g, and I wan t to h ave h e r all to myse lf.

”

“ I am j ealous of Madge . I r e ally am , littl e wife .


Do es Sylvia kn ow

Oh , ye s. We we r e married from h er h ouse .

Fr om Summ erlands 1?No ; fr om h e r pretty house in town . Vyn e r did th e fath e r , and

gave Madge away.

”

We ll , I am so glad to se e you marr ied. I h ave h oped you

would do so eve r since—we ll , sin ce I kn ew you, papa . Has any

o th e r strange thing h appe n ed dur in g my abse n ce

An n e Dan e is de ad . A nd befo r e h e r dea th sh e wr o te a full co n

fassion of th e deception sh e h ad practised on my po o r fath er . Sh e

de eply r egr e tted it and be gg ed forgiven ess.

”

Poo r cr e atur e ,”said Dora . I fo rgave h er lo ng ago .

Do ra , may I com e in?ask ed Lo rd Ashfie ld a t th e do o r .

Y ou and Madge h ave be en an age toge th er .

”

Y es. Y ou may come in ,

”sh e answe r ed ga ily. A nd n ow,

n o t

a wo rd,”sh e whi spe r ed to h e r fath er . Le t me te ll him about your

ma rr iage .

”

But to h er surprise h er husband walk ed straigh t up to Madge .

and callin g h e r Lady A th e rston e , co n gratulated h e r most h ea rtily.

Now, A shfie ld, wh o to ld you ask ed Do ra indign an tly.

He r e ar e th e culpr its,” h e r eplied. Sco ld th em ,

n ot m e .

A n d thr owin g ope n th e do o r , h e call ed o ut laugh in g ly, Come ih .

Mr . and Mr s. Vyn e r , an d r ece ive a seve r e punishm en t fo r re vealingth is wonde rful se cr e t .

”

A n d in an oth e r instan t Sylvia , lookin g radian tlybeautiful , en te r ed

th e r oom leanin g o n h e r husban d’s arm .

This is th e h appie st momen t of my life , sh e said wi th shinin geyes, as sh e glan ced from Madge and Do ra to th e th re e sta lwar t

husban ds. We h ave all don e exactly what I h oped we sh ould do ,

and I am most blissfully con ten t .

”

Y e s. de ar , and so am I,

”criedMa dge , th ough I co nfe ss I n ever

dar ed h ope fo r th e h appy fate that is n ow min e . G od has be en very

go od to m e .

A nd to m e , said Dor a softly. But do you kn ow, Sylvia ,”sh e

added roguish ly, alth ough you a re talle r, and, pe rh aps, just a little

h andsom e r, you are n o t o n e atom straigh te r o r str on ge r lookin g than

I um . We are n ot th e strikin g con trast we used to be .

”

No , de ar est , except in th e co lour o f our h a ir and eyes. We are

both we ll a nd h appy. So , thank G od, th e re is n o lo nge r th e te rrible

con tr ast in our lives th at th er e used to be in th e days n ow h appily

gon e by fo r eve r

THE END .

TO THE CHILDREN.

DEAB ' h ow so o n you routed

My fe ars for th e h e r e afte r ,A s roun d my tre e you sh outed

With gh o st-‘

expe llin g la ugh te r ,

Th at th rill ed th e le ave s with pleasur e .

’Twas Hope

’s k in d age of plen ty

Sh e kn ew n o stin ted m easur e

Wh en I was o n e -an d-twe n ty.

Y ou my ambition h umbled

To tr acking crabs by bubbles,

A s o’e r th e rocks we stumbled,

Fo rg e ttin g a ll my trouble s.

Th at ch i ldish play sh ould blind m e !

Like an o’e rwh e lmi n g oce an

My sorr ow ro se beh ind m e

Wh o h e eded n o t its mo tio n .

Wh en n ext you gath e r ed roun d me,

Ke e n airs th e bran ch e s quiver ed :

A la s !my fate h ad foun d me

My tr e e a bo lt h ad shive r ed.

Th e gre at wo rld’s soul less graces,

Vain ar ts ! could I abide th em

To sun ny h earts and face s

I turn ed, my youth beside th em .

De ar , dear wh at h appy fo llyMade me an ew a baby !

Wh at broodin g m e lan ch o ly

Was kill ed with laugh te r , maybe !

To you my soul was gra teful ,

Wh o taugh t m e in such fash ion

To k e ep my m emory fa ith ful,

A n d sti ll my stubbo rn passion .

Y ou had such h umour , we e things !

A rid my strang e ways in cr eased it.

Y ou mind th e day, from te a - things

Of brok en delft we fe asted


In th e h e n -h ouse deserte d

We warr ed n o t on r e ligious,

Nor par ty-can t asse rted,

Th at day among th e pige ons .

A h , van ish ed ye ars ! Coul d roving’Mid strang e an d glor ious place s

Tur n our poo r h e ar ts fr om lovingTh e de ar un ch angin g faces

Coul d h e , wh o sur e ly ample

Must fin d th e wor ld’s bro ad hi ghway,Tur n fr om a dom e to tr ample

A vi o le t in a by-way

Ah , ch ildr e n de ar , it warms m e

To fin d you gr own n o co lder

Th e wh ile your buddin g ch arms m e ,

Your h e art gr ows n eve r o lde r .

To m e—wh il e ye ars will br in g youFrank fr iends

,and love in plen ty

You’ll still be—as I sin g you

A nd I—as On e -and-Twe n ty !

G . N P.

AN AUSTRAL IAN ’

S NOTES A T WIESBADEN .

BRIGHT, be auti ful garden , warm with sunshin e , gay with

dowers, and sh e lter ed by n oble avenues of be ech and

ch estnut. A long , many-se ated co lonn ade thr onged with re ve lle rs,

champagn e , but sippin g or gulpin g with what courage th ey may

th e h ealing wate rs of th e Kochbrun n en Spa as it come s up hissin g

se en from e arly mom to dewy e ve during th e Cur season at

th e sle epy guests from th e n e ighbour ing hote ls, and th en sham e

on th e r ecreant wh o fails to put in an appearance at the Trink

halle . The on ly valid excuse which can be offe red for absence

from th is morn ing muster 1 s to plead a bath engagemen t—h ealth

A rrived at th e Trinkh alle , maids as kindly, if n ot as lovely, as


L ife h ath so many pathways my fe e t have n ever traced, that I

am n ot prepared to main tain th at in some far fa ir land un kn own

to m e,th e re do e s n ot exist a pleasure ground more be autiful than

th e Curbaus-park in Wie sbaden ; but, such as it is, it was a

reve lation to m e . Th e morning sun rising out of th e blue

Medite rran e an , th e pale m o on ligh ting up a sn ow-capped A lps,

magn ifice nt sigh ts as th ey be , do n o t make a pictur e so restful an d

ple asin g to my eye s as th e wo nderful tre es of th is park. A ve n ue s

of ch e stnuts in full bloom , coppe r be e ch e s with le ave s of burnish ed

bron z e , state ly o ld o aks wi th wide -spreadin g bran ch e s, be side s th e

small pre ttin e sse s o f go lde n laburnum , hawth o rn , and lilac, make

up an e arth ly par adi se ; n or is h armony wan ting to complete th e

charm . A full ch o ir of blackbirds and thrush es sing lauds and

even in g hymn .

Th e population of Wiesbaden , n ative and fore ign , ful lyappre ciate this beautiful park , and spend many h ours a day in its

shady depth s. Th e Cur Directo r , wh e th e r in th e in te re st o f th e

childr en o r th e ir se niors I kn ow n ot, but certain ly for som e go od

reason, as eve ryth ing is pe rfectly man aged for public conven ie nce ,

h as set apart specia l be n ch e s, marked kinde rbank, for th e use o f

little pe ople an d th e ir attenda nts. A n En glish nurse wi th h e r

charge s, kn owing n othin g of this rul e , sat h e rse lf down on e dayn ear m e

,and so I was witn e ss of an amusin g little pan tomime .

On e o f th e car etake rs approach ed, cap in hand (all oficials , eve nun de r -garde n er s, wear a sem i-military un iform) , an d made th e

youn g woman a polite bow. He explain ed at some length th e bylaw under whi ch sh e was offendin g , but, of cour se , she did n o t

unde rstand a single word of what h e was saying . A t last, failingto make h er compreh end, h e to ok h er hand and led h e r in th e

dire ction of a kin de rbank . Sh e—half te rrified, half flatter ed at

such atten tion from a fore ign e r with a military cap—made n o

r esistan ce , and it was n ot till sh e was seated in a group of twe n tynurse s a nd four times as many childr en that sh e grasped the

situation . Th e cap was again po lite ly raised, and th e garden e r

withdr ew. Ap ropos of nurse s, it is th e fashio n in this part of th e

world to carry youn g babie s on a pill ow. A n orn am e n ta l pillow

slip, tucked an d embro idered lik e a christenin g robe , is dr awn

h alf-way ove r pillow, baby, an d a ll , except, of course , th e ch ild’s

h e ad, which pe eps out on th e top of th e pillow in a quain t little

A n A ustra lian’s N ates at W esbaden . 643

cap. Th is mode of carrying a baby has its advan tag e s, as th ere is

n o risk of str ain ing its back or tiny n eck, but it is rath er

cumbe rsome , and would n ot, I imagin e , hnd favour with colon ial

nurse s. A n oth er n ote I mad e in th e children’s quarter was that

all th e little lads wore th e ir upper and lowe r garmen ts of con trast

ing co lours—white jaoket , blue legs ; grey jacke t, red legs ; bufi

jacket, brown legs, and so ou ; th e e ffe ct, I th ought, was n ovel

and picture sque . I do n o t kn ow if it has foun d its way to

A ustralia , or , like th e pillowed babie s, is a pure ly local fash io n

G erman moth ers h ave n ot th e advan tage of Mr . du Maur ie r ’s

teaching in dr e ssing th e ir little girls. Th e black stockinged, sh ort

skirte d, long-h aired, altogeth e r fascin ating Efi e s and Edith s,

wh ose portraits we are so familiar with in Lo ndon Punch , are

eviden tly n ot th e models th ey adopt, th ough th ey are th e be st o f

fash ion -books to En glish-spe akin g moth ers all over th e world.

A ll th e little fraule ins with th e smalle st pre tenti on to e legan ce

wear white stockings (usually e laborate ly kn itte d on e s) an d as

th ey are as a rul e sturdy, large- limbed ch ildren ,

th e effect is n ot

pretty. A n d even wh en th efraule im have outgrown th e ir childish

plumpn ess, length en ed th e ir skirts, and turn ed up th e ir massive

plaits of fair h air , th ey are gen erally too square and substan tial to

sati sfy our ideal of gir lish grace . I h ave n ot seen many pre tty

faces among th e G erman wom en . Inde ed, as I h eard remarked at

an afte rn oo n con cert of th e Cursaa l, Fausts are ple n tiful en ough

at this Teuto nic gath ering , but wh ere , oh wh e re , are th e

Marguer ite s But if th e gir ls lack th e willowy lith en ess of

English girls, and th e o lder women have little of th e grace and

vivacity of th e ir G allic n eighbours, th e men are un doubtedly fin e ,

soldier ly-lookin g fe llows, much more er e ct and we ll poised than

th e aver age Englishman , and more martial in th e ir bearing than

th e unde rsiz ed Fren chmen ,wh o go th rough alm ost th e same

marshal (ii th e un in itiate d can judge o f th e rank by th e un iform)throng th e parks and garden s. Many of th ese warri ors are

disfigur ed by de ep sabre cuts on brow and ch e ek—records, I sh ould

imagin e , of th e ir wild studen t days rath er than h on ourabl e scar s

rece ived on th e field of battle . Oi course , wh en th e se gen tlemen

pass each oth e r on th e promen ade , th ey exchange military salute s

— this on e understands even if one’

s previous train ing in social

Observan ce s of th at character sh ould h ave be e n confin ed to what


may be learn ed in Co llins-stre e t—but wh e n ‘

civilians take off th e ir

ha ts to e ach oth er with th e ce remony and po li ten e ss wh ich at h om e

on e is on ly accustomed to se e men pay to womenkin d, on e realise s

our brusque mann e rs and abrupt movemen ts, are still looked upo n

a s semi -barbar ians. But a more pleasin g eviden ce of th e r ever en ce

and cour tesy inh ere n t in th ese ge n tle -mann ered Nassauers is th e

ven eration in which th ey ho ld th e n ame s n ot on ly of th e gre at and

gifted of th e ir own race , but even those of al ien lands. On e

h oste lry—n ot th e on e from which I write (its tablets are yet to be

emblazon ed) but Zum Biron ,close at hand—has a marble table t

o n each side of th e main en tr ance , on on e of which is inscri be d

Th omas Campbel l re sided in this h ote l in A ugust, 1 841

and on the oth er G oeth e wohn te in dessem Hausa in Sommsr ,

1 8 1 4 and

This qui et town o f Wie sbade n , so far removed from th e

pan oply of cour ts, a few days sin ce at th e same tim e sh e lte red

within its pre cincts n o less than thre e Empre sses, and sure ly few

women of any rank in life h ave h ad cause to sh ed more bitte r tears

o r to realise more comple te ly th e vanity of human greatn ess than

th e se exalted ladies. On e of th em , Eugenie , on ce th e m ost

be autiful woman in Eumpe , and th e darlin g of a pe ople wh o more

than any oth er bow be fore th e shr in e of beauty, has on e by on e

lost all th at made th e joy of life—empire , husband, son , all

gon e gon e too h er witch e ry o f form an d feature , for years and

sorrow have don e th e ir crue l work . A nd wh o can measur e th e

an guish with which th e Empress Frederick watch ed th e progress

of th e tr e ach e rous disease wh ich day by day sapped the life of h er

h er o ic husband ; o r , more te rrible than augh t be side , th e agony

with which th e Elu o f A ustr ia must have lo oked on the face

o f h er on ly son , dead by his own h an d A h , n ot th e wate rs o f

Wie sbaden , but of Le th e,on e would ofier , we re it possible , to

th ose sor e ly-tried women .

SUSAN G A VA N Da r n .


A n d, if h e sl e epWh e n all th e pr each ing

’s o

’

e r

And yonde r go lden doo r'

Un close th for th e sacram en ta l blessing ,Th e Saviour Will approve ,A nd with

'

a special l ove

Will whispe r softly with m o st swe e t caressing .

DAVID a s .

JOHN PIU'

s LEAHY ,

BISHOP o r Daomo as .

IN th e le tter given last mon th Dr . Cullen (n ot ye t Cardinal) thre wupon some o n e e lse th e blam e of havin g brought Dr . Leahyin to th e pe ril of be in g made bishop. Th e guilty party do es n o t

se em to have be en Dr . Cull en’s succe sso r in th e Se e of A rmagh ,

wh ose fun e ral se rmon Dr . Leahy was afterwards to preach—th e

h oly, amiable , and learn ed Dr . Jo seph Dixon .

Drogheda , l 6th May, 1 854 .

M! Du n Fu m Lam ,

I am very so rry to pem eive from your le tter your distress at th e report wh ioh

h as go t abro ad . If I sh ould h ave th e pleasure of me etin g you at any time , I sha ll

le t you kn ow th e wh o le histo ry of th e matte r as far as I em acqua in ted with it. It

will be a co nso la tion to you to kn ow tha t I have rece ived n o omcial accoun twha te ver o f your appo in tme n t . Wh ateve r I said in Drogh eda was based upo n

rumours coming from membe rs of your Order . If any more certain statemen t from

Rom e sh ould reach m e , all I can say is that I sha ll be re ady, in con jun ction wi th

Dr . Culle n , at any stage o f th e afla ir , to submit a full and fair statem en t o f th e

diflicultise wh ich de ter you to th e Sacred Co ng rega tion .

I remain , my dear Fath er Leahy,

as Josura DIXON .

Whate ver opposition th e humble Dominican attempted provedh appily un successful, for in thr e e mon ths he r ece ived th e

fo ll owing le tte r from th e ven erable pre late to whose assistance h e

was summon ed

J01m P ius L eahy, 0 .P. 647

Vio le t Hi ll , Newry, A ugust 29th , 1 854Mr Du n.L o an ,

A bout te n days ago , wh en pre paring for th e an n ual re tr eat o f my cle rgy, I

r ece ived a le tte r from th e Cardin a l Pre fect o f Propaganda , statin g tha t o n accoun t

o f high re commenda tions which His Ho lin e ss h ad r ece ived of your lordsh ip’s

supe r io r me r its an d th e many emin e n t qualities by wh ich you a re distin guish ed ,

His Ho lin e ss h as by h is de cre e co nstituted you Co adjuto r Bish op of this Dio cese o f

Drom o re .

Ou ye ste rday I re ce ived a le tte r from th e Prim ate at all Ire la nd, dated th e

27th in st . statin g th at o n th e pre cedin g day th e briefs fo r your con secratio n h ad

re ach ed him , an d tha t h e h ad sig n ified th e ir rece ipt to your lo rdship ; an d on this

mo rn in g I was h o n oured with your le tt e r , da ted th e 27th inst. expressin g wha t I

most sin ce re ly be lieve to be th e g en uin e fe e lin g o f your go od h e art , your h eavyaffliction tha t such an appo in tm en t h ad fa lle n upon you, and your de ep sen se o f th e

awful r espon sibili ty o f th e episcopal o tfice .

I will n o t, th er efore , con gratula te you on an e ve n t wh ich I am fully awar e

must co nve rt your l ife in to on e o f m o st pa inful car es and so licitude s ; but I can n o tbut fe e l joy within myse lf th at G od ha s be en so me rciful to m e

, a poo r , o ld, infirm ,

and wo rn -out bish op, a s to se nd m e a Co adjuto r full of z ea l and talen t and kn ow

ledg e an d ch ar ity such as your ch aracte r be speaks ; and th e only re g re t I fe e l is,th a t in po in t o f wo rldly com fo rt an d wo rldly m e ans , I fear you will make a bad

exchan g e . But as fo r my part , I will e nde avour to remo ve , as we ll as I can , all

cause s o f complain t .

Your sugge stion of havin g th e ce r emo ny of consecration pe rformed in th e

ch ape l wh e re you have so lo ng min iste re d, an d in pre se n ce o f th e larg e circle o f

your o ld attach e d fri e nds , is so re asonable an d just tha t I can n o t but approve of it.

Th e fe eble and de crepid sta te of my limbs will preve n t m e from havin g th e

g ra tificatio n of assistin g at i t . But a s it is probable you will e ndeavour to have it

pe r fo rm ed by our ve n e rable Primate , that circumstan ce will stamp it as

complim en tary to th e provin ce o f Ulste r .

Hopin g th at I sha ll so o n h ave th e h appin e ss o f se e in g you h e re an d th e ben efitof your assistance ,

I h ave th e h on our to be ,

Most re sfiectful ly and aflectionate ly,

My dear Lo rd ,Your Lo rdsh ip’

s devo ted servant ,

M . Bu n .

Th e Righ t Re v. Dr . Le ahy, &o ., &c.

Fin ally th e day of his con se cration was fixed by th e fo llowing

A rmagh 3rd Septembe r , 1 854 .

Mr Dm Loan ,

I re ce ived a no te from Dr . Cullen by th e same po st which con veyed your

Lo rdsh ip’s. Conside r ing th e views expressed in bo th , I be lieve I must , wi th th e

h e lp o f G od , undertake to conse crate you myse lf. I take it fo r a fixed th ing tha t

R o sary Sunday, please G o d, will be th e day. Excuse haste , and be lieve me to

r emain , my'

dear Lo rd, always wi th sincerest esteem and regard ,

Yours fai thfully,75JOSBPH D ixon .

Righ t Rev. Dr . Leahy, «ya go)


Be twe en th e date s of th o se last two lette rs a Mayn ooth stude n t

be longing to Dromore tr ied to be th e first of his diocese to pay h is

re spe cts in pe rson to th e n ew Bish op. He had spen t th e last daysof th e summ er vacation in biddin g go od

-bye to a siste r wh o was

leaving h er convent-h ome n ear th e Old Head o f Kin sale to found

an oth e r n ear th e far distan t G olde n G ates, wh ere sh e has lived

e ve r since th e happy and useful life of a Sister of Me rcy. Th e

Dromore stude n t, passin g through Cork , ve ntured to kn ock at th e

do o r of St . Mary’s Priory, which stands on th e banks o f th e L ee

within th e sound of Shandon Bells ; but his ambition was do omed

to disappo in tmen t—Dr . Leahy was n ot at h ome to rece ive in

person th e h omage which is n ow lovingly ten dered to his m emo ry

by th e same h eart n e arly fo rty years olde r .

A mong Dr . Leahy’s pape rs h ave be en found some le tte rs

addressed to him by th e gr eat English convert wh o is at pre se n t

Newman’s lite rary executo r , wh o kn ows wh at a precious serie s o f

his le tte rs I l ate ly resign ed to his ke eping , would, I am sure , allow

me to m ake use of th e foll owing le tte rs,which were n ot th en in myhands, and which would be o f n o service to th e Cardin a l

’s

biograph e r , except th e last ,which was, of course , on e of many

le ave -takings of Ire land . His correspondence with Dr . Leahybe gan wh e n th ey we re bo th simple priests

Cath o lic Un ive rsity House , Steph en’s G r e en , Dublin ,

Jun e 28th , 1 864.

Mr Dm n Fa . Lam ,

Will you ldn dly all ow me to put down your name as on e of our Un iversityPreach e rs?We sh all n o t as]: mo re of you th an on e sermon a year ; and our ga in

wi ll ve ry far exce ed your trouble .

No t fo rge ttin g th e plan an t g lim pse I had o f you at Co rk last February,

I um , my dea r Fr . Le ahy,

Very truly yours in Xt

The Very Rev. .Dr . Leahy.

Th e fo llowing le tte r is give n partly because it begins with th e

n ame o f th e Rev. John Brennan ofWarrenpoint, whom a few o f

our r eaders remember affectio n ate ly, though he is so long dead that

h is succe ssor , th e gen ial and pious Fath er Eugen e M‘Mullen , has

m eanwh 119 had tim e to fulfil a long and z ealous pastorate and to

di e some ye ars ago ,—himse lf succeeded by th e Rev. He nry

650 The Im h Month ly.

preach ers. Th ere fore , will you le t me propose to you to preach for us th e ordina ry

Sunday Se rmon , e ith e r on Jun e 1 , 3rd after Pen te co st, or Jun e 1 sth , 6th afte r

Pen te cost , .o r 29th , St. Pe te r and St. Paul 1’

Excuse me for tr oubling you, and be lie ve m e to be

J0 1 1 3 H. Nam ,

Of th e Ora to ry .

Th e Righ t Re v. Dr . Leahy.

But, in spite of th e sh ort n otice , our go od Bish op co nse nted to

r e lie ve Dr . Newman in his embarrassmen t, as we se e from th e

fo llowing le tte r6 Harcourt -stre e t,

‘

A pr il 1 8 , 1 856 .

Mr Dm L o an ,

Th e on ly drawback on th e gr eat de ligh t with wh ich I re ad your k in d le tte r 6:

ye ste rday evenin g was th e fear I had e ncroach ed upon your go odn e ss ; but th i s

fe e lin g , as youmay un de rstand, did but in crease my g ratitude to you.

I am very sorry in any way to h ave in con ven ienced you. A ll I kn ow is tha t

your L ordsh ip is g o in g to do a r ea l se rvice to th e Un ive rsity.

It seems to m e as if it would h ave bee n obse rved an d commen te d on if we h ad

n o t had a Bish op to pr each a t our Ope ning , th oug h I kn ow it would have be e n

un re aso nable , be cause th ey h ave plen ty to do , I suspe ct, in th e ir own sph e re s o f

ac tion . I h ave asked a numbe r of th em before n ow to assist n a wi th th e ir prese n ce

i n th e Un iversi ty pulpit, and (except Dr . Mo ria rty) th e ir duti es have n o t all owedth em .

It is a fur th er kindn ess in you tha t you have a llowed me to be so un cer emon ious

a s to ask your pre sence h e r e at so sh o rt a n o tice .

A s to th e subject o f th e se rm on , 1 know we ll th at wh ateve r comes fr om your

L o rdsh ip will be listen ed to wi th de ep atten tion and reve re n ce , and will do go od .

A n d I assur e you, if you pr each simply o n th e A sce n sion , an d on ly a llude in a few

wo rds to th e occasio n of your be ing th e re , it will be quite enough . Y ou are h eld in

to o much afie ctio na te vene ration h e re for us to require mo re th an to see you and

A s you are so kin d as to com e at th e ope nin g , I will n o t ask -fo r your

a ssistance at any o th e r tim e .

I um , my dear Lo rd,Your most sincere se rvan t in Xt,

Jom t H. NEWMAN ,

Of th e Ora tory.

Th e Righ t Rev . Dr . Leahy.

Just o n e year later Dr . Newman wr ite s to an n oun ce his

r e sign ation of th e po st of Re ctor . He speaks already of hi s

con side rable age , an d of his de sire to e stablish his Con gregation o f

th e Orato ry secur e ly at Birmi ngham . That was thi rty-thre e

years ago ; an d ye t it is on ly wh il e th e se pages ar e be in g se n t to

th e prin te r , in th e first we ek of November , 1 890,sthat Cardina l

Newman’s first succe ssor as Supe rior of th e Oratory at Edgbaston

John Pius L eahy, 0 .P . 51

h as bee n e lected in the person of Fath e r Ignatius Ryde r , wh ose

n ame (o fte n cut down to th e in itial o f his fir st n ame ) h as h appilybe en familiar to th e r eade rs of this Magaz in e

Dublin , A pr il 2 , 1 857.Mr Dun n L ORD ,

I fe ar you will think it but a poo r r eturn to you for your unvar iable kindness

to me if I wr ite to an n ounce my appro ach in g resigna tio n of th e Rectorship o f th e

I h ave mo re reasons fo r th is step th an it is ea sy to e nume ra te o n paper . Myage is n ow con side rable ; my co n tempo rar ie s are dyin g o r failin g around me ; I

can n o t tell wha t tim e is le ft to m e fo r any wo rk ; and I do n o t like th e pro spe ct o f

be in g take n away with out h avin g g ive n my la st ye ars to my co ng r egatio n a t

Birmin gham . Th ese are som e o f th e co n side ra tio ns wh ich I trust will justify m eyour Lordsh ip’

s eyes fo r th e step I am takin g .

I'

propose to r e sign in Novembe r n e xt, wh en I sha ll h ave g iven more than six

years to th e wo rk of th e Un ive rsity, th ough fo r o nly ha lf o f th em I have had any

This space of time is equal , in pre ciousn ess to myse lf, to twice th e numbe r o f

years to a young er m an .

I sha ll n ow en te rta in a grateful se n se of th e co nfiden ce wi th which you h ave

h on our ed me , an d th e suppo rt you have g ive n m e , and beggin g your L o rdsh ip’s

I am, my dea r L o rd ,

Your faithful and o bedi e n t servan t in I t ,J0 1 1 1 : H Nswxw

Of th e Or ato ry.

The Righ t Rev. the Coadj utor B ish op of D r omor e .

Th e Orato ry, Birm in gh am ,

A pril 1 6 , 1 857.

Mr Du n Loan ,I kn ew pe rfectly well h ow kind an answe r I sh ould g e t from you ; but tha t

n eith e r dimin ish ed my pain in wr iting to you, n or dimin ish e s my g ratitude n ow fo r

wh at you h ave wr itten .

G ladly would I do fo r th e Unive rsity an ythi ng which really was in my

powe r , but I ough t ra th er to re tur n th anks that I h ave be en allowed to do

anythin g fo r it , th an wonde r th atwha t I can do sh ould find its natural limi t .

I am gre atly conso led by your assurance tha t you will n o t fo rg et me in your

go od prayers, an d beggi n g your Lo rdsh ip’

s ble ssin g ,I am , my dea r L o rd ,

Your fa ith ful an d o bedien t ser van t in I t.

Jour: 1 1 . KM ,

Of the Ora to ry.

Th e R igh t RM . Th e Il i sh oy Coadj uto r of D r omor e .

We have allowed this se rie s of le tte rs to carry our little

n arrative beyond th e po int it had re ach ed . Dr . William Maz ie re

Brady, in h is very learn ed work The Episcopa l Succession in

Eng la nd, Scotla nd and Ir e land, 1 400 give s some minute

652 Th e Ir ish Mwatldy

date s con n ected with Dr . Le ahy’

s episcopal con se cration wh ich no

on e e lse could furnish . Th e re ade r wh o may be able to co nsult

thiswo rk iswarn ed that th e re ar e two passages about our Pre late . He

is refe rred to at page 305of th e fir st vo lume , and much mor e fullyat pag e 365 of volume secon d. He was n ominated co adjuto r toDr . Michae l Blak e , Bish op of Dromo re , on th e 27th o f March

,

1 854 ; th e n , afte r all the oppo sition th at h e could make to it, th is

n om in ation was approved by th e Pope (Pius IX .) on th e 2nd o f

July, an d decr e ed on th e 7th . Fin ally, on th e l oth o f July, h e

was officially appo inted Bishop o f A ulon in pa r te’

bus l'

h firle lz'

mn, and

Coadjutor to th e Bish op o f Drom o re , with righ t of succe ssio n ;

but th e Brie f embodying th e se appo in tm en ts was dated th e 1 4th o f

July.

‘

Th e con secration of th e Bish op o f A ulon took place in th e

Cork Chur ch of th e Domin ican Fath e rs, Octobe r l st, 1 854. Th e

corresponden ce alr eady given has info rmed us th at th e con se crating

pre late was Dr . Joseph Dixon , A r chbish op of A rmagh . He was

assisted by Dr . De lany, Bish op of Co rk , and Dr . Kildufi,Bish op

of A rdagh , in th e pre sen ce o f A rchbish op Cullen , afte rwards

Cardin al , an d Dr . M‘G e ttigan ,afte rwards Primate . Th e Bish ops

o f Ro ss and Cloyn e wer e al so pre se n t, with th e Coadjuto r Bish opo f Ke rry, Dr . D avid Mor iarty .

Th e fir st day of Octobe r was ch ose n for th e sacr ed ce r emo ny

because it was in th at year Ro sary Sunday. No m ore appropriate

date coul d have bee n se lected for th is e ve nt in th e.

ho ly man’

s life ;

fo r th e Ro sary was th e devotio n‘

o f h is predilection for th e sak e

both o f its origin and its obje ct. Some years previously Fath e r

Le ahy h ad publish ed a devout tre atise on th e Rosary, fr om wh ich

an extr act is give n in th e Lite rary Classbo ok of th e Ch r istian

Bro th ers. Dr . Maz ier e Brady, in th e wo rk that we h ave r e fe rr ed

to , state s th at our Bish op was th e auth or also of several publish ed

Pastorals and Sermons, som e article s in Magaz in es, an d an article

in The Dublin Review. He se ems to h ave be e n supplied with th e se

a Is n o t Dr . Brady in erro r in sayin g tha t th e consecration to

'

o k place in St.

Mary’s Ca th edra l , Co rk?St . Ma ry

’

s is th e Domi n ican Ch urch o n Pope’s Quay .

We may m en tion h e re out of th e prope r place th a t, accordin g to Dr . Brady, D r .

Leahy’s brie f o f appo in tmen t to th e bish opric o f Dromo re , upo n D r . Blake

's

re sig n atio n six ye ars la te r , was date d February 29, 1 860 but be fore its arr ival th e

fo rm e r bri e f h ad take n efiect , Dr . Blake havin g expired in th e n igh t be twe en th e

7th an d 8th o f March . With such mi nute n ess ar e such even ts reco rded in th e

Rom an a rchi ves.


accompan ies it. But , wi th regard to th e praises wh ich in your kindn ess you la vish

on me , I h ope , through th e me rcy o f G od, tha t I am n o t vain en ough to imag in e I

accomplish ed since I cam e to th is dioce se , but tha t was m ere ly a co in cide nce o f

tin e . Th e me r it of th o se works be lon gs n o t to me , but to you and to th e warm

h ear ted and re ligious people wh o h e lped you fr om th e ir purse , an d profited byyour

instructi ons . Th e sole credi t which I can justly claim is tha t I en courag ed you in

Y ou h ave men tion ed th e fre quen cy and mann er o f my discourses. I sh all n o t

deny th at I have endeavoured to preach , wi th be comin g assiduity, the sublime an d

savin g truth s of r e ligion , in simple words, in te lligible to all . But th is was o n ly th e

fulfilm en t o f an indispen sabl e duty wh ich I could n o t n eg lect with out in curring th e

an g e r of G od, an d th e re by th e awful pun ishmen t of an excruciatin g e te r n ity. T o

use th e in spir ed lan guage of th e A po stle St. Paul , If I preach th e G ospe l it is n o

glo ry to m e , fo r a n ecessity lie th upon me . For woe is un to m e if I pre ach n o t th e

G ospe l”(1

assure you th at my attendan ce a t th ose me e tin gs, far from subje ctin g m e to an y

wear isom e labour , was , on th e con tr ary, a source of pleasure an d edifica tion . Myoccupatio n th e re was scarce ly e ver more th an to liste n to eviden ces o f wisdom ,

pruden ce , z ed ,le arnin g , and mutua l re spect displayed by th e assembled pre la tes ,

and if , on som e rare occasion ,I imag in ed th at it migh t be useful to ofle r a

sug ge st ion , some o th er Bish op was sur e to rende r my in te rfe ren ce unn ecessary by

urg in g views, similar to min e , in language clea re r an d m o re oon vin cing than I

It is truly grati fyin g to learn th at my dem ean our towards you pe rson a lly h a s

been such as you would desire , and we r e fully en titled to expect . In de ed, itwould

have be en very strange ii , wh en a suitable occasion ofie red, I did n o t sh ow th e

respe ct and afiection I sin cer e ly fe e l towards th ose wh o have be e n ra ised to th e

exa lte d d1 3m ty o f th e Prie sth o o d, an d wh o spen d th e ir lives m labour ing fo r th e

salva ti o n o f m en th e ve ry purpose s for which our Divin e Re de eme r de vo te d

thir ty-th ree yea rs o f His mor tal existen ce , an d poured forth e ve ry drop o f His

h ear t’s blo od in shame and torture on th e cross o f Calvary.

Be loved brethr en , seven ty-se ven years of ag e , an d th e failin g en ergies of min d

and body, warn m e th a t th e tim e is rapidly approachin g wh en Imust render to an

all -se e in g G od a rigo r ous accoun t of my stewardsh ip. It will , th er efore , be adding

imm e asurably to th e favours con fe rred on me ii , by frequen t and ferve n t prayers ,

you obta in fo r me , th rough th e superabun dan t m erits of Ch r ist, and th e in te rcessio n

o f His ever - immacula te Moth e r , and o fHi s A n g e ls and Sain ts, a full remissio n fo r

th e inn um erable deficie ncies of my past life , as also th e powe rful grace swh ich wi ll

e nable m e to act th e part of a g ood an d fa ith ful servan t” dur in g th e sh or t tim e

th at still remain s to me .

A n d I earn estly implore th at, afte r I pass in to e tern ity, you will ch ar itab ly

remembe r m e at th e altar , wh en you will be ofie rin g th e most precious blo od

which wash es away th e sins of th e wo r ld. Tha t G od, wh o se lecte d you to be Hiscoadjuto rs m th e greatest of all Hisworks, may bestow on you th e brillian t re ward

promised to th o se wh o in struct m any un to salvation ,is , an d sh all be , th e arde n t

da ily praye r o f h im wh om you have so kindly and g en e rously addre ssed on th e

twe nty-fifth ann iversary of his co n se crati on .

”

John P ius L eahy, 0 .P. 655

But, though Dr . Leahy devoted himse lf h e art and soul to his

episcopal dutie s, h e was to th e e nd a true Domin ican . On ceh avin g to plead in his pre sen ce for some re ligious purpose in a

rural church of his dioce te , I, with much misgiving , attempted

som eth ing like a complim en t to his Lordship but I could on ly

ven ture to do so , I remember , by linking his n ame with certain

Domin ican name s that were sure , I kn ew, to sound swe etly i n his

e ars. I said th at th e great Order of Friars Preach e rs was de ar tothe clergy and people of Dromore , n ot so much for th e sake of St.

Domin ick himse lf and h is share in th e Rosary ; n or for

Fm A nge lico and all that h e had don e for Chr istian A rt ; n or even

for th e Era A ngelico of Chr istian Science , th e A nge lic Doctor ,

Th omas A quin as , Patron Saint and Prin ce of Th eo logian s ; n or

for Barth olomew de Las Casas, th e h e ro ic champion of th e slaves ;

n or (to com e n eare r to our own time ) for th e sake of th e Friar

Pr each er who had awaken ed Paris and France ; n or even for th e

sake of th e Ir ish Laoordair e wh o had made th e name o f Burke

illustrious for th e second tim e in the ann als of oratory ; fo r n on e of

all th ese , but for th e sake of th e Bish op whom th e Domin ican

Order had given to Dromore , and wh om Dromore would love and

reve re th e more with every ye ar th at h e was spared to h er .

He was spar ed to h er much lon ger than could th e n h ave be en

h oped. Dr . Leahy’s h e alth was n ever robust ; and what is sup

po sed to be th e chief support of bodily h ealth—food—h e always

parto ok o f very sparingly. Some Dromore prie st boasted of

h aving a bishop wh o could preach as e loquent a sermon , pray as

ferven t a praye r , te ll as good a story, and eat as bad a din n e r ; asany pr e late in Chr istendom . A s e arly as February 1 5th , 1 857 ,Dr . Leahy wrote to Mrs. O

’Con n or , th e first Supe rior of the Siste rs

of Me rcy in Newry : I wan t your prayers far more for th e h ealth

of my soul than of my body. I thin k it like ly en ough that I have

n ot long to live , and many warn in gs sh ow me th at I ough t to be

directing all my atte n tion to th e gre at change .

”Y et h e had th e n

mor e th an thirty years still to wait on earth . How so frail a bodywas maintain ed so long on such meagre fare was a myste ry.

A l lusion has just be en made to Dr .Le ahy’s skill as a raeonteur .

He was full of minute and accurate in formation o n a vast number

of subj ects in very difleren t spheres of kn owledge . In th e matte r

o f in teresting an ecdotes, we ll narrated, h e could in his own grave

way riva l two bish ops to whom h e was in many re spects a con trast


—Dr . William De lan ey, o f Cork , and Dr . G e orge Butl e r , of

The ven erable o ld man was a few years ago r e lie ved of all th e

re spon sibilitie s of his positio n by th e appo in tmen t o f h is coadjuto r ,Dr . Thomas McG ive rn ,

th e pre se n t Bish 0p of Dromo re . He spe n t

th e r est of h is days in re tirem e n t at h is r e side nce ,Viole t Hill , n e arNewry, pr epar ing fo r th e gr e at ch ange which was in hi s

th oughts mor e than th irty ye ar s befor e . In th e se last ye ars h is

chief earth ly support was th e te nde r filial care o f th e Rev. He n ry

O’

N9 1 11 wh o h ad lived with h im thr ough th e wh ole te rm of his

prie stly life , and i n wh om h e placed th e fulle st an d most affe ction ate

trust . So h e quie tly prayed an d waite d, showin g h is sain tly an d

amiable n atur e to th e last. A n d th e n ,at last

,afte r almo st to o

lo ng a warn in g , th e gr e at ch an ge cam e .

A t th e n ext m e e tin g of th e N ewry Town Comm ission e rs, o n e

of th em (a Pr ote stan t) moved th e adjournment of th e proce edi n g sas a tr ibute of re spect to th e de ce ased Bishop, saying th at h e h ad

kn own Dr . Le ahy for a co n side rable numbe r of ye ars, and h e could

safe ly say th at h e h ad n e ver kn own a m or e Chr istian gen tleman .

His h o ly remain s were laid to re st in that buryin g-

ground wh ich

we have spoke n of som ewh e r e in th e cour se of th is ske tch as lyin gr oun d th e Old Ch ape l .

” May his soul, an d th e souls of all th e

faithful departed, th rough th e m e rcy o f G od, r est in peace an d in

th e sur e hope of a h appy r esurr e ction . Would th at fo r a ll of n a

th at h ope we r e as sur e as it is for John Pius Leahy, of th e Orde rof Pre ach e rs, Bishop of Dr omore .

LITTLE WHITE ROSE.

l TTLE wh ite r o se th a t I loved, I love d,

R aisin ban,Raisin ba n

Fa ir my bud as th e mo r n ing’s dawn .

I kissed my be autiful flowe r to blo om ,

My h e ar t g r ew glad fo r its r ich pe rfume

Little wh ite ro se th at I lo ve d.

A s our type foun de r h as n o t supplied uswith Ce ltic characters,we may explain

th a t th e se wo rds migh t be spe lled ph on e tica lly r oskeen bacon , and th at th e two o th e r

e pith e ts applied to th e Wh i te Ro se rh ym e e ach wi th th e succe edin g 1in e .—

.Ed. I . l l .


A nd Captain Harris replied : Y es, fr om th e mon th lymagaz in es.

A nd to th e furth e r que stion , Wh at magaz in e s h e answered

Th e Ir ish Mon th ly and th e Catho lic Wor ld ar e of a very advan ced

Fe n ia n type .

”Th e ch airman th en in te rposed with th e que ry :

A re th ey taken in h ere P Y es, th ey were taken in longbefo r e th e movemen t took its pre sent fo rm .

”

Th ere were thirty-five th ousand chan ces to on e that The If ish

Mon th ly would n eve r come to kn ow th e kind opin ion tha t Captain

Harris thus expre ssed con cerning its political views. Oi th e

th ousands and th ousands of Blue Books th is is th e only on e we

have e ver purch ased ; and th e reve nue ofHer Maje sty’s Station ery

Office would n ot have be e n swo llen by Is. 1 0d.

‘if a Southampton

subs01 i ber had n o t happe n ed to n otice th e above que stion s an d

answers, and if h e had n ot kindly take n th e tr ouble to brin g th em

un der th e n otice of th e Edito r . A s th e Report had be en made to

th e Secre tary of State for th e Home Departmen t, th e Editor fir st

dr ew his atten tion to th e matte r , and was favoured with th e

fo llowin g communi cation

7th July, 1 890 .

With re ference to your le tter o f th e 6th ultimo , I am dire cted by th e Se cre tary

of Sta te to acqua in t you th at h e has made e nquiry in to th e matte r , and de sire s m e

to express his reg ret tha t th e G o vern o r o f He r Majesty’s Con vi ct Prison , Ch ath am ,

sh ould appe ar in th e prin ted repo rt of th e eviden ce taken at th e recen t enquiry at th a tprison to h ave misrepre se n ted th e ch aracte r o f th e Ir ish Mon thly.

”I am to

expla in th at , owing to th e de sire wh ich was fe lt to br ing out th e repo rt with as

little de lay as po ssible , th e usual Oppo rtun ity was n ot g ive n to th e wi tn esses o f

correctin g th e pro o f of th e ir e vidence be fo re publica ti on ; and th e G o verno r says

that hi s answer , N0 . is inco rre ctly r epo rted , and tha t it wa s n ot Th e Ir ish

Mon th ly”but an o th er journ al whi ch was de scr ibed as be ing o f a ve ry advance d

Feni an type .

”

I am Sir

Your obedie n t Se rvan t ,G o nmu n

' Lusm o'mx.

80 Captain Harr is’s an swe r was in correctly reported. I

wonde r h ow it would h ave run if it h ad be en correctly repo rted .

It would be h ard to con je cture what oth er magaz in e was re allyh on our ed with th e G o ve rn or

’s criticism . Th ere is n on e of a

similar n am e o r n atur e . Our Magaz in e , we fe ar , is n o t of such

wor ld-wide fame th at a blun dering reporter would substitute it fo r

anoth e r . A nd we are co nfirm ed in our misgivings about th is

official explan ation by th e fact that th e Home Secretary himself,

To Sister Mary Beh ignue . 659

when question ed late r on the subject in th e House of Common s,

gave a diffe ren t explanatio n on th e same auth ority. Mr . D

Cr illy, M.P.,just before th e ,House broke up for th e . summe r

vacatio n , asked Mr . Matth ews if his‘atten tion h ad be en ca lled to

th e statement of th e G ove rn or of Ch ath am Pr ison , de scribingTHE IR ISH MONTHLY as be ing of a very advan ced Fen ian type ,

alth ough in an existe nce of e ighte en ye ars it h ad n eve r propoundedany political views of e ve n th e milde st kin d. This time th e HomeSecre tary laid th e blame

'

ou'th e pun ctuation , which ought, it

se ems,‘

to h ays confin ed th is charge to th e last of th e two

magaz in es. We ar e n o t sure th at our transatlan tic con temporary

will be con te n t to be thus characte rised ; but our own concern is

to say th at this second explan ation is more lam e th an th e first,

an d tha t it would have bee n more credible and m ore cr editable if

Captain Ve rn on Harri s could have conde scen ded to confe ss his

mistake an d to apologise for it. But h ow could so h igh an official

be expected to plead guil ty to th e crim e o f having passed a rash

judgmen t on THE Im sn MONTHLY

TO SISTER MA RY BENIG NUS.

(Wr itte n for th e Ch ildre n at th e Con ven t , G o lde nbridge , Dublin , fo r th e Fe ast of

Be nignus, November 9th ,

Y N an ny’s str eam , as o n ce St . Patr ick sl ept ,

A fa ir ch ild ga th e r ed, till h is arms we r e wide ,

Th e fr agran t flowe r s, and to th e sle epe r’s side

Ou tipto e ste al in g , wh e r e th e willows k ept

Co o l sh adows, in love’s te n de r ways adept ,

Str ewed o’e r h is bo som all th e m eadow

’s pride

Th e dr e ame r dr e amt th e an g e l of th e tide

Kisse d h im , as onward with th e wave h e swept .

It was th e boy Be nignus. He,fo r us

A n d al l our coun try’s ch ildr e n , o ffe rin g

Th at flowe ry tr ibute to a sa in tly fam e ,

Made us till n ow h is debto rs th e r e fo r e , thus,

To pay th at o lden debt, th e se flowe rs we br in gTo th e e , th e h e ir e ss of hi s g en tle n am e .

JOHN Fi r z r a 'm rcx, O .M . l .

NOTES‘

ON NEW BOOKS.

1 . Wh ispe r ! By Fran ce s Wyn n e (London : Kegan Paul ,

Tr e n ch , Tr iibn er and Co .) is n o t,a s o n e migh t guess fr om its n am e , a

ple asan t ta le in pro se , but a n exce edin gly graceful a nd attr active

co ll e ctio n o f lyr ics. It is a small bo ok , and n on e of th e pieces fil l

m o r e th an a pag e o r two ; and so much th e be tte r . W e ar e so r ry

th a t th e r em ark h as so much th e appe aran ce o f a pun , but we ca n

thin k o f n o o th er epith e t mo r e appropriate fo r Mi ssWyn n e’s muse

than Winsome an d winn ing . With a ll h e r musical ligh tn e ss o f to uch

th e r e is de ep fe el in g in many o f th e se da in ty po ems. Seve ral o f th em

h ave appe ar ed in Longman’e Mayan

'

m, unde r th e auspices of th e

fastidious an d cr itical Mr . A n dr ew Lan g , A t th e Sign o f th e Sh ip.

”

Oth e rs of th em will h ave a famili ar so un d fo r our own r e ade rs . ‘Ve

ar e safe in predicting fo r th e de licious little tome a popular ity tha t

fa lls to th e lo t o f few bo oks of ve rse . We sh all care ful ly tak e n o te

o f th e ve rdict passed by th e Saxo n an d Ame rican critics o n thi s

youn g e st and fr e sh e st of our Ir ish posts .

2 . If thi s Whi spe r h ad n o t r each ed us at th e last mom e n t ,

o ur fir st wo rd o i.

we lcome would h ave be en fo r an o th e r ve ry e legan t

vo lum e o f ve rse which h as h ad to tr ave l much furth er in o rde r to

r e a ch our san ctum . We h ave m o re th an o nce g ive n our m e e d o f

pra ise to th e exce llen t wo rk don e bo th in pro se and ve r se by Mr s .

Blake , o f Bo ston . He r n ewe st title -pag e is Ve rses alo ng th e Way.

By Ma ry .Eliz abe th Blak e , auth o r o f Po ems,’

On th e Win g ,’

Ramblin g Mexico ,’A Summ e r Ho li day in Eur ope ; an d

e ven this Io n g e nume ration e nds with e tc.

” Th e emin en t

publish e rs. Hough ton , Mifflin an d Company, o f Bo sto n and New

Yo rk , h ave brough t out th e vo lume in acco rdan ce wi th th e be st

con tempo rar y can on s o f aesth e tic e le gan ce . It is quite a la rg e bo ok

o f som e 1 70 pag e s. con ta in in g , be side s th e po ems al o n g th e way,

son n e ts an d epigrams, po ems“ in l igh te r mo od, an d po ems about

.chi ldr e n ,with a few transla tion s from Mexican po e ts by whi ch last

we ar e n o t much impr essed, we con fe ss . Mrs. Blake’s br igh t lyr ical

facu]ty com e s be st in to play wh e n sh e draws h e r inspira ti on from h e r

Ir ish h e a r t, o r wh en childh o od is h e r th eme . This n ew vo lume

co n ta in s some o f h e r be st an d m o st a ttractive wo rk . Th e land of h e r

bir th an d th e lan d of h er adoptio n must both fe e l proud o f h e r .

3 . To emph asise th e ir impo r tan ce by con trast, le t us nam e , afte r

th e se two bo oks o f ve rse , th e two large vo lum es which form th e n ew

e ditio n at th e The oloyt'

a Horatio o f Fa th e r Lehmkuhl, SI . Thi s is th e

662 Th e Ir te h’

Mon th ly.

that it will be r ead with ple asur e by many e ve n wh o dislike ve rse .

A ttr active ly bo und and with a specially e ngraved po rtrait, it will be

sen t po st fr e e to subscribe rs for four shi llings.

8 . Miss Ella MacMah o n is far above th e ave rag e of tran sla to r s

from th e Fr e n ch . Sh e do e s n o t belong to th e translator -tr aito r class.

Th e late st additio n to h e r library of pious transla tions, publish ed byBenz ige r , is a fifth se ries o f th ose l ittle counse ls fo r th e san ctifica tio n

and h appin ess o f daily life wh ich h ave gain ed such vogue under th e

n am e o f G o lde n G rain s o r G o lde n”

Sands .

” We sh ould b e

cur ious to se e h ow pag e 1 50 run s in th e o r ig in al . Some Ir ish r eade r s

will be puz z le d h ow E . Z . r e ads lik e e asy,” fo r th ey will n o t be

aware th at th e last le tte r o f th e alph abe t, wh ich we call z ed, is see in

th e Un ited Sta te s. Th e sam e Publish ers, Ben z ig e r Bro th e rs, h av e

issued an o th e r devout little bo ok , On e and Th i r ty Days with

Ble ssed Margar e t Mary,”—n ame 1y, a mo n th

’s meditation s o n th e

virtues of tha t h oly Visitatio n Nun, translated from th e Fre nch by a

Baltim or e Nun of th e same Orde r .

9 . Blacki e and Son s, o f Londo n , G la sgow, Edinbur gh , an d

Dublin ,a re famous cate r e rs fo r yo un g pe ople in se arch of pr e tty

bo oks a t Ch r istmastide . On e of th e pre ttie st o f th e ir n ewe st batch i s

Tom in a Tan g le , an d o th e r Tal es,” by Miss

'

T.Sparrow, wh o h a s

some tim e s di sguised h erse lf a s Darcy Byrn . We le ave to h er youn gr e aders to decide wh e th e r th e sto ry th at is n amed o n th e title -

pag e is

n o t le ft beh in d in i n te r e st by Mo th er’s R ed Ro se o r

“ Dear Pussy,”

o r Wh at Willie fo un d unde r th e Tr e e s.

1 0 . Th e Ca th o lic Hom e Alman ac has re ach ed its e igh th year .

and is publish ed by th e firm we h ave n amed so o ften—Ben z ige rBro th e rs. It co n ta ins sto r ie s an d exce ll e n t biographical sk e tch eswith

pictur e s and por tr a its . But it h as fa lle n in to a cur ious blunder : i t

give s an accoun t o f Dr . McEvilly, A rchbish op o f Tuam , beg inn ing

with th e statem e n t th at h e di ed last January. It was th e A rch

bish op’s mo th e r wh o died th e n . Th e Cath o lic Family A nnua l fo r

1 89 1 (Cath o lic Pub licatio n Socie ty, New Yo rk ) is in its 23rd ye ar . It

con ta ins a vast va ri e ty o f use ful in fo rma tion with i llustra tio ns o f th at

exce ll en ce to which Am e rican e ngrave rs h ave accustomed us. Fin a lly,

coming h om e to our own side o f th e A tlan tic, we h ave r ece ived from

Burn s and Oa te s a n ew se rmon and an o ld le tte r . Th e se rmon is

Th e Obedie n ce of Faith ,”by Dr . Hedl ey, Bish op o f Newpo rt ; an d

th e l e tte r is th e famous o n e addr e ssed by Cardin al Mann ing many

years ago to Dr . Pusey, and e n titl e d Th e Wo rkin g . of th e Ho lySpir it in th e Church o f England .

”Bo th se em to be admirably suited

to co nvince th ose to wh om th ey are specially addr e ssed.

N otes on New Books . 663

1 1 . The Table t, in r e comme nding fo r use in sch o o ls Mr . Justice

O’Hagan

’s Chi ldr e n ’s Ba llad Ro sary,

”mak es th is practica l

sugge stio n :“ A s e ach ba llad occupies a separate le af in th e book , th e

fifte en myste rie s migh t be di str ibuted amon g as many childr en , with

promise o f th e e n tir e bo ok to th o se wh o succe ed in accur ate r e cita l

fr om m emo ry.

” We sh ould add to th is th at th e separation o f le ave s

sh ould tak e place in a pe n ny pape r-cove r ed copy

—ezpers'

men tumflat incorpora e i li—and th a t on e of th e pre tty fourpe nny copie s in blue

bin din g sh ould th e n be g iven a s a pri z e . We can n o t r efra in from

addin g h e r e th e th ough tful cr iticism passed o n Judg e O’Hagan

’

s little

book by a wr ite r in 7 71 9 Mon th fo r Novembe r

On e o f th e privileges o f th ose wh o take part in th e Christia n educa tion o f

little ch ildre n is th e oppo rtun i ty th ey h ave o f sto rin g th e ir ch ildish minds with

re ligious truths th at brin g fo r th g o od frui t in th e ir atter -life . Poems and ballads

afford a specia l m e ans o f te ach in g th em what th ey will n e ver fo rge t ; ve rse s le arn t

in childh o od ofte n remain fresh in th e memory till o ld ag e . A n y simple po e try

th at implan ts re lig ious ideas is th e re fore a boon to our little on e s, an d a versified

Ro sary ough t to be we lcom e to all , prie sts , Ch ri sti an Bro th ers, nun s engag ed in

in struction , sch oo lmistre sses , Sunday sch o o l teach ers, to say no th in g o f fath e rs and

mo th e rs wh o pre fe r h om e teachin g to do in g by proxy th e wo rk th at th ey can do

best of all wh e n circumstan ce s a llow. Mr . Justi ce O ’Hagan is a be n e factor to

ch ildren an d te ach e rs alike by The Ch i ldren’

s Ba llad Rosa ry, la te ly publish ed by th e

Cath ol ic Truth Socie ty. It is a work of art as we ll as o f pie ty. Un l ike most po em s

o f th e sor t , it n eve r flags, and it would be h ard to po in t out weak stan z as. It will

be a train in g in po e tical n arra tive as we ll as in pie ty to th o se wh o use it. Th e

me tr e is var ied in th e differe n t parts of th e Ro sary, and we obse rve that to th e .

So rrowful Myste ries is g iven th e specia l h on our of be ing double-rhymed .

JUD G E O ’ HA G A N .

O’Hagan

’s pe n , little dr e am ing th at it was n o t o nly th e la te st but th e

last—th at h e h ad laid down h is pe n fo r e ve r . We h ad h oped th a t,

after hi s r e tir eme n t from public l ife , h is h e alth would be suffici e n tlyr e stor ed to allow h im to work o n th r ough many ye ars in dive rs ways

fo r th e o bje cts th at we r e de ar to h is h e a rt, eve ryth in g tha t co nce rn edth e welfar e o f h is coun try, th e go od o f souls, and th e glo ry of G od.

But it was n o t to be . G od will ed th at h is death—which coul d n o t

h ave be e n unprovided, sin ce every ye ar of h is pe rfect Ch r istian life

provided fo r it—sh ould com e , if n o t with sudde nn e ss, ye t with out th e

wearin e ss o f wa itin g , and whi le h is mind in its full vigour could

c omplete th e preparation fo r th e gr eat ch an ge . Tho se wh o h ad th e


h appin e ss o f kn owin g him in life , a nd wh o kn ow h ow th e and foun d

h im , can say with th e simple st truth

He taugh t a s h ow to live , and (oh , too highTh e pr ice o f kn owledg e taugh t us h ow to die .

A nd sur e ly it was a g o o d o me n th at, as h is last pr o se was h i s

sympath e tic e ssay in 1 750 Contempor ary Review o n Th omas Davis as a

type o f Ir ish patr io ti sm . so h is last ve rse s we re Th e Childre n’s

Ba ll ad R o sary.

” Th e se we r e th e two strong e st impulse s of h i s

n ature—love o f faith an d fa th e rland, p rofile at putr id . Th is circum

stance h as be e n r ema rk ed bym any alr e ady. Fo r in stance , th e auth o r

o f “ Le sson s from our Lady’s Life says in a priva te n o te It is

n ice to thi nk tha t his last li te ra ry efio rt was in th e ca use o f our Lady.

He becam e lik e to a l ittle ch ild fo r h e r sake , and sh e wil l se cur e fo r

h im th e pr omised r eward.

”

Th e se few gra te ful wo rds, whi ch h ave o n lyb e en bro k e n ofi fr om o ur

bo ok -n o tes a t th e last mom e n t , must n o t a llude to such m e r e ly na tur a l

th ings as th e wo nde rful m en tal gifts and acquir eme n ts o f th e soul so

la te ly depa r ted . It is m o r e fitting to n o te th at in th e exe rcise o f

th em all h e se lected th em e s an d o bj e cts th a t ar e wo r thy o f be ingn amed even in th e imm edia te pr e se n ce o f th e maj e sty of de ath . Thus

hi s marve llous sk ill as a m e tr ical tran slato r was expended o n so so lemn

a lyric as th e Dies Ir ae a nd o n so pur e a n epic as The Song of Roland.

His spir it fe lt at h om e amo n g th e se lo fty th ough ts.

John Mitch e l quo tes som ewh e r e with approval som e o n e’s praye r

Sit am’

ma m a cum Bode llo Th o se wh o kn ew in timate ly this g re a t

Ca th o lic Ir ishman—a pr ivile g e fo r wh ich th ey th ank G od as fo r a

pr ecious grace—wo uld n o t h e sita te to br e ath e with humble e ar n est

n e ss a sim ilar praye r b e side thi s n ew grave in G lasn evin , fe e lin gconfiden t th at n ow in de ed is r e aliz ed th e fan cy of o n e of h is coll e agueswh o used to say th at h e n eve r con ve rsed with Judg e O

’Hagan

with out fe e ling th e impr e ssio n as o f a m an wh o lo ok ed h abi tua lly on

th e face o f G od . Ble ssed ar e th e cl e an of h e a rt, fo r th ey sh a ll se e

G od .

”

Th us, th e n , we clo se th e e igh te e n th vo lum e o f our Maga z in e—ia

wh ich o ur lo st fr ie n d to ok th e k inde st and m ost practica l in te r est from

th e first an d till th e last—by inscr ibing on thi s last page , with th e

de epe st g ra titude , love , an d r e ve re nce , th e n am e o f Jo a n O’Hs om .

Org'

as an ima in r efr iye l mm

Farewe ll ! Wh a te ’ e r th e future br ing sTo us—n o longe r by thy side

’Twill h e lp a s o n t o h igh e r th in gs

To th in k tha t th ou hast lived and die d.

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