# Popular Irish Stories (1850)/The Hermit turned Pilgrim

POPULAR IRISH STORIES.
THE HERMIT TURNED PILGRIM.
In a solitary cave near the hanks of Killarney, there lived an ancient hermit; far retired from the bustle and pleasures of the city, he spent his days in the praise of his divine Creator. But here we may observe the power of sin in man. A suggestion arose in his heart, that vice should triumph over virtue. Pondering on the various accounts he received, he began to doubt the power of Divine Providence; he therefore resolved to travel as a pilgrim, and setting out one morning, travelled the pathless grass until mid-day alone; he at length fell in with a young man who saluted him, and though far different in years, they were delighted with each other's company. The sun had sunk below the horizon when our travellers began to think of resting their weary limbs. They stopped at a large house, and were welcomed by the generous owner, who was ever happy in making his house the traveller's home, not from charity or any good, but from the love of praise. After partaking of an elegant repast, they were conducted to beds of down.
In the morning, before they recommenced their journey, each drank a golden goblet full of wine. When a good distance from the house, the youth produced the golden cup which he had taken from the kind nobleman, and showed it to the hermit, which greatly surprised him, and he could not help thinking it hard that such generous actions should be so basely rewarded. While thus they journeyed, on a sudden the skies were covered with heavy black clouds, which presaged an approaching storm. Our travellers sought repose in a large well-built house. The owner was a great miser, whose door was ever shut against those in distress:—Long did they knock in a piteous condition, battered with the wind and rain: at length the old miser opens the door, and by a half welcome, admits the shivering pair; he brought them a morsel of bread of the coarsest sort, with a glass of wine, which he ​had ill will to grant, and as soon as he saw the tempest cease, he warned them to depart.
The hermit wondered greatly that one so rich should live so miserably, denying himself even the necessaries of life. But his surprise was greater when his young companion took the cup he stole from his generous landlord, and gave it to this miserable wretch. The sun's bright rays once more invite the pair to their journey. He could not understand his companion's conduct, a vice in the one place, and madness in the other. Night coming on, they were again in want of lodging. They again applied at a house convenient, which the kind master readily granted, saying, to him that gives us all, we should yield a part. In the morning the pilgrims arose; but as they were ready to depart, the youth stole up to a cradle wherein slept a child, the landlord's only pride, and taking hold of it by the neck, choked it dead. But Oh! horror of horrors! how looked our pilgrim when he saw what was done. On leaving the house, a servant followed to show the way, and as they reached the river, the youth, as if watching a time to sin, approached him, and threw him in, where he was instantly drowned. Wild rage inflamed the old hermit's eyes. At last he burst the bands of fear, and was beginning to thunder out invective speech and imprecations on the detested wretch, when lo! this strange partner appeared no longer man, but was changed into all the grandeur and majesty of an angel, and addressing himself to the hermit, told him that his praise and prayer was heard at the throne of justice; and being so acceptable, said he, I, an angel, was sent down to calm thy mind, and let you know the truth of divine government, that you might have no scruples in your mind for the future, Those events which appeared so surprising to you on your journey, I will unriddle to you, that you may confess the Almighty just in all his ways. The great vain man who, for the love of praise, forced his guests to morning draughts of wine, has, by losing the cup, lost a great part of his vanity, and will for the future give nothing away but where he sees there is need. The miser who never gave any thing to the poor, with him I left the cup; he will for the future become a new man, and never refuse relieving those whom he sees in distress. The pious man who ended the day in prayer, was beginning to lose his piety and virtue; that child whom ye saw me kill was weaning his heart from God; to save him God took the child; and already the aged parent owns his blind fondness deserved no less punishment. The servant whom I threw into the river was this night to kill and rob that good and charitable man. Now I have shown you the nature and cause ​of the wonderful rule of Providence: depart In peace, resign yourself to the will of your Creator, and sin no more. With that the angel disappeared, and the hermit sought his ancient place, where he spent the remainder of his life in piety and contentment.
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