Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-02-25
FATHER O'FLYNN,

ing, Irish country priest OF the old school.
Ills parish lay near small town in the cas-
tern part of the county Cork, and for forty
five years he lived amongst his flock, per-
forming all the duties of his office, and tax
ing his dues (when he got ,hem) with new
er-tiring good humor. But age, that spares
not priest nor layman, had stolen upon
Father Frank, and he gradually rolinquish-
ed TO his Younger curates the task Of preach
ing, til at length his sermons dwindled down
to two in the year Il one at Christmas, and
the other at Easter, at which times his cler-
cal dues were about coming in. In one of
these memorable occasions | first chan
ced TO hear Father Frank address his conere-
CATION. have him now before my minds
eye, as he then appeared; a stout middle
size man, with ample shoulders, enveloped
in coat of superfine black, and substantial
legs, cncased in long straight boots, reacll-
ing to the knee. His forehead, and the up
er part Of his head, were bald but the use
of hair powder gave fine effect to his mas
sive, but good-humored features, that glow
ed with the rich tint of a hale ofold age. A
bunch of large gold seals, depending from a
massive jack-chain Of the same metal, os-
cilated with becoming dignity from the
lower verge of his wastcoat, over the good
~ prominence of his " fair round belly"
CHANGING his lf-closed, but piercing eye,
around his auditory, as if calculating the
contents of every pocket present, he COM
menced his address as follows -
"Well, my good people, suppose yc
know that tomorrow will be the pattern Of
Saint Fncen, and no doubt yell all be for
going to the blessed way to say your pad
herecns but III go bail there's few of you
ever heard the reason why the water of that
clean, though you were to put all the soap
in Cork into it. Well, pay .attintion, and
Ill tell you.-Mrs. Delany, can't you keep
your child que, while Pm spanking!
1t happened "A long while ago, that Saint
Fineen, a holy aud devout Christian, lived
all alone, c0nveynant to the well there Ec
was to be found ever and always praying
and reading his brevinry upnn a cowld stone
that lay beside it. Onluckily enough, there
lived also in the ncIghborhood caAieem dhas
called Moricen, and this Moriecn had fash
ion of coming down TO the well every morn
ing. at sunrise, to wash her legs and feet
and, by all accounts, You couldn't meet
whittier or a shaplier pair from this 10 Ban
try. Saint Fincen. however, was SO dis
thractcd in his heavenly meditalions, poor
man that he never once looked at them,
but kept his eyes fast en- his holy books,
while Morieen was rubbing and iathcring a.
way, till the legs used to look like two beau
liful pieces Of alabaster in the clear water.-
Matters went on this way sometime, Mori-
cen coming regular to the well, till one fine
morning, as she stepped into the water she
struck her foot against stone and cut it.
"Oh Militia murdher! What'll do ?"
cried the callicen, in the pi,itulcst voice you
ever heard.
"What's the matcr?" said Saint Fin
cen.
"Pve cut my foot again this misiortinat
stone" says she, making answer.
Father Frank having taken breath, and
wiped his forehead, resumed his address.
"pm going to change my subject now,
and | expect attention. Shawn Barry !!
Where's Shawn Barry p
"Here, your Rivirencc," replies voice
from the depth Of the crowd.
"Come up here, Shawn, Till examine
you about your Catechism and doctrines"
A rough-headed fellow elbowed his way
slowly through the congregation, and moul-
ding his old hat into thousand grotcsquc
shapes, between his huge palms, presented
himself before his pastor, with very much
tho air Of puzzled philosopher.
"Well, Shawn, my boy, do you know
what is the meaning of Faith r.
"Parfctly, your Rivirence," replied the
fellow, with knowing grin. "Faith means
when Paddy Hogan gives me credit for
halfa-pint Of the best"
Get out ofmy sight, you ondaycent vag-
abond; you're disgrace to my nock.-
Here, you Tom M'Gawlcp, what's Charity"
"Bating process saver your Ryirence,"
replied Tom promptly.
"Oh! blessed saints how Pm persecu-
ted with ye, root and branch. Jim Houla-
CHAD, I'm looking at you, there, behind
Peggy Callanane's cloak come up here,
you hanging bone sHereen, ard tell me what
is the Last Day7"
81 didn't come TO that yet sir, replied jim,
scratching his head.
81 wouldn't fear you, you boslhoon.
Well, listen, and III tell you. It's the day
when you'll all have to settle your accounts,
and I'm thinking there'll be heavy score
against some of you, If you don't mind what
I'm saying to you. When that day comes,
I'll walk up TO Heaven and rap at the hall
door. Then st. Peter, who viii be lakin'
a nap after dinner in his armchair inside,
and not liking to be disturbed, will call out
mighty surly" Who's there"
4" It's |, my Lord" I'll make answer.
Az course, he'll know my voice, and
jumping up like cricket, he'll open the
door as wide as the hinges will let it, and say
quite politely
- am proud to see you here, Father
Frank. Walk in, If you please"
Upon that III scrape my feet, and walk
in, and then St Pether will say again-
swell, Father Frank, what have Won
got to say for yourselfl Did you look well
aither your flock; and mind to have them
all christencd, and married, and buried, ac-
cordlng TO the rites Of our holy church 2"
snow, good people, I've been for,y-iive
yeas amonsgt you,and didn't chrsten eve
ry mothers soul Of you?"
Congregation.-You did,-you did