Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-12-31
Blessing and Cursing.
From Rev. William Arthar's Address ia &vo
of Ireland.


sion the preacher, who was travelling
the circuit, having heard of him, de-
termined to pay him visit, which
: he accordingly did. Almost as soon
as he entered the house the son of
Wesley opened his message, and re-
quested the privilege of preaching in
the neighborhood This was grant
ed the word of God was attended
with power the Lord opened the
farmers heart, as he did that of Ly
dia of Thyatira, and he opened his
parlor and invited the preacher to
make it preaching place. This, Of
course, was accepted with gladness,
and it was not long before the farmer
and his family, and several of the
neighbors, were happily converted to
God. A class was formed, and the
farmer was appointed its leader. He
lad in his employ a herd, Ro
man Catholic, who hearing of what
was going on, became wonderfully
alarmed 1t was his custom to bring
the COWS home at certain hour of
the day; but whenever the period
arrived for meeting he was sure to
anticipate the time by an hour, so that
he might be away, and not annoyed
by the "swaddlers," as the Methodist
preachers were called. While he was
using all this prccaution, the Spirit
Of God was silently yet powerfully
working in the soul of the simple
hearted man. lie had heard enough
ef Gospel truth, by rumor and other
wise, to awaken him to a sense of his
lost condition, and he became sad and
dispirited AS he went moping about
with detected countenance, unfit for
work, his wife said to him one day
"Brian, what ails you? You are
good for nothing.
"Molly, my dear, I'm afraid I'll
lose my sowl."
&. aj"Lose your sowl, man an how's
that? Are We not the best man in
the parish, and don't We attend to all
your dues and duties !? What have
We been doing I? Have ye been muir
thuring or rcbbing anybody ?"
"Nae, Molly; the truth is Tn
afraid I'll lose my sowl-indade will
lose my sowl I"
"Why, Brian, what makes you
think that p
because" said the deeply convict
ed man, "I'm all dirty Within
"My advice is that ye go immadi-
ately to the praist, and tell him of it, y
= Brian accordingly went to see the
holy father, and commenced telling
him how bad he was and how badly
he felt.
whats the matter, Brian? ?"
Brian then related the conversation
which passed between him and Molly,
and closed by saying, 80, holy faith
.er, I'm all dirty within !"
80, you .degt'' said the priest, "you
have been TO hear the swaddlers
preach" ,~@ 3s}a ffe
HNot I, yer riwerence / kept far
enough away from them. To be sure
i did, and niver one Of them have
I heard prachel''
The priest then tried to allay his
fears about his losing his soul. telling
him to come to confession, and attend
the mass, and all would be we'll. But
alas! Brian grew worse and worse,
until finally the priest told him to 60
to Loeb Dergh, st. Patrick's purga-
tory. In the midst of Loeb Dergh,
ior Red Lake, there was rocky Is
land, or the purgatory for refractory,
incurable Catholics. And indeed it
was a purgatory, bleak and dreary
spot, and the banished ones wereoblig-
y ed to go barefooted upon the sharp
stones, and kneel upon their bare
knees, fasting, and praying to the
Virgin, until they were restored, or
had suffered sufficient to atone for
their sins.
Brian accordingly went to Loeb
Dergh, and crossed over to St. Pat
rick's purgatory, where he went thro'
with the penance upon his bare knees.
After remaining there some time he
returned home.
p As soon as his wife saw him she
said, swell, Brian, you won't lose
your sowl now.
"Och, DEAR" he replied, 'I've been
to Loeb Dergh, but I'm dirtier than
/ liver was before p
DWELL, then, We must 90 and see
father Tom again )" which he did,
and the priest meeting him, said,
"Well, Brian, it's all right now |"
go @Nae, holy father, I'm dirtier and
dirtier r
Brian" said the priest, "you must
try and get your spirits up. There
is to be dance at such a place. 60,
3 and don't forget to take a drop; it
will do you good"
Brian, supposing that any ad-ice
from the clergy was right, never hav-
ing been instructed otherwise, went
to the dance, and did take a drop,
hnt!it was a drop too much, and he
became intoxicated. He came home
late at night, and his wife was awak-
ened by hearing him rolling and roar
ing on the floor, saying, ''Sure. and
Ell lose my sowl p She became