Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-07-13
St. Patrick and St. Bridgss.

Brldget; or have smiled at hearing your old
nurse tell how" Shure and ST. Patrick did
bahish every crater Of shnake from ould
Heand." Let us see What history has 10 say
on the subject.
More than a thousand years ago, in the
yearof our Lord 464, q young Roman, nam
ed Patrick, was carried away captive into
Ireland. The son of Christian parents, he
was sent to tend Aocks in strange, wild land
among bsrbariaas. Both English and Irish
were at this time little better than ssvages
and though but boy Of sixteen Patrick felt
as il he must DO something to enlighten them
After while he escaped, went back 10 his
parents and to all the comforts Of home, but
day and night he was haunted BY the thought
Of the poor Irish children, living ike beasts in
their bogs, and kneeling down to pray before
images of stone. Irseemed as if from over
sea and land, he conld behold them stretching
ont their little hands 10 him for salvation!
So Patrick entered q convent Of Augustine
monks. and studied until he was fitted for a
preacher, all the while feeling that those little
sad hands beckoned him to come and help
them. In due time Celes,ine, who was then
pope, gave the young monk his longed-for
mission, and he set forth Tor Ireland. Here
Patrick landed among strangers and enemies
He met all manner Of insults, dangers and ia
tigues; but brave man, who has made up
his mind to a work, does not pause for hard
ships. He gathered the poor people about
him in lanes and squares, and preached,
tanght eonforted, helped thsm; TIL at last,
from all over the country, they hoeked to
hear his voice.
Many whom Patrick converted began to
assist him in preaching and praying, while
the good monk argued with kings and chief,
Of whom, such as they were, ireland was
full, and baptised them. His followers prea-
ched in every green lane, and started a school
in every hamlet. See what can come Of res
olution, and a noble heart! The lone herds
boy was not only blessed and beloved by
every lone soul in barbarous ireland, but he
was called at last to preach before the assem-
bIed kings and chiefs at Tara; and though
I NIeH the chlet monarch, refused TO listen te
him. he ba5tised the kings of Dublin and
Minister and The seven sons of the king oi
Connaught -ia
Au this work was not accomplished in 8
moment. Patrick labored steady for forty
years in tie chosen field Then he died, and
was buried at Down in Ulster, leaving Ire
land Christian nation, f1Il Of religions schools
and churches, that sent forth crowds Of mis-
sionaries alfover western Europe. Now, you
know Sin is called tht'Great Serpent, and the
reptiles that Pnfrick banished from Ireland
were simply sins; and misfort,nes, heathen-
ism, ignorance, stupidity these are more
harmful than snakes or toads
During iislabors Patrick found-tha women
listened TO him even more readily than men.
and were more grateful for his words They
wove him garments, and set forth the best in
their poor cabins for him to eat and drink.
The same was true of his disciples; and in
return, they had especial pity for the women,
who were used like beasts Of burden by their
savage husbands One day two holy mer,
disciples ofSt. Patrick, c,une upon a sorrow-
ful woman with child IN her arms She
was so lone, aud sad, and yet 50 beautiful IS
to make them think Of the story Of HagaF and
Ishmael in the Scriptures. On questioning
her, they found she was indeed kind Of Ha-
gar. Like Patrick she had been seized in
| youth, and brought 10 Ireland as a slave Her
IcaptUi, great chicftan, fell in love with his
/ beautiful slave, but his wife was Jealous, and
drove her out Of the house to wander as q
beggar till her child was born.
! And thus the holy men found her, stand,
ing spart in the crowd, with her sweet, sac
face, and the baby pressed to Lsr BOSOM
They spoke words Of comfort to her, taught
I her, gave her money, and when the villagers
asked what they could do to be saved, they
answered: /" Befriend this stranger, for Chris
said, What ye do for the least Of these, yt
have done it unto me. They baptized the
poor woman and her child, and named tht
little girl Bridget or Brigida. Bridget grew
up as beautiful as her mother, and took tC
learning more rapidly than the barbaroul
Irish, so that she became famous in the land
Her father, hearing Of her charms, made hel
come home and live with him in state, auC
was very proud Of her.
After a time, Bridget's father wished her tC
marry reigbboring chief, but she would no
hear Of marriage. She wos resolved to spenc
her hte IN gsrving God and the POOR In or
der to carry out her plan, she went to live II
a solitary place--an oak grove that had beer
dedicated to heather gods. Dedic:-tius be
green temple now 10 the one true God. thi
gentle woman called around her all the igno
rant and wretched of the ncishborhood, ant
preached to them, nursed and taught snt
blessed them, till she came to be looked upor
as a saint. It was believed that her toucl
would heal the sick, and restore sightto tn
blind Wisdom often gives sight TO the blind
and the touch of Kindness will often heal tn
sick.
Such was Bridget's fame for holiness ant
power, that vast crowds gathered about her
and built themselves huts and cells in tn
neighborhood Of the cak grove, that the,
might be always near her voice. Many wo
. men, particularly, went to hive with the saint
and Joined il her life and labors Tzus aros