The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-06-26
THE PRIEST HUNTER,
An Irish Tale of the Penal Times
BY NJ. ARcHDEAcoN, ESQ.
(Continued.)

(Continued.)
On the day in question-to give some O
our youthful readers of the present day a
idea to what means their forefathers wer
obliged to resort, in order to offer up Sab
bath worship on tha.rare occasions the,
had priest 10 Of1ciate for them-we sha1
give the scene as described to us by per
son still living, who had it in youth from
his father, one of the sufferers on the oc
NyIes Bourke, the proprietor of tn,
lodge, stood in front of his house that Sab.
bath morning, surrounded by q consider.
able gronp; few of them eagerly en-.
gagged in the vile game of "pitch and toss,
for tho proclamation of the Sabbath through
nhich, there was no legal infection; the
game, and of course, interested lockers on.
There was jarring and disputation, and
tumult beyond what the paltry game
might warrant. Nor lacked there oatlls
and imprecati0ns to increase the Sabbath
proclamation while, during the uproar, the
through the open gateway, and clambered
TO the granary, to join in the worship offer
ing mp there.
The ceremony had little more than COM
menced when, to the dismay of poor Myles,
who, as we'll as his brother-in-law, was
moro than half suspected of having become
Q relapsed Papist, Shawn joined the gam
most interested, and by far the most vo-
ciferOus there, repeatedly invoking " the
glory of hell T" and other similarly fearful
imprecations on his head.
"Mr. Mullowny," said Myles, in q quiet
tone, remember it's the Sabbath day, and
and blasphemy."
You don't mind keeping the Sabbath
much yourself, Misther Bourke. / can hear
you weren't seen in q church this three
weeks; ap' you know the fine for every!
Sunday you wor absint, Misther Bourke.j
Were you thereto day 2 chi"
I /" It is not church hour yet, Mr.. Mullow-
ny," said Myles, hesitatingly.
But yottr prayers is begun, think, Mr.
Bonrke,n said Shawn, dashiDg through the
gateway to the granary. Instantly there
was a crash heard, and fearful shouts of
suffering and terror; as, some of the con-
gregation nearest the archway having OBJ
served his approach, the dreaded name was.
pronounced, an instantaneous rush wasl
made by those behind towards the upper
part of the granary where the priest was.
The flooring there, however, CHANGED to bel
decayed and weakly supported, and it at
once gave way, SO that upwards of twoE
aged and youthful, were precipitated, in
one thronged mass, nearly sixteen feet.
Terrible were the shrieks Of mortal fear
and agony fora few moments, till the un-
injured had recovered presence of mind
sufficient to enable them to assist their
damaged companions, of whom there were
many. with bruised and broken limbs,
though there was only one life lost on the
spoe-tnat OF lame and aged mendicant,
who had hobbled in to hear Mass for the
first time during many months.
Father Davy himself was the only person.
in the assemblage that had not fallen the
board on which he stood having remained
firm, though the table which had served
for an altar had sunk before him: and,
on it few yards, he managed toI
reach ONE of the windows-tore away its
wooden filing and sprang to the ground
outside, despite the warning, by gesture
and word, of those gathered about the
building.
He had bae3 reached the ground-wbich
he had the gki0d fortahe to alight on unhurt
when he Wa In the grasp of Shawn, who
hid RENAME without to watch his move
nents especially. Father Dayy was, how
over, hinlself naan of powerful frame, to
which mortal terror lent, &c that moment,
moro than giant Btrengths on finding him