The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-05-02
FATHER PILLS COLLECTION
SAMUEL LOVER.


known by the name Of Father Phil.
BY either title, or iu whatever capaci-
ty, the worthy father had great info-
ence over bis parish, and there was a
frUe-and easy way with him, even in
doing the most solemn duties, which
agreed wonderfully with the careless
spirit Of Paddy ; stiff and starchel
formality being repugnant to the very
nature of Irishmen. With all his in :
triusic worth, Father Phil was, at the
same time, a strange man in exterior
manners; for, with an abundance of
real piety, he had an. abruptness of de-
livery, andan odd way of mixing up
an occasional remark to his congre-
cation in the midst Of the celebration
of the mass, which might we'll startle
a stranger; but this very want Of for
mality made him beloved by the peo-
pie, and they would do ten times as
much for Father Phil as for the Sc
we're Father Dominick.
On the Sunday in question Father
Phil intended delivering an address to
his heck from the altar, urging them
to the necessity of bestirring them
selves in the repairs of the chapel,
which was in very dllapidated con-
dition, and at one end lee iii the rain
through its wornout thatch. A sub
scriptien was necessary; and to raise
this among a very impoverished peo-
pie was no easy matter. The weather
happened to be unfavorable, which was
the most favorable to Father Pills
purpose, for the rain dropped its ar
guments through the roof upon the
kneeling people below, in the most
convincing manner; aud as they en-
deavored to get out Of the wet, they
pressed round the altar as much as
they could, for which they were re-
proved very smartly by his reverence
in the very midst of the mass. These
interruptions occurred sometimes in
the most serious places, producing a
ludicrous effect, of which the worthy
father was quite unconscious, in his
great anxiety to make the people re-
pair the chapel.
A big woman was elbowing her way
towards the rails of the altar, and
Father Phil, casting side-long glance
at her, sent her to the right-about,
while he interrupted his appeal to
Heaven to address her thus:
"a 9nats Dei-You'd better Jump
over the rails ofthe altar, / think. Go
along out o'that, there's pleanty Groom
in the chapel below there"
Then he would turn to the altar,
and proceed with the service, till,
turning again to the congregation, he
perceived some fresh offender.
"OrGte, Fratres will you mind
what ] say to you, and go along out
of that there's room below there
True for you, Mrs. Finn-it's a shame
for him to be tramplin' ON you. Go
along, Darby easy, down there, and
kneel in the rain-it's a pity you
haven't dacent woman's cloak under
you, indeed = Orate, Fratres i'
Then would the service proceed
again till the shufling Of feet edging
out of the rain would disturb him,
and, casting backward glance, he
would say
II hear you there-can't you be
quiet, and not 5e disturbin' nay mass,
you haythensf"
Again he proceeded, till the crying
Of child Interrupted him. He look.
ed around quickly lrsi
"You'd better kill the child, II
think, tramplin' on him, Lavery. Go
out o'that-your conduct is scanda-
lous l--DomiattS Po6iscun, P'
Again he turned to pray, and after
some time be made an interval in the
service to address bis congregation on
the subject of the repairs, and produc-
ed paper containing the names of
subscribers to that pious work who
had already contributed, by way of
example to those who had not.
"Here it is, said Father Phil" here
it is, and no denying it-down in black
and white; but If they who give are
down in black, how much blaeker are
those who have not given at all But
l hope they will be ashamed of them
selves when l howld up those to hon
or who have contributed to the up
holding of the house of God. And isn't
it ashamed o'yourselves you ought to
be, to lave His house in such a condi-
ton? and doesn't it rain every Sun
day, as if He wished to remind you
of your duty 2-aren't you wet to the
skin Almost every Sunday2 Oh, God
is good to you to put you in mind of
your duty, givin' you such bitter
cowlds that you are eoughin' and
sneezin' every Sunday to that degree
that you can't hear the blessed mass
for comfort and a.beneft to you
and so you'll 90 on sneezin' until you