Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-12-01

one OF the most eminent of men. \ man of
great learning, or wonderful intuitions, of
cool, clear judgment, of great nerve and un-
bounded heart, he would, we're he TO come
t6 America and drop his prestly robes, be
President Of great railroad corporation, or
a Senator. or anything else be chose 10 be.
But what is he IN Ireland His apartments
comprise a bedroom just large enough TO
hold very poor bed, and study, in bet
ter-class farm house, for which he paws rent
same a. everybody else does. His floor is
unexpected, and the entire furniture Of his
rooms, leaving out hIs library. would not in
voice $40. His parish is one Of the widest
and bleakest in Ireland and IS twenty FIVE
miles long and eighteen wide.
Now understand that this man is the law
yer, the friend, the guide and director in
temporal as well as spiritual matters. Of the
entire population Of this district. IL hus-
band and wife quarrel, it is his duty TO hear
and decide. II tenant get into trouble
with his landlord. he is the go-bctween to
arrange it. In short, every trouble. great
snd small. in the parish is referred to him.
and he must act. He ia their lawyer as
~el as their priest. He is their ever, thing
lie supplies to them the intelligence that the
med them.
Bu, this ls a small part Of his duties. lie
has to conduct services at all the chapels in
this stretch Of country. He has to watch
over the moral. Of the people. But this il
not all. No matter at what hour Of night,
no matter what il the condition Of the
weather. the summons to the bedside Of a
diving man to administer the last sacraments
Of the Church must he oheyed. II may be
that to do this requires ride on horseback
Of twenty miles in binding storm. bu, it
must be done Every child must he christ
encd. every death bed must be soothed every
sorrow mitigated by the only comfort this
suffering people hA,e-the faith in their
Church.
What do YOU suppose this magnificent man
gets FOR all this The largest income he
ever received IN has life vas tlO0, which,
reduced TO American money. amounts 10 cx-
sctl, sisi And out Of TIN. he has to pay
HI, rent. his food. h,- clothing. the keeping
Of his horse and all that remains goes in
charity 10 the suffering sick cent Of
H.
When the father dies. hI, ncphew> and
niece, will not lind very good picking from
~hat i left. assure you.
"Wh, do YOU. asked. "a man capable
Of doing so much IN the world, stay and do
this enormous work for nothing ,"
II vas called to it" va. the answer: hat
would these poor people do wlthou, me ?"
That ~as all HIRE ia man capable of
anything. vino driihcra,cl, sacrifices a career.
sacrifice. comfort sacrifices the life hc wls
fitted f1r. sink, ht> identity. fprrsOcs fame
reputation, very Ihtng. for the sake Of a sui
trrIng people
Il ~a- called 10 il what would these poor
people do ~,,hou, ms :"
am very Nigurou, Protestant, and
have 20 special love for the Catholic Church.
but | shall r,tecm myself especially fortu-
nate II ! can make record IN th,, world
that sill st,r me place IN the next within
gun,hot OF where tins man will bc placed.
! am not capable OF making tie sacrifice, ior
ms fellow, that b, j, dom. tt ~,h to
Heaven ~a,. | found b, actual demon
,tratlon Whl the lri,h "a lnSe their pric-i,.
The, would be- "a q stall worse ~ay. If pos
,ihir without them.