The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-26

day, on the fnal visit OF LEAN TERRY To that
school, mention OF which occasion at the Con.
vent, il is remembered WAS made In last week s
FREE Trader:
st. Patrck's day has come again, that day
NJ often hailed with joy by every heart that
boasts of Irish blood. We have often vel
coined this day rs d0ubly dear, q twofold fes
uval, old lreland's holiday and our beloved
Fathers feastday.
And yet it comes now shoyn Of its bright
ness and shrouded in the gloom of grief. 1t
Is not because the sun has hidden behind the
clouds; the deepest shade with which nature
lUverspreads the heavens can never darken st.
Patrick's day for tie child Of Erin. But alas
there is another darkness which sometimes
casts its saddenlng pail over the most glad.
some day, when the sunshine of the heart 10
overloaded by the gloom and chill of sorrow.
| Very Rev. and dear Father. we have often
been called upon " address, you in terms ex.
pressive of gratitude and affection; and the
task was always q sweet and pleasing one;
but today we have met to utter words which
We little thought We should ever have 10 speak
TO you, our early and o!ttrled trend, our kind
and faithful pastor, our tender and lnduigent
father.
We often assembled around you in our old
school-room before; then our meetings were
full of JOY, faces beamng with happy smiles
were here to gseet you but now all is changed
smiles are replaced by downcast looks and
tears of sorrow.
How true are tho poets words: There is
no union here of hearts which has not here an
end" These words, so sadly true, so often
verified in this poor worlds experience, are
now for us too touchngly illustrated
Nm lion, ut han hat an
ion which for the great number of us has been
almost lifelong, comes to an end to-day. There
are children here surrounding you on whose
infant brows your hand once poured the wa
ter of Daptism; many whom you have often as
sisted with the charitable cOunsels OF father!y
love; many over whose heads your hand has
been repeatedly raised to invoke Heavens
blessing upon the child of faith; many whom
you have again and again fed with the food of
Immortality, the Bread of Angels.
Yes. and there are some here who have seen
| you stand rs Gods messenger of peace and
mercy and soul.reaching solace beside the
death beds and beside the graves of Those whom
| they loved; then when all WAS over and to the
sat. mourners there seemed no comfort on
earth, your voice and your hand were ready
to soothe and support the crushed and bleed.
ing heart.
| All! such has ever been the experience OF
those who know you well; how often has it
been said aud always how truly, at is in time
Of trial that Father Terry shows himself your
trend" and who does not know that the hour
of adversely is infalibly the test O! friendship;
Everywhere and always, you have been true
to your titles of Friend, Pastor and Father
All the joys Of our happy childhood are inter
woven with recolections of your worth. We
can scarcely look back upon one scene Of IN.
;,,x irk a A.
central figure, around which your children
are grouped in love and reverence. And can
il be that all this has now come to an end !.
must We miss your familiar face from our
many meetings. shall your voice no more be
heard among us as Of yorc, the voice of coun
sell of consolation and of love- shall we see
you no more in our schools in our homes, in
the church, or at the altar
| The dear old festive days which your pres
ence always lighted up with Joy, shall they
come and 60, mournful anniversaries Of joys
departed, bringing with them and leaving be-
hind only the sad recollections of what they
once were to US, because of what they were
to YOU But few short months have passed
since We met in this very room on a day which
our hearts long ago learned to hold sacred IS
your own special day; we had no anticipation
then Of how soon the scene should change.
! Must that OH recurring ever welcome day
hereafter pass yearly hy without It's usual
scenes Of mirth without your presence smil.
ing upon our childish efforts to give gu pleas
ures Forgive us, dear Father, If we thus give
vent to our regrets 9. the loes of so much we
} prize. Perhaps We ought 10 rejoice on your
Uehslf, because you so TO friends who know
: your worth and whose affection you so justly
+ value.
. Truly, since IL must be that you leave us
We DO rejoice that you will be among such
. friends: and We pray our Heavenly Father "a
multiply them around you, 10 crown your re
{ naming days with peace and holy Joy and
above all to grant that no GOODNESS, no unkind
J ness IN your future home may ever make you
' look back with regret on the loving hearts you