The Irish standard., 1888-04-21

- SS
still she prayed for grace, and three
times SHE ran in front Of the chariot,
and, kneeling down, entreated pardon
and forgiveness. Then Patrick at last
promised his sister that as she repented
he would not take away heaven from
her, yet that she must surely die; and
agaiu he bade the charioteer to drive On.
So the third time the chariot passed
over I.upait, aud she lay dead before
him in the path. Then Patrick had the
Requiem sung, and she was buried as
she died, in the place where the cross
now stands, bnt her soul was suffered
TO enter heaven.
A softer and gentler spirit is in the
story OF the two princesses converted to
the Christian Faith by the Sanctus
Patrjcius Episcopalus. One day the
two daughters, Of the King of Meath
Ethna and pedalma-on going down to
the river to tathe. bebeld st. Patrick
and his converts all draped in flowing
white robes, 1cE they were celebrating
morning prayers; and the princesses
thought they must be Of the fairy race
jtE.e Daine Sidhe), and they questioned
them on which Patrick expounded the
Christian truth 10 them. And the
maiaens asked him many questions
'Who is your God? Is he young? Is he
handsome? Has he SONS anu daughters?
Are his daughters as handsome us we
aress Is he rich? Is he young or aged?
Is he co Gle like us, OF does be live for
evsr2" Then Patrick. having satisfied
sheu2 on all those points, the two maid
ems, EtIna and Fedelnaa, were baptized,
and became jealous workers for the
Christian CAUSE at their fathers Royal
Court Of Tara Of this Kings.
st. Patrick was a great favorite with
the Lord, and he sent His angel to him
to ask what things he desired most to
he granted to him Ga which the saint
made seven requests, among others,
that no o,,tlander should ever rule over
ireland; that he, patl ick, should alone
Judge the Irish at Che last day. even as
the twelve who were deputed to judge
Israel; and that every Thursday and
Saturday twelve souls OF the Irish peo
ple should be freed from the pairs Of
hell,
It is interesting to reflect on the per-
ylanence Of symbols and memories
when once they have taken root in the
heart Of a nation. A thousand years
may have passed By, yet still on this
tiay every child in Ireland Will wear a
Patrick's Cross ON the shoulder, made
in the national color of green ribbon,
and every Irishman throughout the
world will be known by the shamrock
in his hat, and every Irish woman will
have her bouquet Of the Seamrog
leanne. while to many an Irish exile in
foreign lands the verdant and sacred
symbol, fresh from the native sod, will
ba carefully sent by post as the most &C
ceptable OF presents, and tonight there
will be the great annual ball at u Dublin
Castle. in ST. patrick's Halt, when the
Lord Lieutenant and all his suite will
wear nuge lunches of the national
embleln, and all the ladies will have it
mingled with their garlaSlis and in the
adornmonts ct their dresses. Even q
Royal Levee will be- held in London in
the Saints honor, where princes and
peers will appear with the gl1tteriDg
insignia of the order Of ST. Patrick; a
special compliment to Ireland, for there
is no Leek Day nor Thistle Day recog-
nized in Court ceremorials. And no
doubt the day will be fine, for St. Pat
rick made this particular point with
tue angel sent to him to know his wishes,
that on this special day, the l75h OF
March, no rain should fall; but the
weather always be bright and fair, to
allow the attendance of the faithful at
TIE service of the Church.
And thus it has been for 400 years,
for, from that time till now no rain has
fallen upou the Saints day throughout
the length and breadth of green Erin,
no matter what may happen in less
favored regions of the earth outside the
pale OF ''HoIy Ireland,' the Insula
Sanctoru.n, blessed for eyermore by the
great apostle, Saint and guardian of the
Irish race, whose sacred symbol we all
wear this day.
IT is stated that the late Emperor
William left the sum of 80 marks to
every invalid soldier Of the war Of 1870.
TUE citv crunci| of Lexington. Mo-,