The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-10-30

stricken and desOlate-tO relieve which he
would have willingly sacrificed his young
and hopeful life. With nOught to comfort
him in his journey to exile. save the hope
within him, that ever ShOne as brilliant
star throughout his eventful career. that the
God of his fathers would see him justified.
he found mental peace and consolation in
the OutpOuringS of his own christian and
noble soul
I'm this brief life despair should never reach
The sea looks wide because the shores are dim
The star that led the Magi still can teach
The way to go, if we but look to Him.
AS he entered the convict settlement
which, the enemies of his country would
have made his sepuchre, the grOssnjustice
he was the recipient of was no impediment
to his resolve to make his future beautiful,
clear. shining, gracious. No curse on the
hand that scOurged him, no foul stained
epithets on those who trampled upon him,
no thought of sinful revenge ever fOated
between his God and his daily prayer for
his beloved Ireland and his enemies. AS he
turned On his pallet of straw and heard the
clink of the chains that bound him, his
heart in spirit fOndly flew to his once happy
home in his beloved Meath. and there at the
knee of the mother who sOrrOwed for him,
found strength as of yOre i'm the aspiration.
''COmfortress of the afflicted. help me-"
AS his biographer says: The dominant
trait in his character was mercy. He not
merely forgave his enemies, he forgot their
injuries to him. The sufferings he endured
for his country i'm English prisons and penal
settlements which would have hardened
and embittered lesser man, only deepened
his fellow feeling for the oppressed. When
the sufferings he endured for Ireland had
wrought their perfect work in him, Ireland
gave him to humanity. "In February '69. by
the aid of Catholic priest he escaped, and
in November of the same year landed in
America-a free man, in a free land. The
knowledge of his isolated cOnditiOn-fOr he
knew not a soul here-Or the fact of his be-
ing friendlesS and pennleSS did not deter
him from setting about the work of build
ing up that citadel of the future which
afterwards he adorned so beautifully by
magnanimty and love. In few months
his strength of character began to be felt
i'm few years he stood out as the most be
loved. and the greatest benefactOr. that the
land of his adoption ever opened her arms
to receive. He was the friend of all. The
lOwIy and oppressed were his favOrites. and
his fertile pen never wavered in uphOlding
and defending those upon whom the world
tranpled. or made unhappy by its frOwns.
Such in brief was John Boyle O'Relly.
Would that could linger a little longer,
and tune my thoughts little Sweeter. be-
side this crystal stream of every virtue.
along whose banks the flowers of holiness
grew. Flowers that can be gathered by
those whose lives--like his--are free from
guile; the fountain of whose thoughts--like
his-hOw on nninterruptedly through the
mountains and valleys OF life scattering in
its journey, sunny showers DER messy banks
and barren inlets until lost in the bOundless
| <,f Efnr mud xxIn 10 him,
putting forth their strength of character,
despising the trials and tribulations of life.
the storms and winds of adversely and the
temporary incOnvenienceS of an act of an
earlier and less experienced hour, gallantly
renew the battle of life. and win for them
selves name and fame alike admirable
in the sight of God and their fellow men.
The expression of the hearts affection is
none the less fervent because conveyed by
hand that-thOugh manacled--Once plucked
the shamrOcks in O'Rielly's beloved Erin;
nor is the sorrow of the human heart less
keen because that fount of human existence
is covered by the rags of degradation
And knew-his dearest friends apart
The life of his life and the heart of his heart
None wept more for that vacant place
Than who never had seen his face"
Rest! brave patriot! AS in lOwliness
l bend DER your, alas. too early grave, and
place thereon this trivial tribute of affection
and love. the prayer of my heart l lisp,
God rest your soul. May those you loved
so tenderly here. find peace in the hope of
an eternal reunion hereafter and may the
land that gave you brth--the vision of your
life's demonstrating off the shackles of a
long and dreary servitude. soon take her
rghtful place at the council board of the
nations
Great glorious and free
First flower of the earth. first gem of the sea-"
1NNISFALLEN.