The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-05-26

| had stood. and az there was score of
| tall mounds along the shore, and all of
! height more or less equal. there was
no knowing where to dig. To uncover
them all was JOB to last till dooms-
| day.
"BIur-an-agers, but it's ruined |
am" cried St. Piran. "And the
! Nisitashtm no further away than to-
mora at 10 a. M" He wrung his
| hands; then caught up spade and be-
gan digging away at haphazard, like a
madman.
They searched all that day, and with
lanterns all the night through; but
| came on never a sign of the missing
| church.
IF it only had spire," they said,
1--WE might have some chance" But as
far as could be recollccted, the build
ing had only a dumpy tower.
1t was at sunrise tAat st. Piran, worn
out and heartsick, spoke from enc of
the tall mounds, where he had been
digging for an hour.
My children" he said, and they all
uncovered their he. ds, I'VE are going
to DE disgraced, this day. an the best
we can do is to pray that we may bear
it Ike men. Let Us pray"
He knelt on the great sandhill. and
the men and women around went on
their knees also. And then st. Piran
prayed the famous PRAYER that has
made his name famous all the world
over.
"Hear US, o, Lord" he SAID, "and be
debonair; for ours is very particular
case. We are not like the men of St.
Neot, or those of St. Udy, who are
bothering Thee with supplications and
prayers every day of the week and
upon the slightest occasion. 1t is
only with great cause that we bring
ourselves, as now, to trouble Thee.
Therefore, regard us and help us now.
Amen"
There was silence for a moment or
two as he ceased: and then the kneel-
ing parishioners lifted up their eyes
toward the top Of the mound.
st. Plran was nowhere to be seen,
They stared and looked at each
other \ few Of the women began to
sob
"Hullo! Hush bit, and hearken,"
criend Andrew Penhaligon. suddenly.
\ muflled voice was calling as it
were from the bowls of the earth.
Fetch a ladder" it said; fetch a
ladder. I've found 'en, sonnies-Ive
found 'en."
They brought ladder, and set it
against the mound. Three of the men
climbed up. At the top they dis
covered large round hole, from the
top of which they scraped the sand
away, unc0vering patch of shingle
roof, through which St whose
weight had increased with age-had
broken and tumbled into his own
church.
Three hours later. when the Vista
tion arrived, it found the parish desert
ed. Every cottage door was fast
closed.nOr could any amount of knock
inc elicit an answer. st. Piran's small
hut was empty. A meager breakfast
OF herbs was set out on the table, and,
ScOurge lay somewhat Ostentatious-
ly beside the platter. Outside the
beach stretched away beside the
breakers, with not human shape in
sight.
The visiting saints paced the sand in
some wonder. They were still wonder
ing, when dull, rhythmical sound ar
rested their feet.
what on earth" began st. NeOt.
1T sounds" said St Petroc, who had
been listening for some moments, with
his head on one side, at sounds very
much like a hymn"
They proceeded a few PAGES and the
noise grew louder. 1t led them at
length to an enormous mound of sand.
from the top of which the chant was
pouring, as fire from crater The
saints set their ears to the sandy wall.
They walked round it and listened
again. Finally, st. Petroc knocked,
and shouted loudly.
The chant ceased For a full min
ute nothing happened; and then ST.
Piran's head was thrust cautiously for
ward over the summit.
Holy st. Petroc. Is it You after all?
And st. Neot-and St. Enodar O
glory be-"
why, who did you imagine we
were?" St. Petroc asked, still in amaze
ment.
why, throat-cutting Danes, to be
sure, by the way YOU were coming
over the hills when We spied u.three
hours back. And the trouble we've
had to cover up our blessed church out
of sight of thin narautherin' thieves.
An the intire parish gathered inside
here. an singin holy songs in ex-
potassium of present death. An to
think twas you holy men, all the
while. But why didn't We send word
We was comm. st. Petroc. darlint?
For its little but sand ye'll find for
breakfast. I'm thinkin'." - 1r.hur
Quulcr COuch