The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-03-24
Cecebrated Everywhere by the Sons
of Erin on the Seventeenth
of March.
Short Review of His Life, Miracles
and Virtues as Handed Down
by the Historians.

sons and daughters of Erin may be
in the 18th of March is always held
in memory dear.
This day is held in festival in hon
or of st. Patrick, the patron saint of
Ireland. In giving short history
of St. Patrick person meets with
many difficulties, for never was
PERSONS life made so contradictory
as the historians have made his.
Even the day of his birth is dis
puted question. AS a witty Irish
poet says:
On the Sth of March it was, some people say,
That st. Patrick, at midnight first saw the day
" bile others declare twas the 9th he was born,
And twas all a mistake between midnight and
morn
For mistakes will occur in hurry and shock;
Some blame the baby and some blame the cCck
TIL with all their disputing sure no one could
know.
Ii the child was too fast or the clock was too
slow.
But both of these factions so positive grew
, That each kept birthday and Pat then had two,
Till Father Mucahey, who showed them their
SINS
Said-"None could have two but fair pair OF
twins.
Don't always be fighting for eight or for nine;
Don't always be lighting but sometimes com
bine,
Eight and nine added together, seventeen is the
So let that be his birthday" Amen" said the
clerk.
So now we understand how the
18th of March became the birthday
in spite of all other claimants.
The early years of the saint were
full of romantic adventures. In fact
il one would relate all the legends,
transactions, miracles and supersti
tons that have gathered about his
name in the lapse of centuries, many
volumes would scarcely maintain the
list.
Before he was rs years old he
was captured by pirates and carried
away to Ireland. There he was sold
to petty chief and served him as a
keeper of pigs for many weary years.
A sad and lonely life the youth en-
dured, and it is said that he might
have called the angels to his aid and
at any time cut short the term Of
bondage, but he would not, and re-
NAMED, that he might set an exam
pie of patience. 1t was while he
suffered and waited that the Holy
Ghost visited him and his soul was
filled with heavenly grace. Then,
when the appointed time came he
left his swine, and offered himself as
missionary to the sons of toll and
poverty. He went along quietly
and no one tried to detain him, some
say to France, others say to England,
that he might prepare himself for
the priesthood
There are but two manuscript OF
St. Patrick's in existence, both writ.
ten after he had studied the Latin
language and very fair specimens
of that tongue. One is called the
"Confessions' and it tells how he
had been called of God in "a dream
while watching his herd at night
and commanded to prepare for the
sacred mission of converting the peo
pie of Ireland. This document shed.
light upon the sudden departure
from his bondage. The remaining
manuscript is letter to Coroticus
a great man of Wales, who had an,
moved some of his converts. 1t i.
certain that the saint went back tt
Ireland, and gave the rest of his life
for the good of those needy people
History records the number O
churches founded by this saint to be
between four and five hundred, anC
he baptised in person over 1900
converts.
1t would be hopeless task to at
tempt description of his mighty
deeds. The whole world knows how
he expelled all snakes and deadly J
reptiles from the fortunate land. /
is said that he scolded and beratet
them, all the while beating his drum
until the scratures" were so confus
ed that they "turned tail and scud
: ed away in hurry, and not noticing
where they were going, they iver.
, wan dropped off into the say
And while he drummed most Wig
orously, the drum head burst, AM
f then what? "Sure, an angel at one
, mended it, and it was stronger AM
stouter than before"