Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-24
ST. PATRICK OF IRELAND.
MARVELLOUS MIRACLES AND LIE
GENDs TOLD ABOUT HIM.
THE SAINT AND HIS SATANIC
MAJESTY AND AN ODD VERSION
OF THE STORY OF THE SNAKES.
HIS DEATH-BED ADMoNIT1ON.


St. Patrick, the good old patron saint
whose marvellous miracles anu beneyo-
lence Irishmen the world over will re-
call, was PROBABLY about Az years old
when he landed on the inhospitable
shores Of Ireland, and he Is said 10
have continued his labor unflinchingly
for the space OF four-score years, until
the day Of his DEATH on March IA, 49S,
A. d., which would have made him
almost n century and quarter old.
There are many doubling Thomases
who assert that the good saint was
neither a Scotchman nor, as some say,
a Frenchman, but was an entirely
mythical parsonage whom the church
cOnonized In order to constitute a
patron saint Of woodworking reputa-
ton.
There is a delightful LONELINESS about
most of the old legends and traditions
concerning the saint; their hero is so
essentially human always, notwith-
standing hii transcendent gifts. All
hearts were won by his kindly and
genial personality.
1t Is related that when the Saint lay
on his death bed he was deeply touched
at the sight of his mourning followers.
He gazed on them with plying eyes,
and with his last breath 1t is grayely
asserted that he murmured: Take
drop of something for my sake"
II is said that the art of distilation
was taught to the Irish by st. Patrick,
though he had no mean reputation as "A
temperance advocate. At all events,
'poteen" was named after him.
When a boy Of sixteen the embryo
missionary was captured by pirates
and sold to slavery In Ireland for seven
years. But for this lucky chance, by
the way, the Emerald Isle might still
be unregenerate. The youth was em-
ployed as a swlneherd on top OF lofty
mountain, Here he was wont to mcdi-
tate on the urgent necessity of a little
missionary enterprise among the then
semi-barbariuns.
one night,so the story goes. his lonely
vigil was rulely interrupted by no less
parsonage than the devil himself. His
satanic majesty had adopted the eff
tectual disguise Of huge stone and at
tempted to frlghten the future satan by
Jumping on him The lad, however, was
nothing daunted, but. extracting him
self speedily, called out in a lusty
voice. 'Heliasl Heliasw
At the same moment the orb of day
saw ut to anticipate the dawn. accord
Ing TO the almanac by several hours,
and rose gloriously upon the scene.
This was too much for tho Prince of
shape, while the swlneherd resumed
his post and the sun discreetly sank to
abide the orthodox time Of rising.
On certain cold morning st. Pat
rick and his followers We're on the
summit OF a bleak mountain with no
apparent means of making a fire. To
add 10 their discontinue snow was fall
ing heavily, and n bowling wind had
arisen. Now was the opportunity for
the saint, He ordered al hands to coll
lect snowballs together in a great heap,
then he quietly breathed upon the fros.
~ mound, and 10! flames burst forth
Immediately.
The following touching poem alludinF
to the above II Of comparatively recent
date:
st Patrick, rs I'm legends told,
The morning being very cold.
IN order to ossuagc the weather,
Collected bits OF Ice together.
Then gently breathed upon the pyre.
Mhen every fragment blazed on nre.
An! II the saint had beer. So kind
As to have left the gift hrilnd
70 such a love-lorn wretch as me,
VINO daily struggles to be free.
"a be content-content with part,
ia only ask to thuw the heart.
The frozen heart OF Polly Roe"
A pleasant family living nenr Belfast
IN the early part OF the century were
the much-envled pOssessors OF St Pat
rick's jawbone
The relic was supposed to have Sill
pernatural value I'm Determining Inc
gulit or innocence of u suspected Grim
iiiul me accused one had merely to
place ms hand on the jawbOne and take
a solemn oath. In case he periured
himself the most frightful punlshmcnt
lolOWeu' IL was also of aren't assist
ance to women in child labor. and was
sovereign remedy for the epileptic MS
- aNfs
fairies. etc. "''seS'
Every one knows about the most
stupendous miracle Of all the miracles
or st. Patrick. the one which of itqalS
was enough to make the saints nona
immortal, but we don't all know how
dhe feat was accomplished. Colgan.
ahe ANTIQUARIAN, says that the snakes
lowing novel and ingenious manner.
st Fatriek procured an Immense drum
and then walked forth over hin daia
and valley while beating a most thun-
derlng tattoo Right IN the midst OF
ms aruuous iabors hole was knocked
IN the top, whereupon the snakes all
stopped short on their march to the
sea. '"e
In the nick of time an angel ap-
peared and mended the drum After
thls the operation was continued to the
END without further accident Every
reptle was supposed to have left the
Island. but the saint himself knew bet
yer Ihere was one snake that be-
naved so badly during the grand march
saat -. Patrick concluded to punish
nun: According to the legend the re-
caicltrant serpent was confined In the
Eiuoiny depths OF Tough Dilveen. In the
daitee mountains OF Tlpperary. II was
Understood that the prisoner should
pe released from durance vile on the |
ssoiloWlhg Monday, when he would be |
iGllven out to join his felIow-cra wlers |
III me briny deep. Alasl st. Patrick |
, was so busy he forgot all about IT. Al |
least they say in Tlpperary that ON |
every Monday on this day the hairless |
snake comes TO the surface OF the Iate |
ana utters In plant Irish. 'Jt,a |
long Monday, Patrick"
me shamrock in Ireland as IL well
Known, is always associated with the
saint Ihe popular reason given for
~, peculiar Significance is undonhtedIv
.he true one. When st. Patrick COM
ineneed to preach the gospel 10 The
- as ss irish he found It very difIicnit
~ ~ uiake them comprehend the doctrine
s,r, nc trinity AT last bright idea
~ ''u ..sl, MN He displayed to the throng
sprlg OF the common trefoil Csham-
toekl ana In a moment his auditors
Il h,Fasped the idea how perfectly simple
- was Tor three 10 emRnate from one.
-------->1---------
Ear piercing has so much gone out of
.asnioh now that special devices 10 |
!