Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-13
IN AN IRISH VILLAGE.
Peace and Potatoes Preferred to Home
Rule.

From the London Globe.
We live twenty miles away from any
where-our way of expressing complete
out-of-the- worIdness. We are 800 strong
(our village only, not the parishD all told,
and Father Tom. the parish priest, is KING,
and a kindly hearted. mild-mannered ruler
he Is. He christened US ALL married all of
US burdened with matrimony, and the pity
is that death. now rapidly approaching
will prevent him giving most of us the
"viaticum." His kindly face and parting
blessing uttered in his sympathetic
brogue. almost makes death sweet. Father
Tom has two troubles-his crosses he
calls thenl-his servants. Biddy and Larry,
who quarrel from morning TO night about
anything or nothing. The priest says they
remind him of the Protestants and Catho-
lies In the north each recurring 18th or
July-if one doesn't raise the row. the
other WILL but. he adds. with a hopeless
little sigh, every hour of the day is
18th of July in my house." And yet he
would not part with either of them for the
woman, while Larry, 1.-The priests boy" q
hardy chap OF fifty. Is five feet nothing.
on the kitchen dresser are two rows OF
pewter plates, for ornament. not use on
they are generally shining. They are an
unfaillng barometer Of Biddy's temper;
when they shine with dazzling luster
when they are any way dull and leaden
weather has been fair for some hours.
Father Tom says mass" every morning
at 8 o'clock, and twice on Sundays, and a
stranger listening to his sermon, If sermon
IL can be called, would be both surprised
and amused He takes the congregation
has read the epistle and Gospel Of the day
and made some pious comments thereon,
he quietly turns to parish affairs. Some
thing like this might be heard: Dearly
hall ah II n n
persons unknown-mind, / say unknown
have stolen poor Mary Clancy's duck. and
poor Mary has husband and six children
10 feed. Now let me solemnly warn who
ever has taken II. that that duck must be
returned OF may be done at night. when
no one 10 looking). for no one man or wo-
that duck on their sowls." And the
priests warning seldom passes unre-
garded. He is worth dozen policemen
and n whole bench Of magistrates in set
Ting disputes Father Tom is one of the
old school. and must not be taken as a
typo Of the Irish priesthood. who are as
docorous In their Sunday sermons and as
stnnd-ofi'sh In their lives some of their
brethren In England. But give me Father
Tom before the whole hierarchy. He will
brook no Interference. however, with the
proselytizlng Lady Bountful to lead his
flock astray with money brides and Bibles.
Lady c our lady of the manor, had
her kindly heart filed to bursting with
benevolent schemes for Frightening and
bettcrng the lives of her tenantry, both
morally and physically Dear soul. how
little she knew about US. She called on
Father Tom TO enlist his aid and sympa-
thieS.
Bibles and Flowers.
Father Tom. find the poor people know
little of the Bible. Don't you think a dis
tribution OF Bibles among the cottages
.wouid be n very good thing"
MY good lady. I object" he replied. for
several reasons. In the first place. not two
out Of tan of them are capable of reading
the Bible so as TO Understand it: they would
he obliged 10 getNt their school-going chill
dren TO read and espound it for them, and
Just agine a child of eight expounding
passages on which theologians have differ
ed fer centuries. Besides. 1 do my little
best 10 teach them their religious duties in
chapel
well. well. Father Tom, so be 1t. leave
you to furnishing their souls. Can l do
anything toward Frightening their lives?
Now. what do you say to a neat flower
garden before each little cottage; beautiful
surroundings lead to beautiful lives, you
know?"
Father Tom smiled. "You might try, my
lady: but fear there are many Peter Bells
am.ng U.S. The lady did try. She called
on a dozen cottaEers. and asked each IL he
or she-would wish to have pretty flow
er garden In front of their houses. God IN
heaven b,e1s ker ladyss.p! Shure, there