The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-15

I.aeghaire. son Of Nal, Of the Nine Hos
tages was about TO meet TO celebrate the
festival of the FEES of Tara. Here all the
priests and dignitares gathered TO wor-
ship in The national fashion, and 81. Pat
rick determined TO strike a blow at the
fountain head at once The sequel show
cd how wise a determination 1t was.
When he approached the vicinity Of the
palace. st. Patrick lighted fire 10 camp
for the night This was grave ohence,
for no fires were allowed 10 be lighted
until the sacrincial fire Of The following
morning was ignited. The King saw the
rebeluOus blaze in the distance and sent
TO find out who had kindlcd it. ST. Pat
rick was discovered sitting as bold as
lion at his hreside on the plain, IN COM
pany with a few followers.
The King, who knew well with whom
he had TO deal, ordered ST. Patrick TO
be brought 10 the idolatrous celebration
on the following morning, 10 pit his
supernatural powers against those Of the
court magicians and high priests. At day
break. therefore, behold the Druidical
high priests and st. Patrick arrayed
against each other King Laeghaire and
court and people looking on eNpectantiy
The Drulds had first inning Their
miracles went all awry. They made snow
fan to the depth of several feet, but they
couldn't get rid Of the nuisance. They
caused black darkness 10 cover the land,
but when they called for light the light
declined to come. So they had TO suffer
the isnominy Of accepting the proifcred
assistance OF ST. Patrick who caused
snow and darkness 10 disappear in a
tWinkling.
Then ST. Patrick challenged the chief
prleal TO a trial that looked al in favor
OF the latter. He proposed to have tie
priest placed on pile of green wood,
and tie boy Benignus, who accompanied
the party, placed on pile Of dry wood
ana test made 10 see whose God would
protect his own from flames. The priest
accepted, with the result that he was
burned Up and the flames did not injure
the boy at all.
Then King Laeghaire. with rage in his
heart and a smile on his lips, invited ST.
Patrick 10 come to his palace on the
following day. Armed men were station
cd on the way 10 Kill the missionary
and his followers, but they saw only a
few deer pass them in the night. Then
the King played his last card. a cup
OF poisoned wine was given TO St. Pat
rick when he reached the palace. but the
Saint turned the cup upside down, the
poison fell out and again the King was
loied. Then he decided TO make the
best Of It. and gave St Patrick the free
dom OF his kingdom to 90 as he pleased.
ST. Pairick's career began from that
hour. King Lacghaire would not submit
10 be baptized bur he showed that Chris
tianity had mad. a deep impression on
him. His Queen became a convert unre-
seryediy, as did numbers of the people.
KILLING SNAKES
Then 81. Patrick travelled all over Ire
land. assisting the Pope, until the name
OF Christ was known everywhere.
Before he had been at work long there
was no spot left untouched by the new
religion. In the year 4ie eleven years
after his arrival in Ireland. St Patrick
was a member of the council appointed
TO remodel the laws Of the land on a
Christian basis.
For nearly sixty years St Patrick con
unued his work, Rome sending help. and
the work was consolidated and built ND
INTO firmly established religion.
De was in a place called Uladh when
be was warned that death was near. The
saint proceeded towards Armagh where
he wished TO be buried. bur he was
told IN a dream 10 return TO the province
OF tladE, which was the scene OF his
FIRST triumphs. When he arrived at Saul
he took 10 his bed and on the 18th of
March A. - 4e2. sixty years after his
arrival I'm Ireland and at the age OF 100
the patron saint OF Ireland breafhed his
last. surrounded by converts Of his min
isfry. lie found I'm ireland 3.OOo.O00 of
pagans and In sixty years he had CHANGED
the religious aspect Of the land so COM
plotely that there was not an idol TO be
found in all the land.
This is how 81. Patrick cleared Ireland |
OF snakes. II. D. JONES.