The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17

stitions. however. are fading fast to thin
tradition, for fantasy vanishes inevitably
before the railway track and the 70.
mance-killing code Of the School Board.
BY the Irish peasant motherhood in
Lent is held to be attended with special
danger. and the rooted superstition still
endures that child born during the
long fast is predestined to sad and
melancholy temperament, more especially
if the baby be girl. "She will be thruly
good, the little darlin'," augur the vii
lage soothsayers, "but she will have the
troubles and the SORROWS and be afflicted
with sore griefs," and not the least of
these is the assurance that "a daughter
of Lent will never be wife," "a Len
ten son," they say SHOULD be a priest
with special gifts of grace to overcome
the sins and temptations of the world"
so that many simple Irish cotter offers
up devout and fervent thanks when she
becomes "the blessed mother of Len
ten boy"
The Irish peasant is subject at all
seasons to the sense OF shadowy super
natural agencies, whose signs and omens
are interpreted according to the super.
situations of his particular locality and
household. But at no other time is his
helplessness against such fateful and in
exorable agencies brought home to him
as in Lent.
Moreover at this time the auguries
and omens assume an especially depress.
ing complexion. Thus the "keen" of the
Banshee. always an eerie presager of
death, when it occurs during Lent, has
the gloomy significance of a double fu.
neral.
Peasant mothers ia Ireland still carry
their children to holy wells-for faith in
the efficacy of these is strong, and every
village boasts such we'll or sacred stream.
Here the little ones are made to creep
GA hands and knees beating their infant
breasts the while they pray and plead
for Lenten mercy on their own and the
manifold sins and wickedness of their
fellows. and are bathed in the blessed
water which is credited with miracu-
lous power of averting sickness and
washing away sin. The ceremony is
completed by tying to the tree in the
neighborhood of these consecrated
springs shreds OF colored rag as thank
offering and Precipitation to the particu-
lar patron saint who is believed to pre-
side over the birth of the child and to
hold its future in his keeping.
Crossing the forehead with finger
dipped in sacred ashes is a religious rite
belonging to the first day of Lent, and
devoutly observed by most Irish peas.
ants Indeed, it is very firm convic-
tion with them that neg lect of this token
OF humility and consciousness of sin will
assuredly and speedily incur Heavens
vengeance. A plentiful sprinkling of
ashes across the doorway on each Lenten
Friday keeps household free of evil
presences and wards off poverty and sick
AOoo' 11opoCihily ooNOut U0lloV6IS SII0W
ashes beneath their beds the while they
mutter lamentations devised to keep
away the demons of the night; and if cpl.
demic illness occur during Lent the
sprinkling is made to take cruciform
shape.
Many an Irish colleen in pretty faith
embarks the cup-like flowers of the
Lenten lily on the water of stream or
bog, her heart full of confidence that her
craft will return at Easter laden with
the blessings she invoked at their
launching. And groups of men and wo.
men assemble joyously at dawn on Eas-
ter day in Irish villages to see the sun
"dance over the hills" or out of the sea
in exultation for the triumph of the res
direction. For the spell of gloom is thus
broken, and the dangers which for forty
days have menaced an otherwise light
hearted people vanish before sunrise
which heralds the high mass OF E lister
morning.-London Graphic.