The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-24
NEWS FROM IRELAND
THE EXILE OF ERIN.
His Inquiry of the Priest, "Will My Soul
Pass Through Ireland?'

writer of the others, so different in char
acter, is not given.)
20 soggarth Aroon! sure I know life is
heeting;
Soon, soon, in the strange earth my
poor bones will lie;
/ have said my last prayer and received
my last blessing,
And if the Lords willing I'm ready
to die.
But Soggarth Aroon, can never again
The valleys and hills OF my dear ma
tive land?
When my soul takes its flight from this
dark world of sorrow
Will it pass through Old Ireland, to
join the blest band?
20 Soggarth Aroon; sure know that
in heaven
The loved ones are waiting and watch
ing for me,
And the Lord knows how anxious l am
to be with them
In those realms of Joy, mid souls pure
and free;
Yet, Soggarth, pray, ere you leave me
forever,
Relieve the last doubt of poor dying
soul
Whose hope, next to God, is to know
=. that when leaving
Twill pass through Old Ireland on the
way to its goal.
40 soggarth Aroon! have kept
through all changes
The thrice-blessed shamrock to lay
DER my clay!
And oh! it has minded me often and
often
OF that bright smiling valley so far,
far away.
Then tell me, I pray you, will l ever
again see
The place where it grew on my own
native sod?
When my body lies cold in the land OF
the stranger
Will my soul pass through Erin on its
way to our God?"
"Arrah! bless you, my child! sure
thought it was Heaven
You wanted to go to the moment you
die;
And such is the place on the ticket I'm
giving,
Ssse But coupon for Ireland I'll stick to
its side.
Your soul shall be free as the wind DER
the prairies
I And I'll land you at Cork, on the
d banks of the Lee;
And two little angels I'll give you, like
fairies,
To guide you all right over mountain
and lea"
"Arrah Soggarth Aroon! can't you do
any better?
know that my feelings may peril
your grace;
But if you allow ME voice in the mat
ter,
won't make landing at any such
place.
The spot that long for is sweet County
Derry;
Among its fair people I was born
and bred;
The Corkies never much fancied while
living,
And don't want to visit them after
I'm dead"
"Let me fly to the hills where my soul
can make merry
In the North, where the shamrock
more plentiful grows
In the counties OF Cavan, Fermanagh
and Derry
I'll linger till called to better repose;
And the angels you give me will find it
inviting
To visit the shrines iii the Island Of
q Saints;
Y If they bring from St. Patrick small
VI bit OF writing,
They'll never have reason for any
complaints"
"A soul, my dear child, that has pinions
y upon it,
Need not be confined to province so
small;
Through Ulster, and Munster, and
III Leinster and Connaught, .,''t
Ii In less than jihy you're over it all.
% Then visit sweet Cork, where the Sog-
garth was born.
No doubt many new things have come
into vogue
But one thing you'll fnd-that both
night, noon and morn,
As for centuries back, there's no
change in the brogue."
Good mother, assist me in this my last
hour; ..... ,...-.
! And, Soggarth Aroon! lay your hand
on my head;
Sure, you're Soggarth for all, and for all
a you have power,
And I'll take it in penance for what
n have said.
III And now, since you tell me through Ire