The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-20
YOUNG TINS SNAKE STORY.
IT'S A SORRY ST. PATRICF's DAY
COMING FOR HIS FATHER.

The Higher Criticism Has Invaded
the McGrOnrty Household and an
Old Irish Tradition Has Been At
tacEed-ERect OF the New Learn
ing on the Family.
From the New York Sun.
The home Of the McGroarties Is busy
place these days with all the hustle of
preparation going forward for the proper
celebration of ST. Patrick's Day. For to
the McGroartes st. Patrick's Day is like
Easter to the rest of the world day
when they put their best foot forward
and appear arrayed in great display of fin
cry. And all this you must know requires
nights of toll on the part of Mrs. Nc
Groarty and the girls. sewing and bastlng
and fitting, so that it Is long after mid
night when the things are put aside. And
the elder McGroarty comes home tagged
out with his practice drill of his division
of the Ancient order of Hibernlans.
McGroarty is great stickfer for having
his organization make a fine show in the
parade on st. Patrick's day. When the
young fellows made fight on the question
as 10 whether the order here should ride
or walk, and the young fellows won, Nc
Groarty said:
Eye spalpeens may ride in coaches, and
divil wan o. thin will go In. IN walk I"
And when IL was decided to impose a
fine upon obstreperous individuals like Nc
Groarty he up and handed In his resigna-
ton and went over to Brooklyn TO live so
that he might take part in the parade over
there, for the Hibernians in Brooklyn con-
tinue to walk as of yore.
There was no sign OF any one going to
bed they were all so busy, and so young
Tim McGroarty, who was busy with his
books, remarked, proudly and with great
display of wisdom:
There never were any snakes in Ire
land"
McGroarty looked at the youth with a
plying glance and then at Mrs McGroar-
ty, as much as TO say: THAT comes of
giving the young a little learning" Then
turning toward the youth he exclaimed:
Next thing you'll be tellln' us the bless
ed ST. Patrick niyer banlshed the snakes
out of Ireland"
''You took the words out of my mouth
father" young Tim replied. st. Patrick
never drove the snakes out of Ireland for
. there never was any snakes to drive out
of Ireland"
The elder McGroarty had grabbed the
arms of the chair In which he sat, a habit
he had got into of late when anything uo-
pleasant and dlstasteful was being said
in his hearing. Mrs. McGroarty eyed him
wonderingly and turning toward her son
quietly remarked
you had better put away your books
and go to bed Jimmy"
But the youngster was not to be baked.
He was well supplied with wisdom, and
was for spreading it broadcast no matter
who liked il or did not like 1t. Turning to-
ward his mother The boy said boldly:
There never were snakes In Ireland be i.
cause ths geological formation of the coun-
try won't allow of II. Biologists have been
pointing that out this many a day. And
no one at this day, except perhaps some
people who never looked the subject up,
maintains that st. Patrick banished snakes
out Of ireland. / have looked the whole
business up, and mother the whole story
Of ST. Patrcks banishing snakes out OF
Ireland Is sort Of guy on the Irish peo-
pie. who are too ready to listen to any
yarn that is In print, no matter who IL
the author" e
make this statement, Mrs. McGroarty was
looking at her husband. whose counter
ance grew darker and darker. Now she
pleaded with her husband
why won't you listen to the boy, acush-
la? Sure 1t may be truth he Is saying. Ye
know thGt the youngsters nowadays are
learnin knowledge that their fathers nivir
thought Of. May be this is something Tim
has found out. You know there were many
things we were taught whin we were child
er, that are not so. Look al the fairies. the
pookas, and the leprachauns and the like.
And who believes in fairies now? Some
thing told 10 frighten the childer onlyp'
That's Il, mother" young Tim cried ont
with enthuiasm. These stories were lola
TO folks when they were children, and they
never found time or had The inclination
to question the truth OF them Now IFS
different. EThe boys nowadays are not SAT
ished 10 swallow all these yarns. They
look Into them, see2 looked up this
story OF the snakes and found out that
the historian, Jocelyn. the Cistercian monk
OF Furness who compiled the life of 81
Patrick. did not mean the snakes we are
80 familiar with, =, cling them la MENACE
rles and IN the park. lie said the demons
who bcset 81 Patrick and lred to draw
him away from h,s religious duties. Here
h the WHOLE story"
Young Tim fumb'cd In bis books. and "A
he dld 80 his father became more and
more excited. Tighter grew his grasp 90
hls chair ana an indignant scoWl over.
spread als countcrauce. Airs. McGroarty
looked al him w.th pain ana sad.
why don't you have patience,
aeushlnY'
And an the girls, who bad hitherto been
rrf1fa FHfotaf0Fs OF ina atfempf ~ thaiF