The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-05-17
WILL MY SOUL PASS THROUGH
IRELAND?

THE first three stanzas of the following
bs 1T Ss%
other stanzas attached. which form dialogue
Of IN
to the holy ministry Of the priesthood On the
perceived by the thoughtful reader.l
20 soggarth aroon. sure know life is fleet
ing;
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 1 never again see
The valleys and hills of my dear native land.
When my soul takes its fight from this dark
world of sorrow,
viii it pass through old Ireland to join the
blest band?
80 soggarth aroon! sure know that in hea-
Theloved ones are waiting and watching
for me,
And the Lord knows now anxious am to be
with them,
In those realms of joy, mid souls pure and
free;
Yet. soggarth. pray, ere you leave me for
Relieve the last doubt of a poor dying soul.
when leaving
Twill pass through old Ireland on the way
to its goal.
o 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, 1 pray you, will I ever again
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 I thought 1t
| was heaven
| You wanted to go to the moment you died;
And such is the place on the ticket I'm giving,
| But a coupon for Ireland I'll stick to its side.
Your soul shall be free as the wind DER the
| prairies,
| And I'll land you at Cork on the 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'll allow me a voice in the matter.
| / won't make a landing at any such place.
The spot that 1 long for is sweet County
Derry; ~
Among its fair people w4s born and bred:
The Corkies 1 never much fancied while liv-
| ing,
And1 don't want to visit them after I'm
| dead.
LET me fly to the hills. where my soul can
be merry,
In the North where the shamrock more
plentiful grows
| In the Counties OF Cavan, Fermanagh and
Derry
I'll linger till called to a better repose.
ing
To visit the shrines in the Island Of Saints:
If they bring from st Patrick a small bit of
They'll never have reason for any COM
plants"
"A soul, my dear child, that has pinions upon
Need not be confined to a province 50 small:
and Connaught,
In less than jiffy you're over it all.
Then visit sweet Cork, where your soggarth
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 hoor;
And sOggarth arOOn, lay your hand on my
head:
Sure, you're soggarth for all, and for all you
have power.
And take it fer penance for what have
said.
And now. since you tell me through Ireland
I'm passing,
And finding the place so remarkably small,
III never let on to the angels in crossing
That we know a distinction in counties at
all."'(BoStOn Pilot.