The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-14

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It's given up by every one that Pat
rick of the bells was the most won
derful saint that ever lived for work
ing miracles, and the one | am going
to tell you about now was the great
est miracle of them all.
Long ago, and a very long time
ago entirely it was when Finn Mac
Cumhull and the warriors of the
Fianna ruled from their kings dun at
Almhuin over the pleasant province
of Leinster. Three score captains
there were of the Fianna and five
score champions followed every cap
taia when he went to the wars. And
the like of these men for heroes
the world has never seen before or
since. seven feet tall was Mime, the
smallest of them ALL and the handle
of his spear was just a young ash
tree. By that you may know what the
others were like. Many's the fine
song has been made up about them by
the ancient bards of Ireland.
On a day at the court of Teamhair
In the presence of the four kings and
the four queens of Ireland the three
caskets of honor were given without
lessening to Oisin by Ccrmac. the
high king. The first casket held the
five silver lilies of courtesy which
meant kindness to the conquered,
hospitality to the stranger, charity for
the poor and distressed, gentleness to
old men and children, and white hon.
age to women. The second casket con-
tanned the five bronze nuts of learn
ing, which signified Skill in fighting,
sleight in wrestling, swiftness in
hunting, caution in chess playing, and
sweet cunning in the making of
melodious songs. And the third cas-
ket held three golden apples which
signified courage in danger, faith in
friendship, and truth in speaking. And
no other man before Or since ever got
those three caskets at one time with
out lessening.
So no wonder at all it was that
Niahm of the golden hair, who was
IllC uuuGllJCl vi Nll0 hlllS VI JlS SOIln-
try of the Young, fell into conceit
with the great fame of Oisin and jour
neyed all the way to Ireland for love
Of him. And no sooner did Oisin set
eyes on Niahm of the golden hair than
he loved her with every vein of his
body, and it's what he said to her:
From this day out l will have
neither ease of mind nor peace of
heart until your life is the same as
my life: and for me there's no other
woman in the world but you. o, wom-
an of the deep shining eyes!"
For answer Niahm bent down from
the white horse on which she rode
and kissed him on the forehead and
on the eyes, and this is what she said:
There is many a kings son who
has paid court to me, o Oisin of the
comely brows. bHt it's to you l give
my heart, and to no other And it's
to take you back with me to my ia
theirs country l have come, bringing
the white horse of magic for our
journey. And if you love me, as you
say, you will come up now and sit
behind me here"
So he did that, and the great white
horse turned his face to the western
sea and the people of the Fianna saw
them no more. And they went their
way together on the white horse of
magic over the high, tossing sea and
In,. fhn fInr iTorr j
in the Country of the Young and were
given an hundred thousand welcomes
in the palace of the king itself.
But one day as Oisin and his young
men were coming home from the hunt
on the side Of the hill before them,
and out of the middle of the cloud a
sweet sounding harp began playing
and the heart of Oisin stood still, for
he knew it to be Suanach, son OF
| Senshenn, who was in it playing, and
the song that Suanach sang was the
lament for the death of Oscar.
And straightway sudden famish
ing for a sight Of the wide, green hills
of Ireland and hungry yearning fol-
| d SOuuu Ol Tic IOllS lOIEOLLeu NUlCGS
took the strength from Oisin's limbs
and the enchantment fell from his
eyes.
Ois.n never looked back, but wen
as swift as the wind over the high
tossing sea and under the dark run
ming waves till he came to his owr
fair country Of Ireland.
Now 1t CHANGED at that hour tina
Patrick of the bells, son Of Calphrun
with two of his clerics, was on hi
way to Ath Cliath to preach the new
faith to the people. After Oisin tolc
his wonderful story to the clerics Pat
rick took him by the hand and lei
him the ways to Ath Cliath, where TO
three days Oisin listened to Patricl
of the bells preaching to the prince
and to the people.
On the fourth day Of the preaching
when Patrick was getting ready t
baptize the people it's what he sal
to Oisin:
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