The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-07-06
Over the Water
Story Of Wedding on
St. Patnck's Day
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871.
By F. A. Mitchell

There is a small island called Tory
on the coast Of Ireland. about which
hangs many picturesque legend. The
islanders are all fishermen. In Older
times Tory was lonely place and a
hard place TO get to and from. No
priest lived there. The islanders were
all good Catholics. and not to have a
priest handy TO baptize them, to marry
them and TO shrive them subjected
them to constant trials.
The only sacred thing they had was
the nuns grave" Long ago during
a storm the body Of a nun was washed
up on the island. That was the first
time the people there saw nuns
habit The leathern girdle and beads
made them think that there was some.
thing sacred about the body. They
prayed to be instructed what to do
with 1t, and voice told them that II
was the body Of holy nun and they
must bury 1t where they had found It.
They did so. and to this day not boat
ever puts out to fish without a handful
OF earth from the nuns grave" to pre-
serve the fishermen from drowning.
Many years ago there lived on Tory
Island young fisherman named Fer
gus Tyrone and a fisher lass named
Eileen OConnor. They were a simple
couple, growing up In a small compass
and loving each other with that fer.
vor which is to be found in those who
i've lives close TO nature They were
OF the same age, having both been
born on St Patrick's day. Fergus.
though but twenty years of age at
the time the incident l am about to
narrate took place. was a hardy young
fellow and, however stormy the wealth
er, never feared to go out to fish I'm
his boat when any other craft was on
the water. But Eileen did not fear
Tor him. because she would never let |
MIN go without first taking a handful |
or earth and, after praying the holy |
nun to protect him, depositing It in |
the stern of his boat.
This simple couple wished to he
married on their twentieth birthday.
which was St Patrick's day. of
course, and Fergus had induced a
priest from the mainland to agree to
come over on that day and marry
them. Fergus was to row over In his
boat early In the morning of the wed
ding day, take the priest to the island
ana bring him back after the cere-
mony had been performed.
SAVnTQl hnfA /
DAY the lovers began to watch the sky
Tor indications Of what the weather
would be. They feared It might be
stormy and the priest would not come
over, and II they could not be mar.
ned on that st. Patrick's day Eileen.
whose heart was set on celebrating
their birthday, their wedding day and
81 Patrick's day together, was re-
solved that they must wait till the
next anniversary. which would be a
year.
80 as the days grew less before the q
appointed wedding day they watched '
every weather sign in the heavens and Z
prayed constantly for smooth waters
mat there might be no trouble in
bringing the priest over TO marry
them: But. whether, as Fergus be- q
ieved, he had omitted some penance Il
mat ne should have done or, as Eileen Il
Oeneved, she had not prayed often b
enough on the evening Of the 10th of a
march dark cloud appeared in the b
vest and wind began to rise. v
In the morning, though the wafer ID
was quite rough. Fergus said he would a
80 over and see IL the father womb g
,ome with him. So, while he went for Is
me oars Eileen brought some earth
rom the nuns grave.c dropped it in
me boat with a prayer, and Fergus O,
'eturning, started for the mainland. Ct
he found the good father resolved
lot TO go with him. He might be oblic-
n TO remain long while on the Is. -
ana, and what would his flock do in :,
ne meanwhile without him? a
But III marry you all the same.
'ergus' my boy" lie said. go back G.
Eileen, and when 1t is noon come b
own to the shore. will 60 out on Il
the Hornhead and read the service" ia
But how shall we know what Won %,
e saying?" asked Fergus. al
Then the priest told him that when ar
Q service was begun q fire would be- Ill
'bted. At another part another fire its
'uld be lighted, and so on till a given ha
mber or fires denoted that the sery. on
was finished and the couple had W
en- pronounced man and wife. tn
fergus Oyeriovad oforta5 h..,x a.. "a,