The Detroit times., 1912-03-16

remember once when | was 4
child, taking notice OF tlowerpot hlC-
den in the corner of melon frame,
having two little ivy plants growing
in it. wondered how il came there,
and why so common a thing as iyy
should be so cherished Then an old
garden man told me il was for his
daughter who was going to America,
The way she would never be WITH
out a bit OF Irish. earth
was passing not long ago by 4
roofiess long deserted cottage near
Kiltartan and a neighboring woman
told me that "A few years ago we'll
to-do man had come from America,
son or grandson of the last who had
lived there, and had taken two stones
from rne waff;- takcn- tAe#-bael- u
America IL has always been so.
That little Ireland has held the hearts
of men through the ages.
One of the Oldest of the. stories tells
how when the Sons OF Tuireann came
back wounded and dying from their
terrible journey across the sea. one
of them called out at last that he
saw the Hill of Howth before him,
and Tara of the Kings. And the 9TH
ers said For the love OF your good
name. brother, raise up our heads tii
We see Ireland again. and life and
death will be all one TO us after thar.
And another of the early tales tells
how CHE of the strong men, Finn or
the old Fenians, said when a great
queen offered all that riches could
give I'VE would not give up our
own country IL you had the whole
world belonging TO you, and the Coun-
try OF the Young along with it, IL
was so with the saints. Listen 10
Columcille going TO his exile: There
is a gray eye that is looking back
upon Ireland: il will never see from
day TO day the men or the women
OF Ireland. Take my blessing with
you TO the west; my heart is broken
in my body; If death should over
take me suddenly, ii Is through great
love or the Gael.
And when a crane that had been
driven by storms from ireland lay
famished on the Scottish coast. ii was
Columcille who told his people 70 tend
and feed II until il had strength TO
face the journey back again. And
give this bird TO your special care,
he said, because IL is from our own
country il comes" For Ireland was
never ont of Columcille's mind and
Il is what he used TO say The Gael
are more to me than all the people
OF the world"
was writing this compelling love of
country TO friend the other day,
and | quoted words / have myself
given TO Finn when after long anger
and the death of Diarmuid he takes
Grania as his wife; Il thought To
leave you and TO go from you and
cannot do IL. For We three have
been these seven years as If alone IN
the world, and il was the cruelty and
malice OF love made its sport with us
when we thought IL was our own way
we were taking, and we were ali OF
us as IL worsted in that play: and
now there are but the two OF us left.
and whether we love or hate one an
other, IL is certain ! can never icei
love or hatred for any other woman
from this out. or yon yourself for any
other man." And that, | said In IN
letter, Is what / feel about Ireland,
there is no other country for me for-
ever.
What is the reason OF II? I think
OF Pascal's saying the heart has It's
reasons unknown 10 reason. X pas
sionate restless spot OF land. clam
oring, complaining. making It's out
cry. II is surely not easy TO forget It.