Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-01
The Daily Story
Copyrighted.

mere or ne viii have dominion over us
ALL"
Then the king directed st. Patrick to
be forctbly brought before him. The
holy man appeared bearing taper. at
tended by his disciples holding torches.
and when the king angrily asked him
what these lights meant he replied:
Thy pyre means idolatry and hatred
We Christians, who worship the true
God. carry wax torches on the night of
our Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection"
why do you come into my king
dom?" asked the king.
II call God and the angels to wit
ness that l have no other aim than
that OF proclaiming the gospel and its
divine promises in returning to the
land where | was a slave. Who forced
me to come? Is It not through love
and pity for this nation that labor?"
ST. Patrick's words and influence Gre
ated a division among the chiefs, some
siding With him, while others sided
with the druid priests. Nevertheless
King Laegaire concluded to burn him
to death.
Now, the druid priest, Dubtak. had
a daughter, Bridget. who was used to
accompany her father at religious cers-
monies. playing upon the harp and
singing the deeds Of the heroes. as
American Indians were wont to sing of
their own deeds. When the pyre that
was to burn St Patrick was ready
Bridget said to her father:
saY -
bena) which joins hearts. l know the
flower Of gold (the lelago) which opens
the eyes and the mind to the future.
but this man possesses a mysterious
flower which saveth from death-the
flower OF everlasting life. If you burn
him let me be burned with him, for l
have seen his cruci6ed God. he hath
overpowered me with his sorrow; he
hath thunder stricken me with his
glory"
The people were convinced that Bird
get was a prophecies and saw with d.
vine eyes. But King Laegaire was not
minded to give up the religion of his
forefathers. "Wilt thou suffer" he
said to Dubtak. this wizard to seduce
the souls of our daughters? Go thou
and wrestle with him on the Eagles
mountain and let our gods overthrow
him"
So the saint and the druid assembled
the mountain. and the latter command
ed the eagles. which whirIed about the
head OF the Christian. shrieking and
! threatening. to tear him. But they
| were not able to get near enough TO
! MIN to do 40. Then a tempest arose.
| the rocks of the mountain were cloven.
! phantoms Of dead heroes appeared and
! gared. while DubtRk called upon them
to put the man OF evil omen To flight"
! But St. Patrick put forth his hand and
a ray OF light darted from each finger
and the thumb. Then the tempest and
the phantoms vanished. sivin" place 10
warm. starlight night. y perfume
emunnted from the mountain. Il flock OF
white doves flew by. and II great star
appeared in the heavens
is yonder world inhabited 10y thy
GOd?' asked Dubtak.
1T is the throne whence he descend
ed" replied st. Patrick 1t is the star
of the Magi drawing the world after it.
Ii showed the divine child To the wise
men OF the east and the west
The druid could not draw his eyes
away from the star. 50 bright had 1t
become and he confessed that the god
OF the Christian was mghtler than the
god of the druids ST. Patrick there
upon asked him if he would he hap
TIED. nut before lie would consent tie
asked what would become OF the he
4 4.
and Ossian dwell? st. Patrick told him
that they would remain IN hell. where
upun Dubtuk declared that he would
have nothing to do with the saint or
his god. but would abide with his
friends With this he left the saint
and was never seen again.
With the departure OF the most faith
fui OF the druds the religion fell into
decay. being superseded by the more
vital faith OF Christianity.
One day Bridget. who became an In
defatigabie worker in the cause of the
new religion. saw st Patrick coming
toward her. an old man.
Il have converted ireland" he said.
and my work Is finished. My limbs
tremhe: my eyesight is dim. Take thy
harp. Bridget so that in thy song /
may once more find ray Of light he.
fore | lind the sun that never shall tie
darkened.'
And Bridget said: IL have sung long
enough. Thousands Of my sisters have
| liberated. but no more does my harm
give mo coIlfort. My soul Is, sad. for
thou hast doomed my father Duhtak
and the old heroes sleeping under the
sacred stones to the everlasting
shades"
TO this st Patrick said sadly: "Tho
time is come. / must 20 my way unto
them. Farewell. my daughter"
St Patrick left no trace other than
A spiritual one on ireland. His grave
even is unknown. Bridget in n dream
saw him sitting beside her father in q
) bark. while Ossinn and Finn surround
ed them. The angel of virtory was thr
, ! helmsman. Then the bark spread III
sails like great bird and sped away.
} After seeing this vision Bridget died
. ! comforted-