Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-03-17

IA claim to having been the coun-
try of st. Patrick's birth. he
belongs TO the Irish and no one else,
plshed among them. and all his tradi
tons are associated with them. He
loved Ireland. and ireland loved him
and still adores everything connected
with his name. He has done more for
the spiritual uplift of the country than
any other one who has mnistered spir
itually to it. and. while there mag be
many myths and legends associated
with him in which he had no part, yet
they go to add to the romance and
beauty OF his character and charm and
veneration to his name
st. Patrick was born about the year
372. When he was sixteen years OF
age he was stolen by pirates, who sold
him into slavery in ireland, where his
master employed him as a swineherd
In the mountains of Ceeamish. in the
county of Omstreth. Being warned in
a dream by God to run away. Patrick
set out for a town on the continent.
Advancement In the Church.
Having already passed seven years
In Ireland. where he had become per
fectly familiar with its language, its
manners. habits and customs, he was,
Of course, well qualified to become Il
sattHrt or theologian abroad. which he
did and was ordained deacon, priest
and bishop, and then once more, by the
authority Of the pope, he returned to
Ireland to preach the gospel to the
people he had come to love so well.
popular legend relates that the
saint and his followers found them
selves one cold morning on mountain
without a fire to cook their breakfast
or warm their frozen limbs. On heed
ing their complaints Patrick desired
them to collect 81 pile of ice and snow
balls, which having been done he
breathed upon 1t. and instantaneously
it became pleasant tire-a fire that
long after served to point poets con-
celt In these lines:
81. Patrick. az IN legends told
The morning being very cold
In order to assuage the wea ther,
Collected bits of ice together
Then gently brea thed upon the pyre,
When every fragment blazed on fire
"Oh, IL the saint had been so kind
AS to have left the gift behind
To such a lovelorn wretch as mo-
Who daily struggles to be free,
I'd be contcnt-content with part
I'd only ask to thaw the heart,
The frozen heart of Polly Roei"
The greatest of st. Patrick miracles
was that of driving the venomous rep
tiles out of Ireland and rendering the
soil forever after so obnoxious to the
serpentS that they instantaneously die
Oh touching 1t. Colgan seriously re-
lates that st. Patrick accomplished this
feat by betting a drum. which he
struck with such fcrvor that he knock
ed hole in it, thereby endangering the
success OF the miracle. But an angel
appeared, mendcd the drum, and the
patched instrument was long exhibited
as holy relic.
Legend of tho Shamrock.
The shamrock or small white clover,
is almost universally worn in the hat
L. 4 d
The popular notion Is that when st
Patrick was preaching the doctrine Of
the trinity to the pagan Irish he used
this plant, bearing three leaves upon
one stem. as n symbol or Illustration of
the great mystery. TO suppose, as
some absurdly hold, that he used it as
an argument would be derogatory to
the saints high reputation for ortho-
doxy and good sense. But it is certain
ly a curious coincidence, if nothing
more. that the trefoil, in Arabic, Is
called "shamrath' and was held secret
in Iran as emblematic of the Persian
triads. Pliny, too. Ia his natural his
tory says that serpents are never seen
upon trefoil. and 1t prevails against the
stings of snakes and scorpions.
1t Is said that in the Galtee or Gal
tic mountains, situated between the
counties of Cork and Tipperary, there
are seven lakes. in one of which. call
ed Lough Dilyeen. it is said st. Pat
rick when banishing the snakes and
toads from Ireland chained monster
serpent, telling him to remain there
till Monday.
The serpent every Monday morning
calls out in Irish 1T Is a long Mon
day, Patrick
That st. Patrick chained the serpent
in Tough Dilveen and that the SER
pent calls out to him every Monday
morning are firmly believed by the low
er orders who live In the neishborhood
Of the Tough.
st. Patrick is commonly stated to