The Irish standard., 1915-10-30

outer isle. and myself a little boy at
the time"-and he went on to tell of a
great trial of strength this huge man
and his grandfather had, and by that
l knew he was near to his end, for
twas often he'd said that a mans
strength was something given him of
God. and why should man be vain of
it any more than if it was a red or
black beard, or no beard at all, he
had?
What else have you in mind,
John?" l said, when he had done tell
ing how his grandfather had con-
quered the man from the mainland.
Whisper, Mama Wan," and | saw
twasn't of pride in his past great
strength he had now in mind. "Whis-
per. Mamma Wan but 'twould be a great
comfort to me'-and he wistful as a
little child saying ito have the
hope of seeing Jerome saying prayer
beside the coffin OF me before It's laid
in my grave ] am"
"Tis only the governor Of the State
can pass Oh that john" said.
II know. but will you go 10 him,
Mamma Wan-you that did always do
the talking for the two of us-and say
the poor boys father on his dying bed
did ask it. He will listen to YOU"
II will go to him." said, which
pleased him.
And within the hour. with the grace
OF God III his heart and the praise of
God on his lips, was helping him to
fold his hands across his breast the
while the bells from his own church
was calling the parish to Sunday YES
pers. He knew then for what they
were. The holy bells!" he whisper.
ed when bent down to him, and
smiled and died
And called on the governor next
morning in his grand office. Mrs.
Lacy?" he said, by way of asking who
| could be.
THE mother of Brain Lacy" said,
knowing how every one knew of him
and of Maurice and Michael Lacy"
"Oh-h!" he said, and sat in the
chair he placed for me, and told the
story, every word as I've told it here,
from the beginning of the plague in
the islands to Johns dying words. And
all kindness ard gentleness he was,
pacing to the wide window that look.
ed over the fresh, green lawn and
back again the while he was wiping
his glasses and myself telling my long
story.
II remember the case, Mrs. Lacy"
he said. THE man had powerful
friends. They had to stand by him
to save themselves, some of them. I'll
see that your son Jerome is given
liberty to attend the funeral
He asked after Brian then, and I
told him how never did Brian find
himself near the city but he would
come to see MS, and how his father
would. the first thing, fill an old black
pipe for him and another for himself,
and how he would sit and chat, and
how twas my delight to watch the pair
of them blowing great gobs of smoke
to the ceiling and gossiping like two
chums across the kitchen table, and
how the last time he was in the city
he said he would paint a picture of me
some day. "Someday?" | said. and
haven't you seen the face of ME often
enough yet to make picture of me?"
"'Ah, but mother he says, 1T is
more than your face want to put into
IT,"
II saw painting of your sons the
other day." said the governor Their
of a great wave rolling down, and
before knew it l found myself turn
ing my ear to hear the rush of 1t.
You've given gifted sons to the world,
Mrs. Lacy. You should be a proud
woman"
Gifted, sir?" says. III one of
illHe mas q greater gift than another,
It's matter less of pride to me or to
them IT should be than of debt to some
great nature gone before us. When I
was growing girl and would sit with
my father God rest his soul. before
the fire of winters night, or on the
rocks outside of q summers evening.
he would talk to me of many things.
and when he would speak of the sea
twould be like the voice of the sea
itself was speaking. Great gentlemen
would come from far places to see him
on their holidays, and some of the
things he would say they would write
down. And one of them said to him
one time: You could bring great
fame to yourself in the great world,
Mr.. Lacy.
And a great desolation, doubtless,
to my family said my father to that.
ga great gift will die with you,'
said the gentleman.
1T may be- said my father, but
come here, Anneen. he says to me.
Fine sons and daughters of your own
you'll be having some day. Anneen
acushla, and who knows that of them
will not be one or two to tell the great
world of the things your people be.
v0l