The Irish standard., 1915-06-05
BY REV. A. J. HOGAN, 8. J.


magic Ginning Of those ancient bells
soothes the heart that is lonely, there's
an Irish mother, old and graceful,
standing by her little cottage door,
and her snow.white hair eloquently
tells her life's story. All! the house
is lonesome, and the mothers heart
is lonely. for there's no one now to
bear her company-her sons have
gone from her, one she knows not
whittier, the other two have marched
off to war.
Five and sixty years have fleeted
by since the Black Famine swept over
that land of all that is lovely and
lovable; then she had seen her own
dear father and mother day after day
sicken before her very eyes, and at
last kind neighbors laid them side by
side amidst the whitened stones of
the churchyard. Then she was left
alone, and her young heart, oh, twas
breaking with the sorrow that never
ceased. Now, after all these years
she is alone again-yes. alone in her
little cottage, and when we first saw
her those mother-eyes were dimmed
with tears, but tears Of rejoicing were
they.
She was standing at the door of the
neat, little ,thatched cottage with
letter in her hand as our car rumbled
along the river road just as the twi-
light was rapidly changing into the
deep blue with its myriad clusters of
peeping stars. This was just what we
wanted now after weeks of hotel life,
a quiet little house where we could
rest before our return journey, but
especially where we could mingle on
intimate terms with those people
whom l had learned to love.
The car ceased putting outside the
garden gate.
Can you accommodate us for the
night?" my husband asked.
Il am all alone" replied the Irish
mother in the gentlest tone had
ever heard.
do you think you could take us in 2"
he urged.
Il am afraid I could not treat you
as l Should"
I'VE can take care of ourselves If
you will only allow us to remain with
you over night"
Indeed, then, you're welcome a
thousand times over. Come in, then"
and she advanced down the gravel
path to greet US.
l believe that there is fascinating
charm about the old Irish mother, her
gentle tenderness and simplicity, so
that at first sight loved her.
We introduced ourselves, and 1 was
most agreeably surprised to notice
that my husband seemed as much at
home as I. for generally he found it
hard to meet strangers.
1--WE just want to stay over night
and don't want to cause you any
bother"
That's kind of you-for as l said,
I'm alone"
Then you'll allow us the pleasure
of keeping you company tonight"
You're welcome to all have. Come,
I'll show you what I can offer you
for tonight's lodging, and if it please
you, I'll be glad to have you with
me-" and she led us up the bare but
clean staircase.
The room into which she showed us
was about thirty feet long and twenty
feet broad, with four little windows
prettily draped in white lace curtains
tied with broad blue ribbon. An old
fashioned looking bed stood against
the opposite wall, a washstand and
bureau, and few caned chairs CON-
pleted the furnishings of the room.
Over the door was framed that echo
of her Irish heart to friend and strang-
er, "Cead Mile Failthe," while the
Blessed Mother and her Divine Child
gazed at each other with loving eyes
from their places on opposite walls,
and over the bed was a huge picture
of Saint Patrick's return to Ireland.
my two sons use this room, but
they are away now; but see, had it
all ready for their return. You may
use 1t, my friends, for they'll not re-
turn tonight, no, not tonight" and she
wiped her eyes with her little lace
kerchief.
Now your two boys can sleep in
this next room-see, they are connect
ed by this door here. Now I'll have a
little something ready for you in about
twenty minutes. My helpers have gone
for today, but We'll have something,
anyhow"
l called out that I would help her,
but hostess-like, she would have none
of that. My husband and I talked of
this lovable old lady while the boys
brought the baggage upstairs.
There were four of US in our little
family party-my husband, myself,
and our two boys, Francis, aged six.
teen, and 1gnatius, aged twelve. We
had been travelling all over southern
Europe, or rather motoring, and soon
we would start for our home in New