The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-12-25

band of scholars would meet in
0oreen or valley, to be instructed by
their teacher, who belonged to an
heroic class, to whom too little praise
has been meted. The hedge school
master had mission all his own
one which he fulfilled creditably. He |
was the Jealous ally of the hunted
priests, and suffered persecution even
as they. He helped keep alive the
faith of the Irish people when mis-
were forced to flee from the
land in order to save their lives, and
after they were gone he visited the
people, instructed them and consoled
them with news of their beloved
"Soggarth Aroon."
He encouraged the people to study,
in spite of their enemies, and advised
them to foster in their children a
knowledge of the history of their
country and her woes.
Arthur Kavanaugh was of this gal
liant band.
Surreptitiously he taught the faith
full much of religion, but more of the
history Of the land; and when the
restless spirit of the people chafed
under persecution, which ended in the
righteous rebellion of '9S, he was one
of the first to offer himself in defense
of his country's rights.
His father and mother had long
since passed away; his brother Ed.
ward,a who had returned to Ireland as
a missionary, was forced to flee to
Spain again to escape the bloody
priest hunters; and Arthur became
one of the most enthusiastic patriots
of the time. He had been married
for some years, and his wife, as pa
triotic as himself, aided him in every
way to work for the cause, whilst she
took care of the house and their lit
tie son Gerald.
When the flame of rebellion broke
forth and a call was issued for Irish
sons to gather and strike a blow for
freedom and religion, no more valor
GUS son was found in the field than
handsome Arthur Kavanaugh, of
Wexford county. Bidding his wife
and little son fond farewell, he has
tened with a faithful corps to the aid
of Father Murphy, and was placed in
charge of one of the widest passes of
mountains. The brave band met its
enemies, was routed and died fighting
like heroes.
History records the murderous
hanging of the patriotic priest - a
bloody stain on the pages of British
misrule in Ireland. When the remains
of the heroic boys of Wexford were
gathered, the body of the dark-haired,
sunny-faced Arthur Kavanaugh was
found where the work of destruction
was the reddest-in the thickest of
the fray.
The widow, left alone with her lit
tie son, lived in the memory of her
noble husband, and trained the boy
Gerald to adore the principles for
which his father died. He grew to
manhood, intelligent, a deep student
like his father, but with the gentle
disposition of his uncle, Father Ed
ward. His mother wished him to go
from her to new country and better
his fortune, but this he refused to do.
He loved her deeply and reverently
and knew she would never leave the
soil for which his father died, and he
would not leave her behind. So he,
too, became school master.
He fitted up little cabin for his
class, but the English tithemen taxed
him so high he was forced to close the
schoolroom and do as his father had
done before him.
He organized his class on the road
side, the green grass for seats and the
blue canopy of heaven for a roof.
When his mother died he married
pretty Mollie French, a gentle, ami
able girl, the daughter of a reduced
family, and settled in the little home
in which we found them.
They raised numerous family and
existed on affection and yellow meal.
Gerald gave each the benefit of his
own education, and the boys grew up.
sturdy, handsome lads, true types of
the House of Kavanaugh. The two
eldest decided to leave Ireland. Every
thing was at standstill, they told
their parents, and they could put their
talents to better use in another land
and under another flag than the one
which prosecuted their race.
They left their loved ones and hum
BILE home and sailed over the seas to
the land of the Southern Cross
South America. Arthur and Edward
for such we're their names-labored
on coffee plantation for some years,
with splendid success. Industrious
and God-fearing, they rapidly accumu-
lated money, and in good time entered
the business for themselves.
Regularly they sent money home,
and when they received a fair start
brought their dear ones to the pretty
home they had made ready. The
younger children were sent to Catholic