The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-04-20
St. Patrick and the Druid
King.

in the world! That same wind is
fair strong enough to blow out my
bit of fire! Will you come inside,
Johnny, and shut the door after
you!" cried Thady OBrien, looking
up from his cobbler's bench. 1t was
a stormy Friday afternoon in March,
and the wind whistled past the little
boy who obeyed in so far as coming
into the shop went, but whose sturdy
foot in the doorway prevented the
door from slamming.
Yes, sir, l was just going to, but
Puss won't come in. Here Pussy,
Pussy" answered the little boy.
And is it for that cat you're freez-
in my poor bones? Indeed'n he's a
caution All, here's himself now.
And were you afraid he'd freeze, and
you see?" scolded Thady.
"Oh, no, l knew he'd not be cold,
but thought may be you'd rather he
would be home here, when it's SO
nearly dark said Johnny.
Him." said the cobbler. And
what's that you've got in the paper?
A mouse I'll bet you," he laughed and
winked at the great black cat that
was circling around and round the lit
tie boys legs.
'Tisn't either. | had saved two
in the trap yesterday, but mother
would not let me bring them to you.
She said you'd throw me out" de-
clared Johnny, carefully unfolding
his untidy little package. Would
you, Mr.. O'Brien?"
well, now" began the old man.
''if your mother says so, it's most
like to be true, but how and ever
We'll not put it to the test, you and
me. Ho, it's bones you have. OF
a chicken at that. And how do you
come to be haVin' chicken and it Lent
and everyone savin' for the soldiers p
"'Twas a very little one, and we
had it yesterday. Anybody can eat
meat on Thursday, and besides it was
my little sisters birthday and my pa
brought it home with him. We fried
! it. | helped roll the piece in flour
| My, but it was good, and | asked
everybody for their bones. Can he
have them, Mr.. O'Brien?" anxiously
holding them high above the cats
head
ITO be sure he can and thankful
to get them after all the trouble yot
took" replied Thady bending over
his last to hide smile. And so yes
| OF h ir%h
day. She came near havin' the same
day as the greatest saint of them all
Do you know who l mean, johnny
est Patrick" cried the boy tri
umphantly. That's just what my
father said he was, and my mothe
laughed, but she found me the piec,
to speak in school to-day Want t.
hear it,"
And if it's about Saint Patrick,
do that Wait till l give this a few
knocks with my hammer. All right
now let's hear it."
Johnny threw down the last Of tn
: bones. He had been doing them on
! in slow succession to Puss; tossed hi
, cap over on to the three-legged stoC
: near the fire and began:
| Saint Patrick Banishes Snakes
BY Katharine lyman"
She was the lady who wrote i
4 Mr. O'Brien." Eyes, yes, go on,
: said the cobbler. So Johnny wen
on: ...tf>s"
, 'St Patrick by his holy hand
3 Banished all snakes from Ireland;
All foul things that wriggle an
: crawl,
Spotted, striped, he banished all,
!, Excepting only the useful worm
D That opens the earth after winter
2 storm:
/ Babe them, snake and adder, tina
. they
/ Come not more till the Judgmer
D Day.
S Snakes barred and snakes ringed,
: Snakes hooded and snakes winged,
g Came crawling and crawling fro1
: bank and byre,
Y Lest he give them all to the Jud!
J, ment fire.
Y Snakes young and snakes old,
5 Snakes crimson and snakes gold,
All in mighty pother and hurry,
For that deep lake in the hills {
, Kerry,
Which holds them all till the Jud.
, ment Day.
e st. Patrick, keep all evil aWay!"
!, Us it true, Mr.. O'Brien?" said tn
- little boy as he finished with jerk
bow, and sat down on the three-le:
: ged stool, in the hope that the blac
cat would jump into his lap Whe
the chicken bones had been satisfa
: torily cleaned.
True enough, Johnny, for neve
one of the ugly creatures has set foe
! (Which the same they haven't any
! in it, from that day to this. It's
: good piece and you say it fine. Many
the bit learned back in the old day
The master land grabbed old fello'
9 he was) but with good deal of sens
) too, used to say: Fill a lads hea
: with the words of the great poet
and he'll have small room for i'd
thoughtsn And he was right too
1--WE learn lots of pieces in GU
$ ROOM" boasted Johnny, land W
L have to write some of them withor
t a book or paper or nothing, just OF