The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-01-14
GODS VENGEANCE.
Written for the Catholic Bulletin by
James King, St. Paul Seminary.

Mary" said Henry, the gardener of
one of the wealthy residents of a
small seaport town, isn't it Il pity
to see the boss led around by his two
grandchildren?"
Serves him right" responded<the
laconic Mary IF | may say so. 1t is
his ancestors fault"
"You shouldn't say that, Mary.
Some say the children are going blind
also. There must be some eye-disease
in the family"
"'Deed and there is. No doctor can
cure it either. 1t is common property
around here, SO there will be no harm
done in telling it to you"
alright then. I have about an hour
to spare. Let us have the story"
ct goes back to the penal days in
Ireland The priest-hunters were very
busy those days on the track of the
Lords annointed. The reward Of
fered by the English encouraged many
to engage in the sport. The season
had been very successful for the ras-
Gals, and the poor peasants could not
hide them any longer.
Zone of the blacklist bigots was the
skipper Perkins. He sailed between
Boston and Queenstown. AS usual. he
set out on the voyage to Boston, but
cursing his luck that he had not been
successful in his shore pastime of
hunting priests for blood-money.
after sailing for two days, one of
the crew discovered a stowaWay. He
was a middle-aged man, slightly grey,
and Of dignified bearing. The crew
hauled him before the captain.
Another papist wretch flying to
America? Well, curse the pope, and
we will take you to America said the
captain.
81 will not curse the pope. am a
Catholic. You can do what you like
with, me, but l will not renounce my
faith
"'Perhaps.s you are one of those
black rogues that I wasted my time
hunting You were trying to win ire
land for the pope, but now the king
has made it too hot for you. The pope
will never rule ireland as long as an
Englishman draws BREATH jeeringly
said the captain.
"1'I am, as you say a priest l have
been hunted out of Ireland. God will
not desert the poor creatures. The
pope is not temporal king. He has
no desire ,of ruling Ireland calmly
answered the priest.
courses on my luck. Why didn't
discover you before / left port, and
| now / would have some good English
money in my pocket. We are late
now, and cannot turn back, otherwise
| | would hand you over right away.
"'You can do what you like with
me- l am at your mercy
"T shall land you in America safely
on one condition. You must renounce
your faith and the pope
81 have said already l will not do
this. That is final
"I shall give you enough money to
start again there if you do. 1t is a
pity to see an intelligent man like
you lnisled by the antichrist in Rome.
est is useless to try to bride me.
lam a priest, and will remain so until
l die. Do YOU think / would sell my
soul to the devil, to gain a few more
years of life, and a little filthy lucre?'
"sWretch, | have been too good
towards YOU Ii you do not do az
say, you shall walk the plank said
| the captain, angrily.
"'Get your plank, then. ! shall be
glad for such mercy
| The persecutor ordered the men to
get the plank ready. The priest was
| bound and taken on deck.
The first mate, somewhat cooler and
| more foresighted than the captain
| doubted the wisdom of such action.
"'You are fool, captain, to make
him walk the plank. The English law
| is very strict. Not even a papist can
be put to death without some form OF
| trial
| "What do / care about the law al
| sea? l am master OF my own ship,
| responded the captain.
| In these days you cannot trust
| the crew. They might be coWardly
papists, and would have you arrested
when we reach the port. Better moi
take any chances. 1t is none of my
business, but | would be slow in &C
| ton
"'Only you are good Protestant
| and a good head, too, | would think
you were a papist in disguise. 1t is
true. Crews cannot be trusted. But
we will give the wretch a run for his
money He is a coward, and viii give
up his religion after we get through
! with him. Wait and see.'
/ The two men walked up on the
deck. The men were jeering the pris
oner. Some, perhaps out Of sympathy
with him, were urging him to give uI
/ his religion. The captain was des
/ perate man. Many of them in fact
| had been parties in his priest-hunting
on shore. He took a savage delight
| in it. The priest took no notice. He
was not even listening to them, but
saying his prayers, and preparing te
1 meet his God.
The plank was placed on the ships
4 side running out over the sea. All