The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-03-15

ing, preserving. they accomplish the
work of the world; and, like the silva
of another mythology. our Brigid seems
to have been mistress Of the three great
the three divine qualities.
~ She was travelling in the east Of the
world and came to an overcrowded lit
tie town; and as she went from place
to place seeking shelter she came to q
stable and went in. A man and woman
were there before her, and the woman
was in the pangs of Childbirth. 1t was
Brigid who helped her and it was in
Brigid's cloak that the Child was born.
Hence she is known as Brigidg of the
Mantle, as the Foster Mother of Christ
and as. after Mary, His Best Beloved
Then the years rolled on and she
went from this world. Then the years
surged again, 430 of them and St.
Patrick came to Ireland; and then,
after the passage Of some more years,
st. Patrick died; but his faith wasAr
tabiished in the country thd he L
The scene Of this talei - = s.
ito Heaven itself. Brigid q ktriek
were walking together. II were,
God help them, talking about ireland,
one asking the other had he or she
ever been to Connemara; the other ask
ing the one if she or he remembered the
Dingle peninsula, and how it looked
in storm. Or the Ben of Gulbain seen
with the moon alight. Or yon basket
full of lakes, where each lake dared
any other to be as beautiful and every
pool in ireland lifted the challenge.
Be sure the two saints assured each
other, or perhaps even treasured each
other, in the faith that. after all, Heav-
en- was prettier than Ireland.
Their walk had been long one, and.
immersed in Gas Sean O'Casey would
say) darling memories, they had
reached a place which the saints care
but rarely to visit. They had come to
the Seat OF Judgment.
There the Judge sat, vaster than
vastness. blacker than Blackness; Inn
movable, unacceptable. terrific
st. Brigid did not dislike Rhada-
nautilus for that would be sin. But
she did not like him. for he had never
been to ireland nor even had he ex-
pressed desire to go there. AS her
gaze fell on him and off Kim terrible
thought caused her to look at him
again-at his blank. black vastness. at
his supersolid solidity. She saw his
great hand move this way and yon as,
like black lightning. he scrutinized this
and that being who groveled and
screamed at his awful brow.
"He." said st. Brigid, and she was
astounded as she SAID II, "he would
send even an freshman to hellT' -
.He would said st. Patrick, but
even as he said 1t he went icy with
horror. for the thought had never
before struck him.
The Judge looked toward them
81 will not have it So" said St. Brigid,
and she spoke the words. as 1t were.
into that all-sighted., implacable eye.
She drew st. Patrick with her. away.
They went to her Foster Child and
she obtained from Him, who loved her.
this concession--that every person who
came from Ireland should be judged by
st. Patrick himself and not by Rhada-
manthus.
.'You will be very careful" she said
to St Patrick.
surely. will" the great saint an
swered.
"But IT," said ST. Brigid. and the very
heart within her was shocked, but if
bad Irishman is brought before you"
'Tll convert him." said ST. Patrick
'Tis but one of the reasons why
Irishmen, OF whatever religious or
political complexion, pledge st. Patrick
when his day comes round and why
they may all be fearless of the world
to come.
But j, an apprentice in the craft that
Patrick loved and OF which he was the
patron, am desolated to think that per-
haps st. Brigid is not getting her share
of the praise.