The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-03-15

ing, preserving they accomplish the
work Of the world and, like the silva
Of another mythology, our Brigid seems
10 have been mistress Of the three great
the three diyine-quali1iss.
She was travelling in the east Of the
world and came TO an oEererowded lit
tie town; and as she went from place
10 place seeking shelter she came 10 a
stable and went in A nan and woman
were there before her, and the wonna n
was in the pangs Of childbirth II was
Brigid who helped her and il was in
Brigid's cloak thar the Child was born.
Hence she is known as Brigid 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 werld- Then the years
surgsd again, 40 Of them, and St
Patrick came TO ireland: and then,
after the passage Of some more years,
ST Patrick died; but his faith was es-
tablished in the country that he loved
The scene of this tale next changes
TO heaven itself. Rrigid and Patrick
were walking together They were,
God help them, talking about Ireland,
one asking the other had he or she
ever been 10 Connenara; the other ask
ing the one if she or he remembered the
Dingle peninsula and how il looked
in storm. Or the Ben Of Cuban seen
with the moon alighL 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 las Sean 0'Casey would
say) darling memories, they had
reached a place which the saints care
but rarely TO visit They had come 10
the Seat Of Judgment
There the Judge sat vaster than
vastness, bIacker than Blackness; i'm
movable, unesca psble, 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 a desire TO go there. As her
gaze fell on him and off Kim a 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
aSlO20QEO she SdI0 IL he WOGlG
send even an Irishuan to heIl+"
He would" said St Patrick, but
even as he said il he went icy with
horror, for the thought had never
before struck him
The Judge looked toward them
II viii not have il So" said St Rrigid.
and she spoke the words. as il were
into that aii-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-
nautilus
You will be very careful she said
to St Patrick
Surely. i wiIl." the great saint an
swered-
But IT," said St Brig4d, and the very
heart within her was shocked. hut If
q bad Irishman is brought before you
I'll convert him said 81. Patrick.
It's but one OF the reasons whv
Irishnen, of whatever religious or
political complexion, pledge st Patrick
when his day comes round and why
they may al be fearless of the world
to come
But l. an apprentice in the craft that
Patrick loved and Of which be was the
patron, am desolated TO think that per-
haps 81. B-igid is not getting her share
Of the praise.