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Article CHAPTER IX. ← Page 4 of 10 →
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Chapter Ix.
" A ' es , the ' Isle of Saints , ' will show them , that though robbed of'its power , it still retains its virtues , and that amongst those , the least prominent is not the purity of her doctrine , and the determination of her children to stand hy and support it . So long as Ireland has a name , so long will she exert her energy to rally round the standard of her religion and her honour . The soil on which we tread , elastic as our spirits , while it soothes the eye by its verdure , rebounds to the step as if impatient of the load , nor is its fertility debilitated b "
y Then checking himself as if alarmed for his warmth , he adds : — " My heart , after all , is in the cause , and the recollections of my youth crowd upon me additionally when I see before me the son of my valued school-fellow . It was he whose heart burned for his country , and whose words glowed with the eloquence of his feelings . A splendid scholar ! A prodigy in those days of the church ' s persecution ; nor in physical advantages was he less conspicuous he who , of all men , could wield the lance or fling the stone—whose single arm uplifted sustainedin my presencewhat
, , those of forty others refused to bear—and whose prowess was more usefully displayed in restraining , like a second Hercules , the inroads and depredations of that fell monster of iniquity , Donel Darrig , as he was called , theCauss of of modern days . —But how is he ? You have not told me—and how does he enjoy his old age ?" Thurlogh could no longer evade a question that seemed to be the pivot upon which all the reminicences of the old gentleman turned . He strove long and anxiously to parry its driftbut in vain .
, The good old man perceiving he had touched upon a wound , and recollecting the circumstances under which he had harboured the stranger , took at once the alarm that all was not right , and as he had an instance in his own person , that bodily power and vigour were no security against Time ' s ravages , he was the less slow in apprehending what may have occasioned
this weeping . " The days of man ' s life , " thought he , " are but three score and ten , and if , peradventure , he should even reach seventy : yet , after that , are his days but sorrow , and his nights but pain . " Thurlogh having by this time recovered someivhat from his grief : and fearful lest suspicion should ascribe it to a wrong motive , disclosed the circumstance of his father ' s death without farther reserve . " God is gracious , " cried the good-natured priest , relieved from the emotions which this announcement had revived , by the air of resignation
with which it was accompanied . " But were there no masses offered up for his soul ? No incense from the altar of sacrificial devotion , to the throne of Omnipotence , to mitigate the chastisment of temporary purification , which even the purest , must undergo before they can be admitted into the presence of that Being , before whom no impurity can stand , and at whose nod the whole creation shakes with reverence ?" "As to that , sir , " replied Thurlogh , " though educated a Roman Catholic , my father did not , I imagine , consider this formulary , to which you allude as at all essential to the soul ' s salvation . I have not , however , his express opinion on that point : but surely if it be so very necessary , as your question
would imply , you will not refuse the benefit ot your own intercession . " This last remark , though it may appear to be suggested by a wounded spirit , and meant , from its approach to irony , to convey something like a sting , was not , however , either so intended or so received . Thurlogh spoke it in the sincerity of entreaty , and his manner showed it : the " man of God" received it with acknowledgment of commendation , and promised accordingly . On being asked what lan he proposed to himselfThurlogh replied
p , , " Whatever capabilities , sir , I possess , I intend to make them subservient to my future advancement . Immature they must now be , and of little available utility ; yet , such as thoy are they must be employed , and develop themselves , every step , as I proceed upon my journey . Nor shall I conceive that any such application in imparting instruction , for instance , to others ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chapter Ix.
" A ' es , the ' Isle of Saints , ' will show them , that though robbed of'its power , it still retains its virtues , and that amongst those , the least prominent is not the purity of her doctrine , and the determination of her children to stand hy and support it . So long as Ireland has a name , so long will she exert her energy to rally round the standard of her religion and her honour . The soil on which we tread , elastic as our spirits , while it soothes the eye by its verdure , rebounds to the step as if impatient of the load , nor is its fertility debilitated b "
y Then checking himself as if alarmed for his warmth , he adds : — " My heart , after all , is in the cause , and the recollections of my youth crowd upon me additionally when I see before me the son of my valued school-fellow . It was he whose heart burned for his country , and whose words glowed with the eloquence of his feelings . A splendid scholar ! A prodigy in those days of the church ' s persecution ; nor in physical advantages was he less conspicuous he who , of all men , could wield the lance or fling the stone—whose single arm uplifted sustainedin my presencewhat
, , those of forty others refused to bear—and whose prowess was more usefully displayed in restraining , like a second Hercules , the inroads and depredations of that fell monster of iniquity , Donel Darrig , as he was called , theCauss of of modern days . —But how is he ? You have not told me—and how does he enjoy his old age ?" Thurlogh could no longer evade a question that seemed to be the pivot upon which all the reminicences of the old gentleman turned . He strove long and anxiously to parry its driftbut in vain .
, The good old man perceiving he had touched upon a wound , and recollecting the circumstances under which he had harboured the stranger , took at once the alarm that all was not right , and as he had an instance in his own person , that bodily power and vigour were no security against Time ' s ravages , he was the less slow in apprehending what may have occasioned
this weeping . " The days of man ' s life , " thought he , " are but three score and ten , and if , peradventure , he should even reach seventy : yet , after that , are his days but sorrow , and his nights but pain . " Thurlogh having by this time recovered someivhat from his grief : and fearful lest suspicion should ascribe it to a wrong motive , disclosed the circumstance of his father ' s death without farther reserve . " God is gracious , " cried the good-natured priest , relieved from the emotions which this announcement had revived , by the air of resignation
with which it was accompanied . " But were there no masses offered up for his soul ? No incense from the altar of sacrificial devotion , to the throne of Omnipotence , to mitigate the chastisment of temporary purification , which even the purest , must undergo before they can be admitted into the presence of that Being , before whom no impurity can stand , and at whose nod the whole creation shakes with reverence ?" "As to that , sir , " replied Thurlogh , " though educated a Roman Catholic , my father did not , I imagine , consider this formulary , to which you allude as at all essential to the soul ' s salvation . I have not , however , his express opinion on that point : but surely if it be so very necessary , as your question
would imply , you will not refuse the benefit ot your own intercession . " This last remark , though it may appear to be suggested by a wounded spirit , and meant , from its approach to irony , to convey something like a sting , was not , however , either so intended or so received . Thurlogh spoke it in the sincerity of entreaty , and his manner showed it : the " man of God" received it with acknowledgment of commendation , and promised accordingly . On being asked what lan he proposed to himselfThurlogh replied
p , , " Whatever capabilities , sir , I possess , I intend to make them subservient to my future advancement . Immature they must now be , and of little available utility ; yet , such as thoy are they must be employed , and develop themselves , every step , as I proceed upon my journey . Nor shall I conceive that any such application in imparting instruction , for instance , to others ,