AN GAODHAL.
243
JOHN OF TUAM.
By Esmeralda Doyle.
Why did you not assail the great John of Tuam
himself ? He would not have shrunk from our
persecutions, but with his mitre on his head, and
his crozier in his hand, he would have walked in
his pontifical vestment into goal and smiled dis-
dainfully upon you. — From Irish State Trial.
The following poem was suggested by these
words found in the accounts given of the trial of
O'Connell, the great Irish patriot, the liberator,
the resplendent figure shining as though clad in
supernatural armor, down the vista of years, of
patriots, of martyrs ! All who are familiar with
Irish history during the past fifty years must nec-
essarily know the name of “John of Tuam,” “the
Lion of the Fold of Judah,“ that grand old man,
Bishop McHale of Ireland, whose story has lately
been told in Irish and English by the pen of that
gentleman distinguished in literary circles, the
Very Reverend Canon Ulick J. Bourke, known in
Europe and America as a profound scholar.
There was one who had striven in storm and in sun
For the weal of his country, the love of his God,
Whose feet trod the dust of the battle-field won
Where patriot sleep under Erin's green sod.
As verdant as hills of his dear native home,
Bright Oilen-an-oir of the song and the sword,
In the sun burst of Erin where’er he may roam,
To the Irishman's heart, be he peasant or lord.
'Tis an emblem that tells of the land on the sea,
Whose waves kiss the rocks and the shell-gilded
shore;
Yet not as our banner that waves for the free,
For liberty lives now in Erin no more.
There was one who had striven in storm and in sun
For the weal of his country, the love of his God,
Whose feet trod the dust of a battle-field won,
Where patriots sleep under Erin's green sod.
His fame is the fame of that loyalist race,
Who hold to the faith their forefathers taught,
And never for title, for gold, or for place,
Bent the knee unto idols that traitors have
wrought.
He was brave as the lion that guardeth his fold,
As strong as those chiefs that proud history owns
Unscathed he went forth with his banner unrolled,
Through a phalanx of foes to the throne of all
thrones.
To the foot of that throne where the King of all
kings
Is, was, and shall be, past days that we know,
Where the green and gold banner as fair as earth's
springs,
In the hands of the bishop grows whiter than
snow.
For the emblem of Purity always is white ;
The emblem of chastity, sign of the blest :
O, valiant in virtue, poor Ireland's knight,
May the God of the faithful reward thee with rest.
Kansas Herald.
IRISH PROVERBS.
Proverbs owe their origin to the
sayings of wise men, allusions of an-
cient poets the customs and manners
or nations they are adapted to com-
mon use as ornaments of speech set
rules of instruction, arguments of wis-
dom, to which time has given assent,
and maxims of undeniable trutn. The
peculiar veneration which the Irish
have for their ancient proverbs, has
given rise to a well known assertion :
Ní féidir an sean-focal do sharúgh'dh.
John O’Donovan.
1. an t-seod dhofhála 's í is áilne-
The rare jewel is the most beautiful
2. air li ní bhreith fear gan súilibh.
A blind man is no judge of colors.
3. anuair a bídheann an cat a muigh bíd-
eann na lucha ag rainnceadh.
When the cat, is out the mice dance
4. nuair is cruadh don chailligh caithgid sí
rith.
When the old hag is in danger she
must run.
5. bidh ádh air amhadán-
Even a fool has luck.
6. bheul eidhín ⁊ croidh cuilinn.
A mouth of ivy, a heart of holly.
7. beatha 'n stáraighe fírinne.
The historian's food is truth.
8. bidh borbh faoi sgéim-
Fierceness is often hidden under
beauty.
9. bidh boirbeacht i n-geal gháire.
There is often anger in a laugh,
10. bid cluanaidhe i n-deagh chulaidh'
A good dress often hides a deceiver
11. bhuaine clú ná saoghal.
Fame is more lasting than life.
12. briatar baoth baothantacht.
A foolish word is folly.
13. bocht an eaglais bhíos gan cheol.
The church that has no music is
poor indeed.
14. cnuasaig in am oireamhnach.
Lay up in time.
15. caoin re ceannsa.
Mild to the meek.
(to be continued.)
Féach Hardiman.
