Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/irishbirthdaybooOOunse THE IRISH BIRTHDAY-BOOK. FROM THE SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF IRISH MEN AND WOMEN, BOTH CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT. THE CATHOLIC PUBLICATION SOCIETY CO. 1884. BOSTON COLLEQI£ LIBRARY CHESTNUT HILL, MASS, v/ ARRANGED BY “ MELUSINE.” VY 20815 O Sctftcatcti (without permission }) TO IRISH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. TO IRELAND. ‘ ‘ The nations have fallen, and thou still art young — Thy sun is but rising, when others are set ; And though slavery’s cloud o’er thy morning hath hung, The full moon of Freedom shall beam round thee yet* Erin ! O Erin ! though long in the shade, Thy star will shine out when the proudest shall fade ! ” Tom Moore* PREFACE. In this Irish Birthday-Book there is no prose in May or June, because they are the months in which, with fresh leaves, pure bright flowers and sunnier skies, all Nature seems to breathe poetry. It may interest the readers of this little book to know that the cover is made of Irish linen. The design in gold is intended to symbolize the Memory of the Past — Faith for the Present — Hope in the Future. The ancient Irish were Fire-worshippers (like some of their ancestors, the Persians), and ‘‘ the Sunburst was the fanciful name given by them to the Royal banner. Thomas Davis alludes to this when he says of King Dahi,— On the rich deck he lies, O’er him his sunburst flies.'’ Waterford was called the Harbour of the Sun — “ Cuan-na-grioth.” The rays of sunlight from the Cross are an adaptation of the old sunburst, so as to bring it VI Preface. into harmony with Present, Future, and Christian Past. Surely these wise and tender thoughts of great and good Irish people ought to inspire us, and help us, while we rejoice that we can claim Erin as our own, to love her more deeply, and strive more earnestly for the honour and advancement of her cause. That all true children of our dear Irish mother- land who read these pages may heartily bless the day when first they entered upon their National Inheritance, and never be found unworthy of this privilege of Irish Birth, is the earnest prayer of MELUSINE. 27, 1883. THE NEW YEAR. '* Who, that surveys this span of earth we press, This speck of life in time’s great wilderness, This narrow isthmus ’twixt two boundless seas, The past, the future, two eternities ! — Would sully the bright spot or leave it bare, When he might build him a proud temple there, A name, that long shall hallow all its space, And be each purer soul’s high resting-place ! ’’ Thomas Moore. JANUARY. “Not always the winter ! not always the wail ! The heart heals perforce where the spirit is pure ! The apple-tree blooms in the glens of Imayle ; The blackbird sings loud by the Slane and the Suir ! Not always the winter ! not always the moan ! Our fathers, they tell us, in old time were free : Free to-day is the stag in the woods of Idrone, And the eagle that fleets from Loch Lein o’er the Lee ! The blue-bells rise up where the young May hath trod ; The souls of our martyrs are reigning with God ! Sad mother, forgive us ! yon skylark no choice Permits us. From heaven he is crying, ‘ Rejoice ! * ” Aubrey de Vere. B 2 The Irish Birthday-Book, SJanuarg i “The Patriot, when he battles for his country in the senate or the field, thinks but of one object — the freedom and the glory of his fatherland ; but He who inspired him with that lofty love had higher interests still in view, even the interests of the entire earth, and of generations yet unborn.” — John Blake Dillon. “Too long we fought for Britain’s cause, And of our blood were never chary ; She paid us back with tyrant laws. And thinn’d the homes of Tipperary.” Thomas Davis. S'anuarp 2 “I value that Parliamentary constitution by the average of its benefits, and I affirm that the blessings procured by the Irish Parliament in the last twenty years are greater than the blessings afforded by British Parliaments to Ireland for the last century ; greater even than the mischiefs inflicted on Ireland by British Parliaments ; greater than all the blessings procured by these Parliaments for their own country within that period.” — Henry Grattan, in 1800. “At whose musical voice. Come the seals from the deep, The stag from the mist-crag. The thrush from the tree. ” Very old Irish air^ “Bridget O’Halloran.” S’anuarp 3 “ He that would make a real progress in knowledge must dedicate his age as well as youth, the later growth as well as first-fruits, at the altar of Truth.”— Bishop Berkeley. “No whining tone of mere regret. Young Irish bards, for you ; But let your songs teach Ireland yet What Irishmen should do ! ” D. F. MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 3 Sfanuarp i Edmund Burke born, 1730. f anuarp 2 Sanuarp 3 4 The Irish Birthday-Book, S^anuarp 4 ‘‘ There exists a large class of men who would have us believe that the days of great universities are gone by. . . . In such a theory I am a confirmed unbeliever ; the living voice of a great Teacher possesses to-day in my mind the same mighty influence that it wielded in the days of Socrates, of Abelard, and of Albertus Magnus.*’ — ^John Dillon. “ I saw him next amid the best and noblest of our isle — There was the same majestic form, the same heart -kindling smile ; But grief was on that princely brow — for others still he mourn’d — He gazed upon poor fetter’d slaves, and his heart within him burn’d.” — The Spirit of the Nation.” (Duffy and Sons, Publishers.) 3!anuarp 5 ‘*A better woman never looked with a tearful eye or a batin’ heart along the waters — like all tender people, the throuble is seldom altogether away from her ; the could only look to themselves, the kmd have a pulse for all the world.” Mrs. S. C. Hall. ‘‘ Still in your heart’s dear record Cherish the keen regret that lifts his fame ; To you it is bequeath’d — assert the trust. And to his worth ’tis all you can — be just.’^ Richard Brinsley Sheridan. January 6 ‘‘For the next two weeks, awaiting the result of this trial, all things stood still in Ireland, except the famine, and the ‘ addresses of confidence ’ from landlords, and the typhus fever, and the clearing of estates, and’ the wail of the Banshee!” — John Mitchel. “ What matter that at different shrines We pray unto one God, — What matter that at different times Our fathers won this sod, — In fortune and in name we’re bound By stronger links than steel j And neither can be safe nor sound. But in the other’s weal.” — Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book, 5 %inuary 4 Archbishop Ussher born, 1580. S^anuary 5 3!anuary 6 6 The Irish Birthday-Book. 3^anuar]9 7 “ I walked with him a piece of the way, and I thought all pleasure in sight left my eyes when he waved the last wave of his hat on the top of the hill.’* “ Ireland,” by Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall. “ Oh ! may your dove-like soul on whitest pinions Pursue her upward flight to God’s dominions. Where saints’ and martyrs’ hands shall gifts provide thee — And oh ! my grief, that I am not beside thee !” “ A Munster Keen,” by Edward Walsh. Sanuarg 8 “ Christ is risen from the dead, our hope ! and our hope is to rise with Him ; translated from glory to glory, until we behold His face, unshrouded and unveiled, and be happy for ever in the contemplation of God. This is our hope ; yours and mine.” — The Very Rev. Thomas N. Burke, O.P., the Great Dominican. “ Oh ! brooding Spirit of Wisdom and of Love, Whose mighty wings even now o’ershadow me. Absorb me in Thine own immensity, And raise me far my finite self above ! ” Sir William Rowan Hamilton. f anuarp 9 “My country was my Idol. To it I sacrificed every selfish, every endearing sentiment ; and for it I now offer up myself, O God ! ” — Robert Emmet. “ And, as echo far off through the vale my sad orison rolls, I think, oh, my love ! ’tis thy voice from the kingdom of souls. Faintly answering still the notes that once were so dear.” Thomas Moore. “No, whate’er the fires that try thee. In the same this heart shall burn.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. 7 3 !anttarp 7 5’anuar^ 8 f anuarp 9 8 The Irish Birthday-Book, Slanuarp lo In fine, I think the situation of Ireland a paramount consideration. If they were to be the last words I should ever utter in this house, I should say, ‘ Be just to Ireland, as you value your own honour ; be just to Ireland, as you value your own peace.’ — Richard Brinsley Sheridan. “ I bless you for the pleasant word When your heart was sad and sore — Oh ! I’m thankful you are gone, Mary, Where grief can t reach you more ! ” Countess of Gifford. 3Januarp n “He’d tell sometimes of how things were mending, how there was much bitterness going out of the country ; and though there was no talk of Temperance then, he saw plain enough, that if men would keep from whisky they’d forget to be angry. And every minute, even while I trembled for the life of his body, the peace and love that was in him made me easy as to the life of his soul.” “ Ireland,” by Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall. “ See you scale life’s misty highlands, By this light of living truth ! And with bosom braced for labour. Breast them in your manly youth ; So when age and care have found you. Shall your downward path be smooth.” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. 3 ^anuarp 12 “The evening of life I choose to pass in a quiet retreat. Ambitious projects, intrigues and quarrels of statesmen, are things I have been formerly amused with, but now they seem to be a vain, fugitive dream.” — Bishop Berkeley. “Faint not ! for thee a pitying future waits ! Advance ! Be wise, be just, with will as fixed as Fate’s. Advance ! ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 9 fanuari) lo 3"anuarg ii fanuarp 12 lO The Irish Birthday-Book. 3!anuarp 13 “Grattan made it a rule, as he said, ‘never to defend himself at the expense of his country,’ and he displayed the same zeal and the same eloquence as w hen his popularity wsis greatest.” — W. E. H. Lecky. “ Man should be ever better than he seems, And shape his acts, and discipline his mind To walk adorning earth, with hope of heaven.” Aubrey de Vere. “ For union and peace to old Ireland I pray.” John Keegan. Slanuarp 14 “ Unfaltering attachment to the principles of justice, un- swerving obedience to the dictates of honour, unalterable loyalty to rectitude and duty ; — these were the characteristics that distinguished him ! and these were the qualities that cast their redeeming light round his failings and his errors, and wrung from the bitterest of his foes the tribute due to suffering worth.” On W. Smith O’Brien, in “ Speeches from the Dock.” “ Stand together, brothers all ! Stand together, stand together ! To live or die, to rise or fall. Stand together, stand together ! ” “ Spirit of the Nation.” (Duffy and Sons, Publishers.) fanuarp 15 “ If Ireland were in national health, her history would be familiar by books, pictures, statuary, and music to every cabin and shop in the land ; her resources as an agricultural, manufacturing, and trading people would be equally known, and every young man would be trained, and every grown man able to defend her coast, her plains, her towns, and her hills — not with his right arm merely, but by his dis- ciplined habits and military accomplishments.” Thomas Davis. “ And Thou, O mighty Lord ! whose ways Are far above our feeble minds to understand. Sustain us in these doleful days, And render light the chain that binds Our fallen land !” — J. Clarence Mangan. The Irish Birthday-Book, 1 1 Slanuarg 13 Slanuar^ 14 fanuarp 15 The Irish Birthday-Book, I 2 3?anuarp i6 “ During the darkest days of Spanish persecution in Holland, some Freedom was left to the Corporations of the States of the Netherlands. But I am sorry to say that I recognize to-day a situation in Ireland, and an action by the executive authorities in this country, which does not propose to leave even the members of this ancient Corporation (Dublin) the right of expressing their thoughts and opinions with regard to public policy.” Charles Stewart Parnell (Aug. i6, 1882). “ Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy. Bright dreams of the Past, which she cannot destroy; Which come in the night-time of sorrow and care, And bring back the features that joy used to wear.” Thomas Moore. S^anuarp 17 “ Come here. Catholic, and if any man preach to you the hateful creed of religious fanaticism, bring him to the feet of Grattan, and tell him wherever else this hideous spirit of religious discord may find a home, it cannot find a place in the land whose generous sons have enthroned to-day the figure of a Protestant Patriot.” — A. M. Sullivan (Jan. 6, 1875). “ So let it be ! O men bright soul’d and gifted With mind and strength to lead the march of right. Keep still aloft the banner you have lifted. Still speak the words that flash with Freedom’s light.” T. D. Sullivan. Slanuarp 18 “ Whole neighbourhoods were often thrown out upon the highways in winter, and the homeless creatures lived for a while upon the charity of neighbours ; but this was dangerous, for the neighbours were often themselves ejected for har- bouring them. The Irish are peculiarly attached to their homesteads ; and like all people of poetic temperament, sur- round their homes and hearths with more tender associations than a race of duller perception could understand.” John Mitchel. ‘ ‘ Let them who scorn’d the fountain rill Now dread the torrent’s roar, And hear our echoed chorus still. We’re Paddies evermore !” “ Spirit of the Nation.” The Irish Birthday-Book. 13 fanuaru 16 fanuaro 17 Januarp 18 14 The Irish Birthday-Book, 3 'anuarp 19 ‘‘In a climate soft as a mother’s smile, on a soil fruitful as God’s love, the Irish peasant mourns.” — Thomas Davis. “ Heaven ! to think of the thousands far better than I, Who for thee, sweetest mother, would joyfully die ! Then to reckon the insult — the rapine — the wrong ! How long, God of love ! — God of battles, how long?” William Drennan. “For ever the souls of thy wanderers crave To return to the land they love best. That their wings may be folded at last in the grave. In their own blessed isle in the West.” Ellen Forrester. Slanuarp 20 “ Whatever may be thought of the abstract merits of the arrangement, the Union (of England and Ireland), as it was carried, was a crime of the deepest turpitude.” W. E. H. Lecky. “ Our fatherland requires our cares. Our work with man, with God our prayers ; Spurn blood-stain’d Judas-gold for it. Let us do all that honour dares. Be earnest, faithful, bold for it.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. 3 !anuare 21 “ Oh ! what lessons of loving-kindness are to be learned in Irish cottages — hospitality without display, and that true generosity which takes from its own necessities to relieve the necessities of others.” — M rs. S. C. Hall. “ Still hold to truth, abound in love. Refusing every base compliance — Your praise within, your prize above. And live and die in self-reliance.” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 15 S^anuarp 19 3fanuarp 20 'Januaro 21 i6 The Irish Birthday-Book, 3!anuarp 22 “ It is true, as I declare that I desire the restoration of our Irish Parliament, I would sacrifice my existence to restore to Ireland her independent Legislature ; but I do not desire to restore precisely such a Parliament as she had before/’ O’Connell on “ Repeal of the Union.” “ Yours was the good brave heart That still kept hoping on. When the trust in God had left my soul. And my arm’s young strength was gone.” Lament of the Irish Emigrant.” S’anuari) 23 To those who, from superior energy and ability, can teach the people, we now address ourselves.” Thomas Davis on “ Education.” “ With that pleasant smile thou wearest. Thou art gazing on the fairest Wonders of the earth and sea : Do thou not, in all thy seeing, Lose the memory of one being Who at home doth think of thee.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. 3!anuarB 24 He loved his country ; he saw it in danger, and passion touched his heart, and its fountains opened, and the sacred stream gushed forth unsolicited and free.” John Blake Dillon. “ She’s not a dull or cold land ; No ! she’s a warm and bold land ; Oh ! she’s a true and old land — This native land of mine. ” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 17 Sanuarp 22 Slanuarp 23 3 "anuarp 24 t8 The Irish Birthday-Book, S^anuarp 25 ‘ It’s soon ended now/ she said, ^ and not much to tell ; but the poor have more trials than the mere want of food ; and I’ve often thought that when the rich and the stranger laugh at their rags, or turn from them in disgust, they don’t think that, maybe, the heart beating under them has a dale of feeling.’” — Mrs. S. C. Hall. “Too long with rash and single arm The peasant strove to guard his eyrie, Till Irish blood bedew’d each farm. And Ireland wept for Tipperary.” Thomas Davis. S^anuart) 26 “ We should have heard few eulogies of the honourable character of the Irish policy of Pitt, if English writers were not accustomed to judge Irish politics by a standard of honour very different from that which they would apply to English ones.” — W. E. H. Lecky. “ Our Parliament did sit Then in our native land. What good came of the loss of it I cannot understand ; Although full plain I see, That changes not a few Have fallen on the country Since this old cap was new.” Sir S. Fergusson. 3!anuary 27 ‘‘ Man is a compound of contrarieties, which breed a rest- less struggle in his nature, between flesh and spirit, the beast and the angel, earth and heaven, ever weighed down and ever bearing up. — Bishop Berkeley. ‘ ‘ And thus you’ll find the sternest soul The deepest tenderness concealing, And minds that seem to mock control, Are order’d by some fairy feeling.” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 19 fanuarp 25 Hon. Robert Boyle born, 1627. fanuarp 26 3!anuarp 27 20 The Irish Birthday-Book, f anuarn 28 “ Loyalty distinct from liberty is corruption, not loyalty.” Henry Grattan. “ Send me hence ten thousand miles From a face that always smiles ; None could ever act that part, But had a Fury in her heart. Dean Swift. 5anuart) 29 “No; I do not despair of my poor old country — her peace, her liberty, her glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To lift this island up — to make her a benefactor to humanity, instead of being, as she is now, the meanest beggar in the world — to restore to her her native powers and her ancient constitution, — this has been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime.” “ Speeches from the Dock,” T. F. Meagher. “ On our side is virtue and Erin ! On theirs is the Saxon and guilt.” Thomas Moore. 3?anuarp 30 “The constant language of English ministers and mem- bers of Parliament created the impression abroad that Ireland was in need of alms, and nothing but alms, whereas Irishmen themselves uniformly protested that what they required was Repeal of the Union, so that the English might cease to devour their substance.” — ^John Mitchel. “I’m very lonely now, Mary, For the poor make no new friends ; But oh ! they love the better still The few our Father sends !” “Lament of the Irish Emigrant.” The Irish Birthday-Book. 21 3 "anuari) 28 3 ^anuar^ 29 3 ^anuaru 30 22 The Irish Birthday-Book, Slanuarp 31 “ Let us do no injury to any one. ... I have no doubt but bright days are about to dawn upon our country. Persevere, then ; see what your rights are. Assert them in open day. Tell the Government what you want, and say you will never cease till you get it. I am proud of Tipperary, but I am especially proud of Tipperary^s imprisoned member, John Dillon.’^ His Grace the Archbishop of Cashel (May 16, 1881). ‘ ‘ Knowledge will lead you to the dazzling heights ; Tolei'ance will teach and guard your brothers’ rights.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 23 fanuare 31 FEBRUARY, THE MONTH OF THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS. “ The church of Dungannon is empty once more — No plumes on the altar, no clash on the floor. But the councils of England are flutter’d to see. In the cause of their country, the Irish agree ; So they give as a boon what they dare not withhold. And Ireland, a nation, leaps up as of old. With a name, and a trade, and a flag of her own. And an army to fight for the people and throne. But woe worth the day if to falsehood or fears She surrender the guns of her brave Volunteers !” Thomas Davis. 26 The Irish Birthday-Book. JFebruarg i If I meet a scoundrel in the street, and raise my hat to him, and thus show him a mark of respect, I add a mite to the sum total of scoundrelism which exists in every country, and which, when it too greatly preponderates over the good therein existing, drags down that country to i*uin.’^ John Dillon. ‘ ‘ I know this span of life was lent For lofty duties, not for selfishness — Not to be wiled away in aimless dreams.’^ Aubrey de Vere. jpebruarp 2 ‘ ‘ There is in the Irish nature a wonderful spring and an intense vitality.” — ^John Mitchel. “ I said, ‘ To other lands I’d roam. Where fate may smile on me, love I said, ‘ Farewell to my old home ! ’ And I said, ‘ Farewell to thee, love ! ’ Gille machree^ Sit down by me ; We now are join’d, and ne’er shall sever ; This hearth’s our own, Our hearts are one. And peace is ours for ever !” Gerald Griffin. jFtbruarp 3 “ The exiled ones of our race ! The first sentiment that warms their hearts and rises to their lips is that of Ireland a Nation ! The cause of our national independence is a grand and ancient cause — genius has glorified it, sacrifice has per- petuated it, death has sanctified it.” — Thomas Sexton. “ Her beautiful voice more hearts hath won Than Orpheus’ lyre of old had done ; Her ripe eyes of blue were crystals of dew, \ On the grass of the lawn before the sun, — And, pulse of my heart ! what gloom is thine ? ” Edward Walsh. boston CGLLBSS CHESTNUT HILL, MASH The Irish Birthday-Book, 27 jFcbruarp i JcIiruarB 2 jFcbruart) 3 28 The Irish Birthday-Book. JFcbruarp 4 “ Such is the rapid outline of a code of laws which reflects indelible disgrace upon the English character, and explains but too clearly the cause of that hatred in which the English name has been so long held in Ireland.” “ History of the Penal Laws,” written by Henry Parnell in 1808. ‘ ‘ Then daintily the strong, bright boy he led Across the banquet-hall, and placed him there Beside his mother’s knee.” — Deirdr^:. jFebruarp 5 “ In that day it will be remembered for me, though a prison awaits me now, that I was one of those journalists of the people who, through constant sacrifice and self-immola- tion, fought the battle of the people, and won every vestige of liberty remaining in the land ! ” A. M. Sullivan, State Trials, 1868. “And they, the poor exiles, across the deep sea. Their loving hearts always turn fondly to thee ; Far, far tho’ their wandering footsteps may roam, Their hearts, dear old Erin ! their hearts are at home.” Arthur M. Forrester. JFebruarp 6 “ Few facts in Irish history are more certain than that the Irish Parliament would have carried emancipation if Lord FitzWilliam had remained in power, and that the recall of that nobleman was one of the chief causes of the rebellion of 1798.” — W. E. H. Lecky. “ Hapless nation ! rent and torn. Thou wert early taught to mourn ; Warfare of six hundred years — Epochs marked with blood and tears.” Dr. Drennan. The Irish Birthdav-Book. 29 JebruarB 4 jPebruarp 5 jPebruarp 6 30 The Irish Birthday-Book. jFebruare 7 “A cause with such a record cannot fail ; the best faculties of our race have been expended in its service, the best blood of our people has been shed in its behalf ; men have served that cause who have made the prison cell a shrine of fame, and the scaffold a place of honour.” — Thomas Sexton. ‘‘ What need I sigh for pleasure gone, The twilight eve, the rosy dawn My heart is changed as much as they — ’Tis winter all when thou’rt away !” Denis Florence MacCarthy. JFcbruarB 8 “ There is also a constant tendency — especially among intellectual people — to underrate those whose genius is em- ployed chiefly in action, especially when the lower orders are subjects of that action.” — W. E. H. Lecky. “ Ah ! if their hearts were callous, and if their souls were mean, If selfish thoughts could sway them, not such their fate had been ; They felt their country’s sorrow, and dream’d that dream of light, To change her grief to gladness, her gloom to glory bright.” “ The Captives,” by T. D. Sullivan. jPcbiuars 9 “ Happiest is he who judges and knows books, and nature, and men (himself included) spontaneously or from early training ; whose feelings are assessors with his intellect, and who is thoroughly in earnest.” — Thomas Davis. “Who, in the winter night, soggarth aroon, When the cold blast did bite, soggarlh aroon, Came to my cabin door, And, on my earthen flure. Knelt by me, sick and poor, Soggarth aroon ? ” — John Banim. The Irish Birthday-Book. 31 jpcliruar^ 7 JFfbruarp 8 jpebruari) 9 32 2 HE Irish Birthday-Book, jpcbruarp lo ‘‘ The English people possess many inestimable blessings of freedom ; they have the reality of a free constitution, the envy of the world. Its miserable parody is sometimes seen on the Irish shore.” — A. M. Sullivan. “ So, as I grew from boy to man, I bent me to that bidding — My spirit of each selfish plan And cruel passion ridding ; For thus I hoped some day to aid — Oh ! can such hope be vain ? — When my dear country shall be made A Nation once again."’ — Thomas Davis. Jpetruari) ii I will not believe that Irishmen are so degraded and utterly lost as this. The earth is awakening from sleep ; a flash of electric fire is passing through the dumb millions. Democracy is girding himself once more like a strong man to run a race ; and slumbering nations are arising in their might, and ‘shaking their invincible locks." Oh ! my countrymen, look up ! look up !” — ^John Mitchel. “ I soon shall be gone, though my name may be spoken — When Erin awakes and her fetters are broken.” J. J. Callanan. jpcbruarg 12 “ Thus philosophy is weak ; but religion comforts in a higher strain. Man is here, it tells us, fitting up his mind, and preparing it for another abode. When the good man leaves the body, and is all a glorious mind, he will find he has been making himself a heaven of happiness here. To Religion we must hold in every circumstance of life for our truest comfort."" — Oliver Goldsmith. “ Bright blue eyes ! bright blue eyes ! Closed in death, no more to glow ; Bright blue eyes I so much prized In happy hours long ago ! R. N. S. Delvin, The Irish Birthday-Book. 33 jF^bruare lo jpebruarp ii jF^bruar^ 12 D 34 The Irish Birthday-Book, jPebruar^ 13 “ Henry Grattan was twenty-nine years of age when he entered on politics^ and in seven years he was the triumphant leader of a people free and victorious after hereditary bondage.” — T homas Davis. I’ll not reveal my true-love’s name ; Betimes ’twill swell the voice of fame — But oh ! may Heaven, my grief to quell, Restore the hero safe and well ! My hero brave, ma ghile, m’fhear ; My kindred love, ma ghile, m’fhear ; What wringing woes my bosom knows. Since cross’d the seas ma ghile, m’fhear.” Edward Walsh. jpcbruarp 14 And thoughts whose source is hidden and high. Like streams that come from heavenward hills. Shall keep our hearts — like meads, that lie To be bathed by those eternal rills — Ever green, if thou wilt be mine, love ! ” Thomas Moore. ‘^And, maiden ! start not from the brow That thought has knit, and passion darken’d, In twilight hours, ’neath forest bough ; The tenderest tales are often hearken’d.” Thomas Davis. “ Remember thee? Yes ; while there’s life in this heart ! ” Thomas Moore. JFcbruaii) 15 “On the 15th of February, 1782, the delegates met at Dungannon. There is no similar assembly recorded in history, whether we consider the importance of the subject of their deliberations, the power they possessed, or the moderation with which they used it.” — Thomas MacNevin. “ The chain is broke — the Saxon yoke From off our neck is taken ; Ireland awoke — Dungannon spoke — With fear was England shaken.” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 35 jFcbruarp 13 JF^bruarp 14 Valentine’s Day. Jpebruare 15 The Volunteers at Dungannon, 1782. D 2 3 ^ The Irish Birthday-Book, JFcbruarp i6 “ In the past century, and prolonged into the present, the title was well recognized of the ‘English interest,’ and that is — if not as strong -as determined to-day as when Swift and Berkeley denounced it one hundred years ago ! ” John Dillon (August i6, 1882). “ We must not fail, we must not fail, However fraud or force assail ; By honour, pride, and policy. By Heaven itself ! — we must be free ! ” Thomas Davis. jpehruarp 17 “England maintains in Ireland a very large garrison; some are uniformed as policemen, some as soldiers, some as militia, and some wear the ermine ! ” — T. M. Healy. “Irishmen ! Irishmen ! think what is Liberty, Fountain of all that is valued and dear, Peace and security, knowledge and purity, Hope for hereafter and happiness here. “ Irishmen ! if we be true to our promises. Nerving our souls for more fortunate hours. Life’s choicest blessings, love’s fond caressings. Peace, home, and happiness, all shall be ours.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. jFtbruari) 18 “This chieftain of the Celtic race (O’Connell), though endeared to his own co-religionists and devoted to the altar of his own faith, was yet a splendid example of all-reaching tolerance, for in his great Irish heart there was room for every man of Irish mould — Catholic, Protestant, and Dis- senter.”— A. M. Sullivan. “ ‘ My soul !’ he cried, ‘ disowns The barren doctrine that would dry The springs of kindly charity, That hopeth all things, in the breast.’ ” “ Destiny,” by M. J. Serrano. The Irish Birthday-Book. 37 JFcbruarg i6 jPebruare 17 JFcbruar^ 18 38 The Irish Birthday-Book, JFebruar^ 19 “ Of Edmund Burke it may be truly said that there is scarcely any serious political thinker in England who has not learnt much from his writings, and whom he has not profoundly influenced either in the way of attraction or in the way of repulsion/’ — W. E. H. Lecky. In your sweet bosom bright Shines the pure sunny light, As on your smooth brow, graceful ever ! And oh ! could I say You’re my own — from this day. Death’s contest should frighten me never.” A County of Clare Peasant Song, jpehruari? 20 ‘ ‘ When I return to my native land, I come back from a country that is free to a country which is enslaved ; I come back from a country that is prosperous to a country that is poor ; I come back from a country which is contented to a country that lies tossing on a bed of pain. ” T. P. O’Connor. “ Let no desire of ease, no lack of courage, faith, or love delay Mine own steps on that high thought-paven way In which my soul her clear commission sees ; Yet with an equal joy let me behold Thy chariot o’er that way by others roll’d.” Sir ^Tlliam Row^an Hamilton. jptbruarg 21 “The Irish people have a past to boast of, and a future to create.” — ^Joseph F. O’Carroll. “ Guard her comfort as ’tis worth. Pray to God to look down on her. And swift as cannon shot go forth To strive for Freedom, Truth, and Honour. Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 39 jPebruare 19 JFebructr^ 20 JF^bruaru 21 40 The Irish Birthday-Book, JFebruart) 22 ‘‘Let us remember that very much depends upon our action for the future. If we will reap the results of what we have gained, we must recollect how we have gained ! That it is by the determination and the spirit of self-sacrifice of our people that we are as we are to-day.*' Charles Stewart Parnell. “ Alanna ! alanna ! the shadow of shame, Has never yet fallen on one of your name ; And oh ! may the food from my bosom you drew, In your veins turn to poison, if you turn untrue." A Ballad called “ The Patriot Mother.” jpehruarn 23 “ Warm will be the welcome which the country will have for John Dillon, whose dauntless spirit has never quailed before those long and cmel imprisonments, which have told heavily on the frail frame, but not on the fiery soul within." “ Freeman's Journal." “ But, hark ! some voice like thunder spake : ‘ The Wesfs awake^ the Wesfs awake ! ’ Sing oh ! hurra ! Let England quake. We'll watch till death for Erin’s sake." Thomas Davis. jpebruarp 24 “ If you felt the deepest and the keenest interest in our country, it was because you saw we were the most afflicted and the most cruelly and sorely tried nation in the world." The Most Rev. Dr. Nulty to Joseph Cowen. “ The land that I fly from is fertile and fair, And more than I ask for or wish for is there, — But I must not taste the good things I see. There’s nothing but rags and green rushes for me.” John Keegan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 41 JFeliruars 22 jFefiruar^ 23 JFctiruart) 24 42 The Irish Birthday-Book, jpebruare 25 “In every eye I see the soul of a new spirit — not mere Land Leagueism, not merely selfish interests, but the grand ideal possessing your souls, that you will not be content as slaves, but that you are determmed to make your country a Nation amongst the nations of the earth.” Rev. M. Sheehy. “ Oh, dear ones, faithful to the last I live, Now to the gods my guaranty I give, And be ye strong and valiant, for no more Can Ilian shield you.” — Deirdr£. jFthruarp 26 “In Cork we have a bridge which bears the name of Parnell ! Mr. Parnell is building up another bridge of Patriotism upon which every Irishman of whatever creed can walk in peace and amity.” Charles Dawson, Lord Mayor of Dublin. “Yes, we shall see this land of ours What it was meant to be. With all its honours, rights and powers, A Nation proud and free ; Its woes shall cease, its joys increase, Its fame shine forth anew, — But Englishman, we say again. No thanks for that to you !” T. D. Sullivan. jpcbruarp 27 “ Mr. Parnell has all the qualifications of leadership in an Irish movement, and I am content with being a freelance in Ireland’s cause.” — Michael Davitt. ‘ ‘ The Patrick discoursed of the things to be When time gives way to Eternity, Of kingdoms that cease, which are dreams not things. And the Kingdom built by the King of kings.” Aubrey de Vere. The Irish Birthday-Book. 43 JFcbruari) 25 Jrfftruarn 26 jFcbruinj 27 44 The Irish Birthday-Book, JF^fcruarp 28 “ The country is at the present moment passing through a severe and trying crisis, and all the power, all the interest, all the courage, and all the good sense of the leaders of the agitation is required to lead her in safety on ! T. P. O’Connor. “ Who in Erin’s cause would stand Brother of the avenging band. He must wed immortal quarrel. Pain, and sweat, and bloody peril. ” Sir Samuel Fergusson. jptbruarp 29 ‘‘ We confidently appeal to the Irish tenant farmers not to be selfish, not to think only of themselves, but to remember that Michael Davitt appealed to them on the plains of Mayo just two years ago, and put upon their shoulders the burden of recovering for Ireland her rights of Nationhood.’^ Charles Stewart Parnell. “ There shall no vain pretender be. To court thy smile and torture me ; No proud superior there be seen, But Nature’s voice shall hail thee. Queen,” Richard B. Sheridan, The Irish Birthday-Book. 45 jpeiiruar^ 28 Whitley Stokes born. Jcbruarp 29 MARCH A youthful giant March is, A giddy boy and gay, As, striding through the forest. He shakes the trees in play. He sweeps around the hill-top. And scuds across the moor. And whirling round the corner, He whistles at the door. Rattling at the window, whistling at the door. Oh ! the merry, merry March wind Is whistling at the door.” Ellen Forrester. 48 The Irish Birthday-Book, i^larcl) I “ Irish hearts are as open to friendship as they are steeled against intimidation or menace.” Arthur O'Connor, in 1804. ‘ ‘ I glean’d the grey legend that long had been sleeping Where oblivion’s dull mist o’er its beauty was creeping, From the love which I felt for my country’s sad story, When to love her was shame, to revile her was glory.” J. J. Callanan. i^lard) 2 ‘‘ One of the great questions is how to find an outlet for Irish manufactures. We ought to be an exporting nation, or we never will be able to compete successfully with our trade rivals.” — E. D. Gray. And, undismay’d, you sons of trade might see the battle’s front. Who bravely bore, nor bow’d before, the deadlier face of want.” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. jWarc^ 3 ‘ ‘ The old love of learning, which the awful incubus of the Penal Laws had so long repressed, burst forth fresh as ever.” Joseph F. O’Carroll. History’s lessons, if thou’lt read ’em. All proclaim this truth to thee : Knowledge is the price of Freedom, — Know thyself, and thou art free.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 49 J^larc^ I Margaret Stokes born. J^lard) 2 iiAarcI) 3 so The Irish Birthdav-Book, i^arc?) 4 The passionate aspiration for Irish nationhood will out- live the British Empire.*’ — ^JOHN Mitchel. “ She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps, And lovers around her are sighing ; But coldly she turns from their gaze and weeps, For her heart in his grave is lying ! ” Thomas Moore. “ But nations keep a stern account Of deeds that tyrants do ; And guiltless blood to Heaven will mount, And Heaven avenge it, too !** — M. J. Barry. itlarcl) s ‘‘ The prisoners have been provided for. We have been generously fed while in captivity by the contributions of our countrymen. And as one of those who lived for six months solely upon those contributions, I may say that no bread which I ever have eaten tasted sweeter than the bread sup- plied to me in Kilmainham by the generous and spontaneous gift of my countrymen.” — Charles Stewart Parnell. ‘‘ Still shalt thou be my midnight dream, Thy glory still my waking theme ; And every thought and wish of mine, Unconquer’d Erin, shall be thine !” Charles Phillips. JFHard) 6 ‘‘We all know that the only way in which labour in any shape can be protected from gross oppression and from starvation wages, is by union amongst those who labour.” John Dillon. “ There are lands where manly toil Surely reaps the crop it sows, Glorious woods and teeming soil Where the broad Missouri flows.” Thomas Davis. “ What breast was the foremost in courting the danger ? What door was the widest to shelter the stranger?” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. SI JWarc^ 4 Robert Emmet born, 1778. jWarcI) 5 iWarcb 6 52 The Irish Birthday-Book, IBarc^ 7 “ To be a good Patriot, a man must consider his country- men as God’s creatures, and himself as accountable for his acting towards them.” — Bishop Berkeley. God prosper the cause ! — oh, it cannot but thrive While ihe pulse of one patriot heart is alive, Its devotion to feel and its rights to maintain.” Thomas Moore. J^arcf) 8 “ The people must take diligent care to procure books on the history, men. language, music, and manners of Ireland for their children.”— Thomas Davis. “ Then here’s their memory — may it be For us a guiding Light, To cheer our strife for Liberty, And teach us to unite ! ” “ Spirit of the Nation.” (Duffy, Publishers.) fHarcI) 9 “ Neither in the human countenance nor in anything else is there any absolute and independent beauty or ugliness. . . . We admire or dislike a face for the human mind that lies behind it.” — Avary W. Holmes-Forbes. ‘ ‘ The angels that dwell far above in the skies Look down on it often with pitying eyes. But no nation on earth is so sorely oppress’d As the home of my boyhood, dear Land of the West.” Arthur M. Forrester. The Irish Birthday-Book. S3 iWard; 7 if^lard; 8 iWarcJ) 9 54 The Irish Birthday-Book, JWarcf) 10 The ‘ process ^ was a veritable terror — the message of approaching destruction. And now (1880) the issue of those missives against the beggared and starving people grew to enormous proportions.” — A. M. Sullivan. ‘‘ How thrive we by the Union ? Look round our native land ; In ruinM trade and wealth decay’d See Slavery’s surest brand.” “ The Spirit of the Nation.” J^arci^ II “ Surely, by the Irishman of the present day, it ought to be felt an imperative duty, which he owes to his country not less than to himself, to learn something at least of her history, her literature, and her antiquities ; of her position in past times, when she had a name and a civilization, a law and life of her own I — Eugene O’Curry. “To know that in our heart there dwell Some seeds of the men of story ; Oh, blame me not, if I love to tell Of Erin’s ancient glory ! ” “ National Newspaper.” J^arcf) 12 “ I know of no finer or more noble sight than this of a man who has striven for years in this world — standing against evil according to his lights and his abilities — receiving from the coming generations a token of their affectionate reve- rence.” — John Dillon. ‘ ‘ The poet sings his deathless songs, the sage his lore repeats, The patriot tells his country’s wrongs, the chief his war- like feats ; Though far away may be their clay, and gone their earthly pride. Each god-like mind in books enshrined still haunts my fireside.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 55 J^Tarcl^ 10 J^arcJ) II J^tarcJ) 12 Bishop Berkeley born, 1685. 56 The Irish Birthday-Book, fHard^ 13' “I despise him who can timidly or meanly acquiesce in injustice.” — D aniel O’Connell. “ I will give thee every hour, Every day shall be thy dower ; In the splendour of the light, In the watches of the night, In the shine and in the shower, I shall work but for thy right.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. J^arcf) 14 “Now our future depends upon the action of the people of Ireland!” — Charles Stewart Parnell. “ When did his promise die ? When did his power deny ? Answer to Freedom’s cry Gasping in prison ? Always in face of woes. Always at front of foes. Always as Moses rose Manhood has risen ! ” A. J. H. Duganne. 15 “ The American people have done more than justice. We have passed through times of enormous difficulty and desperate political struggles, and the Irish in America have never hesitated to put their hands deep into their pockets and help us in the fight we were waging ; we must now come together and show that we are determined to help ourselves.” John Dillon. “ Like us, make Erin’s cause your own.” Dr. Drennan. The Irish Birthday-Book, 57 J^arc]^ 13 i^tarc!) 14 Mr. Parnell brought in his new Land Bill, 1883. Rejected by Mr. Gladstone. i^larci^ 15 The Irish Birthday-Book, S8 ittarc]^ i6 “ Every human being is born to influence some other human being ; or many, or all human beings, in proportion to the extent and power of the sympathies, rather than of the intellect.’^ — M rs. Jameson. ‘‘ For whatsoever Love adores. Becomes what Love desireth.’’ Denis Florence MacCarthy. fHarc!) 17 “ It came upon me that I should invoke Helia, and mean- while I saw the sun rising in the heavens ; and while 1 was calling out ‘ Helia ! ’ with all my might, behold the splendour of the sun fell upon me, and immediately dashed from me the oppressive weight. And I believe that it was from Christ my Lord that I earnestly sought assistance.*’ “The Confessions of St. Patrick.” “ Oh, the shamrock, the green, immortal shamrock ! ” Thomas Moore. 18 “Men will not see that greatness depends, not on the intellectual or other strength of a man, but on the Freedom and Light of his soul — on the ascendency of the Divine and Eternal within him over all that is perishable or natural. ” Anonymous. “ The outward form and inward vie PI is soul bright beaming from his eye, Ennobling every act and air. With just, and generous, and sincere.” Dean Swift. The Irish Birthday-Book, 59 J^ard) 1 6 i^arcf) 17 St. Patrick’s Day. J^arcl) 18 6o The Irish Birthday-Book, 19 Comte says that the only true and firm friendship is that between man and woman. . . . The too early severance of the sexes in education, places men and women in such a relation to each other, socially, as to render such friendship difficult and rare.” — Mrs. Jameson. ‘ ‘ Columbia the free is the land of my birth, And my paths have been all on American earth ; But my blood is as Irish as any can be, And my heart is with Erin, afar o’er the sea.” T. D. Sullivan. Jiltarcl) 20 “The Sidhe (pronounced Shee) were called spirits of the hill, because supposed to come out of pleasant hills ; they were also supposed to come in the breeze, the musical sighing of which was thought to be their voices.” Mrs. S. C. Hall’s “ Ireland.” ‘ ‘ Where are thy heroed bands ? Thou Queen of the emerald plain ! Where are thy golden-hilted brands That gleam’d in the gallant Dalcassians’ hands. And Brian’s kingly train?” Hardiman’s “Irish Minstrelsy.” 21 “ Ireland owes no debt to Britain; and she has the right which every country has, to have her own money spent within her own borders.” — John Blake Dillon. “Till ends the strife in Liberty, Till stands the race redeemed and free. And all the isle from sea to sea Is one bright field of glory !” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 6i i^larcf) 19 20 J^Tarc^ 21 62 The Irish Birthday-Book. J^arci^ 22 This combat must go on like the spiritual combat. They say that if you relax for a moment in the terrible spiritual combat you are undone ! So it is with this Land organiza- tion ; we must continue vigilant, active, unswerving, watching every movement, and taking care that in everything the interests of the people and tenants of Ireland shall be pro- tected and upheld/’ — The Most Rev. Dr. Nulty. “ ’Tis the Landlord’s Notice — that thing of fear, Renew’d, sustain’d through the live-long year, Chilling my life-blood hour by hour. With the blighting threat of a deadly power ! T. D. Sullivan. i^tarcl) 23 ‘‘ The Celts appear to have retained in a purer form the elementary superstitions of the East.” — ^James Wills. Oh ! had I the wings of a bird To soar through the blue, sunny sky, By what breeze would my pinions be stirr’d? To what beautiful land should I fly ? ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. “ I love thee, poor and suffering as thou art. Land of the tender, proud, and faithful heart ! ” Ellen Forrester. Jiaarcl) 24 “ Military orders of knights were very early established in Ireland. Long before the birth of Christ, we find an here- ditary order of chivalry in Ulster, called ‘ Curaidhe na Craoibhe ruadhy or the knights of the Red Branch, from their chief seat in Emania.” — O’Halloran. Music ! through thy breathing sphere. Lives there a sound more grateful to the ear Of Him who made all harmony. Than the blest sound of fetters breaking. And the first hymn that man, awaking F^rom Slavery’s slumber, breathes to Liberty /” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book, 63 J^arc]^ 22 JWarcf) 23 J^tarcJ) 24 64 The Irish Birthday-Book, JHarrl) 25 “ Ireland seems a grand exception ! She is perhaps the only country in the world that entirely owes her conversion to the work of one man, — she is, again, the only nation that never cost her apostle an hour of sorrow, a single tear, a drop of blood.” — Very Rev. Thomas N. Burke, O. P. “Her heart is so given to Erin, its freedom, its beauty, its songs. That she smiles but for Ireland’s successes, and weeps but for InnisfaiPs wrongs ! ” Arthur M. Forrester. 26 “ He (Davis) thought it shame and sin that our old island should be devoured by strangers ; that the people of the ancient clans, who had once taught half the schools and won half the battles in Europe, should send tribute of corn and cattle — as Athens did of old to Crete — tribute also of her genius and her energy, to swell the pride and power of an inferior race.”— John Mitchel. “ So they rush from the revel to join the parade, For the van is the right of the Irish Brigade.” Thomas D^vis. i^larcl) 27 Is there an army in any part of the world, who, after fighting a brave fight and winning a brilliant victory, would desert their wounded comrades on the field of battle ? My friends, the evicted tenants of Ireland are the wounded of our field of battle.”— T. D. Sullivan. “ No art of selfishness Thy generous nature knew ; Thy life all love, the power to bless thy bliss Constant and true.” John F. Murray. The Irish Birthday-Book. 65 jWarcf) 25 J^itarcf) 26 i^arcf) 27 66 The Irish Birthday-Book. 28 “ It was said, and very beautifully said, that ‘one man’s wit becomes all men’s wisdom ’ — even more true is it that one man’s virtue becomes a standard which raises our an- ticipation of possible goodness in all men.” Mrs. Jameson. “Are they not all thy children, that bright legion — Of aspirations, and all hopeful sighs That in the solemn train of grave Religion Strew heavenly flowers before man’s longing eyes ?” Denis Florence MacCarthy. ifHard^ 29 “I listened to the eloquence of Grattan, the very music of Freedom — her first, fresh matin song, after a long night of slavery, degradation, and sorrow.” — Thomas Moore. “There is honey in the trees where her misty vales expand, And her forest paths in summer are by falling waters fann’d ; There is dew at high noontide there, and springs i’ the yellow sand. On the fair hills of holy Ireland.” Sir Samuel Ferguson. JWarcI; 30 “ A man who has no sense of God or conscience, would you make such a one a guardian to your child ? If not, why a guardian to the State?” — Bishop Berkeley. ‘ ‘ The great old river heaved its mighty heart. And, with a solemn sigh, went calmly on ; As if of all his griefs it felt a part. But knew they should be borne, and so had gone.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 67 i^larcf) 28 iWard^ 29 J^arcf) 30 F 2 68 The Irish Birthday-Book, Jttarcf) 31 ‘ ‘ My good friends, guard yourselves against division ; be watchful of those who seek to divide you.” Daniel O’Connell. “ With deep affection and recollection, I often think of the Shandon bells, Whose sounds so wild ‘would, in days of childhood. Fling round my cradle their magic spells. On this I ponder, where’er I wander. And thus grow fonder, sweet Cork, of thee, With thy bells of Shandon That sound so grand on The pleasant waters of the river Lee.” Rev. Francis Mahon y. The Irish Birthday- Book. 69 iWaril) 31 ■a r -5 ^ V r APRIL ‘ Oh, hark ! for the April showers Are dancing upon the earth, Like the dance of the elves in their hidden bowers, In the joy of their midnight mirth. ‘ Hark ! hark ! for the singing rain Is kissing earth’s opening flowers, And hiding, like thoughts that live not in vain, The promise of summer hours.” J. B. K., in '‘The Shanu-ock.” 72 The Irish Birthday-Book. '^pxil I ‘ ‘ England should have counted the cost before compelling the Irish people to take shelter in the arms of the mighty mother of freedom.”— Lady Wilde. “ While, far away with those less dear, she tries to hide her grief in vain, For, kind to all while true to me, it pains her to give pain.’* Thomas Davis. ^pril 2 ‘*Even while most miserable, I will believe in happiness; even while I do or suffer evil, I will believe in goodness ; even while my eyes see not through tears, I will believe in the existence of what I do not see — that God is benign, that nature is fair, that the world is not made as a prison or a penance.” — Mrs. Jameson. “ The girl has pray’d at her mother’s grave. And kiss’d that grave, and risen.” Aubrey De Vere. '^pril 3 “When the field is covered with weeds and briars, some preliminary work is needed before the seed can be sown and the harvest reaped.” — William Dillon. “Just like sweet April’s dawn appears Her modest face — I see it yet — And though I lived a hundred years, Methinks I never could forget.” Sir Samuel Ferguson. The Irish Birthday-Book. 73 ^pnl I '^pril 2 ^prU 3 74 The Irish Birthday-Book. ^pril 4 “We heard a feeble voice exclaim, ‘Dennis! Dennis! don’t forget your mother — youi* poor old mother. ’ ” Mrs. S. C. Hall’s “Ireland.” “ Each hour a mercenary crowd With richest proffers strove ; Among the rest young Edwin bow’d, But never talk’d of love. “ In humble, simplest habit clad, No wealth nor power had he ; Wisdom and worth were all he had. But these were all to me.” Oliver Goldsmith. ^pr(l 5 “That what I love, and do now in my soul possess, should cease to be — there is the pang, the terror ! I desire that which I love to be immortal, whether I be so myself or not.” Mrs. Jameson. “ Soft April showers and bright May flowers Will bring the summer back again, But will they bring me back the hours I spent with my brave Doinnall then ? ” Denny Lane. ^pril 6 “ My son, I cannot explain this to you ; it is a mystery oi God ; and there is no faith where there is no mystery. ” “Oh, Christ, of all the beauties of God it is true, ‘The greatest of these is charity.”’ — “Father Tom Burke” (The Very Rev. Thomas N. Burke, O.P.). “Far better lights shall win me Along the path I’ve yet to roam, — The mind that burns within me, And pure smiles from thee at home.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. 75 “^pril 4 ^pril 5 ^pvil 6 76 The Irish Birthday-Book. '^prtl 7 ‘‘ Yes, thank God— thank God, for the sake of our poor country, where sectarian bitterness has wrought such wrong —it was an Irish Protestant Parliament that struck off the first link of the penal chains, and lo ! once more for a bright, brief day, Irish national sentiment was in warm sympathy and heartfelt accord with the laws/’ — A. M. Sullivan. “ The maid with the glorious grey eyes All fill’d with the lights and the shadows, She caught from her own Irish skies.” Anonymous. 8 “ I am ignorant of any one quality that is amiable in a woman which is not equally so in a man. I do not except even modesty and gentleness of nature ; nor do I know one vice or folly which is not equally detestable in both.” Dean Swift. “ If souls could always dwell above, Thou ne’er hadst left thy sphere ; Or, could we keep the souls we love, We ne’er had lost thee here.” Thomas Moore. ^pril 9 “It is impossible a man who is false to his friends and neighbours should be true to the public.” Bishop Berkeley. ‘ ‘ Ere yet he fell, his hand on high He raised, and benediction gave ; Then sank in death content to die : — Thy great heart, Erin, was his grave.” Aubrey De Vere. The Irish Birthday-Book, 77 ^pnl 7 ^prfl 8 ^pril 9 78 The Irish Birthday-Book. '^pril lo ‘‘ In the Arts of Design, colour is to form what verse is to prose — a more harmonious and luminous vehicle of the thought.” — Mrs. Jameson. Let the feeble-hearted pine, Let the sickly spirit whine, But work and win be thine While you’ve life.” Thomas Davis, ^pril II “ There is one great resource in the hands of the Irish people — a resource which I am glad to say they are now beginning to use and to see the importance of — that of union and self-reliance.” The Rev. James Cantwell, P.P. ** He loves the Green Isle, and his love is recorded In hearts which have suffer’d too much to forget ; And hope shall be crown’d, and attachment rewarded, And Erin’s gay jubilee shine out yet.” Thomas Moore. '^pril 12 “ Regrets are vain. Resolutions are fruitful. I prefer to bear in mind the words of a great American writer, when he said, ‘ Look not mournfully into the past ; it comes not back. Improve the present ; it is yours. Go forth to meet the future, without fear and with a manly heart.’ ” Charles Dawson, Lord Mayor of Dublin (Aug. 15, 1882). Seven long years away, Away from home and me ; Seven full years to-day. Since Willie went over the sea ! ’* T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 79 ^pril 10 ^pril II '^ipril 12 Sir Charles Gavan Duffy born, i8i6. 8o The Irish Birthday-Book, ^prtl 13 ‘•I feel confident that there is a glorious future in store for Ireland, and that, with a little patience, a little organiza- tion, and a full trust in God on the part of the Irish people, they will be enabled to obtain it at no distant date.” William Francis Lomasney. “ Man of Ireland, heir of sorrow. Wrong’d, insulted, scorn’d, oppress’d. Wilt thou never see that morrow When thy weary heart may rest ? Denis Florence MacCarthy. '^pril 14 “ People were eloquent in their sympathy for the sufferings of cattle and horses in Ireland^ who never were known to feel one throb of pity at the fashionable sin of torturing pigeons at Hurlingham.”* * — Justin H. McCarthy. “ My grandsire died, his home beside ; They seized and hang’d him there ; His only crime, in evil time Your hallow’d green to wear. Across the main his brothers twain Were sent to pine and rue ; And still they turn’d with hearts that burn’d In hopeless love to you. Dear land ! ” “ The Spirit of the Nation.” ^ptll 15 “ I do also forgive all those who had any hand in bringing me from Ireland to be tried here (England) ; where it was morally impossible for me to have a fair trial.” Oliver Plunkett. * ‘ Both mute — but long as valour shineth, Or mercy’s soul at war repineth, So long shall Erin’s pride Tell how they lived and died.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. 8i ^pril 13 14 ^pril 15 t G 82 The Irish Birthday-Book, '?lpril i6 “ Amidst this starving peasantry, scores of political fugi- tives were now scattered, pursued by all the rigours of the Government, and with a price set on each head. Not a man — not one — oi the proscribed patriots who thus sought asylum amidst the people was betrayed.’^ A. M. Sullivan, on the rising in 1848. “ May Ireland’s voice be ever heard Amid the world’s applause ! And never be her flagstaff stirr'd, But in an honest cause ! ” Thomas Davis. 'april 17 “Mr. Michael Davitt was arrested ! The news was re- ceived with exultation in the House, and with indignation by the Irish members, who strove to speak against it, and thirty-six were expelled from the sitting in conserpience. ” Justin II. McCarthy. ‘ ‘ God of Right, preserve us Just — as we are strong ; Let no passion swerve us To one act of wrong ; Let no thought unholy Come our cause to blight ; Thus we pray thee, lowly — Hear us, God of Right !” M. J. Barry. '^Ipril 18 “ Such a condition of things lasting for eighty years, such a record on its brighter side of remedial legislation, such a record on its darker side of coercive legislation ! proves that the experiment of government for Ireland by the Pa 7 '- liatnent of Great Britain has been a disastrous failure. ” The Hon. Edward Blake. “ I will go, a stranger to peril and danger, My heart is so loyal in every degree ; For he’s constant and kind, and courageous in mind, Good luck to my Blackbird, wherever he be ! ” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy’s “Ballad Poetry of Ireland.” The Irish Birthday-Book. 83 ^pnl 16 ^pril 17 William Molyneux, b. 1656. ^pril 18 G 2 84 The Irish Birthday-Book, '^prll 19 “Did he give up the cause? No ! No faithful Irish bishop or priest ever did, or ever will, give up the cause of Ireland/’ — The Very Rev. Thomas N. Burke, O.P. ‘ ‘ They are dying ! they are dying ! where the golden com is growing. They are dying ! they are dying ! where the crowded herds are lowing ; They are gasping for existence where the streams of life are flowing. And they perish of the plague where the breeze of health is blowing.” — D enis F. MacCarthy. '^pril 20 “ What a loss to a bookish man is the loss of his own books ! — books in which you can turn to the place you want as easily as you thread the walks in your own garden.” John Mitchel. “ Stand together, brothers all ! Wait together, watch together ! See America and Gaul Look cn together, both together ! Keen impatience in each eye ; Yet on ‘ ourselves ’ do we rely ! ” “ The Spirit of the Nation.” '^pril 21 “ If it were not for the wretched condition of the country, it would have cost him comparatively little to retire from active life ; for he possessed all the resources of happiness that are furnished by a highly cultivated intellect.” W. E. H. Lecky. “ Sweet voice of comfort ! ’twas like the stealing Of summer wind thro’ some wreathed shell — Each secret winding, each inmost feeling Of all my soul echoed to its spell ! ” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. 85 19 ^pril 20 ^prtl 21 86 The Irish Birthday-Book. 22 “ ‘ Nothing/ said the sceptical Alciphron, ‘so much con- vinces me of the existence of another person as his speaking to — Bishop Berkeley. “ Beseech for all His aid, Who knows what all should do. ** Sir Samuel Ferguson. “ ’Tis sweet to own a quiet hearth, Begirt by constancy and mirth ; ’Twere sweet to feel your dying clasp Return’d by friendship’s steady grasp.” Thomas Davis. '^pril 23 “ I am one of the first willing to say ‘ Let bygones be bygones ; let the dead past bury its dead.’ But if any man — I care not who he be — if any man dare to say that England’s treatment of Ireland was just, was necessary, was such as can receive the verdict of an honest man or of an honest people, ... if I were on my death-bed, I would rise up to contradict him ! ” Very Rev. Thomas N. Burke, O.P. “ And shall it last, this Union, To grind and waste us so ? O’er hill and lea, from sea to sea, All Ireland thunders, ^Ao I’ ” “ The Spirit of the Nation.” ^pril 24 “ Liberty may repair her golden beams, and with redoubled 7?^^/ animate the country.” — Henry Grattan. “ In the land of our fathers where you and I dwelt, To be sure, cold and hungry we oftencimes felt — But we had a home^ and a spot where we lay Our heads at the close of each sorrowful day, Och, madrone ! Indeed, we saw many a sorrowful day.” John Keegan. The Irish Birthdav-Book, 87 ^ptU 22 llpril 23 88 The Irish Birthday-Book, '^pril 25 “ The French had lost ten thousand men in vain attempts to take Barcelona ; at last the Irish regiments of Dillon dis- lodged the Spaniards from the neighbouring hills, and the capture of the city followed. ” Aubrey De Vere's “Inisfail.'* “ Ah ! now her cheek glows With the tint of the rose, And her healthful blood flows Just as fresh as the stream ; And her eye flashes bright, And her footstep is light. And sickness and blight Fled away like a dream.” Thomas Davis. '?lprll 26 ‘ ‘ I earnestly beg my countrymen in America to heal their differences, to unite in God’s name for the sake of Ireland and Liberty.’’ — Michael O’Brien. ‘ ‘ Bear the sunshine and the shadow. Bear the rain-drop and the snow, Bear the night-dew to the meadow. And to hope the promised bow.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. '^pril 27 “Yes. this life of his — this career which I have traced — is a grand example for Irishmen through all time.” A. M. wSuLLiVAN, on ‘‘John of Tuam.” “ When round Thy cherubs smiling calm Without their flames, we wreath the palm, O God ! we feel the emblem true, — Thy mercy is eternal too ! Those cherubs, with their smiling eyes. That crown of palm which never dies, Are but the types of Thee, above, — Eternal life, and peace, and love ! ” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book, 89 'april 25 ^pril 26 Irish Convention in America, 1883, ^pril 27 90 The Irish Birthday-Book, ^pril 28 ‘‘This meeting was the work of a man whose name, whose labours and sacrifices and sufferings, must ever be associated with the emancipation of the tillers of the soil, and the overthrow of feudal landlordism in Ireland — Michael Davitt.”— A. M, Sullivan. “ ‘ God of Justice !’ I sighed, ‘send your Spirit down On these lords so cruel and proud, And soften their hearts, and relax their frown.’ ” Thomas Davis. '^Ipril 29 “ ‘ Both wit and understanding,’ cried I, ^are trifles without integrity ; it is that which gives value to every character ; the ignorant peasant, without fault, is greater than the philosopher with many ; for what is genius or courage without a heart ? An honest man’s the noblest work of God.’ “ The Vicar of Wakefield.” ‘ ‘ The Orange heart was melted In pity to the Green ; He heard the tale, and felt it His very soul within : ‘ Dread not that angry warning. Though death be in its tone ; I’ll save your life till morning, Or — I will lose my own.’” Gerald Griffin. 'Ilprfl 30 “ All accounts concur in representing him in private life as the simplest and most winning of mortals. The trans- parent purity of his life and character, a most fascinating mixture of vehemence and benevolence, a certain guileless- ness of appearance, and a certain unconscious oddity, both of diction and gesture, gave a peculiar charm and pungency to his conversation.” — W. E. H. Lecky on “ Grattan.” ‘ ‘ I bear no hate against living thing ; But I love my country above my king. Now, father ! bless me, and let me go To die, if God has ordain’d it so.” Carroll Malone. The Irish Birthdav~Book. 91 ^pril 28 First Meeting of the Land League, 1879. ^pril 29 ^pril 30 MAY. “The Ma-y-dew is falling through the sweet ‘stilly night,' When the stars shed around us their tremulous light, When the zephyrs are rocking the wild flowers to rest, And the song-bird has folded his wings in his nest. Still with gentle caressing, By night and by day, On the earth, with a blessing Fall the dew-drops of May.” “Songs of the Rising Nation,” by Ellen Forrester. 94 The Irish Birthday- Book, I “ And all exclaim’d to all they met, That never did the summer bring So gay a Feast of Roses yet ! ” Thomas Moore. “At length arose o’er that isle of woes a dawn with a steadier smile, And in happy hour a voice of power awoke the slumbering isle ! And the people all obey’d the call of their chief’s un- sceptred hand, Vowing to raise, as in ancient days, the name of their own dear land!” Denis Florence MacCarthy. jWat} 2 “ Yes, we have strength to make ‘ Irishmen free again Only unite — and we’ll conquer our foe ; And never on earth shall a foreigner see again Erin a province — though lately so low.” “ The Spirit of the Nation.” “ Need I say how much T love thee ? Need my weak words tell, That I prize but heaven above thee. Earth not half so well ? ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. 3 “ The mild Franciscans say — and sigh— ‘ Weep not except for Christ’s sweet Passion ! ’ They never saw their Florence lie. Like her I mourn, in desolation ! ” Aubrey De Vere, “The Irish Exile at Fiesole. ” “ I felt, altho’ kind hearts were round me there. The kindest heart beat in a foreign land. Strong arm I brave heart ! oh, sever’d far from me. By many a weary league of shore and sea ! ” Ellen Forrester. The Irish Birthday-Book. 95 JW.ifi I JWatj 2 i«nii 3 96 The Irish Birthday-Book, 4 “ Will he not know this spring-time how I miss him ? Ilow, as I sink to sleep, The wild tears well with all my old ‘ God bless him,’ And how I wake to weep.” William Wilkins. “ Though the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow I see, Yet wherever thou art, shall seem Erin to me ; In exile, thy bosom shall still be my home, And thine eyes be my climate wherever we roam.” Thomas Moore. JHai? 5 “ Slaves! lie down and kiss your chains, To the Union yield in quiet ; Were it hemlock in your veins. Stand it must — we profit by it.” “Sliabh Chilian,” on remark in London “Times.” “ When the nations ope for thee their queenly circle — As a sweet new sister hail thee — Shall these lips be seal’d in callous death and silence. That have known but to bewail thee ? ” Fanny Parnell. 6 “ ’Tis mournful news for Ireland.” Taken from “ Dunboy,” by T. D. Sullivan. “ Then raise the woeful Pillalu, And let your tears in streams be shed, Oeh^ orro^ orroy ollalu ! The chieftain’s pride, his heir, is dead ! ” J. Clarence Mangan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 97 jmnp 4 5 John Blake Dillon born, 1814. jmap 6 II The Irish Birthday-Book. 98 7 “Thine eyes, which heaven entinted, Ne’er grudged the pitying tear, Sparkled whene’er ’twas hinted That I was drawing near. “Thy face was e’er betraying 'rhine inmost thoughts to me ; While on thy lips were playing Bright sunny smiles of glee.” “ G. M., ’’ of Waterford. “The heart that loves not know’s not how to pray ; The eye can never smile that never weeps : ’Tis through our sighs hope's kindling sunbeams play. And through our tears the bow of promise peeps.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. 8 “O Irishmen! never forget ’Tis a foreigner s your own little isle. O Irishmen ! when will you get Some life in your hearts for your poor little isle ?” “ Spirit of the Nation.” “ But — calm, my soul ! we promised true Her destined work our land shall do ; Thought, courage, patience will prevail ! We shall not fail ! — we shall not fail !” Thomas Davis. 9 “ Anchor in no stagnant shallow ; Trust the wide and wondrous sea. Where the tides are fresh for ever. And the mighty currents free : There, perchance, O young Columbus ! Your New World of truth may be.” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. The rain, the rain, the beautiful rain. Each drop is a link of a diamond chain That unites the earth, with its sin and its stain, To the radiant realm where God doth reign.” Denis Florence MacCari'Hy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 99 8 i^ilay 9 H 2 lOO The Irish Birthday-Book, /Kta\) lo “ Then her mirth — oh ! ’twas sportive as ever took wing From the heart with a burst, like a wild bird in spring ; Illumed by a wit that would fascinate sages, Yet playful as Peris just loosed from their cages.” Thomas Moore. ‘ ‘ Long be the day that gave you birth vSacred to friendship, wit, and mirth.” Dean Swift. “ Can our music no longer allure? And can we but sob, as such wrongs we endure ? ” Thomas Davis. JiHan II “ Yes ! the summer is returning. Warmer, brighter beams are burning ; Golden mornings, purple evenings. Come to glad the world once more.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. ‘‘ With mute, unvoiced confessings, To the Giver of all blessings I kneel, and with caressings Press the sod. And thank my Lord and Father, And my God.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. iWan 12 “ And, from that time, through wildest woe. That hope has shone, a far light ; Nor could love’s brightest summer glow Outshine that solemn starlight : It seem’d to watch above my head In forum, field, and fane ; Its angel voice sang round my bed. Nation once again.' ” Thomas Davis. “ ’Twas his own voice — she could not err — Throughout the breathing world’s extent There was but one such voice for her, So kind, so soft, so eloquent ! ” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthdav-Book, i oi J^aw lo J^lat) II* 12 102 The Irish Birthday-Book, i«ai? 13 “Love and Labour, Song and Art, Be this the cheerful creed wherewith the world may start.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. “ Oh, Suillebhain has come Within sight of his home, — He had left it long years ago ; The tears are in his eyes, And he prays the wind to rise. As he looks towards his castle, from the prow, from the prow, As he looks towards his castle from the prow. ” Thomas Davis. 14 “ Never be down-hearted, boys, never know despair. Never say dear Ireland is lost at last — Keep the good old flag, boys, floating in the air. The dawn is on its fringes and the night goes past ! ” T. D. Sullivan. “ Hence it came, that this soft harp so long hath been known To mingle love’s language with sorrow’s sad tone ; Till thou didst divide them, and teach the fond lay To be love, when I’m near thee, and grief when away. ’ Thomas Moore. 15 “ What might have been we cannot know. If, in the long evanish’d years, A generous heart was in the foe That rush’d upon our fathers’ spears. “ But as the ages roll’d along. One ruthless purpose still they knew ; And ’midst the storms of hate and wrong The Irish generations grew.” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book, 13 14 imae 15 Michael William Balfe born, 1808. 104 The Irish Birthday-Book, 16 “ Hail, genial sun, propitious ray. Parent of healthy as well as day ! Be soon thy beams with warmth inclined. To aid the friend of human kind ; Ne’er did thy power on worthier head. Through all thy course, kind influence shed.” William Thompson (1750). ‘‘ The trees in the zephyrs their graceful boughs swing Like banners, to welcome thee, beautiful Spring ! ” Ellen Forrester. “ A blessing, gentle Alice, upon thee ! ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. 17 “In the night, in the night, O my country, the stream calls out from afar ; So swells thy voice through the ages, sonorous and vast : In the night, in the night, O my country, clear flashes the star ; So flashes on me thy face through the gloom of the past.” Aubrey De Vere. “Thus clasp’d and prostrate all, with their heads together bow’d, Soft o’er their bosoms beating — the only human sound — They hear the silky footsteps of the silent fairy crowd, Like a river in the air gliding round.” “The Fairy Thorn,” by Sir Samuel Ferguson. i^las 18 “ We look’d upon that banner, And the memory arose. Of our homes and perish'd kindred Where the Lee or Shannon flows ; We look’d upon that banner. And we swore to God on high, To smite to-day the Saxon’s might — To conquer or to die.” Bartholomew Dowling. “Oh ! bright are the names of the chieftains and sages. That shine like the stars through the darkness of ages.” D. F. MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 105 iWas 16 A. M. Sullivan born, 1830. JWan 17 {tlau 18 io6 The Irish Birthday-Book. Jttnp 19 “ What, though they menace? Suffering men Their threats and them despise ; Or promise Justice once again ? We know their words are lies : We stand resolved those rights to claim They robbed us of before, Our own dear nation and our name, As Paddies evermore.’* “ Spirit of the Nation.” (Duffy, Publishers.) “ Fair moon ! sweet stars ! that softly smile on me. Oh, smile upon my friends across the sea.” Ellen Forrester. 20 ‘‘ There, with souls ever ardent and pure as the clime, We should love, as they loved in the first golden time ; The glow of the sunshine, the balm of the air, Would steal to our hearts, and make all summer there.” Thomas Moore. “ The rain upon our cottage thatch Is drifting noiselessly, — So soft may all life’s tempests fall On you, my love*, and me.” T. D. Sullivan. i^tan 21 “ What lesson does the good hound teach ? Oh ! to be faithful each to each ! What lesson gives the noble steed ? Oh ! to be swift in thought and deed !” D. F. MacCarthy. “ By many a Scottish moorland wide. By many an English river, Men loved of old their ‘Good Saint Bride,’ But Erin loves for ever ! A sword went forth ; thy fanes they burn’d ! Sweet saint, no angers fret thee ! There are that ne’er thy grace have spurn’d ! There are that ne’er forget thee ! ” Aubrey De Vere. The Irish Birthday-Book. 1 07 19 20 Jgtan 21 io8 The Irish Birthday^ Book. i^an 22 “Music! oh, how faint, how weak, Language facies before thy spell ! Why should feeling ever speak. When thou canst breathe her soul so well ? Thomas Moore. “ A bark bound for Erin lay waiting ; he enter’d like one in a dream : Fair winds in the full purple sails led him soon to the Shannon’s broad stream. ’Twas an evening that Florence might envy, so rich was the lemon-hued air, As it lay on lone Scattery’s island, or lit the green moun- tains of Clare.” D. F. MacCar j'HY. 23 “I’ve met with a few of as shining eyes, I’ve met with a hundred of wilder sighs, I think I met some whom I loved as well, — But none who loved me like my ilarling Nell. She’s ready to cry when I seem unkind. But she smothers her grief within her mind ; And when my spirit is soft and fond. She sparkles the brightest of stars beyond.” Thomas Davis. “My Doinnall swore, ay, o’er and o’er. We’d part no more, oh, stor machree V'" Denny Lane. JBlai) 24 “ ’Tis all a dream— the wrong, the strife, The scorn, the blow, the loss, the pain ! Immortal gladness, love, and life Alone are lords by right and reign.” Aukrey De Vere. “Good night ! good night ! sleep soft, my tender dove, Curtain’d from fear of storm or any jar ; In everlasting guard of seraph love. And watch’d by maiden eyes of moon and star : Blessings upon thy rest I breathe afar, Longing to send thee balmy slumber sweet, And haply some fair dream.” — William Wilkins. The Irish Birthday- Booh. 109 22 imay 23 j!^ap 24 I lO The Irish Birthday-Book, J^tap 25 The Clair seach wild, whose trembling string Had long the ‘ song of sorrow ’ spoke, Shall bid the wild Rosg-caia sing The curse and crime of Saxon yoke. And, by each heart his bondage broke — Each exile's sigh on distant sh^-re — Each martyr ’neath the headsman’s stroke, The Saxon holds us slaves no more.” Edwxri) Walsh. “ For well he loved, for Ireland’s sake. To kindle thus the patriot flame. Or keep the burning zeal awake. In younger hearts that near him came.” T. D. Sullivan. Jttap 26 “ Shall I ask the brave soldier, who fights by my side In the cause of mankind, if our creeds agree ? Shall I give up the friend I have valued and tried, if he kneel nut before the same altar with me? From the heretic girl of my soul shall 1 fly, d'o seek somewhere else a more orthodox kiss ? No ! perish the hearts and the laws that try Truth, valour, or love by a standard like this ! ” Thomas Moorl. “ In the sacred cause of Freedom, sink all jealousy and spite ; Fools may quarrel, who's to lead ’em, but the true 7 ncn will unitel Arthur M. Forrkstlr. iFlap 27 “ May 27, 1848. - On this day, about four o’clock in the afternoon, I, John Mitchel, was kidnapped, and carried off from Dublin, in chains, as a convicted ‘ Felon.’ ” “Jail Journal,” by John Mitchi!:l. “ And rend the cursed Union, And fling it to the wind — And Ireland’s laws in Ireland’s cause Alone our hearts shall bind ! ” “ The Spirit of the Nation.” The Irish Birthday-Book. Ill jmap 25 26 27 I I 2 The Irish Birthday-Book, jlilau 28 “ Only a smile from the one you love, Given at last to welcome you ; And you think the sky has open’d above, And all the world is born anew.” “ The Irishman ” Newspaper. “ Oh, happiest season ever seen, O day, indeed the happiest day ; Join with me, love, and with me say — Sweet summer time and scene.'’ Denis Florence MacCarthy. 29 “ The Castle? Never. Mark me well, For time shall prove the truth I tell : — No English troops shall ever find A shelter from the rain or wind, — No English preacher ever raise A canting hymn in England’s praise, — No English council ever prate The weal or woe of England's state, — Nor Irish slave one hour enjoy. Beneath the roof of proud Duiiboy.” 'i'. D. Sullivan. i«ap 30 “ So grant me, God, from every care, And stain of passion free. Aloft, thro’ Virtue’s purer air To hold my course to Thee ! No sin to cloud — no lure to stay My soul, as home she springs : — Thy sunshine on her joyful way, Thy freedom in her wings ! ” Thomas Moore. ‘ God save our Native Land ! May His strong sustaining Hand Be for aye her sure protection and her stay.” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 113 Jiiay 28 Thomas Moore born, 1779. iiiaap 29 30 I 114 The Irish Birthday-Book, jmap 31 “ I have tasted all life’s pleasures — I have snatch’d at all its joys— The dance’s merry measures, and the revel’s festive noise ; Though wit flash’d bright the livelong night, and flow’d the ruby tide, I sigh’d for thee— I sigh’d for thee, my own fireside ! ” D. F. MacCarthy. “I’ll tell thee, for thy sake I will lay hold Of all good aims, and consecrate to thee. In worthy deeds, each moment that is told While thou, beloved one ! art far from me.” Mrs. Butler. The Irish Birthday-Book. ”5 jTOan 31 2 JUNE. Who comes with summer to this earth, And owes to June her day of birth, With ring of agate on her hand, Can health, wealth, and long life command ! ” ‘*The Irishman” Newspaper. ii 8 The Irish Birthday-Book. 3)une I “To leave the world a name is nought ; To leave a name for glorious deeds And works of love — A name to waken lightning thought, And fire the soul of him who reads, This tells above ! ” James Clarence Mangan. “He slew ten Princes who brake their pledges ; With the bribed and the base he scorn’d to carouse ; He was sweet and awful ; through all his reign God gave great harvests to vale and plain ” Aubrey De Vere. 3)une 2 “To strive as they strove, yet retrieving The cause from all shadow of blame, In the congress of peoples achieving A place for our nation and name ; Not by war between brothers in blood. But by glory made perfect through good. ” Lady Wilde. “ Ah, when shall that glad moment gleam When all our hearts such spell shall feel. And blend in one broad Irish stream, On Irish ground for Ireland’s weal ? ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. JJune 3 “ Be patient ! oh, be patient ! for the germs of mighty thought Must have their silent undergrowth, must under ground be wrought; But, assure as ever there’s a Powder that makes the grass appear, Our land shall smile with Liberty, the blade-time shall be here.” “ Spirit of the Nation.” “ O Liberty ! let not this spirit have rest Till it move, like a breeze, o'er the waves of the w’est j Give the light of your looks to each sorrowing spot. Nor, oh ! l,e the shamrock of Erin forgot ! ” Tho.mas Moorf. The Irish Birthday-Book. 119 Hune I 3 June 2 3une 3 J 20 The Irish Birthday-Book. 3iune 4 “Oh, look not so I—beneath the skies, I now fear nothing but those eyes ! ’ Thomas Moorf. “Sleep, sleep, beloved ! Angels take The charge of friends, and happy make 'fhy dreams, that they a foretaste be Of day’s most dear reality. Friendless, forsaken, while I keep Lone vigil, sleep, beloved, sleep ! ’* Mary J. Serrano. 3une 5 “Yet speak them oft, and oft again — Yes, let them sound o’er vale and plain. And echo on from hill to hill — ‘ The Priests are with the People still ! ’ ” T. D. Sullivan. “ What opposite creeds come together ! How mingle north, south, east, and west ! Yet who minds the difference a feather ? — Each strives to love Erin the best.” M. J. Barry. Sune 6 “The cottage hearth, the convent’s wall, the battlemented tower. Grew up around the crystal springs, as well as flag and flower ; The brooklime and the watercress were evidence of health. Abiding in those basins, free to poverty and wealth.” “The Ploly Wells,” J. D. Fraser. “ How still and peaceful all things are. Musing upon the things of heaven ; High in the blue the evening star Is kindling, like a soul forgiven ! ” William Wilkins. The Irish Birthday-Book. T 2 I 3unc 4 Sune 5 3unf 6 122 The Irish Birthday-Book, 3)une 7 “ When Tyrants dare to trample down The rights of those they rule ; When toiling men must meet the frown Of every lordling fool ; When laws are made to crush the weak, And lend the strong assistance ; When millions vainly justice seek.” M. J. Barry. “ When once love and pride of your country ye cherish, The seeds of disunion and discord shall perish, And Erin, dear Erin, in loveliness flourish ; Awake then, awake, and lie dreaming no more ! ” Denvir’s “ Irish Library.'’ 3une 8 “ A little bird sang in my ear, With voice prophetic, sweet, and clear, ' Bright Freedom’s happy day is near For Ireland and her people.' The people ! the people ! God bless the Irish people ! Through all their years of blood and tears. Old Ireland’s gallant people.” Dr. R. D. Joyce. “ For Trust still lives, and Honour ne’er shall die Within my heart while life abides therein ! ” Deirdr^. 3)une 9 “ When times of better hope arise. And feuds are laid aside, When men have grown too calm and wise For traitors to hvidel M. J. Barry. “ Give us the likeness of The Chief, Not in gaiety, nor grief ; Change not by your art to stone Ireland’s laugh, or Ireland’s moan.” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 123 iune 7 ^nnc 8 The Irish Birthday-Book, 1 24 3)une 10 ‘‘ Like the beauty of summer, his presence gave joy to our souls.” — “ Brian’s Lament for King Mahon,” translated by M. Hogan. “ Oh, sadness, come to-morrow, But le^ve me for to-day ; Oh, drooping, tearful sorrow. Your hour has pass’d away. And narrow, selfish blindness For this while be forgot ; Yea, all the world’s unkindness This hour can touch me not.” William Wilkins. S'une II O Ireland ! ancient Ireland ! Ancient ! yet for ever young ! Thou our mother, home and sireland — Thou at length hast found a tongue — Proudly thou, at length, Resistest in triumphant strength. The flag of freedom floats unfurl’d ; And as that mighty God existeth ; Who giveth victory when and where He listeth. Thou yet shalt wake and shake the nations of the world.” James Clarence Mangan. 3!unc 12 True to his name, his country, and his God, Faithful at home, and steadfast still abroad. Ellen Forrester. ‘ ‘ But would you by your heart unroll His own, and Ireland’s secret soul, And give to other times to scan The greatest greatness of this man ? Fierce defiance let him be Hurling at our enemy, — From a base as fair and sure As our love is true and pure. ” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book, 125 3^une lo func II Slune 12 126 The Irish Birthday-Book. 5 une 13 “ Bright sun, before whose glorious ray Our pagan fathers bent the knee j Whose pillar-altars yet can say, When time was young, our sires were free ; Who seest how fallen their offspring be — Our matrons’ tears, our patriots’ gore ; We swear before high heaven and thee. The Saxon holds us slaves no more ! ” Edward Walsh. ‘ ‘ Thou — Thou that rul’st the peace, the war. Keep us but Thine for evermore !” Aubrey De Vere. 3 "unc 14 “Think you the god-like brother of all men born Can hold sweet Mangan or bright Moore in scorn ? Think you his hand is slacken’d, nor returns The grasp of Burns ? Doubt not that even as aweless Byron stands Flatter’d by favour at great Shakspere’s hands, So— lull’d and loving — slumbers Irish ire In Shakspere’s choir.” William Wilkins. “ My drink was the burning red wine of thy wrongs; Thy freedom my prayer and my dream.” Anonymous. Sunt 15 “ Brothers, I would have it known. Shall our race, when years have fled. Spurn the glory now their own. Into English ways have grown, English be in blood and bone, Soul, or heart, or head ? You can answer — so can I — Making no delay whatever; One small word is the reply. And the word is — Never ! ” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 127 5!une 13 fune 14 15 128 The Irish Birthday-Book, 3"une i6 “ How dear to me the hour when daylight dies, And sunbeams melt along the silent sea, For then sweet dreams of other days arise. And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee.” Thomas Moore. “ She is a rich and rare land ; Oh ! she’s a fresh and fair land ; • She is a dear and rare land — This native land of mine. No men than hers are braver — Her women’s hearts ne’er waver ; I’d freely die to save her. And think my lot divine.” Thomas Davis. 17 “ When I am far away. Be gayest of the gay ; Too dear your happiness For me to wish it less. Love has no selfishness, Eibhlin a ruin.” Thomas Davis. “ And the bold thrush sings so bravely his song i’ the forests grand. On the fair hills of holy Ireland.”' Sir Samuel Ferguson. 3Iunc 18 “ Wrapt in the hush of fervid June, When purple hill and flowery lea Lie slumbering in the lap of noon. Oh, then, sweetheart, I think of thee ! ” Ellen Forrester. ‘ ‘ The shades resound with song, oh softly tread ! While a whole season warbles round my head/’ Thomas Parnell. The Irish Birthday-Book, 129 31 une 16 %nnc 17 3^unc 18 K The Irish Birthday-Book, 1 30 5 "une 19 “ Shall the ear be deaf that only loved thy praises, When all men their tribute bring thee ? Shall the mouth be clay that sang thee in thy squalor, When all poets^ mouths shall sing thee ? ” Fanny Parnell. “For thee I will arouse my thoughts to try All heavenward flights, all high and holy strains ; For thy dear sake I will wait patiently Through these long hours, nor call their minutes pains.” Mrs. Butler. Tunc 20 “ Brave heart, bold heart, and active brain ! What hopes and griefs were like to thine ? Thou patient worker, whose design Was wrought till promised triumph shone Upon its summit — then again Was dash’d to ruin — gallant Tone ! ” T. D. Sullivan. ‘ ‘ ‘ Land of song ! ’ said the warrior bard, ‘ Tho’ all the world betrays thee. One sword at least thy rights shall guard, One faithful harp shall praise thee.’ ” Thomas Moore. Tunc 21 “ This warm air, Breathing soft odours ; yon blue sky. And all it bends o’er, bright and fair, — These have no part in misery.” M. J. Serrano. ‘ ‘ The thread of our life would be dark, heaven knows ! If it were not with friendship and love intertwined ; And I care not how soon I may sink to repose, When these blessings shall cease to be dear to my mind.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. 131 3 ^unc 19 20 Theobald Wolfe Tone born, 1764. Tune 21 K 2 132 The Irish Birthday-Book. S'une 22 ‘ ‘ The noble-hearted sees in earth A paradise before his eyes ; The dreams to which his soul gives birth, He fondly hopes to realize ; He dedicates his burning youth To glorify the majesty of Truth ! ” James Clarence Mangan. “And oh ! even if freedom from this world be driven, Despair not — at least we shall find her in heaven ! ” Thomas Moore. f une 23 “Fling our sun -burst to the wind,- Studded o’er with names of glory. Worth and wit, and might and mind, Poet young, and patriot hoary, Long shall make it shine in story.” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. “ But while I follow’d gain and fame. And in the great world play’d my part, I changed ; — but she remained the same ; And now I think it broke her heart.” William Wilkins. Sunt 24 “No matter for your foreign name. No matter what your sires have done. No matter whence or when you came, — The land shall claim you as a son.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. “ Freedom’s bark to port is running. But beware the lurking shelves ; And would you conquer tyrants’ cunning, Brethren, conquer first yourselves,” R. D. Williams. The Irish Birthday-Book. T33 5^une 22 3^unc 2 34 The Irish Birthday-Book. 25 “It stirs me still, that solemn sight, Of the proud old land made free, Our flag afloat from her castles tall, And the ships on the circling sea, And the joyful voice, like a roll of drums. Of the nation’s jubilee ! wSiR Charles Gavan Duffy. “ Stand together, brothers all ! Proud together, bold together ! From Kerry’s cliffs to Donegal, Bound in heart and soul together ! ” “ The Spirit of the Nation ” (Duffy;. $!unc 26 “ Oh ! why did you go when the flowers were springing, And winters wild tempests had vanish’d away. When the swallow was come, and the sweet lark was singing From the morn to the eve of the beautiful day?” — Tiny. “ ‘ Oh ! for a mountain-side, Bucklers and brands. Freely I could have died Heading my bands ; But on a felon tree — ! ’ Bearing a fetter key ! By him all silently, Emmeline stands ! ” Thomas Davis. 3 ^une 27 ‘ ‘ Fill up — and with a lofty tongue As ever spoke from steeple, From shore to shore his health be rung — The Leader of the people ! ‘ The Leader of the people ! Grand, Yet simple wisdom guide him ! And glory to the men who stand. Like sheathed swords, beside him ! ” “ Spirit of the Nation.” “ Shall mine eyes behold thy glory? Oh my country ! Shall mine eyes behold thy glory ? Or shall the darkness close around me, ere the sun-blaze Break at last upon thy story?” — Fanny Parnell. The Irish Birthday-, Book, 135 25 func 26 3 Iune 27 Charles Stewart Parnell born, 1846, 136 The Irish Birthday-Book. 3 une 28 “ A soul, too, more than half divine, Where, through some shades of earthly feeling. Religion’s soften’d glories shine, Like light through summer foliage stealing ; Shedding a glow of such mild hue, So warm, and yet so shadowy too, As makes the very darkness there More beautiful than light elsewhere.” Thomas Moore. ‘ ‘ Ye Saxon despots, hear, and dread ! Your march o’er patriot hearts is o’er — That shout hath told, that tramp hath said, Our country’s sons are slaves no more ! ” Edward Walsh. fune 29 If lovers read this antique tale, What need I speak of red or pale ? The fairest form and brightest eye Are simply those for which they sigh ; The truest picture is but faint To what a lover’s heart can paint.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. “ I never look’d on eyes that shed Such home-light mingled with such beauty, — That ’mid all lights and .shadows said, ‘ I love and trust, and will be true to ye.’ ” Thomas Davis. "Hum 30 ‘‘ Wake, mother, wake, and here behold Thy chil .ren’s genius shine ! If triumph crown’d thy brow of old. To triumph still is thine ; And, while the nations own thy .sway In many a peaceful field, Eclipse that sterner olden day. By Bardic lore reveal’d.” — Gra Machree. “ Work truly thy work, whate’er it be. For Erin and immortality.” William Wilkins. The Irish Birthday-Book. 137 fwiu 28 f une 29 fune 30 J U LY, HOPE IN DEATH. ‘ Descend, O Sun, o’er yonder waste, O’er moors and meads and meadows : Make gold a world but late o’ercast ; With purple tinge the shadows ! Thou goest to bless some happier clime Than ours ; but, sinking slowly, To us thou leav’st a hope sublime. Disguised in melancholy. A Love there is that shall restore What dreadful Death takes from us ; A secret Love, whose gift is more Than Faith’s authentic promise ; A Love that says," ‘ I hide awhile, For sense, that blinds, is round you — O well-loved dead ! ere now the smile Of that great Love has found you ! ” Aubrey De Vere. 140 The Irish Birthday-Book. fulw I ‘‘There is another reason why we should interfere — we can speak with authority on this subject ; we are federalists ourselves ; we are experienced in the benefits of Home Rule ; we know what it means ; we know that it is our most precious possession ; that there is nothing we will part with with greater reluctance or more difficulty than our portion of Home Rule!” — Hon. Edward Blake on “Ireland.” “ Ottawa’s tide ! this trembling moon Shall see us float over thy surges soon. Saint of this green Isle 1 hear our prayer, Grant us cool heavens and favouring air ! ” Thomas Moore. SluIo 2 “To trust religiously, to hope humbly, to desire nobly, to think rationally, to will resolutely, and to work earnestly, — may this be mine.” — Mrs. Jameson. “ Ulster and Munster unitedly, Townsman and peasant like waves of the sea, Leinster and Connacht to victory — Shoulder to shoulder for Liberty, Shoulder to shoulder for Liberty.” Thomas Davis. “May Orange and Green no longer be seen Bestain’d with the blood of our Island ! ” Edward Lysaght. full) 3 “America is the great teacher of the nations, and her lessons will eventually lead the world.” — Lady Wilde. “ Though dark are our sorrows, to-day we’ll forget them. And smile through our tears, like a sunbeam in showers ; There never were hearts, if our rulers would let them. More form’d to be grateful and blest than ours ! But just when the chain Has ceased to pain. And hope has enwreath’d it round with flowers, There comes a new link. Our spirit to sink.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book, 141 I Dominion Day in Canada. fulu 2 full) 3 Cork Exhibition opened, 1883. Henry Grattan born, 1746. 142 The Irish Birthday-Book, 4 Circumstances are the rulers of the weak, they are but the instruments of the wise.” — .Samuel Lover. All government, all exercise of power — no matter in what form — which is not based in love and directed by know- ledge, is a tyranny. It is not of God, and shall not stand.” Mrs. Jameson. “As well may they strive — but in vain — To shackle the waves of the sea. As to try by the force of their might to enchain Our deathless resolve to be free ! ” Eugene Davis, in the “Nation.” fill)) 5 “ The love of praise and esteem may do something, but to make a true Patriot there must be an inward sense of duty and conscience.” — Bishop Berkeley. “No rival’s art can win by stealth That love so frank and true.” Ross E. Trevor. “ And she is Irish heart and soul. And longs for Ireland’s Freedom too.” “Artane,” from “The Irishman.” 5ult? 6 “Women govern us — let us try to render them perfect, the more so shall we be. On the cultivation of the mind of woman, depends the wisdom of man. It is by woman that Nature writes on their hearts.” Richard Brinsley Sheridan. “ I’d mourn the hopes that leave me, If thy smiles had left me too ; I’d weep when friends deceive me, If thou wert like them untrue.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. 143 fulp 4 American Independence. 5 144 The Irish Birthday-Book. 5ub 7 “ Goldsmith was generous, improvident, and careless of money considerations to a culpable extent ; yet we must remember that he ever steadily refused to prostitute his pen to party, or seek worldly advantage or the means of paying his debts by the sacrifice of his independence.’' Alfred Webb. “ Let all unite for Ireland’s right. And drown our griefs in freedom’s song, Till Time shall veil in twilight haze, The memory of those Penal days.” Thomas Davis. 5!uln 8 “ The forms of loveliness and strength revealed to the inspired eyes of Homer, when he sang to shepherds and rude wayfaring men, assumed a dress of ivory or marble beneath the hands of Phidias, and when Athens arose it was but an embodiment of the magnificent and consummate beauty which his songs had rendered familiar to Greece.” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. “ The youthful champion cried, ‘ Mother Ireland, widow’d bride, If thy freedom can be won By the service of a son, Then behold that son in me.’ ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. 9 “ Universities are, in fact, bound so to shape their training as best to draw out and encourage in their students all those qualities which go to make the perfect citizen of a Free State.”— John Dillon. “ On an Irish green hill -side, . . . put no tombstone there. But green sods, deck’d with daisies fair ; Nor sods too deep, but so that the dew The matted grass-roots may trickle through. Be my epitaph writ on my country’s mind : \ He served his country, and loved his kind.’ Oh ! ’twere merry unto the grave to go, If one were sure to be buried so.” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book. 145 Julg 7 SulB 8 fnin 9 L 146 The Irish Birthday-Book. SuId 10 “And, boys, don’t forget poor old Ireland ; don’t forget the old people at home, boys. Sure they will be counting the days till a letter comes from you. And they'll be praying for you, and we will all pray God to be with you.” Rev. James McFadden, to the exiles of Glenveih. “ And where are her children, whose voices rose music- wing’d once from this spot ? And why are the sweet bells now silent ? and where is the vine-cover’d cot ? ’Tis morning— no mass-bell is tolling ; ’tis noon, but no Angelus rings ; ’Tis evening, but no drops of melody rain from her rose- colour’d wings.” — D ems Fi.orence MacCarthy. 5ub II “ At some moments, if I could, I would cease to love those who are absent from me — whose path in life diverges from mine — with whom I am united in the strongest bonds of sympathy while separated by duties and interests, by space and time.” — M rs. Jameson. ‘ ‘ One of those passing, rainbow dreams. Half light, half shade, which Fancy’s beams Paint on the fleeting mists that roll In trance or slumber round the soul ! ” Thomas Moore. “ On summer morns to hear the sweet birds sing — By linn and lake. And know your voice, your magic voice, could still — A grander music wake ! ” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. full) 12 “Nor is it possible for any patriotic Irishman to contrast without emotion the tone which has been adopted towards his country by some of the most eminent writers of France, with the studied depreciation of the Irish character by some of the most popular authors, and by a large section of the press of England.” — W. E. H. Lecky. “ Let the bitter past be past. With all its pain and sadness.” “ ZOZIMUS. The Irish Birthday-Book, 147 SIuIb 10 3lule II 3 IuIb 12 L 2 148 The Irish Birthday-Book, S’ub 13 “In no other history can we investigate more fully the evil consequences which must ensue from disregarding that sentiment of Nationality which, whether it be desirable or the reverse, is at least one of the strongest and most enduring of human passions.’’ — W. E. H. Lecky. “ I saw her once, one little while, and then no more ; Earth look’d like heaven, a little while, and then no more ; Her presence thrill'd and lighted to its inner core My desert breast a little while, and then no more ; So may, perchance, a meteor glance at midnight o'er Some ruin’d pile a little while, and then no more ! *’ J. Clarence Mangan. lJulp 14 “ Hope, courage, constancy, are the lessons taught by the lives of these martyrs to freedom, and the patriotic spirit that ruled their career is still awake and active in Ireland.” “Speeches from the Dock.” “ Brothers thrive by brotherhood — Trees in a stormy wood — Riches come from Nationhood, — Shan’t we have our own again? Munster’s woe is Ulster’s bane ! Join for our own again — Tyrants rob as well as reign, — We’ll have our own again.” — Thomas Davis. SCuIb 15 “ Every human being is born to influence some other human being ; or many, or all human beings, in proportion to the extent and power of the sympathies, rather than of the intellect.” — M rs. Jameson. “ When the passion and the glory Of the far-off future years, Shone in radiant light before me, Through the present dimm’d by tears.” Lady Wilde. The Irish Birthday-Book. 149 fulp 13 fule 14 15 The Irish Birthday-Book. 150 Suit? 16 “ There is something terrible and alarming in the moral tone of a class of men who loudly condemn their inferiors for sins to which they have no temptation, and of which they are too often indirectly the cause, and who condone freely the far worse crimes of those whose position should be their last excuse for the commission of evil.” Sister M. Francis Clare. “ Oh, haggard crowd ! wild, wasted, wandering flock, Truth, justice, right, and manlike dignity. Is trampled in the dust along with you. Is there no help for this eternal war That fate and laws and social usages Still wage against the poor ? ” ‘‘ Speranza ” (Lady Wilde). 5’ult) 17 “ We are generally accustomed to believe that the Irish of Ulster, in the seventeenth century, were ignorant of all agri- cultural pursuits, including, of course, the management of domesticated animals. Our plantation records show us clearly enough that we have been mistaken to a veiy con- siderable extent in this conclusion. Their knowledge and management in such matters would fall far short, to be sure, of our present requirements ; but, as compared with their neighbours, whether English or Scottish, it is pretty evident that the Irish of Ulster only wanted peace to enable them to excel both, as agriculturists.”— Rev. George Hill. “ All for Ireland, here are we. All for Ireland’s Liberty.” T. D. Sullivan. Tub 18 “ The frowning mountain heads, and delicate purple dis- tances, and soft green levels, shading into the blue of river and lake, who can wonder at people who live here growing dreamy, for there is glamour over everything ? ” Annie Keary at Lough Corrib. “ Let me join with you the jubilant procession, Let me chant with you her story.” Fanny Parnell. The Irish Birthday-Book. 151 16 17 18 152 The Irish Birthday-Book. fulp 19 “Only Nature, speaking through no interpreter, gently steals us out of our humanity, giving us a foretaste of that more diffused, disembodied life which may hereafter be ours.” Mrs. Jameson. “ Sad eyes ! why are ye steadfastly gazing over the sea ? ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. ‘ ‘ A love so pure That not a taint of selfishness was near, ‘ They beckon me ! ’ she said ‘ I come ! I come ! ^ ” John Crawford Wilson. fulB 20 “ We think if the mother were heeded oftener, there would be more good men in the world than there are at present.” — R. B. Sheridan. “ Oh ! mayest thou, if permitted, from above The starry sphere, Encompass me with ever during love. As thou didst here ; Still be my guardian spirit, lest I be Unworthy thee ! ” — ^John F. Murray. “ And as I watch the line of light that plays Along the smooth wave toward the burning west, I long to tread that golden path of rays. And think ’twould lead to some bright isle of rest ! ” Thomas Moore. 3'ub 21 ‘‘ ‘ I’m sorry for your trouble.’ ‘ Thank ye, and kindly too,’ she replied. ‘ The Lord’s hand is heavy on us both.’ ” Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall’s “ Ireland.” “ So the lights in thy windows are darken’d, — Wide windows to east and to west — And the quiet forget-me-not blossoms With heartseases over thy breast. And grief is assuaged by the whisper That thou art asleep and at rest.” William Wilkins. The Irish Birthday-Book, 153 fulp 19 20 3^ulp 21 154 The Irish Birthdav-Booh. S^Ult) 22 “ He died, as a patriot might wish to die, crowned wdth honours and with years, with the love of friends and the admiration of opponents, leaving a nation to deplore his loss, and not an enemy to obscure his fame.” W. E. H. Lecky on “ Grattan.” “ Oh ! why did you leave us, Eoghan? why did you die? Your troubles are all over, you’re at rest with God on high ! But we’re slaves, and we’re orphans, Eoghan ! — why did you die?” Thomas Davis. ‘ ‘ Sarsfield is dying on Landen’s plain ; His corslet met the ball in vain — As his life-blood gushes into his hand, He says, ‘ Oh ! that this was for fatherland ! ” Thomas Davis. 5 "ulti 23 “Take the statute-book of England, read over without note or comment the laws prevailing throughout that time, and say whether the utmost stretch of ingenuity, or the deepest depth of demoniacal passion, ever produced anything to outstrip that code.”— A. M. Sullivan. “To God there is fragment none : nothing single ; no isolation : The ages to Him are one ; round Him, the woe and the wrong Roll like a spiritual star, and the cry of the desolate Nation: — The souls that are under the altar respond in music, ‘How long?’” Aubrey De Vere. “Julr) 24 “Tell the Catholics, if I cannot speak, I can pray for them ; I shall then die contented. . . . God gave me talents to be of use to my country, and if I lose my life in her service, it is a good death.” — Henry Grattan. “ Erin ! loved land ! from age to age Be thou more great, more famed, and free.” James Orr. The Irish Birthday-Book. 155 fub 22 Patrick Sarsfield died, 1693. 23 ! 5 !ult) 24 The Irish Birthday-Boor, 156 3 tuie 25 “ If I can’t unite with my fellow-countryman in believing what he believes, or rather to pare down my belief till it comes to nothing to suit him — am I therefore to say to him, ‘ Stand aside am I therefore to say to him, ‘ We have no common country. I have nothing in common with you ’ ? Oh, no!” — Very Rev. Thomas N. Burke. “ Pulse of my heart, draw nearer, nearer ; The world may darken as it will. But time shall only make thee dearer : Let me clasp thee closer still ! Now, by our own bright hearth together. In tranquil joy we sit at last. ” T. D. Sullivan. 26 St. Patrick found the Irish mind much better prepared, by its comparative civilization and refinement, to receive the truths of Christianity, than that of any other nation in Europe outside imperial Rome. The Irish were always — then as they are now — pre-eminently a reverential people, and thus were peculiarly susceptible of religious truth.” A. M. Sullivan. ‘ ‘ Let Britain boast her British hosts, About them all right little care we ; Not British seas nor British coasts Can match the man of Tipperary ! ” Thomas Davis. S^uli) 27 “ His (Mr. Mill’s) observations on the Irish land tenure system, and the condition of Ireland generally, had filled the hearts of many Irishmen with delight and wonder.” Justin McCarthy. “ And under our wall that was built of books. The air was lit with a lady’s looks. “ A muse-like being, she held herself, As tall as I by the mantel-shelf, While Charlie sat in a place apart, Holding us both in his inmost heart.” William Wilkins. The Irish Birthday-Book. 157 fultt 25 fills 26 f uls 27 The Irish Birthday-Book, ^58 Sub 28 “ Untimely ? Was it, after all, untimely ? Since when has it not been held the crown of a great career that the hero dies at the moment of accomplished victory ? ” Justin McCarthy. “ O, God bless the dear, dear College ! And my dear wild bright compeers, Who guess’d not my thought as I faced them With eyes on fire with tears : For 1 thought of a voice that echo’d Beside me oft in that hall, And the silent grave-mould sinking On the dearest face of them all.” William Wilkins. Sub 29 “ We Irish are no race of assassins or ‘ glorifiers of murder.’ From the most remote ages, in all centuries, it has been told of our people that they were pre-eminently a justice-loving people.” — A. M. Sullivan. “ Farewell, oh, sweet singer ! thy voice has departed, But its echoes will live in the souls of the true. To gladden and guide, until Erin, brave-hearted, Shall sing the first paean of her freedom for you.” “In Memoriam,” by P. M, II . “Joys from some serener star. And heavenly-hued illusions gleaming from afar.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. S’ub 30 “ Grattan will teach you to avoid hating men on account of their religious professions or hereditary descent. From him you will learn principles which, if carried out, would generate a new state of society in Ireland.” — Daniel Owen Madden. “ While she, far up the steep ascent, Is compass’d round with light sublime. Future and Past together blent In God’s own wondrous Present time j No sorrow on her radiant brow. She weeps not e’en our tears to see, For present to her vision now Is the glad meeting that shall be.” S, M. S., in “The Irish Monthly.” The Irish Birthday-Book. ^59 31 ulp 28 29 3 -ulp 30 Eugene O 'Curry died, 1862. The Irish Birthday-Book, 1 6o 31 “ Ireland has, in times past, contributed more than her due share of the public burdens ; she is still paying more than a fair proportion ; and of the large revenue raised in Ireland, not one-half is expended at home.” — John Blake Dillon. “ I know the peril ; I have lost Ancestral lands and castles fair ; Tve paid down all the strife can cost Except my life, and that I dare, From day to day for Ireland’s sake ; I choose again the patriot’s part, And freely bid my country take The last red life-drop from my heart.” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book, i6i Sulp 31 M AUGUST. ‘ And statesman sits puzzled by statesman, And the grand royal battle-hounds gloat, For the nations stand arm’d in the darkness, And wonder if God taketh note Of all the hands fill’d with leash’d thunders. Of all the swords bent at each throat ! ” William Wilkins ‘ And now in heaven rise the stars, And o’er the hill the misty moon ; The ocean sounds along the bars And sands, and sets the night-tide soon ; Light gleams across the fields, and through The old wood creeps the evening damp— Let's draw the curtains and, anew. Kindle the kindly fireside lamp ! For this is the Autumn yellow ; Our hearts like the fruits are mellow : Sing, spirit bright, of the fading light. For this is the Autumn yellow ! ” William Tvvamley M 2 164 The Irish Birthday-Book. August I “ Whatever may be thought of the abstract merits of the arrangement, the Union, as it was carried, was a crime of the deepest turpitude — a crime which, by imposing, with every circumstance of infamy, a new form of government on a reluctant and protesting nation, has vitiated the whole course of Irish opinion.” — W. E. H. Lecky. “ Could the chain for a moment be riven Which Tyranny flung round us then — Oh ! ’tis not in man, nor in Heaven, To let Tyranny bind it again ! “ But ’tis past ; and though blazon’d in story The name of our victor may be, Accurst is the march of that glory Which treads o’er the hearts of the free ! ” Thomas Moore. 'august 2 “ The world knows little of the toil of the discoverer. It sees the climber jubilant on the mountain-top, but does not know the labour expended in reaching it.” — ^JOHN Tyndall. ‘ ‘ Oh ! see your quailing tyrant run To courteous lies and Roman agents ; His terror, lest Dungannon’s sun Should rise again with riper radiance. Oh ! hark the Freeman’s welcome cheer. And hark your brother sufferers sobbing ; Oh ! mark the universe grow clear. And mark your spirit’s royal throbbing, — ’Tis Freedom’s God that sends such signs ! ” Thomas Davis. august 3 “ There is not a nation in the habitable globe which has advanced in cultivation and commerce, in agriculture and manufactures, with the same rapidity in the same period ” (from 1782).— Lord Clare, in 1798. “ Thou who hast left, as in a sacred shrine — What shrine more pure than thy unspotted page ? — The priceless relics, as a heritage. Of loftiest thoughts and lessons most divine, Poet and teacher of sublimest lore.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 165 'August I 'August 2 ^lugust 3 William Rowan Hamilton born, 1805. i66 The Irish Birthday-Book, “August 4 “ Ah ! fatal hour for my prosecutors when they appealed to history ! For assuredly, that is the tribunal that will vindicate the Irish people.’’ — A. M. Sullivan. “ Oh, sorrowful fair land ! shall we not love thee, Whom thou hast cradled on thy bounteous breast ? Though all unstarr’d and dark the clouds above thee. Thy children shall arise and call thee blest. Never our lips can name thee, mother, coldly, Nor our ears hear thy sweet, sad name unmoved ; And if from deeper pain our arms might fold thee. Were it not well with us, oh best beloved ! ” Katharine Tynan. August 5 “ A talent for reciting was one of the first which my mother’s own tastes led her to encourage and cultivate in me, and to the last moment of her life she took a zealous interest in the popular politics of the day.” — Thomas Moore’s Autobiography. “ Like a swan on the billows, she moved in her grace, Snow-white were her limbs, and with beauty replete, And time on that pure brow had left no more trace Than if he had sped with her own fairy feet.” John O’Neachtan (1695). 'August 6 ‘‘ gratitude to the manufacturers will be evinced if I can awake the people of Ireland to hope for a Repeal of the Union ! If they once entertain hope, success will be neither remote nor difficult. . . . Ireland may become a Nation again, if we all sacrifice our parricidal passions, prejudices, and resentments on the altar of our country. Then shall your manufacturers flourish, and Ireland be free.” — Daniel O’Connell. A glorious triumph ! a deathless deed ! — Shall the hero rest and his work half done ? Is it enough to enfranchize a creed, When a Nation’s freedom may yet be won ?” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 167 'August 4 'august 5 'august 6 Daniel O’Connell born, 1775. i68 The Irish Birthday-Book, August 7 “ The interest of Cobden was not in scenery, or in art, or in ruins, but in men. He studied the condition of countries with a view to the manner in which it affected the men and women of the present, and through them was likely to affect the future. On everything that he saw he turned a quick an 1 intelligent eye ; and he saw for himself and thought for himself.” — ^JusTiN McCarthy. “ Speechless ! ay, speechless, for their Gaelic tongue Is dead ; as wanderers from some far-off age, They strike the shores of human life, to wage A too unequal fight with toil and wrong.” “ The Assisted Emigrants,” by Charlotte G. O’Brien. August 8 “He who tramples on the past does not create for the future. We ask Irishmen to find other quarries than churches, abbeys, castles, and cairns — to bring rusted arms to a collector, and coins to a museum, and not to iron or gold smiths. We talk much of old Ireland, and plunder and ruin all that remains of it —we neglect its language, fiddle with its ruins, and spoil its monuments.” — Thomas Davis. “ Our kings sat of old in Emania and Tara ? Those new kings, whence are they? their names are unknown ! Our saints lie entomb’d in Ardmagh and Cilldara.” Aubrey de Vere. August 9 “ As life holds together the bodies of animals, the cause whereof is the soul, and as a city is held together by concord, the cause whereof is law, even so the world is held together by harmony, the cause whereof is God.” — Bishop Berkeley’s “ Siris.” “ 111 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay : Princes and lords may flourish or may fade ; A breath can make them, as a breath has made ; But a bold peasantry, their country’s pride, When once destroy’d, can never be supplied.” Oliver Goldsmith. The Irish Birthday-Book, 169 'August 7 'August 8 'August 9 The Irish Birthday-Book. 1 70 'august 10 ‘‘For my own part, I have long made it a scrupulous duty not to wear anything that was not Irish ; and if you will sanction so humble an example by your imitation, you will confer wealth and content upon those who, in their turn, will powerfully aid you in the pursuit of your liberties.” Daniel O’Connell. “What joy to fly upon the white-crested sea, and watch the waves break upon the Irish shore. . . . From the high prow I look over the sea, and great tears are in my eyes when I turn to Erin.” — St. Columba. “ The tired child lies down to rest, His latest look of consciousness Resting on all his heart holds best And dearest.” M. J. Serrano. 'August II “An honourable forbearance towards those who censure us, a generous respect towards those who differ from us, will do much to diminish the difficulties that impede our progress. Let us cherish the rights of all our fellow-countrymen.” Thomas Francis Meagher. “ Some minstrel will come in the summer eve’s gleaming. When Freedom’s young light on his spirit is beaming. To bend o’er my grave with a tear of emotion. Where calm Avonbuce seeks the kisses of ocean. ” “ Spirit of the Nation,” J. J. Callanan. (Duffy, Publisher.) August 12 “You have formed a wrong conception of the character of Achilles ! Mr. Gladstone says : ‘Ferocity is an element in his character, but is not, as has been sometimes supposed, its base. Indulged against the Greeks, it is an exaggerated reaction, such as may be found in very fine 7iaturest agamst a foul mjusticey heightened with a number of surrounding aggravations.^ How much more just Englishmen would be to us if they would study that sentence, and for ‘ Achilles ’ read ‘ Irish.’ ” — Anonymous. “ So moved the blue-eyed queen ; her words persuade — Great Jove assented, and the rest obey’d !” Thomas Parnell. The Irish Birthday-Book, 171 'August 10 August II Catherine Hayes died, 1861. August 12 172 The Irish Birthday-Book, 'August 13 The old reproach that we are a discontented people we acknowledge true with pride and satisfaction — we should be fallen indeed if it were not so!” — “Ireland” in “Living Lives.” “By the laws of God, of nature, of nations, and of your country, you are, and ought to be, as free a people as your brethren in England.” — Dean Swift. “ Far dearer the grave or the prison Illumed by one patriot name, Than the trophies of all who have risen On Liberty’s ruins to fame ! ” — Thomas Moore. 'August 14 “ No monument to O’Connell can be complete till it has been ratified by the solemn act of a free and independent Irish Legislature.” — A. M. Sullivan. “ ‘ No ! not for me, nor for mine alone !’ The generous victim cried, * have I fought ; But to see my Eire again on her throne ; Ah, that was my dream and my guiding thought. To see my Eire again on her throne, Her tresses with lilies and shamrocks twined. Her sever’d sons to a nation grown, Her hostile hues in one flag combined ; Her wisest gather’d in grave debate.’ ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. August 15 “ When England had got a decisive start — when her manufactures were firmly established, and she had complete control of the market — Ireland was ‘ put on a footing of per- fect equality.* The result was such as might have been, and probably was, foreseen.” — William Dillon. “ Fruitful our soil, where honest men starve ; Empty the mart, and shipless the bay ; Out of our want the oligarchs carve ; Foreigners fatten on our decay ! Disunited, therefore blighted, Ruin’d and rent by the Englishman’s sway. Party and creed for once have agreed — Orange and Green will carry the day ! ” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book, 173 'August 13 'August 14 August 15 Dublin Exhibition opened, 1882. 174 The Irish Birthday-Book. August i6 “We aim at the ideal which O’Connell placed before us, and I agree with Mr. Parnell in thinking that the last few years have shown solid progress.” — E. D. Gray, High Sheriff. “ Can treason spring from out a soil bedew’d with martyrs’ blood ? Or has that grown a purling brook which long rush’d down a flood ? By Desmond swept with sword and fire, — by clan and keep laid low, — By silken Thomas and his kin, — by sainted Edward ! No ! The forms of centuries rise up, and in the Irish line Co?m7iand their son to take the post that fits the Geraldine D' Thomas Davis. August 17 “ While opposing a fearless front to the Government, let us be careful not to afford them any colourable excuse for invading our constitutional rights. Let us, as we hope to leave a free and happy land to our children, avoid such disgraceful scenes of riot and plunder as have recently occurred in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.” John Blake Dillon, in 1848. “ God be with the Iri.sh host ; Never be their battle lost ! For in battle never yet Have they basely earn’d defeat.” Sir Samuel Ferguson. August 18 “ History will record in letters of gold the noble part these men played in bringing to a crisis that terrible land system which, like some fabled dragon, was devouring the people of this country.” — Dublin Freeman’s Journal.” “No lapse of time, as on it rolls. Shall make those hopes decay ; The light that cheer’d our fathers’ souls Shines full on us to-day. The end they sought, and strove, and fought ‘ To gain, is now in view ; But hear our words, ye foreign lords, No thanks for that to you !” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 175 'August i6 Messrs. Parnell and Dillon received the Freedom of the City of Dublin, 1882. August 17 August 18 Earl of Charlemont born, 1728. 176 The Irish Birthday-Book, August 19 “ When Tennyson makes Ulysses say, ‘ I am a part of all that I have seen,’ it ought to be rather the converse, — ‘ What I have seen becomes a part of me. ’ ” — Mrs. Jameson. His kiss is sweet, his word is kind, His love is rich to me ; I could not in a palace find A truer heart than he. The eagle shelters not his nest From hurricane and hail, More bravely than he guards my breast, The Boatman of Kinsale.” Thomas Davis. August 20 “ We are entitled to ask for some explanation of why our city (Dublin) has not made that progress which we had every reason to expect, and which she was in course of making when the Act of Union was passed.” — ^JOHN Dillon. “ Oh, that I stood upon some lofty tower. Before the gather’d people face to face. That like God’s thunder might my words of power Roll down the cry of Freedom to its base !” “ Speranza,” Lady Wilde. August 21 ** By looking into physical causes, our minds are opened and enlarged ; and in this pursuit, whether we take or whether we love the game, the chase is certainly of service. ” Edmund Burke. “ When I have knelt in the temple of Duty, Worshipping honour and valour and beauty — When, like a brave man, in fearless resistance, I have fought the good fight on the field of existence ; When a home I have won in the conflict of labour. With truth for my armour, and thought for my sabre, Be that home a calm home where my old age may rally, A home full of peace in this sweet, pleasant valley ! May the accents of love, like the droppings of manna, Fall sweet on my head in the Vale of Shanganah !” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 177 'August 19 'August 20 'augujst 21 178 The Irish Birthday-Book. 'August 22 “A generation had grown from youth to manhood who had been taught to cherish scrupulous veracity and unselfish- ness, and to whom it was a moral impossibility to be dupes or mutes.”— S ir Charles Gavan Duffy. “ Oh, let me glance a moment through the coming crowd of years, Their triumphs or their failures, their sunshine or their tears ; How poor or great may be my fate, I care not what betide, So peace and love may hallow thee, my own fireside ! ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. August 23 “ Only the being I love has the power to give me pain or inspire me with fear ; only those in whose love I believe have the power to injure me.” — Mrs. Jameson. “ Rest, rest ! the glory of thy life Shines like tradition on the strife Which Ireland wages hour by hour, Patient, yet daring for the best. And growing up, as worlds attest. To freedom, majesty, and power.” John Francis O’donnell. August 24 ‘ ‘ How wonderful is this love of which we human beings are capable ! How boundless must be the source from which it springs 1 Cannot you realize the great motive power it must be throughout the spiritual universe, just as the sun is throughout the material universe?” — Anonymous. “ O’er the waves of a life long benighted and wild, Thou earnest, like a soft golden calm o’er the sea ; And, if happiness purely' and glowingly smiled On his evening horizon, the light was from thee.” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book, 179 "August 22 'August 23 ?lugu»t 24 8 o The Irish Birthday-Book, August 25 “ O’Connell perceived clearly that the tendency of affairs in pAirope was towards the recognition of the principle that a nation’s will is the one legitimate rule of its government.” W. E. H. Lecky. “ A, youth to manhood growing, With dark brown curls flowing, O’er brow and temples glowing, I came across the sea ; And now my head is hoary. But, land of song and story. Green isle of ancient glory, My heart is still with thee ! ” T. D. Sullivan. August 26 “ We can sometimes love what we do not understand, but it is impossible completely to understand what we do not love.”— Mrs. Jameson. “ ’Twas a new feeling, something more Than we had dared to own before. Which then we hid not ; We saw it in each other’s eye. And wish’d in every half-breathed sigh To speak— but did not ! ” Thomas Moore. 'August 27 “Too late. The treaty is signed ; our honour is pledged — the honour of Irelarid. Though a hundred thousand French- men offered to aid us now, we must keep our plighted troth ! ” Patrick Sarsfield. “ Oh, hurrah ! for the men who, when danger is nigh, Are found in the front, looking death in the eye. Hurrah ! for the men who kept Limerick’s wall. And hurrah ! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all ” Thomas Davis. ‘ ‘ Long may the fair and brave Sigh o’er the hero’s grave ! ” Thomas Moore. The Irish Birthday-Book. i8i August 25 'August 26 August 27 The Battle of Limerick, 1690. i82 The Irish Birthday-Book, “August 28 “America sent us money, thought, love — she made herself a part of Ireland in her passions and her organization. . . . To all earth we proclaimed our wrongs. To man and God we made oath that we would never cease to strive till an Irish Nation stood supreme on this island. . . . The future shall realize the promise of the past.” — Thomas Davis. “ That voice ! To earth it stoop’d as a cloud to the ocean flood : It had ascended in sighs from the anguish’d heart of a nation ; The musical echo came back from the boundless bosom of God.” Aubrey de Vere. August 29 “ The impression on the minds of the people is, that there is no law but the will of the magistrate ; in fact, they were obliged to put themselves under his patronage, like the old Patroniet Clientesoi the Romans.” — Rev. Michael Collins. * ‘ My home was in thy trusting heart. Where’er thou wert ; My happy home in thy confiding breast, Where my worn spirit refuge found and rest. I know not if thou wast most fair And best of womankind, Or whether earth yet beareth fruit more rare Of heart and mind ; To me I know thou wert the fairest, kindest, dearest.” John F. Murry. 'august 30 “These hills are neither grand nor impressive, but hold in their tranquil bosom all the charm and influence of home ; all the quiet blessedness of strong, firm, undemonstrative love ; all the delicate shades and variations of some nervous woman’s beauty, to which our eyes have become familiarized by long and fond and unconscious study ; just as vividly as on her face the emotions play, do the tones of sunlight and shade, of gloom and storm, of heat and cold, of rain and dew, play on those homely, friendly hills.” — Hannah Lynch. “ The wind had died upon the ocean’s breast. When, like a silvery vein through the dark ore, A smooth, bright current, gliding to the west. Bore our light bark to that enchanted shore.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 183 'August 28 'August 29 August 30 184 The Irish Birthday-Book. ?lu0ust 31 “ Whatever be my fate, I shall be happy, whilst I live, in reviving amongst you the love and admiration of your native land, and in calling upon Irishmen — no matter how they may worship their common God — to sacrifice every con- temptible prejudice on the altar of their common country.’* Daniel O’Connell. ‘ ‘ With liberty there came Wit, eloquence, and fame ; Our feuds went like mists from the dawn. ” Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday-Book, 185 August 31 SEPTEMBER. ON AMERICA. “ In happy climes, the seat of innocence, Where nature guides and virtue rules ; Where men shall not impose for truth and sense The pedantry of courts and schools. “There shall be sung another golden age. The rise of empire and of arts, The good and great inspiring epic rage, The wisest heads and noblest hearts. “ Not such as Europe breeds in her decay— Such as she bred when fresh and young, When heavenly flame did animate her clay, By future poets shall be sung. “ Westward the course of empire takes its way. The four first acts already past ; A fifth .shall close the drama with the day — Time’s noblest offspring is the last.” Bishop Berkei.ky. i88 The Irish Birthday-Book, September i “ No power on earth can suppress the land movement, save the defection and cowardice of the people ; so long as they are true to themselves and loyal to each other, and maintain the attitude of passive resistance recommended by their leaders, the movement cannot be put down. Let them be peaceful, and abstain from anything in the shape of violence or outrage.” — ^J. E. Redmond. ** Then forward, men of Erin ! Our martyrs plead for you ! Be patient and enduring — Be earnest, brave, and true !” — “ The Nation.” September 2 ** Having stated that ‘ the masses of the Irish people have no more control over the Government under which they live than they have over the process of the sun’s,* Mr. Henry George proceeds to prove that proposition by detailing the facts as to the manner in which the affairs of every branch of the public business in Ireland are administered.” “ The Nation.” “ Be united, be as one; Good and true men live to finish What our fathers have begun.” — Anonymous. September 3 Music was an essential part of the education of the Greeks, as of the ancient Irish ; it was believed to have an influence, not only on the minds, but also on the bodies of men ; and it was supposed that even the motions of the heavenly bodies and the operations of the mind are subject to the laws of Harmony.” — “ Irish Penny Magazine.” “Yes, in thy hands, illustrious son. The harp shall speak once more. Its sweet lament shall rippling run From listening shore to shore. “ And plains where rushing rivers flow — Fit emblems of the free — Shall learn to know of Ireland’s woe. And Ireland’s weal through thee.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book. 189 , September i John E. Redmond bom. September 2 Scpiembcr 3 William Sharman Crawford born, 1780. 190 The Irish Birthday-Book. September 4 “ But young as he was, those who knew him best had felt that if he lived he would some day contribute to Irish public life a spirit as bold, and a soul as pure, as ever served the Irish cause.” — A. M. Sullivan. “ Double-fountain’d was his blood, A Gaelic spring, a Norman flood ! To his bosom Truth he folded With a youthful lover’s zeal : God’s great Justice seem’d he, moulded In a statued shape of steel ! ” “ The Irish Norman,” by Aubrey de Vere. September 5 “ The bread f life is love ; the salt of life is work ; the sweetness of life, poesy ; the water of life, faith. ” Mrs. Jameson. “ Let not the holy promise of to-day Fade like the clouds that with the morn have birth. But ever bright and sacred may it be. Stored in the treasure cell of memory.” Anonymous. “ Playful she turn’d, that he might see The passing smile her cheek put on ; But when she mark’d how mournfully His eyes met hers, that smile was gone.” ThoxMas Moore. September 6 “ The English are grateful for benefits to self, the Irish are grateful for sympathy with their country. When they say of a man, ‘He died for Ireland,’ the voice is low and tender, as if they spoke of the passion of Christ.” Lady Wilde. ‘ ‘ Thou, Lord, art gracious, and not blind like men ; Judge us with mercy when we shall arise. This chill night-wind bites through me like a sword. Pity my soul and Adiaber’s, O Lord ! ” William Wilkins. The Irish Birthday-Book, 19 i September 4 John Dillon born, 1S51. September 5 September 6 192 The Irish Birthday-Book, September 7 “ The Union was carried by perjury, bribery, forgery, and force, against the wishes of the people. To alter that Union, and get back for the Irish people a Parliament of their own — a Parliament not alone in name, but in reality — such is the object on which the Irish people have set their hearts.’’ Richard Power. “ Oh, brothers ! be with us, our aim is high. The highest of man’s vocation : With these priceless jewels, that round us lie. To build up a noble nation.” Lady Wilde. September 8 “ Ireland being a more ancient kingdom than the kingdom of England As the English orators in the Council of Con- stance, A.D. 1417, confessed, and alleged as an argument in the contest between Henry the Fifth’s legates and those of Charles the Sixth, King of France, for precedence. The antiquity and precedence of the King of England was allowed him wholly on the accou 7 it of his kingdom of Ir dandy William Molyneux, ‘‘ If thou art studious, I will read Thee tales of pleasing woe ; If thou art sad. I’ll kiss away The tears that needs must flow.” Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Srptrmber 9 “ I believe that, to make this movement a full success, we should aim at the noblest ends and appeal to the highest motives. I began with mere political ideas, but I have grown to see that all possible political reform is involved in social reform, and that, unless it leads to social reform, political reform is worth nothing.” — Michael Davitt. “Even so, if the storms of existence Have parted us here from each other. Let us steer to that light in the distance, And meet in that haven, my brother ! ” T. D. Sullivan. The Irish Birthday-Book. 193 September 7 September 8 John Martin born, 1812. September 9 194 The Irish Birthday-Book. September lo '‘No measure (Pitt’s Bill for the Legislative Union of England and Ireland) ever showed less of that enlightened and far-seeing statesmanship which respects the prejudices and conciliates the affections of a nation, and thus eradicates the seeds of disaffection and discontent.”— -W. E. H. Lfxky. “ May the hope and the love Thou hast boundlessly given To the heart of this people grow stronger in tears, Idll from spirit and frame every fetter be riven. And Liberty’s bow through the tempest appears.” R. D. Williams. September ii “Learn poetry; fix some of it, however little, in your memory. A few good pieces, made thoroughly your own, will insensibly refine your taste, elevate your conceptions, and improve your mode of expression. Learn, in fact, any- thing that is real, solid, useful ; but leartt it. Do not taste and smell; eat.”— William Arthur. “ And should thy foe to supplication bend. Forgive, and treat him as a new-made friend.” Teige MacDaire. Stptmbcr 12 “ The world above is a reality to the Irish peasant. No people have more intense faith in the Unseen.” Lady Wilde. “ Aromatic plants bestow No spicy fragrance where they grow ; * But crush’d and trodden to the ground. Diffuse their balmy sweets around. ” Oliver Goldsmith. “ The daylight and the star-light shine, as if her eyes were in their light.”— Thomas Davis. The Irish Birthday^Book. I9S September lo September ii September 12 o 2 196 The Irish Birthday-Book. September 13 “Ireland is beginning to make up a record of English crime and Irish suffering, in order to explain the past, to justify the present, and caution the future.’^ — Thomas Davis. “ Well for thee, O yoiing man ! the English cage and prison. Well for thee thy death, if thou shouldst die — Thy name is on those tablets that ne’er shall be unwritten Till the pulse of our Ireland’s heart runs dry.” Charlotte G. O’Brien. September 14 “ English statesmen might study with advantage the mode by which the Greeks, the great colonizers of the ancient world, gained the love of all peoples . . . they conquered by their divine gifts, and the colonists in return glorified Greece by their genius ; wherever the Greeks passed they left a trail of light, but England a trail of blood.” Lady Wilde. “For the sake of the dear little Isle where I send you ; For those who will welcome, and speed and befriend you ; For the green hills of Erin that still hold my heart there, Though stain’d with the blood of the patriot and martyr, My blessing attend you !” Geoffrey Keating to his Letter. ^rpttmber 15 “Let us cast aside all feelings of self-interest, and let us act only with the desire to benefit our country ; to regain for her a place amongst the nations of the world, even at the cost of present sufferings and sacrifice for ourselves ; to bequeath to those who come after us a future of prosperity, happiness, and independence.”— Charles Stewart Parnell. “ The world grows dim before me, A soft wing closes o’er me — But Erin dear that bore me, I love thee to the last.” T. D. Sullivan. c •> The Irish Birthday-Book, 197 S^eptember 13 Edmund O’ Donovan born, 1848. September 14 September 15 Convention in Dublin, 1881. The Irish Birthday-Book. 198 Stptcmber 16 “ Mab is also of Celtic origin, being evidently the maabh of the Irish. Much has been written to trace the source from which Spenser took the materials of his ‘ Faery Queen,’ but when we consider where he composed that splendid poem, and what he says of his knowledge of the poems of the Irish bards, we may be enabled to account for some of his mythology.” — Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall. ’Tis he who scatters blessings round, Adores his Maker best. His walk through life is mercy-crowned, His bed of death is blest.” William Drennan. September 17 ‘^ Idleness is a ready accusation in the mouth of him whose corruption denies to the poor the means of labour. ‘ Ye are idle,’ said Pharaoh to the Israelites when he demanded bricks of them and withheld the straw.” Theobald Wolfe Tone. “ Oh, give me back that royal dream My fancy wrought, When I have seen your sunny eyes Grow moist with thought.” Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. SepUmbrr 18 “ I am not in love with feasts, and crowds, and visits, and late hours, and strange faces, and a hurry of affairs often insignificant. For my private satisfaction, I had rather be master of my own time than wear a diadem.” Bishop Berkeley. “ How pleased, how delighted, the rapt eye reposes On the picture of beauty this valley discloses ! How glad, through this vale, would I float down life’s river, Enjoying God’s bounty, and blessing the Giver ! Sweetest of vales is the Vale of Shanganah ! ” Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 199 Scptemi)er 16 September 17 September 18 200 The Irish Birthday-Book, Septemtier 19 “It is only by giving protection to the Tenants that you can have security against a return to that state of things which every man of right feeling deplored.’’ — Isaac Butt. “We were blighted, dark, benighted — our day of grace ha flown ; Then the men whom God inspired — By thy love, oh Mother ! fired — Tore away the veil that bound us. Spread the light and truth around us : Now we’ll trust our own men — our own men alone.” Charlotte G. O’Brien. September 20 “ No traitor was he, but a true and noble gentleman. No traitor, but a most faithful heart to all that was worthy of love and honour. No traitor, but a martyr for Ireland. ‘ Remember Emmet ! ’ ” — Donal Sullivan. “ Abject the prostrate people lay, Nor dared to hope a better day ; An icy chill, a fatal frost. Left them with all but honour lost, Left them with only trust in God. The lands were gone their fathers own’d ; Poor pariahs on their native sod.” Denis Florence MacCarthy. September 21 “O’Connell was the especial bugbear of the English people — as he himself said, ‘ the best-abused man alive.’ As the typical Irishman, Catholic, and Repealer, he aroused against himself the fiercest national and religious prejudices of large classes of Englishmen.” — W. E. H. Lecky. ‘ ‘ Then here and there, perhaps, she picked a flower, To strew with moss, and paint her leafy bower ; And here and there, like her, I went along, Chose a bright strain, and bid it deck my song. ” Thomas Parnell. The Irish Birthday-Book, 201 ^epumbtr 19 September 20 September 21 202 The Irish Birthday-Book, September 22 “ Out of acids, alkalis, or saline solutions, the crystal came sweet and pure. By some such natural process in the forma- tion of this man (Michael Faraday), beauty and nobleness coalesced, to the exclusion of everything vulgar and low. ” John Tyndall. “ A tone that peals amid the swell Of rustic voices, mingling praise Of Him who makes the summer days Of sweet-breathed hours delectable. At close, an instant’s upward glance Meeting the Master’s in a trance.” William Wilkins. September 23 “ In struggling for Irish freedom I believe in using every weapon which honourable men can use. I believe in nationa- lizing the Corporation of Dublin, the Town Councils of Ire- land, and the Boards of Guardians.” — ^JOHN Dillon. “ But the hills that I tread must be taintless and free As the breeze — as the bird in its nest ; And would I might breathe that sweet freedom to thee, Aroon ! from the heart of the West ! ” C. M. O’Hara. September 24 “If we can still love those who have made us suffer, we love them all the more. It is as if the principle, that conflict is a necessary law of progress, were applicable even to love.” Mrs. Jameson. “ If I but nursed a flower Which, to the ground the rain and wind had beaten, That flower of all our garden was my pride.” James Sheridan Knowles. The Irish Birthday-Book, 203 September 22 September 2 September 2 204 The Irish Birthday-Book, September 25 “ Then shall the future, seen by the prophetic eye of Grattan, when he hailed his Ireland as an independent nation, be realized by the men of to-day.”— Very Rkv. Thomas N. Burke. ‘ ‘ The different hues that deck the earth, All in our bosoms have their birth ; ’Tis not in blue or sunny skies, ’Tis in the heart the summer lies ! The earth is bright if that be glad. Dark is the earth if that be sad.” Denis Florence MacCari hy. September 26 “ It would, indeed, be scarcely possible to conceive a more infamous system of legal tyranny than that which in the middle of the eighteenth century crushed every class and almost every interest in Ireland. The Parliament had been deprived of every vestige of independence.” — W. E. II. Lecky. “The last sad hour of freedom’s dream, And valour’s task moved slowly by, While mute they watch’d, till morning's beam Should rise, and give them light to die ! There is a world, where souls are free. Where Tyrants taint not nature’s bliss.” Thomas Moore. September 27 “ One of'the great objects of this Society is that there shall be no religious animosity ; every man shall worship his God according to his own conscience, and any one who violates this principle is not worthy to be a member, and shall be expelled from the Society.” — Rev. Theobald Mathew. “ What soil or clime, or barrier raised by pride. Or prejudice, can bound the good man’s love ? For man and misery, wherever found It freely springs.” William Hamilton Drummond. The Irish Birthday-Book, 205 September 25 September 26 September 27 2o6 The Irish Birthday-Book, September 28 “I declare from my soul that if England were to give us all her revenues, I could not barter for them the fiee consti- tution of my country/' — JOHN, Baron Oriel. “ Life may be fair in that new existence Where saints are crown'd and the saved rejoice. But over the depth of the infinite distance I’ll lean, and listen to hear your voice." Lady Wilde. September 29 “ Before we can influence or deal with mind, contempla- tion must be lost in sympathy, observation must be merged in love.”— Mrs. Jameson. “We two, each other’s only pride, Each other's bliss, each other’s guide, Far from the world’s unhallow’d noise, Its coarse delights and tainted joys. Through wilds will roam and deserts rude ; For, love, thy home is solitude." Richard Brinsley Sheridan. September 30 “ Out of the attempt to harmonize our actual life wdth our aspirations, our experience with our faith, we make poetry, — or, it may be, religion.’’ — Mrs. Jameson. “ My boat is moor’d beside the pier. My nets are stretch’d upon the strand, And once again, dear Kate, I’m here, To look in your face and to clasp your hand.” T. D. Sullivan. “ Therefore we come, in one united band. To hail in him the hero of the land." Denis Florence MacCarthy. The Irish Birthday-Book, 207 Septemfcrr 28 John, Baron Oriel, Speaker of the Irish Parliament, born 1740. September 29 Sepumhcr 30 i*w