"Maister Mairshall has it a leetle," tho every bystander saw it was quite the other way. (Text.)—Croake James, "Curiosities of Law and Lawyers."
(2308)
Pass, Let it—See Evil, Ignoring.
Passengers to Heaven—See Obligations
to the Church.
PASSING OF LIFE
And this is life—to-day we here abide,
Perchance to-morrow we must step aside,
We master not our own; no vain regret
Can change the path for us which God has set.
Then let our footsteps be toward the light,
With loving words and deeds make each day bright.
Let charity progress to wider plan,
Lend gracious ear to creed of every man.
—S. D. Gardner.
(2309)
PASSION, GROWTH OF
An old man was once walking with a
little boy. They came across four shrubs.
The old man said to his youthful companion:
"Pull up the least one."
He obeyed with ease.
"Now the next."
He obeyed, but it did not come so easily.
"And the third."
It took all his strength to move its roots, but he succeeded.
"Now the fourth."
In vain the lad put forth all his strength. He only made the leaves tremble. He could not move the roots. They had gone strongly into the earth, and no effort could dislodge them.
Then the wise old man said to the ardent youth:
"This, my son, is just what happens with our passions. When they are young and weak one may by a little watchfulness over self and the help of a little self-denial easily tear them up, but if we let them cast their roots deep into our souls there is no human power can uproot them. For this reason, my child, watch well over the first movements of your soul and study by acts of virtue to keep your passions well in check." (Text.)
(2310)
Passport, Value of a—See Token, Value of a.
Past and Present Compared—See Religion
Diffused.
PASTOR, THE IDEAL
Give me the pastor whose graces shall possess
Of an ambassador the just address;
A father's tenderness, a shepherd's care,
A leader's courage, which the cross can bear;
A ruler's awe, a watchman's wakeful eye,
A fisher's patience, and a laborer's toil;
A guide's dexterity to disembroil;
A prophet's inspiration from above;
A teacher's knowledge, and a Savior's love.
—Bishop Hare.
(2311)
Path, Narrow—See Promises.
PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
A Viennese lady, who had suffered for
a long time from cataleptic or lethargic
attacks, was finally buried in one of her
trances. The sexton, who fortunately happened
to be a thief in this instance, had reopened
the grave and was busy removing
her clothes during the ensuing night, when
a resurrection of the dead took place.
Stricken with terror, he was running away,
when the woman called him back, requesting
to be taken to her doctor.
A little girl, mentioned by Tissot, shocked at her sister having helped herself to a coveted morsel, remained stiff and motionless for an hour, a spoon in her hand, and her arm outstretched toward the dish.
A soldier, quarreling with a companion, in a fit of passion seized a bottle to throw at him; cataleptic rigidity fixt him in this attitude, motionless, unconscious, his eyes full of anger and defiance.
In another case a magistrate on the bench, insulted in the middle of his summing up, remained as if petrified in an attitude of indignation and threat at his insulter.
Again, we read of priests being cataleptized at the altar in the attitude of elevating the sacrament.—A. de Watteville, Fortnightly Review.
(2312)
PATHS, KEEPING ONE'S OWN
Some twenty years ago a United States
naval officer conceived the idea that if vessels
eastbound took one ocean path and vessels
westbound another, collisions would be
avoided. Steamship lines eagerly fell in with
