Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

Legends of the Celtic Saints. 329
BAPTISM AFTER DEATH.
The saint was not insensible to the charms of poetn-,
nor to the merits of the pieces in which the heathen
bards of Ireland celebrated the fame of their dead heroes.
He lamented the fate of so many noble-minded and
heroic men, who had gone from the earth before the
light of Christianity was vouchsafed. Passing one day
by the tomb of one of these heroes lately deceased, he
stopped seemingly disturbed and grieved, and entered
into prayer. Tears fell fast from him as he was on his
knees, and when he rose he ordered the tombstone to
be removed. Looking on the serene noble features, he
prayed earnestly that life might return for a short time to
its former tenement. The supplication was heard ; the
now living man half raised himself in his tomb, was instructed
by the great-hearted saint, and baptized. Then
laying himself down with heavenly joy stamped on his
features, he again surrendered his soul to its Maker.
THE VISION OF ST. BRIGID.
Brigid, daughter of the converted Druid, Dubhthach,
was distinguished from her girlhood by an intense spirit
of piety. Once while listening to one of St. Patrick's
discourses she was observed to fall asleep, and those
who observed it made signs to the preacher to arouse
her. He did not take the hint, but when the sermon
was at an end and Brigid wide awake but sorrowful, he
begged her to reveal the vision which he knew must have
been vouchsafed her. " Alas, Father ! " said she, " my
soul is sad from the sights that succeeded one another
while I slumbered. I seemed standing on a high eminence
with all Erinn in my sight, and from eveiy part of
it were issuing bright flames that joined above and filled
the atmosphere. I looked again, and behold, fires were
still burning on mountains and hills, but the sight was