The first story, featured a virtuous young man named Kentigern who is framed by his jealous classmates in killing a saint's pet bird. The story ends powerfully with Kentigern praying for the bird to be raised to life, and the miracle actually occurring. Here is the final sentence, talking about the classmates: "They had learned that lesson, and thenceforth they were more kind and respectful to a boy over whom some kind Power seemed to keep special charge."
I love how the author notes the change in behavior of the boys and details the awe they have developed for Kentigern. It closes the story nicely and shows a marked change from the attitudes of the classmates earlier in the story.
The next story I read retold events from the life of Saint Blaise. The saint loved wild beasts, and the creatures would flock to him peacefully. The civil authorities ended up killing Blaise for his adherence to Christianity. The story ends with an impressive scene, as Blaise walks on water as soldiers attempted to drown him and then walks back to shore, choosing to die out of his own readiness and free will. The author explains that memorial bonfires were held in England for a long time honoring the saint. The final sentence notes that "And we can well believe that all the little animals came out of their dens and burrows and nests at the sight of these fires, and thought with loving hearts of the dear old Saint who so many years ago used to be kind to their ancestors, the beasts in the forests of Armenia."
The ending to the story is vivid, and this concluding sentence continues a major theme of the story-- the animals' great love for Blaise. The evocative words here helped me understand the true devotion these animals had for the saint.
The next technique I want to try is focusing on beautiful sentences.
In the next story I read, on Saint Comgall, the author vividly paints the opening setting: "There the green hills of Saint Patrick's island smile over at the purple cliffs of Scotland across the lane of water where the ships pass to and fro, just as neighbors nod across a narrow street above the heads of the passers-by." I love the use of colors and warm imagery in this sentence.
Finally, I read the story of Saint Berach and this sentence stuck out to me as exceptionally beautiful and descriptive: "After that came a winter when for weeks the ground was white with snow, and the laughing mouths of the brooks were sealed with ice." I love the imagery in the back half of that phrase!
Painting from the 17th century of Saint Blaise's death
by Gaspar de Crayer. Source: Wikimedia
BIBLIOGRAPHY: This story is part of the Saints and Animals unit in the UN-textbook. Story source: The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (1900).
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