Wheelright displayed marked ability. He experienced little difficulty in passing from the elementary to the higher schools. All through his school courses he worked assiduously with one object in view, to become a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists.

The two greatest causes for which man can work are the love of God and the love of country. The soul that sighs alternately under the influence of these two loves is a soul pure at its foundation. When Mrs. de Valera therefore sent forth two sons to labour she had the happiness to see one espouse the cause of Freedom in her native land, while the other prepared to consecrate his life to the service of God in religion. And although the two ostensibly devoted their lives to different objects, the spirit of the one was in the other. Just one month from the date on which Eamonn de Valera's sentence of death was commuted to one of penal servitude for life his step-brother was ordained a priest in the United States of America. Father Wheelright, C.SS.R., is now stationed at Roxboro, Mass, where the community has a very fine house. The Redemptorist Order, which was founded by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, in 1732, had no permanent house in America until the year 1841, when one was opened at Rochester, where the Wheelrights now live. While houses are now established in all the big cities of America, Eamonn de Valera's mother can point to the fact that her native Limerick is celebrated all the world over for its confraternity, conducted by the Redemptorists. "The miracle wrought by the Mother of Perpetual Succour," were the terms in which Dr. Butler, Bishop of Limerick, referred to this wonderful confraternity, which was founded by Father Bridgett, C.SS.R., nearly sixty years ago. In political circles much is known about the circumstances in which Carroll of Carrollton signed the famous Declaration of American Independence, but it is not generally known that those who succeeded him were, perhaps, the Redemptorists' greatest benefactors, the heirs of the Carrolls

of Carrolton having left their entire estate to the Redemptorist Fathers. While Irishmen, therefore, have selected Eamonn de Valera to guide their political destinies, Irishmen, too, have taken a noble part in forwarding the work of the Redemptorist Order of which his step-brother -Father Wheelright-is a distinguished member.

On the 20th April, 1885, Edmund Coll arrived at Bruree with his precious charge. Eamonn de Valera was then handed over to the care of his uncle-Patrick Coll-who from that date took such a glorious part in forming the character and guiding the destinies of a soul that required but little guidance. It is recalled that as the ship which conveyed Edmund Coll and Eamonn de Valera approached Cove those on board hummed gleefully the following lines by Locke:

T'anam o'n diabhal, ach! But there it is—
The dawn on the hills of Ireland ;

God's angels lifting the night's black veil

From the fair, sweet face of my sireland.

How prophetic these lines appear if read in the light of current events? The coming of Eamonn de Valera certainly signified the dawn of a new era in the history of Ireland. And then the line "God's angels lifting the night's black veil," seems equally appropriate; for did not that little lad who was present on deck at the humming of the song take a noble part in lifting the dark veil that had hung over Ireland for close on seven and a-half centuries?

The song went on :

"Oh, Ireland, isn't it grand you look,

Like a bride in her rich adorning,
With all the pent up love of my heart

I bid you the top of the morning."

We may well imagine the joy of all on board as the ship drew into harbour, and if Eamonn de Valera-not yet three years of age was unable to give articulate expression to the words of Locke's beautiful poem, it is certain

that the sentiments contained in the words quoted found a response somewhere in a corner of his heart as he saw for the first time and saluted Ireland-that Ireland for which he was later prepared to offer up his life.

After a stay of some months in Ireland, Edmund Coll returned to America. His health had much improved as a result of his visit, and he returned a new man to his former occupation. In due course Eamonn de Valera was sent to Bruree national school, and while he could not be described as a precocious boy, nevertheless, from the very outset he displayed remarkable qualities both as regards intellectual power and perseverance in study. His first schoolmaster was John Kelly, a grand old man, who lived at Killacolla, about 5 miles from Bruree. He was a first-class teacher, intellectual, painstaking, and extremely devout. His zeal for the welfare of the children could hardly be surpassed. He was not satisfied with a course of training which was mechanically arranged to fit a child for a given position in life, just as a horse is trained for the Derby. He had also the child's moral and religious welfare especially at heart. The worldly outlook and the religious outlook were blended to such a degree of nicety in his teaching that the children brought up under his care could be recognised by an individuality of their own. The spirit of prayer permeated the schoolroom. Frequently the boys were treated to a lecture on the value of a good education. Addressing de Valera one day at the head of a class, he said, "You and all good boys like you will one day have a bicycle and a grand watch and chain." The rod placed menacingly near the schoolmaster may serve a very useful purpose, but its presence rarely conduces to that sense of freedom and love of advancement which is likely to be obtained by good advice when wisely administered.

When de Valera was first sent to school he was dressed in a beautiful suit of velvet, which gave him a smart and bright appearance. On entering the schoolroom he was asked his name, and replied de Valera "

; but the