"PATRICK BRENT'S SON."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

"PATRICK BRENT'S SON."

(By Dulcy Bauman, 134, Bank Street, Whangarei? aged, 15.)

"Aye, but that Patrick Brent's father was never worth his keep!"' ejaculated Mrs. O'Flynn-. "True,"?! said her companion, scanning the distant Mils for the rain she was expecting. "And Ido think it be a : fool's errand, sending that great big son of hi* to college! Why, his mother, poor body, has" just managed to save up a bit, and now—now, when she should be a little comfortable like —she goes spending of it on another, who's as likely to waste it again, for her as his father did before him!" "Now, now, Mrs: Grand, you mustn't be so sure, you musnt. That boy has always. ~been a* good fellow, and I'll not- forget the kindnesses he's done me more than once." 1 "We'll see,, we'll see" said Mrs. ! Grand,, who was, nevertheless, one of ; the. little company of settlers - who saw the two Brents off at the small New "Zealand station 1 . Another eon off to college—Mrs. Brent, a small but stately lady, and L young Patrick made a comely pair together. Both of them had taking, personalities, as was' evidenced (by the number of wet- handkerchiefs, hidden by farewellers, as* -the train moved off. "We need not fear for that boy's mother when he grows up!'" somebody ' mentioned.

Ten years later that same Patrick returned to his native town, his mother - with himv At that same station, many of the old friends welcomed back the two, once more, while there were a few whom time had not permitted to be present'. , "Didn't I tell you!" said old Mrs. O'Flynn now to Mrs. Grand.. "Didn*t I tell you young Patrick was a fine- fellow. Just think, he's a famous singer, now!" i "Do yott mean that? Is- thai true?" "You ask them, Mrs. Grand, you ask them!" And she did,, discovering that Patrick Brent vrm the- famous tenor s who had -astonished the world wit& his beautiful voice. , "AM to think I didn't tell that to my sister-in-lawf"'. wailed Mrs.. Grand. "And she up here oil a visit,, boasting of their . wonderful Tommy Green, who's only got \& gramophone shop*" She also dfeeOVeiped that they had not come; home for goodr—there* was Patrick's ! career to be thought- of. ■ "Well, I never!* said Mrs. Crand !aftei-iWards,,"'So- he did inherit eome- ; thing good from his father. Well,. I i never V .

Passing years saw Patrick still more famous l , but they also saw the last of Mrs. Brent. Set %of, 'With nothing now -to live' for,: put all his zeal into Ms- : career, while all tfi« World mamlled at him. V- ■""• . * At a well-known conceit hall m Europe, one friend remarked to another, ■"Ah, but I never dreamed of such a voice as that Patrick Brent possesses! And do you notice how be sings "Mother Machree ?" "Yes, I Ao" said a. young: lady of the name of O'Fiynn. , "He used -to live in the same town as I did, over in New Zealand. He was very fond of _Ms mother, and iww fibers- gOftev he sings that song very passionately." That night as the strain of "Mother Machree" filled the-halL the audience, sat strangely hushed. The depth of feeling seemed to reach each Oile. Some were stealing out, when the itenr was finished, Stealing out beneath the silver moon,, and the still clinging silence, to sit and dream of home. Patrick Brent also is dead now, but there are hundreds of people alive who will never forget his voicesan inheritance from his father- J