it
he celebrated Mass. As often as any controversy arises between the
villagers or the neighbors which is thought fit to be determined by an
oath, it is brought to this stone, and there, the sacrament being
taken, the cause is decided. But if any perjurer or false witness laid
his hand thereon, immediately it was wont to pour forth water, and the
holiness of Patrick openly showed unto all how accursed was the crime
of perjury or of false testimony; yet at any other time it did not use
to exude one drop, but always remained in its natural dryness. Which
opinion of the people, however, as to this stone, is the more probable,
we know not, though the latter may seem the nearer unto the truth. Let
it suffice, therefore, to record the miracle which the Bishop Saint Mel
testifies that he had oftentimes beheld.

CHAPTER IV.

_Of the Well dried up._

As he grew in age, he was seen also to grow in grace, and, as from the
full store of divine ointment flowing within him, he perfumed all
around with the abundance of his manifold miracles. And Patrick, the
child of the Lord, was then nursed in the town of Empthor, in the house
of his mother's sister, with his own sister Lupita. And it came to
pass in the winter season, the ice being thawed, that a well overflowed
and threatened to overturn many houses in the town; and the rising of
the waters filled the mansion wherein Patrick abided, and overturned
all the household stuff, and caused all the vessels to swim. And the
little boy, being an hungered, asked in his infantine manner for bread;
yet found he not any who would break bread for him, but jeeringly was
he answered that he was nearer to being drowned than fed. When the boy
dipped three of his fingers into the swelling water, and, standing on a
dry place, he thrice sprinkled the water in the form of a cross, and in
the name of the Holy Trinity commanded the well that forthwith it
should subside. And behold a miracle! Immediately all the flood
retired with a refluent course, and the dryness returned, nor was there
hurt or damage seen in the vessels or in the furniture of his dwelling.
And they who looked on saw that sparks of fire instead of drops of
water were sprinkled from the fingers of the holy child, and that the
waters were licked up and absorbed thereby; and the Lord, "who collects
the waters as in a heap, and lays up the depths in his treasury," who
had worked such great works through his beloved child