Enter a world of a very different America and yet similar in many ways to the present day. The saga continues as Father Thomas O’Malley leads his flock of immigrants to a new life in a new land. Join James Shields, the Hero of Inishbofin, Aengus O’Flaherty, the fisherman from Inishmor and Meghan O’Grady, of Doonagore Castle, as they become part of a new singing sensation proclaimed as the Bards of New York City. Despite secret societies, a political movement called the “Know-Nothings,” arson, riots and murder, The “Celtic Warriors” respond to the call of the bell. Their journey will touch your heart and thrill your very soul as they use pen and song to bring down the walls of hatred and intolerance while bringing to life the spirit of the Founding Fathers words of
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Pure and Tarnished Hearts by Arthur Cola
The characters speak and you discover their tale of coming to America from Ireland in 1849.
Chapter 22:
“You won’t be beating me Master?”
James was now shaking almost as much as the youth who wouldn’t let go of his hand.
“I’m not your Master, I’m just like you.”
The shivering youth shook his head. “No, Sir, you’re not like me.” He then looked up at all the lads dressed in their fine new suits. Pulling up his shirt, he exposed streaks of reddened flesh obviously caused by the lash of a whip, such as one might use on a horse.
Chapter 22:
“Aye ‘twas a lucky day that lad met me
For out of pure love the future came to be.
And those waves which rose would make us close.
They have brought us across the sea.”
Chapter 21:
“James, men aren’t supposed to cry.”
“Who says so? The Bible says Jesus wept in the garden.”
Chapter 20:
“Meghan, Meghan, we’re over here.” The lads shouted but they couldn’t wait, they ran to her and Aengus swept her off the portable step stool and plopped her right down into the arms of James.
“Hi, we almost forgot you.”
“Typical boy…gone for a few days and I am forgotten.”
“I’d never forget you Meghan, you must know that.”
Chapter 15: Who was this person? How did this chance encounter change the lives of the “Celtic Warriors?”
“Have you any idea whom you just pushed to the ground,” he stopped, looked at his employer sitting upon a trunk and thought to revise his statement, “…onto the trunk in such a violent manner.” “You can send forth your new police force of which you are so proud and protect the people on both sides and save yours and my city this day. For I tell you as I hold onto the cross of Christ about my neck that should one Irishman be harmed, one Church burned that this city shall be likened to a second Moscow and left in ashes.”
Chapter 9: How did Bishop Hughes save New York City with a threat like this?
“You can send forth your new police force of which you are so proud and protect the people on both sides and save yours and my city this day. For I tell you as I hold onto the cross of Christ about my neck that should one Irishman be harmed, one Church burned that this city shall be likened to a second Moscow and left in ashes.”
Chapter 8: How does this question from an immigrant teen reflect the growing pains of the lads who are called, “Celtic Warriors?”
“I don’t understand girls, Father. Will that ever change?”
Chapter 7: How does this lament bring on darkness to a lad’s heart?
“Meghan, why did ye have to leave? I could have offered you a future which would have brought you back to your ancestral castle home. It would be yours once again.” Michael paused in his spoken thought and fell silent.
Chapter 5: How Megan responds to James and Aengus meeting three New York Society girls.
“Doonagore Castle…your home was a castle?”
Chapter 5: And this is only the lads and lass’ first day in America.
“I’m James Richard Shields and you shouldn’t forget that name for this day you and your store shall be entered into my Journal and when it’s published you shall be seen for what you are, a mean spirited human being with a cold heart and rude manners.”
Aengus smiled broadly and then head butted Roger, who held him.
Chapter 2: What could going to America have to do with this question?
“Mother of God, are we to become thieves as those who beat us?”
Chapter 11: And this is only some of the adventures since arriving in America for Aengus, James and their mates.
“Really Aengus, I almost got shipped back because of my fear of separation from you, we almost got our arse handed to us in a fight, your exhibition on a horse brought us our first earned money, and Father O’Malley fought for us not once but twice since we stepped onto American soil and all you can think about is how your shirt was washed?”
Chapter 12: What did happen, which brought the lads to become a 19th Century singing sensation?
That is…how such a raggedy looking bunch of what would have been called thugs not more than a year or so ago for simply walking the streets together, were producing such a sound as to bring joy to the hearts and tapping of the toes of those who watched.
