Dedication to Mary Rose Barrett Bergin (1933 – 1990)
Including her son, Hugh and grandson, Donovan
State of Oklahoma Short Story Award

In 1957 my sister, Mary Rose, wrote this short story while she was still attending Oklahoma College for Women, Chickasha, OK.  She was diagnosed with Lupus in her early twenties, married I. J. Pete Bergin and went on to raise their son, Hugh.  She got to experience the joy of her grandson, Donovan.  Mary Rose loved her family so dearly and in her memory — this is her unpublished story.

Old Dan Hodge shifted his
crutch and scratched his tousled 
head of hair as he looked at the 
stony path which led up the side 
of the mountain.  It was barely 
discernible for the light snow was 
falling, and the dancing flakes had
begun to cover the path.
He would have liked to stop
for a little rest, but Dan knew that
Mandy would be waiting for him 
on this day.  Forty years before 
he had vowed his love for her and 
consummated it in marriage.  Indeed, 
it was exactly forty years to the 
day that he had repeated the custom 
honored words which bound him to 
the duties of a husband.
Mandy was a good wife, and 
her grief at the death of their only 
child was almost more than Dan
could bear.  He had comforted her by
telling her that in time there would
    be another baby to hold close and love.  
But the years had gone by, and 
there was no baby.
Perhaps that was why a tear 
trickled down Dan’s cheek as he 
began to climb again.  Perhaps that
was why his voice cracked when he
started to sing “Mother Machree”.
Only Dan knew that the
tear fell and his voice failed 
because Mandy was at the top 
of the mountain, buried with her 
first born.
Background Notes:  Original Folk and Traditional Irish Song, lyrics by Rida Johnson Young,
with original music by Chauncey Olcott & Ernest R. Ball, 1910.  Chauncey Olcott was also involved with writing My Wild Irish Rose and When Irish Eyes are Smiling.
“Machree” was not a Mother’s proper name.   Rather, it is a term which means “dearest.” OpEdNews Article by Phil Klein.
YouTube music video of Mother Machree, recorded in 1974 by Michael O’Dwyer from 
Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, Ireland.         
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acGAl11yIlo&feature=colike
On this Fourth Tuesday of September 25, 2012 – 
Posting for @dVersePoets #OpenLinkNight
Come Read and Share and Post with fellow poets!  
Bar opens at 2:00 pm Central Time.