and entering the house he found no one therein, for its inmates were
busied with their work out of doors. Then blessed Kyaranus, moved with
zeal for God, scattered all the food which he found in the house of
his parents; for[2] the milk he poured on the ground, the butter he
mixed with the sheep's dung, the bread he cast to the dogs, so that it
should be of service to no man. For he was showing that whatsoever was
not given to guests for Christ's name should rightly be devoted by
men to loss, lest such food should be eaten. After a little space his
mother came, and seeing her house thus turned upside-down, she felt
moved to raise an outcry; for she marvelled greatly at what had
befallen her house. When Saint Kiaranus had set forth the reason, she
became calm, and promised amendment; and many of those who heard were
rendered charitable.


XVI. THE BREAKING OF THE CARRIAGE-AXLE

14. On another day when Saint Kyaranus was sitting in a carriage with
his father, the axle of the carriage broke in two in the middle of
the plain; and the father of the saint, with his attendants, was
distressed. Then Saint Kyeranus blessed the axle, and it was forthwith
made whole again as it had been before; and afterwards for the entire
day they travelled in the carriage safely.


XVII. HOW CIARAN WENT WITH HIS COW TO THE SCHOOL OF FINDIAN

15. After this Saint Kyaranus wished to leave his parents and to go
forth to the school of Saint Finnianus, who was a wise man abounding
in all holiness; so that he might there read the Scriptures, with the