IN MANY countries there are “secret visitors” — people who do not want to go back to their homeland. Although it is against the law, they often remain unnoticed for years. They are called aliens, which means belonging elsewhere. For the most part, they are afraid to go to the authorities for permission to stay, because they may be arrested and sent home.
In Canada recently it was decided to pardon all these illegal aliens. The government invited them, one and all, to apply for permission to stay. It was a sixty-day, last-chance, “all is forgiven” offer. Nearly fifty thousand came forward to accept it. About four thousand applied at the eleventh hour!
One man came just fifteen mites before the deadline. “Now I’m free, I’m happy, I don’t have to hide!” he exclaimed.
Many years ago, when there had been a rebellion in Northern Scotland, King William III made a proclamation that all who came and took the oath of allegiance by the 31St of December should be pardoned.
MacIan, the proud chief of one rebellious clan, decided to return with the rest of the rebels; but resolved that he would be the very last one to take the oath. So he delayed his journey until the 29th of December, just two days before the offer expired.
Alas, a snowstorm hindered him, and before he arrived to receive the pardon, the time was past. While others were set free, MacIan was miserably put to death.
ML-03/10/1974