After he had passed six years in the service of this prince, he thought
he heard a voice in his sleep which promised him a speedy return to his
native land, and soon afterwards announced to him that a ship was already
prepared to take him. In reliance on this call, he set out, and after a
journey of many days, he found a ship about to set sail. But the captain
would not, at first, receive the poor unknown youth. Patrick fell on his
knees and prayed. He had not finished his prayer before one of the
ship's company called him back, and offered him a passage. After a
wearisome voyage, in which he experienced, from the grace which guided
him, many a deliverance from great peril, and many a memorable answer to
prayer, he arrived once more amongst his people.

Many years after this, he was again carried off by pirates. But, in
sixteen days, by the special guidance of Providence, he regained his
freedom, and again returned, after many fresh perils and fatigues, to his
people. Great was the joy of his parents to see their son again after so
many perils, and they entreated him thenceforth to remain with them
always. But Patrick felt an irresistible call to carry to the people
amongst whom he had passed the years of his youth, and amongst whom he
had been born again to the heavenly life, the tidings of that salvation
which had been imparted to him by Divine grace, whilst amongst them. As
the apostle Paul was by the Lord called, in a nocturnal vision, to carry
to the people of Macedonia the first tidings of salvation, so there
appeared to Patrick one night, in a vision, a man from Ireland with many
letters. He gave him one, and Patrick read the first words, "The words
of the Irish." And as he read these words, he thought he heard the
simultaneous cry of many Irish tribes dwelling by the sea, "We pray thee,
child of God, come and dwell once more amongst us." He could not read
further, from the agitation of his heart, and awoke.