ST. PATRICK

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 9

ST. PATRICK

1 The exploits of St. Patrick, or, rather, the popular legends respecting them, have been embalmed bv Mr Henry Bennett, Mr Toleken, of Cork, and others, in the well-known national Ivrie, " St. Patrick was a- Gentleman." The first verses of this popular soik; were sung by these ballad singers in Cork in 1814, and subsequently other verses were added to the lyric : Oh, St. Patrick was a gentleman Who came of decent people; He built a church in Dublin town, And on it put a steeple. His father was a Gallagher. His mother was a Brady, His aunt was an O'Shaughnessy, His uncle an O'Grady. So success attend St. Patrick's fist, For lie's a saint ■■(■ clrwi-. Oh, he gave the snakes and toads a twist Which bother'd them for ever. The Wicklow hills are very high; And so's the hill of Howth, sir. But there's a hill much higher still, Much hirher than thorn both, sir. 'Twas on the top of this high hill St. Patrick pre.;c!i'd his siirmint That drove the frogs into the bogs, And bauish'd nil the varmint. Oh, success, etc. There's not a mile in Ireland's isle Where dirty varmin musters, But there he put his dear forefoot, And murdered them in clusters. The toads went pop, the frogs went hop. Slap-dash into the water; And the snakes committed suicide. To save themselves from slaughter. Oh, success, etc. No wonder that those Irish lads Should be so gay and frisky; For sure St. Pat. he taught them that, As well as making whisky. No wonder that the saint himself, Should understand distilling, Since his mother kept a shebeen shop In the town of Enniskillen. Oh, success, etc. Oh ! was I but so fortunate As to be back in Minister, 'Tis I'd be bound that from that ground I never more would once stir. For there St. Patrick planted turf, And plenty of the praties; With pigs galore, ma gra, ma 'store, And cabbages—and ladies. Then my blessings on St. Patrick's fist, For he's the darling saint, 0 ! Oh, he gave the snakes and toads a twist— He's beauty without paint, 0 ! IE the stories told in popular legends respecting this celebrated saint be true, he worked many miracles, and led a most abstemious and pious life, but never in any way gave any warranty for thsjfc jollification, euphemistically termed the drowning of the shamrock, with which his day is generally celebrated. Monday next ii St. Patrick'a Day.