SETTLING THE SERPENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 6 September 1913, Page 12

SETTLING THE SERPENT.

AN IRISH LEGEND.

The following amusing and curious legend is current among the peasants of Killarney:

"Sure everybody has heard of the blessed St. Patrick, and how he drove the sarpints and all manner of venomous baists out of Ireland—now he bothered all varmints entirely'; but, for all that, there was one ould sarpint who was too cunning to be talked out of the country, and so our patron saint was at his wit's end to pet rid of this cunning snake. At last a lucky thought kern to the good man/ and he got a strong iron c})p*>+- made with nine boults in it.

"So one fine day he takes a walk to where the sarpint used to keep himself, and,the sarpint, who didn't like the saint in the least, began to hiss and show his teeth,-at him. " 'Oh,' " says St. Patrick, says he, 'where's the use of making such a piece of work about a gentleman like myself come to see you ? 'Tis a nice house I've got for you agin' the winter, for I'm going to civilise the whole country, man and baist,' says he, 'and you can come to look at it whenever you please, and 'tis myself will be glad to see you.' "The sarpint, hearing such smooth words, xhought that, although St. Patrick had druv all the rest of the sarpints into the sea, he meant no harm to himself ; so the sarpint walks fair and aisy up to see him and the nine great boults upon the chest, he thought he was about to be tricked, and was for making off with himself as fast as ever he could.

" ■ 'Tis a nice warm house, you see,' says St. Patrick, 'and 'tis a good friend I am to you.'

" 'I thank you kindly, St. Patrick, for your civility,' says the sarpint; 'but I think it's too small for me,' maining it as an excuse.

"'Too small!' says St: Patrick. 'Stop, if you plaise,' says he. 'You're out in that, my boy. I'm sure 'twill fit you complately. And I'll tell you what,' says he, 'I'll bet you a gallon of Dublin porter,' says he, 'that if you'll only try and get in, there will be plenty of room for you.'

"The 6arpint was as thirsty as he could be with his walk, and it was great joy to him, the thoughts of doing St. Patrick out of a gallon of Dublin porter ; so, swelling himself tip as big as he could, in he got to the chest, all but the end of his tail.

" 'There, now,' says he, 'I've won the bet, for you see the house is too small for me, for I can't fret my tail in.'

"Then what does St. Patrick do. hut he comes behind* the lid, and, putting his hands to it. down he slaps it with a noise like thundher. When the rogue of a saprint saw the lid coming down, in went his tail like a. shot, for fear of it being Avhipped off him, and St. Patrick began at once to boult the nine iron boults.

■■■ " 'Oh. nmrdher! Won't you let me (V*?' sm"d the snrm""t. 'I've lost the gallon fairly, and I'll pay you like a man.'

" 'T.«+, t-^,, r,wt. TTiv da^in'?' snys St. Patrick. 'To l>e sure I will —by all manner of means; but you see I haven't ti*T>o now, so you must wait till to-mor-row '

. "And so lie took the iron chest, and +^c sirnint in it, and pitched it into t>>e lako. here, to make sure of keepin' the s"^ke safe: and.- 'tis the sarnint stvnnror]i na - a £ the bottom that makes nil t^ft wpvps nnon it. ATany is the living "inn besides myself "has heard the s"iT)int orvin^ ont from the chest, u^dc+lie wnter: 'Ts i+ yet? Is it to-morrow vet' WhiVh. to he sr-re. it "?vpr ran he. And that's +he wav St. p" +-ick settled the last of the sarpints. sir."