A Bit of Irish Folklore.
The Irish peasantry will never say " God bless it " to a dog or cat, though they do say it to everything else, animate or inanimate.
Of a child they would say, "That's a nice child, God bless it ! " of a pig, " Thai's a nate pig, God bless it!" or of a gun, "That's a beautiful piece, God bless it ! " but of a dog or cat only •• That'B a great dog," or, " That's a purty cat," but never " God bless it ! "
Indeed they would think it profane in the highest degree to say so.
An English friend who was staying with us, but whojdid not know of this exception, wishing to make agreeable to a countryman who showed him a dog, said, " That's a fine dog, God bless him ! "
I shall never forget the expression of that peasant's face. He said nothing, but devoutly crossed himself. — W. R. Le Fanu.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18940621.2.217.7
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 49
Word Count
154A Bit of Irish Folklore. Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 49
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