' Why, then, bud-an-age ! ' says he, ' isn't it a burning
diame for able stout fellows like yecs to be asleep at the
hour o' midn^ht of all hours o' the night. Tare-an-age 1 '
says he, ' get .up wid yecs, you dirty spalpeens I There's
St. Pathrick in Jerooslem beyant ; the Pope's * signin'
* Siud ert : a salutbtkai er toast.
304 CARLETON S TRAITS AND STORIES.
his mittimus to Ireland, to bless it in regard that ntitlier
corn, nor barley, nor phaties will grow an the land in
consequence of a set of varmint that ates it up ; an'
there's not a glass o' whisky to be had in Ireland for love
or money,' says Lucifer. ' Get up vnd yees,' says he,
' an' go in an' get his blessin' ; sure, there's not a Catholic
in the counthry, barrin' Swaddlcrs,* but's in the town
by this,' says he ; 'ay, an' many o' the Protestants them-
selves, and the " black-mouths "f an' " bhie-belKes "
are gone in to get a share of it. An' now,' says he,
' bekase you wor so heavy-headed, I ordher it from this
out, that the present night is to be obsarved in the
Catholic Church all over the world, an' must be kep' holy ;
an' no throe Catholic ever will miss from this pariod an
opportunity of b<an' awake at midnight,' says he, ' glory
te to God ! ' An' now, good Christians, you have
an account o' the blessed carol I was singin' for yees.
