Mooney.] 4-0 [May 3, 



This, which is not strictly gramraatic, may be renderd : 



I hav brought to yon my panting wren ; 



And on the high blackthorn hil* he was at his meal. 



When he was exhausttd and his soul a-trembling, 



He begd to be taken to Mr. Raymond. 



From Mr. Raymond, to release himself, 



Beer and coffee in abundance (to demand) for his companions. 



8. As down the glen, boys, we did bate, 

 Our gentleman to overtake. 



We overtook him in the glen. 



Which caused our wran boys for to sing — 



Sing holly, sing ivy— sing ivy, sing holly, 



Christmas day it is all but a folly, 



But Christmas comes but once a year, 



And when it comes, it brings good cheer.— Cork. 



9. The wran, the wran, the king of all birds. 

 Saint Stephens'es day, he was caught in the furz. 

 I broke all my toes a-gathering the sand. 



Pray, madam, do giv me a drop of the dram.— Cavan. 



10. Here comes I, says Beelzebub, 



And over my shoulder I carry a club, 



And in my hand a dripping pan, 



I call myself a jolly old man. — Cavan. 



11. Sing holly, sing iv^'— sing ivy, sing holly, 



A drop just to drink, it would drown melancholy, 



And if you ill it of the best, 



I hope in heaven your soul may rest ; 



But if you draw it of the small. 



It won't agree with my boys at all. — Kerry. 



Nos. 4 and 11, lilie the verses already given under Saint Bridget's eve, 

 ar evidently derived in part from some old English verses sung on Saint 

 Catherine's day, November 25, by children going from house to house 

 like the Irish wren boys. Among those quoted by Brand ar the follow- 

 ing : 



Up with your kettle and down with your pan, 

 Give us an answer and let us be gone. 

 ******* 



Roll, roll. 



Gentle butler, fill the bowl ; 



If you fill it of the best, 



God will send your soul to rest ; 



But if you fill it of the small. 



The devil take butler, bowl and all.f 



No. 10 is probably derived from an old Christmas drama of Cornwall, 



• Onoc Ard-d'roig'eanac- , "the high blackthorn hil," overlooks the town of Tralee in 

 Kerry. 



+ Brand, Antiquities, i, 413-4. 



