74 THE PRIEST AND THE VOTER. 



" Ah, no, Father, no, I'm changin', it's me system's all awry. 

 Faix them Salisbury boys is dacent chaps, we'll let them 



have a try." 

 "Ye're a hard benighted crayture," said the Priest, "the 



saints will come 

 Rather hard upon ye, Larry, an' a curse upon your home. 



" 'Tis a rat they'll turn ye into, Larry ; Larry, that they will." 

 " Faix," I said, "it's what Fd like, bedad, there's one down 



at the mill 

 That has got a situation that would suit me to the ground, 

 He's the run of all the provender, with board an' lodgin' 



found." 



Then he went his way blasphemin' me, L heard him all the 



way, 

 But I have not grown a rat's tail yet ; there's time, bedad, I 



may ! 

 Ah ! now, Patrick, we'll be practical, just for a change we will, 

 An' we'll stick to poor ould Oirland, boys, to poor ould 



Oirland still. 



