A FOXHUNT IN THE SOUTHERN HILLS 



That the seventeenth day of March should be 

 estabhshed as the birthday of Ireland's chief Saint 

 is of the nature of a compromise. 



There is an old song, with an old tune, artless as 

 it is consciously roguish, that expounds the position — 



" On the eighth day of March 



(Or so some people say) 

 Saint Patrick at midnight, 



He first saw the day. 

 But others declare 



'Twas the ninth he was born, 

 So 'twas all a mistake 



Betwixt midnight and morn ! " 



The song, however, goes on to say that Father 

 Mulcahy (" who showed them their sins ") having 

 assured his flock that " no one could have two birth- 

 days, barrin' a twins," suggested that they should 

 not be " always dividin','' but should " sometimes 

 combine. Combine eight with nine, sivinteen is the 

 mark — 



" ' Let that be his birthday ! 

 Amin ! says the clerk.' " 



In spite, however, of Father Mulcahy's ingenious 

 compromise, the celebrants of St. Patrick's Day have 

 not often failed to find an excuse for breaking a head 

 or two in his honour. Head -breaking reasons are 

 still as plenty as ever in Ireland, and " risings " are 

 prophesied as confidently by political prophets as are 

 " depressions from the S.W. with wind and much 



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