ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1908, 16 March 1887, Page 2

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

A correspondent forwards us the follow ing as explanatory of the true origin ol the 17th March being fixed upon for St. Patrick's Birthd«y :—

On the Bth day of Maroh it was, some people say, That St. Patrick at midnight he first saw the day, Whilst others declare on the ninth ha was born, And t'was all a mistake betwixt midnight and morn. For mistakes will oeour m the harry and shock, And some blamed the baby, and some blamed tbe clock, For with all tbtir cross?questions, sure no one could know If tho clock was too fast or the child was too slow. Now the first faotion fight m old Ireland they say, Was all on aooount of St. Patriok's Birthday, Some fought for tbe eighth; for the ainth some would die, And who wouldn't see right, faith they'd blasken his eye. And th« two rival factions so obstinate grew, That, each keeping a birthday, St. Patrick had two ; Till Father M'Nulty, who told them their sins, Said "No man could have two, unless he was twinß." " Boys," said he, " Never mind if t'was eight or t'was nine, " Don't be always diviiin' but sometimes combine, " Add tbe 8 to tha 0, and 17 is the mark, •> And let that be his Birthday," "Amen I" . said the clerk. So they all got blind drunk, whioh completed tbeir bliss, And they've kept up tho custom from that day to this.