HOW ST. PATRICK'S BIRTHDAY WAS SETTLED.

Patea Mail, 1 April 1882, Page 3

HOW ST. PATRICK'S BIRTHDAY WAS SETTLED.

BY SAMUEL LOVER. On the eighth day of March it was, some people say, ! ‘ That Saint Patrick at midnight he first saw the day ; , , While others declare ’twas the ninth he was born, And ’twas all a mistake between midnight ~ and morn ; ■, For mistakes will occur in the hurry and shock, And some blamed the baby and some blamed the clock, Till with all ,their cross questions sure no one, could know If the child was too fast or the clock was too slow. ::

Now, the first faction fight in old Ireland, they say, Was all on account of Saint Patrick’s birthday ; ■ . Some . fought for the eighth, for the ninth ■ more would die, Arid who wouldn’t see right, sure they , blackened his eye. ■ At last both the factions so positive grew That each kept a birthday, so Pat then had two ; ■, Till Father, Mulcahy, who showed them their sins, • Said “ No one could have two birthdays but twins.” , . , Says he, “Boys, don’t be fighting for 1 eight or for nine, ; Don’t be always dividing, but sometimes combine. j ' Combine eight with nine, and seventeen is the mark, ’ ; : j So let that be his birthday.” “Ament” said the clerk. ‘ , ; “If he wasn’t a twin, sure our hist’ry will , ; sIIOW That at least he’s worth ariy two saints that we know.” Then they all got blind drunk, which completed their .bliss, ‘ And we’ve kept up the practice from that day to this. ;