Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-07-17
IRISH PROVERBS.

one. 1t is the quintessence of a peoples ex-
pericnce and sagacity, colorcd by their wit
and imagination. 1t knits up universal
law in particular example, and forms an
unfailing argument in the mouths of the peo-
ple Proverbs are confined to no age or
country, but are often common to different
languages and nations. Thus we have been
interested in looking over collection of Irish
proverbs to see low many of them are SINH
lar in language or spirit to those used in this
country. Thus among the people Of Ulster
sly, knowing fellow is said to "know the
butthered side of his hammock )" rough
but honest friend is said to be "betther nor
he's likely, like swinged cat;" good
trouncing with shllelagh is disguised as a
orubbing down with the oil of hazel )" of an
inefficient man it is said che will never set
the Lagan on fire. 'them at gets the name
of early risin' may lie all day" The equiya-
lents of these are familiar to all New Eng
landers. But there are others which have a
local coloring, and are full of Irish wit. For
instance-"A lazy man is beggarman's $
brother;" of one who with good talents and
prospects has thrown himself away in life, it
is oddly but expressively said, "he was cut
out for gentleman, but the devil ran away
with the patthern;" an eccentric person,
when the eccentricity is not excessive, is
said, oddly enough, to "want square of be-
ing round; fighty personis said to "have
bee in his bonnet. The English maxim,
"Happy is the wife who is u!arrcdto moth
eress son, falls infinitely short in expressive
ness of the Ulster rhyme
.Of all the ould wGmrn that ever saw,
Sweet bad luck to my mother-in-law" !"
4 man who anticipates his income is said
"to eat the calf in the cows belly" OF a
nigsardly, hard-fstcd churl it is said that
oit is as hard to draw shilling out of his
pocket, as to drag cat out Of silk stock
ing by the tail" The Ulster proverb do not
spare the fair sex. 'Do like the women
say no, and take it," is bad compliment to
female sincerity "Nixt after single, good
wifc's best" is also very equivocal rccog-
milton of the charms of matrimony. There
is much good feeling, however, conveyed in
another of these, popularsayings, dts niv-
er lost that a friend gets" There is pro-
verbal phrase in use in Ulster, that has so
curious an origin that we are temptedto copy
the story
An article in which the cost of accessories
far exceeds that Of the article itself or its
nominal material, is said to be "like the lime
stone broth" An old school farmer whose
family is just emerging into gentility, will
apply this phrase to the ribbons or other trim
mings of his daughters bonnets, or to the
furnishing of his wifc's new parlor. The
limestone broth was the device employed by
sly old boccogh, or wandering mendicant,
to secure good supper without seeming to
ask it. Making his way into plain but like
Iy cottage, he begged the good-wfe to lend
him small pot, and to permit him to cook
his supper upon her fire. On her acceding
to his request, he produced from his wallet
twosubs,antial pieces offreshly-cut limestone,
which he laid carefully in the pot, and just
covering them with water, placed the pot
upon the fire to boil. The good woman could
not help asking him what it was that he was
going to make, and was informed that it was
limestone broth. When the hailng had pro-
cccdcd for sometime, the beggarman tasted
the contents, and pronouncng the broth ex-
ccllcnt, begged for a little salt to season it.
By.and bye, he suggested that all it wanted
WAS spoonful of meal to tbicken it. Next
came petition for slice or two of turnps
and lccks, to give it a little substance; and
in the end hint that it wouldn't be the worse
of a "knucklc of bacon," just to give it the
laste taste in the world of the flavor of the
mate" The good woman who watched the
proceeding with the utmost interest, cheer
fully complied with all those successive re-
questions; and when, at last, at the conclu-
sion of the operation, she was invited to try
the limestone broth, she pronounced it "quite
as good as any mate broth she ever tasted in
all her life ~ The application of the story
will be readily understood Portland Tran.
script. "
GeD5" 4 lover, wishingto concentrate his ar
lor ., o,o brrct of no osiop oyp1a n, ni go