The Somerset reporter., 1888-04-26
vi GREETINGS AND fte0lA0re

Peculiar Expressions Heard Amone ~
Natives Of the Grecn lsls
When an irtshman Is moved to graft.
tude by kindness, his praise and thanks
take the form OF unbounded blessings.
and. when the spirit moves him 10 curse.
his objurgntions are deep. picturesque and
highly colored
God save all herei" is the common
form Of salutation Oh entering a cottage.
and God save you kindlyi" the answer
Anything that Is admired by stranger Is
always promptly blessed. TO keep off the
evil eye The friendly criticism That's
fine slip OF pig Is always followed by
quick. well. indeed. it's not a bad one,
God bless I'll"
Turning to the subjects of blessings
and Of general asseverations. we shall find
the Irish language peculiarly rich and fer
tile in variety of idea and adjective, and
often in real beauty and poetical form Of
expression Few can tell the origin Of
such phrases as by the powers of Moll
kellyr'-though tradition speaks Of lady
of that name being II potency in Dublin
There is a fine sonorous swing about by
this and by that but II bangs BanagherI'
and we know that Banagher was once upon
a time seat of learning
"Tare an -agesl" is refreshing. II mys
FERROUS; by all the books that ever were
open or shut" has a vast literary sound
about it, and when II Is intended to take
that oath falsely tho word never" is
adroitly substituted for ever" Just as in
the old trials witness prepared to do
his best for the poor boy in the dock"
would kiss his own thumb. but not the
holy book. with a sounding smack Very
fine and majestic is the rythm Of by the
piper that played before Mosesl" though
there Is no authentic account Of that emf
nent Semitic musician. and there Is a
deeply devout meaning In the curious ex.
preston. please the pigs. which is
corruption of PLEASE the pyx. the sacred
vessel that holds the host on high at the
mass .Wurra Dheeish" means Sweet
Virgin. who Is sometimes invoked In mo-
ments of danger as Queen of Heaven"
and Saints in gloryi" or Saints alivel"
are expressions of admiration or wonder
As examples of richness of diction, take
the charm blessing to be said to an old
woman: "Oh. aged old woman Of tho
gray locks, may 500 blessings twelve
times over be on theel Mayest thou be
free from desoation. Oh woman of the
aged framel May many tears fall upon
thy gravel" wise woman. properly
blessed after this fashion. will make you
dream dreams of Importance, which
dreams you must never tell fasting, and
Il AL
name of Mary
Again, there Is something touchngly
poetical in the words of the western
charm for love. Three times. secretly
over drink to be given the beloved one
the girl will say This charm | set for
love; womans charm of love and desire;
charm Of God that none can break
You for me and | for you. and for none
else; your face to mine and your head
turned away from all others. So with
the old Irish names of animals, they are
Indian in their descriptive power The
ant was 1.-THE slender one, the trout was
called "brae." the lone with the spots"
the hedgehog was called 1.-The ugly little
fellow. and the wren was known as the
"Druid's bird because if any one could
understand its chirrup as it darts from
bush to BUSH he would have a knowledge
of coming events, as foretold by the bird
What wildly picturesque words and il
Illustrations sportsmen with attentive ears
can pick upl Concerning a romantic rab-
bit run the question was asked Are
there many rabbits about2" Many is
it2" was the reply; sure there are whole
funerals of theml" the procession of rab
bits suggesting the curious idea ANY
trout in this stream?" 'Trouts, is it,
Wait till the food goes down bit. and
yer honor can walk dry shod over their
backs to the other side. = London Tee
rraDh