The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-05-17
Irish Blessings and Curses.

When an Irishman is moved to
gratitude by kindness his praise and
thanks take the form of unbounded
blessings, and, when the spirit moves
him to curse, his objurgations are
deep, picturesque, and highly colored.
s'God save all herew is the common
form of salutation on entering a
cottage, and ''God save you kindlyw
the answer. Anything that is admired
by a stranger is always promptly
blessed, to keep off the evil eye. The
friendly criticism, That's Il fine slip
of pig" is always followed by quick
''Well, indeed, it's not bad one, God
bless it,"
Turning to the subjects of blessings
and of general asverations, we shall
find the Irish language peculiarly rich
and fertile in variety of idea and adj
jective, and often in real beauty and
poetical form of expression. Few can
tell the origin of such phrases as
by the powers of Moll Kelly?'-
though tradition speaks of lady of
that name being a potency in Dublin.
There is fine sonorous swing about
by this and by that but it bangs
Banagher" and we know that Bana-
CHER was once upon time seat of
learning.
'.Tare-an-ages!" is refreshing. if
mysterious: ''by ali the books that ever
were open and shutr' has vast liter
airy sound about it, and, when it is in
tended to take the oath falsely, the
word "never" is adroitly substituted for
"eyer," just as on old trials witness
prepared to edo his best for the poor
boy in the dock" would kiss his own
thumb, but not the holy book, with q
sounding smack. Very fine and ma
jestic is the rhy thm of by the piper
that played before Mosesr' though
there is no authentic account of that
eminent Semitic musician; and there
is II deeply devout meaning in the
curious expression "Please the pigs,
hich is a corruption of please the
pyx," the sacred vessel that holds the
Host on high at the mass. "Wurra
Deelish" means ''Sweet Virgin" who
is sometimes invoked in moments OF
danger as "Queen of Heaven" and
'tSaints in Glory" or Saints alive
are expressions of admiration or Won
der.
As examples of richness of diction,
take the charm blessing to be said to
an old woman: 30 aged old woman
of the gray locks. may eight hundred
blessings twelve times over be on thee
Mayest thou be free from desolation,
o woman of the aged frame! May
many tears fall upon thy grave!'
A .'wise woman" properly blessed
after this fashion, will make you dream
dreams of importance, which dreams
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ways tell them first to woman by
the name of Mary.
Again there is something touchingly
poetical in the words of the Western
charm for love. Three times, secret
", over drink to be given the be
loved one, the girl will say: s'This i:
a charm | set for love; woman:
charm of love aud desire; of God tha
none can brcak-sYou for me, anC
1 for you, and for none else; your face
to mine, and your head turned away
from all Others So with the ole
Irish names of animals; they are In
dian in thoir descriptive power. The
ant was sithe slender one," the trou
was called "brene," the lone with the
spots" the hedgehog was called ''thC
ugly little fellow and the wren wa!
known as the 'Druid's bird" because
if any one could understand its chirrup
as it darts from bush to bush, he woult
have knowledge of coming events
as foretold bv the bird.
What vividly picturesque words anC
illustrations sportsmcn with attentive
ears can pick up! Concerning TO
mantle rabbit run the question wa
asked, care there many rabbits about?'
MANY, is it?" was the reply: ''sur,
there are Whole funerals ot themr-
the procession of rabbits suggesting
the curious idea. ''Any trout in th
stre;rm?' ''Trouts. is itP Wait til
the flood goes down a bit, and ye
honor can walk dry-shod over thei
backs to the other side!"-Londol
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