Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/288

 26o Some Characteristics of Irish Folklore.

" Mr. is a worthy man,

And to his house we've brought the wran. So up with the kettle and down with the pan, And give us a penny and let us be gone ! Sing holly, etc." ^^

In a County Clare version the singers, who had blackened faces and carried a bladder, altered the last lines to :

" Although he's little, his family's great, So rise up young ladies and give us a treat."

INVARIANT I.

" Mr. is a worthy man,

And to his house we've brought the wran ; The wran, the wran, that you may see Is guarded by the holly-tree. Sing holly, etc.

"The wran, the wran, the king of all birds,

St. Stephen his Day was cot in the furze.

And though he's little his family's great,

So arise, good lady, and give us a trate.

Sing holly, etc.

" Yet if you do fill it of the small. It will not do for our boys at all ; But if you fill it of the best, We hope in heaven your soul may rest. Sing holly, etc."

Variant II.

"The wran, the wran, the king of all birds, St. Stephen's Day was cot in the furze. Although he's little his family's grate, Put your hand in your pocket and give us a trate. Sing holly, etc.

" And if you dhraw it ov the best, I hope in heaven yer sowl will rest, But if you dhraw it ov the small It won't agree wid de wran boys at all. Sing holly, etc."

Hall, Tour in Ireland, vol. i. p. 24.