On the first appearance of the new moon, a number of children linked hands and danced, keeping time to the following verse--
I see the moon, the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me: There's grace in the cottage and grace in the hall; And the grace of God is over us all.
For the air to which this was sung see my 'Old Irish Folk Music and Songs,' p. 60.
'Do you really mean to drive that horse of William's to pound?' 'Certainly I will.' 'Oh very well; let ye take what you'll get.' Meaning you are likely to pay dear for it--you may take the consequences. (Ulster.)
'If he tries to remove that stone without any help _it will take him all his time_': it will require his utmost exertions. (Ulster: very common.)
When rain is badly wanted and often threatens but still doesn't come they say:--'It has great _hould_ [hold] of the rain.' On the other hand when there is long continued wet weather:--'It is very fond of the rain.'
When flakes of snow begin to fall:--'They are plucking the geese in Connaught.' 'Formerly in all the congested districts of Ireland [which are more common in Connaught than elsewhere] goose and duck feathers formed one of the largest industries.' (Kinahan.)
Now James you should put down your name for more than 5s.: there's Tom Gallagher, not half so well off as you, _put the shame on you_ by subscribing £1. (Kinahan: pretty general.) { 206}
In stories 'a day' is often added on to a period of time, especially to a year. A person is banished out of Ireland for a year and a day.
The battle of Ventry Harbour lasted for a year and a day, when at last the foreigners were defeated.
There's a colleen fair as May, For a year and for a day I have sought by ev'ry way Her heart to gain.
'Billy MacDaniel,' said the fairy, 'you shall be my servant for seven years and a day.' (Crofton Croker.) Borrowed from the Irish.
The word _all_ is often used by our rustic poets exactly as it is found in English folk-songs. Gay has happily imitated this popular usage in 'Black-eyed Susan':--
'All in the Downs the fleet was moored'--
and Scott in 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel':--
Any number of examples might be given from our peasant songs, but these two will be sufficient:--
'As I roved out one evening two miles below Pomeroy I met a farmer's daughter _all on_ the mountains high.'