The Private Still

An Exciseman once in Dublin at the time that
I was there,
He fancied that a private stillwas being worked
somewhere;
He met me out one morning, perhaps he
fancied that I knew,
But I didnt—never mind that — says he Pat,
how do yhu do.
Fal de ral, &c
Says I, I'm very well, your honour, but allow
me for to say,
I don't know you at all; by jove, but says he,
but perhnps you may;
I want to flind a something out assist me if you
will,
Heres fifty pounds ;f you can tell me wheere's
a private still.
Give me fifty pounds 'savs I, upon my soul
I can
I'll Keep my word, the devil a he as I'm an
Irishman ;
Ihe fitv pounds he soon put down, I pocketed
the fee
Save I now button up ysur coat ,and straicht-
way follow me
I took him walking up the street, and talking
He little thought I'd got take him a thun-
dering many miles,
Says he how much further Pat' for I am getting
very tired,
Said I then let us have a car, and a jaunting
car he hired'
As soon as we got on the car' said he, now tell
me, Pat,
Where is this blessed private still, — don't take
me for a flat,
A flat, your honour, no says I,btt hear me If
you will,
And I at once will tell you, sir, where there's
a private still.
Go on at once, says he, said I, all right — now
mark me well,
I have a brother that is close by here, in the
barracks he does dwell,
I assure you he's a soldier, though he went
against his wil !
The devil take your brother, says he, where's
the private still.
Hold your whist, says I, old chap, and I will
plainly show,
That in the army, why, of course, promotion
is very slow,
Saidthe Exciseman, yes I'm sure it is, they're
only meant to kill,
But never mind your brother, tell me where's
the private still
Said I,I'm coming to it—the barrack's close at
hand,
And if youll look straight through the gates
you'll see and hear the band;
And when the band's done playing, you'll sea
the soldiers drill —
The blazes take the soldiers, tell me, where's
the private still.
Half minute more, says I, I'll point him out
to you—
Faith there he is, say I, old ehap, standing
'twixt them two,
Who the blazes do you mean, said he, I said
my brother Bill,
Well, says he; we l, says I, they won't make
him a corporal, so he's a private still,
The Exciseman siamped, and said he'd have
his money back,
But I jumped on the car myself and off was
in a crack,
And the people as he walked along, tho' much
against his will,
Shout after him "Exciseman, have you found
the private ll"

THE LAMENTATIONS OF

PATRICK BRADY

OR THE H OES OF '98

Ye true born heros I hope you will now len
an ear,
To a few simple verses, the truth unto you I'll
declare,
My name is Patrick Brady, the same I will
nevea deny
In Ross I was born, and in Naas condemned
to die.
I once had a home, and a shelter from want
and woe,
But I am now among strangers where no
person does me know,
Condemned for high treason, to die on a gallows
tree.
For seeking the rights of Erin my poor dear
country.
My father, God rest him, was taken without
any crime,
And marched off a prisoner, and hanged in one
hour's time,
My self and two brothers to the wood were
forced to fly,
We vowed for revenge or else by the sword
we'd die,
It was early next morning to Gorey we all
marched away,
Where the drums they did rattle and our flies
did play,
We took all the cannon that day from their
artillary,
It was early next morning to Wicklow we al
marched away,
Our hearts were most glorious with liberty shin-
ing that day,
But entering of Ferns we were attacked by the
Yoemanry,
We fought them for four hours till we gained a
complete victory.
We fought in New Ross, and we fought upon
Vinegar Hill,
And in sweet castlecomer were the colliers
joined us with free will,
Out of fourteen engagements we receives not
a wound or scar,
Till I lost my two brothers at the battle of
sweet Castlebar.
To march with the Frenchmen it left me much
troubled in mind,
To think I shou d go and leave my two bro-
thers behind,
Through the sweet County Leitrim to Granard
our way we took,
And was attack by the army at the
of Ballinamuck,
We fought with good courage but defeated we
were on that day,
We were forceo to retreat, no longer our
heroes could stay,
But the brave Longford heroes to fly from a
they never could,
Thev never could yield till they'd lose the last
drop of their blood,
When we were forced to retreat for refuge we
thought for to fly,
For all that was taken was certain and sure for
to die,
To the sweet County Wicklow for refuge we
thought for to face,
We were taken in Rathangan and twelve were
hanged in Naas.
Come all you brave heroes the truth unto you
I'll relate,
From powder or ball poor Brady has ne'er
met his fate,
So all you good Christians who hear of my
sorrowful fate,
You'llprty for Prtrick Brady, the have of