"Oh, Paddy, dear, and did you hear the news that's going round?
The shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground.
St. Patrick's day no more we'll keep, his colors can't be seen,
For there's a bloody law ag'in the wearin' of the green.
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand,
And he said, 'How's poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?'"
And then the gang, unable to hold its enthusiasm, bellowed in chorus with the sadly cracked voice, which, nevertheless, retained the true old Irish lilt:
"She's the most distressful country that ever yet was seen,
They are hangin' men and women for the wearin' of the green."
They had sung it over and over, prolonging to a greater extent with each repetition the high note upon which in the song the word "men" falls. Once in tune, it was not so difficult to get Malachi to sing other songs, and he gave them, with the genuine flavor of the old sod, Garryowen. The gang became uproarious when he reached the stanza:
