The Christmas - a light, blessed by the Priest, and lighted at sunset, on Christmas eve, in Irish houses. It is a kind of impiety to snuff, touch, or use it for any profane purposes after.

It is the custom in Irish Catholic families to sit up till midnight on Christmas eve, in order to join in devotion at that hour. Few ceremonies of the religion have a more splendid and imposing effect than the morning mass, which in cities is celebrated soon after the hour alluded to and long before daybreak.

ONCE I HAD A TRUE LOVE.

ONCE I had a true love,

I loved him well- I loved him well, But since he's found a new love,

Alone I dwell, alone I dwell.

How oft we've wandered lonely Through yon old glen, through yon old glen,

I was his treasure only,

And true love then, and true love then. But Mary's singing brought me

To sigh all day, to sigh all day;
Oh, had my mother taught me

To sing and play, to sing and play.
Once I had a true love, etc.

By lone Glencree at even

I passed him late, I passed him late; A glance just sidelong given,

Told all his fate, told all his fate;

His step no longer airy,

His head it hung, his head it hung,

Ah, well I knew that Mary,

She had a tongue, she had a tongue.
Once I had a true love, etc.

The spring is coming early,

And skies are blue, and skies are blue,

And trees are budding fairly,

And corn is new, and corn is new; What clouds the sunny morrow

Of nature then, of nature then? And turns young hope to sorrow? Oh fickle men! Oh fickle men! Once I had a true love,

I loved him well- I loved him well, But since he 's found a new love,

Alone I dwell, alone I dwell.