length and breadth of the world for collaborating with the perfidious
Saxons.
Hes pushing in our door and singing,
And if, when all a vigil keep,
The Wests asleep, the Wests asleep!
Alas! and well my Erin weep,
That Connacht lies in slumber deep,
But hark! a voice like thunder spake
The Wests awake! the Wests awake!
Sing, Oh, hurrah, let England quake,
Well watch till death for Erins sake!
He calls from the bottom of the stairs, Angela, Angela, is there a
drop of tea in this house?
She doesnt answer and he calls again, Francis, Malachy, come down
here, boys. I have the Friday Penny for you.
I want to go down and get the Friday Penny but Mam is sobbing
with the coat over her mouth and Malachy says, I dont want his old
Friday Penny. He can keep it.
Dad is stumbling up the stairs, making a speech about how we all
have to die for Ireland. He lights a match and touches it to the candle
by Mams bed. He holds the candle over his head and marches around
the room, singing,
See who comes over the red-blossomed heather,
Their green banners kissing the pure mountain air,
Heads erect, eyes to front, stepping proudly together,
Sure freedom sits throned on each proud spirit there.
Michael wakes and lets out a loud cry, the Hannons are banging on
the wall next door, Mam is telling Dad hes a disgrace and why doesnt
he get out of the house altogether.
He stands in the middle of the floor with the candle over his head.
He pulls a penny from his pocket and waves it to Malachy and me.Your
Friday Penny, boys, he says. I want you to jump out of that bed and line
up here like two soldiers and promise to die for Ireland and Ill give the
two of you the Friday Penny.
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