It seems that the young lady had done nothing at all indecorous or uncommon. The rule, as McKenna subsequently saw exemplified, permitted any of the ladies who saluted and feed the bride to kiss the woman just married, or if she so chose, any of the gentlemen present. Hence the agent had unwittingly placed himself in a position to become the subject of Miss Mary’s little trick. He was not at all sorry for it, and the sensation of pleasure, caused by the kiss, visited his cheek for weeks thereafter. The money thus donated to the bride—and this part of the ceremony might be continued for some days—was employed in furnishing the house of the wedded pair. It closed at midnight, after which the lady and her husband could join their friends and indulge in a polka or waltz. The dancing of the Poles consisted of redowas, waltzes, polkas, mazourkas, and schottisches, some of which McKenna was taught; but, after all these, he liked best the lively jig and the rattling reel. Following some of this amusement, he was called upon to sing a song and dance a favorite fling, both of which he did with success. The song he gave eliciting most commendation was as follows, and called: THE WEDDING OF BALLYPOREEN. On a fine summer morning at twelve in the day, The birds they did sing and the asses did bray, When Patrick, the bridegroom, with Onagh, the bride, With their bibs and their tuckers, set out side by side. The pipers played first in the rear, sir; Maids blushed, and the bridegroom did stare, sir— O Lord, how the spalpeens did swear, sir, At the wedding of Ballyporeen. They were soon tacked togither, and home did return, To make merry the day at the sign of the Churn. When they sat down together, a frolicsome troop, The old Shannon’s bank never held such a group. There were turf-cutters, thatchers, and tailors, Fiddlers, and pipers, and nailers, At the wedding of Ballyporeen. There was Bryan McDermott, O’Shaughnessy’s brat, There was Terence O’Driscoll and platter-faced Pat; There was Norah McCormick, likewise Bryan O’Linn, An’ the fat, red-haired cookmaid that lived in the inn; There was Shelah, an’ Larry the genius, Pat’s uncle, old Darby McGinniss, Black Thady an’ crooked McDennis, At the wedding of Ballyporeen. The groom he got up an’ made an oration; He pleased them all with his kind botheration; “Since you all have met here”—then he swore and he cursed “You can eat till you swell, boys, an’ drink till ye burst; The first christening I hev, if I thrive, sirs, I hope ye all hither will drive, sirs. You’ll be all welcome, dead or alive, sirs, To the christening of Ballyporeen.”