rial so strong
a hold upon their prejudices and affections, that the temptation must
indeed have been great which would have prevented them from attending
it. When old Frank went out, about one-third of those who were
present left the dance along with them; and as the hour for mass was
approaching, they lost no time in preparing for it.

The Midnight Mass is, no doubt, a phrase familiar to our Irish readers;
but we doubt whether those in the sister kingdoms, who may honor our
book with a perusal, would, without a more particular description,
clearly understand it.

This ceremony-was performed as a commemoration not only of the night,
but of the hour in which Christ was born. To connect it either with
edification, or the abuse of religion, would be invidious; so we
overlook that, and describe it as it existed within our own memory,
remarking, by the way, that though now generally discontinued, it is in
some parts of Ireland still observed, or has been till within in a few
years ago.

The parish in which the scene of this story is laid was large,
consequently the attendance of the people was proportionably great.
On Christmas day a Roman Catholic priest has, or is said to have, the
privilege of saying three masses, though on every other day in the year
he can celebrate but two. Each priest, then, said one at midnight, and
two on the following day.

Accordingly, about twenty or thirty years ago, the performance of the
Midnight Mass was looked upon as an ordinance highly important and
interesting. The preparations for it were general and fervent; so much
so, that not a Roman Catholic family slept till they heard it. It is
true it only occurred once a year; but had any person who saw it once,
been called upon to describe it, he would say that religion could
scarcely present a scene so wild and striking.

The night in question was very dark, for the moon had long disappeared,
and as the inhabitants of the whole parish were to meet in one spot, it
may be supposed that the difficulty was very great, of traversing, in
the darkness of midnight, the space between their respective residences,
and the place appointed by the priest for the celebration of mass. The
difficulty, they contrived to surmount. From about eleven at night
till twelve or one o'clock, the parish presented a scene singularly
picturesque, and, to a person unacquainted with its causes, altogether
mysterious. Over the surface of the surrounding country were s