Tramps

transcribed at

The Tramps  [duchas:5172891]

Long ago when a tramp would come at night, the people of the house  if they knew him would not put him out.  Sometimes if they had no place for him in an outhouse, they would make a bed of straw for him in the kitchen.  One of the tramps who used to come was Johnny Mack.  He had a meal bag and he

The Tramps  [duchas:5172892]

put a big potato in each corner and tied it with a sagan.  Then he put the bag on his back like a school bag.  Another tramp was Larry Sullivan and when he got an alms he would say "God increase your store and put it in your heart to give me more."  If he didn't get an alms this was his prayer, "That your toes may be turned up to the daises when I come again." At the present day the tramps do not come as often.  The Casey's are one of the bands who come and they only come once a year and that is often enough.  The men come first and when they are gone the women and children come and if they didn't get something they would stay craving for a week.