And your Reverence has tould us, unless we tell all,
’Tis worse than not makin’ confession at all.
So I’ll say in a word I’m no very good boy—
And, therefore, your blessin’, sweet Father Molloy.”
“Well, I’ll read from a book,” says Father Molloy,
“The manifold sins that humanity’s heir to;
And when you hear those that your conscience annoy,
You’ll just squeeze my hand, as acknowledging thereto.”
Then the father began the dark roll of iniquity,
And Paddy, thereat, felt his conscience grow rickety,