master zachariah riney was described as a man of excellent character, deep piety and fair education. he had been reared a catholic but made no attempt to proselytize. and the great president always mentioned him in terms of grateful wrote," wrote one of lincoln's early biographers. whether riney left a lasting impression on lincoln or not, lincoln was always interested in irish culture. he knew and recited robert emmitt's speech from the dock. by memory. especially the closing words, "when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not til then, let me epitaph be written, i have done." lincoln's favorite ballad was "the lament of the irish emigrant" set to music. many of lincoln's quips as a politician often resourced to irish analogies. oftentimes they were caustic and a bit insulting to make a point. his first recorded jibe about a poor irishman comes from one of his congressional speeches on the need for sensible improvements when he described an irishman who had a pair of new boots. quoting lincoln, "i shall never get 'em on, said patrick, until i wear '