diff options
Diffstat (limited to '16013.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 16013.txt | 7403 |
1 files changed, 7403 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/16013.txt b/16013.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..916ca2b --- /dev/null +++ b/16013.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7403 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Station; The Party Fight And Funeral; +The Lough Derg Pilgrim, by William Carleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Station; The Party Fight And Funeral; The Lough Derg Pilgrim + Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of + William Carleton, Volume Three + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STATION AND OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE WORKS OF WILLIAM CARLETON + + +VOLUME III. + + + + +TRAITS AND STORIES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY + + +PART II. + + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + +[Illustration: Titlepage] + + + + +CONTENTS: + + The Station. + + The Party Fight And Funeral. + + The Lough Derg Pilgrim. + + + + + +THE STATION. + + +Our readers are to suppose the Reverend Philemy M'Guirk, parish priest +of Tir-neer, to be standing upon the altar of the chapel, facing the +congregation, after having gone through the canon of the Mass; and +having nothing more of the service to perform, than the usual prayers +with which he closes the ceremony. + +"Take notice, that the Stations for the following week will be held as +follows:-- + +"_On Monday, in Jack Gallagher's of Corraghnamoddagh_. Are you there, +Jack?" + +"To the fore, yer Reverence." + +"Why, then, Jack, there's something ominous--something auspicious--to +happen, or we wouldn't have you here; for it's very seldom that you +make part or parcel of this _present_ congregation; seldom are you here, +Jack, it must be confessed: however, you know the old classical proverb, +or if you don't, I do, which will just answer as well--_Non semper ridet +Apollo_--it's not every day _Manus_ kills a bullock; so, as you are +here, be prepared for us on Monday." + +"Never fear, yer Reverence, never fear; I think you ought to know that +the grazin' at Corraghnamoddagh's not bad." + +"To do you justice, Jack, the mutton was always good with you, only +if you would get it better killed it would be an improvement. Get Tom +McCusker to kill it, and then it'll have the right smack." + +"Very well, yer Rev'rence, I'll do it." + +"_On Tuesday, in Peter Murtagh's of the Crooked Commons_. Are you there, +Peter?" + +"Here, yer Reverence." + +"Indeed, Peter, I might know you are here; and I wish that a great many +of my flock would take example by you: if they did, I wouldn't be so +far behind in getting in my _dues_. Well, Peter, I suppose you know that +this is Michaelmas?"* + + * Michaelmas is here jocularly alluded to as that period + of the year when geese are fattest. + +"So fat, yer Reverence, that they're not able to wag; but, any way, +Katty has them marked for you--two fine young crathurs, only this year's +fowl, and the ducks isn't a taste behind them--she crammin' them this +month past." + +"I believe you, Peter, and I would take your word for more than the +condition of the geese. Remember me to Katty, Peter." + +"_On Wednesday, in Parrah More Slevin's of Mullaghfadh_. Are you there, +Parrah More?"--No answer. "Parrah More Sle-vin?"--Silence. "Parrah More +Slevin, of Mullaghfadh?"--No reply. "Dan Fagan?" + +"Present, sir." + +"Do you know what keeps that reprobate from mass?" + +"I bleeve he's takin' advantage, sir, of the frost, to get in his +praties to-day, in respect of the bad footin', sir, for the horses in +the bog when there's not a frost. Any how, betune that and a bit of a +sore head that he got, yer Reverence, on Thursday last in takin' part +wid the O'Scallaghans agin the Bradys, I bleeve he had to stay away +to-day." + +"On the Sabbath day, too, without my leave! Well, tell him from me, that +I'll make an example of him to the whole parish, if he doesn't attend +mass better. Will the Bradys and the O'Scallaghans never be done with +their quarrelling? I protest, if they don't live like Christians, I'll +read them out from the altar. Will you tell Parrah More that I'll hold a +station in his house on next Wednesday?" + +"I will, sir; I will, yer Reverence." + +"_On Thursday, in Phaddhy Sheemus Phaddhy's of the Esker_. Are you +there, Phaddhy?"' + +"Wid the help of God, I'm here, sir." + +"Well, Phaddhy, how is yer son Briney, that's at the Latin? I hope he's +coming on well at it." + +"Why, sir, he's not more nor a year and a half at it yet, and he's got +more books amost nor he can carry; he'll break me buying books for him." + +"Well, that's a good sign, Phaddhy; but why don't you bring him to me +till I examine him?" + +"Why, never a one of me can get him to come, sir, he's so much afeard of +yer Reverence." + +"Well, Phaddhy, we were once modest and bashful ourselves, and I'm glad +to hear that he's afraid of his clargy; but let him be prepared for +me on Thursday, and maybe I'll let him know something he never heard +before; I'll open his eyes for him." + +"Do you hear that, Briney?" said the father, aside to the son, who knelt +at his knee; "you must give up yer hurling and idling now, you see. +Thank yer Reverence; thank you, docthor." + +"_On Friday, in Barny O'Darby's, alias Barny Butters_. Are you there, +Barny?" + +"All that's left of me is here, sir." + +"Well, Barny, how is the butter trade this season?" + +"It's a little on the rise, now, sir: in a, month or so I'm expecting it +will be brisk enough. Boney, sir, is doing that much for us anyway." + +"Ay, and, Barny, he'll do more than that for us: God prosper him at all +events; I only hope the time's coming, Barny, when every one will be +able to eat his own butter, and his own beef, too." + +"God send it, sir." + +"Well, Barny, I didn't hear from your brother Ned these two or three +months; what has become of him?" + +"Ah, yer Reverence, Pentland done him up." + +"What! the gauger?" + +"He did, the thief; but maybe he'll sup sorrow for it, afore he's much +oulder." + +"And who do you think informed, Barny?" + +"Oh, I only wish we knew that, sir." + +"I wish I knew it, and if I thought any miscreant here would become an +informer, I'd make an example of him. Well, Barny, on Friday next: but I +suppose Ned has a drop still--eh, Barny?" + +"Why, sir, we'll be apt to have something stronger nor wather, anyhow." + +"Very well, Barny; your family was always a dacent and spirited family, +I'll say that for them; but, tell me, Barny, did you begin to dam the +river yet? * I think the trouts and eels are running by this time." + + * It is usual among the peasantry to form, about + Michaelmas, small artificial cascades, called dams, + under which they place long, deep, wicker creels, + shaped like inverted cones, for the purpose of securing + the fish that are now on their return to the large + rivers, after having deposited their spawn in the + higher and remoter streams. It is surprising what a + number of fish, particularly of eels, are caught in + this manner--sometimes from one barrel to three in the + course of a single night! + +"The creels are made, yer Reverence, though we did not set them yet; but +on Tuesday night, sir, wid the help o' God, we'll be ready." + +"You can corn the trouts, Barny, and the eels too; but should you catch +nothing, go to Pat Hartigan, Captain Sloethorn's gamekeeper, and, if you +tell him it's for me, he'll drag you a batch out of the fish-pond." + +"Ah! then, you're Reverence, it's himself that'll do that wid a heart +an' a half." + +Such was the conversation which took place between the Reverend Philemy +M'Guirk, and those of his parishioners in whose houses he had appointed +to hold a series of Stations, for the week ensuing the Sunday laid in +this our account of that hitherto undescribed portion of the Romish +discipline. + +Now, the reader is to understand, that a station in this sense differs +from a station made to any peculiar spot remarkable for local sanctity. +There, a station means the performance of a pilgrimage to a certain +place, under peculiar circumstances, and the going through a stated +number of prayers and other penitential ceremonies, for the purpose of +wiping out sin in this life, or of relieving the soul of some relation +from the pains of purgatory in the other; here, it simply means +the coming of the parish priest and his curate to some house in the +town-land, on a day publicly announced from the altar for that purpose, +on the preceding Sabbath. + +This is done to give those who live within the district in which the +station is held an opportunity of coming to their duty, as frequenting +the ordinance of confession is emphatically called. Those who attend +confession in this manner once a year, are considered merely to have +done their duty; it is expected, however, that they should approach the +tribunal,* as it is termed, at least twice during that period, that is, +at the two great festivals of Christmas and Easter. The observance or +omission of this rite among Roman Catholics, establishes, in a great +degeee, the nature of individual character. The man who,frequents his +duty will seldom be pronounced a bad man, let his conduct and principles +be what they may in other respects; and he who neglects it, is looked +upon, by those who attend it, as in a state little short of reprobation. + + * That is, of confession--so going to confession is + termed by the priests. + +When the "giving out" of the stations was over, and a few more jests +were broken by his Reverence, to which the congregation paid the tribute +of a general and uproarious laugh, he turned round, and resumed the +performance of the mass, whilst his "flock" began to finger their beads +with faces as grave as if nothing of the kind had occurred. When mass +was finished, and the holy water sprinkled upon the people, out of a +tub carried by the mass-server through the chapel for that purpose, the +priest gave them a Latin benediction, and they dispersed. + +Now, of the five individuals in whose houses the "stations" were +appointed to be held, we will select _Phaddhy Sheemus Phaddhy_ for +our purpose; and this we do, because it was the first time in which a +station was ever kept in his house, and consequently Phaddhy and his +wife had to undergo the initiatory ceremony of entertaining Father +_Philemy_ and his curate, the Reverend _Con M'Coul_, at dinner. + +_Phaddhy Sheemus Phaddhy_ had been, until a short time before the period +in question, a very poor man; but a little previous to that event, a +brother of his, who had no children, died very rich--that is, for a +farmer--and left him his property, or, at least, the greater part of it. +While Phaddhy was poor, it was surprising what little notice he excited +from his Reverence; in fact, I have heard him acknowledge, that during +all the days of his poverty, he never got a nod of recognition or +kindness from Father Philemy, although he sometimes did, he said, from +Father Con, his curate, who honored him on two occasions so far as to +challenge him to a bout at throwing the shoulder-stone, and once to +a leaping match, at both of which exercises Father Con, but for the +superior power of Phaddhy, had been unrivalled. + +"It was an unlucky day to him," says Phaddy, "that he went to challenge +me, at all at all; for I was the only man that ever bate him, and he +wasn't able to hould up his head in the parish for many a day afther." + +As soon, however, as Phaddhy became a man of substance, one would almost +think that there had been a secret relationship between his good +fortune and Father Philemy's memory; for, on their first meeting, after +Phaddhy's getting the property, the latter shook him most cordially by +the hand--a proof that, had not his recollection been as much improved +as Phaddhy's circumstances, he could by no means have remembered him; +but this is a failing in the memory of many, as well as in that of +Father Philemy. Phaddhy, however, _was no Donnell_, to use his own +expression, and saw as far into a deal board as another man. + +"And so, Phaddy," said the priest, "how are all your family?--six you +have, I think?" + +"Four, your Rev'rence, only four," said Phaddy, winking at Tim Dillon, +his neighbor, who happened to be present--"three boys an' one girl." + +"Bless my soul, and so it is indeed, Phaddy, and I ought to know it; an +how is your wife Sarah?--I mean, I hope Mrs. Sheemus Phaddhy is well: by +the by, is that old complaint of hers gone yet?--a pain in the stomach, +I think it was, that used to trouble her; I hope in God, Phaddhy, +she's getting over it, poor thing. Indeed, I remember telling her, last +Easter, when she came to her duty, to eat oaten bread and butter +with water-grass every morning fasting, it cured myself of the same +complaint." + +"Why, thin, I'm very much obliged to your Rev'rence for purscribin' for +her," replied Phaddhy; "for, sure enough, she has neither pain nor ache, +at the present time, for the best rason in the world, docthor, that +she'll be dead jist seven years, if God spares your Rev'rence an' myself +till to-morrow fortnight, about five o'clock in the mornin'." + +This was more than Father Philemy could stand with a good conscience, so +after getting himself out of the dilemma as well as he could, he shook +Phaddhy again very cordially by the hand, saying, "Well, good-bye, +Phaddliy, and God be good to poor Sarah's soul--I now remember her +funeral, sure enough, and a dacent one it was, for indeed she was a +woman that had everybody's good word--and, between you and me, she made +a happy death, that's as far as we can judge here; for, after all, there +may be danger, Phaddy, there may be danger, you understand--however, +it's your own business, and your duty, too, to think of that; but I +believe you're not the man that would be apt to forget her." + +"Phaddhy, ye thief o' the world," said Jim Dillon, when Father Philemy +was gone, there's no comin' up to ye; how could you make sich a fool of +his Rev'rence, as to tell im that Katty was dead, and that you had +only four childher, an' you has eleven o' them, an' the wife in good +health?" + +"Why, jist, Tim," replied Phaddhy, with his usual shrewdness, "to tache +his Reverence himself to practise truth a little; if he didn't know +that I got the stockin' of guineas and the Linaskey farm by my brother +Barney's death, do ye think that he'd notish me at all at all?--not +himself, avick; an' maybe he won't be afther comin' round to me for a +sack of my best oats,* instead of the bushel I used to give him, and +houldin' a couple of stations wid me every year." + + * The priest accompanied by a couple of servants each + with a horse and sack, collects from such of his + parishioners as can afford it, a quantity of oats, + varying with the circumstances of the donor. This + collection--called _Questing_--is voluntary on the part + of his parishioners who may refuse it it they wish; + very few are found however, hardy enough to risk the + obloquy of declining to contribute, and the consequence + is that the custom operates with as much force as if it + were legal and compulsory. + +"But won't he go mad when he hears you tould him nothing but lies?" + +"Not now, Tim," answered Phaddhy--"not now; thank God,--I'm not a poor +man, an' he'll keep his temper. I'll warrant you the horsewhip won't be +up now, although, afore this, I wouldn't say but it might--though the +poorest day I ever was, 'id's myself that wouldn't let priest or friar +lay a horsewhip to my back, an' that you know, Tim." + +Phaddhy's sagacity, however, was correct; for, a short time after this +conversation, Father Philemy, when collecting his oats, gave him a call, +laughed heartily at the sham account of Katty's death, examined young +Briney in his Latin, who was called after his uncle, pronounced him very +cute, and likely to become a great scholar--promised his interest with +the bishop to get him into Maynooth, and left the family, after having +shaken hands with, and stroked down the heads of all the children. + +When Phaddhy, on the Sunday in question, heard the public notice given +of the Station about to be held in his house, notwithstanding his +correct knowledge of Father Philemy's character, on which he looked with +a competent portion of contempt, he felt a warmth of pride about +his heart, that arose from the honor of having a station, and of +entertaining the clergy, in their official capacity, under his own +roof, and at his own expense--that gave him, he thought, a personal +consequence, which even the "stockin' of guineas" and the Linaskey farm +were unable, of themselves, to confer upon him. He did enjoy, 'tis +true, a very fair portion of happiness on succeeding to his brother's +property; but this would be a triumph over the envious and ill-natured +remarks which several of his neighbors and distant relations had taken +the liberty of indulging in against him, on the occasion of his good +fortune. He left the chapel, therefore, in good spirits, whilst Briney, +on the contrary, hung a lip of more melancholy pendency than usual, in +dread apprehension of the examination that he expected to be inflicted +on him by his Reverence at the station. + +Before I introduce the conversation which took place between Phaddhy +and Briney, as they went home, on the subject of this literary ordeal, I +must observe, that there is a custom, hereditary in some Irish families, +of calling fathers by their Christian names, instead of by the usual +appellation of "father." This usage was observed, not only by Phaddhy +and his son, but by all the Phaddys of that family, generally. Their +surname was Doran, but in consequence of the great numbers in that part +of the country who bore the same name, it was necessary as of old, to +distinguish the several branches of it by the Christian names of their +fathers and grandfathers, and sometimes this distinction went as far +back as the great-grandfather. For instance--Phaddhy Sheemus Phaddhy, +meant Phaddhy, the son of Sheemus, the son of Phaddhy; and his son, +Briney, was called, Brian Phaddy Sheemus Phaddy, or, _anglice_, Bernard +the son of Patrick, the son of James, the son of Patrick. But the custom +of children calling fathers, in a viva voce manner, by their Christian +names, was independent of the other more general usage of the +patronymic. + +"Well, Briney," said Phaddy, as the father and son returned home, cheek +by jowl from the chapel, "I suppose Father Philemy will go very deep in +the Latin wid ye on Thursday; do ye think ye'll be able to answer him?" + +"Why, Phaddhy," replied Briney, "how could I be able to answer a +clargy?--doesn't he know all the languages, and I'm only in the _Fibulae +AEsiopii_ yet." + +"Is that Latin or Greek, Briney?" + +"It's Latin, Phaddhy." + +"And what's the translation of that?" + +"It signifies the Fables of AEsiopius." + +"Bliss my sowl! and Briney, did ye consther that out of yer own head?" + +"Hogh! that's little of it. If ye war to hear me consther _Gallus +Gallinaceus_, a dunghill cock?" + +"And, Briney, are ye in Greek at all yet?" + +"No, Phaddhy, I'll not be in Greek till I'm in Virgil and Horace, and +thin I'll be near finished." + +"And how long will it be till that, Briney?" + +"Why, Phaddhy, you know I'm only a year and a half at the Latin, and in +two years more I'll be in the Greek." + +"Do ye think will ye ever be as larned as! Father Philemy, Briney?" + +"Don't ye, know whin I'm a clargy I will but I'm only a _lignum +sacerdotis_ yet, Phaddhy." + +"What's _ligdum saucerdoatis_, Briney?" + +"A block of a priest, Phaddhy." + +"Now, Briney, I suppose Father Philemy knows everything." + +"Ay, to be sure he does; all the languages' that's spoken through the +world, Phaddhy." + +"And must all the priests know them, Briney?--how many are they?" + +"Seven--sartainly, every priest must know them, or how could they lay +the divil, if he'd, spake to them in a tongue they couldn't understand, +Phaddhy?" + +"Ah, I declare, Briney, I see it now; only for that, poor Father Philip, +the heavens be his bed, wouldn't be able to lay ould Warnock, that +haunted Squire Sloethorn's stables." + +"Is that when the two horses was stole, Phaddhy?" + +"The very time, Briney; but God be thanked, Father Philip settled him to +the day of judgment." + +"And where did he put him, Phaddhy?" + +"Why, he wanted to be put anundher the hearth-stone; but Father Philip +made him walk away with himself into a thumb-bottle, and tied a stone +to it, and then sent him to where he got a cooling, the thief, at the +bottom of the lough behind the house." + +"Well, I'll tell you what I'm thinking I'll be apt to do, Phaddhy, when +I'm a clargy." + +"And what is that, Briney?" + +"Why, I'll--but, Phaddhy,don't be talking of this, bekase, if it should +come to be known, I might get my brains knocked out by some of the +heretics." + +"Never fear, Briney, there's no danger of that--but what is it?" + +"Why, I'll translate all the Protestants into asses, and then we'll get +our hands red of them altogether." + +"Well, that flogs for cuteness, and it's a wondher the clargy* doesn't +do it, and them has the power; for 'twould give us pace entirely. But, +Briney, will you speak in Latin to Father Philemy on Thursday?" + +* I have no hesitation in asserting that the bulk of the uneducated +peasantry really believe that the priests have this power. + +"To tell you the thruth, Phaddhy, I would rather he wouldn't examine me +this bout, at all at all." + +"Ay, but you know we couldn't go agin him, Briney, bekase he promised +to get you into the college. Will you speak some Latin, now till I hear +you?" + +"Hem!--_Verbum personaley cohairit cum nomnatibo numbera at persona at +numquam sera yeast at bonis moras voia_." + +"Bless my heart!--and, Briney, where's that taken from?" + +"From Syntax, Phaddhy." + +"And who was Syntax--do you know, Briney?" + +"He was a Roman, Phaddhy, bekase there's a Latin prayer in the beginning +of the book." + +"Ay, was he--a priest, I'll warrant him. Well, Briney, do you mind yer +Latin, and get on wid yer larnin', and when you grow up you'll have +a pair of boots, and a horse of your own (and a good broadcloth black +coat, too) to ride on, every bit as good as Father Philemy's, and may be +betther nor Father Con's." + +From this point, which usually wound up these colloquies between the +father and son, the conversation generally diverged into the more +spacious fields of science; so that by the time they reached home, +Briney had probably given the father a learned dissertation upon the +elevation of the clouds above the earth, and told him within how +many thousand miles they approached it, at their nearest point of +approximation. + +"Katty," said Phaddhy, when he got home, "we're to have a station +here on Thursday next: 'twas given out from the altar to-day by Father +Philemy." + +"Oh, wurrah, wurrah!" exclaimed Katty, overwhelmed at the consciousness +of her own incapacity to get up a dinner in sufficient style for such +guests--"wurrah, wurrah! Phaddhy, ahagur, what on the livin' earth will +we do at all at all! Why, we'll never be able to manage it." + +"Arrah, why, woman; what do they want but their skinful to eat and +dhrink, and I'm sure we're able to allow them that, any way?" + +"Arrah, bad manners to me, but you're enough to vex a saint--'their +skinful to eat and dhrink!'--you common crathur you, to speak that way +of the clargy, as if it was ourselves or the laborers you war spaking +of." + +"Ay, and aren't we every bit as good as they are, if you go to +that?--haven't we sowls to be saved as well as themselves?" + +"'As good as they are!'--as good as the clargy!! _Manum a yea agus a +wurrah!_*--listen to what he says! Phaddhy, take care of yourself, +you've got rich, now; but for all that, take care of yourself. You had +betther not bring the priest's ill-will, or his bad heart upon us. You +know they never thruv that had it; and maybe it's a short time your +riches might stay wid you, or maybe it's a short time you might stay wid +them: at any rate, God forgive you, and I hope he will, for making use +of sich unsanctified words to your lawful clargy." + + * My soul to God and the Virgin. + +"Well, but what do you intind to do?---or, what do you think of getting +for them?" inquired Phaddy. + +"Indeed, it's very little matther what I get for them, or what I'll do +either--sorrow one of myself cares almost: for a man in his senses, that +ought to know better, to make use of such low language about the blessed +and holy crathurs, that hasn't a stain of sin about them, no more than +the child unborn!" + +"So you think." + +"So I think! aye, and it would be betther for you that you thought +so, too; but ye don't know what's before ye yet, Phaddhy--and now take +warnin' in time, and mend your life." + +"Why what do you see wrong in my life? Am I a drunkard? am I lazy? did +ever I neglect my business? was I ever bad to you or to the childher? +didn't I always give yez yer fill to ate, and kept yez as well clad as +yer neighbors that was richer? Don't I go to my knees, too, every night +and morning?" + +"That's true enough, but what signifies it all? When did ye cross +a priest's foot to go to your duty? Not for the last five years, +Phaddhy--not since poor Torly (God be good to him) died of the mazles, +and that'll be five years, a fortnight before Christmas." + +"And what are you the betther of all yer confessions? Did they ever mend +yer temper, avourneen? no, indeed, Katty, but you're ten times worse +tempered coming back from the priest than before you go to him." + +"Oh! Phaddhy! Phaddhy! God look down upon you this day, or any man +that's in yer hardened state--I see there's no use in spaking to you, +for you'll still be the ould cut." + +"Ay, will I; so you may as well give up talking about it Arrah, woman!" +said. Phaddhy, raising his voice, "who does it ever make betther--show +me a man now in all the neighborhood, that's a pin-point the holier of +it? Isn't there Jemmy Shields, that goes to _his duty_ wanst a month, +malivogues his wife and family this minute, and then claps them to a +Rosary the next; but the ould boy's a thrifle to him of a fast day, +afther coming from the priest. Betune ourselves, Katty, you're not much +behind him." + +Katty made no reply to him, but turned up her eyes, and crossed herself, +at the wickedness of her unmanageable husband. "Well, Briney," said she, +turning abruptly to the son, "don't take patthern by that man, if you +expect to do any good; let him be a warning to you to mind yer duty, and +respect yer clargy--and prepare yerself, now that I think of it, to go +to Father Philemy or Father Con on Thursday: but don't be said or led by +that man, for I'm sure I dunna how he intends to face the Man above +when he laves this world--and to keep from his duty, and to spake of his +clargy as he does!" + +There are few men without their weak sides. Phaddhy, although the +priests were never very much his favorites, was determined to give +what he himself called a _let-out_ on this occasion, simply to show his +ill-natured neighbors that, notwithstanding their unfriendly remarks, +he knew "what it was to be dacent," as well as his betters; and Katty +seconded him in his resolution, from her profound veneration for the +clargy. Every preparation was accordingly entered into, and every plan +adopted that could possibly be twisted into a capability of contributing +to the entertainment of Fathers Philemy and Con. + +One of those large, round, stercoraceous nosegays that, like many other +wholesome plants, make up by odor what is wanting in floral beauty, and +which lay rather too contagious as Phaddhy expressed it, to the door of +his house, was transplanted by about half a dozen laborers, and as many +barrows, in the course of a day or two, to a bed some yards distant from +the spot of its first growth; because, without any reference whatever to +the nasal sense, it was considered that it might be rather an +eye-sore to their Reverences, on approaching the door. Several concave +inequalities, which constant attrition had worn in the earthen floor of +the kitchen, were filled up with blue clay, brought on a cart from +the bank of a neighboring river, for the purpose. The dresser, chairs, +tables, I pots, and pans, all underwent a rigor of discipline, as if +some remarkable event was about to occur; nothing less, it must be +supposed than a complete, domestic revolution, and a new state of +things. Phaddhy himself cut two or three large furze bushes, and, +sticking them on the end of a pitchfork, attempted to sweep down the +chimney. For this purpose he mounted on the back of a chair, that he +might be able to reach the top with more ease; but, in order that his +footing might be firm, he made one of the servant-men sit upon the +chair, to keep it steady during the operation. Unfortunately, however, +it so happened that this man was needed to assist in removing a +meal-chest to another part of the house; this was under Katty's +superintendence, who, seeing the fellow sit rather more at his ease than +she thought the hurry and importance of the occasion permitted, called +him, with a little of her usual sharpness and energy, to assist in +removing the chest. For some reason or other, which it is not necessary +to mention here, the fellow bounced from his seat, in obedience to the +shrill tones of Katty, and the next moment Phaddhy (who was in a state +of abstraction in the chimney, and totally unconscious of what was going +forward below) made a descent decidedly contrary to the nature of +that which most aspirants would be inclined to relish. A severe stun, +however, was the most serious injury he received on his own part, and +several round oaths, with a good drubbing, fell to the servant; but +unluckily he left the furze bush behind him in the highest and narrowest +part of the chimney; and were it not that an active fellow succeeded +in dragging it up from the outside of the roof, the chimney ran +considerable risk, as Katy said, of being choked. + +But along with the lustration which every fixture within the house was +obliged to undergo, it was necessary that all the youngsters should get +new clothes; and for this purpose, Jemmy Lynch, the tailor, with his two +journeymen and three apprentices, were sent for in all haste, that he +might fit Phaddhy and each of his six sons, in suits, from a piece of +home-made frieze, which Katty did not intend to break up till "towards +Christmas." + +A station is no common event, and accordingly the web was cut up, and +the tailor left a wedding-suit, half-made, belonging to Edy Dolan, a +thin old bachelor, who took it into his head to try his hand at becoming +a husband ere he'd die. As soon as Jemmy and his train arrived, a door +was taken off the hinges, and laid on the floor, for himself to sit +upon, and a new drugget quilt was spread beside it, for his journeymen +and apprentices. With nimble fingers they plied the needle and thread, +and when night came, a turf was got, into which was stuck a piece of +rod, pointed at one end and split at the other; the "the white candle," +slipped into a shaving of the fringe that was placed in the cleft end +of the stick, was then lit, whilst many a pleasant story, told by Jemmy, +who had been once in Dublin for six weeks, delighted the circle of +lookers-on that sat around them. + +At length the day previous to the important one arrived. Hitherto, all +hands had contributed to make every thing in and about the house look +"dacent"--scouring, washing, sweeping, pairing, and repairing, had +been all disposed of. The boys got their hair cut to the quick with the +tailor's scissors; and such of the girls as were not full grown, not +only that which grew on the upper part of the head taken off, by a cut +somewhat resembling the clerical tonsure, so that they looked extremely +wild and unsettled with their straight locks projecting over their ears; +every thing, therefore, of the less important arrangements had been gone +through--the weighty and momentous concern was as yet unsettled. + +This was the feast; and alas! never was the want of experience more +strongly felt than here. Katty was a bad cook, even to a proverb; and +bore so indifferent a character in the country for cleanliness, that +very few would undertake to eat her butter. Indeed, she was called Katty +Sallagh (* Dirty Katy) on this account: however, this prejudice, whether +ill or weil founded, was wearing fast away, since Phaddhy had succeeded +to the stocking of guineas, and the Lisnaskey farm. It might be, indeed, +that her former poverty helped her neighbors to see this blemish more +clearly: but the world is so seldom in the habit of judging people's +qualities or failings through this uncharitable medium, that the +supposition is rather doubtful. Be this as it may, the arrangements for +the breakfast and dinner must be made. There was plenty of bacon, and +abundance of cabbages--eggs, ad infinitum--oaten and wheaten bread in +piles--turkeys, geese, pullets, as fat as aldermen--cream as rich as +Croesus--and three gallons of poteen, one sparkle of which, as Father +Philemy said in the course of the evening, would lay the hairs on St. +Francis himself in his most self-negative mood, if he saw it. So far so +good: everything excellent and abundant in its way. Still the higher and +more refined items--the _deliciae epidarum_--must be added. White bread, +and tea, and sugar, were yet to be got; and lump-sugar for the punch; +and a tea-pot and cups and saucers to be borrowed; all which was +accordingly done. + +Well, suppose everything disposed for tomorrow's feast;--suppose Phaddhy +himself to have butchered the fowl, because Katty, who was not able to +bear the sight of blood, had not the heart to kill "the crathurs" and +imagine to yourself one of the servant men taking his red-hot tongs +out of the fire, and squeezing a large lump of hog's lard, placed in a +grisset, or _Kam_, on the hearth, to grease all their brogues; then see +in your mind's eye those two fine, fresh-looking girls, slyly take +their old rusty fork out of the fire, and going to a bit of three-corned +looking-glass, pasted into a board, or, perhaps, to a pail of water, +there to curl up their rich-flowing locks, that had hitherto never known +a curl but such, as nature gave them. + +On one side of the hob sit two striplings, "thryin' wan another in their +catechiz," that they may be able to answer, with some credit, to-morrow. +On the other hob sits Briney, hard at his syntax, with the _Fibulae +AEsiopii_, as he called it, placed open at a particular passage, on the +seat under him, with a hope that, when Philemy will examine him, +the book may open at his favorite fable of "_Gallus Gallinaceus_--a +dung-hill cock." Phaddy himself is obliged to fast this day, there being +one day of his penance yet unperformed, since the last time he was at +his duty; which was, as aforesaid, about five years: and Katty, now that +everything is cleaned up and ready, kneels down in a corner to go over +her beads, rocking herself in a placid silence that is only broken by +an occasional malediction against the servants, or the cat, when it +attempts the abduction of one of the dead fowl. + +The next morning the family were up before the sun, who rubbed his eyes, +and swore that he must have overslept himself, on seeing such a merry +column of smoke dancing over Phaddhy's chimney. A large wooden dish was +placed upon the threshold of the kitchen door, filled with water, in +which, with a trencher of oatmeal for soap,* they successively scrubbed +their faces and hands to some purpose. In a short time afterwards, +Phaddhy and the sons were cased, stiff and awkward, in their new suits, +with the tops of their fingers just peeping over the sleeve cuffs. The +horses in the stable were turned out to the fields, being obliged to +make room for their betters, that were soon expected under the reverend +bodies of Father Philemy and his curate; whilst about half a bushel of +oats was left in the manger, to regale them on their arrival. Little +Richard Maguire was sent down to the five-acres, with the pigs, on +purpose to keep them from about the house, they not being supposed fit +company at a set-dinner. A roaring turf fire, which blazed two yards up +the chimney, had been put down; on this was placed a large pot, filled +with water for the tea, because they had no kettle. + + * Fact--Oatmeal is in general substituted for soap, by + those who cannot afford to buy the latter. + +By this time the morning was tolerably advanced, and the neighbors were +beginning to arrive in twos and threes, to wipe out old scores. Katty +had sent several of the gorsoons "to see if they could see any sight of +the clargy," but hitherto their Reverences were invisible. At length, +after several fruitless embassies of this description, Father Con was +seen jogging along on his easygoing hack, engaged in the perusal of his +Office, previous to his commencing the duties of the day. As soon as his +approach was announced, a chair was immediately placed for him in a room +off the kitchen--the parlor, such as it was, having been reserved for +Father Phileniy himself, as the place of greater honor. This was an +arrangement, however, which went against the grain of Phaddhy, who, +had he got his will, would have established Father Con in the most +comfortable apartment of the house: but that old vagabond, human nature, +is the same under all circumstances--or, as Katty would have (in her +own phraseology) expressed it, "still the ould cut;" for even there the +influence of rank and elevation was sufficient to throw merit into the +shade; and the parlor-seat was allotted to Father Philemy, merely for +being Parish Priest, although it was well known that he could not "tare +off"* mass in half the time that Father Con could, nor throw a +sledge, or shoulder-stone within a perch of him, nor scarcely clear a +street-channel, whilst the latter could jump one-and-twenty feet at a +running leap. But these are rubs which men of merit must occasionally +bear; and, when exposed to them, they must only rest satisfied in the +consciousness of their own deserts. + + * The people look upon that priest as the best and most + learned who can perform the ceremony of the mass in the + shortest period of time. They call it as above "tareing + off". The quickest description of mass, however, is the + "hunting mass," so termed from the speed at which the + priest goes over it--that is, "at the rate of a hunt." + +From the moment that Father Con became visible, the conversation +of those who were collected in Phaddhy's dropped gradually, as he +approached the house, into a silence which was only broken by an +occasional short observation, made by one or two of those who were in +habits of the greatest familiarity with the priest; but when they heard +the noise of his horse's feet near the door, the silence became general +and uninterrupted. + +There can scarcely be a greater contrast in anything than that presented +by the beginning of a station-day and its close. In the morning, the +faces of those who are about to confess present an expression in which +terror, awe, guilt, and veneration may be easily traced; but in the +evening all is mirth and jollity. Before confession every man's memory +is employed in running over the catalogue of crimes, as they are to be +found in the prayer-books, under the ten commandments, the seven deadly +sins, the Commandments of the Church, the four sins that cry to heaven +for vengeance, and the seven sins against the Holy Ghost. + +When Father Con arrived, Phaddhy and Katty were instantly at the door to +welcome him. + +"_Musha, cead millia failtha ghud_ (* A hundred thousand welcomes to +you.) to our house, Father Con, avourneen!" says Katty, dropping him a +low curtsey, and spreading her new, brown, quilted petticoat as far out +on each side of her as it would go--"musha, an' it's you that's welcome +from my heart out." + +"I thank you," said honest Con, who, as he knew not her name, did not +pretend to know it. + +"Well, Father Con," said Phaddhy, this is, the first time you have ever +come to us this, way; but, plase God, it won't be the last, I hope." + +"I hope not, Phaddhy," said Father Con, who, notwithstanding his +simplicity of character, loved a good dinner in the very core of his +heart, "I hope not, indeed, Phaddhy." He then threw his eye about +the premises, to see what point he might set his temper to during the +remainder of the day; for it is right to inform our readers that a +priest's temper, at a station, generally rises or falls according to the +prospect of his cheer. + +Here, however, a little vista, or pantry, jutting out from the kitchen, +and left ostentatiously open, presented him with a view which made his +very nose curl with kindness. What it contained we do not pretend to +say, not having seen it ourselves; we judge, therefore, only by its +effects upon his physiognomy. + +"Why, Phaddhy," he says, "this is a very fine house you've got over +you;" throwing his eye again towards a wooden buttress which supported +one of the rafters that was broken. + +"Why then, your Reverence, it would not be a bad one," Phaddhy replied, +"if it had a new roof and new side-walls; and I intend to get both next +summer, if God spares me till then." + +"Then, upon my word, if it had new side-walls, a new roof, and new +gavels, too," replied Father Con, "it would look certainly a great +deal the better for it;--and do you intend to to get them next summer, +Paddy?" + +"If God spares me, sir." + +"Are all these fine gorsoons yours, Phaddhy?" + +"Why, so Katty says, your Reverence," replied Phaddhy, with a +good-natured laugh. + +"Haven't you got one of them for the church, Phaddhy?" + +"Yes, your Reverence, there's one of them that I hope will live to have +the robes upon him Come over, Briney, and speak to Father Con. He's not +very far in his Latin yet, sir but his master tells me that he hasn't +the likes of him in the school for brightness--Briney, will you come +over, I say; come over, sarrah, and spake to the gintleman, and +him wants to shake hands wid you--come up, man, what are you afeard +of?--sure Father Con's not going to examine you now." + +"No, no, Briney," said Father Con, "I'm not about to examine you at +present." + +"He's a little dashed, yer Reverence, be-kase he thought you war going +to put him through some of his Latin," said the father, bringing him up +like a culprit to Father Con, who shook hands with him, and, after a few +questions as to the books he read, and his progress, dismissed him. + +"But, Father Con, wid submission," said Katty, "where's Father Philemy +from us?--sure, we expected him along wid you, and he wouldn't go to +disappoint us?" + +"Oh, you needn't fear that, Katty," replied Father Con; "he'll be here +presently--before breakfast, I'll engage for him at any rate; but he had +a touch of the headache this morning, and wasn't able to rise so early +as I was." + +During this conversation a little crowd had collected about the door of +the room in which he was to hear the confessions, each struggling and +fighting to get the first turn; but here, as in the more important +concerns of this world, the weakest went to the wall. He now went into +the room, and taking Katty herself first, the door was closed upon them, +and he gave her absolution; and thus he continued to confess and absolve +them, one by one, until breakfast. + +Whenever a station occurs in Ireland, a crowd of mendicants and other +strolling impostors seldom fail to attend it; on this occasion, at +least, they did not. The day, though frosty, was fine; and the door was +surrounded by a train of this description, including both sexes, some +sitting on stones, some on stools, with their blankets rolled up under +them; and others, more ostensibly devout, on their knees, hard at +prayer; which, lest their piety might escape notice, our readers may be +assured, they did not offer up in silence. On one side you might observe +a sturdy fellow, with a pair of tattered urchins secured to his back +by a sheet or blanket pinned across his breast with a long iron skewer, +their heads just visible at his shoulders, munching a thick piece of +wheaten bread, and the father on his knees, with a a huge wooden cross +in hand, repeating _padareens_, and occasionally throwing a jolly eye +towards the door, or through the; window, opposite which he knelt, +into the kitchen, as often as any peculiar stir or commotion led him to +suppose that breakfast, the loadstar of his devotion, was about to be +produced. + +Scattered about the door were knots of these, men and women, +occasionally chatting together; and when the subject of their +conversation happened to be exhausted, resuming their beads, until some +new topic would occur, and so on alternately. + +The interior of the kitchen where the neighbors were assembled, +presented an appearance somewhat more decorous. Andy Lalor, the +mass-server, in whom the priest had the greatest confidence, stood in +a corner examining, in their catechism, those who intended to confess; +and, if they were able to stand the test, he gave them a bit of twisted +brown paper as a ticket, and they were received at the tribunal. + +The first question the priest uniformly puts to the penitent is, "Can +you repeat the Confiteor?" If the latter answers in the affirmative, he +goes on until he comes to the words, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima +culpa, when he stops, it being improper to repeat the remainder until +after he has confessed; but, if he is ignorant of the "Confiteor," +the priest repeats it for him! and he commences the rehearsal of his +offences, specifically as they occurred; and not only does he reveal +his individual crimes, but his very thoughts and intentions. By this +regulation our readers may easily perceive, that the penitent is +completely at the mercy of the priest--that all family feuds, quarrels, +and secrets are laid open to his eye--that the ruling; passions of +men's lives are held up before him, the weaknesses and propensities of +nature--all the unguarded avenues of the human heart and character are +brought within his positive knowledge, and that, too, as they exist +in the young and the old, the married and the single, the male and the +female. + +It was curious to remark the ludicrous expression of temporary sanctity +which was apparent on the countenances of many young men and maidens who +were remarkable in the neighborhood for attending dances and wakes, but +who, on the present occasion, were sobered down to a gravity which sat +very awkwardly upon them; particularly in I the eyes of those who knew +the lightness and drollery of their characters. This, however, was +observable only before confession; for, as soon as, "the priest's +blessed hand had been over them," their gloom and anxiety passed away, +and the thoughtless buoyancy of their natural disposition resumed its +influence over their minds. A good-humored nod, or a sly wink, from +a young man to his female acquaintance, would now be indulged in; or, +perhaps a small joke would escape, which seldom failed to produce a +subdued laugh from such as had confessed, or an impatient rebuke from +those who had not. + +"Tim!" one would exclaim, "arn't ye ashamed or afeared to get an that +way, and his Reverence undher the wan roof wid ye?" + +"Tim, you had better dhrop your joking," a second would observe, "and +not be putting us through other, (* confusing us) when we have our +offenses to remimber; you have got your job over, and now you have +nothing to trouble you." + +"Indeed, it's fine behavior," a third would say, "and you afther coming +from the priest's knee; and what more, didn't resave (* Communicate) +yet; but wait till Father Con appears, and, I'll warrant, you'll be as +grave as another, for all you're so stout now." + +The conversation would then pass to the merits of Father Philemy and +Father Con, as Confessors. + +"Well," one would observe--"for my part, I'd rather go to Father +Philemy, fifty times over, than wanst to Father Con, bekase he never +axes questions; but whatever you like to tell him, he hears it, and +forgives you at wanst." + +"And so sign's an it," observed another; "he could confess more in a day +that Father Con could in a week." + +"But for all that," observed Andy Lalor, "it's still best to go to the +man that puts the questions, you persave, and that won't let the turning +of a straw escape him. Whin myself goes to Father Philemy, somehow or +other, I totally disremember more nor wan half of what I intinded to +tell him, but Father Con misses nothing, for he axes it." + +When the last observation was finished, Father Con, finding that the +usual hour for breakfast had arrived, came into the kitchen, to prepare +for the celebration of mass. For this purpose, a table was cleared, and +just in the nick of time arrived old Moll Brian, the vestment woman, or +itinerant sacristan, whose usual occupation was to carry the priests' +robes and other apparatus, from station to station. In a short time, +Father Con was surpliced and robed; Andy Lalor, whose face was charged +with commensurate importance during the ceremony, sarved Mass, and +answered the priest stoutly in Latin although he had not the advantage +of understanding that sacerdotal language. Those who had confessed, now +communicated; after which, each of them took a draught, of water out of +a small jug, which was handed round from one to another. The ceremony +then closed, and those who had partaken of the sacrament, with the +exception of such as were detained for breakfast, after filling their +bottles with holy water, went home with a light heart. A little before +the mass had been finished, Father Philemy arrived; but, as Phaddy and +Katty were then preparing to resave they could not at that moment give +him a formal reception. As soon, however, as communion was over, the +_cead millia failtha_ was repeated with the usual warmth, by both, and +by all their immediate friends. Breakfast was now laid in Katty's +best style, and with an originality of arrangement that scorned all +precedent. Two tables were placed, one after another, in the kitchen; +for the other rooms were not sufficiently large to accommodate the +company. Father Philemy filled the seat of honor at the head of the +table, with his back to an immense fire. On his right hand sat Father +Con; on his left, Phaddhy himself, "to keep the-clargy company;" and, +in due succession after them, their friends and neighbors, each taking +precedence according to the most scrupulous notions of respectability. +Beside Father Con sat "Pettier Malone," a "young collegian," who had +been sent home from Maynooth to try his native air, for the recovery +of his health, which was declining. He arrived only a few minutes after +Father Philemy, and was a welcome reinforcement to Phaddhy, in the +arduous task of sustaining the conversation with suitable credit. + +With respect to the breakfast, I can only say, that it was +superabundant--that the tea was as black as bog water--that there were +hen, turkey, and geese eggs--plates of toast soaked, crust and crumb, in +butter; and lest there might be a deficiency, one of the daughters sat +on a stool at the fire, with her open hand, by way of a fire screen, +across her red, half-scorched brows, toasting another plateful, and, to +crown all, on each corner of the table was a bottle of whiskey. At +the lower board sat the youngsters, under the surveillance of Katty's +sister, who presided in that quarter. When they were commencing +breakfast, "Father Philemy," said Katty, "won't yer Rev'rence bless the +mate (* food) if ye plase?" + +"If I don't do it myself," said Father Philemy, who was just after +sweeping the top off a turkey egg, "I'll get them that will. Come," said +he to the collegian, "give us grace, Peter; you'll never learn younger." + +This, however, was an unexpected blow to Peter, who knew that an +English grace would be incompatible with his "college feeding," yet was +unprovided with any in Latin--The eyes of the company were now +fixed upon him, and he blushed like scarlet on finding himself in a +predicament so awkward and embarrassing. "_Aliquid, Petre, alliquid; 'de +profundis'--si habes nihil aliud_," said Father Philemy, feeling for +his embarrassment, and giving him a hint. This was not lost, for Peter +began, and gave them the _De profundis_--a Latin psalm, which Roman +Catholics repeat for the relief of the souls in, purgatory. They forgot, +however, that there was a person in company who considered himself as +having an equal claim to the repetition of at least the one-half of it; +and accordingly, when Peter got up and repeated the first verse, Andy +Lalor got also on his legs, and repeated the response.* This staggered +Peter a little, who hesitated, as uncertain how to act. + + * This prayer is generally repeated by two persons, who + recite each a verse alternately. + +"_Perge, Petre, perge_," said Father Philemy, looking rather wistfully +at his egg--"_perge, stultus est et asinus quoque_." Peter and Andy +proceeded until it was finished, when they resumed their seats. + +The conversation during breakfast was as sprightly, as full of fun and +humor as such breakfasts usually are. The priest, Phaddhy, and the young +collegian, had a topic of their own, whilst the rest were engaged in a +kind of by play, until the meal was finished. + +"Father Philemy," said Phaddhy, in his capacity of host, "before we +begin we'll all take a dhrop of what's in the bottle, if it's not +displasing to yer Reverence; and, sure, I know, 'tis the same that +doesn't come wrong at a station, any how." + +This, _more majorum_, was complied with; and the glass, as usual, went +round the table, beginning with their Reverences. Hitherto, Father +Philemy had not had time to bestow any attention on the state of Kitty's +larder, as he was in the habit of doing, with a view to ascertain +the several items contained therein for dinner. But as soon as the +breakfast-things were removed, and the coast clear, he took a peep into +the pantry, and, after throwing his eye over its contents, sat down +at the fire, making Phaddhy take a seat beside him, for the especial +purpose of sounding him as to the practicability of effecting a certain +design, which was then snugly latent in his Reverence's fancy. The fact +was, that on taking the survey of the premises aforesaid, he discovered +that, although there was abundance of fowl, and fish, and bacon, and +hung-beef--yet, by some unaccountable and disastrous omission, there was +neither fresh mutton nor fresh beef. The priest, it must be confessed, +was a man of considerable fortitude, but this was a blow for which he +was scarcely prepared, particularly as a boiled leg of mutton was one of +his fifteen favorite joints at dinner. He accordingly took two or three +pinches of snuff in rapid succession, and a seat at the fire, as I have +said, placing Phaddhy, unconscious of his design, immediately beside +him. + +Now, the reader knows that Phaddhy was a man possessing a considerable +portion of dry, sarcastic humor, along with that natural, quickness of +penetration and shrewdness for which most of the Irish peasantry are in +a very peculiar degree remarkable; add to this that Father Philemy, in +consequence of his contemptuous bearing to him before he came in for his +brother's property, stood not very high in his estimation. The priest +knew this, and consequently felt that the point in question would +require to be managed, on his part, with suitable address. + +"Phaddhy," says his Reverence, "sit down here till we chat a little, +before I commence the duties of the day. I'm happy to, see that you have +such a fine thriving family: how many sons and daughters have you?" + +"Six sons, yer Reverence," replied. Phaddhy, "and five daughters: +indeed, sir, they're as well to be seen as their neighbors, considhering +all things. Poor crathurs, they get fair play* now, thank Grod, compared +to what they used to get--God rest their poor uncle's sowl for that! +Only for him, your Reverence, there would be very few inquiring this or +any other day about them." + + * By this is meant good food and clothing. + +"Did he die as rich as they said, Phaddhy?" inquired his Reverence. + +"Hut, sir," replied Phaddhy, determined to take what he afterwards +called a rise out of the priest; "they knew little about it--as rich as +they said, sir! no, but three times as rich, itself: but, any how, he +was the man that could make the money." + +"I'm very happy to hear it, Phaddhy, on, your account, and that of your +children. God be good to him--_requiescat animus ejus in pace, per omnia +secula seculorum_, Amen!--he liked a drop in his time, Phaddhy, as well +as ourselves, eh?" + +"Amen, amen--the heavens be his bed!--he-did, poor man! but he had it at +first cost, your Reverence, for he run it all himself in the mountains: +he could afford to take it." + +"Yes, Phaddhy, the heavens be his bed, I pray; no Christmas or Easter +ever passed but he was sure to send me the little keg of stuff that +never saw water; but, Phaddhy, there's one thing that concerns me about +him, in regard of his love of drink--I'm afraid it's a throuble to him +where he is at present; and I was sorry to find that, although he died +full of money, he didn't think it worth his while to leave even the +price of a mass to be said for the benefit of his own soul." + +"Why, sure you know, Father Philemy, that he wasn't what they call a +dhrinking man: once a quarther, or so, he sartinly did take a jorum; +and except at these times, he was very sober. But God look upon us, yer +Reverence--or upon myself, anyway; for if he's to suffer for his doings +that way, I'm afeard we'll have a troublesome reck'ning of it." + +"Hem, a-hem!--Phaddhy," replied the priest, "he has raised you and your +children from poverty, at all events, and you ought to consider that. If +there is anything in your power to contribute to the relief of his +soul, you havs a strong duty upon you to do it; and a number of masses, +offered up devoutly, would--" + +"Why, he did, sir, raise both myself and my childre from poverty," said +Phaddhy, not willing to let that point go farther--"that I'll always own +to; and I hope in God that whatever little trouble might be upon him for +the dhrop of dhrink, will be wiped off by this kindness to us." + +"He hadn't even a Month's mind!"* + + * A Mouth's Mind is the repetition of one or more + masses, at the expiration of a month after death, for + the repose of a departed soul. There are generally more + than the usual number of priests on such occasions: + each of whom receives a sum of money, varying according + to the wealth of the survivors--sometimes five + shillings, and sometimes five guineas. + +"And it's not but I spoke to him about both, yer Eeverence." + +"And what did he say, Phaddy?" + +"'Phaddy,' said he, 'I have been giving Father M'Guirk, one way or +another, between whiskey, oats, and dues, a great deal of money every +year; and now, afther I'm dead,' says he, 'isn't it an ungrateful +thing of him not to offer up one mass for my sowl, except I leave him +payment for it?'" + +"Did he say that, Phaddhy?" + +"I'm giving you his very words, yer Reverence." + +"Phaddhy, I deny it; it's a big lie--he could not make much use of such +words, and he going to face death. I say you could not listen to them; +the hair would stand on your head if he did; but God forgive him--that's +the worst I wish him. Didn't the hair stand on your head, Phaddhy, to +hear him?" + +"Why, then, to tell yer Reverence God's truth, I can't say it did." + +"You can't say it did! and if I was in your coat, I would be ashamed to +say it did not. I was always troubled about the way the fellow died, +but I hadn't the slightest notion: that he went off such a reprobate. I +fought his battle and yours hard enough yesterday; but I knew less about +him than I do now." + +"And what, wid submission, did you fight our battles about, yer +Reverence?" inquired Phaddhy. + +"Yesterday evening, in Parrah More Slevin's, they had him a miser, and +yourself they set down as very little better." + +"Then I don't think I desarved that from Parrah More, anyhow, Father +Philemy; I think I can show myself as dacent as Parrah More or any of +his faction." + +"It was not Parrah More himself, nor his family, that said anything +about you, Phaddhy," said the priest, "but others that were present. You +must know that we were all to be starved here to-day." + +"Oh! ho!" exclaimed Phaddhy, who was hit most palpably upon the weakest +side--the very sorest spot about him, "they think bekase this is the +first station that ever was held in my house, that you won't be thrated +as you ought; but they'll be disappointed; and I hope, for so far, that +yer Reverence and yer friends had no rason to complain." + +"Not in the least, Phaddhy, considering that it was a first station; and +if the dinner goes as well off as the breakfast, they'll be biting their +nails: but I should not wish myself that they would have it in their +power to sneer or throw any slur over you about it.--Go along, Dolan," +exclaimed his Reverence to a countryman who came in from the street, +where those stood who were for confession, to see if he had gone to his +room--"Go along, you vagrant, don't you see I'm not gone to the tribunal +yet?--But it's no matter about that, Phaddhy, it's of other things you +ought to think: when were you at your duty?" + +"This morning, sir," replied the other--"but I'd have them to +understand, that had the presumption to use my name in any such manner, +that I know when and where to be dacent with any mother's son of Parrah +More's faction; and that I'll be afther whispering to them some of these +fine mornings, plase goodness." + +"Well, well, Phaddhy, don't put yourself in a passion about it, +particularly so soon after having been at confession--it's not right--I +told them myself, that we'd have a leg of mutton and a bottle of wine +at all events for it was what they had; but that's not worth talking +about--when were you with the priest before Phaddhy?" + +"If I wasn't able, it would be another thing, but as long as I'm able, +I'll let them know that I've the spirit"--said Phaddhy, smarting under +the implication of niggardliness--"when was I at confession before, +Father Philemy? Why, then, dear forgive me, not these five years;--and +I'd surely be the first of the family that would show a mane spirit, or +a want of hospitality." + +"A leg of mutton is a good dish, and a bottle of wine is fit for the +first man in the land!" observed his Reverence; "five years!--why, is +it possible you stayed away so long, Phaddhy! how could you expect to +prosper with five years' burden of sin upon your conscience--what would +it cost you--?" + +"Indeed, myselfs no judge, your Reverence, as to that; but, cost what it +will, I'll get both." + +"I say, Phaddhy, what trouble would it cost you to come to your duty +twice a year at the very least; and, indeed, I would advise you to +become a monthly communicant. Parrah More was speaking of it as to +himself, and you ought to go--" + +"And I will go and bring Parrah More here to his dinner, this very day, +if it was only to let him see with his own eyes--" + +"You ought to go once a month, if it was only to set an example to +your children, and to show the neighbors how a man of substance and +respectability, and the head of a family, ought to carry himself." + +"Where is the best wine got, your Reverence?" + +"Alick M'Loughlin, my nephew, I believe, keeps the best wine and spirits +in Ballyslantha.--You ought also, Phaddy, to get a scapular, and become +a scapularian; I wish your brother had thought of that, and he wouldn't +have died in so hardened a state, nor neglected to make a provision for +the benefit of his soul, as he did." + +"Lave the rest to me, yer Reverence, I'll get it; Mr. M'Loughlin will +give me the right sort, if he has it betune him and death." + +"M'Laughlin! what are you talking about?" + +"Why, what is your Reverence talking about?" + +"The scapular," said the priest. + +"But I mane the wine and the mutton," says Phaddhy. + +"And is that the way you treat me, you reprobate you?" replied his +Reverence in a passion: "is that the kind of attention you're paying me, +and I, advising you, all this time, for the good of your soul? Phaddhy, +I tell you, you're enough to vex me to the core--five years!--only once +at confession in five years! What do I care about your mutton and your +wine!--you may get dozens of them if you wish; or, may be, it would be +more like a Christian to never mind getting them, and let the neighbors +laugh away. It would teach you humility, you hardened creature, and God +knows you want it; for my part, I'm speaking to you about other things; +but that's the way with the most of you--mention any spiritual subject +that concerns your soul, and you turn a deaf ear to it--here, Dolan, +come in to your duty. In the meantime, you may as well tell Katty not +to boil the mutton too much; it's on your knees you ought to be at your +rosary, or the seven penitential psalms, any way." + +"Thrue for you, sir," says Phaddhy; "but as to going wanst a month, +I'm afeard, your Rev'rence, if it would shorten my timper as it does +Katty's, that we'd be bad company for one another; she comes home from +confession, newly set, like a razor, every bit as sharp; and I'm sure +that I'm within the truth when I say there's no bearing her." + +"That's because you've no relish for anything spiritual yourself, you +nager you," replied his Reverence, "or you wouldn't see her temper in +that light--but, now that I think of it, where did you get that stuff we +had at breakfast?" + +"Ay, that's the sacret; but I knew your Rev'rence would like it; did +Parrah More aiquil it? No, nor one of his faction couldn't lay his +finger on such a dhrop." + +"I wish you could get me a few gallons of it," said the priest; "but let +us drop that; I say, Phaddhy, you're too worldly and too careless about +your duty." + +"Well, Father Philemy, there's a good time coming; I'll mend yet." + +"You want it, Phaddhy." + +"Would three gallons do, sir?" + +"I would rather you would make it five, Phaddhy; but go to your rosary." + +"It's the penitential psalms, first, sir," said Phaddhy, "and the rosary +at night. I'll try, anyhow; and if I can make off five for you, I will." + +"Thank you, Phaddhy; but I would recommend you to say the rosary before +night." + +"I believe yer Reverence is right," replied Phaddhy, looking somewhat +slyly in the priest's face; "I think it's best to make sure of it now, +in regard that in the evening, your Reverence--do you persave?" + +"Yes," said his Reverence, "you're in a better frame of mind at present, +Phaddhy, being fresh from confession." + +So saying, his Reverence--for whom Phaddhy, with all his shrewdness in +general, was not a match--went into his room, that he might send home +about four dozen of honest, good-humored, thoughtless, jovial, swearing, +drinking, fighting Hibernians, free from every possible stain of sin and +wickedness! + +"Are you all ready now?" said the priest to a crowd of country people +who were standing about the kitchen door, pressing to get the "first +turn" at the tribunal, which on this occasion consisted of a good oaken +chair, with his Reverence upon it. + +"Why do you crush forward in that manner, you ill-bred spalpeens? Can't +you stand back, and behave yourselves like common Christians?--back with +you! or, if you make me get my whip, I'll soon clear you from about the +dacent man's door. Hagarty, why do you crush them two girls there, +you great Turk, you? Look at the vagabonds! Where's my whip," said he, +running in, and coming out in a fury, when he commenced cutting about +him, until they dispersed in all directions. He then returned into the +house; and, after calling in about two dozen, began to catechize them +as follows, still holding the whip in his hand, whilst many of those +individuals, who at a party quarrel or faction fight, in fair or market, +were incapable of the slightest terror, now stood trembling before him, +absolutely pale and breathless with fear. + +"Come, Kelly," said he to one of them, "are you fully prepared for the +two blessed sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, that you are about +to receive? Can you read, sir?" + +"Can I read, is id?--my brother Barney can, yor Rev'rence," replied +Kelly, sensible, amid all the disadvantages around him, of the +degradation of his ignorance. + +"What's that to me, sir?" said the priest, "what your brother Barney can +do--can you not read yourself?" + +"I can not, your Reverence," said Kelly, in a tone of regret. + +"I hope you have your Christian Doctrine, at all events," said the +priest. "Go on with the Confiteor." + +Kelly went on--"Confeetur Dimnipotenmti batchy Mary semplar virginy, +batchy Mickletoe Archy Angelo, batchy Johnny Bartisty, sanctris +postlis--Petrum hit Paulum omnium sanctris, et tabby pasture, quay a +pixavit minus coglety ashy hony verbum et offer him smaxy quilia smaxy +quilta--sniaxy maxin in quilia."* + + * Let not our readers suppose that the above version in + the mouth of a totally illiterate peasant is + overcharged; for we have the advantage of remembering + how we ourselves used to hear it pronounced in our + early days. We will back the version in the text + against Edward Irving's new language--for any money.-- + Original note. + +"Very well, Kelly, right enough, all except the pronouncing, +which wouldn't pass muster in Maynooth, however. How many kinds of +commandments are there?" + +"Two, sir." + +"What are they?" + +"God's and the Church's." + +"Repeat God's share of them." + +He then repeated the first commandment according to his catechism. + +"Very good, Kelly, very good. Well now, repeat the commandments of the +Church." + +"First--Sundays and holidays, Mass thou shalt sartinly hear; + +"Second--All holidays sanctificate throughout all the whole year. + +"Third--Lent, Ember days, and Virgins, thou shalt be sartain to fast; + +"Fourth--Fridays and Saturdays flesh thou shalt not, good, bad or +indifferent, taste. + +"Fifth--In Lent and Advent, nuptial fastes gallantly forbear. + +"Sixth--Confess your sins, at laste once dacently and soberly every +year. + +"Seventh--Resave your God at confission about great Easter-day; + +"Eighth--And to his Church and his own frolicsome clargy neglect not +tides (tithes) to pay." + +"Well," said his Eeverence, "now, to great point is, do you understand +them?" + +"Wid the help of God, I hope so, your Rev'rence; and I have also the +three thriptological vartues." + +"Theological, sirrah!" + +"Theojollyological vartues; the four sins that cry to heaven for +vingeance; the five carnal vartues--prudence, justice, timptation, and +solitude; (* Temperance and fortitude) the seven deadly sins; the eight +grey attitudes--" + +"Grey attitudes! Oh, the Boeotian!" exclaimed his Eeverence, "listen to +the way in which he's playing havoc among them. Stop, sir," for Kelly +was going on at full speed--"Stop, sir. I tell you it's not gray +attitudes, but bay attitudes--doesn't every one know the eight +beatitudes?" + +"The eight bay attitudes; the nine ways of being guilty of another's +sins; the ten commandments; the twelve fruits of a Christian; the +fourteen stations of the cross; the fifteen mystheries of the passion--" + +"Kelly," said his Eeverence, interrupting him, and heralding, the joke, +for so it was intended, with a hearty chuckle, "you're getting fast out +of your teens, ma bouchal?" and this was of course, honored with a +merry peal; extorted as much by an effort of softening the rigor of +examination, as by the traditionary duty which entails upon the Irish +laity the necessity of laughing at a priest's jokes, without any +reference at all to their quality. Nor was his Reverence's own voice +the first to subside into that gravity which became the solemnity of the +occasion; or even whilst he continued the interrogatories, his eye was +laughing at the conceit with which it was evident the inner man was not +competent to grapple. "Well, Kelly, I can't say but you've answered +very well, as far as the repealing of them goes; but do you perfectly +understand all the commandments of the church?" + +"I do, sir," replied Kelly, whose confidence kept pace with his +Reverence's good-humor. + +"Well, what is meant by the fifth?" + +"The fifth, sir?" said the other, rather confounded--"I must begin agin, +sir, and go on till I come to it." + +"Well," said the priest, "never mind that; but tell us what the eighth +means?" + +Kelly stared at him a second time, but was not able to advance +"First--Sundays and holidays, mass thou shalt hear;" but before he +had proceeded to the second, a person who stood at his elbow began to +whisper to him the proper reply, and in the act of so doing received a +lash of the whip across the ear for his pains. + +"You blackguard, you!" exclaimed Father Philemy, "take that--how dare +you attempt to prompt any person that I'm examining?" + +Those who stood around Kelly now fell back to a safe distance, and all +was silence, terror, and trepidation once more. + +"Come, Kelly, go on--the eighth?" + +Kelly was still silent. + +"Why, you ninny you, didn't you repeat it just now. 'Eighth--And to his +church neglect not tithes to pay.' Now that I have put the words in your +mouth, what does it mean?" + +Kelly having thus got the cue, replied, in the words of the Catechism, +"To pay _tides_ to the lawful _pasterns_ of the church, sir." + +"Pasterns!--oh, you ass you! _Pasterns!_ you poor; base, contemptible, +crawling reptile, as if we trampled you under our hooves--oh, you scruff +of the earth! Stop, I say--it's pastors." + +"Pastures of the church." + +"And, tell me, do you fulfil that commandment?" + +"I do, sir." + +"It's a lie, sir," replied the priest, brandishing the whip over his +head, whilst Kelly instinctively threw up his guard to protect himself +from the blow. "It's a lie, sir," repeated his Eeverence; "you don't +fulfil it. What is the church?" + +"The church is the congregation of the faithful that purfiss the true +faith, and are obadient to the Pope." + +"And who do you pay tithes to?" + +"To the parson, sir." + +"And, you poor varmint you, is he obadient to the Pope?" + +Kelly only smiled at the want of comprehension which prevented him from +seeing the thing according to the view which his Reverence took of it. + +"Well, now," continued Father Philemy, "who are the lawful pastors of +God's church?" + +"You are, sir: and all our own priests." + +"And who ought you to pay your tithes to?" + +"To you, sir, in coorse; sure I always knew that, your Rev'rence." + +"And what's the reason, then, you don't pay them to me, instead of the +parson?" + +This was a puzzler to Kelly, who only knew his own side of the question. +"You have me there, sir," he replied, with a grin. + +"Because," said his Reverence, "the Protestants, for the present, have, +the law of the land on their side, and power over you to compel the +payment of tithes to themselves; but we have right, justice, and the law +of God on ours; and, if every thing was in its proper place, it is not +to the parsons, but to us, that you would pay them." + +"Well, well, sir," replied Kelly, who now experienced a community of +feeling upon the subject with his Reverence, that instantly threw him +into a familiarity of manner which he thought the point between them +justified--"who knows, sir?" said he with a knowing smile, "there's a +good time coming, yer Rev'rence." + +"Ay," said Father Philemy, "wait till we get once into the Big* House, +and if we don't turn the scales--if the Established Church doesn't +go down, why, it won't be our fault. Now, Kelly, all's right but the +money--have you brought your dues?" + + * Parliament. This was written before the passing of + the Emancipation Bill. + +"Here it is, sir," said Kelly, handing him his dues for the last year. + +It is to be observed here, that, according as the penitents went to be +examined, or to kneel down to confess, a certain sum was exacted from +each, which varied according to the arrears that might have been due to +the priest. Indeed, it is not unusual for the host and hostess, on these +occasions, to be refused a participation in the sacrament, until they +pay this money, notwithstanding the considerable expense they are put to +in entertaining not only the clergy, but a certain number of their own +friends and relations. + +"Well, stand aside, I'll hear you first; and now, come up here, you +young gentleman, that laughed so heartily a while ago at my joke--ha, +ha, ha!--come up here, child." + +A lad now approached him, whose face, on a first view, had something +simple and thoughtless in it, but in which, on a closer inspection, +might be traced a lurking, sarcastic humor, of which his Reverence never +dreamt. + +"You're for confession, of course?" said the priest. + +"_Of coorse_," said the lad, echoing him, and laying a stress upon +the word, which did not much elevate the meaning of the compliance in +general with the rite in question. + +"Oh!" exclaimed the priest, recognizing him when he approached--"you are +Dan Fagan's son, and designed for the church yourself; you are a good +Latinist, for I remember examining you in Erasmus about two years +ago--_Quomodo sehabet corpus tuum, charum lignum sacredotis_" + +"_Valde, Domine_," replied the lad, "_Quomodo se habet anima tua, charum +exemplar sacerdotage, et fulcrum robustissium Ecclesiae sacrosancte_?" + +"Very good, Harry," replied his Reverence, laughing--"stand aside; I'll +hear you after Kelly." + +He then called up a man with a long melancholy face, which he noticed +before to have been proof against his joke, and after making two +or three additional and fruitless experiments upon his gravity, he +commenced a cross fire of peevish interrogatories, which would have +excluded him from the "tribunal" on that occasion, were it not that the +man was remarkably well prepared, and answered the priest's questions +very pertinently. + +This over, he repaired to his room, where the work of absolution +commenced; and, as there was a considerable number to be rendered +sinless before the hour of dinner, he contrived to unsin them with an +alacrity that was really surprising. + +Immediately after the conversation already detailed between his +Reverence and Phaddhy, the latter sought Katty, that he might +communicate to her the unlucky oversight which they had committed, in +neglecting to provide fresh meat and wine. "We'll be disgraced forever," +said Phaddhy, "without either a bit of mutton or a bottle of wine for +the gintlemen, and that big thief Parrah More Slevin had both." + +"And I hope," replied Katty, "that you're not so mane as to let any of +that faction outdo you in dacency, the nagerly set? It was enough for +them to bate us in the law-shoot about the horse, and not to have the +laugh agin at us about this." + +"Well, that same law-shoot is not over with them yet," said Phaddhy; +"wait till the spring fair comes, and if I don't have a faction gathered +that'll sweep them out of the town, why my name's not Phaddhy! But where +is Matt till we sind him off?" + +"Arrah, Phaddhy," said Katty, "wasn't it friendly of Father Philemy to +give us the hard word about the wine and mutton?" + +"Very friendly," retorted Phaddhy, who, after all, appeared to have +suspected the priest--"very friendly, indeed, when it's to put a good +joint before himself, and a bottle of wine in his jacket. No, no, Katty! +it's not altogether for the sake of Father Philemy, but I wouldn't have +the neighbors say that I was near and undacent; and above all tilings, +I wouldn't be worse nor the Slevins--for the same set would keep it up +agin us long enough." + +Our readers will admire the tact with which Father Philemy worked upon +the rival feeling between the factions; but, independently of this, +there is a generous hospitality in an Irish peasant which would urge him +to any stratagem, were it even the disposal of his only cow, sooner than +incur the imputation of a narrow, or, as he himself terms it, "undacent" +or "nagerly" spirit. + +In the course of a short time, Phaddhy dispatched two messengers, one +for the wine, and another for the mutton; and, that they might not +have cause for any unnecessary delay, he gave them the two reverend +gentlemen's horses, ordering them to spare neither whip nor spur until +they returned. This was an agreeable command to the messengers, who, as +soon as they found themselves mounted, made a bet of a "trate," to be +paid on arriving in the town to which they were sent, to him who should +first reach a little stream that crossed the road at the entrance of it, +called the "Pound burn." But I must not forget to state, that they not +only were mounted on the priest's horses, but took their great-coats, as +the day had changed, and threatened to rain. Accordingly, on getting out +upon the main road, they set off, whip and spur, at full speed, jostling +one another, and cutting each other's horses as if they had been +intoxicated; and the fact is, that, owing to the liberal distribution of +the bottle that morning, they were not far from it. + +[Illustration: PAGE 756-- They set off, whip and spur, at full speed] + +"Bliss us!" exclaimed the country people, as they passed, "what on airth +can be the matther with Father Philemy and Father Con, that they're +abusing wan another at sich a rate!" + +"Oh!" exclaimed another, "it's apt to be a sick call, and they're +thrying, maybe, to be there before the body grows cowld." + +"Ay, it may be," a third conjectured, "it's to old Magennis, that's on +the point of death, and going to lave all his money behind him." + +But their astonishment was not a whit lessened, when, in about an hour +afterwards, they perceived them both return; the person who represented +Father Con having an overgrown leg of mutton slung behind his back like +an Irish harp, reckless of its friction against his Reverence's coat, +which it had completely saturated with grease; and the duplicate of +Father Philemy with a sack over his shoulder, in the bottom of which was +half a dozen of Mr. M'Laughlin's best port. + +Phaddhy, in the meantime, being determined to mortify his rival Parrah +More by a superior display of hospitality, waited upon that parsonage, +and exacted a promise from him to come down and partake of the dinner--a +promise which the other was not slack in fulfilling. Phaddhy's heart was +now on the point of taking its rest, when it occurred to him that there +yet remained one circumstance in which he might utterly eclipse his +rival, and that was to ask Captain Wilson, his landlord, to meet their +Reverences at dinner. He accordingly went over to him, for he only lived +a few fields distant, having first communicated the thing privately to +Katty, and requested that, as their Reverences that day held a station +in his house, and would dine there, he would have the kindness to dine +along with them. To this the Captain, who was intimate with both the +clergymen, gave a ready compliance, and Phaddhy returned home in high +spirits. + +In the meantime, the two priests were busy in the work of absolution; +the hour of three had arrived, and they had many to shrive; but, in +the course of a short time, a reverend auxiliary made his appearance, +accompanied by one of Father Philemy's nephews, who was then about to +enter Maynooth. This clerical gentleman had been appointed to a parish; +but, owing to some circumstances which were known only in the distant +part of the diocese where he had resided, he was deprived of it, and +had, at the period I am writing of, no appointment in the church, +though he was in full orders. If I mistake not, he incurred his bishop's +displeasure by being too warm an advocate for Domestic Nomination,* a +piece of discipline, the re-establishment of which was then attempted by +the junior clergymen of the diocese wherein the scene of this station +is laid. Be this as it may, he came in time to assist the gentlemen in +absolving those penitents (as we must call them so) who still remained +unconfessed. + + * Domestic Nomination was the right claimed by a + portion of the Irish clergy to appoint their own + bishops, independently of the Pope. + +During all this time Katty was in the plenitude of her authority, and +her sense of importance manifested itself in a manner that was by no +means softened by having been that morning at her duty. Her tones +were not so shrill, nor so loud as they would have been, had not their +Reverences been within hearing; but what was wanting in loudness, was +displayed in a firm and decided energy, that vented, itself frequently +in the course of the day upon the backs and heads of her sons, +daughters, and servants, as they crossed her path in the impatience +and bustle of her employment. It was truly ludicrous to see her, on +encountering one of them in these fretful moments, give him a drive +head-foremost against the wall, exclaiming, as she shook her fist at +him, "Ho, you may bless your stars, that they're under the roof, or it +wouldn't go so asy wid you; for if goodness hasn't said it, you'll +make me lose my sowl this blessed and holy day: but this is still the +case--the very time I go to my duty, the devil (between us and harm) +is sure to throw fifty temptations acrass me, and to help him, you must +come in my way--but wait till tomorrow, and if I, don't pay you for +this, I'm not here." + +That a station is an expensive ordinance to the peasant who is honored +by having one held in his house, no one who knows the characteristic +hospitality of the Irish people can doubt. I have reason, however, to +know that, within the last few years, stations in every sense have been +very much improved, where they have not been abolished altogether. +The priests now are not permitted to dine in the houses of their +parishioners, by which a heavy tax has been removed from the people. + +About four o'clock the penitents were at length all despatched; and +those who were to be detained for dinner, many of whom had not eaten +anything until then, in consequence of the necessity of receiving the +Eucharist fasting, were taken aside to taste some of Phaddhy's poteen. +At length the hour of dinner arrived, and along with it the redoubtable +Parra More Slevin, Captain Wilson, and another nephew of Father +Philemy's, who had come to know what detained his brother who had +conducted the auxiliary priest to Phaddhy's. It is surprising on these +occasions, to think how many uncles, nephews, and cousins, to the +forty-Second degree, find it needful to follow their Reverences on +messages of various kinds; and it is equally surprising to observe with +what exactness they drop in during the hour of dinner. Of course, +any blood-relation or friend of the priests must be received with +cordiality; and consequently they do not return without solid proofs +of the good-natured hospitality of poor Paddy, who feels no greater +pleasure than in showing his "dacency" to any one belonging to his +Reverence. + +I dare say it would be difficult to find a more motley and diversified +company than sat down to the ungarnished fare which Katty laid before +them. There were first Fathers Philemy, Con, and the Auxiliary from the +far part of the diocese; next followed Captain Wilson, Peter Malone, and +Father Philemy's two nephews; after these came Phaddhy himself, Parrah +More Slevin, with about two dozen more of the most remarkable and +uncouth personages that could sit down to table. There were besides +about a dozen of females, most of whom by this time, owing to Katty's +private kindness, were in a placid state of feeling. Father Philemy _ex +officio_, filled the chair--he was a small man with cherub cheeks as red +as roses, black twinkling eyes, and double chin; was of the fat-headed +genus, and, if phrenologists be correct, must have given indications +of early piety, for he was bald before his time, and had the organ of +veneration standing visible on his crown; his hair from having once been +black, had become an iron gray, and hung down behind his ears, resting +on the collar of his coat according to the old school, to which, I must +remark, he belonged, having been educated on the Continent. His coat +had large double breasts, the lappels of which hung down loosely on each +side, being the prototype of his waistcoat, whose double breasts fell +downwards in the same manner--his black small-clothes had silver buckles +at the knees, and the gaiters, which did not reach up so far, discovered +a pair of white lamb's-wool stockings, somewhat retreating from their +original color. + +Father Con was a tall, muscular, able-bodied young man, with an +immensely broad pair of shoulders, of which he was vain; his black hair +was cropped close, except a thin portion of it which was trimmed quite +evenly across his eyebrows; he was rather bow-limbed, and when walking +looked upwards, holding out his elbows from his body, and letting the +lower parts of his arms fall down, so that he went as if he carried a +keg under each; his coat, though not well made, was of the best glossy +broadcloth--and his long clerical boots went up about his knees like +a dragoon's; there was an awkward stiffness about him, in very good +keeping with a dark melancholy cast of countenance, in which, however, a +man might discover an air of simplicity not to be found in the visage of +his superior Father Philemy. + +The latter gentleman filled the chair, as I said, and carved the goose; +on his right sat Captain Wilson; on his left, the auxiliary--next to +them Father Con, the nephews, Peter Malone, _et cetera_. To enumerate +the items of the dinner is unnecessary, as our readers have a pretty +accurate notion of them from what we have already said. We can only +observe, that when Phaddhy saw it laid, and all the wheels of the system +fairly set agoing, he looked at Parrah More with an air of triumph +which he could not conceal. It is also unnecessary for us to give the +conversation in full; nor, indeed, would we attempt giving any portion +of it, except for the purpose of showing the spirit in which a religious +ceremony such as it is, is too frequently closed. + +The talk in the beginning was altogether confined to the clergymen and +Mr. Wilson, including a few diffident contributions from "Peter Malone" +and the "two nephews." + +"Mr. M'Guirk," observed Captain Wilson, after the conversation had taken +several turns, "I'm sure that in the course of your professional duties, +sir, you must have had occasion to make many observations upon human +nature, from the circumstance of seeing it in every condition and state +of feeling possible; from the baptism of the infant, until the aged man +receives the last rites of your church, and the soothing consolation of +religion from your hand." + +"Not a doubt of it, Phaddhy," said Father Philemy to Phaddhy, whom +he had been addressing at the time, "not a doubt of it; and I'll +do everything in my power to get him _in_* too, and I am told he is +bright." + + * That is--into Maynooth college--the great object of + ambition to the son of an Irish peasant or rather to + his parent. + +"Uncle," said one of the nephews, "this gentleman is speaking to you." + +"And why not?" continued his Eeverence, who was so closely engaged with +Phaddhy, that he did not even hear the nephew's appeal--"a bishop--and +why not? Has he not as good a chance of being a bishop as any of them? +though, God knows, it is not always merit that gets a bishopric in any +church, or I myself might--But let that pass." said he, fixing his eyes +on the bottle. "Father Philemy," said Father Con, "Captain Wilson was +addressing himself to you in a most especial manner." + +"Oh! Captain, I beg ten thousand pardons, I was engaged talking with +Phaddhy here about his son, who is a young shaving of our cloth, sir, he +is intended for the Mission*--Phaddhy, I will either examine him myself, +or make Father Con examine him by-and-by.--Well, Captain?" The Captain +now repeated what he had said. + + * The Church of Rome existing in any heretical country-- + that is, where she herself is not the State church--is + considered a missionary establishment; and taking + orders in her is termed "Going upon the Mission." Even + Ireland is looked upon as _in partibus infidelium_, + because Protestantism is established by law--hence the + phrase above. + +"Very true, Captain, and we do see it in as many shapes as ever--Con, +what do you call him?--put on him." + +"Proteus," subjoined Con, who was famous at the classics. + +Father Philemy nodded for the assistance, and continued--"but as for +human nature, Captain, give it to me at a good rousing christening; +or what is better again, at a jovial wedding between two of my own +parishioners--say this pretty fair-haired daughter of Phaddhy Shemus +Phaddhy's here, and long Ned Slevin, Parrah More's son there--eh +Phaddhy, will it be a match?--what do you say, Parrah More? Upon my +veracity I must bring that about." + +"Why, then, yer Reverence," replied Phaddhy, who was now a little +softened, and forgot his enmity against Parrah More for the present, +"unlikelier things might happen." + +"It won't be my fault," said Parrah More, "if my son Ned has no +objection." + +"He object!" replied Father Philemy, "if' I take it in hands, let me see +who'll dare to object; doesn't the Scripture say it? and sure we can't +go against the Scripture." + +"By the by," said Captain Wilson, who was a dry humorist, "I am happy to +be able to infer from what you say, Father Philemy, that you are not, as +the clergymen of your church are supposed to be, inimical to the Bible." + +"Me an enemy to the Bible! no such thing, sir; but, Captain, begging +your pardon we will have nothing more about the bible; you see we are +met here, as friends and good fellows, to enjoy ourselves after the +severity of our spiritual duties, and we must relax a little; we can't +always carry long faces like Methodist parsons--come, Pairah More, let +the Bible take a nap, and give us a song." + +His Reverence was now seconded in his motion by the most of all present, +and Parrah More accordingly gave them a song. After a few songs more, +the conversation went on as before. + +"Now, Parrah More," said Phaddhy, "you must try my wine; I hope it's as +good as what you gave his Reverence yesterday." The words, however, had +scarcely passed his lips, when Father Philemy burst out into a fit +of laughter, clapping and rubbing his hands in a manner the most +irresistible. "Oh, Phaddhy, Phaddhy!" shouted his Reverence, laughing +heartily, "I done you for once--I done you, my man, cute as you thought +yourself: why, you nager you, did you think to put us off with punch, +and you have a stocking of hard guineas hid in a hole in the wall?" + +"What does yer Rev'rence mane," said Phaddhy; "for myself can make no +understanding out of it, at all at all?" + +To this his Reverence only replied by another laugh. + +"I gave his Reverence no wine," said Parrah More, in reply to Phaddhy's +question. + +"What!" said Phaddhy, "none yesterday, at the station held with you?" + +"Not a bit of me ever thought of it." + +"Nor no mutton?" + +"Why, then, devil a morsel of mutton, Phaddhy; but we had a rib of +beef." + +Phaddhy now looked over to his Reverence rather sheepishly, with the +smile of a man on his face who felt himself foiled. "Well, yer Reverence +has done me, sure enough," he replied, rubbing his head--"I give it up +to you, Father Philemy; but any how, I'm glad I got it, and you're all +welcome from the core of my heart. I'm only sorry I haven't as much more +now to thrate you all like gintlemen; but there's some yet, and as much +punch as will make all our heads come round." + +Our readers must assist us with their own imaginations, and suppose the +conversation to have passed very pleasantly, and the night, as well +as the guests, to be somewhat far gone. The principal part of the +conversation was borne by the three clergymen, Captain Wilson, and +Phaddy; that of the two nephews and Peter Malone ran in an under current +of its own; and in the preceding part of the night, those who occupied +the bottom of the table, spoke to each other rather in whispers, being +too much restrained by that rustic bashfulness which ties up the tongues +of those who feel that their consequence is overlooked among their +superiors. According as the punch circulated, however, their diffidence +began to wear off; and occasionally an odd laugh or so might be heard +to break the monotony of their silence. The youngsters, too, though at +first almost in a state of terror, soon commenced plucking each other; +and a titter, or a suppressed burst of laughter, would break forth from +one of the more waggish, who was put to a severe task in afterwards +composing his countenance into sufficient gravity to escape detection, +and a competent portion of chastisement the next day, for not being able +to "behave himself with betther manners." + +During these juvenile breaches of decorum, Katty would raise her arm +in a threatening attitude, shake her head at them, and look up at the +clergy, intimating more by her earnestness of gesticulation than met +the ear. Several songs again went round, of which, truth to tell, +Father Philomy's were by far the best; for he possessed a rich, comic +expression of eye, which, added to suitable ludicrousness of gesture, +and a good voice, rendered him highly amusing to the company. Father +Con declined singing, as being decidedly serious, though he was often +solicited. + +"He!" said Father Philemy, "he has no more voice than a woolpack; +but Con's a cunning fellow. What do you think, Captain Wilson, but +he pretends to be too pious to sing, and gets credit for piety,--not +because he is devout, but because he has a bad voice; now, Con, you +can't deny it, for there's not a man in the three kingdoms knows it +better than myself; you sit there with a face upon you that might go +before the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet, when you ought to be as +jovial as another." + +"Well, Father Philemy," said Phaddhy, "as he won't sing, may be, wid +submission he'd examine Briney in his Latin, till his mother and I hear +how's he doing at it." + +"Ay, he's fond of dabbling at Latin, so he may try him--I'm sure I have +no objection--: so, Captain, as I was telling you--" + +"Silence there below!" said Phaddhy to those at the lower end of the +table, who were now talkative enough; "will yez whisht there till Father +Con hears Briney a lesson in his Latin. Where are you, Briney? come +here, ma bouchal." + +But Briney had absconded when he saw that the tug of war was about to +commence. In a few minutes, however, the father returned, pushing +the boy before him, who in his reluctance to encounter the ordeal of +examination, clung to every chair, table, and person in his way, hoping +that his restiveness might induce them to postpone the examination till +another occasion. The father, however, was inexorable, and by main force +dragged him from all his holds, and, placed him before Father Con. + +"What's come over you, at all at all, you unsignified shingawn you, to +affront the gintleman in this way, and he kind enough to go for to give +you an examination?--come now, you had betther not vex me, I tell you, +but hould up your head, and spake out loud, that we can all hear +you: now, Father Con, achora, you'll not be too hard upon him in the +beginning, till he gets into it, for he's aisy dashed." + +"Here, Briney," said Father Philemy, handing him his tumbler, "take +a pull of this and if you have any courage at all in you it will raise +it;--take a good pull." Briney hesitated. + +"Why, but you take the glass out of his Reverence's hand, sarrah," +said the father--"what! is it without dhrinking his Reverence's health +first?" + +Briney gave a most melancholy nod at his Reverence, as he put the +tumbler to his mouth, which he nearly emptied, notwithstanding his +shyness. + +"For my part," said his Reverence, looking at the almost empty tumbler, +"I am pretty sure that that same chap will be able to take care +of himself through life. And so, Captain,--" said he, resuming the +conversation with Captain Wilson--for his notice of Briney was only +parenthetical. + +Father Con now took the book, which was AEsop's Fables, and, in +accordance with Briney's intention, it opened exactly at the favorite +fable of Gallus Gallinacexis. He was not aware, however, that Briney had +kept that place open during the preceding part of the week, in order to +effect this point. Father Philemy, however, was now beginning to relate +another anecdote to the Captain, and the thread of his narrative twined +rather ludicrously with that of the examination. + +Briney, after, a few hems, at length proceeded--"_Gallus Gallinaceus_, a +dung-hill cock--" + +"So, Captain, I was just after coming out of Widow Moylan's--it was in +the Lammas fair--and a large one, by the by, it was--so, sir, who should +come up to me but Branagan. 'Well, Branagan,' said I, 'how does the +world go now with you?'----" + +"_Gallus Gallinaceus_, a dunghill cock----" + +----"Says he. 'And how is that?' says I. + +"_Gallus Gallinaceus_----" + +-----"Says he, 'Hut tut, Branagan,' says I--'you're drunk.' 'That's +the thing, sir' says Branagan, 'and I want to explain it all to your +Reverence.' 'Well,' said I, 'go on---" + +"_Gallus Gallinaceus_, a dunghill cock----" + +----"Says he,----Let your Gallus Gallinaceus go to roost for this night, +Con," said Father Philemy, who did not relish the interruption of his +story; "I say, Phaddhy, send the boy to bed, and bring him down in your +hand to my house on Saturday morning, and we will both examine him, +but this is no time for it, and me engaged in conversation with +Captain Wilson.--So, Captain ____'Well, sir,' says Branagan, and he +staggering,--'I took an oath against liquor, and I want your Reverence +to break it,' says he. 'What do you mean?' I inquired. 'Why, please your +Reverence,' said he, 'I took an oath against liquor, as I told you, +not to drink more nor a pint of whiskey in one day, and I want your +Reverence to break it for me, and make it only half a pint; for I find +that a pint is too much for me; by the same token, that when I get that +far, your Reverence, I disremember the oath entirely." + +The influence of the bottle now began to be felt, and the conversation +absolutely blew a gale, wherein hearty laughter, good strong singing, +loud argument, and general good humor blended into one uproarious peal +of hilarity, accompanied by some smart flashes of wit and humor which +would not disgrace a prouder banquet. Phaddhy, in particular, melted +into a spirit of the most unbounded benevolence--a spirit that would (if +by any possible means he could effect it) embrace the whole human race; +that is to say, he would raise them, man, woman, and child, to the same +elevated state of happiness which he enjoyed himself. That, indeed, was +happiness in perfection, as pure and unadulterated as the poteen which +created it. How could he be otherwise than happy?--he had succeeded to a +good property, and a stocking of hard guineas, without the hard labor of +acquiring them; he had the "clargy" under his roof at last, partaking +of a hospitality which he felt himself well able to afford them; he had +settled with his Reverence for five years' arrears of sin, all of which +had been wiped out of his conscience by the blessed absolving hand of +the priest; he was training up Briney for the Mission, and though last, +not least, he was--far gone in his seventh tumbler! + +"Come, jinteels," said he, "spare nothing here--there's lashings of +every thing; thrate yourselves dacent, and don't be saying tomorrow or +next day, that ever my father's son was nagerly. Death alive, Father +Con, what are you doin'? Why, then, bad manners to me if that'll sarve, +any how." + +"Phaddhy," replied Father Con, "I assure you I have done my duty." + +"Very well, Father Con, granting all that, it's no sin to repate a good +turn you know. Not a word I'll hear, yer Reverence--one tumbler along +with myself, if it was only for ould times." He then filled Father Con's +tumbler with his own hand, in a truly liberal spirit. "Arrah, Father +Con, do you remember the day we had the leapin'-match, and the bout at +the shoulder-stone?" + +"Indeed, I'll not forget it, Phaddhy." + +"And it's yourself that may say that; but I bleeve I rubbed the consate +off of your Reverence--only that's betune ourselves, you persave." + +"You did win the palm, Phaddhy, I'll not deny it; but you are the only +man that ever bet me at either of the athletics.' + +"And I'll say this for yer Reverence, that you are one of the best and +most able-bodied gintlemen I ever engaged with. Ah! Father Con, I'm past +all that now--but no matter, here's yer Reverence's health, and a shake. +hands; Father Philomy, yer health, docthor: yer strange Reverence's +health--Captain Wilson, not forgetting you, sir: Mr. Pettier, yours; and +I hope to see you soon with the robes upon you, and to be able to prache +us a good sarmon. Parrah More--_wus dha lauv_ (* give me yer hand), +you steeple you; and I haven't the smallest taste of objection to what +Father Philemy hinted at--yell obsarve. Kitty, you thief of the world, +where are you? Your health, avourneen; come here, and give us your fist, +Katty: bad manners to me if I could forget you afther all;--the best +crathur, your Reverence, under the sun, except when yer Reverence puts +yer _comedher_ on her at confession, and then she's a little, sharp or +so, not a doubt of it: but no matther, Katty ahagur, you do it all for +the best. And Father Philemy, maybe it's myself didn't put the thrick +upon you in the Maragy More, about Katty's death--ha, ha, ha! Jack +M'Craner, yer health--all yer healths, and yer welcome here, if you +war seven times as many. Briney, where are you, ma bouchal? Come up and +shake hands wid yer father, as well as another--come up, acushla, and +kiss me. Ah, Briney, my poor fellow, ye'll never be the cut of a man yer +father was; but no matther, avourneen, ye'll be a betther man, I hope; +and God knows you may asy be that, for Father Philemy, I'm not what I +ought to be, yer Reverence; however, I may mend, and will, maybe, before +a month of Sundays goes over me: but, for all that, Briney, I hope to +see the day when you'll be sitting an ordained priest at my own table; +if I once saw that, I could die contented--so mind yer larning, acushla, +and, his Reverence here will back you, and make inthorest to get you +into the college. Musha, God pity them crathurs at the door--aren't +they gone yet? Listen to them coughin', for fraid we'd forget them: and +throth and they won't be forgot this bout any how--Katty, avourneen, +give them every one, big and little, young and ould, their +skinful--don't lave a wrinkle in them; and see, take one of them +bottles--the crathurs, they're starved sitting there all night in +the cowld--and give them a couple of glasses a-piece--it's good, yer +Reverence, to have the poor body's blessing at all times; and now, as I +was saying, Here's all yer healths! and from the very veins of my heart +yer welcome here." + +Our readers may perceive that Phaddhy + + "Was not only blest, but glorious, + O'er a' the ills o' life victorious;" + +for, like the generality of our peasantry, the _native_ drew to the +surface of his character those warm, hospitable, and benevolent virtues, +which a purer system of morals and education would most certainly keep +in full action, without running the risk, as in the present instance, of +mixing bad habits with frank, manly, and generous qualities. + + * * * * * + +"I'll not go, Con--I tell you I'll not go till I sing another song. +Phaddhy, you're a prince--but where's the use of lighting more candles +now, man, than you had in the beginning of the night? Is Captain Wilson +gone? Then, peace be with him; it's a pity he wasn't on the right side, +for he's not the worst of them. Phaddhy, where are you?" + +"Why, yer Reverence," replied Katty, "he's got a little unwell, and jist +laid down his head a bit." + +"Katty," said Father Con, "you had better get a couple of the men to +accompany Father Philemy home; for though the night's clear, he doesn't +see his way very well in the dark--poor man, his eye-sight's failing him +fast." + +"Then, the more's the pity, Father Con. Here, Denis, let yourself and +Mat go home wid Father Philemy." + +"Good-night, Katty," said Father Con--"Good-night: and may our blessing +sanctify you all." + +"Good-night, Father Con, ahagur," replied Katty; "and for goodness' sake +see that they take care of Father Philemy, for it's himself that's the +blessed and holy crathur, and the pleasant gintleman out and out." + +"Good-night, Katty," again repeated Father Con, as the cavalcade +proceeded in a body--"Good-night!" And so ended the Station. + + + + + + +THE PARTY FIGHT AND FUNERAL. + + +We ought, perhaps, to inform our readers that the connection between a +party fight and funeral is sufficiently strong to justify the author in +classing them under the title which is prefixed to this story. The one +being usually the natural result of the other, is made to proceed from +it, as is, unhappily, too often the custom in real life among the Irish. + +It has been long laid down as a universal principle, that +self-preservation is the first law of nature. An Irishman, however, has +nothing to do with this; he disposes of it as he does with the other +laws, and washes his hands out of it altogether. But commend him to a +fair, dance, funeral, or wedding, or to any other sport where there is +a likelihood of getting his head or his bones broken, and if he survive, +he will remember you with a kindness peculiar to himself to the last +day of his life--will drub you from head to heel if he finds that any +misfortune has kept you out of a row beyond the usual period of three +months--will render the same service to any of your friends that stand +in need of it; or, in short, will go to the world's end, or fifty miles +farther, as he himself would say, to serve you, provided you can +procure him a bit of decent fighting. Now, in truth and soberness, it +is difficult to account for this propensity; especially when the task +of ascertaining it is assigned to those of another country, or even to +those Irishmen whose rank in life places them too far from the customs, +prejudices, and domestic opinions of their native peasantry, none +of which can be properly known without mingling with them. To my own +knowledge, however, it proceeds in a great measure from education. And +here I would beg leave to point out an omission of which the several +boards of education have been guilty, and which, I believe, no one but +myself has yet been sufficiently acute and philosophical to ascertain, +as forming a _sine qua non_ in the national instruction of the lower +orders of Irishmen. + +The cream of the matter is this:--a species of ambition prevails in the +Green Isle, not known in any other country. It is an ambition of about +three miles by four in extent; or, in other words, is bounded by the +limits of the parish in which the subject of it may reside. It puts +itself forth early in the character, and a hardy perennial it is. In my +own case, its first development was noticed in the hedge-school which I +attended. I had not been long there, till I was forced to declare myself +either for the Caseys or the Murphys, two tiny factions, that had split +the school between them. The day on which the ceremony of my declaration +took place was a solemn one. After school, we all went to the bottom of +a deep valley, a short distance from the school-house; up to the moment +of our assembling there, I had not taken my stand under either banner: +that of the Caseys was a sod of turf, stuck on the end of a broken +fishing-rod--the eagle of the Murphy's was a Cork red potato, hoisted +in the same manner. The turf was borne by an urchin, who afterwards +distinguished himself in fairs and markets as a _builla batthah_ (* +cudgel player) of the first grade, and from this circumstance he was +nicknamed _Parrah Rackhan_. (* Paddy the Rioter) The potato was borne +by little Mickle M'Phauden Murphy, who afterwards took away Katty Bane +Sheridan, without asking either her own consent or her father's. They +were all then boys, it is true, but they gave a tolerable promise of +that eminence which they subsequently attained. + +When we arrived at the bottom of the glen, the Murphys and the Caseys, +including their respective followers, ranged themselves on either side +of a long line, which was drawn between the belligerent powers with the +but-end of one of the standards. Exactly on this line was I placed. The +word was then put to me in full form--"Whether will you side with the +dacent Caseys, or the blackguard Murphys?" "Whether will you side with +the dacent Murphys, or the blackguard Caseys?" "The potato for ever!" +said I, throwing up my caubeen, and running over to the Murphy standard. +In the twinkling of an eye we were at it; and in a short time the deuce +an eye some of us had to twinkle. A battle royal succeeded, that lasted +near half an hour, and it would probably have lasted above double the +time, were it not for the appearance of the "master," who was seen by a +little shrivelled vidette, who wanted an arm, and could take no part in +the engagement. This was enough--we instantly radiated in all possible +directions, so that by the time he had descended through the intricacies +of the glen to the field of battle, neither victor nor vanquished was +visible, except, perhaps, a straggler or two as they topped the brow of +the declivity, looking back over their shoulders, to put themselves out +of doubt as to their visibility by the master. They seldom looked in +vain, however, for there he usually stood, shaking at us his rod, silently +prophetic of its application on the following day. This threat, for the +most part, ended in smoke; for except he horsed about forty or fifty of +us, the infliction of impartial justice was utterly out of his power. + +[Illustration: PAGE 763-- Usually stood, shaking at us his rod] + +But besides this, there never was a realm in which the evils of a +divided cabinet were more visible: the truth is, the monarch himself was +under the influence of female government--an influence which he felt +it either contrary to his inclination or beyond his power to throw +off. "Poor Norah, long may you reign!" we often used to exclaim, to the +visible mortification of the "master," who felt the benevolence of the +wish bottomed upon an indirect want of allegiance to himself. Well, it +was a touching scene!--how we used to stand with the waistbands of our +small-clothes cautiously grasped in our hands, with a timid show of +resistance, our brave red faces slobbered over with tears, as we stood +marked for execution! Never was there a finer specimen of deprecation +in eloquence than we then exhibited--the supplicating look right up into +the master's face--the touching modulation of the whine--the additional +tightness and caution with which we grasped the waistbands with one +hand, when it was necessary to use the other in wiping our eyes and +noses with the polished sleeve-cuff--the sincerity and vehemence with +which we promised never to be guilty again, still shrewdly including the +condition of present impunity for our offence:--"this--one--time-- +master, if ye plaise, sir;" and the utter hopelessness and despair which +were legible in the last groan, as we grasp the "master's" leg in utter +recklessness of judgment, were all perfect in their way. Reader, have +you ever got a reprieve from the gallows? I beg pardon, my dear sir; I +only meant to ask, are you capable of entering into what a personage of +that description might be supposed to feel, on being informed, after the +knot had been neatly tied under the left ear, and the cap drawn over his +eyes, that her majesty had granted him a full pardon? But you remember +your own schoolboy days, and that's enough. + +The nice discrimination with which Norah used to time her interference +was indeed surprising. God help us! limited was our experience, and +shallow our little judgments, or we might have known what the master +meant, when with upraised arm hung over us, his eye was fixed upon the +door of the kitchen, waiting for Norah's appearance. + +Long, my fair and virtuous countrywomen, I repeat it to you all, as +I did to Norah--may you reign in the hearts and affections of your +husbands (but nowhere else), the grace, ornaments, and happiness of +their hearths and lives, you jewels, you! You are paragons of all that's +good, and your feelings are highly creditable to yourselves and to +humanity. + +When Norah advanced, with her brawny, uplifted arm (for she was a +powerful woman) and forbidding aspect, to interpose between us and the +avenging, terrors of the birch, do you think that she did not reflect +honor on her sex and the national character! I sink the base allusion +to the _miscaun_* of fresh butter, which we had placed in her hands that +morning, or the dish of eggs, or of meal, which we had either begged or +stolen at home, as a present for her; disclaiming, at the same time, the +rascally idea of giving it as a bribe, or from any motive beneath the +most lofty minded and disinterested generosity on our part. + + * A portion of butter, weighing from one pound to six or + eight, made in the shape of a prism. + +Then again, never did a forbidding face shine with so winning and +amicable an expression as did hers on that merciful occasion. The sun +dancing a hornpipe on Easter Sunday morning, or the full moon sailing as +proud as a peacock in a new halo head-dress, was a very disrespectable +sight, compared to Norah's red beaming face, shrouded in her dowd cap +with long ears, that descended to her masculine and substantial neck. +Owing to her influence, the whole economy of the school was good; for +we were permitted to cuff one another, and do whatever we pleased, with +impunity, if we brought the meal, eggs, or butter; except some scapegoat +who was not able to accomplish this, and he generally received on his +own miserable carcase what was due to us all. + +Poor Jack Murray! His last words on the scaffold, for being concerned in +the murder of Pierce the gauger, were, that he got the first of his +bad habits under Pat Mulligan and Norah--that he learned to steal by +secreting at home, butter and meal to paste up the master's eyes to +his bad conduct--and that his fondness for quarrelling arose from being +permitted to head a faction at school; a most ungrateful return for the +many acts of grace which the indulgence of Norah caused; to be issued in +his favor. + +I was but a short time under Pat, when, after the general example, I +had my cudgel, which I used to carry regularly to a certain furze +bush within fifty perches of the "seminary," where I hid it till after +"dismiss.*"! I grant it does not look well in me to become I my own +panegyrist; but I can at least declare, that there were few among the +Gaseys able to, resist the prowess of this right arm, puny as it was at +the period in question. Our battles were obstinate and frequent; but as +the quarrels of the two families and their relations on each side, were +as bitter and pugnacious in fairs and markets as ours were in school, we +hit upon the plan of holding our Lilliputian engagements upon the same +days on which our fathers and brothers contested. According to this +plan, it very often happened that the corresponding parties were +successful, and as frequently, that whilst the Caseys were well drubbed +in the fair, their sons were victorious at school, and vice versa. + +For my part, I was early trained in cudgelling, and before I reached my +fourteenth year, could pronounce as sage and accurate an opinion upon +the merits of a shillelagh, as it is called, or cudgel, as a veteran +of sixty could at first sight. Our plan of preparing them was this: we +sallied out to any place where there was an underwood of blackthorn or +oak, and, having surveyed the premises with the eye of a connoisseur, we +selected the straightest root-growing piece which we could find: for +if not root-growing we did not consider it worth cutting, knowing from +experience that a mere branch, how straight and fair soever it might +look, would be apt to snap in the twist and tug of war. Having cut it as +close to the root as possible, we then lopped off the branches, and +put it up the chimney to season. When seasoned, we took it down, and +wrapping it in brown paper, well steeped in hog's lard or oil, we buried +it in a horse dunghill, paying it a daily visit for the purpose of +making it straight by doubling back the bends or angles across the knee, +in a direction contrary to their natural tendency. Having daily repeated +this until we had made it straight, and renewed the oil wrapping paper +until the staff was perfectly saturated, we then rubbed it well with a +woollen cloth, containing a little black-lead and grease, to give it +a polish. This was the last process, except that if we thought it too +light at the top, we used to bore a hole in the lower end with a red-hot +iron spindle, into which we poured melted lead, for the purpose of +giving it the knock-down weight. + +There were very few of Paddy Mulligan's scholars without a choice +collection of such cudgels, and scarcely one who had not, before his +fifteenth year, a just claim to be called the hero of a hundred fights, +and the heritor of as many bumps on the cranium as would strike both +Gall and Spurzheim speechless. + +Now this, be it known, was, and in some districts yet is, an integral +part of an Irish peasant's education. In the northern parts of Ireland, +where the population of the Catholics on the one side, and of Protestant +and Dissenters on the other, is nearly equal, I have known the +respective scholars of Catholic and Protestant schools to challenge each +other and meet half-way to do battle, in vindication of their respective +creeds; or for the purpose of establishing the character of their +respective masters as the more learned man; for if we were to judge by +the nature of the education then received, we would be led to conclude +that a more commercial nation than Ireland was not on the face of the +earth, it being the indispensable part of every scholar's business to +become acquainted with the _three sets of Bookkeeping_. + +The boy who was the handiest and the most daring with the cudgel at +Paddy Mulligan's school was Denis Kelly, the son of a wealthy farmer +in the neighborhood. He was a rash, hot-tempered, good-natured lad, +possessing a more than common share of this blackthorn ambition; on +which account he was cherished by his relations as a boy that was likely +at a future period to be able to walk over the course of the parish, +in fair, market, or patron. He certainly grew up a stout, able young +fellow; and before he reached nineteen years, was unrivalled at the +popular exercises of the peasantry. Shortly after that time he made +his debut in a party-quarrel, which took place in one of the Christmas +Margamores, (* Big Markets) and fully sustained the anticipations which +were formed of him by his relations. For a year or two afterwards no +quarrel was fought without him; and his prowess rose until he had gained +the very pinnacle of that ambition which he had determined to reach. +About this time I was separated from him, having found it necessity, +in order to accomplish my objects in life, to reside with a relation in +another part of the country. + +The period of my absence, I believe, was about fifteen years, during +which space I heard no account of him whatsoever. At length, however, +that inextinguishable attachment which turns the affections and memory +to the friends of our early days--to those scenes which we traversed +when the heart was light and the spirits buoyant--determined me to make +a visit to my native place, that I might witness the progress of time +and care upon those faces that were once so familiar to me; that I might +again look upon the meadows, and valleys, and groves, and mountains, +where I had so often played, and to which I still found myself bound by +a tie that a more enlightened view of life and nature only made stronger +and more enduring. I accordingly set off, and arrived late in the +evening of a December day, at a little town within a few miles of my +native home. On alighting from the coach and dining, I determined to +walk home, as it was a fine frosty night. The full moon hung in the blue +unclouded firmament in all her lustre, and the stars shone out with that +tremulous twinkling motion so peculiarly remarkable in frost. I had been +absent, I said, about fifteen years, and felt that the enjoyment of this +night would form an era in the records of my memory and my feelings. I +find myself indeed utterly incapable of expressing what I experienced; +but those who have ever been in similar circumstances will understand +what I mean. A strong spirit of practical poetry and romance was upon +me; and I thought that a commonplace approach in the open day would +have rendered my return to the scenes of my early life a very stale and +unedifying matter. I left the inn at seven o'clock, and as I had only +five miles to walk, I would just arrive about nine, allowing myself to +saunter on at the rate of two miles and half per hour. My sensations, +indeed, as I went along, were singular; and as I took a solitary road +that went across the mountains, the loneliness of the walk, the deep +gloom of the valleys, the towering height of the dark hills, and the +pale silvery-light of a sleeping lake, shining dimly in the distance +below, gave me such a distinct notion of the sublime and beautiful, as +I have seldom since experienced. I recommend every man who has been +fifteen years absent from his native fields to return by moonlight. + +Well, there is a mystery yet undiscovered in our being, for no man +can know the full extent of his feelings or his capacities. Many a +slumbering thought, and sentiment, and association reposes within him, +of which he is utterly ignorant, and which, except he come in contact +with those objects whose influence over his mind can alone call them +into being, may never be awakened, or give him one moment of either +pleasure or pain. There is, therefore, a great deal in the position +which we hold in society, and simply in situation. I felt this on that +night: for the tenor of my reflections was new and original, and my +feelings had a warmth and freshness in them, which nothing but the +situation in which I then found myself could give them. The force of +association, too, was powerful; for, as I advanced nearer home, the +names of hills, and lakes, and mountains, that I had utterly forgotten, +as I thought, were distinctly revived in my memory, and a crowd of +youthful thoughts and feelings, that I imagined my intercourse with the +world and the finger of time had blotted out of my being, began to crowd +afresh on my fancy. The name of, a townland would instantly return with +its appearance; and I could now remember the history of families and +individuals that had long been effaced from my recollection. + +But what is even more singular is, that the superstitious terrors of +my boyhood began to come over me as formerly, whenever a spot noted +for supernatural appearances met my eye. It was in vain that I exerted +myself to expel them, by throwing the barrier of philosophic reasoning +in their way; they still clung to me, in spite of every effort to the +contrary. But the fact is, that I was, for the moment, the slave of a +morbid and feverish sentiment, that left me completely at the mercy of +the dark and fleeting images that passed over my fancy. I now came to a +turn where the road began to slope down into the depths of a valley +that ran across it. When I looked forward into the bottom of it, all was +darkness impenetrable, for the moon-beams were thrown off by the height +of the mountains that rose on each side of it. I felt an indefinite +sensation of fear, because at that moment I recollected that it had +been, in my younger days, notorious as the scene of an apparition, +where the spirit of a murdered pedlar had never been known to permit +a solitary traveler to pass without appearing to him, and walking +cheek-by-jowl along with him to the next house on the way, at which spot +he usually vanished. The influence of my feelings, or, I should rather +say, the physical excitement of my nerves, was by no means slight, as +these old traditions recurred to me; although, at the same time, my +moral courage was perfectly unimpaired, so that, notwithstanding this +involuntary apprehension, I felt a degree of novelty and curiosity in +descending the valley: "If it appear," said I, "I shall at least satisfy +myself as to the truth of apparitions." My dress consisted of a long, +dark surtout, the collar of which, as the night was keen, I had turned +up about my ears, and the corners of it met round my face. In addition +to this I had a black silk handkerchief tied across my mouth to keep out +the night air, so that, as my dark fur traveling cap came down over +my face, there was very little of my countenance visible. I now had +advanced half way into the valley, and all about me was dark and still: +the moonlight was not nearer than the top of the hill which I was +descending; and I often turned round to look upon it, so silvery and +beautiful it appeared in the distance. Sometimes I stopped for a few +moments, admiring' its effect, and, contemplating the dark mountains +as they stood out against the firmament, then kindled into magnificent +grandeur by the myriads of stars that glowed in its expanse. There was +perfect silence and solitude around me; and, as I stood alone in +the dark chamber of the mountains, I felt the impressiveness of the +situation gradually supersede my terrors. A sublime sense of religious +awe descended on me; my soul kindled into a glow of solemn and elevated +devotion, which gave me a more intense perception of the presence of God +than I had ever before experienced. "How sacred--how awful," thought I, +"is this place!--how impressive is this hour!--surely I feel myself +at the footstool of God! The voice of worship is in this deep, +soul-thrilling silence, and the tongue of praise speaks, as it were, +from the very solitude of the mountains!" I then thought of Him who +went up into the mountain-top to pray, and felt the majesty of those +admirable descriptions of the Almighty, given in the Old Testament, +blend in delightful harmony with the beauty and fitness of the Christian +dispensation, that brought light and immortality to light. "Here," said +I, "do I feel that I am indeed immortal, and destined for scenes of a +more exalted and comprehensive existence!" + +I then proceeded further into the valley, completely freed from the +influence of old and superstitious associations. A few porches below +me a small river crossed the road, over which was thrown a little +stone bridge of rude workmanship. This bridge was the spot on which the +apparition was said to appear; and as I approached it, I felt the +folly of those terrors which had only a few minutes before beset me so +strongly. I found my moral energies recruited, and the dark phantasms of +my imagination dispelled by the light of religion, which had refreshed +me with a deep sense of the Almighty presence. I accordingly walked +forward, scarcely bestowing a thought upon the history of the place, +and had got within a few yards of the bridge, when on resting my eye +accidentally upon the little elevation formed by its rude arch, I +perceived a black coffin placed at the edge of the road, exactly upon +the bridge itself! + +It may be evident to the reader, that, however satisfactory the force +of philosophical reasoning might have been upon the subject of the +solitude, I was too much the creature of sensation for an hour before, +to look on such a startling object with firm nerves. For the first two +or three minutes, therefore, T exhibited as finished a specimen of the +dastardly as could be imagined. My hair absolutely raised my cap +some inches off my head; my mouth opened to an extent which I did not +conceive it could possibly reach; I thought my eyes shot out from their +sockets, and my fingers spread out and became stiff, though powerless. +The "_obstupui_" was perfectly realized in me, for, with the exception +of a single groan, which I gave on first seeing the object, I found that +if one word would save my life, or transport me to my own fireside, I +could not utter it. I was also rooted to the earth, as if by magic; +and although instant tergiversation and flight had my most hearty +concurrence, I could not move a limb, nor even raise my eyes off +the sepulchral-looking object which lay before me. I now felt the +perspiration fall from my face in torrents, and the strokes of my heart +fell audibly on my ear. I even attempted to say, "God preserve me!" but +my tongue was dumb and powerless, and could not move. My eye was still +upon the coffin, when I perceived that, from being motionless, it +instantly began to swing,--first in a lateral, then in a longitudinal +direction, although it was perfectly evident that no human hand was +nearer it than my own. At length I raised my eyes off it, for my +vision was strained to an aching intensity, which I thought must have +occasioned my eye-strings to crack. I looked instinctively about me for +assistance--but all was dismal, silent, and solitary: even the moon had +disappeared among a few clouds that I had not noticed in the sky. + +As I stood in this state of indescribable horror, I saw the light +gradually fade away from the tops of the mountains, giving the scene +around me a dim and spectral ghastliness, which, to those who were never +in such a situation, is altogether inconceivable. + +At length I thought I heard a noise as it Were of a rushing tempest, +sweeping from the hills down into the valley; but on looking up, I could +perceive nothing but the dusky desolation that brooded over the place. +Still the noise continued; again I saw the coffin move; I then felt +the motion communicated to myself, and found my body borne and swung +backwards and forwards, precisely according to the motion of the coffin. +I again attempted to utter a cry for assistance, but could not: the +motion in my body still continued, as did the approaching noise in the +hills. I looked up a second time in the direction in which the valley +wound off between them, but judge of what I must have suffered, when +I beheld one of the mountains moving, as it were, from its base, and +tumbling down towards the spot on which I stood! In the twinkling of an +eye the whole scene, hills and all, began to tremble, to vibrate, and to +fly round me, with a rapid, delirious motion; the stars shot back into +the depths of heaven, and disappeared; the ground on which I stood began +to pass from beneath my feet; a noise like the breaking of a thousand +gigantic billows again burst from every direction, and I found myself +instantly overwhelmed by some deadly weight, which prostrated me on the +earth, and deprived me of sense and motion. + +I know not how long I continued in this state; but I remember that, on +opening my eyes the first object that presented itself to me, was the +sky glowing as before with ten thousand stars, and the moon walking in +her unclouded brightness through the heavens. The whole circumstance +then rushed back upon my mind, but with a sense of horror very much +diminished; I arose, and on looking towards the spot, perceived the +coffin in the same place. I then stood, and endeavoring to collect +myself, viewed it as calmly as possible; it was, however, as motionless +and distinct as when I first saw it. I now began to reason upon the +matter, and to consider that it was pusillanimous in me to give way to +such boyish terrors. The confidence, also, which my heart, only a short +time before this, had experienced in the presence and protection of +the Almighty, again returned, and, along with it, a degree of religious +fortitude, which invigorated my whole system. "Well," thought I, "in the +name of God I shall ascertain what you are, let the consequence be what +it may." I then advanced until I stood exactly over it, and raising +my foot gave it a slight kick. "Now," said I, "nothing remains but to +ascertain whether it contains a dead body or not;" but on raising the end +of it, I perceived by its lightness, that it was empty. To investigate +the cause of its being left in this solitary spot was, however, not +within the compass of my philosophy, so I gave that up. On looking at +it more closely, I noticed a plate, marked with the name and age of +the person for whom it was intended, and on bringing my eyes near the +letters, I was able, between fingering and reading, to make out the name +of my old cudgel-fighting school-fellow, Denis Kelly. + +This discovery threw a partial light upon the business; but I now +remembered to have heard of individuals who had seen black, unearthly +coffins, inscribed with the names of certain living persons; and that +these were considered as ominous of the death of those persons. I +accordingly determined to be certain that this was a real coffin; and as +Denis's house was not more than a mile before me, I decided on carrying +it that far, "If he be dead," thought I, "it will be all light, and +if not, we will see more about it." My mind, in fact, was diseased by +terror. I instantly raised the coffin, and as I found a rope lying on +the ground under it, I strapped it about my shoulders and proceeded: nor +could I help smiling when I reflected upon the singular transition which +the man of sentiment and sensation so strangely underwent;--from the +sublime contemplation of the silent mountain solitude and the spangled +heavens to the task of carrying a coffin! It was an adventure, however, +and I was resolved to see how it would terminate. + +There was from the bridge an ascent in the road, not so gradual as that +by which I descended on the other side; and as the coffin was rather +heavy, I began to repent of having anything to do with it; for I was +by no means experienced in carrying coffins. The carriage of it was, +indeed, altogether an irksome and unpleasant concern; for owing to my +ignorance of using the rope that tied it skilfully, it was every moment +sliding down my back, dragging along the stones, or bumping against my +heels: besides, I saw no sufficient grounds I had for entering upon the +ludicrous and odd employment of carrying another man's coffin, and was +several; times upon the point of washing my hands out of it altogether. +But the novelty of the incident, and the mystery in which it was +involved, decided me in bringing it as far as Kelly's house, which was +exactly on my way home. + +I had yet half a mile to go; but I thought it would be best to strap it +more firmly about my body before I could start again: I therefore set +it standing on its end, just at the turn of the road, until I should +breathe a little, for I was rather exhausted by a trudge under it of +half a mile and upwards. Whilst the coffin was in this position, I +standing exactly behind it (Kelly had been a tall man, consequently +it was somewhat higher than I was), a crowd of people, bearing lights, +advanced round the corner; and the first object which presented itself +to their vision, was the coffin in, that position, whilst I was totally +invisible behind it. As soon as they saw it, there was an involuntary +cry of consternation from the whole crowd; at this time I had the coffin +once more strapped firmly by a running knot to my shoulders, so that +I could loose it whenever I pleased. On seeing the party, and hearing +certain expressions which dropped from them, I knew at once that there +had been some unlucky blunder in the business on their part; and I would +have given a good deal to be out of the circumstances in which I then +stood. I felt that I could not possibly have accounted for my situation, +without bringing myself in for as respectable a portion of rank +cowardice as those who ran away from the coffin; for that it was +left behind in a fit of terror, I now entertained no doubt whatever, +particularly when I remembered the traditions connected with the spot in +which I found it. + +"_Manim a Yea agus a wurrah!_"* exclaimed one of them, "if the black man +hasn't brought it up from the bridge! _Dher a larna heena_**, he +did; for it was above the bridge we first seen him: jist for all the +world--the Lord be about us--as Antony and me war coming out on the road +at the bridge, there he was standing--a headless man, all black, without +face or eyes upon him--and then we left the coffin and cut acrass the +fields home." + + * My soul to God and the Virgin. + + ** By the very book--meaning the Bible, which, in the + Irish, is not simply called the book, but the very + book, or the book itself. + +"But where is he now, Eman?" said one of them, "are you sure you seen +him?" + +"Seen him!" both exclaimed, "do you think we'd take to our scrapers +like two hares, only we did; arrah, bad manners to you, do you think the +coffin could walk up wid itself from the bridge to this, only he brought +it?--isn't that enough?" + +"Thrue for yez," the rest exclaimed, "but what's to be done?" + +"Why to bring the coffin home, now that we're all together," another +observed; "they say he never appears to more than two at wanst, so he +won't be apt to show himself now, when we're together." + +"Well, boys, let two of you go down to it," said one of them, "and we'll +wait here till yez bring it up." + +"Yes," said Eman Dhu, "do you go down, Owen, as you have the Scapular* +on you, and the jug of holy water in your hand, and let Billy M'Shane, +here repate the confeethurs (* _The Confiteor_) along wid you." + + * The scapular is one of the highest religious orders, + and is worn by both priest and layman. It is considered + by the people a safeguard against evil both spiritual + and physical. + +"Isn't it the same thing, Eman," replied Owen, "if I shake the holy +water on you, and whoever goes wid you? sure you know that if only one +dhrop of it touched you, the devil himself couldn't harm you!" + +"And what needs yourself be afraid, then," retorted Eman; "and you has +the Scapular on you to the back of that? Didn't you say, you war coming +out, that if it was the devil, you'd disparse him?" + +"You had betther not be mintioning his name, you _omadhaun_," replied +the other; "if I was your age, and hadn't a wife and childre on my +hands, it's myself that would trust in God, and go down manfully; but +the people are hen-hearted now, besides what they used to be in my +time." + +During this conversation, I had resolved, if possible, to keep up the +delusion, until I could get myself extricated with due secrecy out of +this ridiculous situation; and I was glad to find that, owing to their +cowardice, there was some likelihood of effecting my design. + +"Ned," said one of them to a little man, "go down and speak to it, as it +can't harm you." + +"Why sure," said Ned, with a tremor in his voice, "I can speak to it +where I am, widout going within rache of it. Boys, stand close to me: +hem--In the name of--but don't you think I had betther spake to it in +the Latin I sarve mass* wid; it can't but answer that, for the sowl of +it, seeing it's a blest language?" + + * The person who serves mass, as it is called, is he + who makes the responses to the priest during that + ceremony. As the mass is said in Latin the serving of + it must necessarily fall upon many who are ignorant of + that language, and whose pronunciation of it is, of + course, extremely ludicrous. + +"Very well," the rest replied; "try that Ned; give it the best and +ginteelest grammar you have, and maybe it may thrate us dacent." + +Now it so happened that, in my schoolboy days, I had joined a class of +young fellows who were learning what is called the "_Sarvin' of Mass_" +and had impressed it so accurately on a pretty retentive memory, that +I never forgot it. At length, Ned pulled, out his beads, and bedewed +himself most copiously with the holy water. He then shouted out, with +a voice which resembled that of a man in an ague fit, "Dom-i-n-us +vo-bis-cum?" "Et cum spiritu tuo," I replied, in a husky sepulchral +tone, from behind the coffin. As soon as I uttered these words, the +whole crowd ran back instinctively with fright; and Ned got so weak, +that they were obliged to support him. + +"Lord have marcy on us!" said Ned; "hoys, isn't it an awful thing to +speak to a spirit? my hair is like I dunna what, it's sticking up so +stiff upon my head." + +"Spake to it in English, Ned," said they, till we hear what it will say. +Ax it does anything trouble it; or whether its sowl's in Purgatory." + +"Wouldn't it be betther," observed another, "to ax it who murthered it; +maybe it wants to discover that?" + +"In the--na-me of Go-o-d-ness," said Ned, down to me, "what are you?" + +"I'm the soul," I replied in the same voice, "of the pedlar that was +murdered on the bridge below." + +"And--who--was---it, sur, wid--submission, that--murdhered--you?" + +To this I made no reply. + +"I say," continued Ned, "in--the--name--of--G-o-o-d-ness--who was +it--that took the liberty of murdhering you, dacent man?" + +"Ned Corrigan," I answered, giving his own name. + +"Hem! God presarve us! Ned Corrigan!" he exclaimed. "What Ned, for +there's two of them--is it myself or the other vagabone?" + +"Yourself, you murderer!" I replied. + +"Ho!" said Ned, getting quite stout, "is that you, neighbor? Come, now, +walk out wid yourself out of that coffin, you vagabone you, whoever you +are." + +"What do you mane, Ned, by spaking to it that-a-way?" the rest inquired. + +"Hut," said Ned, "it's some fellow or other that's playing a thrick upon +us. Sure I never knew either act nor part of the murdher, nor of the +murdherers; and you know, if it was anything of that nature, it couldn't +tell me a lie, and me a Scapularian along wid axing it in God's name, +with Father Feasthalagh's Latin." + +"Big tare-an'-ouns;" said the rest; "if we thought it was any man making +fun of us, but we'd crop the ears off his head, to tache him to be +joking!" + +To tell the truth, when I heard this suggestion, I began to repent of +my frolic; but I was determined to make another effort to finish the +adventure creditably. + +"Ned," said they, "throw some of the holy water on us all, and in the +name of St. Pether and the Blessed Virgin, we'll go down and examine it +in a body." + +This they considered a good thought, and Ned was sprinkling the water +about him in all directions, whilst he repeated some jargon which was +completely unintelligible. They then began to approach the coffin at +dead-march time, and I felt that this was the only moment in which my +plan could succeed; for had I waited until they came down all would have +been discovered. As soon, therefore, as they began to move towards me, +I also began, with equal solemnity, to retrograde towards them; so that, +as the coffin was between us, it seemed to move without human means. + +"Stop, for God's sake, stop,"--shouted Ned; "it's movin'! It has made +the coffin alive; don't you see it thravelling this way widout hand or +foot, barring the boords?" + +There was now a halt to ascertain the fact: but I still retrograded. +This was sufficient; a cry of terror broke from the whole group, and, +without waiting for further evidence, they set off in the direction +they came from, at full speed, Ned flinging the jug of holy water at the +coffin, lest the latter should follow, or the former encumber him in his +flight. Never was there so complete a discomfiture; and so eager were +they to escape, that several of them came down on the stones; and +I could hear them shouting with desperation, and imploring the more +advanced not to leave them behind. I instantly disentangled myself from +the coffin, and left it standing exactly in the middle of the road, for +the next passenger to give it a lift as far as Denis Kelly's, if he felt +so disposed. I lost no time in making the best of my way home; and on +passing poor Denis's house I perceived, by the bustle and noise within, +that he was dead. + +I had given my friends no notice of this visit; my reception was +consequently the warmer, as I was not expected. That evening was a happy +one, which I shall long remember. At supper I alluded to Kelly, and +received from my brother a full account, as given in the following +narrative, of the circumstances which caused his death. + +"I need not remind you, Toby, of our schoolboy days, nor of the +principles usually imbibed at such schools as that in which the two tiny +factions of the Caseys and the Murphys qualified themselves, among +the latter of whom you cut so distinguished a figure. You will not, +therefore, be surprised to hear that these two factions are as bitter +as ever, and that the boys who at Pat Mulligan's school belabored each +other, in imitation of their brothers and fathers, continue to set the +same iniquitous example to their children; so that this groundless and +hereditary enmity is likely to descend to future generations; unless, +indeed, the influence of a more enlightened system of education may +check it. But, unhappily, there is a strong suspicion of the object +proposed by such a system; so that the advantages likely to result from +it to the lower orders of the people will be slow and distant." + +"But, John," said I, "now that we are upon that subject, let me ask what +really is the bone of contention between Irish factions?" + +"I assure you," he replied, "I am almost as much at a loss, Toby, to +give you a satisfactory answer, as if you asked me the elevation of +the highest mountain on the moon; and I believe you would find equal +difficulty in ascertaining the cause of their feuds from the factions +themselves. I really am convinced they know not, nor, if I rightly +understand them, do they much care. Their object is to fight, and the +turning of a straw will at any time furnish them with sufficient grounds +for that. I do not think, after all, that the enmity between them is +purery personal: they do not hate each other individually; but having +originally had one quarrel upon some trifling occasion, the beaten party +cannot bear the stigma of defeat without another trial of strength. +Then, if they succeed, the onus of retrieving lost credit is thrown upon +the party that was formerly victorious. If they fail a second time, +the double triumph of their conquerors excites them to a greater +determination to throw off the additional disgrace; and this species of +alternation perpetuates the evil. + +"These habits, however, familiarize our peasantry to acts of outrage and +violence--the bad passions are cultivated and nourished, until crimes, +which peaceable men look upon with fear and horror, lose their real +magnitude and deformity in the eyes of Irishmen. I believe this kind +of undefined hatred between either parties or nations, is the most +dangerous and fatal spirit which can pervade any portion of society. +If you hate a man for an obvious and palpable injury, it is likely +that when he cancels that injury by an act of subsequent kindness, +accompanied by an exhibition of sincere sorrow, you will cease to look +upon him as your enemy; but where the hatred is such that, while feeling +you cannot, on a sober examination of your heart, account for it, there +is little hope that you will ever be able to stifle the enmity that you +entertain against him. This, however, in politics and religion, is what +is frequently designated as principle--a word on which men, possessing +higher and greater advantages than the poor ignorant peasantry of +Ireland, pride themselves. In sects and parties, we may mark its effects +among all ranks and nations. I therefore, seldom wish, Toby, to hear a +man assert that he is of this party or that, from principle; for I am +usually inclined to suspect that he is not, in this case, influenced by +conviction. + +"Kelly was a man who, but for these scandalous proceedings among us, +might have been now alive and happy. Although his temperament was warm, +yet that warmth communicated itself to his good as well as to his +evil qualities. In the beginning his family were not attached to any +faction--and when I use the word faction, it is in contradistinction to +the word party--for faction, you know, is applied to a feud or grudge +between Roman Catholics exclusively. But when he was young, he ardently +attached himself to the Murphys; and, having continued among them until +manhood, he could not abandon them, consistently with that sense of +mistaken honor which forms so prominent a feature in the character of +the Irish peasantry. But although the Kellys were not _faction-men_, +they were bitter _party-men_, being the ringleaders of every quarrel +Which took place between the Catholics and Protestants, or, I should +rather say, between the Orangemen and Whiteboys. + +"From the moment Denis attached himself to the Murphys, until the day he +received the beating which subsequently occasioned his death, he never +withdrew from them. He was in all their battles; and in course of +time, induced his relations to follow his example; so that, by general +consent, they were nicknamed 'the Errigle Slashers.' Soon after you left +the country, and went to reside with my uncle, Denis married a daughter +of little Dick Magrath's, from the Race-road, with whom he got a little +money. She proved a kind, affectionate wife; and, to do him justice, +I believe he was an excellent husband. Shortly after his marriage his +father died, and Denis succeeded him in his farm; for you know +that, among the peasantry, the youngest generally gets the landed +property--the elder children being obliged to provide for themselves +according to their ability, as otherwise a population would multiply +upon a portion of land inadequate to its support. + +"It was supposed that Kelly's marriage would have been the means of +producing a change in him for the better, but it did not. He was, in +fact, the slave of a low, vain ambition, which constantly occasioned him +to have some quarrel or other on his hands; and, as he possessed great +physical courage and strength, he became the champion of the parish. +It was in vain that his wife used every argument to induce him to +relinquish such practices; the only reply he was in the habit of making, +was a good-humored slap on the back and a laugh, saying, + +"'That's it, Honor; sure and isn't that the Magraths, all over, that +would let the manest spalpeen that ever chewed cheese thramp upon them, +without raising a hand in their own defence; and I don't blame you for +being a coward, seeing that you have their blood in your veins--not but +that there ought to be something betther in you, afther all; for it's +the M'Karrons, by your mother's side, that had the good dhrop of their +own in them, anyhow--but you're a Magrath out and out.' + +"'And, Denis,' Honor would reply, 'it would be a blessed day for the +parish, if all in it were as peaceable as the same Magraths. There would +be no sore heads, nor broken bones, nor fighting, nor slashing of one +another in fairs and markets, when people ought to be minding their +business. You're ever and always at the Magraths, bekase they don't join +you agin the Caseys or the Orangemen, and more fools they'd be to make +or meddle between you, having no spite agin either of them; and it would +be wiser for you to be _sed_ by the Magraths, and _red_ your hands out +of sich ways altogether. What did ever the Murphys do to sarve you +or any of your family, that you'd go to make a great man of yourself +fighting for them? Or what did the poor Caseys do to make you go agin +the honest people? Arrah, bad manners to me, if you know what you're +about, or if _sonse_ (* Good Luck) or grace can ever come of it; and +mind my words, Denis, if God hasn't said it, you'll live to rue your +folly for the same work.' + +"At this Denis would laugh heartily. 'Well said, Honor _Magrath_, but +not _Kelly_, Well, it's one comfort that our childher aren't likely to +follow your side of the house, any way. Come here, Lanty; come over, +acushla, to your father! Lanty, ma bouchal, what 'ill you do when you +grow a man?" + +"'I'll buy a horse of my own to ride on, daddy.' + +"'A horse, Lanty! and so you will, ma bouchal; but that's not it--sure +that's not what I mane, Lanty. What 'ill you do to the Caseys?" + +"'Ho, ho! the Caseys! I'll bate the blackguards wid your blackthorn, +daddy!' + +"'Ha, ha, ha! that's my stout man, my brave little soger! _Wus dha lamh +avick!_--give me your hand, my son! Here, Nelly,' he would say to the +child's eldest sister, 'give him a brave whang of bread, to make +him able to bate the Caseys. Well, Lanty, who more will you leather, +ahagur?' + +"'All the Orangemen; I'll kill all the Orangemen!' + +"This would produce another laugh from the father, who would again kiss +and shake hands with his son, for these early manifestations of his own +spirit. + +"'Lanty, ma bouchal,' he would say, 'thank God, you're not a _Magrath_; +'tis you that's a _Kelly_, every blessed inch of you! and if you turn +out as good a _buillagh balthah_ as your father afore you, I'll be +contint, avour-neen!' + +"'God forgive you, Denis,' the-wife would reply, 'it's long before you'd +think of larning him his prayers, or his cateehiz, or anything that's +good! Lanty, agra, come over to myself, and never heed what that man +says; for, except you have some poor body's blessing, he'll bring you to +no good.' + +"Sometimes, however, Kelly's own natural good sense, joined with the +remonstrances of his wife, prevailed for a short time, and he would +withdraw himself from the connection altogether; but the force of habit +and of circumstances was too strong in him, to hope that he could +ever overcome it by his own firmness, for he was totally destitute of +religion. The peaceable intervals of his life were therefore very short. + +"One summer evening I was standing in my own garden, when I saw a man +galloping up towards me at full speed. When he approached, I recognized +him as one of the Murphy faction, and perceived that he was cut and +bleeding. + +"'Murphy,' said I, 'What's the matter!' + +"'Hard fighting, sir,' said he, 'is the matter. The Caseys gathered all +their faction, bekase they heard that Denis Kelly has given us up, and +they're sweeping the street wid us. I'm going hot foot for Kelly, sir, +for even the very name of him will turn the tide in our favor. Along +wid that, I have sent in a score of the Duggans, and, if I get in Denis, +plase God we'll clear the town of them!' + +"He then set off, but pulled up abruptly, and said, + +"'Arrah, Mr. Darcy, maybe you'd be civil enough to lind me the loan of +a sword, or bagnet, or gun, or anything that way, that would be +sarviceable to a body on a pinch?' + +"'Yes!' said I, 'and enable you to commit murder? No, no, Murphy; +I'm sorry it's not in my power to put a final stop to such dangerous +quarrels!' + +"He then dashed off, and in the course of a short time I saw him and +Kelly, both on horseback, hurrying into the town in all possible haste, +armed with their cudgels. The following day, I got my dog and gun, and +sauntered about the hills, making a point to call upon Kelly. I found +him with his head tied up, and his arm in a sling. + +"'Well, Denis,' said I, 'I find you have kept your promise of giving up +quarrels!' + +"And so I did, sir,' said Denis; 'but, sure you wouldn't have me for to +go desart them, when the Caseys war three to one over them? No; God be +thanked, I'm not so mane as that, anyhow. Besides, they welted both my +brothers within an inch of their lives.' + +"'I think they didn't miss yourself,' said I. + +"'You may well say they did not, sir,' he replied: 'and, to tell God's +truth, they thrashed us right and left out of the town, although we +rallied three times, and came in agin. At any rate, it's the first +time for the last five years that they dare go up and down the street, +calling out for the face of a Murphy, or a Kelly; for they're as bitter +now agin us as agin the Murphys themselves.' + +"'Well, I hope, Denis,' I observed, 'that what occurred yesterday will +prevent you from entering into their quarrels in future. Indeed, I shall +not give over, until I prevail on you to lead a quiet and peaceable +life, as the father of a rising family ought to do.' + +"'Denis,' said the wife, when I alluded to the children, looking at +him with a reproachful and significant expression--'Denis, do you hear +that!--the father of a family, Denis! Oh, then, God look down on that +family; but it's--Musha, God bless you and yours, sir,' said she to me, +dropping that part of the subject abruptly; 'it's kind of you to trouble +yourself about him, at all at all: it's what them that has a better +right to do it, doesn't do.' + +"'I hope,' said I, 'that Denis's own good sense will show him the folly +and guilt of his conduct, and that he will not, under any circumstances, +enter into their battles in future. Come, Denis, will you promise me +this?' + +"'If any man,' replied Denis, 'could make me do it, it's yourself, sir, +or any one of your family; but if the priest of the parish was to go +down on his knees before me, I wouldn't give it up till we give them +vagabone Caseys one glorious battherin,' which, plase God, we'll do, and +are well able to do, before a month of Sundays goes over us. Now, sir, +you needn't say another word,' said he, seeing me about to speak; 'for +by Him that made me we'll do it! If any man, I say, could persuade me +agin it, you could; but, if we don't pay them full interest for what we +got, why my name's not Denis Kelly--ay, sweep them like varmint out of +the town, body and sleeves!' + +"I saw argument would be lost on him, so I only observed, that I feared +it would eventually end badly. + +"'Och, many and many's the time, Mr. Darcy,' said Honor, 'I prophesied +the same thing; and, if God hasn't said it, he'll be coming home a +corpse to me some day or other; for he got as much bating, sir, as +would be enough to kill a horse; and, to tell you God's truth, sir, he's +breeding up his childher--' + +"'Honor,' said Kelly, irritated, 'whatever I do, do I lave it in your +power to say that I'm a bad husband? so don't rise me by your talk, for +I don't like to be provoked. I know it's wrong, but what can I do? Would +you have me for to show the Garran-bane,* and lave them like a cowardly +thraitor, now that the other faction is coming up to be their match? +No; let what will come of it, I'll never do the mane thing--death before +dishonor!' + + * The white horse, i.e., be wanting in mettle. + Tradition affirms that James the Second escaped on a + white horse from the battle of the Boyne; and from this + circumstance a white horse has become the emblem of + cowardice. + +"In this manner Kelly went on for years; sometimes, indeed, keeping +quiet for a short period, but eventually drawn in, from the apprehension +of being reproached with want of honor and truth, to his connection. +This, truly, is an imputation which no peasant could endure; nor, were +he thought capable of treachery, would he be safe from the vengeance of +his own party. Many a time have I seen Kelly reeling home, his head +and face sadly cut, the blood streaming from him, and his wife and some +neighbor on each side of him--the poor woman weeping and deploring the +senseless and sanguinary feuds in which her husband took so active a +part. + +"About three miles from this, down at the Long Ridge, where the Shannons +live, dwelt a family of the Grogans, cousins to Denis. They were +anything but industrious, although they might have lived very +independently, having held a farm on what they called an old take, which +means a long lease taken out when lands were cheap. It so happened, +however, that, like too many of their countrymen, they paid little +attention to the cultivation of their farm; the consequence of which +neglect was, that they became embarrassed, and overburdened with +arrears. Their landlord was old Sam Simmons, whose only fault to his +tenants was an excess of indulgence, and a generous disposition wherever +he could possibly get an opportunity to scatter his money about him, +upon the spur of a benevolence which, it would seem, never ceased +goading him to acts of the most Christian liberality and kindness. Along +with these excellent qualities, he was remarkable for a most rooted +aversion to law and lawyers; for he would lose one hundred pounds rather +than recover that sum by legal proceedings, even when certain that five +Pounds would effect it; but he seldom or never was known to pardon a +breach of the peace. + +"I have always found that an excess of indulgence in a landlord never +fails ultimately to injure and relax the industry of the tenant; at +least, this was the effect which his forbearance produced on them. But +the most extraordinary good-nature has its limits, and so had his; after +repeated warning, and the most unparalleled patience on his part, he +was at length compelled to determine on at once removing them from +his estate, and letting his land to some more efficient and deserving +tenant. He accordingly desired them to remove their property from the +premises, as he did not wish, he said, to leave them without the means +of entering upon another farm, if they felt so disposed. This they +refused to do; adding, that they would, at least, put him to the expense +of ejecting them. He then gave orders to his agent to seize; but they, +in the mean time, had secreted their effects by night among their +friends and relations, sending a cow to this one, and a horse to that; +so that, when the bailiff came to levy his execution, he found very +little, except the empty walls. They were, however, ejected without +ceremony, and driven altogether off the farm, for which they had +actually paid nothing for the three preceding years. In the mean time +the farm was advertised to be let, and several persons had offered +themselves as tenants; but what appeared very remarkable was, that the +Roman Catholics seldom came a second time to make any further inquiry +about it; or, if they did, Simmons observed that they were sure to +withdraw their proposals, and ultimately decline having anything to do +with it. + +"This was a circumstance which he could not properly understand; but +the fact was, that the peasantry were almost to a man members of a +widely-extending system of agrarian combination, the secret influence of +which intimidated such of their own religion as intended to take it, and +prevented them from exposing themselves to the penalty which they knew +those who should dare to occupy it must pay. In a short time, however, +the matter began to be whispered about, until it spread gradually, day +after day, through the parish, that those who already had proposed, or +intended to propose, were afraid to enter upon the land on any terms. +Hitherto, it is true, these threats floated about only in the vague form +of rumor. + +"The farm had been now unoccupied for about a year; party spirit ran +very high among the peasantry, and no proposals came in, or were at all +likely to come. Simmons then got advertisements printed, and had them +posted up in the most conspicuous parts of this and the neighboring +parishes. It was expected, however, that they would be torn down; but, +instead of that, there was a written notice posted up immediately under +each, which ran in the following words:-- + + "'Take Notess. + + "'Any man that'll dare to take the farm belonging to + smooth Sam Simmons, and sitivated at the long ridge, + will be flayed alive. + + "' Mat Midnight. + + "'B. N.--It's it that was latterrally occupied by the + Grogans.' + +"This occasioned Simmons and the other magistrates of the barony to +hold a meeting, at which they subscribed to the amount of fifty pounds +as a reward for discovering the author or authors of the threatening +notice; but the advertisement containing the reward, which was posted +in the usual places through the parish, was torn down on the first night +after it was put up. In the meantime, a man, nicknamed Vengeance--Vesey +Vengeance, in consequence of his daring and fearless spirit, and his +bitterness in retaliating injury--came to Simmons, and proposed for the +farm. The latter candidly mentioned the circumstances of the notice, and +fairly told him that he was running a personal risk in taking it. + +"'Leave that to me, sir,' said Vengeance; 'if you will set me the farm at +the terms I offer, I am willing to become your tenant; and let them that +posted up the notices go to old Nick, or, if they annoy me, let them +take care I don't send them there. I am a true blue, sir--a purple +man*--have lots of fire-arms, and plenty of stout fellows in the parish +ready and willing to back me; and, by the light of day if they make or +meddle with me or mine, we will hunt them in the face of the world, +like so many mad dogs, out of the country: what are they but a pack of +ribles, that would cut our throats, if they dared?' + + * These terms denote certain stages of initiation in + the Orange system + +"'I have no objection,' said Simmons, 'that you should express a firm +determination to defend your life and protect your property; but I +utterly condemn the spirit with which you seem to be animated. Be +temperate and sober, but be firm. I will afford you every assistance and +protection in my power, both as a magistrate and a landlord; but if +you speak so incautiously, the result may be serious, if not fatal, to +yourself.' + +"Instead of that,' said Vengeance, 'the more a man appears to be afeard, +the more danger he is in, as I know by what I have seen; but, at any +rate, if they injure me, I wouldn't ask better sport than taking down +the ribles--the bloody-minded villains! Isn't it a purty thing that a +man darn't put one foat past the other only as they wish. By the light +o' day, I'll pepper them!' + +"Shortly after this, Vengeance, braving all their threats, removed to +the farm, and set about its cultivation with skill and vigor. He had +not been long there, however, when, a notice was posted one night on +his door, giving him ten days to clear off from this interdicted spot, +threatening, in case of non-compliance, to make a bonfire of the house +and offices, inmates included. The reply, which Vengeance made to this +was fearless and characteristic. He wrote another notice, which +he posted on the chapel-door, stating that he would not budge an +inch--recommending, at the same time, such as intended paying him a +nightly visit to be careful that they might not chance to go home with +their heels foremost. This, indeed, was setting them completely at +defiance, and would, no doubt have been fatal to Vesey, were it not for +a circumstance which I will now relate:--In a little dell, below Vesey's +house, lived a poor woman, called Doran, a widow; she inhabited a small +hut, and was principally supported by her two sons, who were servants, +one to a neighboring farmer, a Roman Catholic, and the other to Dr. +Ableson, rector of the parish. He who had been with the rector lost his +health shortly before Vengeance succeeded the Grogans as occupier of +the land in question, and was obliged to come home to his mother. He was +then confined to his bed, from which, indeed, he never rose. + +"This boy had been his mother's principal support--for the other was +unsettled, and paid her but little attention, being like most of those +in his situation, fond of drinking, dancing, and attending fairs. In +short, he became a Ribbonman, and consequently was obliged to attend +their nightly meetings. Now it so happened that for a considerable time +after the threatening notice had been posted on Vengeance's door, he +received no annoyance, although the period allowed for his departure had +been long past, and the purport of the paper uncomplied with. Whether +this proceeded from an apprehension on the part of the Ribbonmen +of receiving a warmer welcome than they might wish, or whether they +deferred the execution of their threat until Vengeance might be off his +guard, I cannot determine; but the fact is, that some months had elapsed +and Vengeance remained hitherto unmolested. + +"During this interval the distress of Widow Doran had become known to +the inmates of his family, and his mother--for she lived with him--used +to bring down each day some nourishing food to the sick boy. In these +kind offices she was very punctual; and so great was the poverty of the +poor widow, and so destitute the situation of her sick son, that, in +fact, the burden of their support lay principally upon Vengeance's +family. + +"Vengeance was a small, thin man, with fair hair, and fiery eyes; +his voice was loud and shrill, his utterance rapid, and the general +expression of his countenance irritable. His motions were so quick, that +he rather seemed to run than walk. He was a civil, obliging neighbor, +but performed his best actions with a bad grace; a firm, unflinching +friend, but a bitter and implacable enemy. Upon the whole he was +generally esteemed and respected--though considered as an eccentric +character, for such indeed he was. On hearing of Widow Doran's distress, +he gave orders that a portion of each meal should be regularly sent +down to her and her son; and from that period forward they were both +supported principally from his table. + +"In this way some months had passed, and still Vengeance was undisturbed +in his farm. It often happened, however, that Doran's other son came +to see his brother; and during these visits it was but natural that +his mother and brother should allude to the kindness which they daily +experienced from Vesey. + +"One night, about twelve o'clock, a tap came to Widow Doran's door, who +happened to be attending the invalid, as he was then nearly in the last +stage of his illness. When she opened it, the other son entered, in an +evident hurry, having the appearance of a man who felt deep and serious +anxiety. + +"'Mother,' said he, 'I was very uneasy entirely about Mick, and just +started over to see him, although they don't know at home that I'm out, +so I can't stay a crack; but I wish you would go to the door for two or +three minutes, as I have something to say to him.' + +"'Why, thin, Holy Mother!--Jack, a-hagur, is there anything the matther, +for you look as if you had seen something?'* + + * This phrase means--you look as if you had seen a + ghost; it is a very common one. + +"'Nothing worse than myself, mother,' he replied; 'nor there's nothing +the matther at all--only I have a few words to say to Mick here, that's +all.' + +"The mother accordingly removed herself out of hearing. + +"'Mick,' says the boy, 'this is a bad business--I wish to God I was +clear and clane out of it.' + +"'What is it?' said Mick, alarmed. "' Murther, I'm afeard, if God +doesn't turn it off of them, somehow. + +"'What do you mane, man, at all?' said the invalid, raising himself, in +deep emotion, on his elbow, from his poor straw bed. + +"'Vengeance,' said he--'Vengeance, man--he's going to get it. I was out +with the boys on Sunday evening, and at last it's agreed on to visit +him to-morrow night. I'm sure and sartin he'll never escape, for there's +more in for him than taking the farm, and daring them so often as he +did--he shot two fingers off of a brother-in-law of Jem Reilly's one +night that they war on for threshing him, and that's coming home to him +along with the rest.' + +"'In the name of God, Jack,' inquired Mick, 'what do they intend to do +to him?' + +"' Why,' replied Jack, 'it's agreed to put a coal in the thatch, in the +first place; and although they were afeared to name what he's to get +besides, I doubt they'll make a spatchcock of himself. They won't meddle +with any other of the family, though--but he's down for it.' + +"'Are you to be one of them?' asked Mick. + +"'I was the third man named,' replied the other, 'bekase, they said, I +knew the place.' + +"'Jack,' said his emaciated brother, with much solemnity, raising +himself up in the bed--'Jack, if you have act or part in that bloody +business, God in his glory you'll never see. Fly the country--cut off a +finger or toe--break your arm--or do something that may prevent you from +being there. Oh, my God!' he exclaimed, whilst the tears fell fast down +his pale cheeks--'to go to murder the man, and lave his little family +widout a head or a father over them, and his wife a widow! To burn his +place, widout rhime, or rason, or offince! Jack, if you go, I'll die +cursing you. I'll appear to you--I'll let you rest neither night nor +day, sleeping nor waking, in bed or out of bed. I'll haunt you, till +you'll curse the very hour you war born.' + +"'Whist, Micky,' said Jack, 'you're frightening me: I'll not go--will +that satisfy you?' + +"'Well, dhrop down on your two knees, there,' said Micky, 'and swear +before the God that has his eye upon you this minute, that you'll have +no hand in injuring him or his, while you live. If you don't do this, +I'll not rest in my grave and maybe I'll be a corpse before mornin.' + +"'Well Micky, said Jack, who though wild and unthinking, was a lad whose +heart and affections were good, 'it would be hard for me to refuse +you that much, and you! not likely to be long wid me--I will;' and he +accordingly knelt down and swore solemnly, in words which his brother +dictated to him, that he would not be concerned in the intended murder. + +"'Now, give me your hand, Jack,' said the invalid; 'God bless you--and +so He will. Jack, if I depart before I see you again, I'll die happy. +That man has supported me and my mother for near the last three months, +bad as you all think him. Why, Jack, we would both be dead of hunger +long ago, only for his family; and, my God! to think, of such a +murdhering intention makes my blood run cowld'-- + +"'You had better give him a hint, then,' said Jack, 'some way, or he'll +be done for, as sure as you're stretched on that bed; but don't mintion +names, if you wish to keep me from being murdhered for what I did. +I must be off now, for I stole out of the barn:* and only that Atty +Laghy's gone along wid the master to the ---- fair, to help him to sell +the two coults, I couldn't get over at all.' + + * Laboring servants in Ireland usually sleep in barns. + +"'Well, go home, Jack, and God bless you, and so He will, for what you +did this night.' + +"Jack accordingly departed, after bidding his mother and brother +farewell. + +"When the old woman came in, she asked her son if there was anything +wrong with his brother, but he replied that there was not. + +"'Nothing at all,' said he--'but will you get up airly in the morning, +plase God, and tell Vesey Johnston that I want to see him; and--that--I +have a great dale to say to him?' + +"' To be sure I will, Micky; but, Lord guard us, what ails you, +avourneen, you look so frightened?' + +"'Nothing at all, at all, mother; but will you go where I say airly +to-morrow, for me?' + +"'It's the first thing I'll do, God willin',' replied the mother. And +the next morning Vesey was down with the invalid very early, for the old +woman kept her word and paid him a timely visit. + +"'Well, Micky, my boy,' said Vengeance, as he entered the hut, 'I hope +you're no worse this morning.' + +"'Not worse, sir,' replied Mick; 'nor, indeed, am I anything better +either, but much the same way. Sure it's I that knows very well that my +time here is but short.' + +"'Well, Mick, my boy,' said Vengeance, 'I hope you're prepared for +death--and that you expect forgiveness, like a Christian. Look up, my +boy, to God at once, and pitch the priests and their craft to ould Nick, +where they'll all go at the long-run.' + +"'I b'lieve,' said Mick, with a faint smile, 'that you're not very fond +of the priests, Mr. Johnston; but if you knew the power they possess as +well as I do, you wouldn't spake of them so bad, anyhow.' + +"'Me fond of them!' replied the other;' 'why, man, they're a set of the +most gluttonous, black-looking hypocrites that ever walked on neat's +leather; and ought to be hunted out of the country--hunted out of the +country, by the light of day! every one of them; for they do nothing but +egg up the people against the Protestants.' + +"'God help you, Mr. Johnston,' replied the invalid, 'I pity you from +my heart for the opinion you hould about them. I suppose if you were +sthruck dead on the spot wid a blast from the fairies, that you think a +priest couldn't cure you by one word's spaking?' + +"'Cure me!' said Vengeance, with a laugh of disdain; 'by the light of +day! if I caught one of them curing me, I'd give him the purtiest chase +you ever saw in your life, across the hills.' + +"'Don't you know,' said Mick, 'that priest Dannelly cured Bob Beaty of +the falling sickness--until he broke the vow that was laid upon him, +of not going into a church, and the minute he crossed the church-door, +didn't he dhrop down as bad as ever--and what could the minister do for +him?' + +"'And don't you know,' rejoined Vengeance, 'that that's all a parcel of +the most lying stuff possible; lies--lies--all lies--and vagabondism? +Why, Mick, you Papishes worship the priests; you think they can bring +you to heaven at a word. By the light of day, they must have good sport +laughing at you, when they get among one another. Why don't they teach +you and give you the Bible to read, the ribelly rascals? but they're +afraid you'd know too much then.' + +"'Well, Mr. Johnston,' said Mick, 'I b'lieve you'll never have a good +opinion of them, at any rate.' + +"'Ay, when the sky falls,' replied Vengeance; 'but you're now on your +death bed, and why don't you pitch them to ould Nick, and get a Bible? +Get a Bible, man; there's a pair of them in my house, that's never used +at all--except my mother's, and she's at it night and day. I'll send one +of them down to you: turn yourself to God--to your Redeemer, that died +on the mount of Jehosha-phat, or somewhere about Jerusalem, for your +sins--and don't go out of the world from the hand of a rascally priest, +with a band about your eyes, as if you were at blind-man's-buff, for, by +the light of day, you're as blind as a bat in a religious way.' + +"'There's no use in sending me a Bible,' replied the invalid, 'for I +can't read it: but, whatever you may think, I'm very willing to lave my +salvation with my priest.' + +"'Why, man,' observed Vengeance, 'I thought you were going to have +sense at last, and that you sent for me to give you some spiritual +consolation.' + +"'No, sir,' replied Mick; 'I have two or three words to spake to you.' + +"'Come, come, Mick, now that we're on a spiritual subject, I'll hear +nothing from you till I try whether it's possible to give you a trute +insight into religion. Stop, now, and let us lay our heads together, +that we may make out something of a dacenter creed for you to believe +in than the one you profess. Tell me the truth, do you believe in the +priests?' + +"'How?' replied Mick; 'I believe that they're holy men--but I know they +can't save me widout the Redeemer and His blessed mother,' + +"'By the light above us, you're shuffling, Mick--I say you do believe in +them--now, don't tell me to the contrary--I say you're shuffling as fast +as possible.' + +"'I tould you truth, sir,' replied Mick; 'and if you don't believe me, I +can't help it.' + +"'Don't trust in the priests, Mick; that's the main point to secure your +salvation.' + +"Mick, who knew his prejudices against the priests, smiled faintly, and +replied-- + +"'Why, sir, I trust in them as bein' able to make inthercession wid God +for me, that's all' + +"'They make intercession! By the stool I'm sitting on, a single word +from one of them would ruin you. They, a set of ribles, to make interest +for you in heaven! Didn't they rise the rebellion in Ireland?--answer me +that.' + +"'This is a subject, sir, we would never agree on,' replied Mick. + +"'Have you the Ten Commandments?' inquired Vesey. + +"'I doubt my mimory's not clear enough to have them in my mind,' +said the lad, feeling keenly the imputation of ignorance, which he +apprehended from Vesey's blunt observations. + +"Vesey, however, had penetration enough to perceive his feelings, and, +with more delicacy than could be expected from him, immediately moved +the question. + +"'No matter, Mick,' said he, 'if you would give up the priests, we +would get over that point: as it is, I will give you a lift in the +Commandments; and, as I said a while ago,' if you take my advice, I'll +work up a creed for you that you may depend upon. But now, for the +Commandments--let me see. + +"'First: Thou shalt have no other gods but me. Don't you see, man how +that peppers the priests?' + +"'Second: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day.' + +"'Third: That shalt not make to thyself--no, hang it no!--I'm +out--that's the Second--very right. Third: Honor thy father and +thy mother--you understand that, Mick? It means that you are bound +to--to--just so--to honor your father and your mother, poor woman.' + +"'My father--God be good to him!--is dead near fourteen years, sir,' +replied Mick. + +"'Well, in that case, Mick, you see all that's left for you is to honor +your mother--although I'm not certain of that either; the Commandments +make no allowance at all for death, and in that case why, living or +dead, the surest way is to respect and obey them--that is, if the +thing were'nt impossible. I wish we had blind George M'Girr here, Mick; +although he's as great a rogue as ever escaped hemp, yet he'd beat the +devil himself at a knotty point.' + +"'His breath would be bad about a dying man,' observed Mick. + +"'Ay, or a living one,' said Vesey; 'however, let us get on--we were at +the Third. Fourth: Thou shalt do no murder.' + +"At the word murder, Mick started, and gave a deep groan, whilst his +eyes and features assumed a gaunt and hollow expression, resembling that +of a man struck with an immediate sense of horror and affright. + +"'Oh! for heaven's sake, sir, stop there,' said Doran, 'that brings to +my mind the business I had with you, Mr. Johnston.' + +"'What is it about?' inquired Vengeance, in his usual eager manner. + +"'Do you mind,' said Mick, 'that a paper was stuck one night upon your +door, threatening you, if you wouldn't lave that farm you're in?'. + +"'I do, the blood-thirsty villains! but they knew a trick worth two of +coming near me.' + +"'Well,' said Mick, 'a strange man, that I never seen before, came into +me last night, and tould me, if I'd see you, to say that you would get a +visit from the boys this night, and to take care of yourself.' + +"'Give me the hand, Mick,' said Vengeance,--'give me the hand; in spite +of the priests, by the light of day you're an honest fellow. This night +you say, they're to come? And what are the bloody wretches to do, Mick. +But I needn't ask that, for I suppose it's to murder myself, and to burn +my place. + +"'I'm afeard, sir, you're not far from the truth,' replied Mick; 'but, +Mr. Johnston, for God's sake don't mintion my name; for, if you do, I'll +get myself what they were laying out for you, be bumed in my bed maybe.' + +"'Never fear, Mick,' replied Vengeance; 'your name will never cross my +lips.' + +"'It's a great thing,' said Mick, 'that would make me turn informer: but +sure, only for your kindness and the goodness of your family, the Lord +spare you to one another! mightn't I be dead long ago? I couldn't have +one minute's peace if you or yours came to any harm when I could prevint +it.' + +"'Say no more, Mick,' said Vengeance, taking his hand again; 'I know +that, leave the rest to me; but how do you find yourself, my poor +fellow? You look weaker than you did, a good deal.' + +"'Indeed I'm going very fast, sir,' replied Mick; 'I know it'll soon be +over with me.' + +"'Hut, no, man,' said Vengeance, drawing his hand rapidly across his +eyes, and clearing his voice, 'not at all--don't say so; would a little +broth serve you? or a bit of fresh meat?--or would you have a fancy for +anything that I could make out for you? I'll get you wine, if you think +it would do you good." + +"'God reward you,' said Mick feebly--'God reward you, and open your eyes +to the truth. Is my mother likely to come in, do you think?' + +"'She must be here in a few minutes,' the other replied; 'she was +waiting till they'd churn, that she might bring you down a little fresh +milk and butter.' + +"'I wish she was wid me,' said the poor lad, 'for I'm lonely wantin' +her--her voice and the very touch of her hands goes to my heart. Mother, +come home, and let me lay my head upon your breast, agra machree, for I +think it will be for the last time: we lived lonely, avourneen, wid none +but ourselves--sometimes in happiness, when the nabors 'ud be kind to +us--and sometimes in sorrow, when there 'ud be none to help us. It's +over now, mother, and I'm lavin' you for ever!' + +"Vengeance wiped his eyes--'Rouse yourself, Mick,' said he, 'rouse +yourself.' + +"'Who is that sitting along with you on the stool?' said Mick. + +"'No one,' replied his neighbor; 'but what's the matter with you, +Mick?--your face is changed.' + +"Mick, however, made no reply; but after a few slight struggles, in +which he attempted to call upon his mother's name, he breathed his last. +When Vengeance saw that he was dead--looked upon the cold, miserable +hut in which this grateful and affectionate young man was stretched--and +then reflected on the important service he had just rendered he could +not suppress his tears. + +"After sending down some of the females to assist his poor mother in +laying him out, Vengeance went among his friends and acquaintances, +informing them of the intelligence he had received, without mentioning +the source from which he had it. After dusk that evening, they all +flocked, as privately as possible, to his house, to the number of thirty +or forty, well provided with arms and ammunition. Some of them stationed +themselves in the out-houses, some behind the garden edge, and others in +the dwelling-house." + +When my brother had got thus far in his narrative, a tap came to the +parlor-door, and immediately a stout-looking man, having the appearance +of a laborer, entered the room. "Well, Lachlin," said my brother, +"what's the matter?" + +"Why, sir," said Lachlin, scratching his head, "I had a bit of a favor +to ax, if it would be plaisin' to you to grant it to me." + +"What is that," said my brother. "Do you know, sir," said he, "I haven't +been at a wake--let us see--this two or three years, anyhow; and, if +you'd have no objection, why, I'd slip up awhile to Denis Kelly's; he's +a distant relation of my own, sir; and blood's thicker than wather you +know." + +"I'm just glad you came in, Lachlin," said my brother, "I didn't think +of you; take a chair here, and never heed the wake to-night, but sit +down and tell us about the attack on Vesey Vengeance, long ago. I'll get +you a tumbler of punch; and, instead of going to the wake to night, I +will allow you to go to the funeral to-morrow." + +"Ah, sir," said Lachlin, "you know whenever the punch is consarned, I'm +aisily persuaded; but not making little of your tumbler, sir," said the +shrewd fellow, "I would get two or three of them if I went to the wake." + +"Well, sit down," said my brother, handing him one, "and we won't permit +you to get thirsty while you're talking, at all events." + +"In troth, you haven't your heart in the likes of it," said Lachlin. + +"Gintlemen, your healths--your health, sir, and we're happy to see you +wanst more. Why, thin, I remember you, sir, when you were a gorsoon, +passing to school wid your satchel on your back; but, I'll be bound +you're by no means as soople now as you were thin. Why, sir," turning to +my brother "he could fly or kick football with the rabbits.--Well, this +is raal stuff!" + +"Now, Lachlin," said my brother, "give us an account of the attack you +made on Vesey Vengeance's house, at the Long Ridge, when all his party +were chased out of the town." + +"Why, thin, sir, I ought to be ashamed to mintion it; but you see, +gintleman, there was no getting over being connected wid them; but I +hope your brother's safe, sir!" + +"Oh, perfectly safe, Lachlin; you may rest assured he'll never mention +it." + +"Well, sir," said Lachlin, addressing himself to me, "Vesey Vengeance +was--." + +"Lachlin," said my brother, "he knows all about Vesey; just give an +account of the attack." + +"The attack, sir! no, but the chivey we got over the mountains. Why, +sir, we met in, an ould empty house, you see, that belonged to the +Farrells of Ballyboulteen, that went over to America that spring. There +war none wid us, you may be sure, but them that war up;* and in all we +might be about sixty or seventy. The Grogans, one way or another, got +it up first among them, bekase they expected Mr. Simmons would take them +back when he'd find that no one else dare venther upon their land. There +war at that time two fellows down from the county Longford, in their +neighborhood, of the name of Collier--although that wasn't their right +name--they were here upon their keeping, for the murder of a proctor in +their own part of the country. One of them was a tall, powerful fellow, +with sandy hair, and red brows; the other was a slender chap, that +must have been drawn into it by his brother--for he was very mild +and innocent, and always persuaded us agin evil. The Grogans brought +lashings of whiskey, and made them that war to go foremost amost +drunk--these war the two Colliers, some of the strangers from behind the +mountains, and a son of Widdy Doran's, that knew every inch about the +place, for he was bred and born jist below the house a bit. He wasn't +wid us, however, in regard of his brother being under board that night; +but, instid of him, Tim Grogan went to show the way up the little glin +to the house, though, for that matther, the most of us knew it as well +as he did; but we didn't like to be the first to put a hand to it, if we +could help it. + + * That is, had been made members of a secret society. + +"At any rate, we sot in Farrell's empty house, drinking whiskey, till +they war all gathered, when about two dozen of them got the damp soot +from the chimley, and rubbed it over their faces, making them so black, +that their own relations couldn't know them. We then went across the +country in little lots, of about six or ten, or a score, and we war glad +that the wake was in Widdy Koran's, seeing that if any one would meet we +war going to it you know, and the blackening of the faces would pass for +a frolic; but there was no great danger of being met for it was now long +beyant midnight. + +"Well, gintlemen, it puts me into a tremble, even at this time, to think +of how little we cared about doing what we were bent upon. Them that had +to manage the business war more than half drunk; and, hard fortune to +me! but you would think it was to a wedding they went--some of them +singing songs against the law--some of them quite merry, and laughing +as if they had found a mare's nest. The big fellow, Collier, had a dark +lanthern wid a half-burned turf in it to light the bonfire, as they +said; others had guns and pistols--some of them charged and some of them +not; some had bagnets, and ould rusty swords, pitchforks, and go on. +Myself had nothing in my hand but the flail I was thrashing wid that +day; and to tell the thruth, the divil a step I would have gone with +them, only for fraid of my health; for, as I said awhile agone, if any +discovery was made afterwards, them that promised to go, and turned +tail, would be marked as the informers. Neither was I so blind, but +I could see that there war plenty there that would stay away if they +durst. + +"Well, we went on till we came to a little dark corner below the house, +where we met and held a council of war upon what we should do. Collier +and the other strangers from behind the mountains war to go first, and +the rest were to stand round the house at a distance--he carried the +lanthern, a bagnet, and a horse-pistol; and half a dozen more war to +bring over bottles of straw from Vengeance's own haggard, to hould up +to the thatch. It's all past and gone now--but three of the Reillys were +desperate against Vesey that night, particularly one of them that he +had shot about a year and a half before--that is, peppered two of the +right-hand fingers of him, one night in a scuffle, as Vesey came home +from an Orange lodge. Well, all went on purty fair; we had got as far as +the out-houses,where we stopped, to see if we could hear any noise; but +all was quiet as you plase. + +"'Now, Vengeance,' says Reilly, swearing a terrible oath out of +him--'you murdering Orange villain, you're going to get your pay,' says +he. + +"'Ay,' says Grogan, 'what he often threatened to others he'll soon meet +himself, plase God--come, boys,' says he, 'bring the straw and light it, +and just lay it up, my darlings, nicely to the thatch here, and ye'll +see what a glorious bonfire we'll have of the black Orange villain's +blankets in less than no time.' + +"Some of us could hardly stand this: 'Stop, boys,' cried one of Dan +Slevin's sons--'stop, Vengeance is bad enough, but his wife and children +never offinded us--we'll not burn the place.' + +"'No,' said others, spaking out when they heard any body at all having +courage to do so--'it's too bad, boys, to burn the place; for if we do,' +says they, 'some of the innocent may be burned before they get from the +house, or even before they waken out of their sleep.' + +"'Knock at the door first,' says Slevin, 'and bring Vengeance out; let +us cut the ears off of his head and lave him.' + +"'Damn him!' says another, 'let us not take the vagabone's life; it's +enough to take the ears from him, and to give him a prod or two of a +bagnet on the ribs; but don't kill him.' + +"'Well, well,' says Reilly, 'let us knock at the door, and get himself +and the family out,' says he, 'and then we'll see what can be done wid +him.' + +"'Tattheration to me,' says the big Longford fellow, 'if he had sarved +me, Reilly, as he did you, but I'd roast him in the flames of his own +house,' says he. + +"'I'd have you to know,' says Slevin, 'that you have no command here, +Collier. I'm captain at the present time,' says he; 'and more nor what +I wish shall not be done. Go over,' says he to the blackfaces, 'and rap +him up.' + +"Accordingly they began to knock at the door, commanding Vengeance to +get up and come out to them. + +"'Come, Vengeance,' says Collier, 'put on you, my good fellow, and come +out till two or three of your neighbors, that wish you well, gets a +sight of your purty face, you babe of grace!' + +"'Who are you that wants me at all?' says Vengeance from within. + +"'Come out, first,' says Collier; 'a few friends that has a crow to +pluck with you; walk out, avourneen; or if you'd rather be roasted +alive, why you may stay where you are,' says he. + +"'Gentlemen,' says Vengeance, 'I have never, to my knowledge, offended +any of you; and I hope you won't be so cruel as to take an industrious, +hard-working man from his family, in the clouds of the night, to do him +an injury. Go home, gentlemen, in the name of God, and let me and mine +alone. You're all mighty dacent gentlemen, you know, and I'm determined +never to make or meddle with any of you. Sure, I know right well it's +purtecting me you would be, dacent gentlemen. But I don't think +there's any of my neighbors there, or they wouldn't stand by and see me +injured.' + +"'Thrue for you, avick,' says they giving, at the same time; a terrible +patterrara agin the door, with two or three big stones. + +"'Stop, stop!' says Vengeance, 'don't break the door, and I'll open it. +I know you're merciful, dacent gentlemen--I know your merciful.' + +"So the thief came and unbarred it quietly, and the next minute about +a dozen of them that war within the house let slap at us. As God would +have had it, the crowd didn't happen to be forenent the door, or numbers +of them would have been shot, and the night was dark, too, which was in +our favor. The first volley was scarcely over, when there was another +slap from the outhouse; and after that another from the gardens; and +after that, to be sure, we took to our scrapers. Several of them were +very badly wounded; but as for Collier, he was shot dead, and Grogan +was taken prisoner, with five more, on the spot. There never was such a +chase as we got; and only that they thought there was more of us in it, +they might have tuck most of us prisoners. + +"'Fly, boys!' says Grogan as soon as they fired out of the house--'we've +been sould,' says he, 'but I'll die game, any how,'--and so he did, poor +fellow; for although he and the other four war transported, one of them +never sould the pass or stagged. Not but that they might have done it, +for all that, only that there was a whisper sent to them, that if they +did, a single soul belonging to one of them wouldn't be left living. The +Grogans were cousins of Denis Kelly's, that's now laid out there above. + +"From the time this tuck place till after the 'sizes, there wasn't a +stir among them on any side; but when that war over, the boys began to +prepare. Denis, heavens be his bed, was there in his glory. This was +in the spring 'sizes, and the May fair soon followed. Ah! that was the +bloody sight, I'm tould--for I wasn't at it--atween the Orangemen and +them. The Ribbonmen war bate though, but not till after there was a +desperate fight on both sides. I was tould that Denis Kelly that day +knocked down five-and-twenty men in about three-quarters of an hour; and +only that long John Grimes hot him a _polthoge_ on the sconce with the +butt-end of the gun, it was thought the Orangemen would be beat. That +blow broke his skull, and was the manes of his death. He was carried +home senseless." + +"Well, Lachlin," said my brother, "if you didn't see it, I did. I +happened to be looking out of John Carson's upper window--for it wasn't +altogether safe to contemplate it within reach of the missiles. It was +certainly a dreadful and barbarous sight. You have often observed the +calm, gloomy silence that precedes a thunder-storm; and had you been +there that day, you might have witnessed its illustration in a scene +much more awful. The thick living mass of people extended from the +corner-house, nearly a quarter of a mile, at this end of the town, up to +the parsonage on the other side. During the early part of the day, every +kind of business was carried on in a hurry and an impatience, which +denoted the little chance they knew there would be for transacting it in +the evening. + +"Up to the hour of four o'clock the fair was unusually quiet, and, on +the whole, presented nothing in any way remarkable; but after that hour +you might observe the busy stir and hum of the mass settling down into +a deep, brooding, portentous silence, that was absolutely fearful. The +females, with dismay and terror pictured in their faces, hurried home; +and in various instances you might see mothers, and wives, and sisters, +clinging about the sons, husbands, and brothers, attempting to drag them +by main force from the danger which they knew impended over them. +In this they seldom succeeded: for the person so urged was usually +compelled to tear himself from them by superior strength. + +"The pedlars and basket-women, and such as had tables and standings +erected in the streets, commenced removing them with all possible +haste. The shopkeepers, and other inhabitants of the town, put up +their shutters, in order to secure their windows from being shattered. +Strangers, who were compelled to stop in town that night, took shelter +in the inns and other houses of entertainment where they lodged: so that +about five o'clock the street was completely clear, and free for action. + +"Hitherto there was not a stroke--the scene became even more silent and +gloomy, although the moral darkness of their ill-suppressed passions +was strongly contrasted with the splendor of the sun, that poured down +a tide of golden light upon the multitude. This contrast between the +natural brightness of the evening, and the internal gloom of their +hearts, as the beams of the sun rested upon the ever-moving crowd, +would, to any man who knew the impetus with which the spirit of +religious hatred was soon to rage among them, produce novel and +singular sensations. For, after all Toby, there is a mysterious +connection between natural and moral things, which often invest both +nature and sentiment with a feeling that certainly would not come home +to our hearts if such a connection did not exist. A rose-tree beside +a grave will lead us from sentiment to reflection; and any other +association, where a painful or melancholy thought is clothed with a +garb of joy or pleasure, will strike us more deeply in proportion as +the contrast is strong. On seeing the sun or moon struggling through the +darkness of surrounding clouds, I confess, although you may smile, that +I feel for the moment a diminution of enjoyment--something taken, as it +were, from the sum of my happiness. + +"Ere the quarrel commenced, you might see a dark and hateful glare +scowling from the countenances of the two parties, as they viewed +and approached each other in the street--the eye was set in deadly +animosity, and the face marked with an ireful paleness, occasioned at +once by revenge and apprehension. Groups were silently hurrying with an +eager and energetic step to their places of rendezvous, grasping their +weapons more closely, or grinding their teeth in the impatience of their +fury. The veterans on each side were surrounded by their respective +followers, anxious to act under their direction; and the very boys +seemed to be animated with a martial spirit, much more eager than that +of those who had greater experience in party quarrels. + +"Jem Finigan's public-house was the head-quarters and rallying-point +of the Ribbonmen; the Orangemen assembled in that of Joe Sherlock, the +master of an Orange lodge. About six o'clock the crowd in the street +began gradually to fall off to the opposite ends of the town--the Roman +Catholics towards the north, and the Protestants towards the south. +Carson's window, from which I was observing their motions, was exactly +half way between them, so that I had a distinct view of both. At this +moment I noticed Denis Kelly coming forward from the closely condensed +mass formed by the Ribbonmen: he advanced with his cravat off, to the +middle of the vacant space between the parties, holding a fine oak +cudgel in his hand. He then stopped, and addressing the Orangemen, said, + +"'Where's Vengeance and his crew now? Is there any single Orange villain +among you that dare come down and meet me here like a man? Is John +Grimes there? for if he is, before we begin to take you out of a face, +to hunt you altogether out of the town, ye Orange villains I would be +glad that he'd step down to Denis Kelly here for two or three minutes; +I'll not keep him longer.' + +"There was now a stir and a murmur among the Orangemen, as if a rush was +about to take place towards Denis; but Grimes, whom I saw endeavoring to +curb them in, left the crowd, and advanced toward him. + +"At this moment an instinctive movement among both masses took place; so +that when Grimes had come within a few yards of Kelly, both parties were +within two or three perches of them. Kelly was standing, apparently off +his guard, with one hand thrust carelessly into the breast pocket of +his waistcoat, and the cudgel in the other; but his eye was fixed calmly +upon Grimes as he approached. They were both powerful, fine men--brawny, +vigorous, and active; Grimes had somewhat the advantage of the other in +height; he also fought with his left hand, from which circumstance +he was nicknamed Kitlhouge. He was a man of a dark, stern-looking +countenance; and the tones of his voice were deep, sullen, and of +appalling strength. + +"As they approached each other, the windows on each side of the street +were crowded; but there was not a breath to be heard in any direction, +nor from either party. As for myself, my heart palpitated with anxiety. +What they might have felt I do not know: but they must have experienced +considerable apprehension; for as they were both the champions of their +respective parties, and had never before met in single encounter, their +characters depended on the issue of the contest. + +"'Well, Grimes,' said Denis, 'sure I've often wished for this same +meetin,' man, betune myself and you; I have what you're goin' to get, +_in_ for you this long time; but you'll get it now, avick, plase God--' + +"'It was not to scould I came, you Popish, ribly rascal,' replied +Grimes, 'but to give you what you're long--' + +"Ere the word had been out of his mouth, however, Kelly sprung over to +him; and making a feint, as if he intended to lay the stick on his ribs, +he swung it past without touching him and, bringing it round his own +head like lightning, made it tell with a powerful back-stroke, right on +Grimes's temple, and in an instant his own face was sprinkled with the +blood which sprung from the wound. Grimes staggered forwards towards his +antagonist, seeing which, Kelly sprung back, and was again meeting him +with full force, when Grimes, turning a little, clutched Kelly's stick +in his right hand, and being left-handed himself, ere the other could +wrench the cudgel from him, he gave him a terrible blow upon the back +part of the head, which laid Kelly in the dust. + +"There was then a deafening shout from the Orange party; and Grimes +stood until Kelly should be in the act of rising, ready then to give him +another blow. The coolness and generalship of Kelly, however, were here +very remarkable; for, when he was just getting to his feet, 'Look at +your party coming down upon me!' he exclaimed to Grimes, who turned +round to order them back, and, in the interim, Kelly was upon his legs. + +"I was surprised at the coolness of both men; for Grimes was by no means +inflated with the boisterous triumph of his party--nor did Denis get +into a blind rage on being knocked down. They approached again, +their eyes kindled into savage fury, tamed down into the wariness of +experienced combatants; for a short time they stood eyeing each other, +as if calculating upon the contingent advantages of attack or defence. +This was a moment of great interest; for, as their huge and powerful +frames stood out in opposition, strung and dilated by the impulse of +passion and the energy of contest, no judgment, however experienced, +could venture to anticipate the result of the battle, or name the +person likely to be victorious. Indeed it was surprising how the +natural sagacity of these men threw their attitudes and movements into +scientific form and symmetry. Kelly raised his cudgel, and placed +it transversely in the air, between himself and his opponent; Grimes +instantly placed his against it--both weapons thus forming a St. +Andrew's cross--whilst the men themselves stood foot to foot, calm and +collected. Nothing could be finer than their proportions, nor superior +to their respective attitudes; their broad chests were in a line; their +thick, well-set necks laid a little back, as were their bodies, without, +however, losing their balance; and their fierce but calm features, +grimly but placidly scowling at each other, like men who were prepared +for the onset. + +"At length Kelly made an attempt to repeat his former feint, with +variations; for whereas he had sent the first blow to Grimes's right +temple, he took measures now to reach the left; his action was rapid, +but equally quick was the eye of his antagonist, whose cudgel was up in +ready guard to meet the blow. It met it; and with such surprising power +was it sent and opposed, that both cudgels, on meeting, bent across +each other into curves. An involuntary huzza followed this from their +respective parties--not so much on account of the skill displayed by the +combatants as in admiration of their cudgels, and of the judgment with +which they must have been selected. In fact, it was the staves, rather +than the men, that were praised; and certainly the former did their +duty. In a moment their shillelaghs were across each other once more, +and the men resumed their former attitudes; their savage determination, +their kindled eyes, the blood which disfigured the face of Grimes, and +begrimed also the countenance of his antagonist into a deeper expression +of ferocity, occasioned many a cowardly heart to shrink from the sight. +There they stood, gory and stern, ready for the next onset; it was first +made by Grimes, who tried to practise on Kelly the feint which Kelly had +before practised on him. Denis, after his usual manner, caught the blow +in his open hand, and clutched the staff, with an intention of holding +it until he might visit Grimes, now apparently unguarded, with a +levelling blow; but Grimes's effort to wrest the cudgel from his grasp, +drew all Kelly's strength to that quarter, and prevented him from +availing himself of the other's defenceless attitude. A trial of +muscular power ensued, and their enormous bodily strength was exhibited +in the stiff tug for victory. Kelly's address prevailed; for while +Grimes pulled against him with all his collected vigor, the former +suddenly let go his hold, and the latter, having lost his balance, +staggered back; lightning could not be more quick than the action of +Kelly, as, with tremendous force, his cudgel rung on the unprotected +head of Grimes, who fell, or rather was shot to the ground, as if some +superior power had clashed him against it; and there he lay for a short +time, quivering under the blow he had received. + +"A peal of triumph now arose from Kelly's party; but Kelly himself, +placing his arms a-kimbo, stood calmly over his enemy, awaiting +his return to the conflict. For nearly five minutes he stood in this +attitude, during which time Grimes did not stir; at length Kelly stooped +a little, and peering closely into his face, exclaimed-- + +"'Why, then, is it acting you are?--any how, I wouldn't put it past you, +you cunning vagabone; 'tis lying to take breath he is--get up, man, I'd +scorn to touch you till you're on your legs; not all as one, for sure +it's yourself would show me no such forbearance. Up with you, man alive, +I've none of your thrachery in me. I'll not rise my cudgel till you're +on your guard.' + +"There was an expression of disdain, mingled with a glow of honest, manly +generosity on his countenance, as he spoke, which made him at once the +favorite with such spectators as were not connected with either of +the parties. Grimes arose, and it was evident that Kelly's generosity +deepened his resentment more than the blow which had sent him so rapidly +to the ground; however, he was still cool, but his brows knit, his eye +flashed with double fierceness, and his complexion settled into a dark +blue shade, which gave to his whole visage an expression fearfully +ferocious. Kelly hailed this as the first appearance of passion; his +brow expanded as the other approached, and a dash of confidence, if not +of triumph, softened in some degree the sternness of his features. + +"With caution they encountered again each collected for a spring, their +eyes gleaming at each other like those of tigers. Grimes made a motion +as if he would have struck Kelly with his fist; and, as the latter threw +up his guard against the blow, he received a stroke from Grimes's cudgel +in the under part of the right arm. This had been directed at his +elbow, with an intention of rendering the arm powerless: it fell short, +however, yet was sufficient to relax the grasp which Kelly had of his +weapon. Had Kelly been a novice, this stratagem alone would have soon +vanquished him; his address, however, was fully equal to that of his +antagonist. The staff dropped instantly from his grasp, but a stout +thong of black polished leather, with a shining tassel at the end of it, +had bound it securely to his massive wrist; the cudgel, therefore, only +dangled from his arm, and did not, as the other expected, fall to the +ground, or put Denis to the necessity of stooping for it--Grimes's +object being to have struck him in that attitude. + +"A flash of indignation now shot from Kelly's eye, and with the speed of +lightning he sprung within Grimes's weapon,--determined to wrest it from +him. The grapple that ensued was gigantic. In a moment Grimes's staff +was parallel with the horizon between them, clutched in the powerful +grasp of both. They stood exactly opposite, and rather close to each +other; their arms sometimes stretched out stiff and at full length, +again contracted, until their faces, glowing and distorted by the energy +of the contest, were drawn almost together. Sometimes the prevailing +strength of one would raise the staff slowly, and with gradually +developed power, up in a perpendicular position: again the reaction of +opposing strength would strain it back, and sway the weighty frame of +the antagonist, crouched and set into desperate resistance, along with +it; whilst the hard pebbles under their feet were crumbled into powder, +and the very street itself furrowed into gravel by the shock of their +opposing strength. Indeed, so well matched a pair never met in contest: +their strength, their wind, their activity, and their! natural science +appeared to be perfectly equal. + +"At length, by a tremendous effort, Kelly got the staff twisted +nearly out of Grimes's hand, and a short shout, half encouraging, half +indignant, came from Grimes's party. This added shame to his other +passions, and threw an impulse of almost superhuman strength into him: +he recovered his advantage, but nothing more; they twisted--they heaved +their great frames against each other--they struggled--their action +became rapid--they swayed each other this way and that--their eyes like +fire--their teeth locked, and their nostrils dilated. Sometimes they +twined about each other like serpents, and twirled round with such +rapidity, that it was impossible to distinguish them--sometimes, when +a pull of more than ordinary power took place, they seemed to cling +together almost without motion, bending down until their heads nearly +touched the ground, their cracking joints seeming to stretch by the +effort, and the muscles of their limbs standing out from the flesh, +strung into amazing tension. + +"In this attitude were they, when Denis, with the eye of a hawk, spied +a disadvantage in Grimes's position; he wheeled round, placed his broad +shoulder against the shaggy breast of the other, and giving him what is +called an 'inside crook,' strained him, despite of every effort, until +he got him off his shoulder, and off the point of resistance. There +was a cry of alarm from the windows, particularly from the females, as +Grimes's huge body was swung over Kelly's shoulder, until it came down +in a crash upon the hard gravel of the street, while Denis stood in +triumph, with his enemy's staff in his hand. A loud huzzah followed this +from all present except the Orangemen, who stood bristling with fury and +shame for the temporary defeat of their champion. + +"Denis again had his enemy at his mercy; but he scorned to use his +advantage ungenerously; he went over, and placing the staff in his +hands--for the other had got to his legs--retrograded to his place, and +desired Grimes to defend himself. + +"After considerable manoeuvring on both sides, Denis, who appeared to +be the more active of the two, got an open on his antagonist, and by +a powerful blow upon Grimes's ear, sent him to the ground with amazing +force. I never saw such a blow given by mortal; the end of the cudgel +came exactly upon the ear, and as Grimes went down, the blood spurted +out of his mouth and nostrils; he then kicked convulsively several times +as he lay upon the ground, and that moment I really thought he would +never have breathed more. + +"The shout was again raised by the Ribbonmen, who threw up their hats, +and bounded from the ground with the most vehement exultation. Both +parties then waited to give Grimes time to rise and renew the battle; +but he appeared perfectly contented to remain where he was: for there +appeared no signs of life or motion in him. + +"'Have you got your gruel, boy?' said Kelly, going over to where he +lay;--'Well, you met Denis Kelly, at last, didn't you? and there you +lie; but plase God, the most of your sort will soon lie in the same +state. Come, boys,' said Kelly, addressing his own party, 'now for +bloody Vengeance and his crew, that thransported the Grogans and the +Caffries, and murdered Collier. Now, boys, have at the murderers, and +let us have satisfaction for all!' + +"A mutual rush instantly took place; but, ere the Orangemen came down to +where Grimes lay, Kelly had taken his staff, and handed it to one of his +own party. It is impossible to describe the scene that ensued. The noise +of the blows, the shouting, the yelling, the groans, the scalped heads, +and gory visages, gave both to the ear and eye an impression that could +not easily be forgotten. The battle was obstinately maintained on both +sides for nearly an hour, and with a skill of manoeuvring, attack, and +retreat, that was astonishing. + +"Both parties arranged themselves against each other, forming something +like two lines of battle, and these extended along the town nearly from +one end to the other. It was curious to remark the difference in the +persons and appearances of the combatants. In the Orange line the men +were taller, and of more powerful frames; but the Ribbonmen were +more hardy, active, and courageous. Man to man, notwithstanding their +superior bodily strength, the Orangemen could never fight the others; +the former depend too much upon their fire and side-arms, but they are +by no means so well trained to the use of the cudgel as their enemies. +In the district where the scene of this fight is laid, the Catholics +generally inhabit the mountainous part of the country, to which, when +the civil feuds of worse times prevailed, they had been driven at the +point of the bayonet; the Protestants and Presbyterians, on the other +hand, who came in upon their possessions, occupy the richer and more +fertile tracts of the land; being more wealthy, they live with less +labor, and on better food. The characteristic features produced by these +causes are such as might be expected--the Catholic being, like his soil, +hardy, thin, and capable of bearing all weathers; and the Protestants, +larger, softer, and more inactive. + +"Their advance to the first onset was far different from a faction +fight. There existed a silence here, that powerfully evinced the +inextinguishable animosity with which they encountered. For some time +they fought in two compact bodies, that remained unbroken so long as the +chances of victory were doubtful. Men went down, and were up, and went +down in all directions, with uncommon rapidity; and as the weighty +phalanx of Orangemen stood out against the nimble line of their mountain +adversaries, the intrepid spirit of the latter, and their surprising +skill and activity soon gave symptoms of a gradual superiority in the +conflict. In the course of about half an hour, the Orange party began to +give way in the northern end of the town; and as their opponents pressed +them warmly and with unsparing hand, the heavy mass formed by their +numbers began to break, and this decomposition ran up their line until +in a short time they were thrown into utter confusion. They now fought +in detached parties; but these subordinate conflicts, though shorter in +duration than the shock of the general battle, were much more inhuman +and destructive; for whenever any particular gang succeeded in putting +their adversaries to flight, they usually ran to the assistance of their +friends in the nearest fight--by which means they often fought three to +one. In these instances the persons inferior in numbers suffered such +barbarities, as it would be painful to detail. + +"There lived a short distance out of the town a man nicknamed Jemsy +Boccagh, on account of his lameness--he was also sometimes called +'Hop-an'-go-constant,' who fell the first victim to party spirit. He +had got arms on seeing his friends likely to be defeated, and had the +hardihood to follow, with charged bayonet, a few Ribbonmen, whom he +attempted to intercept, as they fled from a large number of their +enemies, who had got them separated from their comrades. Boccagh ran +across a field, in order to get before them in the road, and was in the +act of climbing a ditch, when one of them, who carried a spade-shaft, +struck him a blow on the head, which put an end to his existence.* + + * Fact. The person who killed him escaped to America + where he got himself naturalized, and when the British + government claimed him, he pleaded his privilege of + being an American citizen, and he was consequently not + given up. Boccagh was a very violent Orangeman, and a + very offensive one. + +"This circumstance imparted, of course, fiercer hatred to both +parties,--triumph inspiring the one, a thirst for vengeance nerving the +other. Kelly inflicted tremendous punishment in every direction; for +scarcely a blow fell from him which did not bring a man to the ground. +It absolutely resembled a military engagement, for the number of +combatants amounted at least to four thousand men. In many places the +street was covered with small pools and clots of blood, which flowed +from those who lay insensible--while others were borne away +bleeding, groaning, or staggering, having been battered into a total +unconsciousness of the scene about them. + +"At length the Orangemen gave way, and their enemies, yelling with +madness and revenge, began to beat them with unrestrained fury. The +former, finding that they could not resist the impetuous tide which +burst upon them, fled back past the church, and stopped not until they +had reached an elevation, on which lay two or three heaps of stones, +that had been collected for the purpose of paving the streets. Here they +made a stand, and commenced a vigorous discharge of them against their +pursuers. This checked the latter; and the others, seeing them hesitate +and likely to retreat from the missiles, pelted them with such effect, +that the tables became turned, and the Ribbonmen made a speedy flight +back into the town. + +"In the meantime several Orangemen had gone into Sherlock's, where a +considerable number of arms had been deposited, with an intention of +resorting to them in case of a defeat at the cudgels. These now came +out, and met the Ribbonmen on their flight from those who were pelting +them with the stones. A dreadful scene ensued. The Ribbonmen, who had +the advantage in numbers, finding themselves intercepted before by +those who had arms, and pursued behind by those who had recourse to the +stones, fought with uncommon bravery and desperation. Kelly, who was +furious, but still collected and decisive, shouted out in Irish, lest +the opposite party might understand him, 'Let every two men seize upon +one of those who have the arms.' + +"This was attempted, and effected with partial success; and I have no +doubt but the Orangemen would have been ultimately beaten and deprived +of their weapons, were it not that many of them, who had got their +pistols out of Sherlock's, discharged them among their enemies, and +wounded several. The Catholics could not stand this; but wishing to +retaliate as effectually as possible, lifted stones wherever they could +find them, and kept up the fight at a distance, as they retreated. On +both sides, wherever a solitary foe was caught straggling from the rest, +he was instantly punished with a most cruel and blood-thirsty spirit. + +"It was just about this time that I saw Kelly engaged with two men, whom +he kept at bay with great ease--retrograding, however, as he fought, +towards his own party. Grimes, who had for some time before this +recovered and joined the fight once more, was returning, after having +pursued several of the Ribbonmen past the market-house, where he spied +Kelly thus engaged. With a Volunteer gun in his hand, and furious with +the degradation of his former defeat, he ran-over and struck him with +the butt-end of it upon the temple--and Denis fell. When the stroke was +given, an involuntary cry of 'Murder,--foul, foul!' burst from those +who looked on from the windows; and long John Steele, Grimes's +father-in-law, in indignation, raised his cudgel to knock him down for +this treacherous and malignant blow;--but a person out of Neal Cassidy's +back-yard hurled a round stone, about six pounds in weight, at Grimes's +head, that felled him to the earth, leaving him as insensible, and +nearly in as dangerous a state as Kelly,--for his jaw was broken. + +"By this time the Catholics had retreated out of the town, and Denis +might probably have received more punishment, had those who were +returning from the pursuit recognized him; but James Wilson, seeing the +dangerous situation in which he lay, came out, and, with the assistance +of his servant-man, brought him into his own house. When the Orangemen +had driven their adversaries off the field, they commenced the most +hideous yellings through the streets--got music, and played party +tunes--offered any money for the face of a Papist; and any of that +religion who were so unfortunate as to make their appearance, were +beaten in the most relentless manner. It was precisely the same thing on +the part of the Ribbonmen; if a Protestant, but above all, an Orangeman, +came in their way, he was sure to be treated with barbarity; for the +retaliation on either side was dreadfully unjust--the innocent suffering +as well as the guilty. Leaving the window, I found Kelly in a a bad +state below stairs. + +"'What's to be done?' said I to Wilson. + +"'I know not,' replied he, 'except I put him between us on my jaunting +car, and drive him home.' + +"This appeared decidedly the best plan we could adopt; so, after putting +to the horse, we placed him on the car, sitting one on each side of him, +and, in this manner, left him at his own house. + +"'Did you run no risk,' said I, 'in going among Kelly's friends, whilst +they were under the influence of party feeling and exasperated passion?' + +"'No,' said he; 'we had rendered many of them acts of kindness, and +had never exhibited any spirit but a friendly one towards them; and +such individuals, but only such, might walk through a crowd of enraged +Catholics or Protestants quite unmolested.' + +"The next morning Kelly's landlord, Sir W. E------, and two magistrates, +were at his house, but he lay like a log, without sense or motion. +Whilst they were there, the surgeon arrived and, after examining +his head declared that the skull was fractured. During that and the +following day, the house was surrounded by crowds, anxious to know his +state; and nothing might be heard amongst most of them but loud and +undisguised expressions of the most ample revenge. The wife was frantic; +and, on seeing me, hid her face in her hands, exclaiming. + +"'Ah, sir, I knew it would come to this; and you, too, tould him the +same thing. My curse and God's curse on it for quarrelling! Will it +never stop in the counthry till they rise some time and murdher one +another out of the face?' + +"As soon as the swelling in his head was reduced, the surgeon performed +the operation of trepanning, and thereby saved his life; but his +strength and intellect were gone, and he just lingered for four months, +a feeble, drivelling simpleton, until, in consequence of a cold, which +produced inflammation in the brain, he died, as hundreds have died +before, the victim of party spirit." + +Such was the account which I heard of my old school-fellow, Denis +Kelly; and, indeed, when I reflected upon the nature of the education he +received, I could not but admit that the consequences were such as might +naturally be expected to result from it. + +The next morning a relation of Mrs. Kelly's came down to my brother, +hoping that, as they wished to have as decent a funeral as possible, he +would be so kind as to attend it. + +"Musha, God knows, sir," said the man, "it's poor Denis, heavens be his +bed! that had the regard and reverence for every one, young and ould, of +your father's family; and it's himself that would be the proud man, if +he was living, to see you, sir, riding after his coffin." + +"Well," said my brother, "let Mrs. Kelly know that I shall certainly +attend, and so will my brother, here, who has come to puy me a visit. +Why, I believe, Tom, you forget him!" + +"Your brother, sir! Is it Master Toby, that used to cudgel the half of +the counthry when he was at school? Gad's my life, Masther Toby (I was +now about thirty-six), but it's your four quarters, sure enough! Arrah, +thin, sir, who'd think it--you're grown so full and stout?--but, faix, +you'd always the bone in you! Ah, Masther Toby!" said he, "he's lying +cowld, this morning, that would be the happy man to lay his eyes wanst +more upon you. Many an' manys the winther's evening did he spind, +talking about the time when you and he were bouchals (* boys) together, +and of the pranks you played at school, but especially of the time you +both leathered the four Grogans, and tuck the apples from thim--my poor +fellow--and now to be stretched a corpse, lavin' his poor widdy and +childher behind him!" + +I accordingly expressed my sorrow for Denis's death, which, indeed, +I sincerely regretted, for he possessed materials for an excellent +character, had not all that was amiable and good in him been permitted +to run wild. + +As soon as my trunk and traveling-bag had been brought from the inn, +where I had left them the preceding night, we got our horses, and, as we +wished to show particular respect to Denis's remains, rode up, with +some of our friends, to the house. When we approached, there were large +crowds of the country-people before the door of his well-thatched and +respectable-looking dwelling, which had three chimneys, and a set +of sash-windows, clean and well glazed. On our arrival, I was soon +recognized and surrounded by numbers of those to whom I had formerly +been known, who received and welcomed me with a warmth of kindness and +sincerity, which it would be in vain to look for among the peasantry +of any other nation. Indeed, I have uniformly observed, that when no +religious or political feeling influences the heart and principles of an +Irish peasant, he is singularly sincere and faithful in his attachments, +and has always a bias to the generous and the disinterested. To my own +knowledge, circumstances frequently occur, in which the ebullition of +party spirit is, although temporary, subsiding after the cause that +produced it has passed away, and leaving the kind peasant to the +natural, affectionate, and generous impulses of his character. But +poor Paddy, unfortunately, is as combustible a material in politics or +religion as in fighting--thinking it his duty to take the weak side*, +without any other consideration than because it is the weak side. + + * A gentleman once told me an anecdote, of which he was + an eye-witness. Some peasants, belonging to opposite + factions, had met under peculiar circumstances; there + were, however, two on one side, and four on the other-- + in this case, there was likely to be no fight; but, in + order to balance the number, one of the more numerous + party joined the weak side--"bekase, boys, it would be + a burnin' shame, so it would, for four to kick two; + and, except I join them, by the powers, there's no + chance of there being a bit of sport, or a row, at all + at all!" Accordingly, he did join them, and the result + of it was, that he and his party were victorious, so + honestly did he fight. + +When we entered the house I was almost suffocated with the strong +fumes of tobacco-smoke, snuff, and whiskey; and as I had been an old +school-fellow of Denis's, my appearance was the signal for a general +burst of grief among his relations, in which the more distant friends +and neighbors of the deceased joined, to keep up the keening. + +I have often, indeed always, felt that there! is something extremely +touching in the Irish cry; in fact, that it breathes the very spirit +of wild and natural sorrow. The Irish peasantry, whenever a death +takes place, are exceedingly happy in seizing upon any contingent +circumstances that may occur, and making them subservient to the +excitement of grief for the departed, or the exaltation and praise +of his character and virtues. My entrance was a proof of this--I had +scarcely advanced to the middle of the floor, when my intimacy with the +deceased, our boyish sports, and even our quarrels, were adverted to +with a natural eloquence and pathos, that, in spite of my firmness, +occasioned me to feel the prevailing sorrow. They spoke, or chaunted +mournfully, in Irish; but the substance of what they said was as +follows:-- + +"Oh, Denis, Denis, avourneen! you're lying low, this morning of +sorrow!--lying low are you, and does not know who it is (alluding to me) +that is standing over you, weeping for the days you spent together in +your youth! It's yourself, _acushla agus asthore machree_ (the pulse and +beloved of my heart), that would stretch out the right hand warmly to +welcome him to the place of his birth, where you had both been so often +happy about the green hills and valleys with each other! He's here now, +standing over you; and it's he, of all his family, kind and respectable +as they are, that was your own favorite, Denis, _avourneen dhelish!_ +He alone was the companion that you loved!--with no other could you be +happy!--For him did you fight, when he wanted a friend in your young +quarrels! and if you had a dispute with him, were you not sorry for it? +Are you not now stretched in death before him, and will he not forgive +you?" + +All this was uttered, of course, extemporaneously, and without the least +preparation. They then passed on to an enumeration of his virtues as +a father, a husband, son, and brother--specified his worth as he stood +related to society in general, and his kindness as a neighbor and a +friend. + +An occurrence now took place which may serve, in some measure, to throw +light upon many of the atrocities and outrages which take place in +Ireland. Before I mention it, however, I think it necessary to make +a few observations relative to it. I am convinced that those who are +intimately acquainted with the Irish peasantry will grant that there is +not on the earth a class of people in whom the domestic affections of +blood-relationship are so pure, strong, and sacred. The birth of a child +will occasion a poor man to break in upon the money set apart for his +landlord, in order to keep the christening, surrounded by his friends +and neighbors, with due festivity. A marriage exhibits a spirit of joy, +an exuberance of happiness and delight, to be found only in the Green +Island; and the death of a member of a family is attended with a +sincerity of grief, scarcely to be expected from men so much the +creatures of the more mirthful feelings. In fact, their sorrow is a +solecism in humanity--at once deep and loud--mingled up, even in its +deepest paroxysms, with a laughter-loving spirit. It is impossible that +an Irishman, sunk in the lowest depths of affliction, could permit his +grief to flow in all its sad solemnity, even for a day, without some +glimpse of his natural humor throwing a faint and rapid light over the +gloom within him. No: there is an amalgamation of sentiments in his mind +which, as I said before, would puzzle any philosopher to account for. +Yet it would be wrong to say, though his grief has something of an +unsettled and ludicrous character about it, that he is incapable of the +most subtle and delicate shades of sentiment, or the deepest and most +desolating intensity of sorrow. But he laughs off those heavy vapors +which hang about the moral constitution of the people of other +nations, giving them a morbid habit, which leaves them neither strength +nor firmness to resist calamity--which they feel less keenly than an +Irishman, exactly as a healthy man will feel the pangs of death with +more acuteness than one who is wasted away by debility and decay. Let +any man witness an emigration, and he will satisfy himself that this is +true. I am convinced that Goldsmith's inimitable description of one in +his "Deserted Village," was a picture drawn from actual observation. Let +him observe the emigrant, as he crosses the Atlantic, and he will find, +although he joins the jest, and the laugh, and the song, that he will +seek a silent corner, or a silent hour, to indulge the sorrow which he +still feels for the friends, the companions, and the native fields that +he has left behind him. This constitution of mind is beneficial: the +Irishman seldom or never hangs himself, because he is capable of too +much real feeling to permit himself to become the slave of that which +is factitious. There is no void in his affections or sentiments, which a +morbid and depraved sensibility could occupy; but his feelings, of what +character soever they may be, are strong, because they are fresh and +healthy. For this reason, I maintain, that when the domestic affections +come under the influence of either grief or joy, the peasantry of no +nation are capable of feeling so deeply. Even on the ordinary occasions +of death, sorrow, though it alternates with mirth and cheerfulness, in +a manner peculiar to themselves, lingers long in the unseen recesses +of domestic life: any hand, therefore, whether by law or violence, that +plants a wound here, will suffer to the death. + +When my brother and I entered the house, the body had just been put +into the coffin and it is usual after this takes place, and before it +is nailed down, for the immediate relatives of the family to embrace the +deceased, and take their last look and farewell of his remains. In the +present instance, the children were brought over, one by one, to perform +that trying and melancholy ceremony. The first was an infant on the +breast, whose little innocent mouth was held down to that of its dead +father; the babe smiled upon his still and solemn features, and would +have played with his grave-clothes, but that the murmur of unfeigned +sorrow, which burst from all present, occasioned it to be removed. The +next was a fine little girl, of three or lour years, who inquired where +they were going to bring her daddy, and asked if he would not soon come +back to her. + +"My daddy's sleeping a long time," said the child, "but I'll waken him +till he sings me 'Peggy Slevin.' I like my daddy best, bekase I sleep +wid him--and he brings me good things from the fair; he bought me this +ribbon," said she, pointing to a ribbon which he had purchased for her. + +The rest of the children were sensible of their loss, and truly it was +a distressing scene. His eldest son and daughter, the former about +fourteen, the latter about two years older, lay on the coffin, kissing +his lips, and were with difficulty torn away from it. + +"Oh!" said the boy, "he is going from us, and night or day we will never +see him or hear him more! Oh! father--father--is that the last sight we +are ever to see of your face? Why, father dear, did you die, and leave +us forever?--forever--wasn't your heart good to us, and your words kind +to us--Oh! your last smile is smiled--your last kiss given--and your +last kind word spoken to your children that you loved, and that loved +you as we did. Father, core of my heart, are you gone forever, and your +voice departed? Oh! the murdherers, oh! the murdherers, the murdherers!" +he exclaimed, "that killed my father; for only for them, he would be +still wid us: but, by the God that's over me, if I live, night or day I +will not rest, till I have blood for blood; nor do I care who hears it, +nor if I was hanged the next minute." + +As these words escaped him, a deep and awful murmur of suppressed +vengeance burst from his relations. At length their sorrow became +too strong to be repressed; and as it was the time to take their last +embrace and look of him, they came up, and after fixing their eyes +on his face in deep affliction, their lips began to quiver, and their +countenances became convulsed. They then burst out simultaneously into a +tide of violent grief, which, after having indulged in it for some time, +they checked. But the resolution of revenge was stronger than their +grief, for, standing over his dead body, they repeated, almost word for +word, the vow of vengeance which the son had just sworn. It was really +a scene dreadfully and terribly solemn; and I could not avoid reflecting +upon the mystery of nature, which can, from the deep power of domestic +affection, cause to spring a determination to crime of so black a +dye. Would to God that our peasantry had a clearer sense of moral and +religious duties, and were not left so much as they are to the headlong +impulse of an ardent temperament and an impetuous character; and would +to God that the clergy who superintend their morals, had a better +knowledge of human nature, and a more liberal education! + +During all this time the heart-broken widow sat beyond the coffin, +looking upon what passed with a stupid sense of bereavement; and when +they had all performed this last ceremony, it was found necessary to +tell her that the time was come for the procession of the funeral, and +they only waited for; her to take, as the rest did, her last look and +embrace of her husband. When she heard this, it pierced her like an +arrow; she became instantly collected, and her complexion assumed a dark +shade of despairing anguish, which it was an affliction even to look +upon, one then stooped over the coffin, and kissed him several times, +after which she ceased sobbing, and lay silently with her mouth to his. + +The character of a faithful wife sorrowing for a beloved husband has +that in it which compels both respect and sympathy. There was not at +this moment a dry eye in the house. She still lay silent on the coffin; +but, as I observed that her bosom seemed not to heave as it did a little +before, I was convinced that she had become insensible. I accordingly +beckoned to Kelly's brother, to whom I mentioned what I had suspected; +and on his going over to ascertain the truth, he found her as I +had said. She was then brought to the air, and after some +trouble--recovered; but I recommended them to put her to bed, and not to +subject her to any unnecessary anguish, by a custom which was really +too soul-piercing to endure. This, however, was, in her opinion, the +violation of an old rite, sacred to her heart and affections--she would +not hear of it for an instant. Again she was helped out between her +brother and brother-in-law; and, after stooping down, and doing as the +others had done-- + +"Now," said she, "I will sit here, and keep him under my eye as long as +I can--surely you won't blame me for it; you all know the kind husband +he was to me, and the good right I have to be sorry for him! Oh!" she +added, "is it thrue at all?--is he, my own Denis, the young husband of +my early--and my first love, in good airnest, dead, and going to leave +me here--me, Denis, that you loved so tindherly, and our childher, that +your brow was never clouded aginst? Can I believe myself or is it a +dhrame? Denis, _avick machree! avick machree!_* your hand was dreaded, +and a good right it had, for it was the manly hand, that was ever and +always raised in defence of them that wanted a friend; abroad, in +the faction-fight, against the oppressor, your name was ever feared, +acushla?--but at home--at home--where was your fellow Denis, agrah, do +you know the lips that's spaking to you?--your young bride--your heart's +light--Oh! I remimber the day you war married to me like yesterday. Oh! +avourneen, then and since wasn't the heart of your own Honor bound up +in you--yet not a word even to me. Well, agrah, machree, 'tisn't your +fault, it's the first time you ever refused to spake to your own Honor. +But you're dead, avourneen, or it wouldn't be so--you're dead before my +eyes--husband of my heart, and all my hopes and happiness goes into the +coffin and the grave along wid you, forever!" + + * Son of my heart! Son of my heart! + +All this time she was rocking herself from side to side, her complexion +pale and ghastly as could be conceived, and the tears streaming from her +eyes. When the coffin was about to be closed, she retired until it was +nailed down, after which she returned with her bonnet and cloak on her, +ready to accompany it to the grave. I was astonished--for I thought +she could not have walked two steps without assistance; but it was the +custom, and to neglect it, I found, would have thrown the imputation +of insincerity upon her grief. While they were preparing to bring the +coffin out, I could hear the chat and conversation of those who were +standing in crowds before the door, and occasionally a loud, vacant +laugh, and sometimes a volley of them, responsive to the jokes of some +rustic wit, probably the same person who acted master of the revels at +the wake. + +Before the coffin was finally closed, Ned Corrigan, whom I had put to +flight the preceding night, came up, and repeated the De Profundis, in +very strange Latin, over the corpse. When this was finished, he got a +jug of holy water, and after dipping his thumb in it, first made the +sign of the cross upon his own forehead, and afterwards sprinkled it +upon all present, giving my brother and myself an extra compliment, +supposing, probably, that we stood most in need, of it. When this +was over, he sprinkled the corpse and the coffin in particular most +profusely. He then placed two pebbles from Lough Derg* and a bit of holy +candle, upon the breast of the corpse, and having said a Pater and Ave, +in which he was joined by the people, he closed the lid and nailed it +down. + + * Those who make a station at Lough Derg are in the + habit of bringing home some of its pebbles, which are + considered to be sacred and possessed of many virtues. + +"Ned," said his brother, "are his feet and toes loose?" + +"Musha, but that's more than myself knows," replied Ned--"Are they, +Katty?" said he, inquiring from the sister of the deceased. + +"Arrah, to be sure, avourneen!" answered Katty--"do you think we would +lave him to be tied that way, when he'd be risin' out of his last bed at +the day of judgment? Wouldn't it be too bad to have his toes tied thin, +avourneen?" + +The coffin was then brought out and placed upon four chairs before the +door, to be keened; and, in the mean time, the friends and well-wishers +of the deceased were brought into the room to get each a glass of +whiskey, as a token of respect. I observed also, that such as had not +seen any of Kelly's relations until then, came up, and shaking +hands with them, said--"I'm sorry for your loss!" This expression of +condolence was uniform, and the usual reply was, "Thank you, Mat, or +Jim!" with a pluck of the skirt, accompanied by a significant nod, to +follow. They then got a due share of whiskey; and it was curious, after +they came out, their faces a little flushed, and their eyes watery with +the strong, ardent spirits, to hear with what heartiness and alacrity +they entered into Denis's praises. + +When he had been keened in the street, there being no hoarse, the coffin +was placed upon two handspikes, which were fixed across, but parallel +to each other under it. These were borne by four men, one at the end of +each, with the point of it crossing his body a little below his stomach; +in other parts of Ireland, the coffin is borne upon a bier on the +shoulders, but this is more convenient and less distressing. + +When we got out upon the road, the funeral was of great extent--for +Kelly had been highly respected. On arriving at the merin which bounded +the land he had owned, the coffin was laid down, and a loud and wailing +keene took place over it. It was again raised, and the funeral proceeded +in a direction which I was surprised to see it take, and it was not +until an acquaintance of my brother's had explained the matter that I +understood the cause of it. In Ireland when a murder is perpetrated, it +is sometimes usual, as the funeral proceeds to the grave-yard, to bring +the corpse to the house of him who committed the crime, and lay it down +at his door, while the relations of the deceased kneel down, and, with +an appaling solemnity, utter the deepest, imprecations, and invoke +the justice of heaven on the head of the murderer. This, however, is +generally omitted if the residence of the criminal be completely out +of the line of the funeral, but if it be possible, by any circuit, to +approach it, this dark ceremony is never omitted. In cases where the +crime is doubtful, or unjustly imputed, those who are thus visited +come out, and laying their right hand upon the coffin, protest their +innocence of the blood of the deceased, calling God to witness the truth +of their asseverations; but, in cases where the crime is clearly proved +against the murderer, the door is either closed, the ceremony repelled +by violence, or the house abandoned by the inmates until the funeral +passes.* + + * Many of these striking and startling old customs have + nearly disappeared, and indeed it is better that they + should. + +The death of Kelly, however, could not be actually, or, at least, +directly considered a murder, for it was probable that Grimes did +not inflict the stroke with an intention to take away his life, and, +besides, Kelly survived it four months. Grimes's house was not more +than fifteen perches from the road: and when the corpse was opposite the +little bridleway that led up to it, they laid it down for a moment, and +the relations of Kelly surrounded it, offering up a short prayer, with +uncovered heads. It was then borne toward the house, whilst the keening +commenced in a loud and wailing cry, accompanied with clapping of hands, +and every other symptom of external sorrow. But, independent of their +compliance with this ceremony, as an old usage, there is little doubt +that the appearance of anything connected with the man who certainly +occasioned Kelly's death, awoke a keener and more intense sorrow for his +loss. The wailing was thus continued until the coffin was laid opposite +Ghimes's door; nor did it cease then, but, on the contrary, was renewed +with louder and more bitter lamentations. + +As the multitude stood compassionating the affliction of the widow and +orphans, it was the most impressive and solemn spectacle that could be +witnessed. The very house seemed to have a condemned look; and, as a +single wintry breeze waved a tuft of long grass that grew on a seat +of turf at the side of the door, it brought the vanity of human enmity +before my mind with melancholy force. When the keening ceased, Kelly's +wife, with her children, knelt, their faces towards the house of their +enemy, and invoked, in the strong language of excited passion, the +justice of heaven upon the head of the man who had left her a widow, and +her children fatherless. I was anxious to know if Grimes would appear +to disclaim the intention of murder; but I understood that he was at +market--for it happened to be market-day. + +"Come out!" said the widow--"come out, and look at the sight that's +here before you! Come and view your own work! Lay but your hand upon the +coffin, and the blood of him you murdhered will spout, before God and +these Christian people, in your guilty face! But, oh! may the Almighty +God bring this home to you!--May you never lave this life, John Grimes, +till worse nor has overtaken me and mine fall upon you and yours! May +our curse light upon you this day!--the curse, I say, of the widow and +the orphans, that your bloody hand has made us, may it blast you! May +you, and all belonging to you wither off of the 'airth! Night and day, +sleeping and waking--like snow off the ditch, may you melt, until your +name and your place be disremimbered, except to be cursed by them +that will hear of you and your hand of murdher! Amin, we pray God this +day!--and the widow and orphans' prayer will not fall to the ground +while your guilty head is above it! Childhre, do you all say it?" + +At this moment a deep, terrific murmur, or rather ejaculation, +corroborative of assent to this dreadful imprecation, pervaded the crowd +in a fearful manner; their countenances darkened, their eyes gleamed, +and their scowling visages stiffened into an expression of determined +vengeance. + +When these awful words were uttered, Grimes's wife and daughters +approached the window in tears, sobbing, at the same time, loudly and +bitterly. + +"You're wrong," said the wife--"you're wrong, Widow Kelly, in saying +that my husband murdhered him:--he did not murdher him; for when you +and yours were far from him, I heard John Grimes declare before the God +who's to judge him, that he had no thought or intention of taking his +life; he struck him in anger, and the blow did him an injury that was +not intended. Don't curse him, Honor Kelly," said she, "don't curse him +so fearfully; but, above all, don't curse me and my innocent childher, +for we never harmed you, nor wished you ill! But it was this party +work did it! Oh, my God!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands in utter +bitterness of spirit, "when will it be ended between friends and +neighbors, that ought to live in love and kindness together instead of +fighting in this bloodthirsty manner!" + +She then wept more violently, as did her daughters. + +"May God give me mercy in the last day, Mrs. Kelly, as I pity from my +heart and soul you and your orphans," she continued; "but don't curse +us, for the love of God--for you know we should forgive our enemies, as +we ourselves, that are the enemies of God, hope to be forgiven." + +"May God forgive me, then, if I have wronged you or your husband," said +the widow, softened by their distress; "but you know, that whether he +intended his life or not, the stroke he gave him has left my childher +without a father, and myself dissolate. Oh, heavens above me!" she +exclaimed, in a scream of distraction and despair, "is it possible--is +it thrue--that my manly husband--the best father that ever breathed the +breath of life--my own Denis, is lying dead--murdhered before my eyes? +Put your hands on my head, some of you--put your hands on my head, or +it will go to pieces. Where are you, Denis--where are you, the strong +of hand, and the tender of heart? Come to me, darling, I want you in +my distress. I want comfort, Denis; and I'll take it from none but +yourself, for kind was your word to me in all my afflictions!" + +All present were affected; and, indeed, it was difficult to say, whether +Kelly's wife or Grimes's was more to be pitied at the moment. The +affliction of the latter and of her daughters was really pitiable; their +sobs were loud, and the tears streamed down their cheeks like rain. When +the widow's exclamations had ceased, or rather were lost in the loud +cry of sorrow which were uttered by the keeners and friends of the +deceased--they, too, standing somewhat apart from the rest, joined in it +bitterly; and the solitary wail of Mrs. Grimes, differing in character +from that of those who had been trained to modulate the most profound +grief into strains of a melancholy nature, was particularly wild +and impressive. At all events, her Christian demeanor, joined to the +sincerity of her grief, appeased the enmity of many; so true is it that +a soft answer turneth away wrath. I could perceive, however, that the +resentment of Kelly's male relations did not appear to be in any degree +moderated. + +The funeral again proceeded, and I remarked that whenever a strange +passenger happened to meet it, he always turned back, and accompanied +it for a short distance, after which he resumed his journey, it being +considered unlucky to omit this visage on meeting a funeral. Denis's +residence was not more than two miles from the churchyard, which was +situated in the town where he had received the fatal blow. As soon as we +had got on about the half of this way, the priest of the parish met +us, and the funeral, after proceeding a few perches more, turned into a +green field, in the corner of which stood a table with the apparatus for +saying mass spread upon it. + +The coffin was then laid down once more, immediately before this +temporary altar; and the priest, after having robed himself, the wrong +or the sable side of the vestments out, as is usual in the case of +death, began to celebrate mass for the dead, the congregation all +kneeling. When this was finished, the friends of the deceased approached +the altar, and after some private conversation, the priest turned round, +and inquired aloud-- + +"Who will give Offerings?" + +The people were acquainted with the manner in which this matter is +conducted, and accordingly knew what to do. When the priest put the +question, Denis's brother, who Was a wealthy man, came forward, and laid +down two guineas on the altar; the priest took this up, and putting it +on a plate, set out among the multitude, accompanied by two or three of +those who were best acquainted with the inhabitants of the parish. He +thus continued putting the question, distinctly, after each man had +paid; and according as the money was laid down, those who accompanied +the priest pronounced the name of the person who gave it, so that all +present might hear it. This is also done to enable the friends of the +deceased to know not only those who show them this mark of respect, +but those who neglect it, in order that they may treat them in the same +manner on similar occasions. The amount of money so received is very +great; for there is a kind of emulation among the people, as to who will +act with most decency and spirit, that is exceedingly beneficial to +the priest. In such instances the difference of religion is judiciously +overlooked; for although the prayers of Protestants are declined on +those occasions, yet it seems the same objection does not hold good +against their money, and accordingly they pay as well as the rest. When +the priest came round to where I stood, he shook hands with my brother, +with whom he appeared to be on very friendly and familiar terms; he and +I were then introduced to each other. + +"Come," said he, with a very droll expression of countenance, shaking +the plate at the same time up near my brother's nose,--"Come, Mr. +D'Arcy, down with your offerings, if you wish to have a friend with St. +Peter when you go as far as the gates; down with your money, sir, and +you shall be remembered, depend upon it." + +"Ah," said my brother, pulling out a guinea, "I would with the greatest +pleasure; but I fear this guinea is not orthodox. I'm afraid it has a +heretical mark upon it." + +"In that case," replied his Reverence laughing heartily, "your only plan +is to return it to the bosom of the church, by laying it on the plate +here--it will then be within the pale, you know." + +This reply produced a great deal of good-humor among that part of the +crowd which immediately surrounded them--not excepting his nearest +relations, who laughed heartily-- + +"Well," said my brother, as he laid it on the plate, "how many prayers +will you offer up in my favor for this?" + +"Leave that to myself," said his Reverence, looking at the money; "it +will be before you, I say, when you go to St. Peter." + +He then held the plate over to me in a droll manner; and I added another +guinea to my brother's gift; for which I had the satisfaction of having +my name called out so loud, that it might be heard a quarter of a mile +off. + +"God bless you, sir," said the priest, "and I thank you." + +"John," said I, when he left us, "I think that is a pleasant and rather +a sensible man?" + +"He's as jovial a soul," replied my brother, "as ever gave birth to a +jest, and he sings a right good song. Many a convivial hour have he and +I spent together; and a more hospitable man besides, never yet existed. +Although firmly attached to his own religion, he is no bigot; but, on +the contrary, an excellent, liberal, and benevolent man." + +When the offerings were all collected, he returned to the altar, +repeated a few additional prayers in prime style--as rapid as lightning; +and after hastily shaking the holy water on the crowd, the funeral +moved oh. It was now two o'clock, the day clear and frosty, and the sun +unusually bright for the season. During mass, many were added to those +who formed the funeral train at the outset; so that, when we got out +upon the road, the procession appeared very large. After this, few or +none joined it; for it is esteemed by no means "dacent" to do so after +mass, because, in that case, the matter is ascribed to an evasion of the +offerings; but those whose delay has not really been occasioned by this +motive, make it a point to pay them at the grave-yard, or after the +interment, and sometimes even on the following day--so jealous are +the peasantry of having any degrading suspicion attached to their +generosity. + +The order of the funeral now was as follows:--Foremost the women--next +to them the corpse, surrounded by the relations--the eldest son, in deep +affliction, "led the coffin," as chief mourner, holding in his hand the +corner of a sheet or piece of linen, fastened to the mort-cloth, called +moor-cloth. After the coffin came those who were on foot, and in the +rear were the equestrians. When we were a quarter of a mile from the +churchyard, the funeral was met by a dozen of singing-boys, belonging to +a chapel choir, which the priest, who was fond of music, had some time +before formed. They fell in, two by two, immediately behind the corpse, +and commenced singing the Requiem, or Latin hymn for the dead. + +The scene through which we passed at this time, though not clothed with +the verdure and luxuriant beauty of summer, was, nevertheless, marked +by that solemn and decaying splendor which characterizes a fine +country, lit up by the melancholy light of a winter setting sun. It was, +therefore, much more in character with the occasion. Indeed--I felt it +altogether beautiful; and, as the "dying day-hymn stole aloft," the +dim sunbeams fell, through a vista of naked, motionless trees, upon +the coffin, which was borne with a slower and more funereal pace than +before, in a manner that threw a solemn and visionary light upon the +whole procession, this, however, was raised to something dreadfully +impressive, when the long train, thus proceeding with a motion so +mournful, as seen, each, or at least the majority of them, covered +with a profusion of crimson ribbons, to indicate that the corpse they +bore--owed, his death to a deed of murder. The circumstance of the sun +glancing his rays upon the coffin was not unobserved by the peasantry, +who considered it as a good omen to the spirit of the departed. + +As we went up the street which had been the scene of the quarrel that +proved so fatal to Kelly, the coffin was again laid down on the spot +where he received his death-blow; and, as was usual, the wild and +melancholy keene was raised. My brother saw many of Grimes's friends +among the spectators, but he himself was not visible. Whether Kelly's +party saw then or not, we could not say; if they did, they seemed not to +notice them, for no expression of revenge or indignation escaped them. + +At length we entered the last receptacle of the dead. The coffin was now +placed upon the shoulders of the son and brothers of the deceased, and +borne round the church-yard; whilst the priest, with his stole upon him, +preceded it, reading prayers for the eternal repose of the soul. Being +then laid beside the grave, a "De profundis" was repeated by the priest +and the mass-server; after which a portion of fresh clay, carried from +the fields, was brought to his Reverence, who read a prayer over it, +and consecrated it. This is a ceremony which is never omitted at the +interment of a Roman Catholic. When it was over, the coffin was laid +into the grave, and the blessed clay shaken over it. The priest now +took the shovel in his own hands, and threw in the three first +shovelfuls--one in the name of the Father, one in the name of the Son, +and one in the name of the Holy Ghost. The sexton then took it, and in a +short time Denis Kelly was fixed for ever in his narrow bed. + +While these ceremonies were going forward, the churchyard presented a +characteristic picture. Beside the usual groups who straggle through the +place, to amuse themselves by reading the inscriptions on the tombs, +you might see many individuals kneeling on particular graves, where +some relation lay--for the benefit of whose soul they offered up their +prayers with an attachment and devotion which one cannot but admire. +Sometimes all the surviving members of the family would assemble, and +repeat a Rosary for the same purpose. Again, you might see an unhappy +woman beside a newly-made grave, giving way to lamentation and sorrow +for the loss of a husband, or of some beloved child. Here, you might +observe the "last bed" ornamented with hoops, decked in white paper, +emblematic of the virgin innocence of the individual who slept +below;--there, a little board-cross informing you that "this monument +was erected by a disconsolate husband to the memory of his beloved +wife." But that which excited greatest curiosity was a sycamore-tree, +which grow in the middle of the burying-ground. + +It is necessary to inform the reader, that in Ireland many of the +church-yards are exclusively appropriated to the interment of Roman +Catholics, and, consequently, the corpse of no one who had been a +Protestant would be permitted to pollute or desecrate them. This was +one of them: but it appears that by some means or other, the body of a +Protestant had been interred in it--and hear the consequence! The next +morning heaven marked its disapprobation of this awful visitation by a +miracle; for, ere the sun rose from the east, a full-grown sycamore +had shot up out of the heretical grave, and stands there to this day, +a monument at once of the profanation and its consequence. Crowds wore +looking at this tree, feeling a kind of awe, mingled with wonder, at +the deed which drew down such a visible and lasting mark of God's +displeasure. On the tombstones near Kelly's grave, men and women were +seated, smoking tobacco to their very heart's content; for, with that +profusion which characterizes the Irish in everything, they had brought +out large quantities of tobacco, whiskey, and bunches of pipes. On such +occasions it is the custom for those who attend the wake or the funeral +to bring a full pipe home with them; and it is expected that, as often +as it is used, they will remember to say "God be merciful to the soul of +him that this pipe was over." + +The crowd, however, now began to disperse; and the immediate friends of +the deceased sent the priest, accompanied by Kelly's brother, to request +that we would come in, as the last mark of respect to poor Denis's +memory, and take a glass of wine and a cake. + +"Come, Toby," said my brother, "we may as well go in, as it will gratify +them; we need not make much delay, and we will still be at home in +sufficient time for dinner." + +"Certainly you will," said the Priest; "for you shall both come and dine +with me to-day." + +"With all my heart," said my brother; "I have no objection, for I know +you give it good." + +When we went in, the punch was already reeking from immense white jugs, +that couldn't hold less than a gallon each. + +"Now," said his Reverence, very properly, 'you have had a decent and +creditable funeral, and have managed every thing with great propriety; +let me request, therefore, that you will not get drunk, nor permit +yourselves to enter into any disputes or quarrels; but be moderate in +what you take, and go home peaceably." + +"Why, thin, your Reverence," replied the widow, "he's now in his grave, +and, thank God, it's he that had the dacent funeral all out--ten good +gallons did we put over you, asthore, and it's yourself that liked the +dacent thing, any how--but sure, sir, it would shame him where he's +lyin', if we disregarded him so far as to go home widout bringing in our +friends, that didn't desart us in our throuble, an' thratin' them for +their kindness." + +While Kelly's brother was filling out all their glasses, the priest, my +brother, and I, were taking a little refreshment. When the glasses were +filled, the deceased's brother raised his in his hand, and said,-- + +"Well, gintlemen," addressing us, "I hope you'll pardon me for not +dhrinking your healths first; but people, you know, can't break through +an ould custom, at any rate--so I give poor Denis's health that's in his +warm grave, and God be merciful to his sowl." + +The priest now winked at me to give them their own way; so we filled our +glasses, and joined the rest in drinking "Poor Denis's health, that's +now in his warm grave, and God be merciful to his soul." + +When this was finished, they then drank ours, and thanked us for our +kindness in attending the funeral. It was now past five o'clock; and we +left them just setting into a hard bout of drinking, and rode down to +his Reverence's residence. + +"I saw you smile," said he, on our way, "at the blundering toast of Mat +Kelly; but it would be labor in vain to attempt setting them right. What +do they know about the distinctions of more refined life? Besides, I +maintain, that what they said was as well calculated to express their +affection, as if they had drunk honest Denis's memory. It is, at least, +unsophisticated. But did you hear," said he, "of the apparition that was +seen last night, on the mountain road above Denis's?" + +"I did not hear of it," I replied, equivocating a little. + +"Why," said he, "it is currently reported that the spirit of a murdered +pedlar, which haunts the hollow of the road at Drumfurrar bridge, chased +away the two servant men as they were bringing home the coffin, and that +finding it a good fit, he got into it, and walked half a mile along the +road, with the wooden surtout upon him; and, finally, that to wind +up the frolic, he left it on one end half-way between the bridge and +Denis's house, after putting a crowd of the countrymen to flight. I +suspect some droll knave has played them a trick. I assure you, that a +deputation of them, who declared that they saw the coffin move along of +itself, waited upon me this morning, to know whether they ought to have +put him into the coffin, or gotten another." + +"Well," said my brother, in reply to him, "after dinner we will probably +throw some light upon that circumstance; for I believe my brother here +knows something about it." + +"So, sir," said the priest, "I perceive you have been amusing yourself +at their expense." + +I seldom spent a pleasanter evening than, I did with Father Miloy (so +he was called), who was, as my brother said, a shrewd, sensible man, +possessed of convivial powers of the first order. He sang us several +good songs; and, to do him justice, he had an excellent voice. He +regretted very much the state of party and religious feeling, which he +did every thing in his power to suppress. "But," said he, "I have little +co-operation in my efforts to communicate knowledge to my flock, and +implant better feelings among them. You must know," he added, "that I +am no great favorite with them. On being appointed to this parish by my +bishop, I found that the young man who was curate to my predecessor had +formed a party against me, thinking, by that means, eventually to get +the parish himself. Accordingly, on coming here, I found the chapel +doors closed on me: so that a single individual among them would not +recognize me as their proper pastor. By firmness and spirit, however, I +at length succeeded, after a long struggle against the influence of +the curate, in gaining admission to the altar; and, by a proper +representation of his conduct to the bishop, I soon made my gentleman +knock under. Although beginning to gain ground in the good opinion of +the people, I am by no means yet a favorite. This curate and I scarcely +speak; but I hope that in the course of time, both he and they will +begin to find, that by kindness and a sincere love for their welfare on +my part, good-will and affection will ultimately be established among +us. At least, there shall be nothing left undone, so far as I am +concerned, to effect it." + +It was now near nine o'clock, and my brother was beginning to relate an +anecdote concerning the clergyman who had preceded Father Molloy in the +parish, when a messenger from Mr. Wilson, already alluded to, came up in +breathless haste, requesting the priest, for God's sake, to go down into +town instantly, as the Kellys and the Grimeses were engaged in a fresh +quarrel. + +"My God!" he exclaimed--"when will this work have an end? But, to tell +you the truth, gentlemen, I apprehended it; and I fear that something +still more fatal to the parties will yet be the consequence. Mr. D'Arcy, +you must try what you can do with the Grimeses, and I will manage the +Kellys." + +We then proceeded to the town, which was but a very short distance from +the Priest's house; and, on arriving, found a large crowd before the +door of the house in which the Kellys had been drinking, engaged in hard +conflict. The priest was on foot, and had brought his whip with him, it +being an argument, in the hands of a Roman Catholic pastor, which tells +so home that it is seldom gainsaid. Mr. Molloy and my brother now dashed +in amongst them: and by remonstrance, abuse, blows, and entreaty, they +with difficulty succeeded in terminating the fight. They were also +assisted by Mr. Wilson and other persons, who dared not, until their +appearance, run the risk of interfering between them. Wilson's servant, +who had come for the priest, was still standing beside me, looking on; +and, while my brother and Mr. Molloy were separating the parties, I +asked him how the fray commenced. + +"Why, sir," said he, "it bein' market-day, the Grimeses chanced to be +in town, and this came to the ears of the Kellys, who were drinking in +Cassidy's here, till they got tipsy; some of them then broke out, +and began to go up and down the street, shouting for the face of +a murdhering Grimes. The Grimeses, sir, happened at the time to be +drinking with a parcel of their friends in Joe Sherlock's, and hearing +the Kellys calling out for them, why, as the dhrop, sir, was in on both +sides, they were soon at it. Grimes has given one of the Kelly's a great +bating; but Tom Grogan, Kelly's cousin, a little before we came down, +I'm tould, has knocked the seven senses out of him, with the pelt of a +brick-bat in the stomach." + +Soon after this, however, the quarrel was got under; and, in order to +prevent any more bloodshed that night, my brother and I got the Kellys +together, and brought them as far as our residence, on their way home. +As they went along, they uttered awful vows, and determinations of the +deepest revenge, swearing repeatedly that they would shoot Grimes from +behind a ditch, if they could not in any other manner have his blood. +They seemed highly intoxicated; and several of them were cut and abused +in a dreadful manner; even the women were in such a state of excitement +and alarm, that grief for the deceased was, in many instances, +forgotten. Several of both sexes were singing; some laughing with +triumph at the punishment they had inflicted on the enemy; others of +them, softened by what they had drunk, were weeping in tones of sorrow +that might be heard a couple of miles off. Among the latter were many +of the men, some of whom, as they staggered along, with their frieze +big coats hanging off one shoulder, clapped their hands, and roared +like bulls, as if they intended, by the loudness of their grief then, to +compensate for their silence when sober. It was also quite ludicrous to +see the men kissing each other, sometimes in this maudlin sorrow, and at +others when exalted into the very madness of mirth. Such as had been +cut in the scuffle, on finding the blood trickle down their faces, would +wipe it off--then look at it, and break out into a parenthetical volley +of curses against the Grimeses; after which, they would resume their +grief, hug each other in mutual sorrow, and clap their hands as before. +In short, such a group could be seen nowhere but in Ireland. + +When my brother and I had separated from them, I asked him what had +become of Vengeance, and if he were still in the country. + +"No," said he; "with all his courage and watchfulness, he found that +his life was not safe; he, accordingly, sold off his property, and +collecting all his ready cash, emigrated to America, where, I hear, he +is doing well." + +"God knows," I replied, "I shouldn't be surprised if one-half of the +population were to follow his example, for the state of society here, +among the lower orders, is truly deplorable." + +"Ay, but you are to consider now," he replied, "that you have been +looking at the worst of it. If you pass an unfavorable opinion upon +our countrymen when in the public house or the quarrel, you ought to +remember what they are under their own roofs, and in all the relations +of private life." + + +The "Party Fight," described in the foregoing sketch, is unhappily no +fiction, and it is certain that there are thousands still alive who +have good reason to remember it. Such a fight, or I should rather say +battle--for such in fact it was--did not take place in a state of civil +society, if I can say so, within the last half century in this country. +The preparations for it were secretly being made for two or three months +previous to its occurrence, and however it came to light, it so happened +that each party became cognizant of the designs of the other. This +tremendous conflict, of which I was an eye-witness,--being then but +about twelve years of age--took place in the town, or rather city, of +Clogher, in my native county of Tyrone. The reader may form an opinion +of the bitterness and ferocity with which it was fought on both +sides when he is informed that the Orangemen on the one side, and the +Ribbonmen on the other, had called in aid from the surrounding counties +of Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh, and Derry; and, if I mistake not, also +from Louth. In numbers, the belligerents could not have been less than +from four to five thousand men. The fair day on which it occurred is +known simply as "the Day of the great Fight." + + + + + + +THE LOUGH DERG PILGRIM. + + +In describing the habits, superstitions, and feelings of the Irish +people, it would be impossible to overlook a place which occupies +so prominent a position in their religious usages as the celebrated +Purgatory of St. Patrick, situated in a lake that lies among the bleak +and desolate looking mountains of Donegal. + +It may also be necessary to state to the reader, that the following +sketch, though appearing in this place, was the first production from my +pen which ever came before the public. The occasion of its being written +was this:--I had been asked to breakfast by the late Rev. Caesar Otway, +some time I think in the winter of 1829. About that time, or a little +before, he had brought out his admirable work called, "Sketches in +Ireland, descriptive of interesting portions of Donegal, Cork, and +Kerry." Among the remarkable localities of Donegal, of course it was +natural to suppose, that "_Lough Derg_," or the celebrated "_Purgatory +of St. Patrick_," would not be omitted. Neither was it; and nothing +can exceed the accuracy and truthful vigor with which he describes its +situation and appearance. In the course of conversation, however, I +discovered that he had never been present during the season of making +the Pilgrimages, and was consequently ignorant of the religious +ceremonies which take place in it. In consequence, I gave him a pretty +full and accurate account I of them, and of the Station which I myself +had made there. After I had concluded, he requested me to put what I had +told him upon paper, adding, "I will dress it up and have it inserted in +the next edition." + +I accordingly went home, and on the fourth evening afterwards brought +him the Sketch of the Lough Derg Pilgrim as it now appears, with the +exception of some offensive passages which are expunged in this edition. +Such was my first introduction to literary life. + +And here I cannot omit paying my sincere tribute of grateful +recollection to a man from whom I have received so many acts of the +warmest kindness. To me he was a true friend in every sense of the word. +In my early trials his purse and his advice often supported, soothed, +and improved me. In a literary point of view I am under the deepest +obligations to his excellent judgment and good taste. Indeed were it +not for him, I never could have struggled my way through the severe +difficulties with which in my early career I was beset. + + "Green be the turf above thee, + Friend of my early days; + None knew thee but to love thee, + Or named thee but to praise." + +But to my theme, which will be better understood, as will my description +of the wild rites performed on the shores of its most celebrated island, +by the following extracts, taken from this able and most vivid describer +of Irish scenery: + +"The road from the village of Petigo leading towards Lough Derg, runs +along a river tumbling over rocks; and then after proceeding for a time +over a boggy valley, you ascend into a dreary and mountainous tract, +extremely ugly in itself, but from which you have a fine view indeed +of the greatest part of the lower lake of Lough Erne, with its +many elevated islands, and all its hilly shores, green, wooded, +and cultivated, with the interspersed houses of its gentry, and +the comfortable cottages of its yeomanry--the finest yeomanry in +Ireland--men living in comparative comfort, and having in their figures +and bearing that elevation of character which a sense of loyalty and +independence confers. I had at length, after traveling about three +miles, arrived where the road was discontinued, and by the direction of +my guide, ascended a mountain-path that brought me through a wretched +village, and led to the top of a hill. Here my boy left me, and went +to look for the man who was to ferry us to Purgatory, and on the ridge +where I stood I had leisure to look around. To the south-west lay Lough +Erne, with all its isles and cultivated shores; to the north-west lay +Lough Derg, and truly never did I mark such a contrast. Lough Derg under +my feet--the lake, the shores, the mountains, the accompaniments of all +sorts presented the very landscape of desolation; its waters expanding +in their highland solitude, amidst a wide waste of moors, without one +green spot to refresh the eye, without a house or tree--all mournful in +the brown hue of its far-stretching bogs, and the gray uniformity of its +rocks; the surrounding mountains even partook of the sombre character +of the place; their forms without grandeur, their ranges continuous and +without elevation. The lake itself was certainly as fine as rocky shores +and numerous islands could make it: but it was encompassed with such +dreariness; it was deformed so much by its purgatorial island; the +associations connected with it were of such a degrading character, +that really the whole prospect before me struck my mind with a sense of +painfulness, and I said to myself, 'I am already in Purgatory.' A person +who has never seen the picture that was now under my eye, who had read +of a place consecrated by the devotion of ages, towards which the tide +of human superstition had flowed for twelve centuries, might imagine +that St. Patrick's Purgatory, secluded in its sacred island, would have +all the venerable and gothic accompaniments of olden time; and its ivied +towers and belfried steeples, its carved windows, and cloistered arches, +its long dark aisles and fretted vaults would have risen out of the +water, rivalling Iona or Lindisfarn; but nothing of the sort was to be +seen. The island, about half a mile from the shore, presented nothing +but a collection of hideous slated houses and cabins, which gave you +an idea that they were rather erected for the purpose of tollhouses or +police-stations than any thing else. + +"I was certainly in an interesting position. I looked southerly towards +Lough Erne, with the Protestant city of Enniskillen rising amidst its +waters, like the island queen of all the loyalty, and industry, and +reasonable worship that have made her sons the admiration of past +and present time; and before me, to the north, Lough Derg, with its +far-famed isle, reposing there as the monstrous birth of a dreary and +degraded superstition, the enemy of mental cultivation, and destined to +keep the human understanding in the same dark unproductive state as the +moorland waste that lay outstretched around. I was soon joined by my +guide and by two men carrying oars, with whom I descended from the ridge +on which I was perched, towards the shores of the lake, where there +was a sort of boat, or rather toll-house, at which the pilgrims paid a +certain sum before they were permitted to embark for the island. In a +few minutes we were afloat; and while sitting in the boat I had time to +observe my ferrymen: one was a stupid countryman, who did not speak; +the other was an old man with a Woollen night-cap under his hat, a +brown snuff-colored coat, a nose begrimed with snuff, a small gray eye +enveloped amidst wrinkles that spread towards his temples in the form of +birds' claws, and gave to his countenance a sort of leering cunning +that was extremely disagreeable. I found he was the clerk of the island +chapel; that he was a sort of master of the ceremonies in purgatory, and +guardian and keeper of it when the station time was over and priests and +pilgrims had deserted it. I could plainly perceive that he had smoked me +out as a Protestant, that he was on his guard against me as a spy, +and that his determination was to get as much and to give as little +information as he could; in fact, he seemed to have the desire to obtain +the small sum he expected from me with as little exposure of his cause, +and as little explanation of the practices of his craft as possible. +The man informed me that the station time was over about a month, and he +confirmed my guide's remark that the Pope's jubilee had much diminished +the resort of pilgrims during the present season. He informed me also +that the whole district around the lough, together with all its islands, +belonged to Colonel L------, a relation of the Duke of Wellington; and +that this gentleman, as landlord, had leased the ferry of the island to +certain persons who had contracted to pay him L260 a year; and to make +up this sum, and obtain a suitable income for themselves, the ferrymen +charged each pilgrim five pence. Therefore, supposing that the +contractors make cent, per cent, by their contract, which it may be +supposed they do, the number of pilgrims to this island may be estimated +at 13,000; and, as my little guide afterwards told me (although the +cunning old clerk took care to avoid it), that each pilgrim paid the +priest from 1s. 8d. to 2s. 6d., therefore we may suppose that the profit +to the prior of Lough Derg and his priests was no small sum. + +"In a short time I arrived at the island, and as stepping out of the +boat I planted my foot on the rocks of this scene of human absurdity, +I felt ashamed for human nature, and looked on myself as one of the +millions of fools that have, century after century, degraded their +understandings by coming hither. The island I found to be of an oval +shape. + +"The buildings on it consisted of a slated house for the priests, two +chapels, and a long range of cabins on the rocky surface of the island, +which may contain about half an acre; there were also certain round +walls about two feet high, enclosing broken stone and wooden crosses; +these were called saints' beds, and around these circles, on the sharp +and stony rocks, the pilgrims go on their naked knees. Altogether I +may briefly sum up my view of this place, and say that it was filthy, +dreary, and altogether detestable--it was a positive waste of time to +visit it, and I hope I shall never behold it again."* + + * Fire at Lough Derg.--On the 15th Aug 1842, the + station at this celebrated place was brought to a + conclusion; but in the course of the night it was + discovered that some of the houses were on fire, and + four dwellings which, we believe, were recently + erected, were altogether consumed. The people of the + neighboring country directed their efforts chiefly to + the preservation of the prior's house, which adjoined + those in flames, and by pouring a continued supply of + water against its windows, succeeded in saving it. The + night being calm, and the wind in a favorable + direction, the injury sustained was less than must have + existed under different circumstances. The houses burnt + were occupied as lodgings for pilgrims when on station. + +The following is extracted from Bishop Henry Jones's account, published +in 1647: + +"The island called St. Patrick's Purgatory is altogether rocky, and +rather level; within the compass of the island, in the water towards +the north-east, about two yards from the shore, stand certain rocks, the +least of which, and next the shore, is the one St. Patrick knelt on for +the third part of the night in prayer, he did another third in his cell, +which is called his bed, and another third in the cave or purgatory; in +this stone there is a cleft or print, said to be made by St. Patrick's +knees; the other stone is much greater and further off in the lake, +and covered with water, called Lachavanny: this is esteemed of singular +virtue; standing thereon healeth pilgrims' feet, bleeding as they are +with cuts and bruises got in going barefoot round the blessed beds. + +"The entrance into the island is narrow and rocky; these rocks they +report to be the guts of a great serpent metamorphosed into stones. +When Mr. Copinger, a gentleman drawn thither by the fame of the place, +visited it, there was a church covered with shingles dedicated to St. +Patrick, and it was thus furnished: at the east end was a high altar +covered with linen, over which did hang the image of our Lady with our +Saviour in her arms; on the right did hang the picture of the three +kings offering their presents to our Saviour; and on the left the +picture of our Saviour on the cross; near the altar, and on the south +side, did stand on the ground an old worm-eaten image of St. Patrick; +and behind the altar was another of the same fabric, but still older +in appearance, called. St Arioge; and on the right hand another image +called St. Volusianus. + +"Between the church and the cave there is a small rising ground, and on +a heap of stones lay a little stone cross, part broken, part standing; +and. in the east of the church was another cross made of twigs +interwoven: 'this is known by the name of St. Patrick's altar, on which +lie three pieces of a bell, which they say St. Patrick used to carry +in, his hand. Here also was laid a certain knotty bone of some bigness, +hollow in the midst like the nave of a wheel, and out of which issue, +as it were, natural spokes: this was: shown as a great rarity, being +part of a great, serpent's tail--one of those monsters the blessed +Patrick expelled out of Ireland. + +"Towards the narrowest part of the island were six circles--some call +them saints' beds, or beds of penance. Pilgrims are continually praying +and kneeling about these beds; and they are compassed around with +sharp stones and difficult passages for the accommodation of such as go +barefooted. + +"In the farthest part northward of the island, are certain beds of stone +cast together; as memorials for some that are elsewhere; buried; but +who trust to the prayers and merits of those who daily resort to this +Purgatory. Lastly, in this island are several Irish cabins covered with +thatch, and another for shriving or confession; and there are: separate +places assigned for those who come from the four provinces of Ireland. + +"In all, the pilgrims remain on the island nine days; they eat but once +in the twenty-four hours, of oatmeal and water. They have liberty to +refresh themselves with the water of the lake, which, as Roth says, 'is +of such virtue, that though thou shouldst fill thyself with it, yet +will it not offend; but is as if it flowed from some mineral.' + +"The pilgrims at night lodge or lie on straw, without pillow or pallet, +rolling themselves in their mantles, and wrapping their heads in their +breeches; only on some one of the eight nights they must lie on one of +the saints' beds, whichever they like." + + * * * * * + +I was, at the time of performing this station, in the middle of +my nineteenth year--of quick perception--warm imagination--a mind +peculiarly romantic--a morbid turn for devotion, and a candidate for the +priesthood, having been made slightly acquainted with Latin, and more +slightly still with Greek. + +At this period, however, all my faculties merged like friendly streams +into the large current of my devotion. Of religion I was completely +ignorant, although I had sustained a very conspicuous part in the +devotions of the family, and signalized myself frequently; by taking +the lead in a rosary. I had often out-prayed and out-fasted an old +circulating pilgrim, who occasionally visited our family; a feat on +which few would have ventured; and I even arrived to such a pitch of +perfection at praying, that with the assistance of young and powerful +lungs, I was fully able to distance him at any English prayer in which +we joined. But in Latin, I must allow, that owing to my imperfect +knowledge of its pronunciation, and to some twitches of conscience I +felt on adventuring to imitate, him by overleaping this impediment, he +was able to throw me back a considerable distance in his turn; so that +when we both started for a _De Profundis_, I was always sure to come +in second. Owing to all this I was considered a young man of promise, +being, moreover, as my master often told my father, a youth of +prodigious parts and great cuteness. Indeed, on this subject my master's +veracity could not be questioned; because when I first commenced Latin, +I was often heard repeating the prescribed tasks in my sleep. Many of +his relations had already, even upon the strength of my prospective +priesthood, begun to claim relationship with our family, and before I +was nineteen, I found myself godfather to a dozen godsons and as many +god-daughters; every one of whom I had with unusual condescension +taken under my patronage; and most of the boys were named after myself. +Finding that I was thus responsible for so much, in the opinion of my +friends, and having the aforesaid character of piety to sustain, I found +it indispensable to make the pilgrimage. Not that I considered myself a +sinner, or by any means bound to go from that motive, for although the +opinion of my friends, as to my talents and sanctity, was exceedingly +high, yet, I assure you, it cut but a very indifferent figure, when +compared with my own on both these subjects. + +I very well remember that the first sly attempt I ever made at a miracle +was in reference to Lough Derg; I tried it by way of preparation for +my pilgrimage. I heard that there had been a boat lost there, about the +year 1796, and that a certain priest who was in her as a passenger, had +walked very calmly across the lake to the island, after the bout and the +rest of the passengers in her had all gone to the bottom. Now, I had, +from my childhood, a particular prejudice against sailing in a boat, +although Dick Darcy, a satirical and heathenish old bachelor, who never +went to Mass, used often to tell me, with a grin which I was never able +rightly to understand, that I might have no prejudice against sailing, +"because," Dick would say, "take my word for it, you'll never die by +drowning." At all events, I thought to myself, that should any such +untoward accident occur to me, it would be no unpleasant circumstance +to imitate the priest; but that it would be infinitely more agreeable +to make the first experiment in a marl-pit, on my father's farm, than +on the lake. Accordingly, after three days' fasting, and praying for the +power of not sinking in the water, I slipped very quietly down to the +pit, and after reconnoitering the premises, to be sure there was no +looker-on, I approached the brink. At this moment my heart beat high +with emotion, my soul was wrapt up to a most enthusiastic pitch +of faith, and my whole spirit absorbed in feelings, where +hope--doubt--gleams of uncertainty--visions of future eminence--twitches +of fear--reflections on my expertness in swimming--on the success of the +water-walking priest afore-mentioned--and on the depth of the pond--had +all insisted on an equal share of attention. At the edge of the pit grew +large water-lilies, with their leaves spread over the surface; it is +singular to reflect upon what slight and ridiculous circumstances +the mind will seize, when wound up in this manner to a pitch of +superstitious absurdity. I am really ashamed, even whilst writing this, +of the confidence I put for a moment in a treacherous water-lily, as its +leaf lay spread so smoothly and broadly over the surface of the pond, as +if to lure my foot to the experiment. However, after having stimulated +myself by a fresh pater and ave, I advanced, my eyes turned up +enthusiastically to heaven--my hands resolutely clenched--my +teeth locked together--my nerves set--and my whole soul strong in +confidence--I advanced, I say, and lest I might give myself time to cool +from this divine glow, I made a tremendous stride, planting my right +foot exactly in the middle of the treacherous water-lily leaf, and +the next moment was up to the neck in water. Here was devotion cooled. +Happily I was able to bottom the pool, or could swim very well, if +necessary; so I had not much difficulty in getting out. As soon as I +found myself on the bank, I waited not to make reflections, but with a +rueful face set off at full speed for my father's house, which was not +far distant; the water all the while whizzing out of nay clothes, by +the rapidity of the motion, as it does from a water-spaniel after having +been in that element. It is singular to think what a strong authority +vanity has over the principles and passions in the weakest and strongest +moments of both; I never was remarkable, at that open, ingenuous period +of my life, for secrecy; yet did I now take especial care not to invest +either this attempt at the miraculous, or its concomitant failure, with +anything like narration. It was, however, an act of devotion that had +a vile effect on my lungs, for it gave me a cough that was intolerable; +and I never felt the infirmities of humanity more than in this ludicrous +attempt to get beyond them; in which, by the way, I was nearer being +successful than I had intended, though in a different sense. This +happened a month before I started for Lough Derg. + +It was about six o'clock of a delightful morning in the pleasant month +of July, when I set out upon my pilgrimage, with a single change of +linen in my pocket, and a pair of discarded shoes upon my bare feet; +for, in compliance with the general rule, I wore no stockings. The sun +looked down upon all nature with great good humor; everything smiled +around me; and as I passed for a few miles across an upland country +which stretched down from a chain of dark rugged mountains that lay +westward, I could not help feeling, although the feeling was indeed +checked--that the scene was exhilarating. The rough upland was in +several places diversified with green spots of cultivated land, with +some wood, consisting of an old venerable plantation of mountain pine, +that hung on the convex sweep of a large knoll away to my right,--with +a broad sheet of lake that curled to the fresh arrowy breeze of morning, +on which a variety of water-fowl were flapping their wings or skimming +along, leaving a troubled track on the peaceful waters behind them; +there were also deep intersections of precipitous or sloping glens, +graced with hazel, holly, and every description of copse-wood. On other +occasions I have drunk deeply of pleasure, when in the midst of this +scenery, bearing about me the young, free, and bounding spirit, its +first edge of enjoyment unblunted by the collision of base minds and +stony hearts, against which experience jostles us in maturer life. + +The dew hung shining upon the leaves, and fell in pattering showers +from the trees, as a bird, alarmed at my approach, would spring from the +branch and leave it vibrating in the air behind her; the early challenge +of the cock grouse, and the _quick-go-quick_ of the quail, were +cheerfully uttered on all sides. The rapid martins twittered with +peculiar glee, or, in the light caprice of their mirth, placed +themselves for a moment upon the edge of a scaur, or earthly precipice, +in which their nests were built, and then shot up again to mingle with +the careering and joyful flock that cut the air in every direction. +Where is the heart which could not enjoy such a morning scene? Under any +other circumstances it would have enchanted me; but here, in fact, +that intensity of spirit which is necessary to the due contemplation of +beautiful prospects, was transferred to a gloomier object. I was under +the influence of a feeling quite new to me. It was not pleasure, nor was +it pain, but a chilliness of soul which proceeded from the gloomy and +severe task that I had undertaken--a task which, when I considered the +danger and the advantages annexed to its performance, was sufficient to +abstract me from every other object. It was really the first exercise +of that jealous spirit of mistaken devotion which keeps the soul in +perpetual sickness, and invests the innocent enjoyments of life with +a character of sin and severity. It was this gloomy feeling that could +alone have strangled in their birth those sensations which the wisdom +of God has given as a security in some degree against sin, by opening +to the heart of man sources of pleasure, for which the soul is not +compelled to barter away her innocence, as in those of a grosser nature. +I may be wrong in analyzing the sensation, but for the first time in my +life I felt anxious and unhappy; yet, according to my own opinions, I +should have been otherwise. I was startled at what I experienced, and +began to consider it as a secret intimation that I had chosen a wrong +time for my journey. I even felt as if it would not prosper--as if some +accident or misfortune would befall me ere my return. The boat might +sink, as in 1796: this was quite alarming. The miraculous experiment +on the pond here occurred to me with full force, and came before my +imagination in a new point of view. The drenching I got had a deep +and fearful meaning. It was ominous--it was prophetic,--and sent by a +merciful Providence to deter me from attending the pilgrimage at this +peculiar time--perhaps on this particular day: to-morrow the spell might +be broken, the danger past, and the difference of a single day could be +nothing. Just at this moment an unlucky hare, starting from an adjoining +thicket, scudded across my path, as if to fill up the measure of these +ominous predictions. I paused, and my foot was on the very turn to the +rightabout, when instantly a thought struck me which produced a reaction +in my imagination. Might not all this be the temptation of the devil, +suggested to prevent me from performing this blessed work? not the hare +itself be some------? In short, the counter-current carried me with +it. I had commenced my journey, and every one knows that when a man +commences a journey it is unlucky to turn back. On I went, but still +with a subdued and melancholy tone of feeling. If I met a cheerful +countryman, his mirth found no kindred spirit in me: on the contrary, +my taciturnity seemed to infect him; for, after several ineffectual' +attempts at conversation, he gradually became silent, or hummed a tune +to himself, and, on parting, bade me a short, doubtful kind of good day, +looking over his shoulder, as he departed, with a face of scrutiny and +surprise. + +After getting five or six miles across the country, I came out on one +of these by-roads which run independently of all advantages of locality, +"up hill and down dale," from one little obscure village to another. +These roads are generally paved with round broad stones, laid curiously +together in longitudinal rows like the buttons on a schoolboy's jacket; +Owing to the infrequency of travellers on them, they are quite overgrown +with grass, except in one stripe along the middle, which is kept naked +by the hoofs of horses and the tread of foot passengers. There is some +tradition connected with these roads, or the manner of their formation, +which I do not remember. + +At last I came out upon the main road; and you will be pleased to +imagine to yourself the figure of a tall, gaunt, gawkish young man, +dressed in a good suit of black cloth, with shirt and cravat like snow, +striding solemnly along, without shoe or stocking; for about this time I +was twelve miles from home, and blisters had already risen upon my feet, +in consequence of the dew having got into my shoes, which at the best +were enough to cut up any man; I had therefore to strip and carry my +shoes--one in my pocket, and another stuffed in my hat; being thus with +great reluctance compelled to travel barefoot: yet I soon turned even +this to account, when I reflected that it would enhance the merit of +my pilgrimage, and that every fresh blister would bring down a fresh +blessing. 'Tis true I was nettled to the soul, on perceiving the face +of a laborer on the way-side, or of a traveller who met me, gradually +expanding into a broad sarcastic grin, as such an unaccountable figure +passed him. But these I soon began to suspect were Protestant grins; +for none but heretics would presume by any means to give me a sneer. The +Catholics taking me for a priest, were sure to doff their hats to me; or +if they wore none, as is not unfrequent when at labor, they would catch +their forelocks with their finger and thumb, and bob down their heads +in the act of veneration. This attention of my brethren more than +compensated for the mirth of all other sects; in fact, their mistaking +me for a priest began to give me a good opinion of myself, and perfectly +reconciled me to the fatiguing severity of the journey. + +I have had occasion to remark, while upon this pilgrimage, or rather +long afterwards,--for I was but little versed then in the science of +reflection--that it is impossible to calculate upon the capabilities +of either body or mind, until they are drawn out by some occasion of +peculiar interest, in which those of either or both are thrown upon +their own energies and resources. In my opinion, the great secret or +the directing principle of all enterprise rests in the motive of action; +for, whenever a suitable interest can be given to the principles of +human conduct, the person bound by, and feeling that interest will not +only perform as much as could possibly be expected from his natural +powers, but he will recruit his energies by drawing in all the +adventitious aid which the various relations of that interest, as they +extend to other objects, are capable of affording him. It was amazing, +for instance, to observe the vigor and perseverance with which feeble, +sickly old creatures, performed the necessary austerities of this +dreadful pilgrimage;--creatures, who if put to the same fatigue, on any +other business, would at once sink under it; but the motive supplied +energy, and the infirmities of nature borrowed new strength from the +deep and ardent devotion of the spirit. + +The first that I suspected of being fellow pilgrims were two women whom +I overtook upon the way. They were dressed in gray cloaks, striped red +and blue petticoats; drugget, or linseywoolsey gowns, that came within +about three inches of their ankles. Each had a small white bag slung at +her back, which contained the scanty provisions for the journey, and the +oaten cakes, crisp and hard-baked, for the pilgrimage to the lake. The +hoods of their cloaks fell down their backs, and each dame had a spotted +cotton kerchief pinned around her _dowd_ cap at the chin, whilst the +remainder of it fell down the shoulders, over the cloaks. Each had also +a staff in her hand, which she held in a manner peculiar to a travelling +woman--that is, with her hand round the upper end of it, her right thumb +extended across its head, and her arm, from the elbow down, parallel +with the horizon. The form of each, owing to the want of that spinal +strength and vigor which characterize the erect gait of man, was bent a +little forward, and this, joined to the idea produced by the nature +of their journey, gave to them something of an ardent and devoted +character, such as the mind and eye would seek for in a pilgrim, I saw +them at some distance before me, and knew by the staves and white bags +behind them that they were bound for Lough Derg. I accordingly stretched +out a little that I might overtake them; for in consequence of the +absorbing nature of my own reflections, my journey had only been a +solitary one, and I felt that society would relieve me. I was not a +little surprised, however, on finding that as soon as I topped one +height of the road, I was sure to find my two old ladies a competent +distance before me in the hollow (most of the northern roads are of this +nature), and that when I got to the bottom, I was as sure to perceive +their heads topping the next hill, and then gradually sinking out of +my sight. I was surprised at this, and perhaps a little nettled, that a +fresh active young fellow should not have sufficient mettle readily to +overtake two women. I did stretch out, therefore, with some vigor, yet +it was not till after a chase of two miles or so that I found myself +abreast of them. As soon as they noticed me they dropped a curtesy each, +addressing me at the same time as a clergyman, and I returned their +salutation with all due gravity. Upon my inquiring how far they had +travelled that day, it appeared that they had actually performed a +journey seven miles longer than mine: "We needn't ax your Reverence if +you're for the Islan'?" said one of them. "I am," I replied, not caring +to undeceive her as to my Reverentiality. + +The truth was, in the midst of all my sanctity I felt proud of the old +woman's mistake as to my priesthood, and really had not so much ready +virtue about me, on the occasion, as was sufficient to undeceive her. +I was even thankful to her for the inquiry, and thought, on a +closer inspection, I perceived an uncommon portion of good sense and +intelligence in her face. "My very excellent, worthy woman," said I, +"how is it that you are able to travel at such a rate, when one would +suppose you should be fatigued by this time, after so long a journey?" + +"Musha?" said she, "but your Reverence ought to know that."--I felt +puzzled at this: "How should I know it?" said I. + +"I'm sure," she continued, "you couldn't expect a poor ould crathur o' +sixty to travel at this rate, at all at all; except for raisons, your +Reverence:"--looking towards me quite confidently and knowingly. This +was still more oracular, and I felt very odd under it; my character for +devotion was at stake, and I feared that the old lady was drawing me +into a kind of vicious circle. "Your Reverence knows, that for the likes +o' me, that can hardly move to the market of a Saturday, Lord help me! +an' home agin, for to travel at this rate, would be impossible, any +how, except," she added, "for what I'm carryin', sir, blessed be God for +it!"--peering at me again with more knowing and triumphant look. + +"Why that's true," said I, thoughtfully; and then, assuming a bit of +the sacerdotal privilege, and suddenly raising my voice, though I was as +innocent as the child unborn of her meaning,--"that's true; but now +as you appear to be a sensible, pious woman, I hope you-understand the +nature of what you are carrying--and in a proper manner, too, for you +know that's the chief point." + +"Why, Father dear, I do my best, avourneen; an' I ought of a sartinty to +know it, bekase blessed Friar Hagan spent three dys instructin' Mat and +myself in it; an' more betoken, that Mat sent him a sack o' phaties, +an' a bag of oats for his trouble, not forgettin' the goose he got +from myself, the Micklemas afther.--Arrah how long is that ago, Katty +a-haygur?" said she, addressing her companion. + +"Ten years," said Katty. "Oh! it's more, I'm thinkin'; it's ten years +since poor Dick, God rest his sowl, died, and this was full two years +afore that: but no matther, agra, I'll let your Reverence hear the +prayer, at any rate." She here repeated a beautiful Irish prayer to the +Blessed Virgin, of which that beginning with "Hail, holy Queen!" in the +Roman Catholic prayer-books is a translation, or perhaps the original. +While she was repeating the prayer, I observed her hand in her bosom, +apparently extricating something, which, on being brought out, proved +to be a scapular; she held it up, that I might see it: "Your Reverence," +said she, "this is the ninth journey of the kind I made: but you don't +wonder now, I bleeve, how stoutly I'm able to stump it." + +"You really do stump it stoutly, as you' say," I replied. + +"Ay," said she, "an' not a wan' o' me but's as weak as a cat, at home +scarce can put a hand to any thing; but then, your Reverence, my eldest +daughter, Ellish, jist minds the house, an' lots the ould mother mind +the prayers, as I'm not able to do a hand's turn, worth namin'." + +"But you appear to be stout and healthy," I observed, "if a person may +judge by your looks." + +"Glory be to them that giv it to me then! that I am at the present time, +_padre dheelish_. But don't you know I'm always so durin' this journey; +I've a wicket heart-burn that torments the very life out o' me, all the +year round till this; and what 'ud your Reverence think, but it's sure +to lave me, clear and clane, and a fortnight or so afore I come here; I +never wanst feels a bit iv it, while I rouse and prepare myself for the +Island, nor for a month after I come here agen, Glory be to God." +She then turned to her companion, and commenced, in a voice half +audible--"Musha! Katty a-haygur, did ye iver lay your two livin' eyes +on so young a priest? a sweet and holy crathur he is, no doubt, and has +goodness in his face, may the Lord bless him!" + +"Musha!" said she, "surely your Reverence can't be long afther bein' +ordained, I'm thinkin'?" + +"Well, that's very strange," said I, evading her, "so you tell me your +heartburn leaves you, and that you get stout every year about the time +of your pilgrimage?" + +"An' troth an' I do!--hut! what am I sayin'? Indeed, sir, may be that's +more than I can say, either, your Reverence: but for sartin'it is"-- + +"Do you mean that you do, or that you do not?" I inquired. + +"Indeed, your Reverence, you jist hot it--the Lord bless you, and spare +you to the parents that reared ye; an' proud people may they be at +having the likes of 'im, Katty avourneen"--turning abruptly to Katty, +that she might disarm my interogatories on this tender subject with a +better grace--"proud people, as I said afore, the Lord may spare him to +them!" + +We here topped a little hill, and saw the spire of a steeple, and the +skirts of a country town, which a passenger told us was about three +miles distant. + +My feet by this time were absolutely in griskins, nor was I by any means +prepared for a most unexpected proposal, which the spokeswoman, after +some private conversation with the other, undertook to make. I could not +imagine what the purport of the dialogue was; but I easily saw, that +I myself was the subject of it, for I could perceive them glance at me +occasionally, as if they felt a degree of hesitation in laying down +the matter for my approval; at length she opened it with great +adroitness:--"Musha, an' to be sure he will, Katty dear an' darlin'--and +mightn't you know he would--the refusin' to do it isn't in his face, as +any body that has eyes to see may know--you ashamed!--and what for would +ye be ashamed?--asthore, it's 'imself that's not proud, or he wouldn't +tramp it, barefooted, along wud two ould crathurs like huz; him that has +no sin to answer for--but I'll spake to 'im myself, and yell see it's +he that won't refuse it. Why thin, your Reverence, Katty an' I war +thinkin', that as there's only three of us, an' the town's afore us, +where we'll rest a while, plaise God--for by that time the shower that's +away over there will be comin' down;--that as there's but three of us, +would it be any harm if we sed a bit of a Rosary, and your Reverence to +join us?" + +This was, indeed, a most unexpected attack; but it was evident that I +was set down by this curious woman as a paragon of piety; though +indeed her object was rather to smooth the way in my mind, for what she +intended should be a very excellent opinion of her own godliness. + +I looked about me, and as far as my eye could reach, the road appeared +solitary. I did, 'tis true, debate the matter with myself, pro and con, +for I felt the absurdity of my situation, and of this abrupt proposal, +more than I was willing to suppose I did. Still, thought I, it is a +serious thing to refuse praying with this poor woman, because she is +poor--God is no respecter of person--this too is a Rosary to the Blessed +Virgin; besides, nothing can be too humbling for a person when once +engaged in this holy station--"So, pride, I trample you under my feet!" +said I to myself, at a moment when the appearance of a respectable +person on the road would have routed all my humility. I complied, +however, with a very condescending grace, and to it we went. The old +women pulled out their beads, and I got my hat, which had one of my +shoes in it, under my arm. They requested that I would open the Rosary, +which I did: and thus we kept tossing the ball of prayer from one to +another along the way, whilst I was bending and sinking on the hard +gravel in perfect agony. But we had not gone far, when the shower, which +we did not suppose would have fallen until we should reach the town, +began to descend with greater bounty than we were at all prepared for, +or than I was, at least; for I had no outside coat: but indeed the +morning was so beautiful, that rain was scarcely to be apprehended. With +respect to the old lady, she appeared to be better acquainted with the +necessary preparations for such a journey than I had been: for as soon +as the shower became heavy (and it fell very heavily), she whipped off +her cloak, and before I could say a syllable to the contrary, had it +pinned about me. She then drew out of a large four-cornered pocket +of red cloth, that hung at her side, a hare's-skin cap, which in +a twinkling was on her own cranium. But what was most singular, +considering the heat of the weather, was the appearance of an excellent +frieze jacket, such as porters and draymen usually wear, with two +outside pockets on the sides, into one of which she drove her arm up to +the elbow, and in the other hand carried her staff like a man--I thought +she wore the cap, too, a little to the one side on her head. Indeed, +a more ludicrous appearance could scarcely be conceived than she now +exhibited. I, on the other hand, cut an original figure, being six +feet high, with a short gray cloak pinned tightly about me, my black +cassimere small-clothes peeping below it--my long, yellow, polar legs, +unencumbered with calves, quite naked--a good hat over the cloak--but +no shoes on my feet, marching thus gravely upon my pilgrimage, with two +such figures! + +In this singular costume did we advance the rain all the time falling +in torrents. The town, however, was not far distant, and we arrived at +a little thatched house, where "dry lodgin'" was offered above the door, +both to "man and baste;" and never did an unfortunate group stand more +in need of dry lodging, for we were wet to the skin. On entering the +town, we met a carriage, in which were a gentleman and two ladies: I +chanced to be walking a little before the woman, but could perceive, by +casting a glance into the carriage, that they were in convulsions with +laughter; to which I have strong misgivings of having contributed in no +ordinary degree. But I felt more indignant at the wit, forsooth, of the +well-fed serving-man behind the coach, who should also have his joke +upon us; for as we passed, he turned to my companion, whom he addressed +as a male personage--"And why, you old villain, do you drive your cub to +the 'island' pinioned in such a manner,--give him the use of his +arms, you sinner!"--thus intimating that I was a booby son of her's +in leading-strings. The old lady looked at him with a very peculiar +expression of countenance; I thought she smiled, but never did a smile +appear to me so pregnant with bitterness and cursing scorn. "Ay," said +she, "there goes the well-fed heretic, that neither fasts nor prays--his +God is his belly--they have the fat of the land for the present, your +Reverence, but wait a bit. In the mane time, we had betther get in +here a little, till this shower passes--you see the sun's beginnin' to +brighten behind the rain, so it can't last long: and a bit of breakfast +will do none of us any harm." We then entered the house aforesaid, which +presented a miserable prospect for refreshment; but as I was in some +measure identified with my fellow-travelers, I could not with a good +grace give them up. I had not at the time the least experience of the +world, was incapable of that discrimination which guides some people, as +it were by instinct, in choosing their society, and had altogether but +a poor notion of the more refined decorum of life. When we got in, the +equivocal lady began to exercise some portion of authority. "Come," said +she, "here's a clargyman, and you had betther lose no time in gettin' +his Reverence his breakfast;" then, said, the civil creature to the +mistress, in the same kind of half audible tone-- + +"Avourneen, if you have anything comfortable, get it for him; he is +generous, an' will pay you well for it; a blessed crathur he is too, as +ever brought good luck under your roof; Lord love you, if ye hard him +discoursin' uz along the road, as if he was one of ourselves, so mild +and sweet! I'm sure I'll always have a good opinion of myself for +puttin' on the jacket this bout, at any rate, as I was able to spare his +Reverence the cloak, a-haygur! the mild crathur!" + +While my fellow traveller was thus talking, I had time to observe that +the woman of the house was a cleanly-looking creature, with something of +a sickly appearance. An old gray-headed man sat in something between a +chair and a stool, formed of one solid piece of ash, supported by three +legs sloping outwards; the seat of it was quite smooth by long use, and +a circular row of rungs, capped by a piece of semicircular wood, shaped +to receive the reclining body of whoever might occupy it, rose from the +seat in presumptuous imitation of an arm-chair. There were two other +chairs besides this, but the remainder of the seats were all stools. The +room was square, with a bed in each of the corners adjoining the fire, +covered with blue drugget quilts, stoutly quilted; there was another +room in which the travellers slept. Opposite me on the wall was the +appropriate picture of St. Patrick himself, with his crosier in hand, +driving all kinds of venomous reptiles out of the kingdom. The Hermit +of Killamey was on his right, and the Yarmouth Tragedy, or the dolorious +history of Jemmy and Nancy, two unfortunate lovers, on his left. Such is +the rigorous economy of a pilgrimage, and such is the circumstances of +the greater part of those who undertake it, that it is to houses of this +description the generality of them resort. These "dry lodging" houses +may not improperly be called Pilgrims' Inns, a great number of them +being opened only during the continuance of the three months in which +the stations are performed. + +Breakfast was now got ready, but it was evident that my two companions +had not been taken into account; for there was "an equipage" only for +one. I inquired from my speaking partner if she and her fellow-traveller +would not breakfast. The only reply I received was a sorrowful shake +of the head, and "Och, no, plaise your Reverence, no!" in quite an +exhausted cadence. On hearing this, the kind landlady gave them a look +of uncommon pity, exclaiming at the same time, as if in communication +with her own feelings, "Musha, God pity them, the poor crathurs; an +they surely can't but be both wake an ungry afther sich a journey, this +blessed an' broilin'day--och! och! if I had it or could afford it, an' +they shouldn't want, any way--arrah, won't ye thry and ate a bit of +something?" addressing herself to them. "Ooh, then, no, alanna, but I'd +just thank ye for a dhrink of cowld wather, if ye plase; an' that may +be the strengthenin' of us a bit." I saw at once that their own little +stock of provisions, if they really had any, was too scanty to allow the +simple creatures the indulgence of a regular meal; still I thought +they might, if they felt so very weak, have taken even the slightest +refreshment from their bags. However, I was bound in honor, and also in +charity, to give them their breakfast, which I ordered accordingly +for them both, it being, I considered, only fair that as we had prayed +together we should eat together. Whilst we were at breakfast, the +landlady, with a piece of foresight for which I afterwards thanked her, +warmed a pot of water, in which my feet were bathed; she then took out a +large three-cornered pincushion with tassels, which hung at her side, a +darning needle, and having threaded it, she drew a white woollen thread +several times along a piece of soap, pressing it down with her thumb +until it was quite soapy; this she drew very tenderly through the +blisters which were risen on my feet, cutting it at both ends, and +leaving a part of it in the blister. It is decidedly the best remedy +that ever was tried, for I can declare that during the remainder of my +pilgrimage, not one of these blisters gave me the least pain. + +When breakfast was over, and these kind attentions performed, we set out +once more; and from this place, I remarked, as we advanced, that an odd +traveller would fall in upon the way: so that before we had gone many +miles farther, the fatigue of the journey was much lessened by the +society of the pilgrims. These were now collected into little groups, of +from three to a dozen, each, with the exception of myself and one or +two others of a decenter cast, having the staff and bag. The chat and +anecdotes were, upon the whole, very amusing; but although there was a +great variety of feature, character, and costume among so many, as +must always be the case where people of different lives, habits, and +pursuits, are brought together; still I could perceive that there was a +shade of strange ruminating abstraction apparent on all. I could observe +the cheerful narrator relapse into a temporary gloom, or a fit of +desultory reflection, as some train of thought would suddenly rise +in his mind. I could sometimes perceive a shade of pain; perhaps of +anguish, darken the countenance of another, as if a bitter recollection +was awakened; yet this often changed, by an unexpected transition, to +a gleam of joy and satisfaction, as if a quick sense or hope of relief +flashed across his heart. + +When we came near Petigo, the field for observation was much enlarged. +The road was then literally alive with pilgrims, and reminded me, as far +as numbers were concerned, of the multitudes that flocked to market on +a fair-day. Petigo is a snug little town, three or four miles from the +lake, where the pilgrims all sleep on the night before the commencement +of their stations. When we were about five or six miles from it, the +road presented a singular variety of grouping. There were men and +women of all ages, from the sprouting devotee of twelve, to the hoary, +tottering pilgrim of eighty, creeping along, bent over his staff, to +perform this soul-saving work, and die. + +Such is the reverence in which this celebrated place is held, that as +we drew near it, I remarked the conversation to become slack; every face +put on an appearance of solemnity and thoughtfulness, and no man was +inclined to relish the conversation of his neighbor or to speak himself. +The very women were silent. Even the lassitude of the journey was +unfelt, and the unfledged pilgrim, as he looked up in his father's or +mother's face, would catch the serious and severe expression he saw +there, and trot silently on, forgetting that he was fatigued. + +For my part, I felt the spirit of the scene strongly, yet, perhaps, not +with such an exclusive interest as others. I had not only awe, terror, +enthusiasm, pride, and devotion to manage, but suffered heavy annoyance +from the inroad of a villanous curiosity which should thrust itself +among the statelier feelings of the occasion, and set all attempts to +restrain it at defiance. It was a sad bar to my devotions, which, +but for its intrusion, I might have conducted with more meritorious. +steadiness. How, for instance, was it possible for me to register the +transgressions of my whole life, heading them under the "seven deadly +sins," with such a prospect before me as the beautiful waters and shores +of Lough Erne? + +Despite of all the solemnity about me, my unmanageable eye would turn +from the very blackest of the seven deadly offences, and the stoutest +of the four cardinal virtues, to the beetling, abrupt, and precipitous +rocks which hung over the lake as if ready to tumble into its waters. I +broke away, too, from several "acts of contrition" to conjecture +whether the dark, shadowy inequalities which terminated the horizon, +and penetrated, methought, into the very skies far beyond the lake, were +mountains or clouds: a dark problem, which to this day I have not been +able to solve. Nay, I was taken twice, despite of the most virtuous +efforts to the contrary, from a _Salve Regina_, to watch a little skiff, +which shone with its snowy sail spread before the radiant evening sun, +and glided over the waters, like an angel sent on some happy-message. In +fact, I found my heart on the point of corruption, by indulging in what +I had set down in my vocabulary as the lust of the eye, and had some +faint surmise that I was plunging into obduracy. I accordingly made a +private mark with the nail of my thumb, on the "act of contrition" in my +prayer-book, and another on the _Salve Regina_, that I might remember +to confess for these devilish wanderings. But what all my personal piety +could not effect, a lucky turn in the road accomplished, by bringing me +from the view of the lake; and thus ended my temptations and my defeats +on these points. + +When we got into Petigo, we found the lodging-houses considerably +crowded. I contrived, however, to establish myself as well as another, +and in consequence of my black, dress and the garrulous industry of my +epicene companion, who stuck close to me all along, was treated with +more than common respect. And here I was deeply impressed with the +remarkable contour of many visages, which I had now a better opportunity +of examining than while on the road. There seemed every description of +guilt, and every degree of religious feeling, mingled together in the +same mass, and all more or less subdued by the same principle of abrupt +and gloomy abstraction. + +There was a little man dressed in a turned black coat, and drab +cassimere small-clothes, who struck me as a remarkable figure; his back +was long, his legs and thighs short and he walked on the edge of his +feet. He had a pale, sorrowful face, with bags hung under his eyes, +drooping eyelids, no beard, no brows, and no chin; for in the place of +the two latter, there was a slight frown where the brows ought to have +been, and a curve in the place of the chin, merely perceptible from the +bottom of his underlip to his throat. He wore his own hair, which was a +light bay, so that you could scarcely distinguish it from a wig. I was +given to understand that he was a religious tailor under three blessed +orders. + +There was another round-shouldered man, with black, twinkling eyes, +plump face, rosy cheeks, and nose twisted at the top. In his character, +humor appeared to be the predominant principle. He was evidently an +original, and, I am sure, had the knack of turning the ludicrous side +of every object towards him. His eye would roll about from one person to +another while fingering his beads, with an expression of humor something +like delight beaming from his fixed, steady countenance; and when +anything that would have been particularly worthy of a joke met his +glance, I could perceive a tremulous twinkle of the eye intimating his +inward enjoyment. I think still this jocular abstinence was to him the +severest part of the pilgrimage. I asked him was he ever at the "Island" +before; he peered into my face with a look that infected me with +risibility, without knowing why, shrugged up his shoulders, looked into +the fire, and said "No," with a dry emphatic cough after it--as much as +to say, you may apply my answer to the future as well as to the past. +Religion, I thought, was giving him up, or sent him here as a last +resource. He spoke to nobody. + +A little behind the humorist sat a very tall, thin, important-looking +personage, dressed in a shabby black coat; there was a cast of severity +and self-sufficiency in his face, which at once indicated him to be +a man of office and authority, little accustomed to have his own +will disputed. I was not wrong in my conjecture; he was a classical +schoolmaster, and was pompously occupied, when I first saw him, +reading through his spectacles, with his head raised aloft, the seven +Penitential Psalms in Latin, out of the Key of Paradise, to a circle +of women and children, along with two or three men in frieze coats, who +listened with profound attention. + +A little to the right of Syntax, were a man and woman--the man engaged +in teaching the woman a Latin charm against the colic, to which it seems +she was subject. Although they all, for the most part, who were in the +large room about us, prayed aloud, yet by fastening the attention on any +particular person, you could hear what he said. I therefore heard, the +words of this charm, and as my memory is not bad, I still remember them; +they ran thus: + +_Petrus sedebat super lapidem marmoreain juxta cedem Jerusalem et +dolebat, Jesus veniebat et rogabat "Petre, quid doles?" "Doleo vento +ventre." "Surge, Petre, et sanus esto." Et quicunque haec verba non +scripta sed memoriter tradita recitat nunquam dolebit vento ventre_. + +These are the words literally, but I need not say, that had the poor +woman sat there since, she would not have got them impressed on her +memory. + +There were also other countenances in which a man might almost read +the histories of their owners. Methought I could perceive the lurking, +unsubdued spirit of the battered rake, in the leer of his roving eye, +while he performed, in the teeth of his flesh, blood, and principles, +the delusive vow to which the shrinking spirit, at the approach of +death, on the bed of sickness, clung, as to its salvation; for it was +evident that superstition had only exacted from libertinism what fear +and ignorance had promised her. + +I could note the selfish, griping miser, betraying his own soul, and +holding a false promise to his heart, as with lank jaw, keen eye, and +brow knit with anxiety for the safety of his absent wealth, he joined +some group, sager if possible to defraud them even of the benefit of +their prayers, and attempting to practise that knavery upon heaven which +had been so successful upon earth. + +I could see the man of years, I thought, withering away under the +disconsolation of an ill-spent life, old without peace, and gray without +wisdom, flattering himself that he is religious because he prays, +and making a merit of offering to God that which Satan had rejected; +thinking, too, that he has withdrawn from sin, because the ability +of committing it has left him, and taking credit for subduing his +propensities, although they have only died in his nature. + +I could mark, too, I fancied, the stiff, set features of the pharisee, +affecting to instruct others, that he might show his own superiority, +and descanting on the merits of works, that his hearers might know he +performed them himself. + +I could also observe the sly, demure over-doings of the hypocrite, and +mark the deceitful lines of grave meditation running along that part +of his countenance where in others the front of honesty lies open and +expanded. I could trace him when he got beyond his depth, where the want +of sincerity in religion betrayed his ignorance of its forms. I could +note the scowling, sharp-visaged bigot, wrapt up in the nice observance +of trifles, correcting others, if the object of their supplications +embraced anything within a whole hemisphere of heresy, and not so much +happy because he thought himself the way of salvation, as because he +thought others out of it--a consideration which sent pleasure tingling +to his fingers' ends. + +But notwithstanding all this, I noticed, through the gloom of the place, +many who were actuated by genuine, unaffected piety, from whom charity +and kindness beamed forth through all the disadvantages around them. +Such people, for the most part, prayed in silence and alone. Whenever +I saw a man or woman anxious to turn away their faces, and separate +themselves from the flocks of gregarious babblers, I seldom failed to +witness the outpouring of a contrite spirit. I have certainly seen, in +several instances, the tear of heartfelt repentance bedew the sinner's +cheek. I observed one peculiarly interesting female who struck me +very much. In personal beauty she was very lovely--her form perfectly +symmetrical, and she evidently belonged to rather a better order of +society. Her dress was plain, though her garments were by no means +common. She could scarcely be twenty, and yet her face told a tale of +sorrow, of deep, wasting, desolating sorrow. As the prayers, hymns, and +religious conversations which wont on, were peculiar to the place, time, +and occasion--it being near the hour of rest:--she probably did not +feel that reluctance in going to pray in presence of so many which she +otherwise would have felt. She kept her eye on a certain female who had +a remote dusky corner to pray in, and the moment she retired from it, +this young creature went up and there knelt down. But what a contrast to +the calm, unconscious, and insipid mummery which went on at the moment +through the whole room! Her prayer was short, and she had neither book +nor beads; but the heavings of her bosom, and her suppressed sobs, +sufficiently proclaimed her sincerity. Her petition, indeed, seemed to +go to heaven from a broken heart. When it was finished, she remained a +few moments on her knees, and dried her eyes with her handkerchief. As +she rose up, I could mark the modest, timid glance, and the slight +blush as she presented herself again amongst the company, where all were +strangers. I thought she appeared, though in the midst of such a number, +to be woefully and pitiably alone. + +As for my own companion, she absolutely made the grand tour of all the +praying knots on the promises, having taken a very tolerable bout with +each. There were two qualities in which she shone preeminent--voice and +distinctness; for she gave by far the loudest and most monotonous chant. +Her visage also was remarkable, for her complexion resembled the dark, +dingy red of a winter apple. She had a pair of very piercing black eyes, +with which, while kneeling with her body thrown back upon her heels as +if they were a cushion, she scrutinized, at her ease, every one in the +room, rocking herself gently from side to side. The poor creature paid +a marked attention to the interesting young woman I have just mentioned. +At last, they dropped off one by one to bed, that they might be up early +the next morning for the Lough, with the exception of some half-dozen, +more long-winded than the rest whose voices I could hear at their sixth +rosary, in the rapid elevated tone peculiar to Catholic devotion, until +I fell asleep. + +The next morning, when I awoke, I joined with all haste the aggregate +crowd that proceeded in masses towards the lake--or Purgatory--which +lies amongst the hills that extend to the north-east of Petigo. While +ascending the bleak, hideous mountain range, whose ridge commands a full +view of this celebrated scene of superstition, the manner and appearance +of the pilgrims were deeply interesting. Such groupings as pressed +forward around me would have made line studies either for him who wished +to deplore or to ridicule the degradations and absurdities of human +nature; indeed there was an intense interest in the scene. I look +back at this moment with awe towards the tremulous and high-strained +vibrations of my mind, as it responded to the excitement. Reader, have +you ever approached the Eternal City? have you ever, from the dreary +solitudes of the Campagna, seen the dome of St. Peter's for the first +time? and have the monuments of the greatest men and the mightiest deeds +that ever the earth witnessed--have the names of the Caesars, and the +Catos, and the Scipios, excited a curiosity amounting to a sensation +almost too intense to be borne? I think I can venture to measure the +expansion of your mind, as it enlarged itself before the crowding +visions of the past, as the dim grandeur of ages rose up and developed +itself from amidst the shadows of time; and entranced amidst the magic +of your own associations, you desired to stop--you were almost content +to go no farther--your own Rome, you were in the midst of--Rome +free--Rome triumphant--Rome classical. And perhaps it is well you +awoke in good time from your shadowy dream, to escape from the unvaried +desolation and the wasting malaria that brooded all around. Reader, I +can fancy that such might have been your sensations when the domes +and the spires of the world's capital first met your vision; and I can +assure you, that while ascending the ridge that was to give me a view of +Patrick's Purgatory, my sensations were as impressively, as powerfully +excited. For I desire you to recollect, that the welfare of your +immortal soul was not connected with your imaginings, your magnificent +visions did not penetrate into the soul's doom. You were not submitted +to the agency, of a transcendental power. You were, in a word, a poet, +but not a fanatic. What comparison, then, could there be between the +exercise of your free, manly, cultivated understanding, and my feelings +on this occasion, with my thick-coming visions of immortality, that +almost lifted me from the mountain-path I was ascending, and brought me, +as it were, into contact with the invisible world? I repeat it, then, +that such were my feelings, when all the faculties which exist in the +mind were aroused and concentrated upon one object. In such a case, +the pilgrim stands, as it were, between life and death; and as it was +superstition that placed him there, she certainly conjures up to his +heated fancy those dark, fleeting, and indistinct images which are +adjusted to that gloom which she has already cast over his mind. +Although there could not be less than two hundred people, young and old, +boys and girls, men and women, the hale and the sickly, the blind and +the lame, all climbing to gain the top with as little delay as possible, +yet was there scarcely a sound, certainly not a word, to be heard among +them. For my part, I plainly heard the palpitations of my heart, both +loud and quick. Had I been told that the veil of eternity was about +to be raised before me at that moment, I could scarcely have felt more +intensely. Several females were obliged to rest for some time, in order +to gain both physical and moral strength--one fainted; and several old +men were obliged to sit down. All were praying, every crucifix was out, +every bead in requisition; and nothing broke a silence so solemn but a +low, monotonous murmur of deep devotion. + +As soon as we ascended the hill, the whole scene was instantly before +us: a large lake, surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains, bleak, +uncomfortable, and desolate. In the lake itself, about half a mile from +the edge next us, was to be seen the "Island," with two or three slated +houses on it, naked and un-plastered, as desolate-looking almost as the +mountains. A little range of exceeding low hovels, which a dwarf could +scarcely enter without stooping, appeared to the left; and the eye could +rest on nothing more, except a living mass of human beings crawling +slowly about. The first thing the pilgrim does when he gets a sight of +the lake, is to prostrate himself, kiss the earth, and then on his +knees offer up three Paters and Aves, and a Creed for the favor of being +permitted to see this blessed place. When this is over, he descends to +the lake, and after paying tenpence to the ferry-man, is rowed over to +the Purgatory. + +When the whole view was presented to me, I stood for some time to +contemplate it; I cannot better illustrate the reaction which, took +place in my mind, than by saying that it resembles that awkward +inversion which a man's proper body experiences when, on going to pull +something from which he expects a marvellous assistance, it comes with +him at a touch, and the natural consequence is, that he finds his head +down and his heels up. That which dashed the whole scene from the +dark elevation in which the romance of devotion had placed it was the +appearance of slated houses, and of the smoke that curled from the +hovels and the prior's residence. This at once brought me back to +humanity: and the idea of roasting meat, boiling pots, and dressing +dinners, dispossessed every fine and fearful image which had floated +through my imagination for the last twelve hours. In fact, allowing for +the difference of situation, it nearly resembled John's Well, or James's +Fair, when beheld at a distance, turning the slated houses into inns, +and the hovels into tents. A certain idea, slight, untraceable, and +involuntary, went over my brain on that occasion, which, though it did +not then cost me a single effort of reflection, I think was revived +and developed at a future period of my life, and became, perhaps to a +certain extent, the means of opening a wider range of thought to my +mind, and of giving a new tone to my existence. Still, however, +nothing except my idea of its external appearance disappointed, me; I +accordingly ascended with the rest, and in a short time found myself +among the living mass upon the island. + +The first thing I did was to hand over my three cakes of oaten bread +which I had got made in Petigo, tied up in a handkerchief, as well as +my hat and second shirt, to the care of the owner of one of the, huts: +having first, by the way, undergone a second prostration on touching the +island, and greeted it with fifteen holy kisses, and another string +of prayers. I then, according to the regulations, should commence the +stations, lacerated as my feet were after so long a journey; so that I +had not a moment to rest. Think, therefore, what I must have suffered, +on surrounding a large chapel, in the direction of from east to west, +over a pavement of stone spikes, every one of them making its way along +my nerves and muscles to my unfortunate brain. I was absolutely stupid +and dizzy with the pain, the praying, the jostling, the elbowing, the +scrambling and the uncomfortable penitential murmurs of the whole crowd. +I knew not what I was about, but went through the forms in the same +mechanical spirit which pervaded all present. As for that solemn, +humble, and heartfelt sense of God's presence, which Christian prayer +demands, its existence in the mind would not only be a moral but +a physical impossibility in Lough Derg. I verily think that if +mortification of the body, without conversion of the life or heart--if +penance and not repentance could save the soul, no wretch who performed +a pilgrimage here could with a good grace be damned. Out of hell the +place is matchless, and if there be a purgatory in the other world, it +may very well be said there is a fair rehearsal of it in the county of +Donegal in Ireland. + +When I commenced my station, I started from what is called the "Beds," +and God help St. Patrick if he lay upon them: they are sharp stones +placed circularly in the earth, with the spike ends of them up, one +circle within another; and the manner in which the pilgrim gets as far +as the innermost, resembles precisely that in which school-boys enter +the "Walls of Troy" upon their slates. I moved away from these upon +the sharp stones with which the whole island is surfaced, keeping the +chapel, or "Prison," as it is called, upon my right; then turning, I +came round again with a circumbendibus, to the spot from which I +set out. During this circuit, as well as I can remember, I repeated +fifty-five paters and aves, and five creeds, or five decades; and be it +known, that the fifty prayers were offered up to the Virgin Mary, and +the odd five to God! I then commenced getting round the eternal beds, +during which I repeated, I think, fifteen paters and aves more; and as +the bods decreased in circumference, the prayers decreased in length, +until a short circuit and three paters and aves finished the last and +innermost of these blessed couches. I really forgot how many times each +day the prison and these beds are to be surrounded, and how many hundred +prayers are to be repeated during the circuit, though each circuit is in +fact making the grand tour of the island; but I never shall forget that +I was the best part of a July day at it, when the soles of my feet were +flayed, and the stones hot enough to broil a beefsteak! When the first +day's station was over, it is necessary to say that a little rest would +have been agreeable? But no, this would not suit the policy of the +place; here it may be truly said that there is no rest for the wicked. +The only luxury allowed me was the privilege of feasting upon one of my +cakes (having not tasted food that blessed day until then); upon one of +my cakes, I say, and a copious supply of the water of the lake, which, +to render the repast more agreeable, was made lukewarm! This was to keep +my spirits up after the delicate day's labor I had gone through, and to +cheer me against the pleasant prospect of a hard night's praying without +sleep, which lay in the back ground! But when I saw everyone at this +refreshing meal with a good, thick, substantial bannock, and then looked +at the immateriality of my own, I could not help reverting to the woman +who made them for me, with a degree of vivacity not altogether in unison +with the charity of a Christian. The knavish creature defrauded me of +one-half of the oatmeal, although I had purchased it myself in Petigo +for the occasion; being determined that as I was only to get two meals +in the three days, they should be such as a person could fast upon. +Never was there a man more bitterly disappointed; for they were not +thicker than crown-pieces, and I searched for them in my mouth to no +purpose--the only thing like substance I could feel there was the warm +water. At last, night came; but here to describe the horrors of what I +suffered I hold myself utterly inadequate. I was wedged in a shake-down +bed with seven others, one of whom was a Scotch Papist--another a man +with a shrunk leg, who wore a crutch--all afflicted with that disease +which northern men that feed on oatmeal are liable to; and then the +swarms that fell upon my poor young skin, and probed, and stung, and +fed on me! it was pressure and persecution almost insupportable, and yet +such was my fatigue that sleep even here began to weigh down my eyelids. + +I was just on the point of enjoying a little rest, when a man ringing +a large hand-bell, came round crying out in a low, supernatural growl, +which could be heard double the distance of the loudest shout--"Waken +up, waken up, and come to the prison!" The words were no sooner out of +his mouth, than there was a sudden start, and a general scramble in the +dark for our respective garments. When we got dressed, we proceeded to +the waters of the lake, in which we washed our face and hands, repeating +prayers during the ablution. This to me was the most impressive and +agreeable part of the whole station. The night, while we were in bed, +or rather in torture, had become quite stormy, and the waves of the lake +beat against the shore with the violence of an agitated sea. There was +just sufficient moon to make the "darkness visible," and to show the +black clouds drifting with rapid confusion, in broken masses, over our +heads. This, joined to the tossing of the billows against the shore--the +dark silent groups that came, like shadows, stooping for a moment over +the surface of the waters, and retreating again in a manner which the +severity of the night rendered necessarily quick, raising thereby in the +mind the idea of gliding spirits--then the preconceived desolation +of the surrounding scenery--the indistinct shadowy chain of dreary +mountains which, faintly relieved by the lurid sky, hemmed in the +lake--the silence of the forms, contrasted with the tumult of the +elements about us--the loneliness of the place--its isolation and +remoteness from the habitations of men--all this put together, joined +to the feeling of deep devotion in which I was wrapped, had really a +sublime effect upon me. Upon the generality of those who were there, +blind to the natural beauty and effect of the hour and the place, and +viewing it only through the medium of superstitious awe, it was indeed +calculated to produce the notion of something not belonging to the +circumstance and reality of human life. + +From this scene we passed to one, which, though not characterized by its +dark, awful beauty, was scarcely inferior to it in effect. It was called +the "Prison," and it is necessary to observe here, that every pilgrim +must pass twenty-four hours in this place, kneeling, without food or +sleep, although one meal of bread and warm water, and whatever sleep he +could get in Petigo with seven in a bed, were his allowance of food and +sleep during the twenty-four hours previous. I must here beg the good +reader's attention for a moment, with, reference to our penance in the +"Prison." Let us consider how the nature of this pilgrimage: it must be +performed on foot, no matter what the distance of residence (allowing +for voyages)--the condition of life--the age or the sex of the pilgrim +may be. Individuals from France, from America, England, and Scotland, +visit it--as voluntary devotees, or to perform an act of penance for +some great crime, or perhaps to atone for a bad life in general. It is +performed, too, in the dead heat of summer, when labor is slack, and the +lower orders have sufficient leisure to undertake it; and, I may add, +when travelling on foot is most fatiguing; they arrive, therefore, +without a single exception, blown and jaded almost to death. The first +thing they do, notwithstanding this, is to commence the fresh rigors of +the station, which occupies them several hours. This consists in what +I have already described, viz., the pleasant promenade upon the stony +spikes around the prison and the "beds;" that over, they take their +first and only meal for the day; after which, as in my own case just +related, they must huddle themselves in clusters, on what is barefacedly +called a bed, but which is nothing more nor less than a beggarman's +shakedown, where the smell, the heat, the filth, and above all, the +vermin, are intolerable to the very farthest stretch of the superlative +degree. As soon as their eyes begin to close here, they are roused +by the bell-man, and summoned at the hour of twelve--first washing +themselves as aforesaid, in the lake, and then adjourning to the prison +which I am about to describe. There is not on earth, with the exception +of pagan rites,--and it is melancholy to be compelled to compare any +institution of the Christian religion with a Juggernaut,--there is not +on earth, I say, a regulation of a religious nature, more barbarous +and inhuman than this. It has destroyed thousands since its +establishment--has left children without parents, and parents childless. +It has made wives widows, and torn from the disconsolate husband the +mother of his children; and is itself the monster which St. Patrick is +said to have destroyed in the place--a monster, which is a complete and +significant allegory of this great and destructive superstition. +But what is even worse than death, by stretching the powers of human +sufferance until the mind cracks under them, it is said sometimes +to return these pitiable creatures maniacs--exulting in the laugh +of madness, or sunk for ever in the incurable apathy of religious +melancholy. I mention this now, to exhibit the purpose for which these +calamities are turned to account, and the dishonesty which is +exercised over these poor, unsuspecting people, in consequence of their +occurrence. The pilgrims, being thus aroused at midnight are sent to +prison; and what think you is the impression under which they enter it? +one indeed, which, when we consider their bodily weakness and mental +excitement, must do its work with success. It is this: that as soon as +they enter the prison a supernatural tendency to sleep will come over +them, which, they say, is peculiar to the place; that this is an emblem +of the influence of sin over the soul, and a type of their future fate; +that if they resist this they will be saved; but if they yield to it, +they will not only be damned in the next world, but will go mad, or +incur some immediate and dreadful calamity in this. Is it any wonder +that a weak mind and exhausted body, wrought upon by these bugbears, +should induce upon by itself, by its own terrors, the malady of +derangement? We know that nothing acts so strongly and so fatally upon +reason, as an imagination diseased by religious terrors: and I regret +to say, that I had upon that night an opportunity of witnessing a fatal +instance of it. + +After having washed ourselves in the dark waters of the lake, we entered +this famous prison, which is only a naked, unplastered chapel, with +an altar against one of the sides and two galleries. On entering this +place, a scene presented itself altogether unparalleled on the earth, +and in every point of view capable to sustain the feelings raised in the +mind by the midnight scenery of the lake as seen during the ablutions. +The prison was full, but not crowded; for had it been crowded, we would +have been happy. It was, however, just sufficiently filled to give every +individual the pleasure of sustaining himself, without having it in his +power to recline for a moment in an attitude of rest, or to change that +most insupportable of all bodily suffering, uniformity of position. +There we knelt upon a hard ground floor, and commenced praying; and +again I must advert to the policy which prevails in this island. +During the period of imprisonment, there are no prescribed prayers nor +ceremonies whatever to be performed, and this is the more strange, as +every other stage of the station has its proper devotions. But these are +suspended here, lest the attention of the prisoners might be fixed on +any particular object, and the supernatural character of drowsiness +imputed to the place be thus doubted--they are, therefore, turned in +without anything to excite them to attention or to resist the propensity +to sleep occasioned by their fatigue and want of rest Having thus +nothing to do, nothing to sustain, nothing to stimulate them, it is very +natural that they should, even if unexhausted by previous lassitude, be +inclined to sleep; but everything that can weigh them down is laid upon +them in this heavy and oppressive superstition, that the strong delusion +may be kept up. + +On entering the prison, I was struck with the dim religious twilight +of the place. Two candles gleamed faintly from the altar, and there was +something I thought of a deadly light about them, as they burned feebly +and stilly against the darkness which hung over the other part of the +building. Two priests, facing the congregation, stood upon the altar in +silence, with pale spectral visages, their eyes catching an unearthly +glare from the sepulchral light of the slender tapers. But that which +was strangest of all, and, as I said before, without a parallel in +this world, was the impression and effect produced by the deep, drowsy, +hollow, hoarse, guttural, ceaseless, and monotonous hum, which proceeded +from about four hundred individuals, half asleep and at prayer; for +their cadences were blended and slurred into each other, as they +repeated, in an awe-struck and earnest undertone, the prayers in which +they were engaged. It was certainly the strangest sound I ever heard, +and resembled a thousand subterraneous groans, uttered in a kind of low, +deep, unvaried chant. Nothing could produce a sense of gloomy alarm in +a weak superstitious mind equal to this; and it derived much of its wild +and singular character, as well as of its lethargic influence, from its +continuity; for it still--still rung lowly and supernaturally on my ear. +Perhaps the deep, wavy prolongation of the bass of a large cathedral +bell, or that low, continuous sound, which is distinct from its higher +and louder intonations, would give a faint notion of it, yet only a +faint one; for the body of hoarse monotony here was immense. Indeed, +such a noise had something so powerfully lulling, that human nature, +even excited by the terrible suggestions of superstitious fear, was +scarcely able to withstand it. + +Now the poor pilgrims forget, that this strong disposition to sleep +arises from the weariness produced by their long journeys--by the +exhausting penance of the station, performed without giving them time +to rest--by the other still more natural consequence of not giving +them time to sleep--by the drowsy darkness of the chapel--and by the +heaviness caught from the low peculiar murmur of the pilgrims, which +would of itself overcome the lightest spirit. I was here but a very +short time when I began to doze, and just as my chin was sinking +placidly on my breast, and the words of an Ave Maria dying upon my +lips, I felt the charm all at once broken by a well-meant rap upon the +occiput, conferred through the instrumentality of a little angry-looking +squat urchin of sixty years, and a remarkably good black-thorn cudgel, +with which he was engaged in thwacking the heads of such sinners, as, +not having the dread of insanity and the regulations of the place before +their eyes, were inclined to sleep. I declare the knock I received +told to such a purpose on my head, that nothing occurred during the +pilgrimage that vexed me so much. + +After all, I really slept the better half of the night; yet so +indescribably powerful was the apprehension of derangement, that my +hypocritical tongue wagged aloud at the prayers, during these furtive +naps. Nay, I not only slept but dreamed. I experienced also that +singular state of being, in which, while the senses are accessible +to the influence of surrounding objects, the process of thought is +suspended, the man seems to enjoy an inverted existence, in which the +soul sleeps, and the body remains awake and susceptible of external +impressions. I once thought I was washing myself in the lake, and that +the dashing noise of its waters rang in my ears: I also fancied myself +at home in conversation with my friends; yet, in neither case, did I +altogether forget where I was. Still in struggling to bring my mind +back, so paramount was the dread of awaking deranged should I fall +asleep, that these occasional visions--associating themselves with this +terror--and this again broken in upon by the hoarse murmurs about me, +throwing their dark shades on every object that passed my imagination, +the force of reason being too vague at the moment; these occasional +visions I say, and this jumbling together of broken images and +disjointed thoughts, had such an effect upon me, that I imagined several +times that the awful penalty was exacted, and that my reason was gone +for ever. I frequently started, and on seeing two dim lights upon the +altar, and on hearing the ceaseless and eternal murmurs going on--going +on--around me, without being immediately able to ascribe them to their +proper cause, I set myself down as a lost man; for on that terror I +was provokingly clear during the whole night. I more than once gave an +involuntary groan or shriek, on finding myself in this singular state; +so did many others, and these groans and shrieks were wildly and +fearfully contrasted with the never-ending hum, which, like the +ceaseless noise of a distant waterfall, went on during the night. The +perspiration occasioned by this inconceivable distress, by the heat of +the place, and by the unchangeableness of my position, flowed profusely +from every core. About two o'clock in the morning an unhappy young man, +either in a state of lethargic indifference, or under the influence +of these sudden paroxysms, threw himself, or fell from one of the +galleries, and was so shattered by the fall that he died next day at +twelve o'clock,--and, what was not much to the credit of the clergymen +on the island--without the benefit of the clergy; for I saw a priest +with his stole and box of chrism finishing off his extreme unction when +he was quite dead. This is frequently done in the Church of Rome, under +a hope that life may not be utterly extinct, and that consequently the +final separation of the soul and body may not have taken place. + +In this prison, during the night, several persons go about with rods and +staves, rapping those on the head whom they see heavy; snuff-boxes +also go around very freely, elbows are jogged, chins chucked, and ears +twitched, for the purpose of keeping each other awake. The rods and +staves are frequently changed from hand to hand, and I thought it would +be a lucky job if I could get one for a little, to enable me to change +my position. I accordingly asked a man who had been a long time banging +in this manner, if he would allow me to take his place for some time, +and he was civil enough to do so. I therefore set out on my travels +through the prison, rapping about me at a great rate, and with +remarkable effect; for, whatever was the cause of it, I perceived that +not a soul seemed the least inclined to doze after a visit from me; on +the contrary, I observed several to scratch their heads, giving me at +the same time significant looks of very sincere thankfulness. + +But what I am convinced was the most meritorious act of my whole +pilgrimage, as it was certainly the most zealously performed, was a +remembrance I gave the squat fellow, who visited me in the early part +of the night. He was engaged, tooth and nail, with another man, at a _De +Profundis_, and although not asleep at the time, yet on the principle +that prevention is better than cure, I thought it more prudent to +let him have his rap before the occasion for it might come on: he +accordingly got full payment, at compound interest, for the villanous +knock he had lent me before. + +This employment stirred my blood a little, and I got much lighter. I +could now pay some attention to the scene about me, and the first object +that engaged it was a fellow with a hare-lip, who had completely taken +the lead at prayer. The organs of speech seemed to have been transferred +from his mouth to his nose, and, although Irish was his vernacular +language, either some fool or knave had taught him to say his prayers in +English: and you may take this as an observation founded on fact, +that the language which a Roman Catholic of the lower class does not +understand, is the one in which it is disposed to pray. As for him he +had lots of English prayers, though he was totally ignorant of that +language. The twang from the nose, the loud and rapid tone in which he +spoke, and the malaproprian happiness with which he travestied every +prayer he uttered, would have compelled any man to smile. The priests +laughed outright before the whole congregation, particularly one of +them, whom I well knew; the other turned his face towards the altar, and +leaning over a silver pix, in which, according to their own tenets, the +Redeemer of the world must have been at that moment, as it contained +the consecrated wafers, gave full vent to his risibility. Now it is +remarkable that no one present attached the slightest impropriety to +this--I for one did not; although it certainly occurred to me with full +force at a subsequent period. + +When morning came, the blessed light of the sun broke the leaden charm +of the prison, and infused into us a wonderful portion of fresh vigor. +This day being the second from our arrival, we had our second station to +perform, and consequently all the sharp spikes to re-traverse. We were +not permitted at all to taste food during these twenty-four hours, so +that our weakness was really very great. I beg leave, however, to return +my special acknowledgments for the truly hospitable allowance of wine +with which I, in common with every other pilgrim, was treated. This +wine is made by filling a large pot with the lake water, and making it +lukewarm. It is then handed round in jugs and wooden noggins--to their +credit be it recorded--in the greatest possible abundance. On this alone +I breakfasted, dined, and supped, during the second or prison day of my +pilgrimage. + +At twelve o'clock that night we left prison, and made room for another +squadron, who gave us their kennels. Such a luxury was sleep to me, +however, that I felt not the slightest inconvenience from the vermin, +though I certainly made a point to avoid the Scotchman and the cripple. +On the following day I confessed; and never was an unfortunate soul so +grievously afflicted with a bad memory as I was on that occasion--the +whole thing altogether, but particularly the prison scene, had knocked +me up, I could not therefore remember a tithe of my sins; and the +priest, poor man, had really so much to do, and was in such a hurry, +that he had me clean absolved before I had got half through the preface, +or knew what I was about. I then went with a fresh batch to receive the +sacrament, which I did from the hands of the good-natured gentleman who +enjoyed so richly the praying talents of the hare-lipped devotee in the +prison. + +I cannot avoid mentioning here a practice peculiar to Roman Catholics, +which consists in an exchange of one or more prayers, by a stipulation +between two persons: I offer up a pater and ave for you, and you +again for me. It is called swapping or exchanging prayers. After I had +received the sacrament, I observed a thin, sallow little man, with a +pair of beads, as long as himself, moving from knot to knot, but never +remaining long in the same place. At last he glided up to me, and in a +whisper asked me if I knew him. I answered in the negative. "Oh, then, a +lanna, ye war never here before?" "Never." "Oh, I see that, acushla, you +would a known me if you had: well then, did ye never hear of Sol Donnel, +the pilgrim?" + +"I never did," I replied, "but are we not all pilgrims while here?" + +"To be sure, aroon, but I'm a pilgrim every place else, you see, as well +as here, my darlin' sweet young man." + +"Then you're a pilgrim by profession?" + +"That's it, asthore machree; everybody that comes here the second time, +sure, knows Sol Donnel, the blessed pilgrim." + +"In that case it was impossible for me to know you, as I was-never here +before." + +"Acushla, I know that, but a good beginnin' are ye makin' of it--an' at +your time of life too; but, avick, it must prosper wid ye, comin' here I +mane." + +"I hope it may." "Well yer parents isn't both livin' it's likely?" +"No." "Aye! but yell jist not forget that same, ye see; I b'lieve I sed +so--your father dead, I suppose?" "No, my mother." "Your mother; well, +avick, I didn't say that for a sartinty; but still, you see, avourneen, +maybe somebody could a tould ye it was the mother, forhaps, afther +all." "Did you know them?" I asked. "You see, a lanna, I can't say that, +without first hearin' their names." "My name is B------." "An' a dacent +bearable name it is, darlin'. Is yer father of them da-cent people, the +B------s of Newtownlimavady, ahagur!" "Not that I know of." "Oh, well, +well, it makes no maxim between you an' me, at all, at all; but the Lord +mark you to grace, any how; it's a dacent name sure enough, only if yer +mother was livin', it's herself 'ud be the proud woman, an' well she +might, to see such a clane, promisin' son steppin' home to her from +Lough Derg." "Indeed I'm obliged to you," said I; "I protest I'm obliged +to you, for your good opinion of me." "It's nothin' but what ye desarve, +avick! an' more nor that--yer the makin's of a clargy I'm guessin'?" "I +am," said I, "surely designed for that." "Oh, I knew it, I knew it, +it's in your face; you've the sogarth in yer very face; an' well will ye +become the robes when ye get them on ye: sure, an' to tell you the truth +(in a whisper, stretching up his mouth to my ear), I feel my heart warm +towardst you, somehow." "I declare I feel much the same towards you," +I returned, for the fellow in spite of me was gaining upon my good +opinion; "you are a decent, civil soul." "An' for that raison, and for +your dacent mother's sake (_sobies-coat inpassy, amin_), (* Requiescat +in pace.) I'll jist here offer up the _gray profungus_ (* De profundis) +for the release of her sowl out o' the burning flames of pur-gathur." I +really could not help shuddering at this. He then repeated a psalm for +that purpose, the 130th in our Bible, but the 129th in theirs. When it +was finished, with all due gesticulation, that is to say, having thumped +his breast with great violence, kissed the ground, and crossed himself +repeatedly, he says to me, like a man confident that he had paved his +way to my good graces, "Now, avick, as we _did_ do so much, you're the +very darlin' young man that I won't lave, widout the best, maybe, that's +to come yet, ye see; bekase I'll swap a prayer wid you, this blessed +minute." "I'm very glad you mentioned it," said I. "But you don't know, +maybe, darlin', that I'm undher five ordhers." "Dear me! is it possible +you're under so many?" "Undher five ordhers, acushla!"--"Well," I +replied, "I am ready."--"Undher five ordhers--but I'll lave it to +yourself; only when it's over, maybe, ye'll hear somethin' from me +that'll make you thankful you ever gave me silver any way." + +By this time I saw his drift: but he really had managed his point so +dexterously--not forgetting the De profundis--that I gave him tenpence +in silver: he pocketed it with great alacrity, and was at the prayer +in a twinkling, which he did offer up in prime,style--five paters, five +aves, and a creed, whilst I set the same number to his credit. When we +had finished, he made me kneel down to receive his blessing, which he +gave in great form:--"Now," said he, in a low, important tone, "I'm +goin' to show you a thing that'll make you bless the born day you ever +seen my face; and it's this--did ye ever hear of the blessed Thirty +Days' Prayer?"* "I can't say I did." "Well, avick, in good time still; +but there's a blessed book, if you can get it, that has a prayer in it, +named the Thirty Bays' Prayer, an' if ye jist repate that same, every +day for thirty days fastin', there's no request ye'll ax from heaven, +good, bad, or indifferent, but ye'll get. And now do you begrudge +givin'me what I got?" "Not a bit," said I, "and I'll certainly look +for the book." "No, no, the darlin' fine young man," soliloquizing +aloud--"Well and well did I know you wouldn't, nor another along wid +it--sensible and learned as ye are, to know the blessed worth of what +ye got for it; not makin', at the same time, any comparishment at all at +all atween it and the dirty thrash of riches of this earth, that every +wan has their heart fixed upon--exceptin' them that the Lord gives the +larnin' an' the edication to, to know betther." + + * There is such a prayer, and I have often seen it in + Catholic Prayer-books. + +Oh, flattery! flattery! and a touch of hypocrisy on my part! Between ye, +did ye make another lodgment on my purse, which was instantly lightened +by an additional bank token, value tenpence, handed over to this +sugar-tongued old knave. When he Pocketed this, he shook me cordially +by the band, bidding me "not to forgit the Thirty Days' Prayer, at any +rate." He then glided off with his small, sallow face, stuck between his +little shrugged shoulders, fingering his beads, and praying audibly with +great apparent fervor, whilst his little keen eye was reconnoitering for +another pigeon. In the course of a few minutes, I saw him lead a large, +soft, warm-looking, countryman, over to a remote corner, and enter into +an earnest conversation with him, which, I could perceive, ended by +their both kneeling down, I suppose, to swap a prayer; and I have no +doubt but he lightened the honest countryman's purse, as well as mine. + +On the third day I was determined, if possible, to leave it early; so +I performed my third and last station round the chapel and the beds, +reduced to such a state of weakness and hunger, that the coats of my +stomach must have been rubbing against each other; my feet were quite +shapeless. I therefore made the shortest circuit and the longest strides +possible, until I finished it. + +I witnessed this day, immediately before my departure from this gloomy +and truly purgatorial settlement, a scene of some interest. A priest was +standing before the door of the dwelling-house, giving tickets to such +as were about to confess, this being a necessary point. When he had +despatched them all, I saw an old man and his son approach him, the man +seemingly sixty, the boy about fourteen. They had a look of peculiar +decency, but were thin and emaciated, even beyond what the rigor of +their penance here could produce. The youth tottered with weakness, and +the old man supported him with much difficulty. It is right to mention +here, that this pilgrimage was performed in a season when sickness and +famine prevailed fearfully in this kingdom. They advanced up to the +priest to pay their money on receiving the tickets; he extended his palm +from habit, but did not speak. The old man had some silver in his hand; +and as he was about to give it to the priest, I saw the child look up +beseechingly in his father's face, whilst an additional paleness came +over his own, and his eyes filled with tears. The father saw and felt +the appeal of the child, and hesitated; the priest's arm was still +extended, his hand open:--"Would you, sir," said the old man, addressing +the priest, "be good enough to hear a word from me?" "For what?" replied +the priest, in a sharp tone. "Why, sir," answered the old man, "I am +very much distressed." "Ay--it is the common story! Come, pay the money; +don't you see I've no time to lose?" "I won't detain you a minute, sir," +said the man; "this child"----"You want to keep the money, then? that's +your object; down with it on the instant, and begone." + +The old man dropped it into the priest's hand, in a kind of start, +produced by the stern tone of voice in which he was addressed. When the +priest got the money he seemed in a better humor, not wishing, I could +see, to send the man away with a bad impression of him. "Well, now +what's that you were going to say to me?" "Why, sir," resumed the old +man, "that I have not a penny in my possession behind what I have just +now put into your hand--not the price of a morsel for this child or +myself, although we have forty miles to travel!" "Well, and how am I to +remedy that? What brought you here, if you had not what would bear your +expenses?" "I had, sir, on setting out; but my little boy was five +days sick in Petigo, and that took away with it what we had to carry +us home." "And you expect me, in short, to furnish you with money to do +that? Do you think, my good man, there are not paupers in my own parish, +that have a better right to assistance than you have!" "I do not doubt +it, sir," said he, "I do not doubt it; and as for myself I could crawl +home upon anything; but what is this child to do? he is already sinking +with hunger and--" The poor man's utterance here failed him as he cast +his eyes on the poor, pale boy. When he had recovered himself a little, +he proceeded:-- "He is all that it has pleased God to leave to his +afflicted mother and me, out of seven of them. His other brother and +sister and him were all we had living for some years; they are seven +weeks dead yesterday, of the fever; and when he was given over, sir, his +mother and I vowed, that if God would spare him to us, either she or +I would bring him to the 'Island,' as soon as he would be able for the +journey. He was but weakly settin' out, and we had no notion that the +station was so tryin' as it is: it has nearly overcome my child, and how +he will be able to walk forty miles in this weak, sickly state, God only +knows?" "Oh! sir," said the boy, "my poor father is worse off and weaker +than I am, and he is sick too, sir; I am only weak, but not sick; but +my poor father's both weak and sick," said he, his tears streaming from +him, as he pressed his father's arm to his breast--"my poor father is +both weak and. sick, ay, and hungry too," said he. "Take this," said the +priest, "it is as much as I can afford to give you," putting a silver +fivepenny-piece into his hand; "there's a great deal of poor in my own +parish." "Alas I thought, you are not a father. Indeed, sir," said the +poor man, "I thought you would have allowed me to keep the silver I gave +you, as how can we travel two-and-forty miles on this?" "I tell you, +my good man," said the priest, resuming a sterner tone, "I have done as +much for you as I can afford: and if every one gives you as much, you +won't be ill off." + +The tears stood in the old man's eyes, as he fixed them hopelessly upon +his boy whilst the child looked ravenously at the money, trifling as it +was, and seemed to think of nothing except getting the worth of it of +food. As they left the priest, "Oh, come, come father," said the little +fellow, "come and let us get something to eat." "Easy, dear, till I draw +my breath a little, for, John I am weak; but the Lord is strong, and +will bring us home, if we put our trust in him; for if he's not more +merciful to his poor creatures, than some that acts in his name here, +John, we would have a bad chance." They here sat down on the ledge of +a rock, a few yards from the chapel, and I still remained bound to the +spot by the interest I felt in what I had just witnessed. "What do you +want, sir," said the priest to me; "did you get your ticket?" "I did, +sir," I replied; "but I hope you will permit me to become an advocate +for that poor man and his son, as I think their case is one in which +life and death are probably concerned!" "Really, my good young man, you +may spare your advocacy, I'm not to be duped with such tales as you've +heard." "By the tale, sir, if tale you call it," I returned, "which the +father told, I think, any man might be guided in his charity; but really +I think the most pitiful story was to be read in their faces." "Do +you think so? Well, if that's your opinion, I'm sure you have a fair +opportunity of being charitable; as for me, I have no more time to +lose with either you or them," said he, going into a comfortable house, +whilst I could have fairly seen him up to the neck in the blessed +element about us. I here stepped over, and instantly desired the old man +to hand me the fivepence, telling him at the same time that there +was something better in prospect, as a proof of which I gave him +half-a-crown. I then returned to the priest, and laid his fivepence down +on the table before him; for I had the generosity, the fire, and the +candor of youth about me, unrepressed by the hardening experience of +life. "What's this, sir?" said he. "Your money, sir," I replied--"it +is such a very trifle, that it would be of no service to them, and they +will be enabled to go home without it; the old man returns it." "That is +as much as to say," he replied, sarcastically, "that you will patronize +them yourself; I wish you joy of it. Was it to witness the distresses of +others that you came to the island, let me ask?" "Perhaps I came from a +worse motive," I returned. "I haven't the least doubt of it," said he; +"but move off--one word of insolence more," said he, stretching to a +cutting whip, for the use of which he was deservedly famous. "I will cut +you up, sirrah, while I'm able to stand over you." "Upon my word," said +I, extending my feet one after another, "you have cut me up pretty +well already, I think; but," I added, with coolness, "is that, sir, the +weapon of a Christian?" "Is it the weapon of a Christian, sir? whatever +weapon it is, you will soon feel the weight of it," said he, brandishing +it over my head. "My good father," said I, "do you remember, since +nothing else will restrain you, that the laws of the country will not +recognize such horsewhip Christianity?" "The laws of the country. Oh, +God help it for a country! Yes! yes! excellent. Here Michael--I say, +come here--drive out this follow. I'll be calm; I'll not, put myself in +a passion--out with him! this fellow." On turning round to contemplate +the person spoken to, we recognized each other as slight aquaintances. +"Bless me," said he, "what's the matter? Why," he added, addressing me, +"what's this?" "How? do you know him, Michael?" "Tut, I do--isn't he +for the mission?" "Oh--ho!--is that it? well, I'm glad I know so much; +good-bye to you, for the present; never fear but I'll keep my eye upon +you." So saying, we separated. Michael followed me out. "This is an +awkward business," said he, "you had better make submission, and ask his +pardon; for you know he can injure your prospects, and will do so, +if you don't submit; he is not of the most forgiving cast--but that's +between ourselves." "What o'clock is it?" said I. "Near three." "Well, +good-bye, and God bless you; if he had a spark of humanity in him, I +would beg his pardon at once, if I thought I had offended him; but as +to making submission to such a man, as you call it--why--this is a very +sultry day, my friend." I returned directly to the old man and his son; +and, let purity or motive go as it may, truth to tell, they were no +losers by the priest's conduct; as I certainly slipped them a few +additional shillings, out of sheer contempt for him. On tasting a little +refreshment in one of the cabins, the son fainted--but on the whole they +were enabled to accomplish their journey home; and the father's blessing +was surely a sufficient antidote against the Priest's resentment. + +I was now ready to depart; and on my way to the boat, found my two old +female companions watching, lest I should pass, and they might miss my +company on the way. It was now past three o'clock, and we determined to +travel as far as we could that night, as the accommodations were vile +in Petigo; and the spokeswoman mentioned a house of entertainment, about +twelve miles forward, where, she said, we would find better treatment. +When we got on terra firma, the first man I saw was the monosyllabic +humorist, sitting on a hillock resting himself--his eyes fixed on the +earth, and he evidently in a brown study on what he had gone through. He +was drawing in his breath gradually, his cheeks expanding all the while, +until they reached the utmost point of distention, when he would all +at once let it go with a kind of easy puff, ending in a groan, as he +surveyed his naked feet, which were now quite square, and, like my own, +out of all shape. I asked him how he liked the station; he gave me one +of the old looks, shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing--it was, +however, a shrug condemnatory. I then asked him would he ever make +another pilgrimage? He answered me by another shrug, a grave look, dryly +raising his eye-brows, and a second appeal to his feet, all of which +I easily translated into strong negatives. We refreshed ourselves in +Petigo. + +When we were on the way home, I observed that, although the singular +and fatal accident which befell the young man in the prison excited very +little interest at the time of its occurrence, yet no sooner had they +who witnessed it got clear of the island, than it was given with every +possible ornament; so that it would be as easy to recognize the +plain fact, when decked out by their elucidations, as it would be to +understand the sense of an original author, after it has come through +the hands of half a hundred commentators. But human nature is a darker +enigma than any you could find, in the "Lady's Magazine." Who would +suppose, for instance, that it was the same motive which set their +tongues wagging now, that had chained their spirits by the strong force +of the marvellous and the terrible, while they were in prison! Yet this +was the fact; but their influence hung while there, like the tyrant's +sword, over each individual head; and until the danger of falling asleep +in the "Prison" was past, they could feel no interest for anything +beyond themselves. In both cases, however, they were governed by the +force of the marvellous and the terrible. + +When we had finished our journey for the day, I was glad to find a +tolerable bed; and never did man enjoy such a luxury of sweet sleep as I +did that night. My old companion, too, evinced an attention to me seldom +experienced in an accidental traveller. She made them get down water and +bathe my feet, and asked me at what hour I would set out in the morning, +telling me that she would see my clothes brushed, and everything done +herself--so minute was the honest creature in her little attentions. I +told her I would certainly take a nap in the morning, as I had slept so +little for the last three nights, and was besides so fatigued. "Musha to +be sure, and why not, agra! afther the hard bout you had in that blessed +Island! betoken that you're tinder and too soft rared to bear it +like them that the work hardens; sleep!--to be sure you'll sleep your +fill--you want it, in coorse; and now go to bed, and you'll appear quite +another man in the mornin', plaise God!" + +I did not awake the next morning till ten o'clock, when I found the sun +shining full into the room. I accordingly dressed myself partially, and +I say partially--for I was rather surprised to find an unexpected chasm +in my wardrobe; neither my hat, coat, nor waistcoat being forthcoming. +But I immediately made myself easy, by supposing that my kind companion +had brought them to be brushed. Yet I relapsed into something more than +surprise when I saw my fellow-traveler's redoubtable jacket lying on the +seat of a chair, and her hare's-skin cap on the top of it. My misgivings +now were anything but weak; nor was I at all improved, either in my +religion or philosophy, when, on calling up the landlady I heard that my +two companions had set out that morning at four o'clock. I then inquired +about my clothes, but all to no purpose; the poor landlady knew nothing +about them: which, in fact, was the case; but she told me that the old +one brushed them before she went away, saying that they were ready +for me to put on whenever I wanted them. "Well," said I, "she has made +another man of me." The landlady desired me to try if I had my purse; +and I found that the kind creature had certainly spared my purse, but +showed no mercy at all to what it contained, which was one pound in +paper, and a few shillings in silver, the latter, however, she left me. +I had now no alternative but to don the jacket and the hare's-skin cap, +which when I had done, with as bad a grace and as mortified a visage +as ever man dressed himself with, I found I had not the slightest +encouragement to throw my eye over the uniform gravity of my appearance, +as I used to do in the black, for, alas! that which I was proudest of, +viz. the clerical cut which it bestowed upon me was fairly gone--I had +now more the appearance of a poacher than a priest. + +[Illustration: PAGE 818-- In this trim did I return to my friends] + +In this trim did I return to my friends--a goose stripped of my +feathers; a dupe beknaved and beplundered--having been almost starved +to death in the "island," and nearly cudgelled by one of the priests. As +soon as I crossed the threshold at home, the whole family were on their +knees to receive my blessing, there being a peculiar virtue in the Lough +Derg blessing. The next thing I did, after giving them an account of +the manner in which I was plundered and stripped, was to make a due +distribution of the pebbles* of the lake, to contain which my sisters +had, previous to my journey, wrought me a little silk bag. This I +brought home, stuffed as full as my purse was empty; for the epicene old +villain left it to me in all its plenitude--disdaining to touch it. When +I went to mass the following Sunday, I was surrounded by crowds, among +whom I distributed my blessing, with an air of seriousness not at all +lessened by the loss of my clothes and the emptying of my purse. On +telling that part of my story to the priest, he laughed till the tears +ran down his cheeks. He was a small, pleasant little man, who was seldom +known to laugh at anybody's joke but his own. Now, the said merriment of +the Reverend Father I felt as contributing to make me look exceedingly +ridiculous and sheepish. "So," says he, "you have fallen foul of +Nell M'Collum, the most notorious shuler in the province! a gipsy, a +fortuneteller, and a tinker's widow; but rest contented, you are not the +first she has gulled--but beware the next time."--"There is no danger of +_that_," said I, with peculiar emphasis. + + * An uncommon virtue in curing all kinds of complaints + is ascribed to these pebbles, small bags of which are + brought home by the pilgrims, and distributed to their + respective relations and friends. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Station; The Party Fight And +Funeral; The Lough Derg Pilgrim, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STATION AND OTHERS *** + +***** This file should be named 16013.txt or 16013.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1/16013/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |