And some equally _funny_ relative placed near, but not probably pleased with him, adds:-- "And here lie I, more snug Than that t'other bug!" A slang term for a low, brutal fellow. The following turns upon the word lie [pha-li], and the word lie [pu-si]:-- "Lie long on him, good Earth-- For he _lied_ long, God knows, on Thee!" This is ridiculous in manner of quoting from the _Sacred Writings_; and adding, without proper pause, the death of another person:-- "He swallowed up death in victory And also Jerusha Jones Aged sixty!" Here follow references to the Superstitious horrors:-- "Whilst sinners [kri-mi] burn in hell, In paradise, with Thee, I dwell!" Another:-- "When the last trump doth sound, No more shall I be bound Within the earth; My soul shall soar above, To shout redeeming love, Which gave me heavenly birth!" This I fear will be scarcely intelligible. The _last trump_ refers to a statement in the _Sacred Writings_, where it is said that a great Trumpet shall awake the dead, and so on. Probably, the remainder may be guessed by attentive readers of these _Observations_. The next intimates that the couple had been quarrel-some, but had, at last, silenced their bickerings in a common grave: "Here lies Tom Bobbin, And his wife Mary-- Cheek by jowl, And never weary-- No wonder they so well agree: Tim wants no punch, And Moll no tea!" These refer to occupations. By a cook:-- _To Memory of Mary Lettuce_:-- "If you want to please your pallet, Cut down a lettuce to make a salad." By a sailor [ma-te-lo]:-- "Here lies Tom Bowline, His timbers stove in-- Will never put to sea ag'in!" "Below lies Jonathan Saul, Spitalfields weaver-- That's all!" Spitalfields is a famous place for silk-weaving [tni-se-ti]. * * * * * I need not make any criticism upon these things. They would be impossible to our better culture and refinement. Our _Book of Rites_ would not suffer such low conceits to see the light if, by any chance, any one should indulge in them privately. It may be said in fairness that these are specimens of the _low_, and with _these_ there is less indecency than formerly. There are, however, abundant samples even among the Higher Castes, of things in really as bad taste, though in neater language--quite as _offensive_, but to the feelings of right reason rather than to those of literary delicacy. They refer to the _canons_ of the Idolatry, and seem, to a stranger to that Presumption, quite incredible. However, one must reflect upon the effect of superstition, long ingrained, and "born and bred" till its _enormities_ are as familiar as the most harmless images; and its blessings appropriated, and its curses distributed, with an equal equanimity!