The Station; The Party Fight And Funeral; The Lough Derg Pilgrim: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume ThreeCarleton, William
General
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
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
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.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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