The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-20
The Living and the Dead.

will notice few instances Of the strange
picturesque supersttions with which the poor
Irishman, in happier times, loved to encir-
Gle the memory Of his dead.
On a fine day in autumn, about two
years since, as friend Of mine who resides
in a wild district Of the south, was walking
on the road near his house, be overlook
countrymsn returning from the next mar
ket-town. He was a stout, middle-aged
man, tolerably well dressed, and evidently
belonging to the class Of small farmers
After the customary SITUATIONS, On no
country do strangers, meeting casually on
the road, greet each other more cordially
than in Ireland,) MIR. - entered into
conversation with him, as they walked along
together.
This is a fine day for the country, your
honor thanks be TO God for it"
sit is indeed, replied Mr.. -, Sand
pleasant weather for walking. Have you
far 10 co."
"Why, middling, sir; my little place is
about FIVE miles of, up at Gurthunowen.
81 suppose you were al NJ this morn
ing7"
81 was, then, sir, Just doing a trife Of
business at the market; for herself was Mt
able to 20 in to-day, and had to sell some
fresh eggs and young chickens for her.
"You seem to have been purchasing also, "
said Mr.. -, looking at large brown
paper parcel, which be carried under his
arm.
The mans countenance changed. 81
was, your honor" he said, in a mournful
voice. CATER two years saving, It's only
now | was able to buy the markings Of
cloak for my little girl"
As he spoke, he opened the parcel, and
displayed its contents, a piece Of fine blue
cloth.
'Thst will make a very nice cloak in
deed" said my friend, smiling. "Your
daughter will outshine all her neighbors
next Sunday at mass.
alt cost two guiness, sir; and though I'm
q poor man, t is no more Id think OF that
than Of the mud under my feet, if 'twould
bring ase or comfort to the soul Of my darl-
ing. All, ma colleen baum" he cried,
clasping his hands in sudden agony, ''the
fifteen years you were left TO me ran by as
quick as the winter streams down the side
Of Coon Rhue, and as pleasant as if the
warm summer stopped with them always.
But the dark day came at last and when
the mother and | saw you stretched before
US, as cold and as white as the snowdnlt on
the hill, we thought the life within ourselves
was gone forever! ] az your pardon, sir,
for talking so wild; but indeed there was
few in the whole country like our Nelly.
Even when she was a slip Of child, going
TO the school, Father Jerry himself would
stop her every Sunday after the chatechiz,
TO stroke her fair head, and tell her she an
swered the best OF them all Well, after a
while, when the first stun was over, and the
mother and had time 10 take some comfort
from the two boys that were left us-it be-
gan 10 give US sore trouble TO think that she
died without a cloak, and that maybe the
crsthnr that We KEEP all her life tender and
warm, like pet lamb, might be suffering
now for the want OF it. So we set to work,
saving every penny we could scrape togeth.
er, I'LL we'd have enough to buy her good
one and though the sorrow and the lone
sOmeness is hurting our hearts yet still I'll:
proud the mother and viii be to see il
handsomely made, and waiting for her in
the house"
rl1
sIn Ireland, "herself'' is the term invariably
and .emphsticslly employed by the peasant 10
designate his spouse, when speaking in the third
person; the masculine pronOun being similarly
PPlisd to him BY his better half.