Smyrna times., 1880-03-31
An Irish Wake.

and left a gloomy chill in its stead. the
cOiln arrived. A few country people who
bad met 1t on its way followed il with loud
wailings, in which they reherssd the yir
tues Of those whom they had lost. and their
grief and desselation in having them no
longer with them. Often a coffin is TIM,
escorted from a Reiehhoring village to the
house of mourning. 1t is then placed out
OF sight, as the body is not laid in it till a
few minutes before leaving its last earthly
abode; turf was heapsd upon the fire, can
dies lighted, and jug Of whiskey, filling
the room with its penetrating odor, gave
evidence OF preparation for the approaching
wake
The villagers lotered about the doorway
gosslpDg uatll the arrival of wierel old
woman, who knelt at the threshold, and
sald, " God bless all here God rest the soul
OF the dead = Then seating herself by the
side of the body, she stretched out her lean
and shrivelled hands, burst forth into the
the most piercing lamentations, in which
she recounted all the virtues of the defunct
and of her family; ether wthered creatures
who had been smoking and doing by the
chimney, now aroused themselves, and
Joined IN doleful chorus. The intervals
between the arrival of the guests-which
were signals for new outbursts-wera filled
by whisky drinking, smoking, snufiing and
gossip. II any one who had lost friend
desired to do so, they could embrace this
Opportunity Of crying" him. As the night
advanced, the scene became ono Of wild
excitement; the old people grew confiden
tIal and communicative ever their CUPS
and the younger members amused them.
selves with various games.
Upon the breast Of the corpse, which Law
On the table in the centre of the room, was
a plate hsaped with tobacco, from which
each rev conner filled pipe presented him
on entering, and after inurmuring a brief
prayer, tsok his place either among the old
people by the fire, or the Younger ones in
the further extremity Of the room. On the
arrival of the neighbors, two old women.
who were given up to be, as was in
formed, the best criers in the parish, broke
into unearthly howliRgs, and thus dismal
echoes died away amid the gossip of the
elder and the laughs and jokes Of the
younger portion Of the assemblage.
From an obscure corner watched unOh-
served the strarge scene, and saw how.
after each round OF whlskeY, the rigid lines
that marked the faces of the old lnsn and
women broke into a myriad traits of subtle
expression, and their gummy eyes giistened
anu i9dl Rltu Nllh Il new lOun1 llIe, While
the young people were soon in tho midst Of
a kissing game. A circle formed round a
youth, who was called upon to choose tho
prettisst from the assembled tnaidonS. On
being summoned she advanced, kissed
her aduirer, who retired. and in her turn
chose young man from the group, and so
the game proceeded until all had boen
kissed hope to their satisfaction Should
any decline to meet the demands exacted
by the laws of the game, they were beaten
with knOtt@d apron, amid great hilaritv
and contention, into compliance
When this was finished, the old people
whe had been drying tobacco by the fire
and pewdering it into snuff by rolling it
between their fingers, and partook of it in
large quantities to keep themselves awake.
again began the death sony with wild
vehemPscR. When they had somewhat
relieved their feelings in this manner, the
vhiskev was once more handed round. and
the yeusg people resumed their games.
The old men and women reiilled their pines
with the tobacco which lay on the dead
womans breast, and warming their thin
blood by the cheerful fire. listened to some
cemsr's tale.
One OF the young men on the other side
of the rOom clad In an old red petticoat.
ragged shawl, and rufiled cap. his face
begrimed with SCOT, and short pise stuck
in his mouth, perSonatng an old woman in
the agoHies of fatal sickness, attracted NV
attention. A tall youth in white flannel
jacket and trousers, whose face was the ric.
tu"e of health and .iolity, ondeavOred to
appear as wise-he was perhaps in verify
as doctor. lie felt the pulse, and shook
his head, and prescribed potheen," :" which.
amid VoclterouS applause, was partaken of
by the whole assemblase. lie who coun.
terfeited the old woman dropped his head,
and was soon stretched on the floor, in sim
ulation Of death. Mourners grouped about
him and two of the leading spirits sat on
either side as criCrs the whole assemblace
giving Themselves up to the fun of this mad
travesty.
" Never in my life can I cry we'll on
this side of the corpse" said one Of the
madcaps, rising, and with his heavy hob.
nailed shoes walked on as well as ever the
countsrfsted corpse.
" NOr | either" cried the other, who
walked over the body with even less ten
dernsss than his companion.
If the object of this mock solieitude
objected to the rough treatment, he was
beaten into submission by tAe knotted
apron before mentioned
In the dry recital these scenes lose, per-
haps, great deal of their mirth but when
| witnessed them | could not resist the bill.
arity which they provoked, until the little
grand.child, who had been sleeping, amid
all this uproar, in her mothers lap, creep.
ing to the table on which her grandam lay,
tuggsd at the sheet, and crying, "Mah-
more" recalled me to the awful presence of
the dead.
This touching incident did net seem to
affecti ths rest of the assomblage in the
same manner, for the sobbing child was
sent back to its corner, and the old women
broke into another verse of their death.crv,
another gams.-Hapcr's .Ndga-i1le for M1rch.