The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-03-25
II. L. Cloud, in Harper's Magazine for NIarch.l
An Irish Wake.

When evening came the storm lull-
ed, and left gloomy chill in it's stead.
The coffin arrived so expeditiously
that some said it must have been made
beforehand. A few country people
who had met it on it's way followed it
with loud wailings, in which they re-
hearsed the virtues of those whom
they had lost, and their grief and des-
olation in having them no longer with
them. Often a coffin is thus escorted
from neighboring village to the
house Of mourning. It is then placed
out of sight, as the body is not laid in
it until few minutes before leaving
its last earthly abode; turf was heaped
upon the fire, candles lighted, and a
jug Of whisky, filing the room with
its penetrating odor, gave evidence Of
preparation for the approaching wake.
The villagers loitered about the
doorway gossiping until the arrival of
a wierd old woman, who knelt at the
threshold, and said, 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 shriyeled hands, and burst forth
into the most piercing lamentations,
IN which she recounted all the virtues
of the defunct and Of her family; 9TH
er withered creatures, who had been
smoking and doing by the chimney,
now aroused themselves, and joined in
a doleful chorus. The intervals be-
tween the arrival of the guests-which
We're signals for new outbursts-were
filed by whisky-drinking, smoking,
snuftng, and gossip. If any one who
had lost friend desired to do so, they
could embrace this opportunity Of
''crying" him. As the night advanc-
ed, the scene became one Of wild ex-
element; the old people grew conf
dental and communicative over their
cups, and the younger members ANUS
ed themselves with various games.
Upon the breast Of the corpse, which
lay on the table in the centre Of the
room, was plate heaped with tobacco,
from which each newcomer filled a
pipe presented him on entering, and
after murmuring brief prayer, took
his place either among the old people
by the fire, or the younger ones in the
farther extremity Of the room. On
the arrival Of the neighbors, two old
women, who were given up" to be, as
| was informed, the best criers in the
parish, broke into unearthly howlings,
and these dismal echoes died away
amid the gossip of the elder and the
laughs and jokes of the younger por-
ton Of the assemblage. From an OBJ
scure corner [ watched unobserved the
strange scene, and saw how, after each
round of whisky, the rigid lines that /
marked the faces of the old men and
women broke into a myriad traits Of
subtle expression, and their gummy
eyes glistened and sparkled with
new-found life, while the young peo-
pie were soon in the midst of a kiss
ing game. A circle was formed round
a youth. who was called upon to
choose the prettiest from the assem- /
bled maidens. On being summoned
she advanced, kissed her admirer, who
retired, and in her turn chose a young
man from the group, and SO the game
proceeded until all had been kissed
hoped to their satisfaction. Should
any decline to meet the demands ex-
acted by the laws of the game, they
were beaten with a knotted apron,
amid great hilarity and contention,
into compliance. When this was fin
ished. the old people, who had been
drying tobacco by the fire, and powder
ing it into snuff by rolling it between
their fingers, and partoOk Of it in large
quantities to keep themselves awake,
again begun the death-song with wild
vehemence. When they had some
what relieved their feelings in this
manner the whisky was once more
handed round, and the young people
resumed their games. The old men
and women reflled their pipes with
the tobacco which lay ON the dead Wo-
mans breast, and warming their thin
blood by the cheerful fire, listened to
some cummers tale.
One of the young men on the other
side of the room, clad in an old red
petticoat. ragged shawl, and rutfied
cap, his face begrimed with SCOT, and
short pipe stuck in his mouth, per-
sonating an old woman III the agonies
of a fatal sickness, attracted my atten-
ton. A tall youth in a white flannel
Jacket and trousers. whose face was
the picture of health and iollity, en-
deayOred to appear as wise-he was
perhaps i'll verity-as Il doctor. He
felt the pulse. and shook his head. and
prescribed 'potheen,' which, amid vo-
ciferous applause, was partallen Of by
, the whole assemblage. He who coun-
J terfeited l. old woman dropped his