The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-10-25
Professional waiilngs Over Funerals.
In the wilds of Kerry Patch, upon tho
rickeiy door of a little cabin, is marked
;hls legend
: Asssa assst ass
Corps
wushin
done here.

The Town Talker does not often get
within the mctes and bounds Of the
Kingdom Of Kerry, but of late his busi-
ness has taken him through the settle
mcnt, as short cut, very frequently,
and each time he has read and pondercd
this announcement. Was il true that
this "washin' " was done there: and, in
that case, did the friends Of the depart
ed bring the "corps" around to this
place, and were these peculiar facilities
for the prosecution of the business? Or
did the statement mean that parties
having "corpS" could here find pro-
grcssivc valet de chambre for the dead ?
There was something's delightfullylugu-
brious in the affair that one day tapped
at the door, and entered. was met by
withcrcd old cronc, who told me that
she was "Nlissus" McDougaI, and in
qured what she could do for me.
"l'm told that you attend TO the wash
ing of the dead"
"Yes," said she, sand do II cheap"
What is your charger"
"One dollar, and furnish all me own
tools-sponges and the like"
"Well, | don't happen to have any
remains just now," said |, "but it's
always well to he looking around. How
is business with youP"
"lt's very poor, sir. Times was when
| could make $40 week as aiSy rs
you're settin' in that chair; now, If |
catches ~ week I'm well satisfied.
You know I'm kecner, and keeners is
extry. generally make 81 week now
kecnin"
"What is 'keenin'?"
"Kcenin' why. cryin' for the dead,
you know. There's some Of us as was
keeners in the ould country, and We
gathers around the corpse and starts
the keen, and then the others they jine
in"
"Is the keen any different from any
other cryP"
"Different! should say il was, sir
Why, the keen goes right to the heart
This is the right kcen," and she bent
over, and swaying her body from side
TO side, began most dolorous and de-
spairing howl, which she accentuatcd
by clapping her hands, and which can
compare only to wild and grief-strick-
en- hysteric Sometimes it dropped to a
low moan, then rose and rose until it
eliminated in shrek. |, was the
queerest, saddcst thing | ever heard in
my life. in parts IL had turns of the
German iodel; again it ran up and
down like an operate roulade. Really,
it was work of art-savage art-but
certainly art. Put upon the stage, it
would draw with any specially act | ever
saw. awe does that in che house," she
said, sand ont at the graveyard, and
generally get pound of tea and
sugar, or a dollar or two, if get il
worked up well. There's no good keen
ers in this country at all. The best are
in the South of Ireland, specially in tn,
County Kilkenny. To hear it right yor
ough, to have a dozen goin' at once.
tell you it comes out grand then. But
these people here can't keen-they try
it, but they're no good they can't tel
good keenin' when they hear it," Prom
ising certainly TO employ the old lady or
the very first occasion that wished any
kcening done, | Withdrew, convinced
that there are points which we could
give even to the old Egyptians in the ar
of funeratlon.-St. LOuiS Spectator.