Sun River sun., 1884-02-21
RESUSCiTATED.
ny c. ].

A Galway gentleman was want to
tell the following humorous story Of
unexpected sesuscitation: "That many
people are buried alive is beyond
doubt. I know an instance that 1
will relate to you, which J may say
happened in my own establishment,
for our hunts,nan, jack Burke, was
the subject of it. jack had danger
ous illness fever, I think it was
and, to all appearances, died. He was
duly coifincd, and us duly walked; and
such a wake and funeral were never
remembered in Galway; for Jack was
universal favorite, character and
u wag, md crowds came far and nenr
to the burying. The bcwailing cries
were so loud as the procession moved
along the road that could be heard
mile off; and by the time they reached
the church-yard all were hoarse with
crying. It is the custom in these
parts to- carry the coffin three times
round the church, after which it is
laid beside the open grave. All pres
ent sink upon their knees in prayer,
the men rcverently uncoyering. The
immediate relatives of tho deceased
close round the remains, and for some
minutes there is total silence. The
cont r;fst bctwcen this death-like hush
and the loud cry of tho funeral wall is
striking, and the appearance Of the
motionless, kneeling crowd very i'm
pressivc.
"On tho present occasion tho path
round the church was rongb and sto-
ny, and tho ground uneven with
graves; SO that poor Jack, while be-
ing carried his three rounds, was sad
ly joltcd in his coffin.
"A rousins leap we had to take,
surely, when we came to Tom Grady's
tombstone said one of tho bearers
afterward. Enough to wake the dead
it was. We couldn't put our foot up
on the now clean grave, and the da-
cent man not week inside; 80 there
was nothing else but to hop it,
"Ahcther OF not consciousness was
joltcd into Jack by this hop is
uncertain; but certain it is that the
dead silence customary after laying
down the coffin was broken, not by
the usual smothered sobs, but by vc-
hcmcnt thumpings ut the lid! 1t was
quickly opened and Jack sat up. AZ
ter staring around with an air Of com
ic bcwilderment on his astonishcd
friends, u grcat-coat was thrown over
his grave clothes, and he was helped
up on jaunting-car and in this plight
driven home.
"Ihc old womah who had been left
behind to keep the house when all
went TO the funeral, and who was tell
ing her beads over the kitchen fire,
was nearly frightened ont of hcr SON
ses ut tho apparit;on. There was
some difficulty in persuading her that
it WAS Jack himself, and not his ghost
she saw.
"Meantime Juck had drained n bowl
of milk that was on tho dresser, md
now looked wildly about.
'Is it wanting anything yc are, my
poor fellow?' said his friends Tie
down now, and compose yersclf, A
drop Of spirits, with u bit Of nourish-
mcnt and IL stretch on tho bed, will dc
you good after the start you got, find
ing yourself-God save us!-in the
coffin. There now, be aisy, dov
'But Jack would not be aisy.' He
kept glaring about him and searching
for something; staggering here and
there, looking behind doors and shut
tcrs, and pcering into cupboards.
"'Thc saints be good to usv whim
pcred the old woman; 'his mind is
gono gone with the fright. Jack
darlint, what ails yc? Is it the hun
gcr, the long fast, that's putting y,
astray? Sit down, for the love Of tn.
blessed Vargin, and I'll fry a shave O
bacon, and mix tumbler of puncl
in half n second, to raise your pool
heart and put life into you. Do, now
avic'
"'Alrah, will you get out of my
way and lave me alone! cried Jack
It's my stick Tn looking for-my
stick, for my wife, bad luck to her
when she comes home. Andii don,
give her such a lambastin' as never
mortal woman got before my name
isn't Jack Burke, that's all! Lool
hcre,' he exclaimed, plucking at hi
shirt-which had seen better days
while he painted with rage and weak
ness. six bran new shirts whole anG
sound rs the day they loft the weaver
without tear or rent, patch or darI
j left Lchind mo; and look at tho
rags she dresses up my poor carcass
| l., ,,,,l,,,,,, ronl nf mo IN {ln o,ff,, :,