ixing their eyes
on his face in deep affliction, their lips began to quiver, and their
countenances became convulsed. They then burst out simultaneously into a
tide of violent grief, which, after having indulged in it for some time,
they checked. But the resolution of revenge was stronger than their
grief, for, standing over his dead body, they repeated, almost word for
word, the vow of vengeance which the son had just sworn. It was really
a scene dreadfully and terribly solemn; and I could not avoid reflecting
upon the mystery of nature, which can, from the deep power of domestic
affection, cause to spring a determination to crime of so black a
dye. Would to God that our peasantry had a clearer sense of moral and
religious duties, and were not left so much as they are to the headlong
impulse of an ardent temperament and an impetuous character; and would
to God that the clergy who superintend their morals, had a better
knowledge of human nature, and a more liberal education!

During all this time the heart-broken widow sat beyond the coffin,
looking upon what passed with a stupid sense of bereavement; and when
they had all performed this last ceremony, it was found necessary to
tell her that the time was come for the procession of the funeral, and
they only waited for; her to take, as the rest did, her last look and
embrace of her husband. When she heard this, it pierced her like an
arrow; she became instantly collected, and her complexion assumed a dark
shade of despairing anguish, which it was an affliction even to look
upon, one then stooped over the coffin, and kissed him several times,
after which she ceased sobbing, and lay silently with her mouth to his.

The character of a faithful wife sorrowing for a beloved husband has
that in it which compels both respect and sympathy. There was not at
this moment a dry eye in the house. She still lay silent on the coffin;
but, as I observed that her bosom seemed not to heave as it did a little
before, I was convinced that she had become insensible. I accordingly
beckoned to Kelly's brother, to whom I mentioned what I had suspected;
and on his going over to ascertain the truth, he found her as I
had said. She was then brought to the air, and after some
trouble--recovered; but I recommended them to put her to bed, and not to
subject her to any unnecessary anguish, by a custom which was really
too soul-piercing to endure. This, however, was, in her opinion, the
violation of a