o acted master of the revels at
the wake.

Before the coffin was finally closed, Ned Corrigan, whom I had put to
flight the preceding night, came up, and repeated the De Profundis, in
very strange Latin, over the corpse. When this was finished, he got a
jug of holy water, and after dipping his thumb in it, first made the
sign of the cross upon his own forehead, and afterwards sprinkled it
upon all present, giving my brother and myself an extra compliment,
supposing, probably, that we stood most in need, of it. When this
was over, he sprinkled the corpse and the coffin in particular most
profusely. He then placed two pebbles from Lough Derg* and a bit of holy
candle, upon the breast of the corpse, and having said a Pater and Ave,
in which he was joined by the people, he closed the lid and nailed it
down.

* Those who make a station at Lough Derg are in the
habit of bringing home some of its pebbles, which are
considered to be sacred and possessed of many virtues.

"Ned," said his brother, "are his feet and toes loose?"

"Musha, but that's more than myself knows," replied Ned--"Are they,
Katty?" said he, inquiring from the sister of the deceased.

"Arrah, to be sure, avourneen!" answered Katty--"do you think we would
lave him to be tied that way, when he'd be risin' out of his last bed at
the day of judgment? Wouldn't it be too bad to have his toes tied thin,
avourneen?"

The coffin was then brought out and placed upon four chairs before the
door, to be keened; and, in the mean time, the friends and well-wishers
of the deceased were brought into the room to get each a glass of
whiskey, as a token of respect. I observed also, that such as had not
seen any of Kelly's relations until then, came up, and shaking
hands with them, said--"I'm sorry for your loss!" This expression of
condolence was uniform, and the usual reply was, "Thank you, Mat, or
Jim!" with a pluck of the skirt, accompanied by a significant nod, to
follow. They then got a due share of whiskey; and it was curious, after
they came out, their faces a little flushed, and their eyes watery with
the strong, ardent spirits, to hear with what heartiness and alacrity
they entered into Denis's praises.

When he had been keened in the street, there being no hoarse, the coffin
was placed upon two handspikes, which were fixed across, but parallel
to each other under it. These were borne by four men, one at the end of
each, with the point of it cros