SOME IRISH CUSTOMS 221 



bacon, or a five-pound note which the parents do 

 not want to get out of the bank. 



Death is looked on as mere and unavoidable 

 event, followed by a subdued excitement which 

 atones for the loss. I have heard them openly 

 discuss a girl's death before her, when she was 

 dying of decline, poor child, in a tiny room with 

 a window which did not open, with three other 

 children packed into her bed at night. 



But never grumbling, quite happy to go. 



A local undertaker at Nenagh one day came out 

 to see a cart rattle up to his door drawn by a 

 farm hand, greatly bustled to take back a coffin 

 at once to his master who had " died suddint that 

 morning." 



A shell was produced and driven off, but about 

 five that evening back clattered the cart with the 

 coffin on it. 



" Back again," the man said cheerily. "An' 

 not required. He was surely gone, but what 

 should I find whin I wint back but me brave 

 corpse sittin' up in his bed atin' pig's head an' 

 drinkin' milk." 



Fair days are great things in Ireland. Especi- 

 ally those which graduate from the hour of the 

 baggy-breeched long-coated dealer with a cryptic 

 expression and a stick in his hands, and the in- 

 numerable deals, to the thronged cattle fair next 

 morning, with muddy-booted farmers buying and 

 selling in the grey dawn. 



