An Irish Funeral. 



The surface of the country is flat, and the soil 

 worthy of better treatment than it received. 

 A few miles before we reached Ballymona, we 

 passed the birth-place of Goldsmith, to which 

 he is said to have alluded ; and though the 

 place in itself possesses little beauty or interest, 

 the Muses have rendered it immortal. 



Ballymona is a poor little town in the midst 

 of a fine country. Our next stage was ten miles 

 to Athlone, which we were anxious to reach in 

 good time, being fearful we might not obtain 

 accommodations, on account of the approach- 

 ing fair at Ballinasloe. The soil appeared light, 

 and its cultivation wretched. We passed many 

 gentlemen's seats, some of which were of consi- 

 derable magnitude. 



At a small village, about half way, we en- 

 countered a funeral. The dirge, which had 

 sounded so harsh and discordant at Cork, was 

 conducted here in a manner and with an effect 

 totally different. The performers were young 

 females. The corpse, we were told, was that of 

 a female under twenty, who appeared to be 

 greatly lamented, as we observed many a tear- 

 ful eye. The tones and cadence of the mourn- 

 ers partook so much of real grief, as to give a 

 character of feeling to the whole, and created a 



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