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belonged to his landlord； Mr。 M。
The Editor had flattered himself that the ingenious contrivance which
Thady records； and the similar subterfuge of this old Irishman； in the
dispute concerning boundaries； were instances of 'CUTENESS
unparalleled in all but Irish story： an English friend； however； has just
mortified the Editor's national vanity by an account of the following
custom； which prevails in part of Shropshire。 It is discreditable for
women to appear abroad after the birth of their children till they have been
CHURCHED。 To avoid this reproach； and at the same time to enjoy the
pleasure of gadding； whenever a woman goes abroad before she has been
to church； she takes a tile from the roof of her house； and puts it upon her
head： wearing this panoply all the time she pays her visits； her
conscience is perfectly at ease； for she can afterwards safely declare to the
clergyman； that she 'has never been from under her own roof till she came
to be churched。'
GLOSSARY 27。 CARTON AND HALF…CARTON；Thady means
cartron； and half…cartron。 （According to the old record in the black book of
Dublin； a CANTRED is said to contain 30 VILLATAS TERRAS； which
are also called QUARTERS of land （quarterons； CARTRONS）； every one
of which quarters must contain so much ground as will pasture 400 cows；
and 17 plough…lands。 A knight's fee was composed of 8 hydes； which
amount to 160 acres； and that is generally deemed about a PLOUGH…
LAND'
The Editor was favoured by a learned friend with the above extract；
from a MS。 of Lord Totness's in the Lambeth library。
GLOSSARY 28。 WAKE。A wake in England means a festival held
upon the anniversary of the saint of the parish。 At these wakes； rustic
games； rustic conviviality； and rustic courtship； are pursued with all the
ardour and all the appetite which accompany such pleasures as occur but
seldom。 In Ireland a wake is a midnight meeting； held professedly for
the indulgence of holy sorrow； but usually it is converted into orgies of
unholy joy。 When an Irish man or woman of the lower order dies； the
straw which composed the bed； whether it has been contained in a bag to
form a mattress； or simply spread upon the earthen floor； is immediately
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taken out of the house； and burned before the cabin door； the family at the
same time setting up the death howl。 The ears and eyes of the neighbours
being thus alarmed； they flock to the house of the deceased； and by their
vociferous sympathy excite and at the same time soothe the sorrows of the
family。
It is curious to observe how good and bad are mingled in human
institutions。 In countries which were thinly inhabited； this custom
prevented private attempts against the lives of individuals； and formed a
kind of coroner's inquest upon the body which had recently expired； and
burning the straw upon which the sick man lay became a simple
preservative against infection。 At night the dead body is waked； that is to
say； all the friends and neighbours of the deceased collect in a barn or
stable； where the corpse is laid upon some boards； or an unhinged door；
supported upon stools； the face exposed； the rest of the body covered with
a white sheet。 Round the body are stuck in brass candlesticks； which
have been borrowed perhaps at five miles' distance； as many candles as the
poor person can beg or borrow； observing always to have an odd number。
Pipes and tobacco are first distributed； and then； according to the
ABILITY of the deceased； cakes and ale； and sometimes whisky； are
DEALT to the company
Deal on； deal on； my merry men all； Deal on your cakes and your
wine； For whatever is dealt at her funeral to…day Shall be dealt to…
morrow at mine。
After a fit of universal sorrow； and the comfort of a universal dram； the
scandal of the neighbourhood； as in higher circles； occupies the company。
The young lads and lasses romp with one another； and when the fathers
and mothers are at last overcome with sleep and whisky （VINO ET
SOMNO）； the youth become more enterprising； and are frequently
successful。 It is said that more matches are made at wakes than at
weddings。
GLOSSARY 29。 KILT。This word frequently occurs in the preceding
pages； where it means not KILLED； but much HURT。 In Ireland； not only
cowards； but the brave 'die many times before their death。'There
KILLING IS NO MURDER。
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