w. But, independent of their
compliance with this ceremony, as an old usage, there is little doubt
that the appearance of anything connected with the man who certainly
occasioned Kelly's death, awoke a keener and more intense sorrow for his
loss. The wailing was thus continued until the coffin was laid opposite
Ghimes's door; nor did it cease then, but, on the contrary, was renewed
with louder and more bitter lamentations.

As the multitude stood compassionating the affliction of the widow and
orphans, it was the most impressive and solemn spectacle that could be
witnessed. The very house seemed to have a condemned look; and, as a
single wintry breeze waved a tuft of long grass that grew on a seat
of turf at the side of the door, it brought the vanity of human enmity
before my mind with melancholy force. When the keening ceased, Kelly's
wife, with her children, knelt, their faces towards the house of their
enemy, and invoked, in the strong language of excited passion, the
justice of heaven upon the head of the man who had left her a widow, and
her children fatherless. I was anxious to know if Grimes would appear
to disclaim the intention of murder; but I understood that he was at
market--for it happened to be market-day.

"Come out!" said the widow--"come out, and look at the sight that's
here before you! Come and view your own work! Lay but your hand upon the
coffin, and the blood of him you murdhered will spout, before God and
these Christian people, in your guilty face! But, oh! may the Almighty
God bring this home to you!--May you never lave this life, John Grimes,
till worse nor has overtaken me and mine fall upon you and yours! May
our curse light upon you this day!--the curse, I say, of the widow and
the orphans, that your bloody hand has made us, may it blast you! May
you, and all belonging to you wither off of the 'airth! Night and day,
sleeping and waking--like snow off the ditch, may you melt, until your
name and your place be disremimbered, except to be cursed by them
that will hear of you and your hand of murdher! Amin, we pray God this
day!--and the widow and orphans' prayer will not fall to the ground
while your guilty head is above it! Childhre, do you all say it?"

At this moment a deep, terrific murmur, or rather ejaculation,
corroborative of assent to this dreadful imprecation, pervaded the crowd
in a fearful manner; their countenances darkened, their eyes gleamed,
and their scowling visages stiffen