Inlookingoverthepapersofmylatevaluedandrespectedfriend，FrancisPurcell，whofornearlyfiftyyearsdischargedthearduousdutiesofaparishpriestinthesouthofIreland，I
metwiththefollowingdocument。Itisoneofmanysuch；forhewasacuriousandindustriouscollectorofoldlocaltraditions——acommodityinwhichthequarterwhereheresidedmightilyabounded。Thecollectionandarrangementofsuchlegendswas，aslongasIcanrememberhim，hishobby；butIhadneverlearnedthathisloveofthemarvellousandwhimsicalhadcarriedhimsofarastoprompthimtocommittheresultsofhisinquiriestowriting，until，inthecharacterofresiduarylegatee，hiswillputmeinpossessionofallhismanuscriptpapers。Tosuchasmaythinkthecomposingofsuchproductionsastheseinconsistentwiththecharacterandhabitsofacountrypriest，itisnecessarytoobserve，thattheredidexistaraceofpriests——thoseoftheoldschool，aracenownearlyextinct——whoseeducationabroadtendedtoproduceinthemtastesmoreliterarythanhaveyetbeenevincedbythealumniofMaynooth。
Itisperhapsnecessarytoaddthatthesuperstitionillustratedbythefollowingstory，namely，thatthecorpselastburiedisobliged，duringhisjuniorityofinterment，tosupplyhisbrothertenantsofthechurchyardinwhichhelies，withfreshwatertoallaytheburningthirstofpurgatory，isprevalentthroughoutthesouthofIreland。
Thewritercanvouchforacaseinwhicharespectableandwealthyfarmer，onthebordersofTipperary，intendernesstothecornsofhisdepartedhelpmate，enclosedinhercoffintwopairofbrogues，alightandaheavy，theonefordry，theotherforsloppyweather；seekingthustomitigatethefatiguesofherinevitableperambulationsinprocuringwaterandadministeringittothethirstysoulsofpurgatory。Fierceanddesperateconflictshaveensuedinthecaseoftwofuneralpartiesapproachingthesamechurchyardtogether，eachendeavouringtosecuretohisowndeadpriorityofsepulture，andaconsequentimmunityfromthetaxlevieduponthepedestrianpowersofthelast-
comer。Aninstancenotlongsinceoccurred，inwhichoneoftwosuchparties，throughfearoflosingtotheirdeceasedfriendthisinestimableadvantage，madetheirwaytothechurchyardbyashortcut，and，inviolationofoneoftheirstrongestprejudices，actuallythrewthecoffinoverthewall，lesttimeshouldbelostinmakingtheirentrancethroughthegate。Innumerableinstancesofthesamekindmightbequoted，alltendingtoshowhowstronglyamongthepeasantryofthesouththissuperstitionisentertained。However，I
shallnotdetainthereaderfurtherbyanyprefatoryremarks，butshallproceedtolaybeforehimthefollowing：
ExtractfromtheMS。PapersofthelateRev。FrancisPurcell，ofDrumcoolagh。
Itellthefollowingparticulars，asnearlyasIcanrecollectthem，inthewordsofthenarrator。Itmaybenecessarytoobservethathewaswhatistermedawell-spokenman，havingforaconsiderabletimeinstructedtheingeniousyouthofhisnativeparishinsuchoftheliberalartsandsciencesashefounditconvenienttoprofess——acircumstancewhichmayaccountfortheoccurrenceofseveralbigwordsinthecourseofthisnarrative，moredistinguishedforeuphoniouseffectthanforcorrectnessofapplication。Iproceedthen，withoutfurtherpreface，tolaybeforeyouthewonderfuladventuresofTerryNeil。
’Why，thin，’tisaquarestory，an’asthrueasyou’resittin’there；andI’dmakebouldtosaythereisn’taboyinthesevenparishescouldtellitbetternorcricktherthanmyself，for’twasmyfatherhimselfithappenedto，an’many’sthetimeIheerditoutivhisownmouth；an’Icansay，an’
I’mproudavthatsame，myfather’swordwasasincredibleasanysquire’soathinthecounthry；andsosignsan’ifapoormangotintoanyunluckythrouble，hewastheboyidgointothecourtan’prove；butthatdoesn’tsignify——hewasashonestandassoberaman，barrin’hewasalittlebittoopartialtotheglass，asyou’dfindinaday’swalk；an’therewasn’tthelikesofhiminthecounthryroundfornatelabourin’
an’baandiggin’；andhewasmightyhandyentirelyforcarpenther’swork，andmendin’ouldspudethrees，an’thelikesi’that。
An’sohetukupwithbone-settin’，aswasmostnathural，fornoneofthemcouldcomeuptohiminmendin’thelegivastooloratable；an’sure，thereneverwasabone-
settergotsomuchcustom-manan’child，youngan’ould——thereneverwassuchbreakin’andmendin’ofbonesknowninthememoryofman。Well，TerryNeil——
forthatwasmyfather’sname——begantofeelhisheartgrowin’light，andhispurseheavy；an’hetookabitivafarminSquirePhelim’sground，justundhertheouldcastle，an’apleasantlittlespotitwas；an’dayan’
mornin’poorcrathursnotabletoputafoottotheground，withbrokenarmsandbrokenlegs，idbecomin’ramblin’infromallquarterstohavetheirbonessplicedup。Well，yerhonour，allthiswasaswellaswellcouldbe；butitwascustomarywhenSirPhelimidgoanywhereoutivthecountry，forsomeivthetinantstosituptowatchintheouldcastle，justforakindofcomplimenttotheouldfamily——an’amightyunplisantcomplimentitwasforthetinants，fortherewasn’tamanofthembutknewtherewassomethingquareabouttheouldcastle。Theneighbourshadit，thatthesquire’souldgrandfather，asgoodagintlenlan——Godbewithhim——asIheer’d，aseverstoodinshoe-leather，usedtokeepwalkin’aboutinthemiddleivthenight，eversinstheburstedabloodvesselpullin’outacorkoutivabottle，asyouorImightbedoin’，andwilltoo，plaseGod——butthatdoesn’tsignify。So，asIwassayin’，theouldsquireusedtocomedownoutoftheframe，wherehispicthurwashungup，andtobreakthebottlesandglasses——Godbemarcifultousall——an’dthrinkallhecouldcomeat——an’smallblametohimforthatsame；andthenifanyofthefamilyidbecomin’in，heidbeupagaininhisplace，lookingasquitean’asinnocentasifhedidn’tknowanythingaboutit——themischievousouldchap’Well，yourhonour，asIwassayin’，onetimethefamilyupatthecastlewasstayin’
inDublinforaweekortwo；andso，asusual，someofthetinantshadtositupinthecastle，andthethirdnightitkemtomyfather’sturn。“Oh，tarean’ouns!“
saysheuntohimself，“an’mustIsitupallnight，andthatouldvagaboneofasperit，glorybetoGod，“sayshe，“serenadin’throughthehouse，an’doin’allsortsivmischief？“However，therewasnogettin’aff，andsoheputabouldfaceonit，an’hewentupatnightfallwithabottleofpottieen，andanotherofholywather。
’Itwasrainin’smartenough，an’theevenin’wasdarksomeandgloomy，whenmyfathergotin；andwhatwiththerainhegot，andtheholywatherhesprinkledonhimself，itwasn’tlongtillhehadtoswallyacupivthepottieen，tokeepthecowldoutivhisheart。Itwastheouldsteward，LawrenceConnor，thatopenedthedoor——andhean’myfatherworalwaysverygreat。Sowhenheseenwhoitwas，an’myfathertouldhimhowitwashisturntowatchinthecastle，heofferedtositupalongwithhim；andyoumaybesuremyfatherwasn’tsorryforthatsame。SosaysLarry：
’“We’llhaveabitivfireintheparlour，“sayshe。
’“An’whynotinthehall？“saysmyfather，forheknewthatthesquire’spicthurwashungintheparlour。
’“Nofirecanbelitinthehall，“saysLawrence，“forthere’sanouldjackdaw’snestinthechimney。“
’“Ohthin，“saysmyfather，“letusstopinthekitchen，forit’sveryunproperforthelikesivmetobesittin’intheparlour，“sayshe。
’“Oh，Terry，thatcan’tbe，“saysLawrence；“ifwekeepuptheouldcustomatall，wemayaswellkeepitupproperly，“sayshe。
’“Divilsweeptheouldcustom!“saysmyfather——tohimself，doyemind，forhedidn’tliketoletLawrenceseethathewasmoreafeardhimself。
’“Oh，verywell，“sayshe。“I’magreeable，Lawrence，“sayshe；andsodowntheybothwinttothekitchen，untilthefireidbelitintheparlour——an’thatsamewasn’tlongdoin’。
’Well，yourhonour，theysoonwintupagain，an’satdownmightycomfortablebytheparlourfire，andtheybeginnedtotalk，an’tosmoke，an’todhrinkasmalltasteivthepottieen；and，moreover，theyhadagoodrousin’fireo’bogwoodandturf，towarmtheirshinsover。
’Well，sir，asIwassayin’theykep’
convarsin’andsmokin’togethermostagreeable，untilLawrencebeginn’dtogetsleepy，aswasbutnathuralforhim，forhewasanouldsarvintman，andwasusedtoagreatdaleivsleep。
’“Sureit’simpossible，“saysmyfather，“it’sgettin’sleepyyouare？“
’“Oh，divilataste，“saysLarry；“I’monlyshuttin’myeyes，“sayshe，“tokeepouttheparfumeo’thetibackysmoke，that’smakin’themwather，“sayshe。
“Sodon’tyoumindotherpeople’sbusiness，“sayshe，stiffenough，forhehadamightyhighstomachavhisownresthissowl，“andgoon，“sayshe，“withyourstory，forI’mlistenin’，“sayshe，shuttin’downhiseyes。
’Well，whenmyfatherseenspakin’
wasnouse，hewentonwithhisstory。
Bythesametoken，itwasthestoryofJimSoolivanandhisouldgoathewastellin’——an’aplisantstoryitis——an’
therewassomuchdivarsioninit，thatitwasenoughtowakenadormouse，letalonetopervintaChristiangoin’asleep。
But，faix，thewaymyfathertouldit，I
believethereneverwasthelikesheerdsinstnorbefore，forhebawledouteverywordavit，asifthelifewasfairlylavin’him，thryingtokeepouldLarryawake；but，faix，itwasnouse，forthehoorsnesscameanhim，an’beforehekemtotheendofhisstoryLarryO’Connorbeginnedtosnorelikeabagpipes。
’“Oh，bluran’agres，“saysmyfather，“isn’tthisahardcase，“sayshe，“thatouldvillain，lettin’ontobemyfriend，andtogoasleepthisway，an’usbothintheveryroomwithasperit，“sayshe。“Thecrasso’Christaboutus!“sayshe；andwiththathewasgoin’toshakeLawrencetowakenhim，buthejustremimberedifherousedhim，thathe’dsurelygoofftohisbed，an’lavehimcomplatelyalone，an’
thatidbebyfarworse。
’“Ohthin，“saysmyfather，“I’llnotdisturbthepoorboy。Itidbeneitherfriendlynorgood-nathured，“sayshe，“totorminthimwhileheisasleep，“sayshe；
“onlyIwishIwasthesameway，myself，“sayshe。
’An’withthathebeginnedtowalkupan’down，an’sayin’hisprayers，untilheworkedhimselfintoasweat，savin’yourpresence。Butitwasallnogood；sohedthrunkaboutapintofsperits，tocomposehismind。
’“Oh，“sayshe，“IwishtotheLordI
wasasasyinmymindasLarrythere。
Maybe，“sayshe，“ifIthriedIcouldgoasleep；“an’withthathepulledabigarm-
chairclosebesideLawrence，an’settledhimselfinitaswellashecould。
’ButtherewasonequarethingIforgottotellyou。Hecouldn’thelp，inspiteavhimself，lookin’nowan’thinatthepicthur，an’heimmediatelyobsarvedthattheeyesavitwasfollyin’himabout，an’
starin’athim，an’winkin’athim，wher-
iverhewint。“Oh，“sayshe，whenheseenthat，“it’sapoorchanceIhave，“
sayshe；“an’badluckwaswithmethedayIkemintothisunforthunateplace，“
sayshe。“Butanywaythere’snouseinbein’freckenednow，“sayshe；“forifI
amtodie，Imayaswellparspireundaunted，“sayshe。
’Well，yourhonour，hethriedtokeephimselfquitean’asy，an’hethoughttwoorthreetimeshemighthavewintasleep，butforthewaythestormwasgroanin’
andcreakin’throughthegreatheavybranchesoutside，an’whistlin’throughtheouldchimleysivthecastle。Well，aftheronegreatroarin’blastivthewind，you’dthinkthewallsivthecastlewasjustgoin’
tofall，quitean’clane，withtheshakin’ivit。Allavasuddintthestormstopt，assilentan’asquiteasifitwasaJulyevenin’。Well，yourhonour，itwasn’tstoppedblowin’forthreeminnites，beforehethoughthehardasortivanoiseoverthechimley-piece；an’withthatmyfatherjustopenedhiseyesthesmallesttasteinlife，an’sureenoughheseentheouldsquiregettin’outivthepicthur，foralltheworldasifhewasthrowin’affhisridin’coat，untilhesteptoutclanean’
complate，outavthechimley-piece，an’
thrunhimselfdownanthefloor。Well，theslieveenouldchap——an’myfatherthoughtitwasthedirtiestturnivall——
beforehebeginnedtodoanythingoutivtheway，hestoppedforawhiletolistenwortheybothasleep；an’assoonashethoughtallwasquite，heputouthishandandtukhouldivthewhiskybottle，andhrankatlasteapintivit。Well，yourhonour，whenhetukhisturnoutivit，hesettleditbackmightycuteentirely，intheverysamespotitwasinbefore。An’hebeginnedtowalkupan’downtheroom，lookin’assoberan’assolidasifheneverdonethelikesatall。An’whineverhewentapastmyfather，hethoughthefeltagreatscentofbrimstone，an’itwasthatthatfreckenedhimentirely；forheknewitwasbrimstonethatwasburnedinhell，savin’yourpresence。Atanyrate，heoftenheerditfromFatherMurphy，an’
hehadarighttoknowwhatbelongedtoit——he’sdeadsince，Godresthim。Well，yourhonour，myfatherwasasyenoughuntilthesperitkempasthim；soclose，Godbemarcifultousall，thatthesmellivthesulphurtukthebreathclaneoutivhim；an’withthathetuksuchafitivcoughin’，thatital-a-mostshukhimoutivthechairhewassittin’in。
’“Ho，ho!“saysthesquire，stoppin’
shortabouttwostepsaff，andturnin’