The Purcell Papers, vol 1 | Page 8

novelists?succumbed, whilst affording congenial material for?our artist of the superhuman to work upon, did?not escape his severest satire.
Shortly after completing his last novel, strange?to say, bearing the title 'Willing to Die,' Le?Fanu breathed his last at his home No. 18,?Merrion Square South, at the age of fifty-nine.
'He was a man,' writes the author of a brief?memoir of him in the 'Dublin University?Magazine,' 'who thought deeply, especially on?religious subjects. To those who knew him he?was very dear; they admired him for his?learning, his sparkling wit, and pleasant?conversation, and loved him for his manly virtues, for?his noble and generous qualities, his gentleness,?and his loving, affectionate nature.' And all?who knew the man must feel how deeply deserved?are these simple words of sincere regard for?Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.
Le Fanu's novels are accessible to all; but?his Purcell Papers are now for the first time?collected and published, by the permission of his?eldest son (the late Mr. Philip Le Fanu), and?very much owing to the friendly and active?assistance of his brother, Mr. William Le Fanu.
THE PURCELL PAPERS.
THE GHOST AND THE BONE SETTER.
In looking over the papers of my?late valued and respected friend,?Francis Purcell, who for nearly?fifty years discharged the arduous duties of?a parish priest in the south of Ireland, I?met with the following document. It is?one of many such; for he was a curious?and industrious collector of old local?traditions--a commodity in?which the quarter?where he resided mightily abounded. The?collection and arrangement of such legends?was, as long as I can remember him, his?hobby; but I had never learned that his?love of the marvellous and whimsical had?carried him so far as to prompt him to?commit the results of his inquiries to?writing, until, in the character of residuary?legatee, his will put me in possession of all?his manuscript papers. To such as may?think the composing of such productions?as these inconsistent with the character?and habits of a country priest, it is necessary?to observe, that there did exist a race?of priests--those of the old school, a race?now nearly extinct--whose education?abroad tended to produce in them tastes?more literary than have yet been evinced?by the alumni of Maynooth.
It is perhaps necessary to add that the?superstition illustrated by the following?story, namely, that the corpse last buried?is obliged, during his juniority of interment,?to supply his brother tenants of the?churchyard in which he lies, with fresh?water to allay the burning thirst of?purgatory, is prevalent throughout the south of?Ireland.
The writer can vouch for a case in?which a respectable and wealthy farmer,?on the borders of Tipperary, in tenderness?to the corns of his departed helpmate,?enclosed in her coffin two pair of brogues, a?light and a heavy, the one for dry, the?other for sloppy weather; seeking thus to?mitigate the fatigues of her inevitable?perambulations in procuring water and?administering it to the thirsty souls of?purgatory. Fierce and desperate conflicts?have ensued in the case of two funeral?parties approaching the same churchyard?together, each endeavouring to secure to?his own dead priority of sepulture, and a?consequent immunity from the tax levied?upon the pedestrian powers of the lastcomer.?An instance not long since?occurred, in which one of two such parties,?through fear of losing to their deceased?friend this inestimable advantage, made?their way to the churchyard by a short cut,?and, in violation of one of their strongest?prejudices, actually threw the coffin over?the wall, lest time should be lost in making?their entrance through the gate. Innumerable?instances of the same kind might be?quoted, all tending to show how strongly?among the peasantry of the south this?superstition is entertained. However, I?shall not detain the reader further by?any prefatory remarks, but shall proceed?to lay before him the following:
Extract from the MS. Papers of the late?Rev. Francis Purcell, of Drumcoolagh.
I tell the following particulars, as?nearly as I can recollect them, in the?words of the narrator. It may be necessary?to observe that he was what is termed?a well-spoken man, having for a considerable?time instructed the ingenious youth?of his native parish in such of the liberal?arts and sciences as he found it convenient?to profess--a circumstance which may account?for the occurrence of several big?words in the course of this narrative, more?distinguished for euphonious effect than?for correctness of application. I proceed?then, without further preface, to lay?before you the wonderful adventures of?Terry Neil.
'Why, thin, 'tis a quare story, an' as?thrue as you're sittin' there; and I'd make?bould to say there isn't a boy in the seven?parishes could tell it better nor crickther?than myself, for 'twas my father himself it?happened to, an' many's the time I heerd?it out iv his own mouth; an' I can say, an'?I'm proud av that same, my father's word?was as incredible as any squire's oath in the?counthry; and so signs an' if a poor man?got into any unlucky throuble, he was?the boy id go into the court an' prove; but?that doesn't signify--he was as honest and?as sober a man, barrin' he was a little bit?too partial to the glass, as you'd find in a?day's walk; an' there wasn't the likes