There is also a most delicate and beautiful rite observed in some
of the remote villages of the south at the funeral of a female
who has died young and unmarried. A chaplet of white flowers is
borne before the corpse by a young girl nearest in age, size, and
resemblance, and is afterwards hung up in the church over the
accustomed seat of the deceased. These chaplets are sometimes
made of white paper, in imitation of flowers, and inside of them
is generally a pair of white gloves. They are intended as emblems
of the purity of the deceased, and the crown of glory which she
has received in heaven.
In some parts of the country, also, the dead are carried to the
grave with the singing of psalms and hymns--a kind of triumph,
"to show," says Bourne, "that they have finished their course
with joy, and are become conquerors." This, I am informed, is
observed in some of the northern counties, particularly in
Northumberland, and it has a pleasing, though melancholy effect
to hear of a still evening in some lonely country scene the
mournful melody of a funeral dirge swelling from a distance, and
to see the train slowly moving along the landscape.
Thus, thus, and thus, we compass round
Thy harmless and unhaunted ground,
And as we sing thy dirge, we will,
The daffodill
And other flowers lay upon
The altar of our love, thy stone.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225