Rare Epitaphs.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 312, 31 October 1888, Page 5

Rare Epitaphs.

In the Cathedral Churchyard o£ Winchester is the following epitaph, to the memory of Thomas Fletcher :—: — Here lies in peace a Ilampslur grenadier. Who caught his dcaili b.\ drinking cold small beer. Soldiers ! take heed from his untimely fall. And when you re hot, drink strong or none at all. The above memorial, being decayed, ua 5 ? lebtoreil by the ofhccis of the gauison, a.o1761. To the restored stone the following lines were added by the North Hants Militia in 1800 :— An honest soldier never is torgot, Whether he die by musket or by pot. The following is from St. Margaiob's Churchyard, tpswicli : — " Mary Burgess, died Dec. 25, 1825, aged 58." Reader ! pass on, ne'er waste time On bad biography, or better rhyme ; For what I am, this cumbrous class ensures, And what 1 was is no aflair of yours. On a tombstone in the old churchyard of Peterhead (Aberdeenshirc), there was wont to be the following interrogative epitaph : - Whalics here? John Sim, ye nccclna' spior. Hullo, John, is that you ? Ay, ay, but I'm deed noo. This is from TTaddington Kirkyurd — Underneath this stone doth lie As much beauty as could die, Which, while it lived, did vigour give To us much virtue ub could live. On a slab in Cullen (Banfl'shire) Kirkyard is the following :—: — Ilicjacet, Johannes Abordonensis, Who built the churchyard dyke at his own expensis. Another :—: — Here lies interred a man o' micht, llis namo was Malcolm Downie, Ho lost his life a mavßOl niclit. By fain oil' his pownie.

Said inquisitive Willie, "0, pa. can j'ou Loll how rhis poet O'Moaghor learns the secrets of heli '!" " Yes." answered ohe &ire, in a humorous tone. " The poet belongs io 'The Devil's Own.'"