Curious Epitaphs, Collected from the Graveyards of Great Britain and Ireland. Andrews William

inscription:—

      Sacred to the memory of

       Alex. M’kay,

       (Late of Glasgow),

       Who died 3rd June, 1834,

       Aged 26 years.

       Strong and athletic was my frame;

       Far from my native home I came,

       And manly fought with Simon Byrne;

       Alas! but lived not to return.

       Reader, take warning of my fate,

       Lest you should rue your case too late:

       If you ever have fought before,

       Determine now to fight no more.

      We are informed that Byrne was killed shortly afterwards, whilst engaged in fighting.

      From the prize-ring let us turn to the more satisfactory amusement of cricket. In Highgate cemetery, Lillywhite, the celebrated cricketer, is buried, and over his remains is placed a monument with the significant emblem of a wicket being upset with a ball.

      The following lines are said to be copied from the tombstone in a cemetery near Salisbury:—

      I bowl’d, I struck, I caught, I stopp’d,

       Sure life’s a game of cricket;

       I block’d with care, with caution popp’d,

       Yet Death has hit my wicket.

      The Tennis Ball is introduced in an epitaph placed in St. Michael’s Church, Coventry. It reads thus:—