IRISH HUMOR
Old Murphy had worked in the mines beginning as a young lad. After many years of breathing coal dust he was on his death bed and was not expected to last another day. Neighbors had begun bringing food for the expected visitors as they paid their last respects. His wife was in the kitchen baking a ham for the visitors and as she did so, a wonderful aroma wafted throughout their cottage. Old Murph began to rally a bit and called out, "How about a piece of that fine ham, Meg". She replied, "Go on now. You know that's for the wake."

As told by Frank McCourt during an interview on NPR