Southern shield., 1851-02-08
TAKING THE CENSUS.
BY OCEANUS.

Ot the number Ol your ldillhy'
 .sShure, now, it's jouking ye are Is Il Congressmen ye would make uv us!,'
 "Oh, no, it's only to find out how many souls there are in the Union." .c
 "WelI, thin, ax me the questions, and II II thev are dacent, it's mesll as will answer
 "Begin with the eldest, and inform me their names and occupation" ,l,
 DFirst there is Teddy-and fine broth uv boy he is-he's fortyfve years ola, and is an elevator and discinder by trade;
 "A what madam? do not understana!
 dts Ingsh Pm speaking; pure MaIaS'ah IngliSh."
 "I>do not apprehcnd you"
 "Apprehend me, is it, ye dirty loon! It's more nor the like uv ye can do, that same. I For f,vn na vs I'd skin ve as would prate." /"
 "Don't get into passion; you miscon ceive me. l merely wished to say don't understand your husbands trade"
 "Why don't you spake lnglish thin!-- < Teddy carries up bricks for new houses and ! brings them down from ould unes."
 "I perceive he is laborer."
 Just the same, vuIgarly speaking"
 ..'In what country was he born!'
 "BalnaIee County, Longtord, in ould Ireland, and may the divI birn the spal- peens that druy us from its grane sod"
 "Never mind, madam; would willingly hear you grievances, but my time is pre- >cious. l have but six months 10 complete my return Now, your name next, if you please"
 "My names Bjddy. Be the same token as was blest be the praste be the name of Bridget"
 "Now, your age?"
 "The divil roast ye. and il is a Iady'5 age ye would be alther axin her to her own tace?"
 "Madam, it is not my intention 10 insult you but the questions must be asked, and there is heavy penalty incurred by those who refuse to answer, which can be re- covered by law.'
 "ls it the law ye would be afher threaten ing me wid, and me son Pat ore uv the PoIace, too? Do ye think ils his bIissid muher he'd be saying in limbo, when it's ! only word he'd have to spake 10 the Mare 10 git her out!'
 Am to understand, then, you refuse 10 give your age!"
 dts the same, and defy ye to find it out"
 dts not so very material, so I shall put you down at fifty years" "Murtherl and lie is it ye would be aither sinding To the Prisident2 when he can say am only torty-tWo. if he but tux the trouble 10 examine the parish register, i, D DnccCr,rp0D bprpD 'Thank you, madam, and now we will proceed with the rest"
 "But ye haven't axed all the questions about meSlf, yit."
 Il have your name, age, and place of brth."
 "Thrue for ye, so ye have, ye cunning divil: and don'tye Wantto know my thrade!'' "Not at all have your husband'5." 'But its mesiIf that thinks ye ought to put 1t down. Pm char, and iv yersef ol any uv yer friends have any job in me line going out to days work CT the likes, ye can list spake good word for dacent body?"
 ''I shall certainly always remember you Now for the next oldest" "Thal's Pat, and he's twenty-three, barring few months"
 "I think you said he is a PoIiceman?'' "Yes, shure, but can'tye put him down a Public Fukshunary, as he calls him8e!n Ii sounds more iligant, and should me friends in the ould country iver hapen to say the book ye are writing, it's proud they will be-
 "Who comes next!"
 "The next is Dinnis He is twenty-one.
 "What is his occupationr"
 "Divil the thrade he's got. Isn'the wait ing for a vakincy in some of the depart ments! and he will get it, too, for he has a mighty influence a! the Fowls. He runs wid the Fire Ingins, when they will let him pull the rope; and when they won't, why he jist hayes stones at thm.-Independe is Dnnis-mighty independent"
 "Who next! Please give them to me iii -~tatina"
 "Nixt comes Maggy; she's nineteen. h9lp lIiys d5Pyd Miles they are eivo"'~~~
 "They are twins, eh?'
 "Yis, shure, they were all thray of them born twins; and thin there is Kate, she's fourteen; and Biddy, she's twelve; and Don OConnell, he's ten; thin comes Sukey, she's eight; and Luke, he's four; thin Jim, he's two and-tAat'S aH ct preSentr'
 "Why, madam, you have d large family, and you are fortunate to have them all living, for presume you have had no death in your family circle"
 And is sitthe grief uv my heart you would be now rakn' up about my chider that is dead, walked and buried in ouId Ireland? Haven't lost four as swate babes as iver was born!''
 "Excuse me, but in enumeratng your family, forgot to ask you how many were born in this country?"
 "JlSt none at all. Didn't we come Overl