The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-06-12
A Foiue Boy.

Fergus O'Brien, of Galway, Ireland,
has left the Queens dominions and
crossed the blue waters with his wife and
one child, and the good ship which
brought them over landed her freight,
living and otherwise, safely at Castle
Garden on q stormy day, February, A.
d., one year ago After the usual pre-
linlinaries attending dlsernbarkment, the
cmigrants separated, going to the north,
south and vest The Pennsylvania Rail
road brought Fergus and his little family
to Philadelphia, and after he had found
a residence FOR his wife and child, which
donlciliary location consisted of two
rooms on Front street, he was not long
getting into employment himself.
Now, Mrs. Fergus had a female cousin
who lived in part of the same house,
and who was an incolrigible practical
joker Accordingly, when the first of
April came around she decided to "fool'
cousin Fergus She laid her plans so
as to have Mrs. O'Brien out OF the way
for the morning, and then sent a Lad
with note to Fergus, where he was EN-
ployed as o stevedore. which reads thus:
DEAR COUSIN, Accept my congratulations.
You are feyther. Come up at onct.
From onT mindful cousin, KATE.
P. SITS u ioine boy, and weighs heyant
twinty pounds
While the hoy WIS gone with the note,
= Katie made haste TO borrow d negro baby
Of eight months old, and wrapping it
deliberately in hastily extemporized gar
ments, she deposited it in the big clothes
basket and sat it before the FIRE. Then
she proceeded to gather IN the neighbors
to witness the effect Of her Joke. Not q
minute too soon, either, tor ny the time
the last one had got safely slowed away
Fergus came VI the steps, clearing four
at leap.
"Let me see the spalpeen--tae bye"
says he.
"Hist T. says Katie, yen wake him.
It's slapin' he is. Now, dom make
sthir an III let yer papo at him"
Put the caution came too late, tor the
strong lungs OF the eight months old
"moke' set up tremendous racket.
That's an O'Brien,' says Fergus,
clapping his hands. "Mither o Moses,
fvat ali appetite he hev got wild his voicel
He could be harkin the hounds alriddy
in ould Galway. BE gorra, III say cf
he knows his faythel.
He had picked the basket up 20 carry
it to the window, when the young Afri-
can, having GOT his hands loose, made
short work of the wrappings around his
face
"Terra an ounds said Fergus, drop
ping the basket, rs that my spa.peen
Is that Il freeborn American citizen Is
that fvat | kim to this blessed country
for, to be the faythur OF naygur, and
misself not nayteralized. Its my iooty
to kiss him, yez say Howly Moses but
it's hard one.
lie stopped to the task, however, but
it was too much.
"Be the sod Of ouid ireland, but his
breath smills like onions and wet dog
mixed. Fvat brither he'll make till
his white sister. But where is Al
leen2 Aileen, acushla, acushla fly did
you make he fayther of a naygur
LOOK at MS IlSs, as crooked as Two rain
bows spliced togither. rs not himself
could ever sthop pig in lane, at all
at oil !"
Thinking the joke had gone far
enough, the jovial cousin told him it was
an "April fool"
'It's no fool at all Niver an O'Bri-
en- was born fool It's an O'Brien all
over, barrin' the color, and he can't hip
that"
Aileen made her timely appearance
here, and denied the maternity. The
house was cleared in thrice, and Fer
gus has one less Of his wife's relations to
entertain.
Fighting for Home