The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-30


popularity which he always made when
he came to that question.
But Mr.. Cassidy did not look upon the
taking of census as a jocular matter.
GO slow there now. me son." he said.
'Ye can see all right THAI I'm white.
but if l read the papers intilligint!y this
census refers to the first day of June,
and not to the day that's on us now at
ali. Am | right in that"
'That is quite true said the enumer-
ator
VERY well. them said Mr.. Cassidy.
That same first day of June was last
Friday. and that day. as / remember, I
had the job of putin In a couple OF tons
of coal and the betther part OF the day
! was more the color of mayer. So
put THAI down, and don't be so sure you
know everything be the looks of things
What is your next question, now?"
The enumerator felt that he was los
ing time so he put down Mr.. Cassidys
sex by guess, and asked What was the
date of your BIRTH"
1T was in me mind all along" said Mr.
Cassidy, that you'd be askin me that
question, and I've give some thought to
it, The question was riz once before
remember. in me fathers time-God rest
his soul!-and that same time me mother
was alive!-heaven be her bed!-and me
L
afther the famine and that would be
the year AS, but me father said that It
was, me younger sister that was born
then, me not bein' born till two years
after that. which same would be the year
50, and | think me mother was right
about 1t, me sisther bein' younger nor me-
as l well remmeber be the fact that /
had the mindin' of her when she was a
baby and the Lord knows | was little
/ think me mother would be more likely
to he right about 1t. be rason that Il
would naturally make more of an impress
sion on her, as you might say than II
would on me father and so II you'll put
down that was born in As, I think yen
not go far from wrong, and If we do I'm
sorry, but I've done me BEST
The enumerstor had been waiting as
patiently as he could, and he now be-
trayed his trust by emitting to ask Mr.
Cassidy the month of his birth by put
ting down January on his own respon-
sibility and by mentally reckoning the
age at last birthday as fifty-two Then he
asked: What is your condition."
IF we was only talkin about to-day"
Mr. Cassidy replied I'VE could see for
yerself that I'm sober as you are; but
it's not so easy for me to remember about
the FIRST day of June. That was a Fri
day. and I'd not be so likely to be drink
in as / would If 1t was a Saturday; but,
be the same token l remember its bein'
Friday. we had fishballs for breakfast,
and them would give a thirst, and |
dunno if l would want to say for sure
-
Il mean" said the enumeration, '.are
you married or single?
Say you're married" said Mrs. Cas-
sidy speaking for the first time.
I'm married." said Mr.. Cassidy
How many years have you been mar
ried asked the enumerator.
How many years is 1t we was married
now" Mr.. Cassidy asked his wife.
Twenty-Five, Mrs. Cassidy replied
rs that all? thought 1t was more
Say twenty-five" said Mrs. Cassidy
TWENTY-FIVE, said Mr. Cassidy.
What was the place of your birth ?"
the enumerator asked.
THE place of me BIRTH" said Mr. CAS-
sidy rs as hard a question as the time
of 1t. Ye see, IL l knew Just the time
when l was born then I'd know the place
be he same token. Bacuse in the time
bechune 4S and 20 me family moved its
place of residence. In '4S we was Twin in
County Kerry, but in 80 we was livIn' in
County Cork. and so, If II was the way
/ told We before. then I was born in Ccun.
ther then / was born in County Cork, and
II all depends
at doesn't matter about the coun Y. >,
tine enumerator said. IAN want 10 know
is that you were born In Ireland"
"Ah. ye don't want TO know about the
county, don't yer" said Mr. Cassidy.
when you're as old as am. me son,
yen know what We want better nor We do
now. II makes more difference what
county a man came from than IL does
that he came from ireland, and Billy Mack
knows that II you don't. What ye'd bet
Their do now IS to put down ell that I've
told We about it, and then Billy Mack can
weigh all the Evidence in his own moind
and decide betther nor you nor me. Put
Il all down, now. the way I told il to We,
and then go on wild yer questions"
The enumeration, fearing TO renew the
trouble, put down the place of birth OF
Mr. Cassidys father and mother as Ire
land at a venture. and then went on:
What was the year OF your immigra.
ton 10 the United States?"
That's another OF thin things" said
Mr. Cassidy. that I couldn't be answer
IN offhand. Me father or me mother
could likely tell II they was alive, but
they're both OF thin dead. Heaven rest
their souls! and | was too young at the
time to be takin' notice Of almanacs. But
II yen go 10 all the steamship lines and
lust run yer eye over the books till 20
come 10 The name Of Thomas Cassidy
that was me father--ifll give ID 10 yer 10
a minut."
How many years have you been In the
United States?"
THAT question" said Mr.. Cassidy. "oll
depinds on the other, and when we have
the one yea have the both OF Thin"
What 10 your occupation?"
ION the hr-rst of Jane me occupation
was putin la coal. as told We. Me oc-
cupaiion for the rest OF the time is no
matther Billy Mack would not be iddified
to hear it,