FATHER O'MALLEY ROSE FROM HIS BED ONE MORNING.
IT WAS A FINE SPRING DAY IN HIS NEW PARISH.
HE WALKED TO THE WINDOW OF HIS BEDROOM TO GET A DEEP BREATH OF THE
BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE. HE THEN NOTICED THERE WAS . . . A DONKEY LYING
DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS FRONT LAWN. HE PROMPTLY CALLED THE LOCAL
POLICE STATION.
THE CONVERSATION WENT LIKE THIS:
"GOOD MORNING. THIS IS SERGEANT JONES HOW MIGHT I HELP YOU?"
"AND THE BEST OF THE DAY TE YERSELF. THIS IS FATHER O'MALLEY AT ST.ANN'S
CATHOLIC CHURCH. THERE'S A DONKEY LYING DEAD IN ME FRONT LAWN
AND WOULD YE BE SO KIND AS TO SEND A COUPLE O'YER LADS TO TAKE CARE OF
THE MATTER?"
SERGEANT JONES CONSIDERING HIMSELF TO BE QUITE A WIT AND RECOGNIZING
THE IRISH ACCENT, THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH THE GOOD
FATHER, REPLIED,
"WELL NOW FATHER, IT WAS ALWAYS MY IMPRESSION
THAT YOU PEOPLE TOOK CARE OF THE LAST RITES!"
THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE ON THE LINE FOR A MOMENT . . . .. . ..
FATHER O'MALLEY THEN REPLIED:
"AYE,' TIS CERTAINLY TRUE; BUT WE ARE ALSO OBLIGED TO NOTIFY THE
NEXT OF KIN FIRST, WHICH IS THE REASON FOR ME CALL."
EricT
