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Show PAT AND THE CONVICTS. It is related that once seven men were sentenced to be transported, and among them was an Irishman convicted convict-ed of counterfeiting. According to the custom of the country, the convicts con-victs were allowed to choose any religion re-ligion they desired to adopt, and the Irishman made up his mind that they should all become Catholics. Accordingly, Accord-ingly, when they assembled in the prison yard, the subject of religion was brought up by the Irishman, who said: "Boys, we have all been bad together, we have made lots of money and spent It, and now since we have all to join the church, there is no reason rea-son why we should be separated. I now propose that we toss a ha'penny and shaDe our course on the result. If a harp comes up we will be Catholics, Catho-lics, and if a queen shows on top we will be Protestants." "Agreed," said the convicts; and Pat tossed the ha'penny, and the harp won. Accordingly they .all become Catholics. Just before their departure the parish par-ish priest approached Pat and asked how he managed to convert his fellow-convicts. "Oh, easy enough," replied Pat, and then he told the story of the ha'penny. "Did you risk your Immortal soul on the turning of a penny?" exclaimed the priest, in holy horror. "Indeed I did not," replied Pat; "that ha'penny had a harp on both sides. I made it myself." n ' i |
