CORNAYLIUS HA-HA-HA-HANNIGAN

New Zealand Tablet, 25 October 1906, Page 37

CORNAYLIUS HA-HA-HA-HANNIGAN

'Twas the godfather sputtered,' or mayhap the priest ; But, ' be that as 'it may, it is certain, at least, That the wan or the other was surely to blame ' Fur presenting the lad the quare twisht to his name. For there at the christ'nin', Wid iv'ry wan list'nin'. . _ Now didn't his Reverence, Father CFiamnigan, Wid, nervousness stam'rin' Bechune the. child's clam'rin'-. Baptize it ' Cornaylius Ha-Ha-Ha-Hannigan ! ' Wid these words from* the priest, shure, the cute little rogue • , _ ■ . , . ■ Up and stopped his own mouth wid his chubby kithogue, - i ; -ijjj $ An' the dimples broke out an' proceeded to chase All the tears "and the frowns from his innocint face, } For, faix, he was afther Absorbin' the laughter , * „ Stuck into his name by good Father O'Flannigan ! Now that's the thruth in it, An' so from that minute Shure, iv'ry wan called the lad • Ha-Ha-Ha-Hannigan.' Now the ' ha-ha-ha ! ' stuck to him close as his name, For the sorra a tear could be drownin' the "same, Not a care ever touched him from thatt blessed day But the gift o1o 1 the laughther would drive it away: Wid jokin' an' chaflln' He niver stopped laiighin 1 , Or if he did stop he iinmajiate began agin ; An' iv'ry wan hearin' His laughther so cheerin' Jist jined in the mirth o' young ' Ha-Ha-Ha-Hanni-' gan.* . : Shure, the throubles o' life were so palthry an' small 'Tis a pity we let thim disthurb us at all. There is niver a care but would lave us in pace If we'd, only stand up an' jist laugh in its face, Faix, life were a pleasure V all had the treasure - Conferred so unthinkin'^by Father O'Flaxmigan ; If all could but borrow That cure-all for sorrow Possessed by ' Cornaylius Ha-Ha-Ha-Hannigan ! '• — T. A. paly in ' Catholic Standard and Times.'