A Puzzled Celt.
A class in a San Francisco art school was recently startled by the sudden appearance in its midst of a dilapidated Irishman who, with tears in his eyes begged for enough money to get him a "bite." The first impulse of the presiding genius was to request him to move on, but his picturesque qualities suggested that he be given a chance to earn his supper by sitting as a model.
"Sit down," said the instructor, kindly. "If you will permit these young ladies to paint you we will pay you four bits. What do you say?"
"Av Oi'll let 'em wha-at?" replied the beggar, with a puzzled look on his face.
"Paint you. Paint you. It won't take very long."
"Bedad, Oi want th' foor bits bad enough," he returned, after a moment's reflection, "an' Oi'll be viry gla-ad t' let th' young ladies paint me av ye'll tell me how'll Oi'll git the paint arf me afterwar-rds."
—Harpers' Magazine.