A Dog's Religion
One day, while walking in the suburbs of the city of Cork, he met the
Rev. Mr. Flack, a Protestant clergyman, and Mr. Solomons, a Jew--both
friends of his Mr. Flack's dog was running on before them. Good
morrow, friends, said O'Leary. Well, what interesting topic engages
your attention now? To be candid with you, replied the clergyman, we
were just conjecturing what religion this dog of mine would be likely to
embrace, if it were possible for him to choose. Strange subject,
indeed, said O'Leary; but were I to offer an opinion, I would venture
to say he would become a Protestant! How, asked the Protestant
clergyman and the Jew. Why, replied O'Leary, he would not be a Jew,
for, you know, he would retain his passion for pork: he would not become
a Catholic, for I am quite certain he would eat meat on a Friday. What
religion, then, could he become, but a Protestant!