Farmer O'Neill had been invited to supper by his neighbour Farmer Kelly. Expecting that his homeward journey would be dark, he had taken a stable lamp. The drink was not spared and the men sat long over their glasses.

O'Neill, however, reached home safely, guided by his lamp.

The next morning he received the following note from his friend: "O'Neill, I am sending your stable lamp with bearer. Please return my parrot and cage."