For the fourth day in row, an Irishman stepped into a pub and ordered three pints of ale. Curious, the bartender asked him, "Lad, why do you not order one at a time? After all, I'm certain the ale loses its fizz and goes stale from the sittin'."
The man looked up from his drinking and replied, "Well, ya see sir, me brother Seamus lives in England, and me brother Patsy lives in Australia. So we all decided that as long as we live, whenever we order an ale we would also order one for our brothers to keep us close in spirit."
The bartender smiled and left him to his drinking.
When the same man came in the next day and ordered only two pints, the bartender was taken aback. "Oh my, son. I'm so sorry for your loss."
The Irishman looked up startled. Then realizing why the bartender was offering his condolences, he laughed and shook his red head. "Oh no, no! Me brothers are jes' fine. But ya see, I gave up drinkin' for Lent!"