School: Gowna
- Location:
- Scrabby, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Hugh Murray
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0986, Page 036
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- XML “The Letter of the Widow's Son”
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- Once upon a time there was a widow's son who went over to England to get employment with a doctor. The doctor told him to write to his mother
''ah'' said the boy '' I can't write for you ''. The boy said you cannot write a letter of mine. '' I bet you £5 note I can write any letter said the doctor.
So the boy dictated and the doctor wrote.Dear Mother,
I hope you are well at present, as I am well my self. How is the spotted cow, and had she a calf?
How is Neddy the donkey and will he stand when you say phthongh.
The doctor asked him how would he spell ''phthongh.
Then the boy earned the £5 note and he took it''Phthough'' is the word used when driving an ass in order to get him to stop
