The Singin' Canary Contest

Shamus wanders in ta the dry goods merchant dockside. He hollers fer the proprieter, "O'Flynn, Git yer scurvy rump out heare, I needs some yeller paint". O'Flynn inquires as to purpose 'o said paint an Shamus tells him he's heard of a singin' canary contest at the pub. Shamus goes on ta explain how he's gonna paint his parrot yellow ta win the prize. O'Flynn tells him, "Ya can't do that Mate, paint will kill the bird fer sure". The two arrrgue fer some time and come to a 50 shilling wager on the outcome. A few days later Shamus wanders back in an lays a pile 'o coin on the counter. O'Flynn counts it out, gives Shamus the hairy eyeball and sez, "yer 25 shillins short". Shamus shoots back the hairy eyeball and sez, "I wants ya ta know it weren't the paint that done him in.... t'was the sandin' between coats".