...and says, "Barkeep, gimme three Guinnesses." Man drinks them all, no rush, just drinks them all. Pays for them, leaves.

Same thing the next night. And every night thereafter.

One night the bartender asks him, "Why do you order just three Guinnesses, drink them, pay, and leave? This is a nice place, you could stick around awhile you know."

"Well," replied the man, "when I left Ireland my brothers and I made a pact that every evening we'd down a pint for each other, drinking each other's health. I'm not much of a drinker, but doing this makes me think of my brothers and my family thousands of miles away."

The bartender was impressed. A really nice family ritual. And every night the man came and quietly drank his three pints.

And then the night came when he ordered only two pints.

The bartender was upset, and inquired if all was well back in Ireland -- pehaps a brother had died?

"Nah," said the man, "my brother Seamus has gone on the wagon, that's all."