My Irish Great Great Grandfather

My Irish Great Great Grandfather Frank Lawrence was a milkman who delivered milk to the fine homes of New Orleans during the early 1900s. 

Milk would be delivered every day, except Sunday. My grandfather milked his dairy cows early each morning, then loaded his supply onto a small wooden buggy, pulled by his horse. He would then make his way along his route, knocking on his customers' doors. 

The lady of the house would come to the door bringing whatever container she kept the family's milk in, and Frank would take his ladle and scoop out the amount of milk she had ordered. Then he would go to the next home. 

One day Frank wasn't feeling well, so he asked his neighbor Joseph to run his route and deliver the milk. Joseph answered, "I will help you, but I don't know your route." Frank replied, "don't you worry, the horse knows the way."

The neighbor wasn't too confident in Frank's horse, but to his surprise, the horse started along his way as soon as he flipped the reigns.

Each time the horse stopped in front of a house, a customer would meet him at the door with a container to be filled with milk. The route went smoothly all morning and into the afternoon until the horse stopped in front of a bar.

Joseph was a little confused, but he had learned to trust the horse. He jumped off the wagon, went inside, and asked the bartender how much milk was needed? The bartender looked confused and answered, "this is a bar." Joseph explained I'm filling in on this milk route, and the feller that owns the wagon told me that the horse knows the stops, and sure enough, he hasn't been wrong until now.

The bartender looked out to the street at the horse and started laughing. That's old Frank Lawrence's horse. Frank stops by and has him a cold beer every afternoon.