From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!whuxlb!eisx!npoiv!npois!hou5f!jjs
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Title: true story
Article-I.D.: hou5f.267
Posted: Thu May  5 13:11:14 1983
Received: Thu May 19 02:49:55 1983

My grandfather told me this story many times ( and still tells it to me ).

My grandfather rode the underside of a train from Canada to the US.
A friend of his came to America by boat around 1915.

While on the boat a man who knew some english tried to teach my
grandfathers friend his name in english.  This would help him when
they arrived at Ellis island and had to tell the immigration man his name.

When they finally arrived, at Ellis island, my grandfathers friend got up
to the immigration window and the man said what is your name.  He replied
Shane Fergessen.  The man wrote down Shane Fergison, realizing the
Jewish accent.

What' so funny?

Well shane fergessen (excuse the Yiddish/English) means 'I FORGET'.