Page:History of John Cheap the chapman (5).pdf/19

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
JOHN CHEAP THE CHAPMAN.
19

ſaid ſhe? Indeed my feet is very cauld, ſaid I, whereat they all laught but but the goodwife, ſhe gloom'd until the reſt were done, and then took a laugh at it herſelf: So the goodman ordered all the Johnies Jamies and Jennies with their wheels to ſet about; then I was ſet beyond the fire, and preferred to ſteer their ſowens, but when they were ready and put up in diſhes, the goodwife order'd one of the lads to take a pair of old blankets, and two ſacks, and ſhew me where I was to lay in the barn; Ho, ho, thinks I, there's no ſupper for me, but I'll remember this, to pay her ſtock and annual. So I went to the barn and lay till next morning, about chapman's riſing time when the pottage was ready, and then gives the wife a fine cotton lace and a few pins, which pleaſed her ſo well, that ſhe went thro' the cogs and collected about a mutchkin of pottage for me, for which I thanked her. "A wat well lad, an ye be coming by ony time, ye's be welcome to a night of our barn, frae ye hae nae ſteal'd naething;" thanks to you goodwife, ſaid I, that's very fair: "Indeed lad 'tis no every ane we'll trust wi' our new barn, farfore ſud we?" O goodwife it would be a great thief that wad run away wi' a barn on his back, I wonder ye let it ſtand out all night: "Hute awa' ye daft body, how can we get it in, ge awa' chapman ye're joking me now." I then took a turn round the country for two weeks, and then came back to be avenged on the naughty wife and her ſowens: it being very dark or I came in, the goodwife did not know me, but made her ſpeech as follows: "Indeed ſays ſhe, ye's no be here; for there's ſo many thieves and robbers gawn thort the country, and our goodman's no at hame; art thou honeſt enough?" I can want nothing of my honeſty goodwife; but did you ever ſee any people gawn thro' the country, telling they were thieves? "Nay, a wat well no, ſaid ſhe." Then, ſaid I, I'm ſure I did not take away your barn on my back the laſt time I was here. 'Yea lad, ſaid ſhe, are ye the chapman that cracked ſae well to our