Page:Comical and entertaining dialogue, between a generous tradesman and his old stingy wife.pdf/6

( 6 ) That what he thinks be ſaveſ they caſt away, And made his ſtock their punch-gut money pay

Wife Do as you pleaſe, my dear but I am ſure, Such waſtful ways will always keep us poor; Apprenrices I’ve ſeen in other trades, Have their meat carv’d by th' miſtreſs or her maidſ, Nor did they dare to grumble or complain, That this was cut too fat or that or too lean, But eat whate'er the mistrels thought was fit And fear'd to frown, or ask for t'other bit; But your bold boys, regarded not your wife. Whcn call'd to dine, each draws his crooked knife, Upon the groundcel whets his Sheffield blade, Aad both, forſooth, fit down before my maid, Fall to like plowmen at a country feaſt, And with unhallow'd fingers pick the beſt; One crying oat, go. Hannah, draw ſome beer, Tne other, huſſy, bring the muſtard here. Indeed, my dear, it is a ſhame- to ſee Apprentices ſo very bold and free, Or that at meals ſuch boys ſhould firſt ſit down, And crow above a wench that’s woman grown.

Husband. My boys are good mens ions, well born and bred. They’ve paid me pounds for teaching them my trade,