Page:Fun upon fun, or, Leper, the tailor (5).pdf/2



’s father lived in a village about six miles from Glasgow, and died when he was but very young; he left a widow and three children, two daughters and a son; Leper being the youngest, was greatly idolized by his mother, who was a good soft-natured woman, very industrious, and followed the bleaching of cloth.

As Leper grew up he grew a very mischievous boy, playing many tricks in the neighbourhood, such as tying cats to dogs [sic] tails, breaking hens’ legs, stopping people's lums [sic], or chimney-tops; so that his poor mother was sadly vexed with complaints against him.

To get him kept from mischief, she prevailed with a tailor to take him as an apprentice; he settled and was very peaceable for some time, until he got as much of his trade on his finger ends as he might pass for a journeyman, and then he was indifferent whether he stayed with his master or not; his mistress gave him but very little meat when he wrought at home, so he liked