Page:Fun upon fun, or, Leper the tailor (2).pdf/17

 advises him to bury him privately. The laird said he had not a servant he could trust, so begged Leper to do it. Leper refuses, till the laird promises him a load of meal, then Leper pulls out all the hay out of the groom's clothes; goes and gets his load of meal, and sends it to Glasgow,-- then goes to the groom, and says, lad thy master is wanting thee. So the lad in all haste runs to see what his master wanted, the laird no sooner saw him open the door, then he cried out, Avoid thee Satan, avoid thee Satan! The lad says, what's the matter? Did not you hang yourself this morning? Lord forbid! said the lad. The laird says if thou be an earthly creature, take that tankard and drink: which he did; then says he to his master, Leper called me up, and said you wanted me in all baste. Ho, ho, said the laird, I find out the story now, if I had Leper I would run my sword thro him; but Leper before that was gone for Glasgow with his meal.

Leper was in use to give his lads their Sunday's supper, which obliged him to stay from the kirk in the afternoon, he having neither wife nor servant maid; so one Sunday afternoon as he was cooking his pot, John Mucklecheek, and James Puff-and-blaw, two civileers, having more zeal than knowledge. came upon him, and said.--