Page:Fun upon fun, or, The comical and merry tricks of Leper the tailor (2).pdf/2

 THE MERRY TRICKS

EPER'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 daughter and a son. Leper being the youngest, was greatly idolized by his mother, who was a good soft-natur'd woman, very industrious and followed the business of bleaching cloth.

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

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