Page:Fun upon fun, or, The comical and merry tricks of Leper the tailor (3).pdf/18

 18

This sport diverted Leper and his lads through the day; and after supper, know- ing he was to get some dirty bed, as the cows and people lived all in one apart- ment, he chose rather to go home; and knowing the moon was to rise a little af- ter midnight, he sat by the fire, told them many a fine story to drive away the time, and bade the wife make the bed to see how it might be: to save candle. she made it in the dark, directly on the floor behind where they sat, shaking down two bottles of straw; a calf which chanced to be lying on that place, and which the wife did not notice, was covered with the straw, and the bed clothes spread o- ver it. The most of the family being in bed, the wiſe told them to go to bed also ; but Leper knowing of the calf, said I'll make my bed come to me, on which the wife began to pray for herself and all that was in the house; so up he gets his el- wand, and gives a stroke on the bed, which caused the brute to rise; and not seeing where to go, it fell a-crying and tuned round, which set the whole house a roaring out murder in their own tongue. The good wife run to the bed above the goodman, and the whole family cried out,