Page:Fun upon fun, or, The comical merry tricks of Leper the taylor (4).pdf/2



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

As Leper grew up, he turned a very miſchievous boy, playing tricks on the neighbourhood, ſuch as tying cats to dogs-tails, breaking hen's legs, ſtop- ing people's lumbs or chimney-tops; ſo that his poor mother was ſadly vex'd with complains againſt him.

To get him kept from miſchief, ſhe prevaileth with a taylor to take him an apprentice, he ſettled and was very peaceable for ſome time, until he had got ſo much of the trade on his finger-ends, as his might paſs for a journey-man, and then he was in different whether he ſtayed with his maſter or not his miſtreſs gave him but very little meat when they wrought at home, ſo he loved beſt to be in other houſes, where he got both meat and diverſion.

Leper being reſolved on revenge againſt his miſtreſs for her thin kail, no kitchen and little bread, for tho' fleſh was boiled in the pot, none for poor Leper and his maſter, but a little bit on Sabbath