Page:History of John Cheap, the Chapman (7).pdf/18

18 offered them to me, which I refused; 'm, said she, ye're a lordly sort of a chapman indeed; so I began to divert the goodman, by telling him a deal of fine stories to make him laugh, but could not get near the fire; at last, I said, O goodwife, I'll tell you news. Ay, chapman, what's that? said she. Indeed, my feet's very cauld, said I. They all laughed but the goodwife, she gloomed till the rest were done, then took a laugh at it herself. So the goodman ordered all the Johnnies Jamies, and Jennies, with their wheels, to sit about; then I was set beyond the fire and preferred to steer their sowens, but when they were ready and put in the dishes, the goodwife ordered one of the lads to take a pair of old blankets, and two sacks, and shew me where I was to lie in the barn. Ho ho, thinks I, there's no supper for me, but I'll remember to pay her stock and annual. I went to the barn and lay till next morning about chapman's rising time, when the pottage was ready, then gives the wife a fine cotton lace, and a few pins, which pleased her so well that she went through the cogs and collected about a mutchkin of pottage for me, for which I thanked her: 'A wat weel lad,' said she, 'an ye be coming by ony time ye'se be welcome to a night o' our barn, for ye hae steal'd naething;' thanks to you goodwife, said I, that's very fair: 'indeed lad, 'tis no every ane we'll trust wi' our new barn, farfore sud we?' O goodwife, it wad be a great thief that wad rin awa wi' a barn on his back, I wonder ye let it stand out a' night; 'Hute awa, ye daft body, how can we get it in, ke awa chapman, ye're joking me now.' I then took a turn round the eountrycountry [sic] for a few weeks, and then came back to be avenged on the