Page:History of John Cheap the chapman (5).pdf/19

 ſhe? Indeed my feet is very cauld, ſaid I, whereat all laught but but the goodwife, ſhe gloom'd until the reſt  done, and then took a laugh at it herſelf: So the goodman ordered all the Johnies Jamies and Jennies with their  to ſet about; then I was ſet beyond the fire, and  to ſteer their ſowens, but when they were ready  put up in diſhes, the goodwife order'd one of the lads  take a pair of old blankets, and two ſacks, and ſhew me where I was to lay in the barn; Ho, ho, thinks I,  no ſupper for me, but I'll remember this, to  her ſtock and annual. So I went to the barn and till next morning, about chapman's riſing time when the pottage was ready, and then gives the wife a fine  lace and a few pins, which pleaſed her ſo well,  ſhe went thro' the cogs and collected about a mutchkin of pottage for me, for which I thanked her. "A wat well lad, an ye be coming by ony time, ye's be welcome to a night of our barn, frae ye hae nae ſteal'd ;" thanks to you goodwife, ſaid I, that's very : "Indeed lad 'tis no every ane we'll trust wi' our barn, farfore ſud we?" O goodwife it would be a thief that wad run away wi' a barn on his back, I wonder ye let it ſtand out all night: "Hute awa' ye  body, how can we get it in, ge awa' chapman ye're  me now." I then took a turn round the country two weeks, and then came back to be avenged on the  wife and her ſowens: it being very dark or I  in, the goodwife did not know me, but made her  as follows: "Indeed ſays ſhe, ye's no be here;  there's ſo many thieves and robbers gawn thort the country, and our goodman's no at hame; art thou honeſt " I can want nothing of my honeſty goodwife;  did you ever ſee any people gawn thro' the country,  they were thieves? "Nay, a wat well no, ſaid ." Then, ſaid I, I'm ſure I did not take away your on my back the laſt time I was here. 'Yea lad, ſaid, are ye the chapman that cracked ſae well to our