Page:History of the Haverel wives, or, The folly of witless women displayed (3).pdf/19

 Janet Clinker's Oration         19

ſack can hold their ſiller, ſix houſes and a half cannot contain their ambitious deſires. Fortunatus's wonderful purſe would fail in etching in the fourth part of their worldly wants, and the children imitate their mother's chattering like hungry cranes, crying till, I want, I want, ever craving, willfully waſting, till all be brought to a doleful diſh of deſolation, and with cleanneſs of teeth, a full breaſt, an empty belly, big pockets without pence, pinching penury, perfect poverty, drouth, hunger, want of money, and friends both, old age, dim eyes, feeble joints, witout ſhoes or clothes, the real fruits of a bad marriage, which brings thoughtleſs Fops to both faith and repentanee in one day. Thirdly, Another thing I vee, hear, and cannot help, is the breeding of bairns, and bringing them up like bill-ſtirks, they gie them walth o' meat, but nae manners; but whan I was a bairn, If I didna bend to obedience, I ken myſel what I gat, which learned me what to gie-mine again; if they had tell'd me tuts or prute-no, I laid them o'er my knee, and a com'd crack for crack o'er their hurdies, like a knock bleaching a barn web, till the red wats ſtood on their hips, this brought obedience into my houſe, and baniſh'd dods and ill-nature out at the door; I dang the de'il out o' them, and dadded them like a wet diſh-clout till they did my bidding: But now the bairns are brought up to ſpit fire in their mither's face, and caſt dirt at their