Page:Leper the tailor.pdf/6

 (16). Leper's fame, for being one of the wifeft* and moft.courageous taylors that was in all the kingdom; and many haking their heads, Cuid, It was a pity he was a taylor, but “ devil could not fear him." After this, a farmer in the neighbour. hood, hearing the fame of Leper, how he had frighted the de'il frae being a bell-man, ſent for him to an ale house, and drank with him very heartily, and told him, that he was ídly born down with the ſpirit of, jealouſy s, againſt his wife; -on ſuſpicion of being too, free with a fervant-lad flie had before, and if he would keep it ſecret, and learn him how to find it out, he would give his mother a load of meal; to' which Leper and him agreed, and he gave the poor ſuppoſed cuckold inftructions how to behave. So home he goes and.feigns himſelf to be very fick, and every day worſe and world: taking death to him, Hie called for his three fall children, bleſſed them, and charged his wife not to marry until his children could do ſomething for them- felves: This hypocritical woman takes the roaring, A-ha, marry! ſhe would never marry! No, no, there thall never man ly by my fide, "Jior kiſs my lips after thee, my lamb Johnny. Then he acted the dyiog man as well as poſ. Sbly he could; the neighbours were called in, " and he's fair o'erſeen," as the old faying “ before good neighbours ;" the forrowf
 * a captain or general of an army, as the