Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son-in-law to Mother Winter (1).pdf/2



HERE was an old woman, named Mother Winter, that had but one ſon-in-law, and his name was Tom; and though he was at man's eſtate, yet would do nothing but what he liſted, which grieved his old mother to the heart. Upon a time being in the market, ſhe heard a proclamation, That thoſe that would not work ſhould be whipped. At which the old woman leap'd, and with great joy home ſhe comes, meets with her ſon, and tells him the mayor of the town had made a decree, which was, That all thoſe that would not work ſhould be whipped. Has he ſo, ſays he, marry, my bleſſing on his heart; for my part, I'll not break the decree. So the old woman left her ſon, and went again to the market; ſhe was no ſooner gone but her ſon looks into the ſtone pots, which ſhe kept ſmall beer in: and when he ſaw that the beer did not work, he