Page:Merry frolicks, or, The comical cheats of Swalpo, a notorious pick-pocket.pdf/19

 pening to be in the company, had perſuaded him to ſend for the old-faſhioned tankard, to be changed for a faſhionable one; and becauſe there was a couple of gentlemen in the company he had invited to dine with him, be deſired the dinner ſhould be carefully dreſſed, and the pheaſants roaſted, and the new tankard ſhould be ſent home by that time.

Pray heavens bleſs my huſband, ſays the lady, and continue the good temper he is in. I have talked to him thefe ſeven years paſt about this lumbering cup, and he did nothing but banter me about it: heavens preſerve him from ſudden miſchief! I'll either have it as good as my lady ſuch a one's, in St. James's, or I'll ſend it back again. Full of joy ſhe received the pheaſants, and delivered the tankard to Swalpo. When the merchant came home, his lady met him full as well dreſſed, and as well pleaſed as a young bride. She flew about his neck, kiſſed him twenty time, and gave him a hundred thouſands thanks for the tankard and pheaſants; and pray honey, ſays ſhe, where are the gentlemen? and, pray honey, ſays he, where are your wits? Hey day, my wife's run diſtracted.

It was a pretty while before they could underſtand one another, and, inſtead of dining, ſhe