Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (10).pdf/23

23 ser price. The ninth said, I spare my husband's soap, for instead of washing once a week, I wash but once a quar- ter. Then said the ale-wife, I keep all my husband's ale from swering; for as I was wont to drink it almost up, now I never leave a drop.

TALE XX.

On Ash Wednesday, the minister of Gotham would have a collection from his "parishioners, and said unto them, My friends, the time is come that you must use prayer, fasting, and alms, but come ye to shrift, I will tell you more of my mind. But as for prayer, I don't think that two men in the parish can say their Pater-noster. As for fasting, ye fast still, for ye have not a good meal's meat in the year. As for alm-deeds, what should they give that have nothing? In Lent you must re- fram from drunkenness and abstain from drink. No, not so, said one fel- low, for it is an old proverb, that fish should swim. Yes, said the priest, they