Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (11).pdf/7

Wise Men of Gotham.7 their nest presently. Immediately he took a coulter, and heated it red hot, and thrust it into the straw at the end of his forge, and set it on fire, and burnt it up. Then said the smith, I told thee I'd fire them out of their nest.

TALE VII.

Good Friday, the men of Gotham consulted together what to do with their white-herrings, sprats, and salt-fish, and agreed that all such fish should be cast into the pond or pool, in the midst of the town, that the number of them might increase against the next year. Therefore every one, that had any fish left, did cast them immediately into the pond. Then said one, I have gotten so many red-herrings. Well, said another, and I have left so many whittings. Another immediately cried out, I have as yet gotten so many sprats left. And, said the last, I have gotten so many salt fishes, let them go together in the great pond without any distinction, and we may be sure to fare like lords the next year. At the beginning of the next Lent, they immediately went about drawing the pond, imagining they should have the fish