Page:Merry tales of the wise men of Gotham (8).pdf/5

 THE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM. 5

he had but two, and he had taught him the ready way to his houſe; therefore he might come himſelf, if he would. Where did you leave the trevet, ſaid the woman? At Gotham bridge, ſaid he. So ſhe immediately ran and fetched the trevet herſelf, or otherwiſe ſhe muſt certainly have loſt it, on account of her huſband's want of wit.

T A L E VI.

A CERTAIN ſmith of Gotham had a large waſp's neſt in the ſtraw at the end of his forge; and there coming one of his neighbours to have his horſe ſhod, and the waſps being exceeding buſy, the man was ſtung by one of them. The man being grievouſly affronted, ſaid, Are you worthy to keep a forge or not, to have men ſtung with theſe waſps ? O! neighbour, ſaid the ſmith, be content, and I ſhall put them from 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.

Τ Α L Ε VII.

ON 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 left ſo many red herrings. Well ſaid another, and I have left ſo many whitings. Another immediately cried out, I have as yet