Page:Merry tricks of Leper the taylor.pdf/24

(24) makes me dry, and at eleven hours I take a pint and sometimes three choppins; at supper I take a bit bread and cheese and a pint, and so go to bed. Mess John says, Its extravagant Sir, its excessive drinking, I allow you the one half of it for a quarter of a year, says Leper, I’ll try it Sir, and come back and tell you. At the end of the quarter he draws out his account, and goes, to Mess John, who was sitting with the elders in the session house, and says Sir, I have a demand on you: on me. Sir ? Yes on you Sir: Don’t you remember you allowed me so much drink for a quarter of year, and I want the money; am I pay for your reckoning Sir ? You allowed it, and if you won’t pay it, I’ll take you before the Provost; The elders advised him to pay it, or he would be affronted; so Leper got the money. When he was at the door, he says, Sir, will you stand anither quarter; Get away, says Mess John, and don’t trouble me. Leper says I am sure you may, for I was always twopence to your penny.

FINIS.