Page:New riddle book.pdf/23

( 23 ) with a ſheep upon his back, and ſaid, Is it fat? Is it fat? the fellow, thinking it had been the old woman cracking nuts, was horribly frightened, and thereupon he threw the lame ſexton down, crying Fat or lean, take him as he is, Mr. Devil; and then ran out of the church yard like a fellow diſtracted, leaving the poor afrighted ſexton to crawl home upon all fours.

A country man having one ſon, named Jack, an unlucky boy, his father one day was about to chaſtiſe him for his wickedneſs; but Jack, getting from him by the help of a ght pair of heels, turned about and cried out, you old ſheepſtealer. I can hang you if will. His father continued to call him; but he ſaid I will not come, you will beat me. coming by, ſaid, Jack go to your father, and he will not beat you. Truſt him and hang him, quoth Jack. The neighbour calling to his father ſaid, you will not beat him if he comes quickly? No, quoth he, I will not. Jack cried out aloud, Gaffer, hear him, for he will ſwear like any dog. at which the neighbour went away laughing, &c. and left Jack and his father to fight it out fairly.

A citizen that was more tender to himſelf than his wife, uſually in cold weather made her go to bed firſt, and when her fat buttocks had ſufficiently warmed his place, he came and removed her out of it, and lay in it himſelf; and to make himſelf merry, cal-