Page:Tale of the Rebellion of 1745, or, The broken heart (1).pdf/17

                  17 “But,” answered the husband, “with all these things that you mention, one may be sick, and fretful, besides, who knows but one may die young: —it would be much wiser, I think, to wish for health, cheerfulness, and a long life.” “But to what purpose is a long life with pover- ty?” says the wife: “it would only prolong our misery. In truth, the fairy should have promised us about a dozen of gifts; for there are at least a dozen things which I want, and the wants of this life are so many, that we would always be finding out new ones.” “That’s very true,” said' the husband, looking very wise; “but let us take time; let us carefully consider, from this time till morning, the three things which are most necessary for our happiness and then wish.” “I’ll think all night,” said the wife; “mean- while, let us warm ourselves for it is very cold.” At the same time, the wife took up the tongs to mend the fire; and seeing there was a great many of the coals thoroughly lighted, she exclaimed without at all thinking on the mischief she would work, “This is a very nice fire; I wish we had a yard of black pudding for our supper, we could get it finely dressed.” She had hardly these words put of her mouth, when there came tumbling down the chimney a yard of black pudding. “Plague on your greedy guts with your infernal black pudding! exclaimed the enraged husband; here’s a fine wish indeed! Now we have only two left. For my part, I am so vexed, that I wish the black pudding was sticking fast to the tip of your nose.” The man soon perceived that he was a great deal sillier than his wife; for he had no sooner uttered this second wish, than up starts the black pudding