Page:Tale of the Rebellion of 1745, or, The broken heart (2).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 out 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.