Page:York dialogue between Ned and Harry, or, Ned giving Harry an account of his courtship and marriage state.pdf/13

A YORK DIALOGUE.13 circumſtances are not ſo low in the world, but that you can afford your wife pretty well to keep houſe with.

Ned. Why, Harry, there's ſeldom a day but we have a joint of meat, either boiled or roaſted, and I am ſure ſhe never wants for good bread, cheeſe, eggs, and butter.

Harry. Pray, Ned, what does ſhe do towards maintaining your houſe? does ſhe endeavour any ways to get a penny what portion had you with her, Ned?

Ned. Harry, never marry a chambermaid, for they bring nothing with them but a few old clothes of their miſtreſſes, and for houſe-keeping, few of them knows any thing of it; for they can hardly make a pudding or a pye, neither can they ſpin, nor knit, nor waſh, except it be a few laces to make themſelves fine withal.

Harry. What would ſhe be at?

Ned. Why, always a goſſiping, there is ſuch a company of them in our ſtreet, that there's never a day but ſome or other of them meet together.

Harry. Where do they meet?

Ned. Where the beſt country ale is,