Page:History of John Cheap, the chapman (8).pdf/19

this to pay her ſtock and annual. So I went to the barn and lay till next morning, about chapman's riſing-time, when pottage was ready, and then gives the wife a fine cotton lace and a few pins, which pleaſed her ſo well, that ſhe went through the cogs and collected about a mutchkin of pottage for me, for which I thanked her: "A wat well lad, ſaid ſhe, an ye be coming by ony time, ye’s be welcome to a night o' our barn, frae ye hae na ſteal'd naething; thanks to you goodwife, ſaid I, that's very fair; Indeed lad, 'tis no every ane we'll truſt wi' our new barn, far ſore ſud we?" O goodwife, it wad be a great thief that wad rin awa wi' a barn or his back, I wonder ye let it ſtand out all night; "Hut awa ye daft body, how can we get it in, he awa chapman, ye're joking me now." I then took a turn round the country for two weeks and then came back to be avenged on the naughty wife and her ſowens: it being very dark or I came in, the goodwife did not know me, but made her ſpeech as follows: "Indeed, says ſhe, ye's no be here, for there is ſo mony theives and robers gaun athort the kintry and our goodman's no at hame; art thou honeſt enough?" I can want nothing of my honeſty, goodwife; but did you ever ſee any people gaun through the country telling they were thieves? "Na, a wat will no, ſaid ſhe:" Then, ſaid I, I'm ſure I did not take away your barn on my back the laſt time I was here: "Yee lad, ſaid ſhe, are ye the chapman that cracket ſae well to our good man? come in by, ye's get a night o' the barn yet;" thanks to you goodwife an we ſud get nae mair. I then being preferred to my old ſeat, and got the ſowens to ſteer, until they were near ready, when the goodwife ordered the lad to take the old blankets and ſhew me to my bed, in the barn; I then gave the ſowens the laſt turn, and having about