Page:History of John Cheap the chapman (3).pdf/18

refused, 'm said she, ye're a lordly sort of a chapman indeed; so I began to divert the goodman, by telling him a deal of fine stories to make him laugh, but could not get near the fire; at last I said, O goodwife, I'll tell you news, ay chapman, what's that, said she? indeed my feet's very cauld, said I, whereat they all laught but but the goodwife, she gloom'd until the rest was done, and then took a laugh at it herself. So the goodman ordered all the Johnies, Jamies and Jennies with their wheels to sit about; then I was set beyond the fire, and preferred to steer their sowens, but when they were ready and put up in dishes, the good wife order'd one of the lads to take a pair of old blankets and two sacks, and shew me where I was to ly in the barn: Ho, ho, thinks I, there's no supper for me, but I'll remember this, to pay her stock and annual. So I went to the barn and lay till next morning, about Chapmans 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 thro' 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 nae 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, farfore sud we?" O goodwife it would be a great thief that wad run awa' wi' a barn on his back, I wonder ye let it stand out all night; "Hute awa' ye daft body, how can we get in, ke 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