11
father and mother. The wright asked
him how be did; he answered him, Very
soberlv, he had lost a good dutiful mother
last night, and there's a measure for the
coffin. Tom went out and staid for some
time, and then comes in again, and tells
the wright he did not know what to do,
for his father had ordered him to get
money from such a man, whom he named,
and he that day was gone out of town.---
The wright asked him how much he
wanted? To which he answered, a guinea
and a-half. Then Tom gave him strict
orders to be out next day against eleven
o'clock with the coffin, and he should get
his money altogether. So Tom set off to
an ale-house with the money, and lived
well while it lasted. Next morning the
wright and his two lads went out with the
coffin; and as they were going into the
house they met Tom's mother, who asked
the master how he did, and where he was
going with that fine coffin? Not knowing
well what to say, being surprised to see
her alive, at last he told her, that her son
brought in the measure the day before,
and had got a guinea and a half from him,
with which he said he was to buy some
necessaries for the funeral. O the rogue!
said she, has he play'd me that? So the
Wright got his lent money, and so much
