THE MERRY TRICKS
OF
L E P E R T H E T A I L O R.
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-
LEPER's father lived in a village about six
miles from Glasgow, and died when he was
but very young; he left a widow and three
children, two daughters and a son; Leper
being the youngest, was greatly idolized by
his mother, who was a good soft-natured
woman, very industrious, and followed the
bleaching of cloth.
As Leper grew up he grew a very mis-
chievous boy, playing many tricks on the
neighbourhood, such as tying cats to dogs
tails, breaking hens legs, stopping peoples
lums, or chimney-tops; so that his poor
mother was sadly vexed with complaints
against him.
To get him kept from mischief, she pre-
vailed with a Tailor to take him an appren-
tice; he settled, and was very peaceable for
some time, until he got as much of his trade
on his finger ends as he might pass for a
journeyman, and then he was indifferent
whether he staid with his master or not;
his mistress gave him but very little meat
when he wrought at home, so he liked best
