THE BASKET OF EGGS
There was a woman one time, and she on her way to the market, counting the price of her basket of eggs.
“If eggs are up,” says she, “I’ll be gaining a handful of silver, and evenly if prices be down I’ll not do too badly at all for I have a weighty supply.”
With that she remarked a little wee boy sitting down by the hedge, he stitching away at a brogue.
“If I had a hold of yon lad,” says she, “I’d make him discover a treasure—for the like of him knows where gold does be hid.”
She juked up behind him, like a cat would be after a bird, and she caught a strong grip of his neck.
Well he let an odious screech out of him, for he was horrid surprised.
“I have you, my gosoon,” says she.
“Oh surely you have, mam,” he answers. “The strength of your thumb is destroying my thrapple this day.”