Jakob Skomager (in his shirt). Jeppe.
=Jakob=--Who the devil comes here so early?
=Jeppe=--Good morning, Jakob Skomager.
=Jakob=--Thank you, Jeppe! You're around pretty early to-day.
=Jeppe=--Give me a penny worth of brandy, Jakob.
=Jakob=--Very well, hand me the penny.
=Jeppe=--You'll get that to-morrow when I come back.
=Jakob=--Jakob Skomager doesn't sell whiskey on credit; you have a penny
or two, I know.
=Jeppe=--The devil I have, Jakob! Except a few shillings my wife gave me
to buy soap for in town.
=Jakob=--I know you can beat down the price a couple of pence; what is
your purchase, Jeppe?
=Jeppe=--I am to buy two pounds of soft soap.
=Jakob=--Why, can't you say that you gave a couple pence more per pound
than you paid?
=Jeppe=--I'm so afraid that my wife will find it out, and then bad luck to
me!
=Jakob=--Pshaw! How'll she find that out? Can't you swear that you spent
all your money? You're a dunce.
=Jeppe=--True enough, Jakob, that's what I can do.
=Jakob=--Give me the penny then.
=Jeppe=--There! but you must give me back a ha'penny.
=Jakob= (comes with a glass and drinks Jeppe's health). Your health,
Jeppe!
=Jeppe= (looks at glass)--You drank like a fish.
=Jakob=--Well! Don't you know it is customary for the host to drink to the
health of the guests?
=Jeppe=--I know; but may the devil take the one who first started that
custom! Your health, Jakob!
=Jakob=--Thanks, Jeppe! You will have to take something for the other
ha'penny, too. You can't bring it back. Or perhaps you want to have a
glass of whiskey to your credit when you come back from town. For, by my
faith, I haven't a single ha'penny.
=Jeppe=--The devil I will; if I must spend it, I'll do it now, for then I
can feel that I have something in my stomach; but if you drink of it,
too, I won't pay.
=Jakob=--Your health, Jeppe!
=Jeppe=--God keep our friends and the devil take all our enemies! Ah, that
felt good!
=Jakob=--Happy journey, Jeppe!
=Jeppe=--Thanks, Jakob Skomager!