Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (1).pdf/5

Rh he, my name’s Jock Sandyman, and they ca’ me Simple John the sack weaver. I hae nae tocher but my loom, a pirnwheel, a kettle, pat, a brass pair, twa pigs, four cogs, and a candlestick, a good cock, a cat, twa errocks new begun to lay; my sister Sara is married on Sleeky Willie the wylie weaver, and I maun hae a hagwife or my mither die, for truly she’s very frail, and ony harl o’ health she has is about dinner time; what say ye till’t, goodman? can ye buckle me or not?

Goodman, A dear John, ye’re in an unco haste, ye wadna hae your wife hame wi’ ye? they’re a’ there, before ye, which o’ them will ye tak?

Hout, tout, says John, ony o’ them will sair me, but my mither says there is twa o’ them has fauts. And what is their fauts? says the goodwife. Hout, said John, it’s no meikle faut, but I dinna like it, they got men or they were married. And what shall I do wi’ them? said the goodman.

John. A deed, goodman, as ye’re ay dealing among dead beasts and living beasts, I wad put them awa among