Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (10).pdf/16

 16    The History of Simple John

M I S F O R T U N E   IV.

Next day, she says, John, I must go to the market myself, for if you gp, you’ll fight wi’ the dogs, and let them run awa’ wi’ ony thing ye buy, see that ye put on the pot, and ha’et boiling again I come hame; John promised weel, but performs very badly; she’s no soon'er gone, than he puts on the new pat, without any wa- ter in it, and a good fire to make it boil, and away he goes to the unhap- py well, fills his stoup, and sets it down, to look at a parcel of boys playing at Cat and Dog, they per- suades John to take a game wi’ them, on he plays, till ane o’ the boys cries, hey John, yonder’s your Girzy com- ing, John runs into the house wi’ the water, and the pat being red hot on the fire, he tumes in the cauld water into it, which made the pat flee all in pieces, just as she was entering the door. John runs for it, and she runs after him, crying, “ Catch the thief,” some persons stopped him, she comes