Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (10).pdf/21

             and his Twelve Misfortunes. 21

" tell’t me that matrimony was sic a " happy state, but an ye had gotten " as many well pay’d skins as I hae " gotten, ye wrad a kend what it is; “ ill chance on you stir,” and out he goes, cursing like a madman, throw- ing stanes, and breaking the Minister’s windows, for which he was catch’d, an put twa hours i’ the stocks, and at last his Lump of Corruption came and rubbed his lugs, threw his nose, got him out, and drove him home before her ; took a resolution never to set him about any bisiness in time com- ing, but keep him on his loom.

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

Now she gave him no sleep a’ that night, for scolding ; John gat up in the morning lang or day, leaving his tormentor in bed ; fell asleep upon his loom, with the candle in his hand, an so set the web, heddles, reed, and treadle-cords in a fire, by chance his old Viper looked out of the bed, or the whole house had been gone; up she got, and wkh her cries alarm’d xx