Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (13).pdf/13

13 MISFORTUNE I.

she ordered John to rise and begin his wark, by putting on a fire, and to tak the twa new pigs and gang to the well for water. No sooner had John opened the door, and gone out with a pig in every hand, than a' the boys and girls being gathered in a crowd to see him, gave a loud huzza: and clapping their hands at him, poor John, not knowing what it meant, thought it was fine sport, began to clap his hands too, and not minding the twa pigs, clashes the tane against the tither, till baith went to pieces, and that was a cheerful huzza to baith young and auld that was looking at him; Girzy, the wife, draws him into the house, and to him she flies with the wicked wife's weapon, her Tongue and Tangs, and made his ribs to crack, saying, "They told me ye war daft, but I'll ding the daffing out o' ye, I'll begin wi' you as I've a mind to end you. Poor John sat crying and clawing his head, “Ha, ha," said he, its nae bairn's play to be married, I