Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (13).pdf/23

23 MISFORTUNE XII.

Now, as poor John was turned out o' doors next morning, to go awa' hirping on a staff; one came and told him his mother had died last night. Oh hoch! said John, and is my mither clean dead! O an she wad but look down through the lift, and see how I 'm guided this morning, I 'm sure she wad send death for me too. I 'm out o' a mither and out o'a wife, out o my health and strength and a' my health and strength, and a' my warkleoms. His mether-in-law came and pleaded for him: Haud your tongue mither, said Girzy, if ye kent what aild him yewadna speak about him, hes useless, no worth the keeping in a house, but to ca' him to die like an auld beast at a dykeside. Hout tout, co the auld wife, we'll mak o' him and he'll mend egain. So John got peace made up after a', and he was easier mended than the bnrnt web; got all his treadles and warklooms