Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (3).pdf/16

 16 The History of Simple John

MISFORTUNE IV.

Next day, she says. “John, I must go to the market myself, for if you go you’ll fight wi’ the dog', and let them run awa’ wi' ony thing ye buy: see that ye put on the pot, and ha’et boil- ing again I come hame.” John prom- ised weel, but performs very badly. She’s no sooner gone, than he puts on the new pat, without any water in it, and a good fire to make it boil, and away he goes to the unhappy well, fills his stoup, and sets it down, to look at a parcel of boys playing at Cat and Dog, they persuaded John to take a game them, on he plays, till ane o' the boys cries, ' Hev John, yonders your Girzy coming ” John runs info 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