Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (3).pdf/4

 4 The History of Simple John

been nine months in a haggles, a se- cond edition of crooked backed Rich- ard, an old English King, that was born with teeth to bite a’ around about him, and yet the wight gaed mad to be married. John’s mither tell’d him the road where to go, and what to say, and ac- cordingly he sets out wi’ his Sunday’s coat on, and a’ his braws, and a pair o’ new pillonian breeks o’ his mither’s making.In he comes, and tell’d his errand before he would sit down, says good-day to you, gocdman, what are ye a’ doing here? I am wanting a wife, an ye're a flesher, and has a gude sort- ing aside you, my mither says ye can sair me or ony body like me, what sae ye till’t, goodman? How mony doch- ters hae ye? Are they a’ married yet? I fain wad tak a look o’ some o’ them gin ye like. A wow, said the goodwife, come in by, honest lad, and rest ye, an ye be a wooer, sit down and gie’s a snuff.— A deed, goodwife, I hae nae mills but my mither’s,and it’s at hame.—A whare win ye, I’se no ken ye.—I wat, quoth