Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (4).pdf/13



Then she ordered John to rise and begin his wark, by putting on a fire and 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, give a loud hazza; 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 hazza to baith young and mild that was looking at him; Grizel, the wife, draws him into his house, and to him she flies with the wicked wife's weapons, her Tongue and Tangs, and made his ribs to crack, saying, "They told me ye war daft, but I'll ding the daffin out o' ye. I'll begin wi' you as I've a mind to end wi' you." Poor John sat crying and clawing his lugs