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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; Girzel the wife draws him into the house, and to him she flies with the wicked wife's weapons, and made his ribs to crack, saying, "They told me ye was daft, but I'll ding the daffin' out o' ye, I'll begin wi' ye as I have a mind to end wi' ye. Poor John sat crying and clawing his lugs. "Ha ha," said he, "it's nae bairns play to married, I find that already." His Mither-in-law came in and made no peace, went to a cooper, and got them a big wooden stoup to carry in their water.

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MISFORTUNE. 11

Next morning John was sent to the fleshmarket an errand to his father-in-law, who gave him a piece of flesh to carry home, and as he was coming out of the Market, he saw