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on purpose to help him to push against the other; but the poor bull thought John was some other bull attacking him behind, fled, aside, and the other bull came full drive upon John, pushed him down broke the pig, and spilt the milk. So John went hame to get his auld plaister, which began to be a usual diet to him, and so he regarded it the less.

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MISFORTUNE IX.

His mother-in-law, with several auld witty wives, held a private council on John's conduct, and bad luck, and concluded he was bewitched. John was of the same opinion, and went to the Minister, and told him he was the cause of a' his misfortunes, ca'd him a warlock to his face, and said, he had put such a black bargain, in his hand, that he was ruined for ever, insisted either to unmarry them again, or send death and the bellman to take her awa, for she was a lump of mischief on her back and anither on her breast, and the rest o' her body is a clean deil. The Minister