Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (8).pdf/5

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John's mither told him the road where to go, and what to say, and accordingly he sets ont wi' his Sunday's coat on, and a' his braws, and a pair of 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 goodman, what are ye a' doing here; I am wanting a wife, an ye're a flesher, and has a gude sorting aside you, my mither says you can sair me, or ony body like me, what say ye till't gudeman? How mony doughters hae ye? Are they a' married yet? I faiu 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.--whare win ye, I's no ken ye? I wat, quoth he, my name's Jock Sandyman, they ca' me Simple John the sack weaver I hae nae tocher but my loom, a pirn wheel, a kettle pat, a brass pan, twa pigs, four cogs, and a candlestick, a good cock, a cat, twa errocks new begun to lay; my sister Sara is married on Sleeky Willie the wylie weaver, and I maun hae a hagwife or my mither die, for truly she's very frail, and ony harl о' health she has