Page:Comical history of Simple John and his twelve misfortunes (9).pdf/22

22 but poor John underwent a dreadful swabbing for this.

MISFORTUNE XI.

After the former hurry and beating being over, his work being stopt, he went to bed and slept a' that day, and following night. On the next day, having nothing to do, she sent him in search of a hen's nest, which had ta'en some by-place to lay her eggs in: so as poor John was in an auld kill searching a' about the walls, the kill-ribs broke and down he goes with a vengeance into the logie, cutted and bruised him- self in a terrible manner; up he could not win, but had to creep out at the lagie below, scarce able to get hame, his face and nose a' running of blood. In this condition she pitied and la- mented for him very much, tied his sores and laid him in bed; then sat down very kindly, saying, "My dear, and my lamb, do ye think there is ony o' your banes broken ; and what parte o' you is sairest ? And what will I get