Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/274

266 I was annoyed on thy account." "I could not find out the bed, for it is very dark." "I will put a cord to the foot of the bed, and keep thou a grip of it going down and coming up." So the master caught hold of the cord and went into the kitchen and sat there before the pot. He was drinking broth till he had two stomachs on him. He brought with him a full bowl for John. John had changed the cord to the bed of the married couple of the house, and when the master came up he stretched out the bowl to John as he thought, and spilt the broth on the married couple. John seized the master by the hair of the head, and asked why he was going there. "Lie down here, thou wilt be put to shame." The master lay down abashed. Before long the woman of the house spoke to her husband, and the two began scolding. She was obliged to go out into the yard and clean herself. John said to the master, "Rise and wash thy hands." "I have no water," said he. "There is water in the big pitcher yonder in the corner. Thy hands ought to be clean for breakfast." He went to the pitcher and put his hands in up to the elbows. What had he there but a pitcher full of tar. He brought the pitcher with him on his hands to John. "What is the matter with thee?" said John. The master related to him how it was. "Thou hast always bad luck, master. It's a tidy looking fellow thou art now. How wilt thou go to breakfast in the morning and that pitcher on thy hands. Go out to the yard and strike the pitcher against the tall white stone there." He did that, and he struck the woman of the house heavily with the pitcher and killed her. He ran in and told John what he had done. "Now I am hanged, always news," said John. He started up and put on his clothes. The master could not manage to get his trousers on, for he turned them, back to the front and front behind, for he was greatly confused and hurried. While he was arranging himself John went to the stable and saddled his horse and saddled the bull for the master. They rode off together and travelled at a great rate for fear they should be followed. They were keeping the road till morning. The master said, "There are horns on my horse, John." "Welcome home, master, my time of service has expired." "Give me my horse," said he, "and I will give thee my eldest daughter in marriage, and half my farm, and a great dowry." John gave him the horse