EXT day was a Saturday, and the farmer’s wife went to waken Johnny in the stable-loft.

‘Come, come, up with you!’ says she, shaking him. ‘Don’t you hear the cock crowing?’ So she gave him a big bowl of coffee, and such a chunk of bread; and showed him the way, and sent him off, saying, ‘Mind you ask for my cousin’s mill, and bring me the goose, and seven bushels of flour, and a pint of seed corn.’

Original

‘Seven bushels, and one pint,’ ‘Seven bushels, and one pint’—for, not being very clever, he was afraid he might forget.

As he went on saying this, he met a farmer, who was counting up how much his field should bring him in.

‘Seven bushels, indeed!’ said the farmer. ‘Let a hundred come!’

Now this puzzled Johnny Silly Billy, for he had never room in his head for more than one idea at a time; so he went on his way, repeating,

‘Let a hundred come! let a hundred come!’

Original

Well, as Johnny crossed a wood, there sat a shepherd, as red as scarlet, and as proud as a peacock that has laid an egg; and all because his dog had just killed a wolf that was after the lambs.

‘Let a hundred of them come! let a hundred of them come!’ sang out Johnny Nut.

‘What do you mean, you fool?’ says the shepherd, ‘with your Let a hundred them come! A hundred, indeed! Rather say, There’s another caught and done for!’

Original

‘There’s another caught and done for!’said Johnny Nut, as he went on his way.