My lot to see, I think you 'll own your wife
As good or better than the generality.

"An interest in your case I really take,
And therefore gladly this agreement make:
An hundred eggs within this basket lie,
With which your 'ck, to-morrow, you shall try;
Also my five best horses, with my cart;
And from the farm at dawn you shall depart.

All round the country go,
And be particular, I beg;
Where husbands rule, a horse bestow,
But where the wives, an egg.

And if the horses go before the eggs,
I'll ease you of your wife, I will, I fegs!"

Away the married man departed,

Brisk and light-hearted :

Not doubting that, of course,

The first five houses each would take a horse. At the first house he knocked,

He felt a little shocked

To hear a female voice, with angry roar,
Scream out, "Hullo!

Who's there below?

Why, husband, are you deaf? go to the door, See who it is, I beg."

Our poor friend John
Trudged quickly on,

But first laid at the door an egg.

I will not, all his journey through
The discontented traveller pursue;
Suffice it here to say

That when his first day's task was nearly done,
He'd seen an hundred husbands, minus one,
And eggs just ninety-nine had given away.
"Ha! there's a house where he I seek must
dwell,"

At length cried John; "I'll go and ring the bell."

The servant came, -John asked him, "Pray,
Friend, is your master in the way?"

"No," said the man, with smiling phiz,
"My master is not, but my mistress is;
Walk in that parlor, sir, my lady 's in it:
Master will be himself there-in a minute."
The lady said her husband then was dressing,
And, if his business was not very pressing,
She would prefer that he should wait until
His toilet was completed;

Adding, "Pray, sir, be seated."
Madam, I will,"