Page:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy (Volume 3).pdf/37

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by extracting in a wrong direction, or by some misapplication of it, unfortunately slipping, he had formerly in a hard labour, knock'd out three of the best of them, with the handle of it:—he tried his fingers—alas! the nails of his fingers and thumbs were cut close.—The deuce take it! I can make nothing of it either way, cried Dr. Slop.—The trampling over head near my mother's bed side increased.—Pox take the fellow! I shall never get the knots untied as long as I live.—My mother gave a groan—Lend me your penknife—I must e'en cut the knots at last———pugh!———psha!———Lord! I have cut my thumb quite across to the very bone—curse the fellow—if there was not another man midwife within fifty miles—I am undone for this bout—I wish the scoundrel hang'd—I wish he was shot—I wishall