During the fortnight that followed, Loony John was sent on no errands. But the servant girl grew steadily worse, and one morning the doctor had to be sent for. There was no one to go but Loony John, and accordingly he was sent.
"Ask for only one," his mother cautioned him.
"Have no fear," answered Loony John, and he went on his way yelling as loud as he could:
"Let only one come! Let only one come!"
The road led by a river, and as Loony John was going along, he saw a fisherman who, since early morning, had been throwing out his line without success. Loony John's song did not please him.
"Silly scamp!" he exclaimed, "say 'Let a thousand come!' if you want to save your bones."
Immediately Loony John cried out:
"Let a thousand come! Let a thousand come!"