Page:Comical transactions of Lothian Tom (1).pdf/18



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demanding his wager, which his master could not deny, being so fairly won.--The poor butcher returned back to his horse, got only his travel for his pains; so missing his calf, he knew not what to say or do, but thinking it had broke the rope from about his feet, and had run into the fields, the butcher spent that day in search of it amongst the hedges and ditches, and returned to Tom's master's all night, intending to go and search farther for it next day, giving them a tedious relation how he came to lose it by a cursed pair of shoes which he believed the devil had dropped in his way; and how he had taken the calf and all along with him, expressing his thankfulness that the devil was so honest as to spare his old horse, when he stole away his calf. Next morning Tom went to work, and made a fine while face on the calf with chalk and water; then brings it out, and sells it to the butcher, which was good diversion to his master and other servants, to see the butcher buy his own calf again. No sooner was he gone with it, then Tom says, Now, master, what will you hold but I'll steal it from him again, ere he goes two miles off?: 'No, no,' says his master' 'I'll hold no more bets with you, but I'll give you a shilling if you do it.'