Page:Comical transactions of Lothian Tom (3).pdf/11

11 PART III.

7. Tom being now turned to his own shifts, considers with himself how to raise a little more money; so he gets a long string, as near as he could guess to be the length of his mother, and into Edinburgh he goes, to a wright who was acquainted with his father and mother. The wright asked him how he did? He answered him very softly, he had lost a good dutiful mother last night, and there's a measure for her coffin. Tom went out and staid for some time, and then comes in again, and tells the wright he did not know what to do, for his father had ordered him to get money from such a man whom he named, and he was that day gone out of town: The wright asked him how much he wanted ? To which he answered, A guinea and a half might do, or 30 shillings at the least: So he gave him the guine. and the half: Then Tom gave him strict charges to be out to-morrow by 11 o'clock with the coffin, and, that he should get his money with him. Tom set out for the ale-house, with the money, and lived well while it lasted. Next morning the wright and his two lads went out with the