Page:Comical transactions of Lothian Tom (5).pdf/25

 ( 23 ) to mend ? Some laughed at them, others were like to kick them out of doors, and so they had to return without getting any account of him.

PART VI. 13. Now, after Tom’s return to Scot- land, he got a wife, and took a little farm near Dalkeith, and became a very douse man for many days, following his old business the cowping of horses and cows, feeding of veals for slaughter, and the like. So one day he went to a fair, and bought a fine cow from an old woman, but Tom judged by the lowness of the price that the cow certainly had some fault. Tom gives the wife the other hearty bicker of ale, then says he, ‘ Gudewife, the money is yours, and the cow is mine, ye maun tell me ony wee bits of fauts that she has.' 'Indeed,’ quoth the wife, ‘ she has nae a faut but ane, and if she had wanted it, I wad never a parted wi' her.' ' And what’s that, gudewife ?’ said he,' indeed,' said she, ' the filthy daft beast sucks ay hersel,' ' Hute,’ says Tom, ' If that be all I’ll soon cure her of that.' ' O! can ye I do that, ’ said the wife; lf I had kend what