Page:Comical tricks of Lothian Tom (2).pdf/20

 money you fool, said the old woman, there’s not such a thing to be got for money in all England. Ay, says Tom, there’s a doctor in Newcastle, will make me as able as any other man for ten guineas. Ten guineas, said she, I’ll give him fifty guineas if he will, but here is twelve, and go to him directly, and see what he can do, and then come again and wed my child, or she and I will both die for thy sake. Tom having now got twelve guineas more of their money, got all things ready, and early next morning set out for Newcastle, but instead of going there he came to old Scotland, and left Polly and her mother to think upon him. In about two weeks thereafter, when he was not like to return, nor so much as any word from him, the old woman and Polly got a horse, and came to Newcastle in search of him, went thro’ all the doctors’ shops, asking if there came a young man there, about two weeks ago, with a broken to mend? Some laughed at her, others were like to kick her out of doors, so they had to return without getting any further intelligence of him.

Now after Tom’s return to Scotland, he got a wife, and took a little farm near Dalkeith, and became a very douse man, for many years, following his old business, the couping horses and cows, and feeding veals