Page:Comical tricks of Lothian Tom (3).pdf/5



5           a little of it along in a train to the fire- side; then perceiving when his master went into it, and as he was loosing down his breeches, sets fire to the train, which blew it all about his master's backside which scorched him terribly, besides the fright for which Tom was severely whipt. Yet, in a little after, he began to study revenge on his master. So it happened one day as Tom was in           the master's house, his wife was stoop- ing into a big meal-barrel, for to bring out some meal; there he takes her by the feet and coups her up into the barrel with her head down and her bare b---side upper- most; then runs into the school, crying O master! master! the de'il's looking out o' your meal-stand; wi' a fat face, and a           black ill-far'd mouth; yon's just Auld Nick if he be living. So the master ran out with all speed he could, for to see what it was; and found it to be his own wife, speechless, and almost smothered to death; but as she could not tell who did it, Tom got clear off; yet he was not satisfied without some more vengeance on           the old fellow: and knowing his master had a fashion, when he was going to whip the boys if they would not loose their breeches willingly, he drew his knife and cut them through the waistband behind: