Page:Execution, or, The affecting history of Tom Bragwell.pdf/9

 alluring bait he first held out; and it was not  after this had taken effect, and the field  in view, that his ultimate intentions became apparent.

Having heard this account of the matter, I not help looking upon  as a most  character, and therefore pointed out his cowardly conduct in running off, and leaving them  the scrape into which he had brought them, (as usual with such characters,) as one mean to  his companions to avoid his company in future.

"But what," addressing myself to, "did you mean by attempting to frighten with thunder and lightning? "O! as for that, sir," he replied, "he kens very weel what I meant himsel’, although he pretended he had a sair fit. It was ae Sunday, atween sermons, the last harvest, when we were gaun to the turnips; was there; but we had not then fa’en acquaint wi’ ’,—when just as we began to pu' there was a most terrible clap o’ thun’er, at which  was frighted, an’ wanted to gang hame, pretending the turnips were owre sma’.

We heard some mair dreadfu loud claps on the road, and though limped some, yet he was sae frighted that he got aye formaist. But ae time, he stopped a’ on a sudden, for he thought a bolt bad broke ow’r our heads. I’m sure I’ll ne’er forget the glowr he gaed me, when he cried, D’ye hear that, man, that’s real awfu! Gif we were ance hame again, I ’se hae the Bible in my hand! Neist time I saw him, the impression had worn aff; for he said, he saw naething