Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (1).pdf/2

 so off he goes and lets it ly: Tom then slips out and takes up the shoe again, and runs cross the fields, until he got in before the butcher, at another open of the hedge, about a half mile distant, and there he throws out the shoe again in the midst of the way; then up comes the butcher, and seeing it says to himself, now I shall have a pair of good shoes for the lifting, and down he comes, lays the calf on the ground, and tying his horse to the hedge, runs back, thinking to get the other shoe in which time, Tom whips up the calf and shoe and home he comes, demanding his wager, which his master could not deny, being so fairly won.

The poor butcher returned back to his horse, only his travel for his pains, so missing his calf, he knew not what to say or do, but thinking it broke the rope from about its feet, and had gone into the fields, the butcher spent that day in search of it amongst the hedges and ditches, and so returned to Tom’s master’s all night, intending to go and search farther for it next day, giving them tedious relation how he came to lose it by a cursed pair of shoes, which he believed the devil had dropped in his way, and how he had taken the calf and all along with him, expressing his thankfulness that the devil was so honest as to spare his old horse when he stole away his calf. Next morning Tom went to work, and made a fine white face on the Calf with chalk and water, then brings it out an sells it to the butcher, which was good diversion to his master and other servants, to see the butcher buy his own calf again ; no sooner was he gone with it, but Tom says, now matter, what will you, hold but I’ll steal it from him again, ere he goes two miles off? No, no, says his master, I’ll hold no more bets with you, but I’ll give you a shilling