Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (2).pdf/12

[ 14 ] through the hedge in all haſte, thinking he had nothing to do but pick it up; but a he came in at one part of the h ge Tom oups out at another, and gets the calf on his ſhoulder then gets it over the hedge to the other ſide, and through t' fields he came ſafely home with th calf on his ſhoulders: while the poor butcher ſpent his time and labour in vain, running from hedge to hedge, and hole to hole, ſeeking what was not there to be found So the butcher returned to his horſe again and finding his other calf gone, he concluded it to be done by ſome inviſible ſpirit there about that ſpot of ground; and ſo he went home and raiſed a bad report on the devil, and ſaying he has turned highwaymen, an had takes two calves from him. So Tom waſhing the white face of the oin calf, his maſter feat for the butcher to come and buy another calf, which he acccordingly did a few days after, and Tom told him the ſame calf a third time: thea told him the whole affair as it was acted, giving him his money again, ſo the butcher got but fun for all his trouble.

PART IV.

THERE was an old rich blind widow, who lived ard by, had a young girl, her only daughter, and ſhe full p in love with Tom and Tom fell as deep in love with the money but not with the maid; the old woman beſtowed a vaſt of preſents on Tom, mounted him like a gentlemen, but ſtill he put off the marriage from time to time- and always wanted ſomething which the old woman gave the money to purchaſe for hi until he had got about thirty; pound of her money and then ſhe would delay the mariage no longer. Tom went and took the ld woman and girl aſide, and made his appology in the following manner: Dear mother ſaid he, I am very willing to wed with my