Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (2).pdf/14

[ 16 ] guineas more of their money, got all things in readineſs next morning early, and ſets off for Newcaſtle, but instead of going to Newcaſtle, he came to Scotland and left Polly and her mother to think upon him. Then in about two weeks after, when he was not returned no. nor ſo much as a word from him, the old woman and Polly got a horſe and came to ewcaſtle in ſearch of him, went through all the doctors ſhops aſking if there came a young man there about two weeks ago, ith a broken cock to mend; ſome laughed at her, others were like to kick her out of doo s, ſo the old oman had to return, without getting any farther intelligence of Tom.

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,, followed feeding of veals, for laughter and the like. He went one d y to a fair and bought a fine cow from an old woman, but Tom judged by the lowneſs of the price that the cow had certainly ſome fault. So he gave the wife the other good bicker of good ale, then ſaid he, wife, the money's your's, and the cows mine, ye muſt tell me the w e bits o' fauts it has. Indeed quoth ſhe, goodman, he has nae faults but ane, and g n ſhe wanted it I wad ne'er hae parted wi' her: and what's that, goodwife, ſaid he? Indeed, ſaid ſhe, the filthy duſt beaſt ay fucks herſelf. Hute, ſays Tom. f that be all, I'll ſoon ſure her of that: O can ye o't ſays ſhe, if I had kend what wad a done it ye hadna gotten her. Well ſays Tom, I'll tell you, what to do, take the cows price I gave you juſt now, and tye it faſt in a napkin and give it through to me below the cow's wame, and I'll give you the napkin again over the cow's back and I'll lay my life for't that ſhe ſhall ne'er fuck herfel' in my aught A wat well ſaid ſhe, I'fe do that an' there fud be witchcraft in't. Tom no ſooner got the filler through beneath