Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (2).pdf/15

[ 17 ] the cow's belly, then he looſes out his money, and puts it in his pocket, and gave the napkin over the cow's back to the wife, according as he told her, ſaying, there's your cow, and I have my money, and I told you ſhe ſhould never fuck herſel' in my aught. O dole, cry'd the wife, is that your cure, ye ha e cheated me, ye ha e cheated me.

PART V.

TOM being very ſcant of money, at a time when his rent was to pay, and though he was well acquainted with the butchers in Edinburgh, he tried ſeverals of them, yet, none of them would lend him as much, as he was known to be ſuch a noted ſharper. Tom thinks with himſelf, that he'll give them a bite in general who had refuſed him. So in he comes next day, (and all of them had heard that he had a fine fat calf feeding) comes to one of the butchers, and tells him he was going to fell his fine fast calf he had at home. Well ſays, the butchers, and what will you have for it? Juſt five and thirty ſhillings, ſays Tom. No, ſays the butcher, but by what I hear of it, I'll give you thirty. Na, na, ſays Tom, you muſt remember that is not the price of it, but give me twenty ſhillings just now, and ſend out your ſad to-morrow and e will perhaps agree about it. Thus Tom went through ten of them in one day, and got twenty ſhillings from each of them and kept his ſpeech againſt the for whatever they offered him for his calf, told them to remember that was not to be the price of it, but give me twenty ſhilling's juſt now, and ſend out your lad to-morrow morning and perhaps we ll agree bout it, was all that paſſed. So home he comes with his ten pound, and paid hit rent; and next morning one of the butchers ſent out his lad to Lothian Tom's ſo a calf, and as he was about a mile from the town, went to