Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (2).pdf/16

[ 18 ] an ale houſe door, and calls for a bicker of ale, and as he was drinking it up comes another butcher lad on the ſame errand, he being called by the fir to come and drink, which cauſed another bicker then up comes other two on the ſame errand; again up comes other ſix more, which made the ten every one told he was going to Lothian Tom' for a calf, which made the think Tom had gathered together all the calfs in that countr, ſide. So up they came to Tom's houſe, ued every one called ſo his calf and Tom had but one calf to ſerve them all, which he took out and ſhews them. Now, ſay he, whoever gives moſt for it ſhall have it, for I'll pu if to a roup. 'What ſaid they, our miſters bought it yeſterday. 'Then, ſays fom, you would be fool to buy it to day, for it is heavy to carry, and faſhiou to lead, you muſt all go home without it. Next day Tom gets ten ſummonſ s to anſwer at the inſtance of the butchers, for ſelling his calf and not delivering it. Tom goes to Edinburgh and gets the beſt lawyer in town for that purpoſe, tells him the whole ſtory from firſt to laſt. Then ſaid the lawyer, as they cannot prove a bargain, and deny you the paying the money again, if you give me the calf, I'll bring you off, but remember in law, there is no point like that of denial. The calf, ſays on, you'll not want that and a ſtone of butter to make it ready with. Then the lawyer goe to the court, where Tom is called upon; the lawyes anſwers firſt, who aſked the butchers if they coul the price or prove the bargain? they anſwered no; but he ordered us to ſend our ads, and we would agree about it Agree about it! ſaid the judges, win, do you come to ſee for a bargain and to agree about it ǃ Ay but faic they, we want twenty ſhillings a piece from him of the money we gave him. Tom is called out, then ſaid the Judge Did you borrow money from any of theſe men? Not I my Lord, I came indeed aſking the