Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (2).pdf/4

[ 6 ] knife and whips poor Tom over his knee, and wi great kicking and ſtruggling oots the waiſtband his breeches, through pudding and a'l, ſo that t blood guſhed out and Tom cried murder, murder and down he fell. The poor dominie went out the door, crying, and wringing his hands. Was flew about, that Tom was Ricked by the domini which made the people come running from ſeveral parts of the country round about to ſee how it was but ſearching for the wound, found nothing but th empty adding. Tom came running home will be ſmear'd with blood, at the ſight whereof his father cry'd, what's the matter Tom? To which he mad no anſwer: ſearching him, the trick was diſcovere and poor Tom received a ſevere chaſtiſment. Tom to be revenged on his father, roſe is the sight tim and broke the fauld and let out the cattle amongſt his father's corn, and goes to bed again, tha he did unperceived. Next morning, the neighbours obſerving the cattle lying amongſt the corn, came running, and told his father how they had deſtroyed all his victual, for they had eat till they had like to burſt. All the time Tom lay in his bed, and his father much vexed at his lazineſs, and told him that he would never have the benefit of more ſchooling as his maſter had ſo many grievious complaints againſt him; at which Tom rejoiced within himſelf as he did not value learning, nor put it in balance with his deſigneſt tricks! Tom then ſcampered away meeting with an egg cedger coating to Edinburgh, deſired him to alight from his horſe, and he would give him a dr m at the Fallow kirk, at which, the poor man was glad, and went in with him. Tom called for two drams and bade the codger drink hearty, is the mean time Tom ſlips out and mounts the cadger's horſe, and puts a foot in e creel and made the e es all cadule, and then ounted and ran, ſo that the poor cadger