Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (3).pdf/13

 ( 13 ) of good ſhoes for the lifting : down he comes layſ the calf on the ground, and tying his horſe to the hedge, runs back thinking to get the other ſhoe, and, in which time Tom whip up the calf and ſhoe and home he gods, demanding his wager, which his maſter could not deny, being fairly won. The poor butcher returned back to his horſe, got only his travel for his pains ſo miſſing his calf, he knew not what to ſay or do, but thinking it had broke the rope from about it feet, and had run in- to the fields the butcher ſpent that day in ſearch of it amongſt the hedges and ditches, and ſo re- turned to Tom's maſter's all night, intending to go and ſearch further for it next day, giving them a tedious tuition how he came to loſe it by a coursed pair of shoes, which he believed the devil threw in the way, and how he had taken the calf and all a- long with him expreſſing is thankfulneſs that the devil had been ſo honest to ſpare his old horſe, when he ſtole away his calf. Nest morning Tom went to work and makes a fine white free on the calf with chalk and water. then bring it out and ſold it to the butcher, which was good diverſion to his maſter and the other ſervants, to ſee the butcher buy his own calf again, no ſooner was he gone with it, but Tom ſays, now maſter what will you hold but I'll ſteal it again from him before he goes two miles off? No no, ſays his maſter but I'll give you a ſhilling if you do it ; done ſays Tom, it ſhall coſt you no more and away he runs a font through the fields until he come in before the but- cher, hard by the place where he ſtole the calf the day before : and there she lies behind the hedge and as the butcher came paſt he put his and in his mouth cud cries, abw, baw, like a calf: the butcher hearing this, went to himſelf that there was the calf he had loſt the day before, down he comes, and throw it calf on the ground goes in