Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (3).pdf/14

 ( 14 ) thro' the hedge in all haſte, thinking he had nothing to do but pick it up, but as he cams in at one part of the hedge, Tom loups out at another, and gets the calf on his ſhoulder, then gets it over the hedge to the other ſide, and through the fields he come ſafely home with the call on his ſhoulders: while the poor butcher ſpent his times and labour in vain, running from hadge to hedge, and hole to holt, ſeeking what was not there to be found. So the butcher returned to his horſe again, and finding his other calf gone, be concluded it to be done by ſome inviſible ſpirit there about that ſpot of ground: and ſo he went home and raiſed a bad report on the devil, and ſaying he was turned high-wayman, and had taken two calves from him. So Tom waſh- ing the white face off the ſtolen calf, his maſter ſent for the butcher to come and buy another calf, which he accordingly did a few days after, and Tom ſold him the same calſ a third time: then told him the whole affair as it was acted, giving him his money again, ſo the butcher got but ſun for all his trouble.

PART IV. THERE was an old rich blind widow, who lived hard by, had a young girl. her only daugh- ter, and the fell deep in love with Tom and from fell as deep in love with the money, but not with the maid: the old woman beſtowed a vaſt of pre- ſeats on Tom, and mounted him like a gentleman, but ſtill he put off the marriage from tine to time, and always wanted ſomething which the old woman gave the money to purchase for him until he had got about thirty pounds of her money, and then ſhe would delay the marriage no longer. Tom sent and took the old woman, and girl side and made his apology in the following mater: Dear mo- ther, ſaid he, I am very willing to wed with my