Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (3).pdf/5

 ( 5 ) little of it along in a train to the firefule, then percei- ving when his maſter went to it, and she was looking down his brceches, ſet fire to the rain, which blew it all up about his maſter's brire lups, which ſcorched him moſt terribly, beſides the fright, for which Tom was ſeverely whip, yet in a little after he began to libidy revenge on his master. So it happened, the day, as Tom went into the maſter's houſe, the good wife was ſtooping into the big meal barrel to bring out ſome meal: there be takes her by the feat and coup her up into the big meal barrel with her head down and her bare backſide uppermoſt, then run into the ſchool cry- in " Oh! maſter, maſter, the deil's looking out of your meal and, wi alat, fat face, and a back ill far'd face, and a black ugly mouth: yon's juſt the auld Nick an' he be living At this the maſter ran with all the freed he could to fee what it was, and found it to be his own wife speechleſs, and almoſt finathered to death, but as ſhe could not tell who did it, Tom got clear off yet he was not ſatisfied without ſome more vengeance on the old fellow, and knowing that his maſter had a faſhion, when he was going to whip the boys, it they would not looſe there breeches willingly, his drew his knife, and cut them through the waistband behind : ſo Tam goes to a butcher, and gets a raw pudding and fill it with blood and water, and put it in within the waistband of his breeches; then goes to the ſchool next day, and the mater was fitting with his back towards the fire Tom lights a piece of paper and ſets his wig in low which burnt for some time unperceived, until the flame came fir- ring about his ears, he first put out the wig by tramphing it upon the ground with his feet and be- ing informed that Tom did it he flies to him in a rage ordering him to looſe his breechs, but Tom told him he never ſo mad; Then he dew his