Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (4).pdf/15

 OF LOTHIAN TOM 15

lings, ſays Tom? No, ſays the butcher, by what I hear of it, I'll give you thirty. Na, na, ſays Tom, you muſt remember, that is not the price of it, but give me twenty fillings juſt now, and fend out your lad to- morrow and we'll perhaps agree about it. Thus Tom went through ten of them in one day, and got twenty ſhillings from each of them, and kept his ſpeech againſt the law for whatever they offered him for his call, he told them to remember that was not to be the price of it, but give me twenty ſhillings juſt now, and fend out your lad on the morrow morning, and per- haps we'll agree, was all that paſied. So Tom came home with his ten pounds, and paid his rent; and early next morning, one of the butchers ſent out his lad to Lothian Tom's for the calf, and as he was about a mile out of town, he went to an ale-houſe door and there calls for a bicker of ale, and as he was drinking it, up comes another butcher's lad on the fame errand, he being called by the firſt to come and drink, which cauſed another bicker; then up comes other two on the ſame errand, again ſix more, which made out the ten, and every one told -he was going to Lothian Tom's for a calf, which made them think Tom had gathered to- gether all the calves in the country-fide: So up they came to Tom's houſe, and every one called for his call, and his calf, and Tom had but one calf to ſerve them all; which he took and ſhewed them. Now, ſays he, whoever gives moſt for it ſhall have it, or I'll put it to a roup. What, ſaid they, our maſters bought it yeſter- day. Then, ſays Tom, you would be fools to buy it to day, for it is heavy to carry, and faſhious to lead, you muſt all go home without it: next day Tom got ten ſummonſes, to anſwer at the inſtance of the butchers for felling his calf and not delivering it. Tom then goes to Edinburgh, gets the ableſt lawyer in town for that purpoſe, tells him the whole of what paſt, from firſt to laſt. Then ſaid the lawyer, as they cannot prove a bar- gain, deny you the paying of the money again, and if you'll give me the calf, I'll bring you off; but remem- ber, in law there is no point like that of denial. The calf, ſays Tom, you'll not want the calf and a ſtone of butter